GerIta

Chapter 9: That One Smutty Chapter

Me: *Points to chapter title, winking* "Not that there won't be more smut. I mean, probably there will be more smut, and the smut in this chapter is towards the end, okay? Alright, enjoy!"

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Ludwig caught on sometime during Saturday afternoon that because Feli had given him his phone number but hadn't set up their next date, he was supposed to call. Feli got the call on one of his fleeting breaks and tried to find a secluded corner of the restaurant where Elizabeta's prying eyes wouldn't spot him. Don't get him wrong—he had taken to the Hungarian almost immediately, literally on their first day of work together, and she was teaching him Hungarian, which was fascinating, but he had a feeling that it would be easier on Ludwig's heart, the fewer, private details she knew about the couple.

Ludwig was adorably gruff over the line and hopelessly oblivious to the quiet breathing that signified his secretary was listening in—it all made Feli's day. They arranged another date this Sunday, which Feli suggested they actually go out for, given Ludwig's tendency to overdress for more casual settings. Feli told him they'd meet at Ludwig's place—despite Ludi's protests that he could pick up Feli at his place—and then they'd go out for dinner and a movie, and Ludwig really didn't need to be nervous about any of it. "Because I really like you," Feli confessed over the line after thinking about it. He wasn't quite ready to say 'I love you' yet, but he certainly did like his German.

"Oh, I...I like you, too," Ludwig admitted, and Feli could tell something was wrong—his German sounded fussy.

"And?" he decided to give Ludwig a chance to bring his worries up by himself.

"I- I don't know what you mean," Ludwig sounded genuinely confused, so maybe they weren't on the same wavelength of communication just yet.

"Ludi, you sound like something's bothering you. What's wrong?"

"Äh, that...postcard you gave me yesterday..."

Feli's mood brightened, and he clutched his cell phone closer. "Did you open it before bed?" he asked conspiratorially with a lowered voice, and he even winked uselessly at the open air. A teenage girl, who was clearly dining with her mother a few tables down from where he was, flushed bright red. Feli choked back a laugh and blew the girl a kiss for her trouble.

"Äh- äh- yes," Ludwig stuttered, and now Feli really did laugh, "but it troubles me..."

Feli clicked his tongue. He had known he would have to deal with the German's prudishness, and he had wanted to deal with it calmly, but still, his voice was a bit patronizing as he asked, "And what about it troubles you, Ludwig?"

"Well...you chose Die Sünde, sin—did you know that?"

This was probably a situation that called for bluntness. "Yes, I was trying to be suggestive."

"Oh, oh," Ludwig sounded like he was choking back a cough, "I, äh, understood that."

Feli's eyebrows raised, and he almost, almost said 'marvelous,' but he managed to stop himself at the last second.

"But I was wondering...is that all you meant?"

Hmm, it would seem Feli was usually the one confusing Ludwig, but now Ludwig had him at a loss. "What do you mean?"

"I mean-" Ludwig's voice came through the line particularly harsh, but then he took a deep breath, and he sounded softer now, though still gruff, "You chose sin. Does that not imply a negative view on our relationship?"