Hand print

Gilbert wasn't sure what had compelled him to look at old memories, going through West's garage to see what he could find. Like a treasure hunt, an adventure, he could lose himself in all those old times. All those old battles. All those old objects. All those memories, just waiting to be recalled.

He dug through a box he hadn't seen for what felt like over a century. But it couldn't have been that long, could it? His fingers met blue cloth, and he pulled out his old jacket, fingering the frayed hem, the gold colored clasps. It smelled stale like moths balls, the stitching was coming out at the cuff and there was that blood stain he'd never managed to get out...

Digging deeper he found swords, some journals, his beloved hat. He flipped through a book. Out slipped a piece of paper. It still seemed perfectly new, well preserved, not old at all. He flipped it over.

Red eyes widened a fraction. Against the white paper was a small black hand print, with the words "to onii-chan" written underneath. He remembered the day Ludwig had tearfully given it to him before he had to go off to work, another war. He'd forgotten about it. But he still treasured it.

Gilbert packed away what he'd found, and moved away from the garage with the paper still in his hand.

"West, look, do you remember this?" he held the paper up, grinning broadly. Ludwig frowned at it and shook his head. "Look. It's your hand. See how tiny it was?"

Gilbert took Ludwig's hand in his own, comparing them. Ludwig just stared at him. "You always used to complain that you were so small, and said our hands were too different." Ludwig's hand lay curled on his thigh. "But now mine are smaller."

They both stared at the paper for another moment before Ludwig got up, put down his mug of coffee, and went to another room. He came out again in a few moments with more paper and paint. He smiled at Gilbert. "I thought you might like to do this."

X.x.X

The next time Feliciano came over, if he noticed the three black hand prints hanging, nicely framed, on the wall, he didn't say anything.

Owari