It was quite a shadowed road that Roderich had found himself walking down.
He had gotten a letter in reply from the base, rather, Arthur. The words that were clearly toughly scrawled on the page pushed Roderich into tears. A bit of ink smeared on one word by a tear of the writer crushed Roderich even harder.
Arthur must be dealing with a lot more than he can handle, especially since he cannot tell anybody. He wrote that he would stop by to try and find Alfred, to see him once more.
Another problem is with Gilbert's feelings and his own being mutual, there was only one thing they really could have done about it.
Start an even more secretive relationship than the first.
Roderich is definitely the more unsure about it, his fear of anybody finding out slowly eating away at him.
The first move was made by Gilbert, trying to grab Roderich's hand on the hill, only to have it pulled back quickly.
Next was the awkward hug, followed by the arm around the waist, etcetera.
Roderich flinches quite violently, only relaxing when he tells himself nobody else is around.
It was a lot to deal with, to say the least.
Roderich sat, playing his piano. Feliciano and Lovino were just about ready to head to bed.
"Roderich, we're sleeping, shut up." Lovino glared evilly at him.
"I will, I am going to stay up a while longer, alright?"
"Whatever, just don't keep us up."
Roderich sighed, and the twins walked to their bedroom. Roderich kept himself occupied by counting the cracks on the floor. Once he was sure they were asleep, he stepped to the door and quietly opened it. He was quickly shoved to the side, and he shut the door in a tad of frustration.
"It was cold out the-"
Roderich smacked his hand against Gilbert's mouth, glaring.
"They are asleep!" Roderich hissed through gritted teeth.
"I would only assume." Gilbert teased, lowering his voice.
"Don't push it, let's go." Roderich sighed, pushing his glasses up a bit.
"… But… But it's cold…" Gilbert frowned.
"Are you serious right now?" The Austrian's face was blank.
"Er…" Gilbert scratched the back of his neck.
Roderich smirked, "That's not very awesome of you."
Gilbert's muscles tensed, and he grabbed Roderich's hand quickly, opening the door and dragging him out. Gilbert mumbled something along the lines of;
"I'll show you awesome, saying I'm not awesome. That's so not awesome, why would I even complain? Whatever my complaining is awesome…"
Gilbert kept talking to himself, dragging Roderich behind him. The Austrian smirked to himself.
Check-mate.
They took the roads Nazis weren't monitoring, and made their way up the path to the hill. Since it was the middle of winter, it wasn't surprising they were both shivering. Gilbert once again forced Roderich to wear his coat and gloves, propping his hat atop the Austrian's head for fun.
Roderich still felt awkward in the coat. It was bad enough they were friends, then now into whatever their relationship is now.
Gilbert is going to have to find out about Roderich's religion soon enough. It's something he can hide for a bit longer, but he cannot hide it forever.
Gilbert may be dense and self-centered, but even he would be able to pick up on the subtle things Roderich does. Flinching at the words of the Germans complaining about Jews, laying stones on top of the excuse of a grave he and the twins made for Francis, a lot of things.
He is also surprised that Gilbert hadn't picked up he lied to him about not knowing German. He told him he was from Austria. What does he think they speak there? French?
"Woah! Roddy, look!"
Roderich snapped from his thoughts, looking up.
"What am I supposed to be looking at?" He arched an eyebrow.
"It's on my face, look!"
Roderich looked up to Gilbert, and the albino quickly kissed the Austrian's cheek.
"Kesesese~"
Roderich blushed, looking to the floor quickly.
"Well, upon observation, it's cold." Gilbert chuckled, still proud of himself for sneaking a kiss.
"I'm surprised you used the word observation, where did you learn that?" Roderich teased.
"Oh, Roddy, you don't know how to make someone feel bad. Not at all."
"Are you sure? Wait, where did you go?"
"…I'm right here."
"Oh sorry, you're so albino that you blended with the snow." Roderich explained smoothly.
"Good one," Gilber smirked, lightly shoving Roderich. "But I'm wearing a black shirt."
"Oh, someone caught onto a flaw, I didn't think you were that observant."
"Alright now you're being rude." Gilbert grinned.
"Then why are you grinning?" Roderich rolled his eyes.
"Because you don't mean it, duh."
"You're correct. I suppose you are, erm…"
Gilbert grinned. "Say it!"
Roderich took in a breath, "A-awesome…"
"Was? I couldn't hear you over my awesomeness."
"Don't push it."
"Sorry."
The two had idle chat, deciding to just walk around the hill, as the ground was extremely cold, just like the air.
Roderich was actually getting comfortable, then Gilbert changed the mood in the blink of an eye.
"So you had your first kiss up here, ja?" Gilbert yawned out.
Roderich choked on his own breath.
"Um, y-yes."
"Had your second yet?" Gilbert smirked, looking at the Austrian from the corner of his eye.
"…No."
"Do you want to have it?"
Panic streamed through Roderich's body.
What do I do, I can't kiss him. That's awkward. Awkward? Well, I can't do it. No. Never. I can't. Not an option. Nope, not happening. One hundred percent not going to kiss him.
"Yes." He squeaked out.
Great, I turn into a panicky young girl, and say yes. Fantastic. Now I get this inevitable idiot-Prussian's kiss.
Gilbert smirked and leaned down to kiss him.
Oh. Lieutenant Bieldschmidt is right there. Nope. Leave. Cough. Sneeze or something. Pretend to fall. Pretend to faint. Say that I'm a secret Russian spy and I just wanted to see their aeronautical technology.
"Oops, would you look at the time!" Roderich laughed nervously.
Gilbert arched an eyebrow.
Roderich slid off Gilbert's jacket, holding it out.
"I'm sorry. I need to go home." He said with the fakest grin he had ever pulled.
"Um, you don't have a watch on." Gilbert pushed Roderich's hand back.
"I can read the moon positions…?"
"There are snow clouds above us."
Roderich nodded and smiled, trying to figure out what to say. He took off the German's hat and gloves, shoving them at Gilbert.
"Sorry! I must leave!" The Austrian laughed nervously, turning and trudging away.
"Wait! Is this about the kiss!?" Gilbert called out.
"No! I need to go!"
"Roderich!"
He ignored him, and kept walking. He heard snow crunching behind him, and stepped faster.
"Roderich."
Gilbert clasped a hand on his shoulder. And Roderich blanched, freezing.
"I was afraid of the kiss!"
"Roderich, honestly. If you didn't want to kiss you shouldn't have said yes." Gilbert chuckled, spinning him around and hugging him. "Why don't we call it a night?"
"Y-yes, that would be fine…" Roderich sighed in relief, nodding.
Gilbert just laughed to himself, clasping Roderich's hand and trudged through the snow to make it back on the trail.
Roderich's thoughts were a mile a minute, why was this happening to him!?
It's not like I do not want to kiss him! In fact, I do not-not want to kiss him. I have no issue with it, except I have every issue with it at once. Nothing is going my way, why can I not do this? I know I like him, he's- Well… Awesome. Why can I not muster up enough sanity to just-
"See you on Wednesday, Roddy."
Roderich looked up, they were already back!?
"Wait. Why Wednesday?" Roderich asked.
"Going on a patrol. Have to keep those damn Americans out of our skies." Gilbert smirked.
"So will you be um… Dog-fighting?"
"Maybe', you never really know." Gilbert shrugged. "Anyway, bye Roddy."
Gilbert let go of his hand, and he just stared. What if he doesn't come back?
"Gilbert!" Roderich called.
The albino stopped, he was never called Gilbert by Roderich. He looked over his shoulder, "Ja?"
Roderich ran up, getting on his toes to press his lips to Gilbert's. When he pulled back he was blushing, and Gilbert smiled lightly.
"Be safe…" Roderich mumbled, turning around and opening his door.
Gilbert watched him go inside, not able to keep that smile off of his face.