The Art of Love (WW2 GerIta)

New Life

The train's whistle blew loudly as the breaks screeched to stop. The train station was awfully crowded that day but Feliciano didn't mind. His brother did.

After they got off of their train, the two Italian brothers waited for their next train.

"How much longer?" Lovino complained checking his watch that their Grandpa gave him.

"I'm sure we won't have to wait more than half an hour." Feliciano said shyly, scratching the back of his neck as he held onto his suitcase.

They came directly from Sicily, Italy, a very long journey. The two of them got jobs at a mansion in the countryside of Germany which was recommended by their friend Antonio. The mansion supposably belonged to a German family, fairly close to a military base.

"I heard they are strict on rules and such. One of the brothers, Gilbert, is my friend. He said you two can stay and help out there. He'll be paying you well since their father is very rich." Antonio had explained over a cup of wine before they had left. "You two would have to stay with them until they say so."

Being a servant meant he couldn't paint anymore. His dream of becoming an artist had been crushed. He had always wanted to be a painter, he didn't care if he was famous or not but if he got to show his paintings to other people, that would be enough.

"Come on, Feli." Lovino called, snapping Feliciano back from his thoughts. Lovino was waiting on the steps of the train with his luggage. He then realized that was their final train as one of the conductors blew a very high pitch whistle. He got his suitcase and hopped onto the train after Lovino.

They sat in one of the occupied rooms with beds since it would be an overnight travel. A small table in the corner, two beds on each side, and a window that started moving away from the train station.

-

When they had arrived, it was nothing but fields at the station. It was empty and a car was waiting outside. A soldier greeted them and took their bags, he was the one taking them to the mansion.

It felt so surreal to Feliciano. Almost like he was in a story book where he was on a mission with soldiers.

Though, that was only in his head. Their reality wasn't meant for a story book. It never was. The soldier was young too, almost as old as Lovino who was twenty-three, making Feliciano twenty. He would be twenty-two next March though that wouldn't be until ten months.

Feliciano looked out of the war window and saw nothing but fields. Some had people working in them. Some had no one. Some were a lush green. Some were a dried tan. A small village was seen not too far away on a rode they took, he saw more people working in fitness there.

The longer they had drove, the more the grass became shorter and the trees took height into the sky. It really did look like a story book then.

A lush forest where a princess would dance and sing with animals following her. No care in the world. She wouldn't have to worry about soldiers. She wouldn't have to worry about bombs. She wouldn't have to worry about anything but trying to find her prince charming.

They drove down a dirt road through the large forest until they stopped at a gate which was opened by more soldiers. They drove in and was greeted with a nice and well kept yard with bushes, flowers, and well benches or sculptures. It was like a garden. They came to a stop when they reached the front of the house.

The house was tall with two floors and the outside looked outstanding. The wood on the outside lined almost every detail on the building. No crack was seen when they approached the two wooden doors, the soldier knocking on it.

He fixed his posture which was barely noticable as Feliciano and Lovino held their suitcases, standing behind him. Feliciano was nervous as his heart was leaping to his throat. He couldn't tell if his brother was nervous too or not because of his stern and serious expression.

The door opened and a man with white ruffled hair and red-brown eyes appeared in the doorway. He only wore a white button up shirt that fit him perfectly, green pants, and tall polished boots. His tie had a black cross on it which Feliciano noticed first.

The soldier clicked his boots, raised his hand, and said in the most monotone voice Feliciano had ever heard, "Heil Hitler." It almost sounded like he was a machine, a machine programmed to say that whenever his master wanted to.

The man did the same though his voice was a bit softer when speaking. The man gave a smirk at the two brothers, "Please come inside."

The soldier went in first as the brothers followed. The house was huge, two staircases leading to upstairs. "I hate to overwhelm the two of you like this. It would have to be the house's fault." He said.

Lovino was never fond of stupid jokes like that. He could see where Antonio learned it from. "Antonio wanted me to give this to you." Lovino handed him a letter stamped closed.

The man opened it and read it rather quickly, then held onto it with a smile. "My name is Commandment Gilbert Beilschmidt. It's a pleasure of meeting the both of you. Antonio sends me letters and he writes about you two so much."

He lead them into the next room which was a living room with fancy couches and a table with a fireplace and bookshelves hiding the walls. The boys sat across from Gilbert as he talked, "Feliciano and Lovino, Hm?" He asked and they nodded.

"Well, Feliciano and Lovino, you two shall be working here in our wonderful home. There are six of us total in our home. Me, Ludwig, Elizabeta, Roderich, Basch, and Elise." Gilbert explained, crossing his legs.

"It is your responsibility to cater to our needs, clean around, and make food. We will not ask much of you, just for assistance for things."

Lovino nodded, "That is understandable. Anything else before we move onto the conversation?"

Gilbert's eyes moved like he had remembered something. He did. "Which one of you is the youngest?"

The brothers shared a glance before Feliciano spoke, "I am."

Gilbert smiled. "Alright. I have a task for you. You see, my brother Ludwig came home not that long ago with several injuries. I need you to take care of him for a little while until he heals all up and can head back out to the battlefield. That means taking care of him daily, and doing whatever he says."

Feliciano froze. Doing whatever he says? He doesn't even know him! What if he asks him to do something that Feliciano isn't comfortable with? What if he asks him to steal? Hurt somebody? Do something terrible to himself?

He took a breath. Nothing like that would happen. Lovino wouldn't ever let that happen. He just had to get used to everything new.

Besides, he was only going to be there for as long as Gilbert wished...

To be continued....