Sonnets
[ @amoremai answered]
Feliciano nearly held his breath for a moment, passing his fingertips delicately over the cover of the book. It was a beautifully bound copy of Francesco Petrarca’s sonnets, the details on the cover some of the most intricate he’s seen in years. Books like these were hard to find these days. He was almost a little breathless when Ludwig spoke, seeming uncertain of himself as he stammered something about getting something out.
Feliciano looked up at Ludwig again, beaming at him with a brilliant smile. “No, no! I…” he trailed off for a moment, laughing quietly to himself as he looked down at the book. “I love it…. I really love it, Ludwig!” his laugh grew louder as he threw his arms around the German’s shoulders in a tight hug.
In all honesty, Ludwig had spent what would most likely be considered as a rather frivolous amount of time searching for a gift that he could deem appropriate for the Italian. As Feliciano looked up at him with that smile beaming across his face however, Ludwig knew that the time invested in finding the book was worth it. In fact, it was more than worth it. The time he had dedicated to finding that book was worthless in comparison to the delighted joy it brought his companion.
Words cannot express the shock that the poor German’s nervous system received after having been lulled to sleep by a wave of relief only to be electrified as he suddenly found Feliciano’s arms around his neck. For a second he could do nothing but remain a stunned statue, but after a blink of the eye he wrapped his arms around his friend’s torso rather awkwardly and smiled. “I’m glad,” he said softly, given that the Italian’s ear was close enough to his mouth that it would be impossible not to hear. “Only the best for a friend like you,” he continued, letting Feliciano go and waiting for his own release with a slight regret, as though he didn’t really want to be freed.
