Ludwig circled Alfred once like a bloodthirsty wolf stalking his wounded prey – Alfred tried to hide the fear in his heart, but it was no use. He could sense the cruel smirk that played on the Europeans' lips as he paused and rhythmically tapped the poker on the floor.
"What were you doing here in Hiroshima, Alfred?" He asked nonchalantly, as one might ask another of where they were holidaying that year.
"I-I was on a reconnaissance mission. That is all."
Ludwig nodded and remained still, then suddenly struck Alfred in the left calf – the pain was indescribable as he crumpled under his own weight and smacked the ground. Ludwig crouched and brought his face right down to Alfreds' – those icy, piercing eyes literally millimetres away from his own cool blues.
"That is all? Were you here to see the tourist attractions or were you here to pick a prime location to bomb?" he hissed, grabbing a palmful of dirty blonde locks between his fingers.
"I-I don't know! I was just sent here on orders!" He cried, trying to prise the other mans' fingers off of his hair, but failing due to the other man having such a cast-iron grasp.
"Complete and utter scheisse, Alfred!" he spat as he flung him down.
"Still, you're lucky that we caught you just in time – I'm sure Honda-san will be pleased." The taller man mused, drawing himself up and nodding his head towards the petite oriental that had just arrived through the doors. Alfred turned and saw the youthful commander he briefly met with earlier.
"Oh I am pleased of course, but there still remains the punishment that Alfred must face for his trespass." Kiku smiled, kicking the prostrate Alfred hard in the cheek with a dainty leather boot. "It's an awful job, but it needs to be done if we are to keep these degenerate countries in check and out of our property."
"Ach jah, I totally agree! There are many slovenly countries I would like to deal with – that rude bastard Arthur Kirkland being the foremost! I will have him broken and grovelling at my feet when I get my hands on him!"
Alfred put his hand on his cheek and tried hard to stop the stinging tears from leaking – whythefuckdidtheyhavetomentionArthur?He thought bitterly.
Noticing his sniffles, Ludwig and Kiku looked at him, then at each other, and then suddenly burst out laughing – the blond belting out great booming "hahs!" whilst the raven-haired man tittered politely behind his hand.
"So after being shot, dragged up the stairs, thrown about and kicked, mentioning England is what finally made you cry? Oh you are funny, Alfred!" Ludwig teased as Alfred tried to hide his eyes from his abusive captors.
"I think, perhaps, we have found the chink in Alfreds' armour – his precious big brother. Maybe we should keep this in mind for future reference?"
"Y-you're wrong! I don't give a fuck about Arthur! He's just a jerk!" Alfred cried, momentarily forgetting his place. Kiku was about to stamp on his hand to remind him of his status, but Ludwig halted him gently.
"Nein, nein maybe we were wrong; maybe he doesn't really care about the elder bruder that raised him all these years. Maybe we can talk about Arthurs' torture in candid detail without upsetting him?"
Ludwig briefly glanced to the trembling Alfred
"Maybe we can discuss at great length the various methods in which I'll remove Arthurs' teeth and nails? Or how I'd break him psychologically and have him drooling at my feet?"
Kiku gave his polite, tinkling laughter once more
"You are a very cruel man, Ludwig – you talk of torture as if casually relaying a dinner menu!"
"I could go so far as to joke that his dinner menu reads out like a torture list – his food is absolute scheisse! It is yet another reason why I want to break that smug bastard in two!"
Alfred trembled as he tried to keep the wracking sobs from escaping his mouth – Kiku looked down upon this and sneered at his weakness. This was the first time he had displayed an emotion other than polite amusement.
"How irritating." He derided, beckoning a guard to come in and pick Alfred up. Kiku went to go leave and attend to his own business in his office on the upper floor, but was halted by Ludwig.
"Do you know who fired that shot, Honda-san?"
A wide, slit smile stretched across his face as he paused on the spot.
"It was me. I fired it from the upper floor after he tried to run away."
Ludwig nodded, but the other man continued
"I must admit, I did find it amusing when he broke that guards' teeth – I only wished that Alfred could have put up more of a fight when they surrounded him."