Elizabeta knew Gilbert wasn't perfect. Hell, he wasn't even close to it.
He was just a man who was overally confident. And Elizabeta liked that about him. It made him stand out. It made him feel empowered. Just as he was before the desolation.
He was strong when he held her in his arms. He was gentle and sweet whenever they curled up together to watch movies. He made her smile whenever she felt like crying. He picked her up whenever she fell down. He was her rock. Her best friend. He was everything that Elizabeta could ask for. And in return, she gave him the one thing that she could never take back. Even though it wasn't enough to pay him back for everything that he's done for her. Still, Gilbert was honored.
Whenever they were together, the world stood still as they rested in each other's arms. They didn't need to say anything at all. All they needed was to hear the beatings of their hearts and everything was alright.
Except..it really wasn't.
Gilbert always tried to hide what he was feeling from Elizabeta. His fears was the only thing he couldn't hide from her. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't.
"Gilbert..?" She finally spoke up, her head resting against his chest as they rested under the protection of a large oak tree as pale rays of sunlight broke through the branches and warmed their faces.
"Hm..?" He hummed, holding her by her waist close to him, not ever wanting to let her go as if she were his life force. In a way..she was.
Elizabeta couldn't help but smile from the way he was holding her. Raising one of her hands, she gently gripped at the front of his shirt. "..Why will you never tell me what's wrong?"
At her question, Gilbert frowned. Sighing, he opened his eyes to stare up into the sky where the sunlight made his eyes shine like rubies. "..Because I don't want to worry you."
Hearing his reply, she picked her head up from his chest, reaching up to gently cup his face into her hands and made him stare at her. "You worry me when you never tell me. Please, Gilbert.." She pleaded, hoping to get him to at least tell her something.
Even still, Gilbert shook his head, grabbing hold of her small hands in his own. "I can't, Liz."
Slowly, Elizabeta interlocked their fingers as tears began to well her in her eyes. "I know that you think you're weak. I know you think you're not as strong as you used to be. I know you're scared of waking up one day and you'll be nothing but a distant memory. I know..that you only put up this cocky facade so people don't realise how far you've fallen. I know you're scared, Gilbert. But you aren't the only one who is!" Elizabeta listened off the things she knew about him, the tears streaming down her rosy cheeks while Gilbert just stared in surprise to the Hungarian who knew so much even though he never told her a word.
A small smile managed to form on the Prussian's face as he wrapped his arms around his Hungarian one more time, feeling his own tears beginning to burn in his eyes as he kissed the side of her head. "..You're right, Lizzie. I am scared. But you know what?"
Elizabeta, still crying wasn't able to answer as she clung to the front of Gilbert's shirt. A small hiccup escaped her as Gilbert let out a small laugh before he whispered his 'secret' into her ear.
"But that's why I have you."