Lovino is complaining to Feliciano about his major. Terrible right?

…

Right?

Here, let's elaborate a little bit, so you can get the full idea.

Feliciano Vargas was the artistic kid in High School. You know the type: someone who was so creative everyone simply incorporated him into their art plans. Need someone to design the new background for the play? Get Feliciano, he does stuff like that in his sleep. Need a sign to hang over the entrance of the school? Where's Feliciano, he can paint letters straight without a ruler.

Feliciano was also someone who was assumed to excel at all things that didn't involve academics. Having a bake sale? Feliciano knows about ten Italian recipes that he can give you, or give him a week and he'll bake all of them for you. Oh, the lead singer of the chorus got sick? Feliciano knows that song, get him on that. Feliciano was so earnest in his talents, so simply good, that people couldn't even become jealous of his skills.

Indeed, everyone at Feliciano's small, private high school expected Feliciano to become some world renowned artist, or set designer, or singer. Lovino, Feliciano's older brother, constantly gave Feliciano brochures of art colleges he deemed acceptable. The guidance counselors talked to Feliciano about internship opportunities to help out art gallery owners. Feliciano's grandpa bought Feliciano brand new paints, sketchbooks, and an easel for his senior year graduation.

What most people didn't know, or really pay attention to, was the fact that Feliciano actually received pretty decent grades. This is the important thing to remember.

Feliciano applied for a couple of Arts colleges, and the same college Lovino was attending. Lovino thought this a little strange, as Hetalia University didn't have the best art program, but he didn't think too much of it.

Feliciano's friends and family were a bit more confused when Feliciano was overjoyed at being accepted in to Hetalia University.

They were more concerned when Feliciano bought his school books. Instead of 'Art History,' 'Art Theory,' or other such titles, Feliciano's books held much more worrying monikers. These included: 'Foreign Affairs in Regards to the US,' 'An Introduction to Legal Reasoning,' and most troublingly of all, 'Law 101.' The friends and family, not the brightest bunch, persisted on, buying Feliciano more paints and baking pans.

It wasn't until the end of summer break when Lovino walked in on Feliciano watching the early morning news on television when he feared he had mistaken what Feliciano was going to school for. He casually sat down next to Feliciano on the couch, watching Feliciano stare at the TV screen, enraptured.

"Hey, Feli, I never did ask, but what exactly are you majoring in?" Lovino asked, taking a sip from his coffee cup.

Feliciano smiled and looked over, the physical manifestation of happiness. "Pre-Law, you know that."

Lovino spat coffee all over the living room.

For the next few days before classes started at Hetalia University, Feliciano was very confused as to why his friends and family were suddenly so insistent that he change his major. After all, they had known about his major since he bought his books, Hetalia University was one of the best Law schools in the country, and he had straight up told them he was going into Pre-Law. Twice. Feliciano was left struggling to explain that yes, he was sure he picked the right major, and no, he was not going to transfer schools at the last second. Feliciano departed for college in a haze of confusion on both parties' side.

Unfortunately, Feliciano's personal money he had saved had only stretched so far that summer. It had been between a car or college books, so Feliciano was forced to hitch a ride with his brother to Hetalia University.

This is where we left off. Lovino is complaining to Feliciano about his choice in his major.

"I don't understand," Feliciano exclaimed, cutting of Lovino's rant and throwing his hands in the air, "I told you I was going into Pre-Law! Why are you making such a big deal about it?"

"I'm making a big deal about this because you could paint the next Mona Lisa!" Lovino snapped. "Except, you know, with eyebrows." Lovino rolled down his window to scream at a passing driver in Italian before turning back to Feliciano. "I just want you to be happy doing what you're doing. Is going into law really going to do that?"

Feliciano understood and sighed affectionately, reaching over to pat Lovino on the head. "Thank you for being worried! I love you, too!"

"Fuck off," Lovino snapped, nearly swerving off the road to bat away Feliciano's hands. "We're almost there, so I'll drop you at the Admission's office and go throw my shit by the curb then swing back to get you, okay?"

Feliciano hummed, leaning back in the passenger seat as if he was looking up at Hetalia's buildings. It took another fifteen minutes to arrive, but when they did, Feliciano was already in the position to see the architecture.

Hetalia University had a gorgeous campus. Huge trees dotted the land, and it would almost seem like a park if not for the giant, ancient buildings that classes were taught in. The dorm rooms were slightly more modern, but the school compensated by having even more trees surrounding the living space. Feliciano knew instantly he would have to draw this place.

Lovino commented dryly on the buildings as they drove by them. "That building, there, gets so fucking cold in the winter you have to wear gloves. That one leaks when it rains, and so the professor puts buckets all over the tabletops and then you can't put your notebook down to take notes. That one, with the broken window? someone always throws a brick through the glass every time it gets fixed."

Feliciano nodded and half-listened, still admiring the landscape. He wasn't too worried about Lovino's complaining, because his older brother wouldn't have come back for a second year if he hadn't like the college. Lovino's old, tired Volvo pulled into the Admission Office's parking lot, and Feliciano was opening the car door when Lovino pressed on the gas. The car zoomed forward, and they left the parking lot as fast as they had arrived.

Feliciano managed to swing the door shut before turning to his brother and pouting, "Hey, why did you leave? I have to get my dorm room—"

Lovino didn't answer and kept driving, eyes glued to the road, hands gripping the steering wheel. Finally, after he threw Feliciano a peculiar look, he explained, "The creepy ass gardener was there. You and I don't associate with the creepy ass gardener."

Feliciano frowned. "Who?"

Lovino shook his head and hit the brakes hard, pulling up to his dorm building. Feliciano saw three people idly gathered around a car parked in front of Lovino's, with a forth beginning to haul bags out of the back of the car. Lovino had talked briefly about his friends at Hetalia, and Feliciano was interested to know who had thick enough skin to be friend with his brother. All Feliciano needed to be sure Lovino was friends with the group was the lazy wave his brother gave as he turned off the ignition. Feliciano jumped out of the car and ran up, imaginary tail wagging. He was a bit thrown when he saw all four were blond.

"Hi! I'm Feliciano!"

Lovino, not interested that Feliciano was trying to make friends, opened the car door and stepped out, yelling at Feliciano, "Hey, asshole! Help me get my stuff!"

A tall blond with gravity defying hair grinned at the brothers from the crouched position in the trunk of his car."No shit! Romano, is this your little brother you're always gloating about?"

Lovino grunted and walked around to the back of his car, unlocking the trunk before standing next to Feliciano. "Yes, this is Feliciano. Feli, this is Mathias," the blond who had spoken before hopped out of the trunk and bowed, "Tino," a shy boy smiled and waved, "Berwald," a scary, scary man inclined his head, "and Lukas, my roommate."

Feliciano grinned at everyone, waving enthusiastically. "Hey, everyone! I'm Feliciano, and I'm majoring in Pre-Law."

For some weird reason, Mathias burst out laughing, earning himself a sharp punch in the shoulder from Lukas. "Good luck with that, kid," he muttered through chortles.

Lovino rolled his eyes, scowling. "Yeah, that's what I said. Mathias, Feliciano needs to borrow your bike to ride to the Admission Office. The Gardener was hanging out there, and I didn't feel like getting molested."

Mathias raised an eyebrow. "You slept with the gardener before you left for the summer."

Feliciano tilted his head and looked over at Lovino for explanation. He had never heard this piece of information at the dinner table.

Lovino's eye twitched. "Bike, Mathias."

"I don't want to share my bike—" Lukas trotted away quietly, Feliciano noticed, "And you did sleep with him! You don't even deny it anymore."

"I didn't." Lovino said slowly, like he was talking to a slow child.

"Yes, yes you did!" Mathias turned to Tino, "Didn't he?"

Tino laughed, even though nothing was funny. His gaze shifted between Feliciano and Lovino, and he laughed again, blushing. "Feliciano, why did you decide to major in Pre-Law? Seems a little stuffy!"

Feliciano smiled, "Oh, I want to become an Ambassador to Italy." This 'Gardener' would have to be investigated at a different time.

Tino blinked, "Oh, wow, that's pretty interesting."

Lukas returned with a battered bike painted red and white and gave it to Feliciano. Mathias saw this and turned on Lukas, frowning. "Hey, that's my bike!"

Feliciano hopped on the bike and began to pedal away, deciding Lovino's friends were good people. Except for Mathias. And maybe Berwald. Berwald seemed like he'd seen some things. Tino acted like a good person, anyways.

Feliciano pedaled the way Lovino had driven, waving to people he didn't know and grinning. Feliciano was excited to start college, and he already had some friends. He laughed and closed his eyes, stretching his legs out and letting momentum carry him forward.

And then he ran over someone's foot.

Feliciano skidded on the breaks, trying to apologize and not crash his bike. A tall blond with slicked back hair was cursing in a foreign language, trying not to lose his balance or drop the giant box he was carrying. Feliciano managed to fall off the bike and scramble toward the man.

"Whoopsie! I'm so sorry!" Feliciano's arms had trouble deciding how best to help the man, and they uselessly hovered beside the box. "I wasn't looking where I was going!"

"Ja, I could tell."

"Oh wow that's a funny accent, huh? Here let me take the box so you can make sure your foot isn't broken!" Feliciano forcefully took the box from the man, groaning under the weight. "Oh, that's heavier than I expected. My name's Feliciano, what's yours?"

"Don't drop it. It has some, uh, gaming stuff in it. I'm Ludwig Beilschmidt." Feliciano couldn't see Ludwig's face over the mound of 'gaming stuff,' but he didn't sound happy.

"Oh, well I'm sorry I broke your foot, Ludwig! Can you take the box back? I'm about to drop it!" As soon as the box as out of Feliciano's hands, he skipped away, waving behind him at Ludwig. "I have to go find my dorm room! Bye, Ludwig! I'm sorry again for breaking your foot."

"Yeah, bye," Ludwig muttered and turned away.

Feliciano shrugged and picked up Mathias' bike, mounting it while running. He hoped that his roommate wasn't as grumpy as that Ludwig-guy.

Thankfully, it was just a regular American.

Hetalia isn't mine.

Quick note: I'm hardcore USUK, so FrUK beware. :) Also: PruAus, and secret pairings.

I have a couple chapters of this written, so there should be a buffer where I'll update regularly. Please, please, PLEASE mention any mistakes you see, and critiques are welcome!

EDIT: Chapter Beta'd by the lovely kheelwithit.