I don't own hetalia!
Warnings: Deliberate use of OOCness
Gilbert had entered the ward, and the first thing he'd done was look for Ludwig. The blonde was sitting at the far wall, perfectly straight, hands gripping at the armrests, probably leaving dents. He could've just gotten there, but the pile of empty paper coffee cups said differently. It wasn't until Gilbert got closer that he noticed Ludwig's hair not being gelled back as thoroughly as it usually was, and his eyes were still red from crying. He didn't look up as Gilbert approached.
"Hey." The simple greeting was all that Gilbert felt he could force past his throat. Ludwig looked up sharply, meeting his brother's eyes.
"Gilbert," his voice was dry and raspy. "You came." He stood up slowly, touching his brother's cheek, as if to make sure he was really there. "You came!"
Gilbert pulled his brother into a hug, which Ludwig gladly reciprocated. He clung to Gilbert like a lifeline, and although the albino couldn't breathe he let his younger and somehow taller brother squish the life out of him, because he could now feel his little Luddy's tears.
Ludwig never cried.
Feliciano wasn't going to wake up.
He'd stabilized in a coma, and there was a chance that he could wake, but that chance was small. Large enough for hope, but small enough that hope would probably do more harm than good.
And Gilbert had to sit there while they asked Ludwig if he wanted to pull the plug. He'd tensed, half expecting his brother to snap, to stand up and start yelling, saying that Feliciano was fine, that he was going to come bursting in through the door saying he was okay, and demanding that they go out for pasta. He didn't.
Instead, Ludwig calmly explained that he didn't want that responsibility, and they should ask Feli's brother, when he finally got in, from… wherever he was.
Outside grew dark, and they waited while nothing happened.
People came and went, the clock hands moved, children cried, while others simply sat and stared, in shock. One man burst in and demanded to see his wife, and had to be escorted out by security. The desk staff changed. Gilbert sorted all the magazines alphabetically by title. Ludwig pretended to read National Geographic, but absorbed none of the words. They went to see Feliciano, but it only took about five minutes of Ludwig staring at his lovers still and quiet body for him to grow uncomfortable, and for the two of them to leave.
The hospital didn't want Ludwig staying the night again, and told Gilbert to take him home, and make him sleep in a proper bed.
The car ride home was long, and awkward.
Gilbert took Ludwig's keys, since the man seemed to be on auto pilot right now. He led his brother into the house, took one look at the room where he and Feli used to sleep, before guiding him to his guest room.
The bed was small, so it was a little awkward, but Gilbert held his brother, and stroked his fingers through his hair, crooning the lullaby, just as he did when the two of them were younger, and their father had come home drunk again.
Ludwig cried in his sleep, but the memory of the sting of the belt was probably enough to keep away the dreams of Feli.
Gilbert felt petty for using the technique, but this was his brother, and he wasn't sure what else to do.
And when the house was quiet, and the wrinkles formed on his brother's face has slowly smoothed out, Gilbert allowed his guard to come down.
And he too, cried himself to sleep.
Lovino arrived the next day.
Gilbert was going over the notes he'd made on Feliciano's condition, while Ludwig was putting in a small amount of effort into actually reading. He'd read the same paragraph five times over though, and only understood the 'however' on the fourth line from the bottom of the page. Gilbert was just about to tell Ludwig that he should go on a walk for a little bit, or at least get out of the dreary waiting room and find some coffee, when he appeared.
Whatever Gilbert had been expecting, it wasn't what he got. He'd been expecting the frantic antics of the second Italian twin. He'd expected yelling and swearing, and the possibility of thrown objects. He'd demand to know why he wasn't told first, and tell the two "potato bastards" present to fuck off and let him see his brother.
Lovino did none of that.
His footsteps were slow but sure, and his face calm and neutral. When he first saw him, Gilbert almost did a double take, because the man he saw barely looked like Lovino. He was wearing thick black boots, loose black pants, a black hoodie, a crucifix and biker gloves. Which was odd, because Gilbert distinctly remembered a time where Lovino had said "I hate wearing black, it makes me feel like I'm at a damn funeral." Did he think that Feliciano was already dead?
He approached the two of them with a solemn stride.
"Gilbert. Ludwig." Nothing but a nod of the head even indicated he was talking to them.
"Lovino," Ludwig's voice was soft in greeting, but Gilbert gave him nothing but a cold sneer. Lovino noticed, but didn't comment.
"So, my brother. What happened. How is he?" Gilbert was shocked to hear actual concern in his voice. Was he not the one who abandoned the entire Vargas family?
"Oh, he's cool ya know," Gilbert let the venom sink into his voice. "Besides the car crash and being in a coma, he's the spitting image of health." Lovino nodded, like this information wasn't delivered with malicious intent.
"Which room is he in? I want to see him."
"Yeah, like you care." Gilbert snorted.
"Bruder," Ludwig's voice was soft, "Not here." Gilbert gave his brother a concerned glance, but then returned his focus to the Italian, whose face had remained impassive throughout the exchange.
"Fine. Hallway B, room 702. Go find it yourself." Lovino's face did not break out of it's impassive mask, as he politely nodded, and then headed off down the hallway.
Gilbert sighed and picked up the notes again. He had more than a good enough reason to hate Lovino.
A/N: The plot thickens! *gasp!*Or don't. FINE! Have it your way!
...
I'm so weird on the internet.
Anyways! This got out a little later than I'd of liked because my mom was being a mom and made me do homework. :(
But whatevs! It's here now!
Please rest assured that I have no idea what my updating scedule will be like, nor do I have any clue how long this will end up being. I've got the basic plot outlined, but I have no idea how many chapters it will end up being soooooo. yeah.
Just want to give a shout out to Little Miss Abrasive (fantastic name, by the way) for being the first to respond to something written in an authors note. It just maed my day.
Apologies to you though, I'm not killing Feli just yet. But he will be dying at some point in the future.
Sorry to all of you out there who wanted a miraculous recovery GerIta riding of into the sunset. I love GerIta to death, but it will never be anything but a side pairing.
You'll get some PruAus instead.
This is getting too long.
The tension is brewing. DUN DUN DUUUUN!
Random question time! Do you guys want flashbacks to Luddy and Feli's relationship, or Luddy and Gilbert's childhood?
And I only wrote today because of the review so... :P
