Chapter Text
Ludwig was out of the house walking around the neighborhood with three leashes attached to his arm a large dog on the other end of each. He was enjoying the silence, unable to cope with being at that house when his older brother and father, both Alphas, were arguing. The stench of aggression would fill the whole house well before they were done bickering. It didn’t really matter how many weights Ludwig lifted either, aggression that strong would affect him, hell it had dropped him before, just like it would any Omega.
He did feel a little bad for leaving the pair alone to duke it out. Especially when the fight was, once again, over him. Ludwig’s father was less than impressed with the training he had received from Gilbert over the years, taking him from small and helpless to built and strong. His Alpha big brother had decided to toss the thought of traditional roles out the window in concern. It was born out of the only thing his brother and father seemed to agree on for him, that his blonde haired, blue eyed look would be popular among the Alphas. It made Gilbert worry for his safety, while it made his father prideful.
Ludwig didn’t see where it was such a big deal either way. Even before Gilbert's insane training regimen there was no long line of Alpha’s at the door. Granted he was only seventeen, but there still hadn’t been a lot of interest in school. He'd been asked out all of twice and said no to both without issue. Not that that bothered him either! He was just fine the way he was, he preferred dogs to Alpha’s anyway… Loyal, smart, protective and, well... cute, but that was besides the point! Dogs he could train, Alphas would want to train him, and that wasn’t an overly appealing idea…
He was just rounding a corner, lost in thoughts, when he stumbled upon a less than pleasant scene. A small brunette, he was guessing an Omega, maybe a small Beta, and a towering Alpha, aggression oozing off of him that he could smell easily from this distance. Ludwig growled lightly hanging the leashes loosely over a fence post, enough so they would be reminded not to wander off, but they could still come if need be. "Stay." He said firmly as all three of them planted their backsides on the grass. He turned back to the people in front of him, Jogging the half distance down the block with a stern look on his face.
He didn't hesitate for a moment after he got a better look at the nervousness on the others face. Ludwig moved quickly, sweeping a leg out and knocking the large Alpha to his knees, grabbing his hair tightly to hold it as he glared down, "What the hell are you doing to this kid dummkopf?"
“Why don’t you mind your own business?” Snapped the Alpha, glaring at him. Ludwig pulled up on the hair getting in nice and close, sure his orientation would be clear at this point... adding a deeper level of shame over having his ass handed to him, while making it less likely he would get hit himself.
"Because I don't like Alphas stinking up the streets when i go for a walk." He jerked the guys head to the side letting go, "Get lost before I call my dogs."
The Alpha took off, tail figuratively between his legs, shame on his face. Ludwig watched him go before turning to the smaller boy in the road. The Brunette sighed, looking relieved, "Ve, thanks for your help, I wasn’t sure how I was going to-a get out of that without a fight.” Ludwig smiled and was about to tell him it was no problem when he continued with a light chuckle and a small smile, “Even though I’m an Alpha I’ve never really been good with that kind of thing.” Smiling wider, he held out a hand, “I’m Feliciano Vargas, and-a what’s your name?”
Ludwig's smile dropped. An Alpha? He had just broken up an Alpha fight that was over god knows what... verdammt... He tried to stay out of that kind of thing! Still... The guy must have been a pretty young one with his size. So, maybe it was fine, "Yeah... I uh... You're welcome." He wasn't entirely sure why he was blushing, but it could have been the smell he was only just noticing in the air... "I'm Ludwig, and I have to get going. I have a schedule to keep" He turned from the Alpha abruptly, leaving the poor guys hand out waiting for a shake, a he moved back to the three wagging tails. Ludwig thought he’d be clear of the Alpha, but he was so wrong...
“Hey, why don’t-a I go with you?" Feliciano said cheerfully as he appeared just beside Ludwig, "We can learn more about each other since you seem really nice! Plus I’ve never met an Omega who was tough like you are before!”
"I... I uhm..." His head spun a bit from the strangely warm scent, like spices and home... he could have drowned in it if he weren't so hell bent on not being that kind of Omega. Still it affected his brain enough to not argue, "Y-yeah okay... whatever." He said clenching his jaw and trying to get his bearings as he grabbed the leashes, "Come." He said simply, the dogs getting up and following as he continued walking.
By the time they had reached Ludwig’s house again, and he had taken the shortcut, he swore he knew half of the Italian's life story... as it turned out, it wasn't some young Alpha, he was almost twenty, so older then Ludwig himself. He had a brother, a cat, a bunch of stories from his childhood. He was a talented painter, loved cooking Italian cuisine… the list went on. Ludwig soaked it all in, despite the headache he was getting from the constant talking, he couldn't help but be endeared to it. 'it's the scent' he told himself 'a biological function set to show the success rate of mating in a couple... nothing more!' but the flushing of his face when the Alpha smiled brightly at him told a different story.
"This is my house." he said stiffly as he started up the driveway, expecting the Italian to say his goodbyes and leave... It wasn't the case when the sound of continued fighting went right through the door.
"Ve, What's going on in there?" The Alpha looked at the house, and then to Ludwig, who was slightly pink. He heaved a sigh. How could those two still be at it?
"It's my father and brother... " He said miserably looking away from the Alpha, God knows what the two inside would make of this one. By his father's standards, Alphas were suppose to be big, tough and stoic. Certainly not the overly cheerful type who talked too much.
Ludwig moved away from the front door to go around the side of the house. It was better not to have the dogs in that mess... he would put them in the back and call them in when things settled. Feliciano had followed and spoke up in concern, "Do they always fight...?" Ludwig opened up the back gate, clipping leashes from collars one by one to let them into the back yard.
"Ja," He said simply, standing to close the gate and fold the leashes up neatly, "It's what happens when two Alpha live in a house for too long." He said with a shrug moving back up to the front door, "It's nothing. Not like they're yelling at me." This time... he added silently with a sigh.
His father's voice came through the door, "Look what you've done to him! You think that's okay?! He's not even a damn Omega anymore!"
“Oh yeah?! Well if you had it YOUR way he’d be a quivering mess at the first sight of an Alpha! Personally, I think it’s awesome that Ludwig can protect himself instead of having to rely on others all the time!” He heard Gilbert yell back. Ludwig cringed. Great. Just great. Maybe they would shut up if he went in, especially since it looked like his newest tag along wasn't going anywhere anytime soon...
He pushed the door open and said loudly over the continued yelling, "I'm home." The smell of a calm Alpha should have been easy enough to pick up as soon as he entered the house, if he entered the house with the aggression that was making Ludwig's brain prickle. There were no other strange people around to mix the scent up with and it was an enclosed space. Who knows, maybe it would earn him some quiet from his father for all of ten minutes.
The yelling stopped, thankfully Ludwig looked over his shoulder and sighed, kicking his shoes off onto the mat by the door, "Your shoes go there if you're staying." He said simply before turning to climb the small staircase that lead to the main house floor, the Italian following suit quickly after.
"Is someone with you?" His father called, from the kitchen apparently.
"Yes." He heaved another sigh as he heard scuffling. For gods sake, it wasn't like he never brought people over. Anneliese came by once in awhile... granted she wasn't an Alpha, and she was his cousin but...
Both his father and Gilbert came out of the kitchen with curiosity. Before he could even make a single introduction the small Alpha spoke again, “Oh wow, you’re an Albino! I’ve never met someone with Albinism before, you’re really cool looking!” Feliciano smiled brightly.
Gilbert grinned back in a similar fashion and chuckled, “I prefer awesome myself, but thanks! I’m Gilbert, what’s your name?”
“I’m Feliciano Vargas, it’s nice to meet you Gilbert.” he said happily.
Both Ludwig and his father wore the same pained look for a moment at the exchange. Despite Gilbert’s efforts to help him become stronger, he was still nowhere near as laid back as his Alpha brother and the ease between them seemed… out of place. However within a second the look passed for his father, and now he was eyeing the new Alpha critically. He turned a silently questioning look to Ludwig who shrugged.
"Where did he find you then?" The eldest Alpha asked. Ludwig prayed, all though he felt it was probably uselessly, that Feliciano would have an ounce of Alpha pride and lie.
His prayers went unanswered.... the small Italian launching into a high speed retelling of the quote 'funny story' he kept catching faint smells of disapproval, not entirely sure from who... probably both... He wasn't even looking, by the end of it, he was leaned against a wall, pinching the bridge of his nose with his other crossed over his chest.
Gilbert was the first to say anything, “Luddy, I’m proud of you for not backing down from a challenge, but at the same time, are you out of your mind?! What if you had gotten hurt?!” he looked up at his panicked brother, but wasn't saying a damn thing until...
"Proud?! Sheer stupidity is something to be proud of?!" His father's face had gone red, "I don't care how much he lifts he's a damned Omega! He's not suppose to be chasing off random Alphas!" His father rounded on him next, "You could have gotten hurt! You probably have damaged your reputation further! How on earth are you suppose to find a suitable mate at this rate?!"
So much for Ludwig’s claim of 'they don't yell at me.'
"I had the dogs." He grumbled ducking his head a bit as disapproval intensified, stinging sharply, "I was fine." His cheeks flushed red as he cast a quick apologetic look at the forgotten Alpha...
“Well, I thought that he was really cool earlier, and he’s nice too. A lot of Omegas are usually turned off by how, well, not Alpha I-a am, but Ludwig doesn’t seem to mind.” Feliciano gave him gentle smile. Ludwig couldn't help but let his features soften slightly at it. His mouth may have even twitched up a bit, but that didn't last long.
"Great..." He said and Ludwig looked up to see him looking between the two before turning on Gilbert again, "Now he's brought home a broken Alpha. Perfect match, Happy yet Gilbert?!" Ludwig flinched at the angry german words. At least it was likely Feliciano didn't understand it but...
He wanted to argue... but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out, so he simply tightened his jaw and looked away again. Gilbert yelled back angrily in the same tongue instead, "Oh why don't you lay off it for once old man?! Not everyone's gonna fit into what you think a 'perfect' Omega or Alpha is!"
"Better my mold then no mold." he spat, Ludwig looked up in time to watch him turning for the door, "I'm going out, don't expect me for dinner." He paused turning to look at Ludwig critically but spoke with a softer tone than he had with Gilbert... his attempt at soothing the distressed Omega who was violently trying to shove his discomfort from being scolded away. "Don't do anything else dangerous while I'm gone." he looked back over at Feliciano suspiciously, "No closed doors" he grumbled. Ludwig's eyes went wide and a bright red taking over his face as his father pushed past Feliciano, grabbing his keys off the ring and went out the door.
Gilbert groaned and facepalmed as the door closed, “Sorry about him Feliciano, he’s an asshole by nature…”
Feliciano nodded slightly, “It’s-a okay, I didn’t really understand what you guys were-a saying most of the time anyway.”
Ludwig was still leaned against the wall, firsts opening and closing as he breathed deeply. He hated the Omega reflexes... right now they were pushing him to seek out comforting. Normally that was embarrassing enough, but in front of this Alpha? The one that smelled so good he was already feeling like the Omega his father pushed him towards being? No... He shoved off the wall frowning, "You're welcome to stay for dinner. I'm going to go get it started."
“Oh, I can-a help if you’d like! I cook at home all the time, and besides, it does seem like I caused a bit of trouble by being here in the first place, so let me make it-a up to you!” Feliciano smiled brightly. Ludwig was about to refuse the help, it was his house, Feliciano was a guest... guests didn't cook. Plus, he feared what condition his kitchen would end up in... But then Gilbert grinned and pulled the Italian into a hug.
“I don’t care if you’re an Alpha or not, you’re just so freaking cute!” That caused Feliciano to blush, and Ludwig to frown.
“U-Um, thanks?” Feliciano chuckled slightly and gave an awkward smile at the albino Alpha, squirming slightly. Ludwig felt strangely jealous at the contact between the two, how easy Gilbert made it look and how little Feliciano fought it.
"Come on." Ludwig said sternly grabbing Feliciano's hand and dragging him away from his over-zealous brother and into the kitchen. He heard Gilbert huff, but he didn't care, this was his- wait, no. Stop that thought right there! He turned more red, releasing the Italian's hand to lean over the sink trying to calm himself and gain a fraction of his usual control.
“So, what should we make?” The question startled him, he hadn't actually considered that... what on earth could they... He had said he liked pasta... didn't they have some sort of noodle in this kitchen? maybe something with wurst?
"Uh... I'm not sure..." He said as he straightened up, "I usually stick to potatoes, sausages, that kind of thing... unless it's baking..."
Feliciano smiled, “Well I’m-a sure we can find some nice juicy sausages around here somewhere!”
Gilbert's roaring laughter broke through from the living room, Feliciano looking perplexed towards the sound, while Ludwig turned red... again. The Italian shrugged it off, looking around the kitchen, but Ludwig growled, moving to the doorway and hanging out of it, looking towards the living room to yell at his brother in German, "If you don't shut the hell up, Gilbert, I swear I will kill you!"
"Oh don't worry Luddy, I'll be quiet while you two enjoy some nice juicy sausages!" Gilbert said laughing louder.
Ludwig took a moment to think of all the horrible ways he could kill him in that moment... but turned his back, going back into the kitchen settling on the thought that he'd be hiding some of the dogs deposits somewhere in Gilbert's room... maybe the heater...
He was suffering a temporary mind melt a second later however when he had blindly walked into the kitchen and straight into the tiny Alpha, grabbing him to stop him from falling and successfully dosing himself in the scent he was already fighting to resist. He was frozen for a second, but thankfully Feliciano spoke, chuckling, "Whoa! That was a close one huh Ludwig?" The Alpha was smiling up at him and he swallowed dryly.
"Uh... yeah... sorry..." He let go, stepping back and running his fingers over his slicked back hair. God... could he get more awkward? "What do you want me to do... for dinner, w-what did you want to make?"
Feliciano smiled more, “I found pasta!” He held up the package of, now slightly broken, spaghetti he had found in the cupboard, “I also saw some sausages in the freezer. We’ll have to heat them up, but you said that you cook them a lot so that shouldn’t be hard for you to do right?” Gilbert broke out laughing again. Ludwig closed his eyes and sighed, vowing his revenge was going in Gilbert's pillow case too, before nodding.
Soon the kitchen was filled with the smell of food cooking. the sausages were sliced up and frying. as Ludwig watched them, making sure they didn't burn. He was use to being in the kitchen. Being the only Omega around anymore, he took over the cleaning and cooking. He kept the house spotless and the three of them fed... Along with his dogs, who were all now laying in various places in the kitchen.
He had let them in shortly after starting the frying pan, he was also used to picking over them as he moved around. He wasn't certain How Feliciano was going to handle it though. As it turned out, the Alpha handled working around the dogs just fine.
Ludwig however...
Not use to having someone else in the kitchen on top of his past embarrassments for the day had him a bit distracted. So when he turned to grab the onion from the counter by the fridge, he tripped over a dog, crashing directly into the Alpha again. Only this time taking him down as well.
They landed with a hard thud on the ground, Ludwig cringing, as pain shot through his elbow. He opened his eyes, and turned pink as he realized he was looking down on Feliciano's shirt under his cheek.
"Vee, are you alright Luddy...?" Feliciano asked.
"y-yeah... I..." Ludwig looked up, noticing the Alpha rubbing his head and opened his mouth to apologize words getting caught in his throat as he looked up, into the other's brown eyes. Feliciano's eyes locked on his, and a blush spread across the Italian's face. he could feel the Alpha’s heart beating faster, and he was sure his was matching it. Now he felt every bit an Omega, stuck in that spot, completely unwilling to leave that look or scent...
Gilbert’s voice broke the spell, “Hey, is everything alright in here? I heard a crash.” Ludwig was frozen in embarrassment, as there was a brief pause, “Uh, am I interrupting something here…?”
"I just fell," Ludwig said simply, getting up while trying not to scramble. He didn't need another thing for Gilbert to pick on later... He held out a hand to help Feliciano up, other hand on his hip as he looked away from both Alpha's trying to compose himself, recovering from the smell by breathing through his mouth.
The Alpha took it, letting himself be pulled up, “Ve, thanks.” He replied, dusting himself off.
Gilbert smiled, “So, how much longer until dinner? I’m starving!” He chuckled, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway. Ludwig turned back to the pan, busying himself thankfully.
"It takes as long as it take Gilbert." He sighed looking at the food that was going, "But it shouldn't be too much longer... You'll survive I'm sure."
Gilbert sighed, “Alright, let me know when it’s done.”
Feliciano answered with a bubbly, "Okay!" and the pair returned to the meal.
When it was done, everyone sat at the table enjoying the food. It wasn't half bad. Not exactly the kind of thing he would generally eat, it was a bit overly seasoned... but good non-the-less. He looked over at the small Alpha, having sat across from him rather than beside. He wasn't sure what to say, he wasn't a very talkative person, but he attempted anyway, "It's good." he said before taking another bite.
Feliciano smiled brightly, “Yeah! I’ve never made pasta with sausage before, so I’m glad it turned out so good!” Ludwig gave a smile smile, but it faded into slight exhaustion as his brother smiled and spoke again.
“It’s pretty awesome, and that’s saying a lot coming from the awesome me!” He laughed happily, “So Feli, do you live in the area?”
Feliciano looked over at him and nodded with a smile, “Si, I live with my grandpa at the moment, but I’m looking for my own place. My big brother Romano moved out a while ago to live with his mate, Antonio. He’s really nice, and he’s learning how to be a cook!”
Ludwig of course had heard all this on their walk earlier... then again it was hard to pick out much of what he had said when he spoke so fast, "They sound nice" Ludwig said, taking a drink of his water. He'd mentioned Lovino, his twin, was an Omega. Ludwig's head filled with images of a Feliciano double and he couldn't help but feel a little twinge of jealousy at how easy that Omega must fit into his orientation...
Gilbert nodded in agreement and smirked, “Yeah, though don’t get any ideas of running off with Feli just yet Luddy, you’ve still got your high school exams coming up!”
Feliciano choked, and Ludwig fought to keep the water in his mouth, swallowing painfully his cheeks flaring red as he gasped and coughed, "Huh?!" He said looking over at Gilbert with eyes full shock of promises of pain.
Gilbert chuckled, the smirk on his face widening, “What, you two look cute together, I could so see you guys being a couple!”
Ludwig's eye were wide and his face was on fire. He risked a brief glance at the similarly red Alpha across from him. His hands went to cover his face, elbow's leaned against the table as he grumbled, "I hate you so much east..." The images of that were in his brain now! They weren't exactly bad... but that also made it worse!
Gilbert laughed, "I love you too, West!" Suddenly Ludwig was pulled into a hold, a fist against his hair, messing it up. He grunted, trying to pull away, when he did Feliciano spoke.
“Ve, I should-a head home before nonno starts to worry about me.” He stood up and offered a smile to Gilbert and Ludwig, “It was-a nice meeting you two, feel free to-a come over any time!”
Ludwig stood and nodded, hair now falling in his eyes, "I'll walk you out" He said ignoring whatever smug look he was sure Gilbert was probably wearing as he walked with the brunette to the front door trying to brush it back into place, "Thank you for... uh..." He had intended on saying coming, but really the Italian had just... followed him home... "Dinner" He finished.
“Thank you for having me, even if I-a did kinda just follow you here.” Feliciano chuckled lightly gave an apologetic smile, before going for a more cheerful smile, “Still, I really do mean it, feel free to-a come over and visit me any time, okay?”
Ludwig's mouth twitched up and he nodded "Yeah, for sure."
Ludwig watched the Alpha head down the driveway before going back inside. Part of him was glad to be free of whatever instinct driven web he’d been caught in… The other was a little disappointed that he’d neglected to ask where exactly Feliciano lived. But it was probably all for the best, he didn't need to get caught up in whatever that was until he was finished with school at least.