Coming Home: GerIta - Art Trade

The train station was crowded, more crowded then Feliciano would’ve liked it to be.  It seemed like the whole world was in this his little village along the Rome-Naples railway; but it also may have been Feliciano’s already flighty nerves now jumping sporadically around in his system.  He paced back and forth along the platform, gnawing at his lower lip; he hated waiting.  Passers-by stared at the anxious Italian in the same curious manner spectators watch a street performs.  The temperature seemed to be rising unnaturally in his blue wool uniform, he couldn’t wait anymore Ludwig was almost back in his arms.

It had been far too long since the Italian had seen his German. The other had left for war when the whole concept was still blurred and wheeling. Feliciano swallowed hard as he thought of all that had happened during the dreadful war. Had Ludwig done any of those horrible things he heard and read about in the news? He couldn’t. Not the Ludwig that Feliciano knew. The Ludwig he knew was kind and caring. He would help Feliciano whenever he needed it and would smile softly when Feliciano tried to make him laugh with his sometime stupid remarks.

Thinking about the happy times he shared with the German calmed the small man just as it always did. The two had met under odd circumstances. Ludwig had merely been visiting Italy; taking in the countryside while his brother was on a whirlwind tour of France and Spain with is two best friends. The tall blond was the sort of person that one would not approach with his cold demeanour, like one of a soldier and stern face but Feliciano never let how a person looked get to him.

Feliciano had been hiking in the hills on a sunny spring day and enjoying the kind Italian sun when he spied another person a ways down the hill. This was great! There was someone to share this fantastic day with! The Italian started hurrying down the hill excitedly when he stepped on a slick rock which sent him tumbling. He didn’t really know what had hit him until he lay dazed and confused on the soft grassy slope. He gingerly moved his limbs to find he was very sore, thankfully nothing seemed broken. He definitely had more than a few cuts and bruises but otherwise all was well.

Feliciano stared into the warm sun, wanting to just sink into the ground and not feel the pain anymore. He could feel tears starting to leak down his face when the blinding light was blocked by a tall shadow; Feliciano assumed it was just a cloud, well until it spoke.

‘Sind Sie in Ordnung?’ he asked in a low rough accent. Feliciano blinked bewildered slightly by the unfamiliar words. For a moment he panicked. What if he had lost his ability to understand because of the fall?! The man repeated himself, this time in coarse but flawless Italian. ‘Are you alright? That was quite a fall.’

Feliciano nodded slowly. ‘My head hurts and I think I’m bleeding but otherwise I think I’m okay.’ The man sat down next to the other and started rummaging through his bag before pulling out some bandages. ‘You carry bandages around?’

‘I’m always prepared,’ the blond said in reply as he poured some water from a canteen onto a clean rag to clean away the dirt and mud. Feliciano leaned into the gentle touches, already feeling at ease. The man, who Feliciano assumed was German, because of his pale blond hair and striking blue eye, coupled with his character, wasn’t nearly as scary as Feliciano first thought.  Ludwig, as Feliciano had found the German’s name to be, cleaned up Feliciano the best he could and helped him home. Feliciano almost giggled at the thought on how much it seemed like a date except for the pain and new meeting. He turned to the blond at the edge of his property and smiled softly.

‘Thank you for helping me and thank you for the bandages,’ he said shyly. Ludwig slowly reached up and stroked the white square adorning Feliciano’s cheek, a light pink dusting his pale skin.

‘Your smile is so beautiful. I couldn’t have it marred by pain.’ At Feliciano’s face he continued. ‘You know I’m in town for a few more weeks. Maybe,’ He paused, appearing to be trying to muster up some form of confidence. ‘You would like to meet again sometime?’

The two continued to meet until the planes started roaring over with more frequency. Ludwig had received an urgent wire saying he needed to come home. He was required for service otherwise he would be considered a deserter and would have instant death on return to his native land.  Feliciano had cried at the news. Ludwig had held him close, pressing soft kisses all over his face whispering soothing words into his ear. Their first real kiss had been only days before and Feliciano had lived off the euphoria since then but now it all seemed to be crashing heavily down on him.

‘I’ll be back Feli, I swear it,’ Ludwig had said softly as he held his lover in a tight embrace, burying his nose in Feli’s soft chestnut locks.

‘But Ludwig such bad things happen at war! People get hurt and people die!’ Feliciano whimpered through tears.

‘Feli, whatever happens out there, I won’t change. I’ll always be here for you and I’ll always love you.’
‘You love me?’ His eyes had become hopeful and beaming.

Ludwig smiled a rare sight indeed. ‘I do love you. Ich Liebe dich. With all my heart.’

With new tears forming, Feliciano threw his arms around his lover. ‘I love you too!! Ti amo troppo molto molto!! Promise me Ludwig that you’ll come back. Promise it!’

‘I promise.’

That promise rang clear in Feliciano’s mind. He ghosted a hand over his cheek where the bandage had been. The first thing Ludwig had done for him was care for him. Someone like that couldn’t hurt other people. They just couldn’t.

A towering blond stepped out of the steam arising from the train. Even though he was partially out of uniform, his stiff olive jacket draped across his shoulders loosely; he still received harsh glares and audible scrutiny from those around him. He looked travel worn and weary. Feliciano could see the hollow looking eyes that swept the crowd for his small figure.

‘Ludwig!’ Feliciano called out as he rushed forward. He wrapped his arms around Ludwig and felt happy tears as the strong arms encased him. He looked up into the clear blue eyes and smiled though it was not returned with as much enthusiasm.

‘Hallo Feli. I’ve missed you,’ Ludwig’s voice was rough as always but this time there seemed to be to be something deeper. ‘Feli, I’ve done something bad.’ Feliciano felt novel emotions wash over him.

‘Ludwig did you do something wrong? I know you. You could never do something bad so just apologize and it’ll all be better.’ Feliciano could feel himself starting to panic, his voice quivering. He grasped the rough green fabric and cried wanting his lover back to how he was, wanting war to never touch the world again.

‘Feli… I don’t think I could ever apologize fully for this. But I’ll try my hardest just for you. I may be a bit rough but with a bit of polishing you can hopefully find the man you once loved.’ Ludwig ran a consoling hand through Feliciano’s still silky hair.  

‘I’ve always loved you and always will no matter what,’ the Italian smiled beneath his tears. He rose onto his very tip toes and pressed a gentle kiss to Ludwig’s nose, hand stroking the small square bandage that now resided on his soldier’s cheek. ‘Let’s go home Ludwig and we can begin a new chapter and leave this behind us.’