Hetalia One-Shots

GerIta : Colorful Disaster

  As an artist, you have two main goals for your future: first is to be able to spread your creativity and passion to the world and make a living out of your work, second is to find a loving and supportive spouse who will do anything to help until you reach your dream (a third, unspoken goal is that your spouse will have a secure and well-paying job to better support your needs as a family).

  Feliciano Vargas, a young Italian painter from a small village in Liguria, was lucky enough to score in all three of those goals. He has a modest business in his hometown of Noli where he sells many canvases to tourists, decorates most of the town's cafes, and even paints frescos on certain town walls. His talent is recognized throughout the region, however, the young man nonetheless works as a part-time preschool teacher to help his partner make ends meet.

  The love of his life is a serious and caring German real estate agent whom he met six years ago. Ludwig Vargas, formally known as Ludwig Beilschmidt, is a fierce salesman of the company Engel & Völkers who happened to be sent to Italy for a couple special sales in Noli for just a year. Needless to say, he stayed for much longer than that. The real estate agent was in charge of selling a villa to a wealthy client, and coincidentally, Feliciano was hired by said client to help with the interior design and counseling. Both young men, thirty and thirty-two at the time, instantly felt a star-colliding connection they had never imagined experiencing before. They met a few times professionally, at first, then started going out for several dinners every now and then, which gradually turned into thrilling dates and a sweet, budding relationship. Finally, after Ludwig's one year stay in Noli, he had to go back home to Hamburg for his job. Instead, the man sent a proposition to his managers saying Liguria had great potential for real estate, especially due to the number of tourists and villas available, and that he would be a valuable asset there in Noli. Once his idea was accepted, Ludwig immediately went over to Feliciano's studio and proposed. Without a second of consideration, the Italian artist accepted, not understanding how and why it was all happening. As soon as Feliciano had calmed down, Ludwig explained what he had done, and that very night they planned their engagement. After just two months, they were legally registered in a civil union. There was a private ceremony held in Noli where the close relatives of both men came and celebrated the alliance. Nobody could have imagined such a fortunate encounter could have lead to so much happiness.

  Ever since then, Ludwig strives to make Feliciano's life the easiest and most pleasant life to live, and thanks to his comfortable paycheck, he has been managing pretty well. Therefore, Feliciano is probably the world's most luckiest artist to have ever lived, at least that is what the Italian says.

  One late August evening, Feliciano was in his outdoor studio painting a commission. From this studio, which was his private one underneath his and Ludwig's apartment, there was a magnificent view of the village leading down to the shore with the sparkling spread of water stretched out before the quaint buildings. He would work there in the evenings then move downtown during the day to paint in his boutique while attracting potential customers. The air was warm with just a faint breeze crawling in from the sea. The sun was starting to slowly set, lowering into the horizon but not quite ready to leave the day behind. Feliciano had turned on his old radio and was humming to the traditional song that was being played. He picked up his stained glass of red wine while effortlessly streaking his canvas with orange. A dash of red was added to the mix, then the image was spotted with dark blue all over. As he worked, Feliciano kept looking at the clock hung up on an old wooden beam, anxiously waiting for his partner to come home. Ludwig had rented a small office in town where he could receive clients and work in peace, occasionally working from his home office to help with the house chores while Feliciano would work at the school.

  On this night, the Italian painter had prepared a romantic surprise for Ludwig, and was impatient for him to come home. He had set up a small table and two chairs under the large cypress tree which was in their back yard. He hung lights in the branches, prepared a delicious, light salad, perfect after a long, hot day, and was just excited to spend some tender time with his loved one.

  At last, Ludwig came through the small wooden door and into the garden where Feliciano's studio was. "Good evening Feli," he said, kissing his partner's temple.

  "Ciao Luddy," replied Feliciano with a beaming grin. He had missed those warm blue eyes looking at him with such ardor. "How was work?"

  "It was fine," answered the blond, picking up a towel and wiping Feliciano's cheek. "I think I have found a new prospective client. He is a wealthy American buyer who collects villas on the seaside. I think he will be pleased with the old Romanesque model I have up in Genoa. We will see how that turns out. And you, how were the kids this morning?"

  Feliciano sighed in delight. "Oh, they were adorable! I taught them how to recognize different shapes and we sang songs together. They all behaved wonderfully. Victoria even learned to share her toy cars with her classmates. I am so proud! Oh I can't wait until we have one of our own," he said dreamily.

  Stepping behind his partner, Ludwig wrapped his arms around Feliciano's shoulders, softly kissing the top of his head. "I know amore, soon I hope."

  "Mmh, I hope so too." The Italian clasped his left hand on his lover's forearm and continued painting with his right.

  "You'll be painting the child's bedroom I expect."

  "Or, I was thinking, well, you know," shrugged Feliciano with a smile while turning on his stool to face the blond, "that you and I could paint it together. I think it's important for the child to have an expression of love from both its parents."

  "I love that idea, Liebchen," murmured Ludwig, leaning in to kiss his Italian. Feliciano smiled in the kiss, crossing his arms behind the other's head and holding him close. The couple broke off their kiss but Feliciano kept pecking Ludwig's face in happiness.

  He then looked down to Ludwig's chest and exclaimed in dismay, "Oh no, Ludwig your shirt!" The German real estate agent looked down to see what Feliciano was referring to. "It's completely dirtied– oh! I believe I have ruined it, I'm so sorry! Mea culpa Luddy."

  The shirt in question was stained with several spots of fresh paint which Feliciano had on his old workshop shirt. Ludwig shrugged, wiping some of the wet paint onto his index finger. "It's fine, it was an old shirt anyway," he said smearing the paint onto his partner's nose.

  He dabbed his fingers in more paint which was left around the work space and poked his fingers onto Feliciano who was meekly resisting while laughing. The Italian fought back and picked up one of his brushes that was soaking in water, and flicked it in Ludwig's face, sending drops of colored water onto his light gray shirt. He used this as a distraction and stood up from his stool, fleeing the cackling blond who was not far behind. Ludwig caught up with Feliciano around the corner of the studio and tackled him to the ground. They wrestled in the dry grass until the painter surrendered, letting Ludwig sit over his chest with his hands pinned down over his head. They stared lovingly into each other's eyes with childish grins spread across their paint-speckled faces. As Ludwig was bending down to kiss Feliciano, he noticed some lights at the end of the yard. He looked up to better observe what it was.

  "Feli, what's that over there?"

  The artist twisted his neck so that he could see what Ludwig was staring at. He gasped and pushed himself up so that he was leaning against his elbows. "Oh no, I wanted to make it a surprise," he exclaimed in disappointment.

  "Feli," sighed Ludwig, "you shouldn't have gone through the trouble, you're busy on preschool days."

  "I know, I know, but you're busy too these days. I know it's the end of summer and you have many people who are looking to buy for the winter. It was my pleasure, really."

  The blond shook his head with a smile. He stood up and pulled his lover to his feet, embracing him dearly. "Shall we eat now, or do you want to get cleaned first?"

  "Oh I'm starving, I don't mind waiting until later," smiled Feliciano, heading to the outdoor spiraling staircase leading to the first floor of the apartment. "Go sit down and light the candles while I bring down the food."

  "Of course Tesoro."

  A few minutes later, Feliciano came back down with a large salad bowl, and a fresh bottle of white wine. In the meantime, Ludwig had lit the candle that was placed in the center of the table and was waiting, admiring the sunset below him. The couple enjoyed their amorous dinner, forever grateful to have found each other. No two people were better made for one another, no one could ever rival their passion and effort put into their relationship. And as an artist, finding the perfect muse is perhaps the one true goal to reach, and Feliciano had that too.