"That guy's crazy strong!" Muttered Gilbert, rubbing at his wrist.
Ludwig stopped and grabbed him to take a look at his wrist. It was a bit red but nothing more.
"Maybe you should go to the nurse's office too," he said, rubbing his thumb over the redness. Were his brother's wrists always this small? "He shouldn't have been so rough. I should have-"
"Nah, I'm fine. I just didn't think he was that strong. Anyway, I have to go to class now."
"Brother, we should talk," he started, but Gilbert stepped away from him.
"Later. I really have to go now," he said, but Ludwig pulled on his sleeve to stop him.
"No, we have to talk now."
"Just let it go Lud."
"I can't! Bruder you don't understand. I know you're trying to protect me, but I can't-"
"Gilbert?" Called someone from the top of the stairs and Ludwig let go of his brother's sleeve.
"Hey, Roderich. Come on, let me introduce you to my little brother!"
A thin, perfectly polished boy with glasses walked slowly down the stairs. He had an annoying expression on his face, a mix of condescension and disgust that Ludwig thought might make him look aloof and uptight, but with the dark circles under his eyes, he just looked sick and mildly angry.
"Ludwig, this is Roderich Edelstein. We're like, far cousins or something."
Roderich pushed up his glasses. "We're third cousins from the first marriage of your great grandfather's second marriage grandsons, from your father's side of the family."
Ludwig lifted his eyebrows at that. "I...see..."
"A pleasure to meet you, Ludwig. You're the only thing your brother talks about."
"Uhm, thanks?"
Gilbert patted them both on the back. "Well that was a very heartwarming exchange, but I think Roderich was trying to drag me back to class, right?"
"Yes, but if you're-"
"No, no, I'll go now," he grabbed Roderich's arm and started to leave. "See you later little brother!"
Ludwig huffed, and went on to his own class. Breaching the subject to his brother would be much harder than he anticipated.
