A/N: Ready to find out what happens? Me too! "Sailed Away" is by Saving Abel so have a listen, lovelies. New characters? I think yes!
Belarus – Natalia Arlovskaya. Ukraine – Iryna Braginsky
The great Gilbert cannot possibly be scared. This person who is out for blood is no bigger or stronger than he is. Besides, Gilbert is a fighter. He can take anyone as long as he isn't jumped. But for some reason, this person's glare is painful. It's almost like he is ripping his skin off with just his eyes. For once, Gilbert begins to doubt his strength. Never before has he faced someone with so much reason behind his hate.
Gilbert's heart drops when he accidently leads them to a dead end. He has no choice but to face Lovino and fight him head on. Somehow, the thought scares him. Does he really want to face someone who is dead set on destroying him? Well it's not like he has a say in the matter anymore. He's trapped and the only way he can escape is by confronting Lovino.
"You bastard. Do you understand what you've done? Because of you, Feliciano is afraid to go out of the house sometimes. He has spent countless hours cleaning up wounds that you made. All he is doing is trying to live his life and you have to show up and fucking ruin it. Well I'm sick of it. I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Feliciano!" With this last outburst, Lovino's right fist connects harshly on Gilbert's cheek. What he doesn't expect though, is when Gilbert strikes back.
The blow sends Lovino stumbling backwards. His face seems to burst into flames where the hit landed. Had Feliciano really been suffering through this much pain? The thought only fuels Lovino's hatred even more. He straightens up and prepares himself for his next attack. He zones in on Gilbert and goes in for another punch but Gilbert dodges swiftly, readying for a counterattack. The albino's fist smashes into Lovino's collarbone and a shoot of pain travels up his neck.
It is at this point, Gilbert and Lovino start a staring contest. Lovino's eyes are fuming with hatred and the red eyes belonging to Gilbert are filled with sadistic pleasure. It's been a long time since he's been able to actually fight someone. Soon, the two begin a dangerous dance made up of flying fists and glares of death. It seems like they evenly matched until Gilbert trips over his own feet and topples to the ground. Lovino doesn't hesitate.
With his heart pounding wildly, he lands a heavy kick to Gilbert's stomach which completely incapacitates him. Feeling his victory approaching, Lovino continuously drives his foot forward without mercy. Gilbert is curled up on the ground, trying to protect himself from getting too injured. It is then that Lovino senses two people standing behind him. Still, he doesn't stop when a familiar loud voice shouts, "Lovino!" It's Alfred.
What shocks Lovino though is the sound of Matthew's voice raised enough to shout, "Gilbert!" Matthew swings around Lovino and separates him from the albino, face pale with fear. His voice drops down to its normal volume. "Lovino, please stop it. He's not doing anything."
Still pumped with adrenaline and anger, Lovino pushes Matthew to the side in order to get back to his target. He's about to land another kick onto Gilbert but a pair of strong arms grab him and pull him back. Alfred's voice breezes right into his ear. "That's enough, Lovino."
In that moment, Lovino crashes back to earth. His mind floods with images of Feliciano cowering by the car. He remembers leaving his little brother behind with the blond muscle head. Lovino's heart sinks. There is no telling what Ludwig could have done to Feliciano in such a short amount of time. Lovino throws his shoulders, breaking free of Alfred's grasp. He flees the scene to look for his dear Feliciano.
Matthew hurries to check up on Gilbert. The albino is coughing up blood and pained tears escape his clenched eyes. Matthew softly pulls him into a sitting position and leans him up against the wall. More timid than normal, he wraps his arms around the albino. "You aren't a horrible person," he reassures, causing a pang of guilt in Gilbert's chest.
Alfred approaches the two of them, resting a hand on Matthew's shoulder. "Come on Mattie. Help me walk him to Ms. Héderváry's."
…
Ludwig bolts down the streets, Feliciano's name on his lips. There isn't a single clue as to where the redhead has disappeared to. His heart threatens to give out on him the more he runs. He could've taken a wrong turn a long time ago and now he's only getting further away from Feliciano. His legs threaten to turn him around to retrace his steps. But then his mind stops his legs by saying that he could be going in the correct direction. Ludwig struggles to keep up with his heart and mind. All he wants to do is find Feliciano and never let him go.
Can you hear me calling out to you, Feliciano? Is my fear reaching to you? I'm worried. Are you safe? Did someone steal you away in order to lock you up for good? You may be strong, Feliciano but you aren't strong enough to ward off a kidnapper. You need to be next to me. That way I can keep you safe. I can make sure that no one will hurt you. Can you hear me calling your name, Feliciano? I want to tell you how much you mean to me.
Ludwig comes to a stop in front of a small café. The sign says closed and for some reason it makes sadness resonate throughout his body. Closed… It's almost like a message from whatever gods there may be saying that all of his searching is pointless. Feliciano is nowhere near him, and if he was then he'd surely try to avoid any contact with him. Ludwig's legs begin to grown weak at the knees. Feliciano has the impression that he was planning on doing something evil.
It's not true, Feliciano. Why can't you understand that I didn't want to do anything to you except hold you when you cried? Is it wrong of me to have kept my brother a secret? Would you have ever trusted me in the first place or is this so-called betrayal worse? Ludwig stumbles backwards and leans against a thin trunked tree. His head is pounding from the pain. He never intended for this to happen. Now his muscles are crying out in exhaustion. There is no way he could possibly make it all the way back to school. School? It's insignificant at this point in time.
Sighing, Ludwig pulls out his ancient cell phone and dials one of the few numbers saved in his contacts. It rings several times before a monotone voice answers, "Hello?"
"Berwald, it's me."
"Ludwig," the Swede sighs out. "Everyone here is going insane."
This pulls Ludwig out of his melancholy. His heart begins to beat in anticipation. "What happened?"
"Your brother was taken to Ms. Héderváry by the brothers in the class above yours. I think their names are Matt and Alfred. He was beaten up really bad by Lovino Vargas at the back of the school. Word has it he took off to find his brother." The classmate pauses. "There are rumors flying around involving you."
Ludwig feels a lump lodge itself in his throat. He figured this would have happened eventually. "What kind of rumors?"
The Swede doesn't answer right away, leaving only background noise to make its way through the phone. Ludwig can hear the questioning tones of the other students. The whole school sounds like it's congregated in one area. It'd explain why Berwald could answer his phone during school hours. This must be a really big deal.
"Well," Berwald finally says. "People are saying that you have been very close to a certain freshman by the name of Vargas. People think that Lovino was after you because he thought you were hurting Feliciano Vargas but since you weren't here, he went after your brother instead."
Something red and boiling begins to rumble in Ludwig's chest. His grip tightens on his phone, threatening to snap it. "There is no way I'd hurt Feliciano! That's a lie!" The acidic tone is able to reach Berwald.
"Calm down, Ludwig. I said they were just rumors. Anyways, where are you at? I can come pick you up."
Ludwig describes his location and closes his phone. Berwald will pick him up in forty five minutes… not that it matters to Ludwig. All he can think about is Feliciano, alone, in this mess of a town. Ludwig slides to the ground, leaning against the thin tree. He can't help the annoying tears that burn trails down his cheeks. Everything has gone wrong. Not only is Feliciano missing but Gilbert was beaten up by Lovino. Everyone around him has been hurt in some form and he can do nothing about it.
"Hallo there. Is there something wrong?" This voices causes Ludwig looks up to see a very busty woman leaning down in front of him. Her smile is soft and her teal eyes concerned.
"Iryna! You have the keys to the shop! Open the door," another woman's voice drifts from over Iryna's shoulder.
Iryna casts a grin at Ludwig before going up to the door for the closed café. There, another woman is waiting impatiently. Her waist length platinum hair sways freely in the morning breeze. She casts a glare at Ludwig sitting up against the tree. She doesn't enter the café when Iryna opens the door. She merely stares at Ludwig with those dark blue eyes.
"Natalia, bring the boy inside while I get the machines running," Iryna calls from the café. Natalia sighs but listens to the other without complaint. She ushers him around the small, tightly packed tables and up to the serving counter. The room is decorated with dark wood floors and walls with dim lighting. However, the smell of freshly brewing coffee seems to lighten up the décor. The bitter scent begins to clear Ludwig's head.
He waits patiently as the two women bicker quietly from behind the counter as they prepare for the upcoming day of work. After about ten minutes, the busty woman with short blond hair sits across from Ludwig and places a steaming coffee in front of him.
"You look like the kind of guy who enjoys dark coffee," she chirps. Feeling it'd be rude to refuse, Ludwig takes a sip of the burning coffee. It immediately scalds his throat but it actually makes him feel slightly better. When he sets it down, Iryna tilts her head. "So can you tell me what's gotten a strong-looking man like you so riled up?"
To Ludwig, it is as a magical entity has granted him a reprieve. He can't talk to anyone he knows about Feliciano and what's been happening at their school. If he did, he would be immediately judged and there would be no form of consolation or sympathy. However, if he were to tell a stranger the circumstances, there is a better chance they'd understand and be able to help. And there is nothing more that Ludwig wants at the moment (besides finding Feliciano) than to explain everything to someone who cares.
Everything comes out like a flood. Ludwig can't control the words spilling from his lips as he pictures his beloved Feliciano in his head. He speaks of Gilbert's history of violence, of his own indifference to relationships. Ludwig tells a tale about two brothers who needed to stay strong as the world turned against them. When Ludwig gets to the part of when he sat with Feliciano in the park, the tears begin to form in the corner of his eyes. He speaks of the faltering relationships surrounding him and the people he knows as well as bonds that have grown stronger. When Ludwig reveals that he had feelings for Feliciano, Iryna didn't seem to mind the fact that they were both boys. She could only listen, enraptured at the drama that was unfolding.
As Ludwig neared the events of the morning, he became silent. Everything is so unclear and confusing. He doesn't even know what exactly has happened. All he knows is that Gilbert is hurt and he can't find Feliciano. Ludwig finishes his tale with another sip of his black coffee.
"I hope he knows he's going to have to pay for that," Natalia hisses, appearing behind her coworker.
Iryna ignores the foul sounding Natalia and leans over the table a little bit. "Don't worry. You will find Feliciano. I'm sure he's somewhere safe. If not, I can keep an eye out for him, okay? I can send word around town too, if you want."
Ludwig stares at the mug before him, half filled with the remainder of his coffee. He can see a crude reflection of himself in the swirling blackness. The person who is staring back at him has eyes that are free of any emotion but sadness. His hair is mussed and unbearably unkempt for Ludwig's liking. However, it is the perfect reflection of how he feels inside: broken and tired.
"I'd be so grateful if you could do that for me," Ludwig admits, never looking away from the coffee. "You're being too kind."
"Nonsense," Iryna grins. "It's what I want to do. Besides, you can make it up to me later when everything settles down. I'd really like to meet this Feliciano of yours. He sounds like a wonderful man." Iryna stands up before Ludwig can say anything. "Feel free to stay here until your ride arrives."
Once again, Ludwig can't bring himself to look up at Iryna. "Thank you."
Iryna returns to her place behind the counter and helps Natalia with getting everything ready. Natalia slides over to Iryna, scowl on her face. "You are really too nice."
The soft smile on Iryna's face refuses to fade. "And you, Natalia, still have a lot to learn."
…
Another half hour passes when Ludwig finally decides to exit the café. Natalia and Iryna had opened it and people stormed in to get their daily fix of coffee. Not the type to sit around in crowds, Ludwig goes to his previous spot against the tree. His mind can only jump between two different things. Gilbert and Feliciano. They are both very dear to him. Will he have to choose between his brother and… and… what was Feliciano exactly? Were they a couple? Just friends? Well, after Feliciano's misunderstanding, they were probably nothing short of enemies. A pained groan passes through Ludwig's throat as a car pulls up beside him.
"Need a ride?" Berwald asks after rolling down the window. Without a word, Ludwig jumps into the passenger seat and stares at the road before them. "Where did you want to go? School? Home?"
Pain rippling through his voice, Ludwig answers, "I want to see Gilbert."
A/N: I finally beat Prussia up! Not going to lie… I was looking forward to it. He deserved it after hurting poor Italy. Anyways, after seeing that I have forty one reviews, I decided that whoever is the fiftieth reviewer will be able to request a one shot from me! It can be about any anime, manga, game, show, etc. It can be a romance, comedy, tragedy, anything you want! I guess you can say it's a little gift back to you guys for being so fruking awesome! So watch your inbox if you review because you might just get a little message from me! ;)