(Mainly) GerIta OneShots (Hetalia)

Clockwork Flashbacks

It was a rather peaceful day in Italy, the birds were chirping, the streets were busy as usual, the normal things. Feliciano and Ludwig had been walking through the city for a while now, just walking hand in hand with each other. Many people didn't seem to mind, although a few stares were thrown at them every now and again.

"Hey, Ludwig?" Feliciano looked up at Ludwig, smiling happily, as his hair lightly danced in the wind.

"Ja?"

"Can I take you to my favourite restaurant later? I promise it's a lot of fun! And the pasta's nice too!" Feliciano giggled, and his all too cheerful grin was plastered on his face.

Ludwig looked surprised at Feliciano's offer, but he couldn't refuse, "Ja, sure." Ludwig mentally face-palmed for sounding so blunt.

"Yay~!" Feliciano squeezed Ludwig's hand in comfort, and continued walking down the streets, admiring the plants, peoples outfits, and occasionally complimenting other girls, but Ludwig didn't mind too much, he knew that Feliciano spoke his mind a lot, and besides, it's nice giving people compliments.

Everything had been going smoothly and rather joyfully for the two... That was until they passed by an antique shop. Something shiny had caught Feliciano's attention, but he immediately regretted looking over at it.

The light had caught an old grandfather clock, that had a wooden frame and was encrusted with gold and silver. The clock face's numbers were in Roman Numerals, and the pendulum that swung at the bottom was a beautiful golden colour. But the two things that 'topped off' this clock, was that the ticking sound was all too familiar for comfort, and the hands just so happened to be pointing at 3pm... Talk about timing.

Feliciano stood, frozen in place, as he just looked at the clock, feeling as if he moved his eyes he'd die. He couldn't move or hear or feel or smell anything, all of his attention was on that clock, that stupid, horrible clock that always haunts his dreams and memories. The clock's ticking seemed to grow louder and more obnoxious with each tick.

Feliciano had blocked everything out now, all he could hear was a ticking clock, and distant screams, all he could see was dark halls and dead friends, all he could feel was the cold and numbness, all he could smell was blood and rotting wood. His mind circled, as he just stared stone coldly at the clock. He hadn't even felt or realised the tears that rolled down his cheeks, or someone calling his name, or even someone bringing into a safe, protected hug.

"Feliciano!"

Then suddenly Feliciano was pulled from all of his memories and thoughts, and slowly looked around, before realising that two strong arms were surrounding him. He looked up, and saw Ludwig looking down at him, concern and worry etched across his face, which was very uncommon to see.

"Feli, are you alright?" Ludwig slowly started to ask, and carefully stroked the shorter male's hair, not caring about how many looks or stares he got.

Feliciano just shook his head as a response, he was far too shaken up to open his mouth and say something. Ludwig understood what had happened. He noticed the clock himself, and it became obvious that the clock had remined Feli of the mansion and all of those time loops and his friends dying. Feliciano was very strong to get through that, and there was no way he would've gotten through all of that hell without long lasting trauma.

Everyone had made a promise that they'd never talk about clocks or death, or even mansions when Feliciano was around, as he would have a mental breakdown or panic attack, and they didn't want to upset him, even they couldn't try and think of how much pain Feli went through.

Ludwig just nodded to Feliciano as a response, and continued to stroke his hair, whilst keeping him close in a hug. Ludwig knew that Feliciano was strong, but he needed protecting, and Ludwig was more than happy to be the little Italian's protector.

"Would you want some pasta, Feli?"

Feliciano nodded his head as a tiny smile formed on his face, and he slipped his hand into Ludwig's warm hand, and squeezing it tightly, feeling more comforted again. Ludwig cleared his throat and tried to hide the smallest smile that was creeping on over, and he started to walk with Feliciano to a local restaurant, hand in hand once more, but keeping Feliciano close, not wanting to loose him again...