(A/N)
I'm introducing a serious plot twist. :D
Also, thank you for all the lovely reviews! Magical Awesome Gilbert Cookies for everyone! I know I haven't said anything about it, but I really appreciate it when you guys review.
IT. MAKES. ME. FEEL. FUZZY.
Enough rambling! On with the show!
"I'm his brother, gott verdammt, let me through!"
"Sir, your brother is in a critical condition—"
"I don't care, that's why I have to see him!"
Just then, a nervous looking nurse rushed towards them.
"Doctor, he's waking up," he said urgently. The doctor turned to Ludwig.
"If you could excuse me for a moment." With that, he briskly turned and walked into the hallway. Ludwig tried to follow, but the nurse held him back.
"GILBERT!" he shouted down the hall. The nurse gently led him back into the waiting room, and once he was seated, he turned to walk away. He then hesitated for a moment, and looked back at the blonde.
"He... your brother," he started, then gathered himself. "You care about him a lot."
It wasn't a question. Ludwig nodded.
"Very much so." The nurse began walking away, then hesitated again and looked back. He made a small gesture for Ludwig to follow. He immediately stood up and walked purposefully with him, thanking him quietly. The man nodded in understanding.
"I- ah, I have a brother too. Two, actually. Foster brothers." Understanding passed between Ludwig and the nervous brown haired man.
The hallway seemed to stretch on forever. When they finally arrived at the room, Ludwig steeled himself and opened the door. They were met with the sight of Gilbert, looking pale, distraught, and bedraggled, but alive. Bandages covered most of his head, blood already soaking through. They were in stark contrast to the bleached white of the bandages, as were his eyes to his unusually pale face.
"Wha... Rod...er...ich..." he mumbled. "Don't... leave me..." Ludwig felt a pang in his chest. He had heard the doctors saying that he had died, but he still had a chance. So, they had revived him, but... he had been... dead, for a while. What had he seen?
Just then, Gilbert's eyes lit up.
"L-Ludwig!"
The doctor spun around, looked from Ludwig to the brown haired nurse, and glared at the latter, though he was a bit forced to accept it when Ludwig came running to his brother's side. They both began babbling at once.
"Ludwig, oh Ludwig, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry Ludwig, oh god..."
"Gilbert, you're okay, you're okay dammit, don't you ever do that again, schisse, Gil..."
"I won't Ludwig, dammit, you freaking know it, because you're my bro, and I... I have to protect you!"
"No Gilbert, I wasn't protecting you, I'm so sorry Gilbert..."
Tears were streaming down both of their faces, and when their babbling and crying finally subsided, Gilbert looked embarrassed.
"Awesome people shouldn't cry," he mumbled. Ludwig could have laughed.
"Only awesome people cry. They're awesome enough to not be afraid of showing their feelings. It shows they have heart." Gilbert smiled.
"I freaking love you, bro."
"Ich liebe dich auch, bruder."
XXX
For a while, Ludwig would have said things were back to normal. Gilbert seemed happier somehow, and though his moods were more subdued, he was almost like his old self, like the times before Roderich... well, before he...
Gilbert was almost like his old self.
Almost.
Ludwig began noticing small things, like how his brother's smile didn't quite reach as far as it used to— but then again, it was an improvement over not smiling at all. But they still didn't seem genuine. Sometimes Ludwig would catch glimpses of Gilbert when he was alone in the garden, or in the morning over a cup of coffee, when he thought nobody was looking. The albino looked desolate, abandoned, but also extremely pensive. When Ludwig tried to figure out what his brother could be so extremely preoccupied with, he remembered that his brother had died, even if it was for a moment, and a lot could have happened. A few times, he had almost worked up the courage to ask his brother, but decided it would be better to drop the matter.
One absolutely normal Sunday morning, Ludwig walked into the kitchen, expecting to see his brother looking forlorn as ever and nursing a cup of coffee. That was another thing; he didn't drink beer in the morning like he used to. And, he actually woke up early. But today, he wasn't there. Ludwig almost went to wake him up, but decided that it was better that he get his rest. He's been looking tired lately. As he walked up to the fridge, a bright green sticky note on it caught his eye.
Luddy,
Don't worry, I went for a walk. I'll be back in a while.
~Gil.
Hmmm, no awesome comments yet. But at least he signed his name with a squiggle. That was... happy, wasn't it? Ludwig sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, still damp from his morning shower. Feliciano was coming over today... he should probably make sure the pasta ingredients were accessible.
XXX
Gilbert knew exactly where he was going as soon as he woke up. He didn't even know why he was going there; the thought of it just resonated through his head. He didn't know what he would find there. It had been a while, and nobody was taking care of the house. Gilbert wondered if the purple flowers were still there. Though he dressed warmly, halfway through the walk, a combination of his anxiety, the exercise, and the bipolar weather of Los Angeles made it too hot for his coat.
When he was a block away, he broke into a run.
He skidded to a halt in front of the house, still not looking at it, and fearing the worst. His chest heaved as he struggled for breath. A few passerby gave him odd looks, but he ignored them. He slowly lifted his head, still panting. The house... looked well-kept. The purple flowers were there, the rosebushes were trimmed, and some freshly planted winter jasmine was in full bloom.
Freshly... planted...?
Gilbert ran into the house, slamming the door open frantically. We've never had winter jasmine in our garden before! His mind flashed back to a day before Roderich had died.
It was Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. Roderich quietly sipped his coffee as he looked out his window at the spectacular city view. The city seemed brighter than usual at this time of night; the city was still bustling with people, making merry during the one day that everyone seemed to get along. He glanced out at his garden, eyes roaming over the arrangement of flowers that he himself had plotted and planted. But, something was... wrong.
"Gilbert?" he called
"Hmm?" the albino peeked out from the kitchen to look at his beloved. "Ja, liebeling?"
"The garden. There's something missing..." He frowned, his delicate eyebrows coming together in a slight scowl. Gilbert sat down beside him, gently putting his arms around Roderich.
"Well, there aren't many flowers that bloom in the winter," he reasoned, nuzzling his face into Roderich's soft locks. Gilbert internally rolled his eyes. Flowers were so... prissy. Buy hey, it's Christmas, might as well go along to make Roderich happy. Said man leaned against him.
"Hmmm... what about... Winter Jasmine?" said Roderich.
"What does that look like?"
"It's a small yellow bloom... with six little petals," he replied.
"Hmm, sounds nice. And we don't have any yellow flowers at this time of year.
"Next year around wintertime, I'm definitely going to plant some."
"Ja, you do that." Gilbert smiled at his partner.
It was wintertime again.
There was Winter Jasmine in the front garden.
What...
He quietly walked into the house, gently closing the door behind him. He cautiously stepped forward, then froze when he heard sounds from within the house. But not just any sounds.
Piano music. From the music room, and not just the discordant playing of a fool messing around in an abandoned house. Gilbert rushed forward down the hall, intent on reaching the room in record time, because this was the skilled playing of well-practiced, nimble pianist's fingers; fingers Gilbert knew well.
Roderich...
But no, this couldn't be! Roderich was—
Gilbert slammed the door open, heart racing uncontrollably.
Roderich looked up from his place on the piano bench, nonchalantly pushing his glasses up his nose.
"Oh, hello Gilbert. I was wondering where you were this morning. We need milk."
(A/N)
MUAHAHAHAHA AHHAHAHADFTASOU *violent coughing and hacking*
Winter Jasmine is an extremely cute flower.
Please review, it makes me write! Plus, you'll get treats! :)
(A/N) EDIT 3/21/14
Made a few edits, nothing huge.
