Ludwig rested his head against the wall. The cold stone burned. He felt torn in half, which, considering the circumstances, he was. His big brother was on the other side of this wall, probably being bad-touched by Russia. All the awesomeness in the world couldn't save him now.

So what was West Germany doing here, trying to push his way through the wall? He couldn't tell you. All he knew was that he felt like he had centuries ago. He had been a scared little boy, emerging from the ruins of the Holy Roman Empire, completely alone in the world.

A devil with red eyes had lifted him into his arms, cooing to him in a foreign language. The devil, the Kingdom of Prussia, had then raised him as his little brother.

February 25, 1947. The Allied Forces killed Prussia. They said that his culture was intolerant and war-like. They blamed him for Hitler. Ludwig couldn't believe how. Prussia loved war, yes, but he was nothing they claimed him to be. He wasn't a killing machine intent on crushing freedom. Far from it. Gilbert Beilschmidt was hardly cuddly, but he was a good listener. He loved books, and made it a point to learn everything he could.

August 13, 1961. Prussia's new communist boss began to build a wall. This damned wall. According to him, West Germany was still under the influence of Nazism. Ludwig had the sneaking suspicion that Russia was behind this. Prussia was given a new name, the German Democratic Republic. East Germany.

So this was how it was going to be. East vs. West. Brother against brother. Ludwig firmly believed Russia wanted this to actually erupt into a war. Russia was never happier than when starting fights.

"Bruder, if you can hear me, come back!" Ludwig knew the cry was useless. No one would hear him, except probably some guards. They would shoot at him, and he would have to run before they realized the bullets didn't harm him.

"Luddy?" The voice was faint. Ludwig believed that he had imagined it. "Little brother? Can you hear the sound of my awesomeness?" The laugh that followed was definitely Gilbert's. Ludwig felt his heart stop. If this was his imagination playing tricks on him, he was just going to humor it. What was the harm?

"Hey Gilbert. I'm here. Are you?"

"Kesesese, I'm here. I'm probably talking to myself, but at least I can pretend it's you!" Ludwig smiled. Brothers think alike.

"Well, I'm talking to myself too. That makes us both crazy." He strained his ears to hear footsteps on the other side. Hearing only silence, he slid into the snow, resting his back against the rough cement of the wall.

"I'm not crazy. I'm awesome. I know you're not real. If you were real, I would hear footsteps. This icy snow is loud." Ludwig heard the faint sound of fabric rubbing against cement.

"I stopped walking to see if I could hear you. How's Russia?" Ludwig waited with bated breath for the answer that probably wouldn't come. His brain couldn't supply him with new information, right? My Imaginary Gilbert will probably say something like "not awesome" or "Russia is a sociopathic creeper," he reasoned.

"Pretty good."

He was entirely unprepared for that answer.

"Gilbert?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you really there?" Russia? Pretty good? Ludwig was kept awake at night by thoughts involving chains, submission, and absolutely no consent. Apparently Imaginary Gilbert thought a life of being Russia's plaything was pretty good.

"I'm here. I'm going crazy, but I'm here. Hey look! There's a crack!" Ludwig turned around. Sure enough, there was. If he crouched and squinted, he could see through it. A red eye looked back.

"You're real." Ludwig pinched himself to ensure that this was not a dream.

"Of course I'm real. So are you!" His brother's voice was much louder, and it was much harder to believe that it could only be heard in his head.

"So Russia isn't really that bad?"

"No. His sisters are nice. Well, Natasha's not. She's pretty pissy most of the time. The other one has a really awesome rack." He paused. "Hungary's here."

"Hungary?" Elizaveta was Gilbert's childhood friend. He often spoke of her, and Ludwig suspected that there was, or had been, something more than friendship between them.

"She hates it. She's locked herself in her room. She thinks that Russia's going to rape her, or something. That's why I went for a walk. His house is creepy. It's too quiet. There are actually a lot of people here, but they are all afraid to talk or something unawesome like that."

"And Russia?" What could Russia be doing, holed up in there? Ludwig hoped to God that he wasn't hurting his brother.

"He stays in his office all the time. Toris sometimes brings him tea, and he has Eduard help him with the radio. Other then that, he doesn't do much." Gilbert's stomach growled.

"Was that your stomach?" Ludwig felt fear send goosebumps over his skin. Were they starving him?

"No." Gilbert was stubborn.

"Gilbert, are they feeding you?" Ludwig was very good at keeping his tone neutral, and he used that skill now. He didn't want to hurt Gilbert's pride by making him think he was worrying about him.

"Yes." They weren't.

"You're lying. What are they doing to you?"

"Nothing-"

"GILBERT! Tell me how they are hurting you, or I will climb over this wall and MAKE you tell me!"

"Ludwig! You didn't let me finish." A shaky breath. "They aren't doing anything. That's the problem. There are lots of rules, no leaving the grounds, no talking to anyone who doesn't speak to you first, no bothering Master…" Master. The word made Ludwig wince.

"He isn't your master."

"Yes he is. As much as we don't like it, he is. Anyway, the fact that they do nothing is the problem. He doesn't feed us, and I haven't been able to find the kitchens. Yekaterina, that's his nice sister, sometimes brings me food, but I feel bad taking it from her. I think she has a garden somewhere. This place is huge."

"I would imagine so. Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine. We don't have to eat to survive, remember? Us nations are too awesome for that." Ludwig was happier than he had been in a long while. His brother was all right. Hungry and lonely, but all right. Ludwig had a feeling that he would sleep better than he had in ages after talking to Gilbert. He had missed him.

"I have to go now, I'm not sure I'm supposed to be out here."

"Okay. Can you meet me here tomorrow?"

"Sure. How about five, before you leave for work?" Five? In the morning? Gilbert loved to sleep late. He must really want to see him. Or hear his voice, anyway.

"We can meet later than that. I'll make time."

"It's fine. Auf Weidersehen!" Gilbert's crunchy footfalls faded into the night, and Ludwig suddenly felt very cold. The sun had long since set, and the faint orange glow of the streetlamps barely reached him.

He got wearily to his feet, knees creaking like an old man's. He'd much prefer it if Gilbert were at home, on Ludwig's couch, guzzling beer and watching football. He would give anything in the world for his big brother to come home.

"At least he's alive,"he muttered, his warm breath becoming visible in the cold night air.

He should be grateful that Russia hadn't killed his brother already. Could he be killed? Gilbert technically wasn't a nation anymore, so did that make him mortal? Gilbert had been acting strangely. Was he hiding something from him?

The door shut behind him with a bang. Gilbert stood, shivering, in the foyer. Stone walls rose up around him, emitting cold. A red carpet, meant to bring a homey atmosphere, stretched out to him, running down the hall like fresh blood.

At the end of the hall, a tall figure stood. Another figure knelt at his feet, her long brown hair hiding her face from view. Her arm was held above her head at an unnatural angle, a gloved hand crushing the thin wrist in its grasp.

"Good of you to join us, Gilbert. Miss Elizaveta was just going to find you. I had to stop her, of course. Please come into my office. I need to speak with you both about following the rules."

Russia lifted his head, his face coming out of shadow. His violet eyes glimmered with a strange, cruel light. He smiled, revealing glistening white fangs. He let go of Elizaveta, and she crumbled to the floor.