I've always had a weak body. So it only made sense to me that I wouldn't live long. That's how I viewed my life. Vati would always tell me how I was a strong boy but both he and I knew that that wasn't true. When I was seven, I can remember my best friends, Francis and Antonio as they'd run through the fields. I'd simply sit there watching them. To this day, surprisingly in my fourteenth year of life, they still are my best friends. We've stuck together through thick and thin, no matter what our differences. I could almost call them my brothers… I wonder though, if I hold them back at all? Am I a nuisance… a burden?
"Over here! Throw it over here Antonio!" A young, albino Prussian watched as his two best friends, Francis, a honey-blonde French and Antonio, a brown-haired Spaniard, threw a ball at each other, skillfully running as they caught it. The Prussian rested his head on his hand and sighed, longing to join. What did it feel like to run, with the wind caressing your hair, slapping refreshingly at your skin?
"GILBERT!" a loud call beckoned the Prussian.
"Uh oh, Vati's calling… I'll see you guys tomorrow?" He asked quietly.
"Yeah, Gil!" Francis grinned, coming over to hug his friend goodbye, followed by Antonio.
Gilbert slowly made his way home. This is stupid… I envy them, yet they are my closest companions… how could I? I'm terrible and worthless… Gilbert… the name even sounds sickening…
I am so, not awesome…
"Took you long enough." The usual greeting that the Germanic nation gave his son when he returned home. His long, blonde hair resting over his shoulders as he cooked what Gilbert presumed to be dinner.
"I'm home, Vati…"
"Good. Now can you take Ludwig outside? He's getting on my nerves." Gilbert looked to his young brother. The blonde child was their vati's favourite, and always would be. And why not? He could run and jump and do all sorts of things, even at the age of four! He could do more than me. This simply proves how worthless I am… I love mein bruder, and vati… but do they love me?
The Prussian reached out and took the young nation in his arms. "You, mein bruder, are truly awesome." He assured the young nation who laughed gleefully.
"We're going outside to play, right big bruder?"
"Of course we are!" Gilbert sing-songed as he whisked Ludwig out the door and into the front yard. "Oh, mein little bruder… You are awesome!" The Prussian said, placing the young nation down then laying out flat on his back in the soft grass. Europe was such a beautiful place.
"Big bruder?" To small hands gripped the albino's arm. He focused his blood-shaded, violet eyes on Ludwig's curious visage.
"Ja?"
"Why do you never run with me? Or play chasing? Vati wont tell me… he says to ask you…"
Gilbert's eyes shut, Mein bruder will finally know the truth and now he can hate me, like everybody else probably does… he took a deep sigh then turned his head to face the curiosity before him.
"Bruder… Lud-" He began, then stopped to collect his thoughts.
"You aren't sick are you?" Ludwig's sapphire eyes began to water. I'm only making him cry… But I suppose its better I tell him the truth now then hit it with him later like Vati's probably planning on doing.
"Well… kinda..." Gilbert trailed off, "You see, I have a really weak body. I don't know why, I just do. So I guess you can say I am sick." He shrugged in the cool grass and brought his elbows back, propping himself up. Ludwig's arms found their way around him tightly.
"Make me one promise, big bruder."
"Oh, and what would that be?"
"You can be as sick as you want… just don't die. Stay with me forever please?"
Gilbert let an amused chuckle escape his lips as he sat up and pulled the young nation onto his lap. "No one lives forever… We are all going to die sometime, you, me and vati. But I will stay with you as long as I can, okay?"
"Ja… danke, big bruder." Ludwig sobbed into the elder nation's shirt.
It was just over two years after that that vati passed away. We were devastated. Ludwig and I were left to fend for ourselves. And it was that day… I'll never forget vati's words, "Take care of your bruder. I know you can do it, Gil… I have faith in you… Ich Liebe Diche…"
"But vati, we need you!"
"I cannot hold on much longer, please understand…"
"Ich liebe diche… vati. I will care for him. I promise."
"Mein sohn…" He could barely keep his eyes open anymore. I now knew how much he actually did value me and it felt good. Good to know that my vati loved me. I hugged him tightly, until he left us forever… And that was the second promise I made in my life. I could not fail my vati. Never.
"Eat your food ja?" Gilbert gently held a spoon before his young brother's lips.
"I miss it when Vati fed me…" The young German sighed, taking a bite, much to his albino brother's dismay.
"You miss him, don't you…" Sadness consumed Gilbert's heart as he thought of their father. The strong warrior; Germania. "He was such a great nation." The Prussian knelt towards his brother who had turned around in his chair; taking both his small hands, "Much like you are going to be, Lud. You are going to grow into a strong and prosperous nation… just like Vati."
"What about you? You are too bruder!"
Gilbert chuckled dryly, "Naww, me?" He said, a light blush warming his cheeks. At least Ludwig loved him and that was all that really mattered. He was his young brother's guardian now and he would not let anything happen to him.