I know, I know, this chapter is quite late, I'm sorry! *hides behind tree, hoping irate readers do not decide to kill author* Two reasons why this update has taken a while to be finished:
- I was away for about ten days, and didn't get a chance to write anything
- I was actually attempting to write the nightmare chapter for Germany that a lot of you expressed interest in seeing, but it was failing and dying due to lack of inspiration, so I decided to leave that until the end and add it in as a kind of bonus chapter, so that I could focus on the main plot a bit more. (Important hint in this paragraph: I really need inspiration for that chapter, I want to make it as emotionally powerful as possible, so if you have an idea that can work, please let me know. If you think it's in any way strange and don't think it will fit, that's alright! It is a nightmare chapter, therefore designed to be surreal).
Ok, done with that, onto shoutouts!
gdesertsand - oh, sorry the hallucinations weren't quite what you were hoping for, doing them that way was the only way I could get them to fit. :/ but at least you enjoyed them a bit, and I hope you continue to like the story.
charmander-in-a-trashcan - glad you're enjoying it! Your kind words really helped to brighten my day, and I'm so pleased that you think its going well. :)
HetaRosFangirl - thank you, I was trying to get a little bit of everything associated with Prussia into it, and I'm glad you think it worked. Also, thanks for the advice, it was very useful. I've thought of a couple of extra plot details that will hopefully improve the quality of the story, and if you have anything specific that you'd like to see, just let me know! :)
valery-chan - I know, the feels! I kept getting them every time I write more of this story. Hope you continue to enjoy it! :)
deelaNerth - thanks for giving me some plot ideas, they actually proved quite useful. I don't think there's any way I can get Russia to turn up and still make it seem realistic, but France and Spain...well, you'll have to read on to find out. ;)
Eternal Night Owl - thanks so much for reviewing, it made me very happy. :) I'll try my best to write a good nightmare chapter for Germany!
Yozakura Setsumi - so glad you're enjoying this story, I'm so happy that so many people like it! And I hope you like Germany's nightmare when it's finally written.
Robotic Dragon - I love sickfics too! (As you can probably tell from the fact that I've written one!) and thanks for reading Just a Dream as well! Glad you like it! Your words are so kind, thank you so much for reviewing!
Risky Banana - haha, I can't really say anything about lateness myself, given how long this chapter has taken! I've tried to include a few more German phrases, not many, but a couple. I used the Internet for translations, seeing as my understanding of the German language is virtually non-existent, so if you see any errors, please let me know!
As always, if I've missed someone out, just yell at me and I'll give you your shoutout! Also, massive thanks to all my favouriters and followers, you all make me so happy! Hope you like this chapter, I must admit it was slightly rushed cause I didn't want to keep you waiting any longer, and it's also more of a bridge leading up to the next plot development, so not a huge amount actually happens. :/ anyway, fingers crossed you enjoy, and as always, review with your thoughts and comments!
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia. :'(
The corner of Germany's bedroom suddenly became a flurry of activity as a certain Austrian was rudely awoken by a fly buzzing loudly around his head. While still drowsy, Austria tried to sit up and shoo the fly away, only to find that his neck had seized up due to spending an entire night asleep on a chair. With pain shooting down his spine, the nation attempted to blow the fly away, but instead ended up inhaling it, and after nearly choking to death on the insect, Austria finally managed to spit it out, and remind himself where he was.
Taking a quick look around, Austria was initially puzzled, but upon seeing Germany asleep in a pile of blankets and pillows on the floor, the memories of the previous evening came rushing back, turning the nation's attention to the bed, the occupant of which was currently staring at him with an expression of confusion mixed with distinct unfriendliness.
"What the heck are you doing in my bedroom, you creepy loser?" Prussia demanded, crimson eyes flashing as he pushed himself up onto an elbow. "I know my awesomeness is difficult to resist, but this is taking it a bit too far."
"You're one to talk!" Austria retorted sharply, before he could stop himself. "As I recall, you're the one who was stalking me when I went to have lunch with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, not to mention all the numerous occasions when other nations have complained about your perverted ways!"
Prussia glared at him, before suddenly taking a look around the room, his brow creasing as he noticed his brother asleep on the floor. "Why am I in West's bed? What's going on here?"
Austria massaged the back of neck, trying to work out all the kinks. "We put you in here after giving you a bath to get your fever down, and you haven't been very coherent." At the look of incomprehension on Prussia's face, Austria said, "Do you remember anything that happened yesterday?"
Rubbing at his eyes, the albino said, "I remember you and Hungary coming over, but after that, not a lot," while sitting up straighter and pushing the covers off, before swinging his legs over the side of the bed. The Prussian bowed his head and closed his eye briefly to fight off another bout of dizziness that threatened to overwhelm him.
"Where are you going?" Austria inquired quickly, getting somewhat stiffly to his feet. "You're still sick, and Germany would murder me if I let you get worse just because you were too stupid and pig-headed to listen."
Gritting his teeth and taking a deep breath, Prussia replied with, "I need to use the bathroom, unless you want me to pee in here." With that, he cautiously rose to his feet, and took a couple of shaky steps forward. However, it seemed his legs were too weak to support his full weight for long, and he stumbled. Austria was quickly by his side, looping one of Prussia's arms around his shoulders to keep him upright. The ex-nation grudgingly accepted the Austrian's assistance, and the two made their way towards the bathroom, being careful not to wake Germany on their way out.
They had completed most of their journey in silence, until it dawned on Prussia that he was only wearing his boxers. "Who undressed me?" he asked, before grinning evilly at the blush that crept up Austria's cheeks.
"We all helped, I suppose," the aristocrat replied through gritted teeth, keeping his gaze on anything other than the albino's face.
Sniggering, Prussia said, "I know you've always been jealous of my awesome form, but if you wanted to see it that badly, you could've just asked."
"Shut up, or I'll drop you!" Austria threatened, finishing the last few paces as fast as possible, before practically throwing Prussia against the bathroom door. Folding his arms in what he hoped was a stern and authoritative manner, Austria said, "Your clothes should be in there, please put them on."
Austria would've given anything to rip that self-satisfied grin off the ex-nation's face as he shut himself in the bathroom, winking as he did so. The Austrian leant his back against the wall as he waited for Prussia to reemerge, and glanced across the hallway to the window, through which sunlight was streaming through. As he wondered what time it was, Austria's stomach gurgled loudly, and he hoped he would be able to have some breakfast soon.
Eventually the bathroom door clicked open, and Prussia, dressed back in the clothes he'd been wearing the previous day, appeared, leaning heavily on the door frame. His face had lost the usual smirk, and he looked exhausted. Concerned that the walk to the bathroom had pushed the sick ex-nation too far, Austria stepped forward and once again offered his shoulder as a support, which the albino took gladly, and the two walked slowly back the way they had come.
By the time they reached the bedroom, Prussia's head was drooping low, and he was placing almost all of his weight on Austria, who struggled under the burden. Thankfully, before either one of them could collapse, Germany poked his head out of the bedroom door in search of them, and was immediately on Prussia's other side, taking a lot of the strain off Austria.
Once they reached the bed, Prussia collapsed gratefully onto it, leaning his head back onto the headboard and closing his eyes as Germany poked the thermometer into his mouth. Studying the result, Germany nodded in satisfaction. "Your temperature is down quite a bit," he announced, "although it's still higher than it should be. How are you feeling?"
"I've been better," Prussia murmured in response, cracking open his crimson eyes and looking at his little brother. "You haven't been pushing yourself too hard, have you brüderlein? You don't want to get sick as well."
Germany patted his shoulder. "My biggest concern right now is you. You gave us quite a fright, you know. It's thanks to Austria and Hungary that you didn't-" Germany bit off the end of the sentence, not wanting to remind his brother of his current position. However, the look in Prussia's eyes told Germany that he knew exactly what he'd been going to say.
Turning his head to look at his old enemy, Prussia said, for once surprisingly seriously, "Dankeschön, Österreich. Für alles." Austria nodded in acceptance, before his stomach once again made itself known. Smiling at Austria's obvious embarrassment, Germany said, "I think we could all do with some breakfast. Do you think you'd be able to eat something, bruder?"
"Beer would be awesome," Prussia suggested, but Germany firmly shook his head.
"You're not having beer, or any alcohol of any kind, until you're completely recovered," said Germany. "It'll only upset your stomach. I'll make some porridge or toast or something. What do you want, Austria?"
"Well seeing as you're offering, I haven't had a classic Viennese breakfast in a long time. It consists of a Semmel bread roll, apricot jam if you have it but other varieties would be alright, some butter, obviously, a couple of boiled eggs, and a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice on the side. Coffee wise, Wiener Melange is the best, but I suppose a regular cappuccino would be acceptable."
At the cold had stare Germany was sending his way, Austria said, "A joke, Germany. I don't mind, as long as it's half decent, I'll eat it. But if you do have a Viennese breakfast nearby, I wouldn't say no."
"It's probably easier if you just come down and choose whatever takes your fancy," said Germany, picking sleeping grit out of the corner if his eye. He did not have the energy to list all of the breakfast items in his kitchen, most of which would undoubtedly be deemed unsuitable by the Austrian for whatever reason he came up with.
Before leaving, Germany ordered his brother to stay in bed, insisting that he had to rest. Prussia relaxed, snuggled down beneath the sheet, as Gilbird fluttered over to join him, chirping cheerfully at his owner. "I should get sick more often," the ex-nation mused aloud, gently stroking the fluffy yellow feathers. "It's pretty awesome having you as my servant, West."
"Don't ever talk like that!" Germany snapped suddenly, the anger in his voice causing both Austria and Prussia to jump. "We've been through hell trying to get you better, and you've no idea what's in been like watching you suffer."
Prussia lowered his eyes, looking shamefaced, and mumbled a quiet apology. Germany hesitated a moment, before patting his shoulder, and heading out, followed by the hungry Austria. Downstairs they met Hungary, who had also just woken, amd Germany rummaged through the cupboards to see what he had in stock. Eventually, after Austria turned his nose up at everything else, the German put a couple of slices of bread in the toaster, and told him he could eat that, or starve, before he started cooking some light porridge for his brother.
Just as Germany was finishing it, a knock at the door interrupted him. Puzzled at who would be visiting at that time, Germany went to answer it, inviting his two guests to help themselves to whatever they wanted. Upon opening the door, the nation's confusion gave way to alarm as he was suddenly tackled by two masked figures, who dragged him outside and proceeded to drench him in what tasted surprisingly like beer. His military training kicking in, Germany lashed out with his foot, catching one of his attackers in the privates, and, striking with his fist, punched the other square in the face. Scrambling to his feet, Germany braced himself for another attack. "Come on then," he growled, annoyed that he'd been caught off-guard, and wondering which nation had declared war on him this time. "Let's see what you've got."
The attacker that Germany had caught in the vital regions was doubled over on his knees, hands pressed against his crotch, and muttering what sounded like some very pained honhonhons, while the other had taken off his mask to clutch at his bleeding nose. Even before Germany saw his face, the shouts of aye aye aye! revealed his identity immediately.
"Spain?" Germany asked, incredulous. "France? What the hell are you two doing here, and why the hell am I covered in beer?"
"Oh, mon dieu," France said, looking up and pulling his own mask off, before his expression crumpled into one of despair. "We have pranked the wrong German."
So, how'd it go? Good, bad, average? Please review to let me know! And don't forget, if you have any suggestions for Germany's nightmare, or any ideas that you think could work in the main plot, please let me know, to help me create a story that fills its maximum potential! See you next time!
Translations (from German to English):
Brüderlein - little brother (I find this word insanely cute, don't ask why!)
Dankeschön, Österreich. Für alles - thank you, Austria. For everything.
