AUTHOR'S NOTE

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia: Axis Powers and any of the characters therein.


"Careful with that machine! Wait for the truck to get into place…OK now lower it down! Slowly! Sloooowly…alright we're good!"

Germany stood next to Britain in the center of the factory floor as the last assembly machine was dismantled. This was the last major factory to be put out of commission and Germany was glad to be done with it. He hated having to look at the faces of all the factory workers as they watched their livelihoods be taken apart and shipped off. It was demoralizing, and Germany didn't know how much more of it he could stand.

"Well, looks like that's the last of the lot," said Britain as he finished jotting down notes on his clipboard. He tucked the board under his arm as he blew warm air into his hands. Winter weather was starting to come in and the days were getting much colder. Germany put his gloved hands in his coat pockets and stamped his feet on the ground to warm up his sore legs.

"This was the last one, ja?" Germany asked Britain as they walked out of the factory.

"Yes, we should be all done with this. Just in time too, apparently" Britain said looking up as snow began to fall. He pulled up his scarf to shield his face from the cold wind. "I'm off to find a nice warm pub. We'll let you know if there's anything else that needs to be tidied up," Britain said curtly as he turned to walk down the street.

"Wait, bitte," Germany said before Britain could leave. "Have you heard anything from Russia? Or any news about Gilb…about Prussia?"

Britain demeanor softened as he looked up at Germany. "No, I have not." Germany's face fell, even though he was not really expecting anything. It had been months since Germany had last heard anything of his brother, and there was no telling if he would ever see him again.

"I'm sure he is doing well," said Britain, sensing Germany's worry and trying to be reassuring.

Germany nodded and replied, "You're probably right. Besides, he's too headstrong to let anything get to him."

Britain nodded, and the two parted ways. Germany looked up to the sky and watched the flakes fall as he walked. The ground was already covered in a thin layer of snow. He quickened his pace as the cold wind picked up and blew small flurries along the ground.

Germany stomped the snow off his boots and hung up his coat as he entered his house. There were no longer any dirty clothes on the floor, and all of the previously scattered papers and books were haphazardly stashed on the bookshelves. He went to the fireplace and got a fire going. Although he now had electricity, he had no such luck in getting his heating restored. Germany went to the kitchen and heated up a small bowl of potato and cabbage soup. Even now, food was still scarce and any that could be found for sale was expensive. Germany quickly finished his meal, almost feeling hungrier than he had before he had eaten. He rinsed and dried the bowl along with the few dirty dishes left in the sink, then slowly walked to his work desk. A small collection of handmade toys sat in a box on the floor next to the desk. Germany continued working on a half-finished wooden toy soldier.

As he worked, Germany began thinking about his brother. He missed going to the beirgarten and grabbing a stein with him, laughing as he watched Prussia put all challengers to shame in whatever game they dared to play against him as he screamed 'I AM AWESOME!'. He wondered if Prussia was allowed to drink beer at Russia's house. He wondered if they even had any wurst. And he wondered if, after all the reparations were paid, they would get to see each other again.

Germany finished painting the toy soldier and set it aside to dry. He grabbed the next block of wood and began to whittle it down. The coo-coo clock on the fireplace mantelpiece ticked away the hours as German worked long into the night.


Germany ran through the snow, desperately searching for something. He didn't know where he was or what he was looking for, but whatever it was he needed to find it quickly. He ran blindly in the night, snow falling lazily around him. He stumbled up a small hill and scanned the land below, his breath misting in the cold air. At the bottom of the hill, he saw a dark shape half covered in the snow. He ran towards the shape and as he got closer, he saw it was the outline of a person lying face down. He fell to his knees as he reached the body and quickly turned it over.

It was Prussia.

"Mien Gott, Gilbert!" Prussia's eyes were closed and his lips were deep blue. Germany could not tell if he was breathing; could not tell if he had a pulse. He put Prussia's head in his lap and tried to warm up his cold body, furiously rubbing his chest. "Bitte Gilbert, please wake up!"

"Aw, the little birdie got too cold, da?"

Germany turned around to see Russia standing over him. His felt his stomach drop as he looked up into those cold violet eyes.

"Please, he's sick. I can't get him warm enough, it's so cold. Please help him!" Germany cried as he grabbed on to the bottom of Russia's long coat.

Russia simply smiled as he looked down at Germany. "Little birdie is sick? Tsk tsk, Russia have no use for sick workers. Time for replacement."

Germany heard something behind him, and quickly turned to see Prussia being dragged away by a Russian soldier. "NEIN, let him go! Gilbert!" Germany tried to go after him, but tripped as he tried to stand. He pushed himself onto his knees and looked down; his hands and legs were shackled, and Russia was holding the end of the chain.

"Oh no, you must stay and work for me now." Russia yanked the chain, pulling Germany towards him and causing him to fall prone at his feet. "Come now, little German. Stand up and work for me now, da?"

Russia gave the chain another yank, forcing Germany onto his knees. Germany tried to stand, but fell back down on his hands and knees. His body began to shake uncontrollably. He was so tired, and he was so cold.

"Bitte…please. I can't. It's so cold…"

Russia's eyes sparkled sadistically as he looked down at Germany. "Hm, you cannot work either? Well, no use for you then."

Germany heard a metallic click. He looked up, straight into the barrel of a gun. Russia stood over him, grinning as he looked down at Germany.

"No, please…"

"Do svidaniya, little German."

He pulled the trigger.


Germany flung himself backwards, knocking toy parts and wood blocks off the table as he tipped over his chair and toppled to the floor. He gasped for breath as he lay on his back, trying to calm himself down.

A dream, it was just a dream…

Germany sat up and rubbed his face with his hands, taking deep breaths to try and slow his heartbeat. His head was pounding from the adrenaline rush; his pulse thumping in his ears. As he started to relax, he shivered as his body began to register the cold. Germany relit the fire, then grabbed the blanket off the couch and wrapped it around himself as he sat down. His body continued to shake, although it was no longer because of the cold.

Gilbert…

Germany put his head in his shaking hands. As the adrenaline subsided, he was left feeling completely drained, empty. There was nothing he could do for his brother. He felt helpless. He felt useless. And he hated it.

Germany laid down on the couch in front of the fire and buried his head in the cushions, trying to think about nothing as he listened to the ticking of the coo-coo clock and attempted to sleep.


AUTHOR'S NOTE

Foreign Word Definitions: ja – yes, bitte – please, biergarten – beer garden, wurst – German sausage, mein Gott – my God, da – yes (Russian), nein – no, Do svidaniya – goodbye (Russian)