Oh god, you guys are making me blush~

Thanks for all the feedback!


I was hoping to get out of this by saying that I had no swimwear, but that was rather difficult with Gilbert breathing over my shoulder while I rummaged my dresser. On top of that, I so happened to find a pair of trunks stashed at the back of a drawer that I hoped to never use.

"Aww, I thought you'd have a speedo or something."

I'll ignore that comment.

After collecting a few more necessities for the beach, I found myself standing on my front porch locking the door with a light duffel bag slung over my shoulder, still wondering how this came to be.

"Wait, Gilbert, how are we supposed to get to the beach? Austria doesn't have any shorelines."

"Oh, Feli-chan's letting me borrow his car for the trip."

I looked out at the driveway, and sure enough, there was a red Ferrari parked there with Feliciano's "PASTA" license plate on it.

"By 'borrow', do you mean 'take his keys while Ludwig distracts him'?"

"I left him a note!"

With a heavy sigh, I climbed into the passenger seat and Gilbert got into the driver's seat. Should I really trust him as the driver? I'd probably get us lost, but his driving could be worse...

Surprisingly, he's not that bad. He drives too fast for my comfort, but it's nowhere near as mentally-scarring as Feliciano's driving.

We drove south to some part of northeastern-Italy, the whole time he was either boasting of his supremacy at whatever or blasting deadly German heavy metal. I kept telling myself that it could be worse, it could be much worse.

"Alriiiight, we're here. How's this area?"

I looked around, not even realizing that we've stopped.

Clean white sand, gentle cyan waves, soft clouds lightly dotting the skies...it looked like something out of a travel brochure. How could a hooligan like Gilbert find such a serene place as this?

"It's...beautiful."

"Well of course it is, I'm the one who drove here. If it was anyone else, we'd probably end up at some crowded dirt-hole with trash everywhere or something."

I really hope he didn't aim that personally at me.

I just set a towel down anywhere, there was plenty of room. "Well, now what?"

"Psh, we go swimming. Why else would someone go to the beach?"

I told him how I've never bothered learning to swim, not only because of my fears, but because I didn't see when I'd ever need it.

"Woah, Roddy, never need it? Haven't you ever watched those American spy-movies? Those guys are always jumping out of planes and landing in a river or something."

"I guess I didn't plan on growing up to be a spy."

"Obviously."

Gilbert stared out at the ocean for a few moments, then just started pulling his shirt off.

"Ah...what are you doing?" I felt an uncomfortable heat rising to my cheeks.

"Dunno about you, but I'm going swimming. Besides, I think the last time the world got to bask in my sexy glow was...heh, this morning. And that was too long ago."

He tossed his shirt on the towel, then started unlacing his combat boots. For some reason, I couldn't take my eyes away from his toned body doing such an innocent act.

He set his boots beside the towel along with his socks then began unfastening his belt. My heart skipped a beat, then pounded against my chest like it wanted to escape and watch him as well.

I don't really want to ask why Gilbert is so quick at getting undressed, because he was stripped down to trunks printed with his flag within seconds. Very short seconds.

I watched his pants drop on the towel, then slowly my vision panned up to his face. He was smirking.

"Enjoying the view, Roddy? Judging by your face right now, I think I should start charging to let people watch me take my clothes off."

I quickly turned away. "Sh-shut up. Go put some sunscreen on or something."

Maybe I shouldn't have said that, because then he knelt down and cupped my chin with one hand, pulling me to face him, while a mischievous grin lay on his face the entire time.

"Why don't you help me?" No, no no! "You know you just want to touch me."

I kept my gaze down, knowing that I'd lose it if I dared look into his rich crimson eyes. "If-if you're so awesome and whatnot, can't you just do it yourself?" I noticed my voice was shaking and slightly higher-pitched than it should be.

"Alright, then, you can just sit right here and watch the awesome me do it."

I think I just committed a crime.

Gilbert sat down on the towel and dug through the bag for a few moments before pulling out a bottle with a smiling cartoon sun printed on it. I glared at the smile. You know what your contents are about to do to me, don't you?

He flipped the cap open and poured out some of the thick white liquid. Passing a quick glance at me, he grinned and handed the bottle to me as an offering. I shook my head and scooted away. Gilbert shrugged, and set the bottle down while his other hand started to rub the lotion on his chest.

I watched as his hand slowly spread the cream across his skin, his eyes on me the whole time. Across his collarbones, pectoral muscles, shoulders...he started using both of his hands to do it too. Gilbert ran out of the sunscreen, so he poured more and started on his stomach.

Why is it so hot? Hmm, it's summer. That's why my body's so warm right now. Yes.

He was working on his arms now, and my breathing slowed. I watched his hand travel down his biceps, along his forearm, and back up again. He did the same for his other arm.

Getting more lotion, the Prussian began massaging the lotion into his thighs. He used both hands to rub the lower part of his left leg before switching to the right. I have yet to figure out how staring at a man put on sunscreen is making my heart race like this.

"Hey Roddy..."

I couldn't tell if his rough voice brought me out of my trance or pushed me into it further.

"Ah...what?" Don't you dare make a sexual comment, Gilbert.

"Can you do my back?"

"C-can't you?"

"Probably. But I kind of pity how helpless you look right now."

"I'm not helpless!"

"Come on, just do it."

I glared at his slouching form for a few moments. If I say no, he'll keep teasing me. If I say yes...what would happen if I said yes?

I picked up the bottle with that evil sun still grinning like an idiot. Pouring some sunscreen out, I cautiously sat behind him and set the bottle down.

He smirked at me, then turned to face forward. Good, I don't want him to see my face when I do this.

I rubbed my hands together, then placed both on his shoulder blades. Pausing for a second, I moved my hands in small circles then brought them up to where his shoulders met his neck, my fingers pressing into his skin.

"Oh Roddy, that feels so good..." He groaned.

I twitched. "Stop it."

"No really, it's like a massage. You should do this for me more often."

I furrowed my brows as my hands traveled down his back. I stopped, pulled away, then traced one finger down his spine. Gilbert's back instantly straightened and he made an amusing sound of discomfort.

"Ah! That felt weird! Why the hell did you do that?"

"A bit of payback." I said, then poured more sunscreen into my hand.

He grunted, and I continued covering his lower back and sides with the thick cream.

"There, all done." I say, though it was mostly self-assurance for myself.

He sighed. "Want me to do you?"

I contemplated that for a moment. Hmm, since I stay indoors most of the time, I'll probably burn easily. "I suppose."

I began unbuttoning my shirt while he flashed a grin and positioned himself in front of me.

"...what?" I shifted nervously.

"You got to watch the awesome me undress, now it's my turn~"

I wasn't going to admit that he had a point.

Peeling my shirt off and kicking away my shoes at the same time, I started unfastening my slacks while he sat there beaming like a kindergartner during Story Time.

As I folded my pants and set them aside, I realized that I wasn't wearing trunks under my clothes like he had, only undergarments.

"T-turn away. I'm not doing this part while you observe." At least I'm blushing from embarrassment this time...

He glared at me. "I'm a guy too. It's nothing I haven't seen."

Why does he want to-

I grabbed my swimsuit and walked to the car. "I'll be out in a minute."

"You're such a buzzkill, Roddy!"

As I was changing, I kept a steady eye on him, lest he decides to peek into the window. I didn't get to watch him change into his swimwear, so there's no way he gets to see me.

Wait- what?

I cast the thought away; it's better left ignored.

I came out of the vehicle around a minute later and returned to the towel, where he was pouting in my general direction. Stacking all my clothes together in one pile with my shoes beside it, I turned to him.

"Are we going to do this or not?"

His pout faded into a grin. "Gott Roddy, you make it sound so dirty."

"You-! You know what I meant!"

"Ja, ja." Gilbert picked up the sunscreen bottle, letting some gush into his palm.

After he placed the container down, I picked it up and poured some for myself. Like hell I'm letting him do everything.

As I set it down, I noticed he was just blankly staring at me.

"...now what is it?"

"I'm trying to figure out where to start." He mumbled something else under his breath, but I didn't want to know what.

"How about my back?"

He smirked devilishly, then got behind me. I decided to spread some on my arms first, and I was expecting to feel his hands on my back, but instead I felt them on my chest.

Instantly, my cheeks flushed again. "Wh-what do you th-think you're doing?"

He let out a deep chuckle, one hand rubbed my stomach and the other my chest. "Helping."

I finished my arms and got more lotion for my legs. "I t-told you to do my b-back!"

"I will. But this is so much funner. You're so cute when you're flustered, Roddy~"

Normally I would tell him that 'funner' isn't a word, but my mind was racing too fast to take action.

I tried to concentrate on giving my thighs an even coat of sunscreen, but then Gilbert moved his hands up, fingers tweaking my nipples.

"Ah! St-stop that!"

He laughed against my ear, and I wanted to slap him. His hands slid down to rub up and down my sides, before resting them on my hips.

"Just...do my back and get this over with."

"Yes, meine Prinzessin~"

"I told you! I'm not a princess!"

He laughed again, and I was getting thoroughly annoyed.

I poured a bit more sunscreen and worked on my neck and collarbones, the parts he didn't really seem to focus on.

I flinched when I felt Gilbert's warm, calloused hands moving along my back. He had a point earlier, it did feel quite good. I closed my eyes and concentrated on his movement.

"Mmm...you like that, don't you Roddy?"

"Shut up."

When he finished, he hugged my waist and kissed my cheek. "We should go to the beach a lot more."

I didn't comment, just sighed. "Go swimming like you've been wanting to. I'll be over here."

"Doing what?"

"I don't know. I can think about that symphony I've been meaning to start composing-"

"Always with the music! As awesome as it is when you play, you can focus on other shit too!"

My eye twitched with annoyance. "Go swimming."

"Why don't you come with me~?" His voice had this odd beckoning tone. Still, I resisted.

"You know why."

"Come onnnn, you know Sir Awesome Knight Gilbert is here to protect you~"

"...fine. But if I get attacked my anything, including you, I'm coming right back over here."

He scoffed. "You're such a pansy. But whatever, come on!"


Let's just end chapter 2 here.

I swear, I can turn (technically) 30-45 minutes of action into something this long.

I'm sorry if you were expecting more to happen in this chapter, but I keep getting distracted~!

I'll have chapter 3 up as soon as I can. Hopefully by tomorrow evening~

Review please! It encourages me so much!