"Wake up!" The high pitched, loving voice rang in Krebs' ears as he reluctantly opened one eye. Rolling around, he looked up to recognize his boyfriend's round race and gleaming blue eyes.
"Seriously, Burgy?" Krebs grumbled. "I know you're the one who sleeps until noon, but I'm tired today."
"Tough luck," Burgdorf purred, shoving him playfully. "It's Valentine's Day, so happy Valentine's Day! Now come on! I already fed your fish for you, and I have an idea for how we can spend today! Also, don't forget, it's my birthday tomorrow, so this doesn't count. I mean, it does, but …" His voice trailed off as Krebs put two fingers on his lips. "Okay, okay, sorry for rambling, but get up!"
Krebs gazed into Burgdorf's sparkling blue eyes, shrugging off his annoyance at being woken up earlier. How can I be annoyed when I see him this happy? "I'm up, I'm up, and yes, happy Valentine's Day." He dragged himself off of the bed, holding onto Burgdorf's broad shoulders for support.
"I've never seen you sleep that long," Burgdorf mused.
"Yes, because I'm the one always waking you up!" Krebs chuckled, elbowing Burgdorf in his stomach. Oh, if only he knew what I planned for him. "Just let me change."
"I can watch," Burgdorf offered.
"No, love, because you need to go see what's in the drawer near the stove," Krebs told him.
"A present for me?" With a grunt of excitement, Burgdorf hurried away from their room and towards the kitchen. Krebs chuckled. He's like a kid on his favorite days. Not wanting to leave Burgdorf alone, Krebs changed quickly in his general uniform and followed his boyfriend to the kitchen. Burgdorf was standing near the stove, his arms crossed.
"Did you really tell me to go here while it's locked?" Burgdorf asked, pouting.
"May have forgotten that," Krebs said, flashing Burgdorf a mischievous look. Burgdorf rolled his eyes as Krebs reached for the key. "Honestly, I only locked it because I knew you'd find it sooner or later, and you wouldn't be able to control yourself."
"Who says?" Burgdorf challenged, his piercing eyes focused on the key Krebs had taken. Krebs unlocked the drawer, grunting as Burgdorf pushed him to the side and opened the drawer. "Oh, you didn't!"
"I did," Krebs confirmed. "I scoured Berlin for them, and had to pull a few favors from Fegelein, but I did get my hands on them."
"And you didn't eat any! You left them all for me!" Burgdorf spun around, holding a heart shaped box of booze filled chocolates. He put them down for a moment and launched himself into Krebs' arms, trapping him in a tight embrace. Krebs eased into it, and the two, after a few brief moments of hugging, began to make out. Burgdorf was the one to pull away as he hurried back over to the food. "Okay, here's the thing, I'm gonna watch the intake, because I'm taking you to the best restaurant in Berlin! It has the best alcohol, and there's a few things I think you'd like." Once more, his cerulean eyes gleamed. "Let me just … um … yeah, I'm having a few, and then we can go."
Krebs laid back as he watched Burgdorf devour three of the alcohol filled chocolates with enthusiasm. When the third was down his throat, he swallowed and got up. "Okay, let's go!"
Holding back a chortle, Krebs followed the tufty haired general towards their car. For once, it hadn't snowed on this day, leaving Krebs to breath a sigh of relief.
"Yeah, I'm driving," Krebs told Burgdorf as he headed towards the driver's seat.
"But you never let me drive!" Burgdorf exclaimed. He hiccupped, and glanced at Krebs sheepishly.
"I think that's why," Krebs countered. He kissed Burgdorf's cheek. "Let me do it this time."
"This is my present to you though," Burgdorf argued.
"And it still is. Just tell me where to go."
Burgdorf let out another hiccup, and then sighed. "Fine. But just to let you know, I'm sober. It's when we're there that I most likely won't be." He grudgingly trekked towards the front seat, but gave Krebs a look of such affection that it burst Krebs' heart.
Krebs got into the driver's seat, listening to Burgdorf's apparent 'directions', which were full of him trying to figure out his left from his right by using his fingers. He's adorable. Finally, after about ten minutes, Burgdorf spoke. "Stop here! I think this is it - it said after two rights, and I think we took them …"
Krebs nodded, lifting his head to see what Burgdorf was talking about. The restaurant was a large building located between two shopping stores. Burgdorf turned to Krebs. "Just so you know, before we go there, it's really fancy, but I asked before and the alcohol is absolutely fantastic apparently. Anyways, it's basically based on all parts of the world, so you know what the menu is? It's a map! And you can point at it as much as you want. There's a fish tank in there too, full with exotic species that you can't see anywhere else."
"Really?" Krebs gazed at Burgdorf, touched. He went through all of this for me. Excitement tugged at Krebs' chest as he looked forward to what his blonde boyfriend had prepared for him.
"Really," Burgdorf said, heading out of the car. "I could do for some good schnaps, or vermouth. Or cognac. You know what? Any alcohol will do." He hooked an arm around Krebs' neck and led him in. Krebs smiled at his exuberant boyfriend.
When Krebs walked in, he was astounded. Burgdorf had been right - the restaurant was appealing to almost every country in the world, and it was plastered with maps. Krebs fought the urge to point at every single one of them. He dragged his eyes to the fish tank - it was too far for him to study closely, but he hoped he had the chance to.
"And you will," breathed a voice in Krebs' ear. Krebs turned around, seeing his boyfriend's shining eyes. He reads my mind. "Come on, I just checked the both of us in, but you didn't notice 'cause you were zoning out."
Not able to find words that were able to accurately express his glee, Krebs followed Burgdorf towards a seat in the German sector of the restaurant. Much to Krebs' elation, it was right next to the massive fish tank.
"I knew you'd like it," Burgdorf boasted as Krebs turned his gaze to him.
"Like it? I love it!" Krebs exclaimed, pressing his lips on Burgdorf's with no warning. Burgdorf grunted in a startled response, but ended up returning the kiss. Burgdorf pulled away, smiling softly at him.
"Let's sit," he suggested, and Krebs nodded fervently, sitting across from him in their table that was near the fish tank. "Okay, look at the menu."
Krebs opened the menu, holding back a shrill squeak of joy as e realized that it was indeed resembling a map, with several countries to point at. Instinctively, Krebs pointed at Berlin. "Burgdorf, this is fantastic!"
"You like it?" Burgdorf asked, biting his lip nervously.
"Of course! I never knew this place existed, and the fact that you found it and you brought me here … Burgdorf, this is phenomenal! And I didn't even get to point out the fish!" Oh, he really tried, and it's amazing! As Krebs gazed into Burgdorf's eyes, he knew this was what happiness felt like. Just being next to him is my favorite place in the world. He warms my soul, he fills me with love and he keeps my heart beating and my eyes full with fire. If this isn't joy, I don't know what is.
"I'm glad," Burgdorf breathed. "I really am." He looked up as a waitress hovered over the both of them, and it seemed that Burgdorf wasted no time. "A rum and coke, please." He glanced at Krebs. "I won't go overboard, we've still got some stuff left to do. Oh, and the pumpkin fig ravioli."
Krebs chuckled. "Ah, you got me. I'll just have a martini, and um … the grilled pork tenderloin." He nodded to the waitress as she took the menus away, and he turned to Burgdorf. "Ravioli?"
Burgdorf shrugged. "Doesn't hurt to try new things. Now, come on, tell me what you think of the fish!" He nodded to the fish tank.
"Well, there's a lot of exotic ones - look, there's the zebra pleco. It's really shy, it's cool how they're able to be seen in this aquarium." He pointed towards the slender fish, with sharp black stripes running lengthwise across its body, with vertical stripes behind its eyes and along its shoulder.
"It does look like a zebra," Burgdorf agreed. "I wonder if it tastes good."
Krebs shot Burgdorf a death glare.
"Kidding," Burgdorf laughed. "Kidding." His eyes focused on another fish, which was a hot orange with a dark mask across its face. "What about that one? It's a weird color."
"It's a red bulu point," Krebs explained. "The female is usually duller - so this one's a male, because it's really bright. The weird thing about these fish is that they're not aggressive, while other fish of similar species are."
The food came rather quick. Between their eating, Burgdorf's enthusiastic drinking of alcohol, and him listening to Krebs pointing out and talking about every single fish, the night went by fast, but Krebs could not think of anywhere else he would rather be. When the two of them were full to their stomachs, and Krebs had run out of fish to explain, Burgdorf laid back. "Okay, I'm not drunk enough to go on with our next activity. It's pretty dark outside - damn February - but we need it to be dark. Hold on … let me just pay."
"Why can't I pay?" Krebs asked.
"Because this is my gift for you." Without waiting for a protest, Burgdorf got up, taking the bill and walking - a tad lopsided - over to the front desk. Krebs followed him, feeling guilt wash over him at the fact that Burgdorf was doing so much. When Burgdorf was done paying, and the two walked outside, Krebs instantly caught Burgdorf in another make out session.
"Burgy," Krebs murmured, "that was fantastic. Like, I don't even know what to say. The food was fantastic, the map menu, all the fish …"
"Yes, cuddle-fish," Burgdorf purred. "That doesn't mean we're done. Ever climb to the top of the Reich Chancellery - the Court of Honor?"
"No," Krebs said. "Why? Have you?"
"Well, drive us there and it'll be our first time," Burgdorf told him. "I'm sober enough."
If you say so. Krebs pecked Burgdorf's cheek one more time and got into the car, bringing the two of them to the Reich Chancellery. Burgdorf climbed out of the car, examining the building. "Hm. I can do this."
"Indeed you can," Krebs assured him. "But … um … I have a fear of heights. You know that."
"And I can help you get over that!" Burgdorf exclaimed. "Come on - it's not hard, you just need to use your legs and hands, and for Christ's sake, if you're afraid of heights, don't look down while you climb." He blinked lovingly at Krebs and bounded over to the building, making his way up towards the top of the Court of Honor.
"Oh, God help me," Krebs muttered under his breath. "I'm coming!" He trekked over to the bottom of the building, and, groaning inwardly, started to climb. At first, his progress was well until he reached the top. He accidentally kicked out his foot, and terror engulfed him as he felt air beneath him. But it was gone when Krebs felt weight on his hand, and he turned to see Burgdorf dragging him up towards the top.
"Seriously, Krebs? Of course you'd pick the time you were almost there to fall." Burgdorf chuckled and hooked an arm around him. Krebs grunted, settling next to his boyfriend.
"Do you think Speer minds up being up here?" Krebs asked. "He built it, after all."
"He'll be fine," Burgdorf said. "Okay, we're both up. Now, look down!"
Krebs caught his breath as he looked down at the city of Berlin beneath them. The vast fields of lights in the dark glinted like groups of fireflies. It was alive with light, as if someone had taken out a handful of glitter and sprinkled it across the city. It stole his breath away in the most majestic way possible.
"It looks like the stars fell from the sky," Burgdorf commented.
"Yeah," Krebs agreed. "Definitely. We haven't done this in a while."
"That's why I did it," Burgdorf murmured, nuzzling Krebs' neck. Krebs smiled.
"Thanks for today, Burgdorf," Krebs said. "Really. Thanks."
"It's no problem," Burgdorf purred. "I love you."
"I love you too." And as Krebs gazed into Burgdorf's eyes, and rested against his side, he knew this was true love. He always had known, but he did like recalling. This was love. He loved him more than the bad days ahead of them, more than any fight the woud ever had, more than any obstacle that would ever come between them. "Happy Valentine's Day."
"Happy Valentine's Day too. We'll make this the best day ever when we get home tonight, correct?"
"Absolutely."