[Fanfic] A Happy End

[plotbunny-tiff.livejournal.com]

Title: A Happy End
Author: plotbunny_tiff 
Pairing: Germany/Italy (mentions of HRE/Chibitalia)
Rating: G
Word Count: 839
Summary: Sometimes the line between a fairy tale and reality can be very blurred.
Warning: None really. Use of human names
A/N: This is a story in which Feliciano remembers his childhood clearly, but Ludwig only has a few hazy memories...

“She wandered alone through the deep, dark woods, with only the rabbits and birds for company. She tried to sing a little song to bolster her spirits, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was following her down the path, ducking behind trees whenever she turned to look, and only just visible from the corner of her eye…”

 

“Ve~” Feliciano murmured, doing his best to hide his face in Ludwig’s chest. “This story is starting to get scary, I don’t think I like it very much.”

 

Despite the blush that was starting to work its way across Ludwig’s cheeks, a sigh still escaped from his mouth. “There is only a little danger. You can’t have a Märchen without it being a little frightening.” He righted the Italian and adjusted the book, taking the moment to compose himself. “Stop squirming and let me finish.”

 

“Little Ceferina finally found the blueberry patch after walking for a very long time, and it was there she stopped to rest. Suddenly, a little frog hopped up to her, mischief in his heart and a gleam in his eye. ‘Would you like to come with me, little one, and live in my fine house under the lake?’ Cerefina was very fond of frogs, but she did not want to live in a cold, slimy lake, so she thanked him politely and refused. The watcher in the woods was very happy that she did not go with the frog, but stayed hidden behind a large tree.”

 

“I’m sure the frog was very nice, but I’m glad she didn’t go.” Feliciano interrupted again, idly twirling his fingers around a loose thread on Ludwig’s coat. “You can’t make pasta in a lake, even if there is lots of water around, because you couldn’t make a proper fire.”

 

“Do you want to tell this story instead?” Ludwig snapped, hoping to get Feliciano to quiet down so he could finish. To his surprise, the other man smiled brightly and agreed, wriggling into a closer and more comfortable position against Ludwig. He shut the book with a snap and idly tossed it to the side, ignoring Ludwig’s sputter about improper treatment of books.

 

“Ah, I know!” Feliciano began, a faraway look glazing over his features. “Ceferina gave the frog some of her blueberries, and he hopped away, promising to bring her a delicious blueberry crepe as a thank you. That made Ceferina happy, because she was very fond of sweets and didn’t get very many at her house.”

 

“She didn’t?”

 

“No, not even when her stomach rumbled and she asked very very nicely.”

 

# “Please, I only want a little bit, I won’t eat very much, I promise!” A soft white hand patted her on the head gently. He could see the tears in her eyes even from his hiding place behind the door. “I’m sorry, but these were made especially for him. I’ll make you a tart next time, I promise.” The hand reached over to pick up a tea tray, and suddenly he wasn’t in the mood for pastries anymore.#

 

Ludwig shook his head, dispelling the hazy memory. Feliciano continued on, oblivious. “Ceferina made her way back through the woods, but ah! She tripped over a stone in the path and fell, all of her tasty fruit spilled everywhere and she skinned her knee. Poor Ceferina! She was so sad; she sat on the path and cried, because she didn’t know what to do.”

 

“…but she wasn’t alone.”

 

“Eh? Oh yes! There was the mysterious wood person…but he might be someone scary!”

 

“Nien! He wasn’t scary, he was…he was just shy.”

 

#He didn’t mean to startle her. He just wanted so badly to be near her that it made him clumsy and harsh when he didn’t mean it. She stopped sniffling finally, and with a timid gesture that made his heart race, she allowed him to pull her to her feet again.#

 

“I think he wanted to be friends with Ceferina, but he didn’t know how.”

 

“He shouldn’t hide behind trees, then.” Feliciano sounded different, a little wistful. “Ceferina would like to have lots of friends. The woods aren’t nearly as scary when you’re with a friend.” Ludwig’s blush intensified, but he couldn’t quite put a finger on why. Feliciano entwined his fingers with Ludwig as he continued.

 

“The woodsman came out when he saw Ceferina cry, and even though he was shy he turned out to be very nice, and not frightening at all. He even helped Ceferina gather all the berries she dropped, and they found they liked each other very much.”

 

“Did they?”

 

“Si, beninteso! And the tomato fairy came to bless them, and make sure…” Feliciano swallowed, but continued brightly. “And make sure they stayed together, forever and always.” Feliciano looked up at Ludwig with shining eyes, but the German seemed to be somewhere else. “Doitsu? You liked my story, didn’t you?”

 

Ludwig finally met his eyes; he wore a smile but it was bittersweet somehow.

 

“Yes. It was a very good fairy tale.”

 

 

 

 

 

~The End.