A/N: This is my first Hetalia Fanfiction, and it's based on the song "Stand" by Rascal Flatts. It is full of cute bromance, and angsty scenes. I guess you could say the characters are a bit OOC, but I personally think it's just the side of the characters we never get to see. If you don't like that stuff, don't read. This first chapter is about Germany and Prussia.
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers or World Series.
THIS IS NOT A PARING FIC THAT MEANS NO GERMANCEST!
Late 1800's
"Ludwig? Hey, where are you?" Gilbert called. He frowned when he got no response and continued walking down the hallway. The sounds of his boots clicking against the ornate marble floor echoed loudly. He couldn't understand where the child had gone; he was just in the garden a few minutes ago. To be honest, Gilbert was worried. Yes, the violent and obnoxious Prussian was worried about a little boy. He had been in his office, looking over different battle plans with his boss, when Ludwig's nanny rushed in. She had said that Ludwig was being teased by some of the other kids in the garden and had run off, crying. The Prussian had immediately taken it upon himself to find the boy.
This led him to where he was now; in one of the many hallways of the Prussian's grand home, calling for a boy who apparently wouldn't answer. Gilbert was getting quite frustrated, where could have that boy gone?
From his left, Gilbert heard a small whimper. He paused in front of an oak door, which looked like it led to a broom closet. "…Ludwig?" he asked cautiously, moving closer to the door. A series of sobs passed from behind the door. Gilbert swung it open, revealing a small boy with blonde hair, curled up in a ball on the closet floor.
Sighing, Gilbert walked in, shutting the door behind him. No need for everyone to see the boy's moment of weakness. He wrapped his arms around the boy and pulled him into his lap. "Hey, you wanna tell me what happened?"
The boy sniffled, looking up at the albino. His normally bright, blue eyes were shadowed by tears and hurt; the kind of hurt and loneliness that no kid his age should have lurking in their eyes. But, he wasn't a normal kid. He was a personification of a country, soon to be. And Gilbert, being a personification himself, took him under his wing. He was, after all, of the same blood line. They both came from the family of Germania, the great empire. There was Roderich too, but there was no way in hell he was letting that aristocrat get ahold of the boy. He knew how hard it was for Ludwig, he just wanted to be like the other kids. He didn't fully understand who he was yet.
"T-the oth-er kids were m-making fun o-of me." Ludwig choked out. He clung to Gilbert's shirt, staining it with tears. "T-they said I c-couldn't play because I l-looked different."
The Prussian's scarlet eyes narrowed. What a pathetic thing to discriminate someone over. He almost wanted to beat the bloody pulp out of whoever said that to his bruder. Wait….sense when has Ludwig been Gilbert's bruder? Well, he'd have to think that over later. Right now, he had a crying child to comfort. Thinking quickly, he began to sing a song he'd heard once.
You feel like a candle, in a hurricane. Just like a picture, with a broken frame. Alone and helpless, like you've lost your fight. But you'll be alright, you'll be alright.
He slowly stroked the boy's hair, rocking him back and forth. He did his best to quite the boy down, but he never really was good at being affectionate.
'Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you're made of. You might bend 'til you break, 'cause it's all you can take. On your knees you look up, decide you've had enough. You get mad, you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake it off. Then you stand. Then you stand.
By the time he'd finished, Ludwig had stopped crying and was actually watching him. He never sang, claiming it was for sissy girls, but Gilbert actually had a beautiful voice. He knew that if any of the other countries ever found out, he would be the laughing stock for the next century. But when it came to Ludwig, he didn't care about his reputation.
"Danke." Ludwig spoke softly. Gilbert smiled, ruffling his hair. They got up and left the broom closet, walking back towards the garden in silence. He watched with loving eyes as Ludwig ran off towards the other kids, ready to stand up to them and continue playing.
"Ich liebe dich, mein Bruder." Gilbert whispered into the wind, before walking back inside.
Late 1880's
Gilbert had decided to take the day off, to spend it with his younger bruder. Ludwig had grown a lot, sense he had first met him. He looked to be around 10-11 years old now, though he's definitely far beyond those years. At least if you were a nation, you got to look young for a very long time. He had put a lot of time and thought into where he would take Ludwig. He really wanted him to have a good time. Eventually he ended up sitting on the top of a big hill, with an awed child sitting next to him.
"Wow! This is so cool, bruder! Danke, danke, danke!" Ludwig practically shouted. Gilbert smiled at his excitement.
"Sie sind herzlich willkommen, Westen." He replied, chuckling as the boy got up and leapt around. He giggled, spinning in circles, before falling back into the grass. Gilbert joined him, and they watched the fluffy white clouds drift across the sapphire sky.
"Hey, Osten?" Ludwig asked, turning on his side to face his older bruder.
"Ja, Westen?"
"Can we fly kites?"
"Ja." Gilbert smiled softly at him. They pulled out the kites and started flying them. They flew very high, uplifted by the calm, yet strong breeze. Only a few minutes later, a particularly strong gust of wind, ripped the kite from Ludwig's hands.
"H-hey! Stoppen! Das ist meins!" Tears began to fill the boy's eyes as he watched his kite get whisked away. He began to pout, staring angrily at the sky.
"Westen? Sind sie ok?" the Prussian asked, worried about how fast Ludwig's mood had changed.
"Nein," was the short response. Gilbert winced at the amount of despise in his voice.
"Ludwig, it's just a kite…" he began.
"Aber es ist nicht fair." Ludwig snapped. He tried to cover up the fact that he was crying, but Gilbert saw anyways. Frowning, he turned Ludwig to face him.
"Bruder, you can have my kite, ok? I don't need to fly kites." He whispered, handing his kite to the blonde. He really hated seeing his brother upset, and didn't want something like a lost kite to ruin their day off.
As he took the kite string, Gilbert sang softly in his ear.
Life's like a novel, with the end ripped out. The edge of a canyon, with only one way down. Take what you're given, before it's gone, and start holding on. Keep holding on.
Slowly letting go of Ludwig's hands, he watched as the boy held tightly to the string, as if his life depended on it. His face was set in a very determined expression, his eyes concentrated on the kite.
'Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you're made of. You might bend 'til you break, 'cause it's all you can take. On your knees you look up, decide you've had enough. You get mad you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake it off. Then you stand. Yeah, then you stand.
"Osten?" Ludwig asked, eyes still on the kite.
"Ja?"
"Ich liebe dich."
Gilbert's eyes widened, surprised by the sudden proclamation. But his expression melted into a broad smile.
"Ich liebe dich auch." Ludwig ran into his arms, giving him a big hug. The Prussian either didn't notice, or didn't care as warm tears of joy poured from his scarlet eyes. He would do anything to protect Ludwig.
May, 1945
Ruins. That's all Ludwig could use to describe East Prussia. It was totally ruined. Angry tears stung in the corners of the German's bright blue eyes. How could this happen? How could they do this to his Bruder, after all they've already done to him? They were as twisted as his country had been, in the blond's eyes.
As if making the great Kingdom of Prussia a Free State, wasn't enough punishment. As if the Berlin Wall didn't break his brother's pride. No, the damn Allies had to dissolve the only piece left of his legacy.
Here he was, the Prussian's younger bruder, standing in the dilapidated remains of what used to be a great country. He was looking for a particular albino, whom he feared the worst for.
"Osten?" the German called, walking through the rubble. The gravel crunched under his heavy combat boots.
"Westen?" Ludwig froze, making sure he wasn't imagining anything. "Bruder, over here." He spun around, running towards the voice. He fell to his knees, in front of Gilbert. The Prussian was sprawled across the ground, a head wound gushing blood. He looked much paler than usual, which is pretty hard to fathom.
"B-bruder." Before he could stop himself, tears began to pour down Ludwig's face. It was killing him inside to see the strongest man he ever knew, practically dying before him. Sobs wracked through his body, and he fell onto Gilbert's chest.
"B-bitte….bitte gehen sie nicht." Ludwig forced out, through choked sobs. He desperately clung to the other nation's body.
"Shhhh….West. It'll be alright." Gilbert whispered, stroking the blonde's hair. The German grimaced at the nickname.
"You know, I never knew how perfect those names would work for us…" Ludwig pointed out bitterly, with a very sour chuckle to follow.
"Ja…"Gilbert tried to laugh, but it came out as a weak cough.
"…It's all my fault. If my boss hadn't…"
"Stoppen. Es ist nicht, deine schuld." Gilbert had lifted his brother's head, and was staring sternly into his eyes. "Do not blame yourself, you know I would do anything for you. I don't regret having your back through both Wars."
"…What am I going to do without you?" The Prussian's eyes turned away from his brother's. He didn't want to think about dying, but his brother needed some sort of comfort. He started singing the song, that meant so much to both of them.
Every time you get up, and get back in the race. One more small piece of you, starts to fall into place, yeah.
As he sang this, he rested his hand on the German's heart. Ludwig's eyes filled with fresh tears, but he silently rested his finger on his brother's lips. He picked up where Gilbert left off, singing the lyrics he knew all too well, to his brother.
'Cause when push comes to shove, you taste what you're made of. You might bend 'til you break, 'cause it's all you can take. On your knees you look up, decide you've had enough. You get mad, you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake it off. Then you stand. Then you stand
Gilbert smiled, taking over again.
Yeah, then you stand
Ludwig pulled Gilbert into a hug, as they sung the last part together.
Then you stand, yeah.
As they finished, both of them knew everything was going to be alright, as long as they had each other.
A/N: Ok so, the last part actually made me cry while writing this. I believe there are some things I should clear up. First off the translation...
Bruder: Brother
Danke: Thank you
Ich liebe dich, mein bruder: I love you, my brother.
Sie sind herzlich willkommen, Westen: You're welcome, West.
Osten: East
Ja: Yeah/ Yes
Stoppen: Stop
Das ist meins: That's mine
Sind sie ok: Are you ok
Nein: No
Aber es ist nicht fair: But it's not fair
Ich liebe dich auch: I love you too.
Bitte: Please
Bitte gehen sie nicht: Please don't go
Es ist nicht, deine schuld: It's not your fault
I don't speak German, so if i screwed anything up, PLEASE let me know. Next is the dates...
Late 1800s and late 1880s: Around the time the German empire came into being, consisting of what in modern day Germany and what used to be Prussia
May, 1945: Annexation of East Prussia, as it became part of Germany
I'll be writing more of these songfics, based on different characters in the series. I hope you liked it and don't forget to review. :)
