Brother Troubles

Thank you everyone for all of the alerts! I really do appreciate it. Though, I wouldn't mind reviews too! I'd like to know how I'm doing. ^_^

Anyways, this chapter won't be as long as the last one, but also not short. This story is starting to have less angst it seems…Well, there's a lot more Ludwig and others in this chapters so I hope you like it! Sigh…

…

"Bruder, wake up."

Ludwig slowly knocked on his brother's door. He didn't know what to do. It was embarrassing since he had a fight with him the other day, but now his grandfather made it much worse. For some reason, Gilbert thinks no one cares about him. After he heard what Grandfather said, I bet he definitely believes it now! Ludwig thought about it all night.

He was so worried about his brother that he overslept by ten minutes. Not too late, but bad enough for Ludwig. He knew he was late, but he still tried to wake up his brother. It was usually the last thing he did in the morning. All he did this morning was eat breakfast.

He knocked again, but still no reply. "Bruder!" He spoke a little louder, "Please, you're going to be late!" He slowly opened the door and looked around. The room was slightly neater than the last time he looked and even the bed was made, but no Gilbert.

"Bruder?"

He ran in the room and looked around again. He saw that the window was slightly opened. "Oh no! Wh-what if Bruder was…kidnapped!" Ludwig's mind ran wild with the idea of his older brother innocently sleeping in his bed while some stranger came in through the window and grabbing him out of the bed and out the window. "Bruder, no!"

Ludwig calmed himself down and realized that it couldn't have been possible because it looked like there were no signs of a struggle. He had already confirmed that the bed was made, which was odd in itself. Unless the kidnapper happened to fix his bed…

The next logical thing Ludwig thought of was that his brother simply ran way. To Ludwig, that was worse than kidnapping. He opened the closet and saw that there were still clothes inside. He then did a quick scan around the room. Gilbert was a pretty materialistic person, so he wouldn't run away without taking most of his stuff with him. If anything, he would never, ever leave his bird, which was sleeping in its cage, behind. Ludwig was pretty sure his brother would pick the bird over himself many times over.

The very last thing he thought would ever happen would be if Gilbert went off to school early. He knew Gilbert was mad, but mad enough to wake up early just to avoid him? Not only that, but their grandfather usually left before they woke up, so Gilbert would've had to deal with him. When the door bell rang, Ludwig ran to the door and swung it open.

"Gilbert?"

"Ve…Ludwig, are you alright?"

He was surprised to see his friend at the door, "Feliciano? What are you doing here?" Feliciano got confused, "Ve~? You never came to my house! Did you forget there's school today? Did you wake up late?" He grabbed at his German friend's shirt making Ludwig realize that he wasn't ready at all. Feliciano at his door was proof enough.

He quickly pulled the other inside and dragged him along the house. "Ludwig, what's wrong?" Ludwig ran in the bathroom and tried to talk while brushing his teeth and combing his hair. "I spent so much time in Gilbert's room I didn't realize the time!" Feliciano couldn't hear anything, "Gilbert? I can't understand…" Ludwig finished and brought his friend to his room.

"It's Gilbert. He wasn't in his room this morning. Now that I think about it, maybe he left out of the window…yeah! So Opa wouldn't see him!" "Ludwig, what are you talking about? Did something happen to Gil?" Ludwig realized he wasn't making any sense.

"Sorry about that. You see, I got into a little bit of an argument with him last night, so he didn't want to talk to me last night." Feliciano was about to speak, but blushed and nodded his head. "I don't really understand Gilbert anymore. It's like the older we are the less we understand each other! I don't know what gave him the impression that nobody cares about him, but I really do. I don't know how I'm going to talk to him now after this…" Ludwig grabbed his backpack and took his friend's hand and ran out the door, "You know, last night my grandfather said something hurtful to Gilbert. He worded it the wrong way, but…why are you smiling?"

Feliciano wasn't used to seeing his friend so flustered, "Ludwig, you usually don't let me watch you change your clothes~!" "I what?" Ludwig was so worried about his brother that he was acting more like, well, Feliciano! "I tried to tell you, but you were so busy talking I didn't want to disturb you. You even motioned me to give you a shirt!" Ludwig's face got red, "I did, ja? Well…I see…"

He cleared his throat, "Anyways, the point is that things are weird between the two of us right now. I really wish he could find something to do afterschool instead of being home all alone." "Ve…wasn't he on the baseball team?" Ludwig walked slower, "Well, yes…but he quit. Remember when my brother broke his arm?" Ludwig grabbed his upper arm and Feliciano energetically nodded.

"Well, he wouldn't tell me how it happened, but I think Ivan Braginski was somehow involved. Anyways, after his arm healed, he went back to the team but quit soon after. I don't understand why he would do such a thing! He was the best hitter on that team and it seemed like the whole team respected him too, so why?"

"Maybe there's more to the story than you know."

Ludwig was shocked. Feliciano just told him something extremely sensible! He was always taking advantage of his friend's silly nature, but in truth he's actually pretty smart. No common sense, but very smart. "Of course, how could I be so blind?" Feliciano lightly bumped his shoulder with Ludwig's, "Ludwig likes to worry about other people so much! Must be a hobby, ve~!"

"Don't talk about me like I'm not here!" Feliciano laughed. "How do you and your brother get along after you fight?" The Italian began to think, "Fratello and I don't usually get along, so arguments are a usual thing…ve…" Ludwig kinda felt sorry he asked.

Once they reached the school, Ludwig tried to stretch he arms but he noticed that they were holding hands, "Feliciano! Why are you holding my hand?" "Ve? But you were the one who grabbed my hand." He quickly let got of the other's hand, "W-well, why didn't you say something?"

"I was supposed to?"

They went inside the school and Ludwig immediately went looking for his brother. "There he is!" He saw Gilbert wearing a shirt with long sleeves, which was strangle since the weather was still warm. He ignored that and was about to walk up to him, until he saw his brother talking to a girl. He quickly hid behind a wall. "Ludwig~! What are you doing~?" Feliciano loudly said. Ludwig pulled him behind the wall before Gilbert could see him.

"It's Bruder! He's…he's…"

He pointed to the girl, "Ve? So what? She's cute! Haven't I seen…her…" Feliciano realized the problem. "I know! I thought Bruder hated that girl, but there his is laughing with her!" The Italian boy realized that much, but couldn't understand why Ludwig was so angry. "Ludwig, shouldn't you be happy that Gil has a girlfriend now?"

He sighed, "I-I guess. I just wish he could've told me! I mean, I know we had a fight last night, but she would be the last person…didn't he say he hated the whole family?" Feliciano frowned, "I don't think the whole family's bad. Natalia doesn't seem too bad!"

Said Belarusian girl walked down the hall and noticed Feliciano. He quickly winked and blew her a kiss, but she scowled at him and gave him the finger. "Waah! Ludwig, she's mean! Save me from her!" Feliciano clung tightly on his friend, who tried to pry him off. "Feliciano, get off of me right now!"

The two of them were making such a huge scene that they didn't even notice Gilbert watching them before he walked away.

…

In Gilbert's class, the teacher wanted the students to go into groups of two and complete their work. Immediately, Roderich and Elizabeta paired up, Yekaterina got surrounded by a group of boys wanting to working with her, and the bad friends trio had to decide who would be left out.

"So, rock-paper-scissors again?"

"Yep!"

After seven rounds of ties, Gilbert turned his head and sighed. He saw Yekaterina looking distressed trying to decide on a guy. He stood up, "You two can work together." Francis and Antonio were confused that he would give up so easily. Gilbert walked over to Katyusha, "Hey, wanna work together?" She gave him a huge smile, "Yes! Of course!" She apologized to the other boys and invited Gilbert to sit next to her. Everyone in the class looked at them.

"Damn it, Kat! Do you want to give people the wrong idea with that look of your face, you moron?"

"I'm sorry, I usually have trouble picking guys, but I don't mind you!"

"Miststück…."

After class, Elizabeta and Roderich stopped Gilbert in the hall. "Gilbert, why didn't you tell us?" Elizabeta confronted him first. "What the hell are you talking about?" She sighed, "I mean about you and Katyusha! She was so happy that you came up to her in class that something has to be going on!" Gilbert opened his mouth to yell, but then turned it into a smile.

"Ah, I see…you're jealous! Don't worry, baby! I'll always have eyes for you~!"

She pushed his face away, "Oh please…" Roderich cleared his throat, "She is right, you know. It really did look that way. We just want to know if it's true, Gilbert." Gilbert sneered, "Why do you care?" Roderich got a little angry, "Why wouldn't I? This is all quite sudden and without you saying a word about this is very unusual!"

"Ah, I see…you're jealous! Don't worry, baby! I'll always have eyes for you~!"

He pushed his head away, "I'm serious, Gilbert!" Gilbert grabbed his friend's arm, "Listen, you two! What the hell is the problem with me having a new friend? Do I have to report every little thing that happens to me?" "But, you usually do!" Elizabeta yelled back. Roderich pulled his arm away, "We were just asking, okay?"

"Nothing is going on between us, ja? If you weren't so busy all the damn time maybe I would've told you! I thought you were the ones who got annoyed with me!"

The pair looked at each other, "Gilbert, we're sorry if it seemed like we were teasing you. We were just a little curious, that's all…" Elizabeta said. Gilbert walked pass them, "I need to get to class…" Roderich walked up to Gilbert, but stopped, "Eliza, did we do something wrong?" She crossed her arms, "Something is up with him! He's told us how much he hated everybody from her family, so what changed in a day?" "I think I'll have a little talk with Antonio about this later."

Gilbert sat down in his seat with a huff, "What's with that interrogation bullshit?" He was suddenly surrounded by a Frenchman and a Spaniard, "Gilbert, we have to talk!" the latter said. Gilbert sighed, "No, Toni, you can't have my bird for the day. And no, Franny, you can't have me."

Antonio stuck his tongue out, "That was only once! And that's not what we came to talk about, right?" Francis looked away, "Uh, yes…of course!" "…Anyways, I can't believe you blew us off for Ivan's sister!" Gilbert put his hands on his face, "Not you two…nothing-is-going-on! What is with everybody today?"

Francis put his hand on Gilbert's shoulder, "We wouldn't blame you for going after such a beauty, but this particular beauty? I thought you hated her with a passion?" "Leave me alone! I just said nothing is going on between me and Kat!" Antonio pinched his cheeks, "Nothing is going on, yet you already have a cute nickname for her, Gil Gil?"

"Don't pinch me! And don't call me that!"

Francis frowned, "Gilbert, you never called me yesterday…Oh, I see! You must have been with her!" "Don't be such a smart ass, Francis. I didn't call you because every time I do you turn into such a bitchy fag! And Toni doesn't even pick up at all." Francis frowned seriously, "I tell you every time when it is a good time to call, Gilbert."

"Please don't fight, you two! You'll make a scene and embarrass me!"

Francis smiled, "You call me everyday after school, mon amour. Either you love the sound of my beautiful voice or you've got a lot of free time on your hands." "You bastard!" "Why did you quit baseball in the first place? Just because of one little incident you quit? Ce sont des conneries! I thought you were stronger then that. You're such a coward, Gilbert Beilschmidt!"

Gilbert slammed his fists on his desk, bringing attention to himself, "That wasn't some little incident, asshole! My arm was broken and it was all because of that fat-ass! I don't need you to tell me whether I'm strong or if it's shit! Don't be such a hypocrite. Get the hell away from me!" "Tell me the truth or become a coward, fils de pute!"

Antonio got in between them, "Please, guys! Let's just agree that the both of you are cowards, okay! Everybody's looking!" They looked around and the whole class was watching them. The teacher was glaring at them, "Mr. Beilschmidt and Mr. Bonnefoy, if you will please quiet down! The rest of us are trying to learn." Francis quickly apologized while Gilbert just glared.

…

Immediately after school, Ludwig tried tracking down his brother again. "Ludwig, where are we going?" "I am looking for my brother. You are going to be late for your club!" Feliciano grabbed on to the other's arm, "But I don't have a meeting today! I wanna come with you!"

Ludwig sighed, "Fine, just don't slow me down." Feliciano waited a few minutes before talking again, "What are you going to say? I mean, to Gil?" He stopped walking, "I…I'll ask him why he quit baseball and maybe…about Ivan's sister." The Italian boy decided to stay silent the rest of the way.

Gilbert was talking with Yekaterina outside of the bathrooms at the old school building. "Gilbert, did you know that you don't have to only cut your arm?" "Really? Where else would you cut?" She made a quick scan around the area before pulling down the side of her pants to show Gilbert a little bit of her hip.

"See? If you don't want anyone to see fresh cuts all the time just do it on your thigh." Gilbert rubbed the marks, making her jump, "Gilbert!" He laughed, "What?" Ludwig heard his laughing and walked over fearlessly, "Bruder, there you are! We need to talk." The both of them jumped at the booming voice and Katyusha swiftly pulled her pants back up, only Feliciano noticing.

Gilbert glared, "What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" Ludwig back away a bit, "I know, but I have to talk to you!" Gilbert scowled, "Where the hell was this yesterday when you were busy? I just wanted to talk, but you were too busy and brushed me off. Now I'm busy and you won't leave me alone!" "Damn it, Bruder! I am so tired of this!" Ludwig tried calming down.

"Okay, please. I am very sorry about yesterday, ja? So, just let me finish what I have to say and-"

"Were you showing Gil your birthmark?"

Everyone stared at Feliciano in shock. Katyusha's face was completely red and Gilbert had his mouth open. Ludwig was more angry than surprised that his friend suddenly cut him off. "Y-yeah she did! Got a problem with that, Feli?" She was a little happy that he covered up for her, but knew that he was really covering up for himself.

"Bruder, I demand to know your relationship with this girl!"

"You what? Who the hell do you think you are? You sound just like Opa!"

Ludwig gritted his teeth. This was getting him nowhere. "Bruder, can-" "You don't deserve to know." Ludwig pointed at Katyusha, "You said that you hated her brother and her whole family! Now you're together with her? This is something I need to know about!"

"Are you some kind idiot? You don't need to know anything! And who cares about what I said? She knows!"

"What…?"

"This has nothing to do with you, Ludwig! Why don't you just fuck off?"

Ludwig grabbed his brother's shirt collar, "Why do you always have to do this? Why are you so damn difficult to talk to? Act fucking civilized, you dumb-ass!" Gilbert punched his brother's face, "Don't you ever talk to me that way!" He let go of Gilbert to hold his hurting face. Feliciano went up to him and Katyusha was confused as to what to do.

Gilbert didn't really want to hit his brother, but he went too far. He hadn't hit his brother like that in years. Ludwig stood up straight, "Gilbert, you have issues! This is why people always have problems with you!" Gilbert gave him a cold stare, "Is that so?" He walked away, with Katyusha following behind.

"Ludwig, are you okay?"

Ludwig fell to his knees and covered his face with his fists, "I can't believe it…what have I done?" Feliciano hugged his friend, "I'm sorry…" "About what?" "If I never said anything, you wouldn't have yelled at Gil…" Ludwig slowly put an arm around his friend, "Don't…don't worry about it. You did nothing wrong. It was all my fault. I kept arguing and arguing with him and…I can't believe I said those things to him! I'm the one with issues! What have I done?"

Feliciano didn't know what to say. He could only hold his best friend closer.

…

You know, writing longer chapters isn't too bad! Also, Francis always makes sure he insults his friends with a smile! Maybe I should change the rating on account of all the bad language? Now that I think about it, there wasn't much cutting in this chapter…or Ivan!

I really do mean it when I say that I'd love to know what you think. No, I won't stop writing the story, but I do love the motivation! ^o^

Please R&R We all need motivation in our lives, right?