A/N: Okay, I've finally managed to put this up.

For anyone who has read my previous story "Taxi," this is the story it was leading up to. For all of those who haven't, you don't need to in order to understand what's going on.

Thank you for your interest! Please, enjoy!

Prologue

.

Beilschmidt Auto Repair.

Gilbert had started up this business when he was twenty years old, it being a spur-of-the-moment idea brought on by an old garage closing and Gilbert having a few dollars burning a hole in his pocket. Though it was only a modest establishment with a handful of workers in the small town of Greenfield, over the past five years it became known as one of the best places around to find a mechanic. People came from all over the area to have work done, and Gilbert couldn't have been more pleased with himself.

That was… if he wasn't working on the dreaded repeat offender.

"Okay, I think I know what's going on…" Gilbert said, pulling himself up and wiping the grease off of his hands, "The crankshaft is damaged."

Ludwig frowned, looking up from his own work, "Are you sure?"

"Not at all," Gilbert sighed. He shook his head and stared at the old vehicle's exposed engine. The car belonged to Gregory Smith, a man who was one of their most loyal customers. The vehicle was no doubt the reason for such a thing; it was broken down far more often than it was running. Gilbert kicked the old car's fender lightly, "I think he should just scrap this thing and get something new. I don't care how much he pays us; I don't want to work on this piece of junk anymore!"

Ludwig sighed, "I agree," he muttered. He made his way over to the old machine, rolling up his sleeves as he did so. Gilbert quickly moved out of the way as his younger brother began the steps to removing the engine from the car. It was something that Ludwig did automatically at that point… Gilbert was still far too proud to ask for help on his own accord.

"Thanks, Lud…"

"No problem."

It took a little while, but Ludwig successfully dislodged the engine and attached it to the stand next to the vehicle. Gilbert immediately set to work taking it apart to see if the crankshaft was indeed damaged.

"This thing is as much a piece of junk as the car it's in!" he lamented.

Ludwig quickly wiped his hands off and walked back to the truck he had been working on. His job was simple, an oil change and a quick once-over to make sure everything was in good condition.

Ludwig had worked alongside his brother whenever he could, during his senior year of high school and all through the breaks during his college years. He found the work enjoyable and the money was very nice, but it wasn't the center of his life, the way it was with Gilbert.

Ludwig had something else he wanted to do…

"Yeah, look at this thing. It's all bent out of shape!" Gilbert said, glaring at the exposed crankshaft, "How did Greg manage to do that?" He gave it an experimental poke.

"Do you think you can fix it?" Ludwig asked as he slammed the truck's hood closed.

"I don't know," Gilbert sighed, "This thing is pretty mangled."

Ludwig walked over to take a look, "Here, let me see…"

Gilbert moved out of the way, "Be my guest."

However, before Ludwig had a chance to look at the horribly misshapen crankshaft, his cell phone went off. Ludwig blinked. His cell phone never went off during work hours… unless it happened to be…

Ludwig immediately pulled an old rag from his pocket and rubbed off as much oil and grease as he could from his hands. "Excuse me," he muttered, pulling his cell phone from his other pocket, scanning the caller ID and then running outside to take the call.

Ludwig flipped the phone open and pressed it to his ear, "Hello? Yes?" he asked nervously.

"Hello," a low, even voice responded, "Is this Ludwig Beilschmidt?"

"Yes, yes it is…" it was then that he became aware of his heart throbbing in his chest. This was it. This was the call he had been waiting for...

"Mr. Beilschmidt, this is Berwald Oxenstierna of the Hereford Times," Ludwig's hand shuddered as his heart pounded even louder, "I like the way you write."

Ludwig nearly dropped his phone. The voice was so calm and emotionless that Ludwig felt stupid for reacting so strongly to it… but this was Berwald Oxenstierna.

Ludwig quickly recovered, but still couldn't think of anything more to say other than, "Really?"

"Yes, really," Berwald replied as coolly as ever, "I want you on the team."

Ludwig swallowed, "I would be honored, Sir."

"I want to see you here in two weeks."

Two weeks! Ludwig blinked, "I… I…"

"That isn't too short a time, I hope?" there was no real inflection in the voice, as though the question was asked out of habit instead of actual concern.

"No!" Ludwig nearly shouted, "No… two weeks is fine."

"Good. I'll see you then, Mr. Beilschmidt. Goodbye."

"Y-yes. Goodbye, Mr. Oxenstierna."

There was a small click and the line went dead.

All Ludwig could do was stare slack-jawed at his cell phone.

Berwald Oxenstierna… the editor in chief of the Hereford Times… he liked the way Ludwig wrote…

"Hey, Houdini!"

Ludwig looked up dazedly to see his older brother lazily walking outside to join him, "Hey, Gilbert."

Gilbert gave an impish smile as he wiped his hands on an old rag, "You disappeared pretty fast when you got that call. Let me guess… it was that Bernard Oxenstraw guy you're always going on about."

"Berwald Oxenstierna," Ludwig corrected, eyes drifting back down to the cell phone in his hand, "…and yes, it was him."

Gilbert's grin widened, "Did you get the job?"

"Yeah…" Ludwig replied.

Gilbert's smile widened all the more as he clapped his younger brother on the back, "Y'see? I knew you could do it!"

Ludwig shook his head, the shocked expression not leaving his face for an instant, "I still don't believe it… Berwald Oxenstierna…"

"You're talking to a guy who doesn't really know anything about who that Bernard Oxenterra is," Gilbert said.

"Berwald Oxenstierna," Ludwig corrected absently, "He's one of the newspaper business's…"

Gilbert held up a hand, "Nor do I care. Now…" he directed his younger brother to the garage, "I still want you to see this crankshaft here…"

The rest of the workday passed in a blur. The crankshaft did have to be replaced; Gregory would not be pleased. Oil was changed, filters were replaced, cooling systems were inspected… but Ludwig was running on autopilot for the most part… that short phone call demanded his attention far more than any vehicle ever did.