Gilbert's time is finally running out. Ludwig, with a little help, makes a drastic decision that will bind his brother to him... forever.
This idea was inspired by a mention in my other fic about Germany's secrets, in which he mentions Alfred's idea that Gilbert is a vampire. I ran with the idea. So I guess this an AU.
Warning: will eventually contain boyxboy and Germancest. You have been warned.
Disclaimer: The concept and characters used in this story are not mine. I only took them out to play.
Brothers in Blood
Chapter 1
Shifting again, Ludwig kicked off the heavy comforter. Snow fluttered past the window, softly illuminated in the pale light. He sighed, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes. Another night without sleep. He was exhausted and it showed itself in the dark circles and snappish tone. Everyone was victim to his dark mood, save the one asleep next to him, who also happened to be the cause of most of the stress.
Turning on his side, Ludwig propped his head up on his hand. Gilbert lay curled next to him, cocooned in the warm blankets. His back was to Ludwig, who recalled how once, long ago, Gilbert had told him stories of how he used to sleep curled around his sword, back when he was a knight. Now, swordless, he curled around his small yellow chick, he himself curled in Ludwig's protective embrace.
Just over a year ago, the wall dividing them was opened and they were able to see each other again. After that, they were barely in separate rooms. Gilbert seemed to hold the same reluctance Ludwig did to let the other out of his sight. He had felt a change stirring in him; last time he felt something like this was when the German Confederation was forming. It was like puzzle pieces snapping together. And now that Germany had been reunified... he didn't want to admit it to himself, but Gilbert was running on borrowed time.
Just how long would he last now? He had surrendered Königsberg, now Kaliningrad, to Russia years ago. East Germany had returned to Ludwig. The remains of Prussia have been scattered like leaves in the wind. With no purpose, there was no point to Gilbert's existence. How long before Death in his grim visage visited and took him away?
These thoughts plagued Ludwig's mind, keeping him awake at night. And when he did manage to sleep, nightmares haunted him. Nightmares full of screams, of Gilbert being ripped from his arms, of waking up to an empty bed.
Ludwig sat up quickly, startled out of his sleep. He looked around. It was still dark, still snowing. The dogs were all asleep. No noises to indicate anyone else in the house. Gilbert beside him... Ludwig looked back over. Gilbert was on his back. Never, in the long years they had been together, had he ever seen Gilbert sleep on his back. His hands were crossed over the blankets, resting on his chest. He looked dead. Ludwig's breath caught in his throat. Just as he was about to shake the other, he caught something out of the corner of his eye.
This time, he actually stopped to stare. He was sure his mouth was hanging open. There, sitting on the edge of the bed next to his brother, sat the hazy form of Friedrich the Great. Ludwig's brain ground to a halt.
Although not visited as often as England or Norway, Ludwig was no stranger to ghosts. He had been raised in the Black Forest, after all, and had meet Ancient Rome once. For years he was haunted by those whose deaths he had caused. He paled as he realised what Friedrich's presence meant.
"Good evening, Ludwig. I apologize for disturbing your rest. Forgive me for being so informal, would you prefer Germany instead?" His German was accented, like Gilbert's had been so long ago. He spoke in a courtly manner.
"Whichever you prefer, Sir." It took him a minute to find his voice. Belatedly he realized he should bow or kneel, but his body still wasn't listening to his brain.
"I assume you know who I am." A small smile graced his aged features as he gazed at Ludwig.
"Of course, Sir."
"I see." The smile fell. Of course he knew, all of Germany had known this man. Hitler made sure of it, and so his great history had been twisted to suit a madman. Ludwig quickly backtracked.
"No, Sir! You misunderstand me! Gilbert spoke of you often and I... I always wished I could have known you." He relaxed slightly as the smile returned, accompanied by a twinkle in his eye.
"I too wished I could have been here to watch you grow. Unfortunately, our meeting is not on a happy occasion."
"Why are you here?" Ludwig wasn't stupid or naive, he knew why Gilbert's beloved king was here. But why the king? Friedrich seemed to understand.
"Dying is not an easy thing, Ludwig. I am here to help him and to guide him."
Ludwig shuddered at the truth. Now that the words had been spoken, he could not ignore them. He was about to lose Gilbert again, only this time forever.
"Please, no! I can't lose him again! I can't do this without him!" His voice seemed to come of its own accord, same as his hand, which had grabbed Gilbert's cool one. He bowed his head, unable to look the king in the eye. No doubt he thought Ludwig was weak and not a fit companion for the Prussian.
He felt an icy sensation on his shoulder; Friedrich had placed his hand there in a show of compassion. "You survived without him before. I know you can do it again."
When Ludwig tried to object, all that sounded was a sob.
"When I was dying, Gilbert begged me not to go. He told me the same things, that he could not survive without me. He has done well, however. I know you will as well. He is suffering right now, Ludwig."
"I'm so sorry, Gott, I'm so sorry. This is all my fault, everything that has happened to him is my fault. I took Prussia from him, your Kingdom is gone! The wars and after, all his suffering, is my fault! It's not fair that he suffered everything and now has to die. Take... take me in his place! Let him live, give him Germany. I will die in his stead." The dam Ludwig had been keeping on his feelings was finally broken. When he looked up, beseechingly, at the king, his cheeks were damp with tears.
"You know I cannot do that Ludwig. Nor does he blame you for his suffering. None of it was your fault. Things happen, empires come and go. He knows that, and bears you no ill-will."
"I... I'm sorry. He was yours first, and you two have been apart for so long. It is selfish of me to want to keep him here. To deny him the chance to be with you again."
"He would be the first to tell you he belongs to none but himself. But you know that he is very lonely, deep inside. I know that he has missed you while you were apart. He has had time to get over my death, and you helped him with that. Not only did you give him your love and attention, but you gave him a family. Do not think you are not important to him Ludwig." Friedrich chuckled. "As for being selfish, it is I who am being selfish for wanting to take him back with me. It is true that I have missed him, but I can see that you love him as much as I ever could."
"I do love him. I need him. He completes me. Germany may be reunited, East and West, but I do not feel whole without him."
"You know that will change when he passes. Anything he is holding on to will return to you."
"It won't be the same." Ludwig bowed his head over their hands, squeezing Gilbert's tightly. Silence reigned, Friedrich a hazy presence beside him.
"How long?"
"Probably within the hour. His body is weak."
"He won't wake before then, will he."
"I'm sorry Ludwig."
It was silent as the two kept vigil over Gilbert. Ludwig could feel his fading pulse through their joined hands and he squeezed harder, hoping to share his life-force. Tears marked his cheeks, unchecked.
"There is one thing you can do to bind him to you forever." Friedrich's voice was soft, hesitant, but Ludwig looked up right away.
"It requires a blood covenant to bind him to you. And only you. Forever. The only way to break it is death. If you die, he dies. Do you understand?"
"A blood covenant? So he would be like a vampire? What would that mean for him? Can he be harmed? How would it work?"
"You get your life energy from your people and lands. Since Gilbert no longer has people or lands, he is essentially starving to death and fading away. By drinking your blood, he will live off of your people and lands as well. But like I said, he can only be bound to one person. If anything happens to you and he cannot feed, he will starve to death again. But other than that, he can live a normal life. Food, sleep, sunlight. No one but the two of you would have to know."
"Do you... You know him best, do you think he would hate me for this?" Ludwig was hesitant. He wanted to say Yes right away, get on with the process, and keep Gilbert with him forever. But he would rather die himself than bind Gilbert into a life he hated.
Friedrich placed his hand on Ludwig's shoulder again. "He cares for you very much, Ludwig. I doubt he would balk at a chance to spend more time with you. And to terrorize the other nations, of course."
"Of course. What do I need to do?"
"Fetch a knife. It is almost time."
Ludwig reached for the knife he usually kept in the bedside table. Like with the gun beneath his pillow, he was always prepared. Just in case. Returning to Gilbert's side, he took his brother's hand in his and waited for Friedrich's next instruction.
Even as Friedrich told him it was time, he could feel the death shudder in both their bodies. Somewhere across town, the bell tower rang once as he sliced his wrist. A second ring sounded as his blood poured into Gilbert's mouth. A third ring as he felt the world shift, as if his land were struck by an earthquake.
There was no fourth ring, only silence once more filling the snowy air, as Ludwig sunk back onto the bed.