lost ~completed~

chapter 16

Gilbert had seated himself beside Ludwig. His shoulders were touching his bruder's but neither seemed to mind. Gilbert shot a glare to anyone who looked at Ludwig, reminding the blond of the bruder that had raised him back when Gilbert was in the Teutonic Knights.

Ludwig was too much focused on what the others were saying about Italy that he didn't notice his own pain. Gilbert must have noticed that Ludwig's hands kept twitching, fore every time they would twitch the older of the two would clasp his hands tightly around Ludwig's until they became motionless.

Ludwig, while he couldn't feel his own pain, could very easily feel the pain that hung in the air. Alfred's death still hung heavily in the hair and the bombing on Paris was still a shock to them all. Ludwig felt it the worst. Everyone felt some sort of guilt for potentially causing Feliciano for being this way but they know it was Feliciano who chose to make those decisions.

They knew that it wasn't their fault for what happened. Many people on the earth feel as Feliciano does yet only a few made the choices Feliciano did.

Ludwig however, felt as though everything was his fault. He was the one who was closest to Feliciano. He was the one Feliciano called out to help for the loudest and he was the one who ignored him. If he had been the one person who noticed Feliciano's pain, then he could have helped Feliciano deal with everyone else and Alfred's death and the destruction of Paris could have been avoided.

Unfortunately, what's done was done and nothing could be taken back. They couldn't avoid dealing with the situation any longer. If they did, more innocent people and possible some of their own kind might die.

The realization of knowing that Ludwig had lost Feliciano and wouldn't ever get him back was almost enough to crush his already shattered heart. He kept his facial expressions impassive though the others knew he was heartbroken.

Ludwig could feel his hands beginning to shake again. Gilbert glanced at his hands again and covered them with his own. He gently messaged the thin, paper -like skin with his thumbs. Ludwig forced himself to relax and stop his hands from shaking. Gilbert let his hands go, neither of them wanting to show the others too much emotion or vulnerability. They both kept their facial expression smooth ad the other discussed their plans for Feliciano.

"What should we do ? With all of allied we can easily take him on! This will be a quick war and there will be no need for anyone else but Italy to get hurt!" Roderick said. No one could bring themselves to call Italy by his human name anymore. They were having a hard enough time thinking of him as a bad guy.

"I don't think it would be that simple." Matthew said softly.

"Yeah, he probably has allies as well that we don't know about." Elizaveta said, actually hearing Matthew for once.

"Ok..." Roderick said. "Then why don't we give him a warning. If he doesn't surrender then we'll bomb him."

"It's already past that point!" Mei exclaimed. "He didn't give any warning to Ludwig, or my brother, or Antonio, or Alfred or Francis!"

"I agree with Taiwan. I think we should just blow him to bits." Ivan smiled.

"Where are you getting at Taiwan ?" Mattie asked.

"I'm saying that it's time we took control of this situation. We can't let him win this war!" Mei exclaimed. Several people opened their mouths to respond to her comment but were interrupted.

There was a knock at the door. Mattie went up to get it. Ludwig's hands started shaking again. Gilbert takes Ludwig's hands silently.

"Arthur?" Mattie said in surprise.