Back in 1945, Gilbert leaned back in his chair. "Ah, yeah… that was pretty sweet, wasn't it? Yeah…" Then he abruptly sat up. "Hey, do you remember anything from before that time now?"
Ludwig shook his head. "No. Not a thing."
"Eh? That's a real shame, isn't it, West? Ahaha! 'Cause I remember when you first remembered your name…" The beer was starting to do the talking for him, but that didn't stop Gilbert from going right into the next section of his story…
* * *
It was June 9, 1815. The Final Act of the Congress of Vienna had just been signed earlier in the day, and one of the many results of the Act was the creation of the German Confederation.
Frederick William III was the monarch in charge now, and Gilbert… wasn't really a fan of him. He had a bit of a reputation for being ineffectual and indecisive. He was definitely no Old Fritz, but Gilbert had learned to put up with it… to the man's face, anyway. At any rate, they were discussing a rather important issue.
"So, that was the boy you found two years ago?"
"Yeah. It's weird, though… he's really quiet for a kid. Most kids his age have more… energy, you know? He just sits and reads in the library. And then he practically gives me a lecture on everything he's read, saying things like, 'well, such-and-such book doesn't say that' or just plain telling me I'm wrong! And he's awfully neat, too. I mean, I just put one thing out of place, and then I come back and find everything lined up in perfect little rows… He's so orderly for someone so young that he's starting to worry me a bit." And by "worry," he meant "bother." Or did he?
His king replied, "Well, it seems you're taking good care of him. Pardon me for saying so, but I never quite expected you to have paternal instincts, Prussia."
"H-hey, wait a minute! He's my BROTHER, not my kid! I just-"
Gilbert was cut short by something pulling on his coattails. He turned around to find the culprit: West. "Big brother… may I talk to you for a moment?"
He gave an impatient sigh. "You could've at least knocked, West…" He looked to Frederick for permission, even though he would rather have just left and heard West out just to get it over with.
"You may take your leave."
"Uh… thanks." He walked out of the room with West. "What was so important that you had to walk into a meeting, West?"
"I'm sorry. But it didn't sound like you were doing much-"
"WE WERE BUSY!" Gilbert was met with a glare that indicated that he'd made the wrong move. "Sorry, West, but we were."
The little boy- well, he wasn't quite as little as when Gilbert first found him; he'd actually gotten a little taller- continued, "I remember my name now, Brother. And I remember what country I am now, too."
Okay, yes, that was important. "You do?! Tell me!"
"My name is… Ludwig. And I'm the German Confederation."
"Really? It's great that you remember, West! And-" …Wait a minute. How could he "remember" that he was the German Confederation?! It was just formed! And he was awake for it!
"Is something wrong, Brother?"
"…The German Confederation was formed today. Do you remember what you actually were?"
"I'm the German Confederation. That's all I know. And why are you still calling me West? I just told you my name…"
Well, that was a lost cause. "At least you know who you are now, eh? I'm glad!" He really was. "But it doesn't matter what you're calling yourself today. You're always gonna be little bruder West to me!" To punctuate the statement, he reached out and ruffled West's (or, as it was now, Ludwig's) hair.
"H-hey! Brotherrrrr! Don't do thaaaaat!" Gilbert chuckled a little as Ludwig frantically tried to straighten his hair out. He even tried pushing his bangs back into the look that would one day be his signature hairstyle, but they didn't stay up, of course.
"Aw, come on, lighten up a little. You're a kid; you're allowed to have messy hair. Besides, I was just joking around with you."
Having finally gotten his golden locks back into place, Ludwig gave a nervous smile. "I-I know, Brother. But your hair is too messy, even for someone older." Oh come on, this again? "Now I'm joking with you, big brother."
"Very funny, West." Gilbert bent down to give his little brother a hug. "Now, I've got to get back to work. I'll come check on you later, okay?"
"…Okay. I'll be in the library, like always." Big brother is kind of warm when he wants to be, Ludwig added in his mind…
