Ok so this started out not meant to leave my head but the plot bunny is eating my brain and I can't stop it until I at least get out something so, this will probably only be a one shot... I think I will try and keep it short anyway.
Slight AU, Prussia never was kept by Russia, He stayed with either his Brother or Austria and Hungary.
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"I'm going out West, need me some pancakes."
"East!"
"Kesesese."
Gilbert Beilschmidt loved to piss off his brother. It was not his only motivation though for going over to the oft forgotten blonde's house. No the main reason he always found himself going back was that he had at least admitted to himself that he liked the quiet Canadian as something more than friends, though the maple and pancakes didn't hurt.
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Letting out a groan the awesome former kingdom of Prussia slouched as he made his way to Matthew's front door, stopping just shy of the steps leading up to the porch and casting his bright red eyes to the sky.
"I can never fucking tell him."
Almost turning around and heading back to his brother's he stops when the door opens and a blonde head pokes out following a smaller than the norm polar bear which rolls off the porch to lounge in a snow bank.
"Gil?"
"Hey Mattie!" The false bravado is not over looked by either.
"Did you come over for pancakes again?" A tired sigh as he opens the door further and motions the Prussian in with a smile.
"Uh..." He almost says no and just turns away but stops and hurries up the steps, "Sure, your awesome pancakes are just what the awesome that is me deserves after braving the cold to visit you."
The Canadian watches the face of his albino friend, a bit concerned at the seemingly not so cheerful mood he is in. Shrugging it off as just being his friend, and knowing that if the albino wanted to talk about it he would, Matthew ushers him inside and shuts the door. The short man heads for the living room and plops down on the couch while Matthew heads for the kitchen to prepare the pancakes his friend so desires.
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Several days later we find Matthew sitting with Francis, each enjoying a glass of wine and catching up.
"So, Matthuei. You are good friends with Prusse these days, non?"
"Oui." Matthew seems to shrink in on himself as the conversation begins to go down a path he had been trying to avoid all night, despite the fact that it was the whole purpose of inviting his father figure over.
"Mmmm. Just friends?"
The frenchman eyes the younger nation as he nervously fiddles with the sleeves of his oversized red hoodie, and despite his larger frame manages to seem rather small and fragile.
"Ah well..." The red on his cheeks matches his shirt as he hides his face in his hands. His voice drops to a whispered squeak. "I... I'd really like to tell him, but..."
"Then tell him. I hardly see the problem my boy."
"But what what if he doesn't like me..."
"Mon cher, he would be an absolute fool not to like someone as adorable as you. Now why don't we discuss your method of confession."
If it could have gotten any redder, Matthew's face would have as the night continued and his father figure explained in way more detail how he should go about seducing his love interest.
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"Fuuuuuck! I am so screwed."
The dark haired Austrian looks up from his sheet music to the white haired man sprawled on the sofa of his music study.
"I don't see why you can't just tell him and get it over with. Besides you aren't even a nation anymore so what does it matter if you keep it a secret anymore."
The withering glare sent his way by the albino is ignored in favor of settling the sheets on the piano's music rack.
"You're supposed to be talking me out of this Roddy. You know why I can't come clean and it has everything left to do with me not being a nation, you know that!"
Beginning to play softly on the piano in front of him Roderich continues, "If you wanted talked out of it you could have gone to your brother, but you came to me and I think this is what you need after all these years of hiding it."
"You suck, you know that Roddy?" Flopping back onto the sofa again the prussian lets out a deep sigh. "He may not even like me for all I know, what if I tell him and he rejects me. Hell what if he likes me, not that hard to imagine since I am so awesome, but what if he only likes me cause he's gay for me." Gilbert turns to face into the back of the couch. "That would suck worse I think."
Roderich stops playing his hands hovering over the keys. "So continue to be scared of the truth and act as... unawesomely as possible and suffer through possibly loosing him to someone else. And I can't believe you got me say that just to give you a pep talk about your love life."
Gilbert doesn't move, his shoulders only slightly tensed at the not so gentle prodding of his sometimes friend.
"To be honest I'm surprised that you came to me at all about this..."
"It was your idea, you idiot."
"Even so you've taken it much farther than I ever thought you would."
Gilbert sits up and drags one knee up to his chest eyes locked in front of him as he sits lengthwise on the sofa, both arms wrapped around his knee and bitting his thumb lightly.
"You just don't fucking get, I never had anyone that I wanted, not like you and Liza."
"You had your brother, Ludwig never treated you any differently after you told him."
"He was a kid, I practically raised the brat. He knew better and... He's family."
Roderich sighs in exasperation, "You have someone now, don't you?"
Silence.
Sighing again, "We have a world meeting in a few days, feel free to stay here till then, but you really should tell him."
At the next world meeting Matthew anxiously looks for the spiky white hair of his friend. Hands nearly tying his tie into knots as he nervously fiddles with it.
He just knew this was a bad idea. There was no way Gilbert liked him, not like that anyway. But.. He glances over to Francis, who gives him a broad lecherous grin, if he didn't do this his way Francis would do things his own way and Matthew didn't think he could handle that kind of embarrassment.
Once the business for the day is concluded Matthew is already on his feet, his papers already secured in his briefcase as he makes a beeline for the Prussian across the conference hall from him. Stepping up behind the shorter man and taking a deep breath to steal his nerves he lays a hand on Gilbert's shoulder as he is talking to Poland, effectively stopping his monologue as the Pole gives him a thankful if confused look before running off to find Toris.
"Hey Mattie, what brings you over to seek out my awesomeness!" He turns and looks up into the violet hued eyes of the tall blonde.
Matthew blushes lightly before speaking, "I, uh, um. Eh. Can we talk?"
"Sure, what did you want to talk about?" Gilbert fidgets slightly not entirely as confident with how this seems to be going, but he hides it well, he is the awesome afterall.
"I, uh..." Grabbing his hand Matthew drags Gilbert out of the conference room and into the hall before heading down it a bit and turning into a smaller, empty conference room.
Gilbert starts to feel a bit nervous, but hides it behind his awesome self, "M mattie. What's up, you could have said whatever out there couldn't you? But I can't blame you for wanting to be alone with the awesomness that is me." He forces his usual smile, the one that always ticks people off and usually gets him out of situations like the one he just knows is coming.
Still twisting his tie into knots Matthew takes another deep breath, exhaling slowly before looking up at locking eyes with his best friend. "Gilbert, Ilikeyou." It comes out in a rush and the canadians face matches his flag in its intensity.
The Prussian just stares like a deer in headlights at the confession, "I'm sorry, what?"
Matthew is staring intently at his shoes now, "I I said I like you."
The blonde looks up at the other man, blush still burning his cheeks, as he waits for an answer.
Fear takes a tight grip on the Prussian's chest as he tries to think of a response, but he can't form the words.
The Canadian takes the other's lack of an answer, open mouthed stare as one of shock and disgust, his face falling.
The Prussian doesn't notice the fallen look of the one in front of him, to shocked and afraid to say anything he turns quickly toward the door and flees.
Tears streak down the face of the Canadian as he watches himself get rejected, he crumples to the floor wishing he had never taken his father figure's advice.
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Roderich and Elizabeta are sitting in their hotel room listening to a recording of a piece Roderich had played before when the door bursts open and a rather uncharacteristically distraught albino barges in.
"Gilbert."
"Gilbert!"
Their shouts of annoyance are cut off by the white haired man grabbing said hair and yanking, ranting the whole time. "What the fuck am I going to do? What the fuck do I even say to that! He just. And I just. Argh, this is so not awesome!" He collapses face first onto the bed while the two others in the room stare on in confusion and concern.
"Perhaps we could help you to understand the situation better if you told us what has you so upset to begin with." Roderich raises an eyebrow at the man on the bed.
"Fuck off I'm not in the mood to deal with your pissy attitude right now." he says this into the bedspread, not even bothering to lift his head from its face down position.
Elizabeta looks to her on again husband, who just sighs, before stepping over to the bed and sits down next to albino, rubbing gently circles on his back.
"What happened Gilbert?"
A slight hesitation, "He likes me."
Surprised confusion crosses the brunette's face as she looks to the other man in the room.
"I don't see the problem with that, you like him."
Rousing his head from the bed he shoots a glare at Roderich. "And liking eachother will only lead to other things and eventually he will find out."
Roderich just shoots him a 'so tell him already' look, earning a deeper glare.
"Gilbert, who is 'He'?"
Face going back into the bedspread he answers, "Canada, Matthew WIlliams. And I just can't tell him, so not awesome." The last was said a lot softer than the rest but still clearly enough for the others to catch it.
"Then show him." Grabbing the Prussian's arm and hauling him off the bed and to the back of the room where her bag was, she starts to dig through. "And I have just the thing for you to wear to show him." Not needing any further signaling Roderich heads for the door as Gilbert begins to protest as the Hungarian woman continues to plot and dig through her luggage. Shutting the door behind him he debates whether he should go and get something to drink or wait outside the room and make sure no one barges in.
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"There, you're perfect."
"I look ridiculous."
"Now now, you look fine."
"I can't go out there like this!"
"Of course you can, besides Roderich and I will make sure only Matthew sees you."
"I'm bursting with confidence."
"You should be, now hand over your phone I need his number so we can set this up. Can't do this here in the conference hall."
Sighing in defeat he hands his cell phone to the brunette and she makes the call.
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Back with Matthew, after recovering slightly from being reject so harshly, as he sees it anyway. He makes his way out of the empty room and bumps into Francis, Arthur and Alfred. Arthur and Alfred hardly notice his state as they are caught up in an argument between themselves, how ever the Frenchman is much more observant and offers sympathy.
"It did not go well then?"
A shake of his head is all the answer he gives as he seems to shrink in on himself even more.
Eyes going soft he pats the younger man on his head, "It is not all that bad. It is better to know than to not, non?"
"Oui." A pause as finally the other two take notice of the nearly invisible blonde, "Though I think this one time I may disagree."
"Hey Mattie, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Alfred. Papa, thank you for your help and advice, I think I will go to my room and rest up for tomorrow's meeting." With that he heads off to do just as he said, his family watching after him in concern.
Just as he is about to reach his room his phone starts to ring, not bothering to check the ID he answers.
"Hello?"
"Canada?"
"O oui. Hungary? Is there something I can do for you?"
"Yes, you know that cafe down the street from the conference center?"
"Uh, yes. Wha..."
"Good, I want you to meet me down there right away. Ok."
"Uh, alright?"
"Great, see you there?"
And with that she hangs up and Matthew stares at his phone for a moment before turning around and heading back the way he came. Besides, it may be important, right?"
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So here he was sitting in the cafe waiting for Hungary and wondering what the hell had come over him to accept this, though a small part was curious as hell to find out why she wanted to meet him.
Oh right, she had known who was.
He looks up hearing several voices outside, one very loud and seeming to object to something, the other rather demanding.
"No way in fucking hell!"
"Go in there, we'll keep watch just go, he's waiting for you."
An audible glare can be heard before the door is opened and disgruntled... Is that Gilbert in a dress!
Matthew does a double take and sure enough it seems that the Hungarian woman had managed to force the Prussian into a dress, a cute little sun dress with yellow chicks scattered across it.
Blushing in anger and embarrassment the albino slowly makes his way over to the half standing Canadian.
"Mattie." His tone is short and terse, his hands twisting in the fabric of the dress.
"I.. I knew Hungary was into that sort of thing but... How? Do I even want to know?"
The white haired man fidgets a bit more before sitting down in the sit across from Matthew, Matthew takes this as a cue to sit back down in his seat.
"I'm sorry about earlier. It was so not awesome to run out without saying anything to you."
Matthew just stares, something about this seems off to him but he's to shocked to fully register that notion because Gilbert was apologizing!
Taking a deep breath Gilbert plows on, "Look she's not letting either of us out of here until I've given you my answer. So, uh, here goes." Looking up from his study of his lap he looks into the face of the man across from him. "I like you too Mattie. I've liked you for a long time."
After a moment of silence in which he was able to soak up what had just been said he looks at the albino across from him in confusion. "If you like me then why did you run away like that?" Hurt was creeping into his voice just remembering how the other had run out on him.
"I, I was scared."
Shock. "Scared." Gilbert didn't get scared, he was too awesome to get scared, "What the hell!"
Wincing slightly Gilbert looks Matthew in the eyes. "I was scared because I like you and knowing you like me... This is so not awesome..."
Silence between them for several tense moments before Matthew sighs. "So she made you cross dress to apologize?"
Big red eyes look at the Canadian in shock for a moment before realization dawns in 'his' eyes. Mirth begins to take hold as he looks the other man over. "Even in a dress you can't tell. Dude I am not cross dressing right now."
That niggling feeling that had been prodding at the back of his head since his friend walked in wearing the sundress suddenly came to the fore and made itself plainly heard. Matthew looks over the girl, yes GIRL, in front of him. Several emotions play over his face as he comes to the startling realization of why exactly Gilbert had been scared by their mutual feelings.
"You, you're a a Girl!"
Holding back a laugh She nods. "Well duh!"
Matthew's face screws up in confusion, "But why hide it?"
The laughter evaporates and Gilbert plays with the skirt of the dress for a moment. "It was always safer." She looks up, "To be a boy."
He just nods, still soaking all of this up. "I still like you, its actually a bit of a relief. That you're a girl. I never really thought I'd be into guys until I fell for you and had to start thinking about it."
The mirth returns to the girl's red eyes, "So you were only gay for me then?"
Smiling back he nods, "Yeah I guess I was."
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After spending another hour in the cafe talking and getting to know each other all over again. The new couple decided that they would continue to keep her secret. Still Elizabeta was ecstatic that her friend had finally met someone she could share her secret with and couldn't help but gush about how it shouldn't be a secret anymore. But in the end Roderich was able to convince her that keeping the secret was a better idea than letting the cat out of the bag.
When Gilbert told her brother about her and Matthew seeing each other and that the other man now knew her secret he was at first rather upset with his sister but eventually granted his blessing on the couple after realizing that Matthew would not take advantage of the secret needing to be kept secret.
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Alright so how many figured out the secret before Matthew? I hope you all enjoy this, there may or may not be more. This plot bunny had babies that I may or may not write up. They will be sequels to this one if I do write them. God I love this couple, but I honestly hadn't seen a genderbent Prussia that satisfied me. And I can totally see Prussia preferring to be seen as a guy over a girl.