A soft sigh.

Ludwig looked away from his laptop, in search of the source of the noise. Perhaps it was one of the dogs…? No. It was Feliciano, peering at him over the arm of the couch, giving the German his best 'Lonely Spainel' look. Ludwig sighed. It was too hot for this.

"Come on. But let me work. This needs to be done by Monday."

The Italian leapt onto the couch gleefully- he was wearing pants (well, boxers) for once- and proceeded to snuggle Ludwig.

It was really too hot for this. But a little discomfort was far and away better than the whining and sighing and "But Ludwig~!"s he'd be subjected to if he refused.

The problem was that between the laptop and Feliciano, the really wasn't much room to work with. Ludwig had to crane his neck and position his wrists awkwardly to work. But he sucked it up and let Feliciano remain where he was. The reason for this was…still unknown to Ludwig.

Feliciano, as it were, was a fidgeter. He remained completely silent (miraculously), but kept rolling over, sprawling out, twisting and turning, trying to get comfortable. Ludwig did his best to keep his laptop steady. He…just had…one more…report to finish…!

With another sigh, Feliciano brushed his hand against Ludwig's chest. He knew he wasn't supposed to bother the German while he was working, but he was bored! Work could wait until later!

When that got no reaction, besides a single raised eyebrow that didn't even stay raised for very long, Feliciano tried two more times in rapid succession. This time, Ludwig looked up, furrowed his eyebrows and went back to work.

Feliciano was on the verge of tears. Didn't Ludwig love him anymore? Had Feliciano done something wrong? He didn't think so…Maybe Ludwig was finally sick of him, after all these years!

The Italian was only a moment away from bursting into tears and running off to drown his sorrows in pasta until he was calm enough to call Big Brother Francis for some advice, when he heard the familiar 'bing!' of Ludwig's laptop shutting down.

He looked up at the larger nation, his warm brown eyes full of tears and confusion.

"It's too hot to work today," said Ludwig, petting Feliciano's hair as he set his computer aside, "But if you wanted my attention so badly…there are easier ways to get it. Would you like to, perhaps…go to the park? There is an open-air performance of 'The Magic Flute'…"

And so, if only for one day, work was put aside in favor of necessary frivolities, like music…and good company…and a single, warm kiss underneath the stars in the cooling summer evening.

AN: Pretty much everything up untill Germany asks Italy out on a date happened between me and my dog. (Which is why Feli is sans lines here..._) I have two dogs, and they both act like the respective older and younger Italy brothers! (Yus, they are spainels. 3)