Chapter 25. Loose Ends.
"You're not really interested are you?" Matthew asked, glancing at Gilbert, who was practically asleep in the chair next to him.
"Nein," Gilbert shrugged, moving his position in the chair yet again so that he was slung across both arms of the chair. "I thought I would be, but now that I know what's inside those books, I'm pretty uninterested." He was never a really big reader in the first place…
"I figured as much from you," Matthew chuckled, shaking his head. "How did you ever pull off being a princess?"
"Some magic shit Brows said was covered," Gilbert shrugged before actually processing what he had said. "Where the hell is Brows?"
"Who is Brows?" Matthew asked.
"Genie," Gilbert stated, sitting up slightly. "Don't tell me you didn't notice the massive eyebrows on his forehead."
"Um, yeah, I guess," Matthew nodded slightly. "A little bit after you passed out, he disappeared into the lamp. No one's gotten him out. Trust me, if I could have gotten him out, I would have wished for your injuries to disappear."
"What's so bad about metal limbs?" Gilbert laughed. "I'm already used to them, anyway. They're actually pretty awesome. Where's the lamp?"
"Last I checked, Ludwig has it," Matthew shrugged.
"Then we go to Luddie!" Gilbert cheered, swiftly springing up from the chair he was on. Matthew giggled, which did wonders for his self-esteem, and he happily made his way to the door. "Think they're back at my room?"
"Maybe? I don't know," Matthew shrugged, laughing slightly as he stood up from his chair. "You're considering it your room now?"
"Why not?" Gilbert smirked. "Luddie definitely isn't letting me leave here until he deems me worthy of leaving. Und the longer I stay here, the better."
"You're supposed to be a King, though, right?" Matthew asked as Gilbert opened the door and looked around, curious if there was anyone around. Surprisingly, no one was.
"Ja," Gilbert shrugged and started calmly walking and making his way back to where that room was, Matthew easily matching his pace next to him. "But I'm pretty sure that, even as awesome as I am, I'm not qualified to do it. Which means Luddie will probably be helping me. Which means I'll be gone for a while. Which is something I don't wanna do."
"But you have a duty to your country, right?" Matthew smiled softly.
"Und, last I checked, I have a duty to my fiancé," Gilbert smirked. "Who is that again? Right, you, Birdie."
"It was never, technically, official," Matthew blushed, glancing away. "And, technically, I'm betrothed to Maria."
"I'm gonna be given a lot of shit for that, aren't I?" Gilbert groaned.
"Al doesn't seem like he's about to stop any time soon," Matthew giggled.
"Wunderbar," Gilbert sighed as they finally made it to the room. Surprisingly, the group was in there. Feliciano and Antonio were lounging on the bed, Elizaveta sitting on the floor and leaning against the wall, Alfred twirling around in the chair the doctor had used, and Ludwig was simply standing against the desk.
"Hey, they're finally back," Antonio smiled, sitting upright.
"You didn't pull any moves did you?" Alfred asked.
"Please don't tell me I missed anything," Elizaveta perked up.
"I'm offended," Gilbert put a hand up to his heart. "I wouldn't just do something like that."
"Here," Ludwig stated, tossing Gilbert a white shirt that Gilbert easily put on.
"What did you guys go to do?" Feliciano asked happily.
"I tried to read with Gil," Matthew stated and Gilbert smirked.
"You know I was awesome," Gilbert stretched.
"If that's your word for it," Matthew smirked.
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Gilbert pouted slightly.
"Nothing, Gil," Matthew laughed.
"Whatever," Gilbert sighed. "Hey, Luddie, lamp."
"Whoa, how did you know he had it?" Feliciano gaped as Ludwig picked up the Arabian lamp from the desk behind him.
"I am awesome," Gilbert smirked as Ludwig tossed it to him and it landed in his hands with a clank.
"I told him," Matthew laughed.
"You take the fun out of everything," Gilbert pouted. "So, you guys are saying he's not coming out?"
"Not to us, at least," Antonio shrugged.
"Then let's see how grouchy Brows likes me," Gilbert smiled and rubbed at the lamp. Unsurprisingly, green smoke poured out of it, which quickly turned into Arthur, who was yawning as if he had just been woken up. "Well, look at that."
"Good, you're alive," Arthur nodded to him, still looking a little drowsy. But he blinked when he apparently got a good look at him. "Bloody hell, what happened?"
"Franny was just an ass," Gilbert shrugged. "Don't worry about it."
"Why wouldn't you come out of the lamp before?" Matthew asked.
"It's a kind of safety feature," Arthur sighed. "If one person is in the middle of making their wishes when another person takes the lamp, then it will only respond to those two. Others stealing lamps is not unheard of, so this makes sure it can't get too far. It only ends when both people finish making their wishes."
"Good thing I've only got one more, huh?" Gilbert smiled.
"From the looks of you, it doesn't seem like you need my help with being a girl again?" Arthur smirked.
"No one's gonna cut me slack for that, are they?" Gilbert groaned.
"If you want, I could give you your arms and legs back," Arthur shrugged. "It wouldn't be too difficult."
"Nah," Gilbert nearly laughed. Apparently Arthur had forgotten Gilbert's promise to him when they first met. "I already know what I'm gonna wish for."
"Then make it quick," Arthur stated. "I would just love to head back to that cave and wait for-"
"I wish for your freedom, dip shit," Gilbert really did laugh now and Arthur's face was definitely well worth it.
"Y-You what?" Arthur's jaw dropped.
"Forgot about that, huh?" Gilbert laughed and messed with his hair, which caused Arthur to flinch. "And you were the one that acted like a drama queen about it before."
"I'm…free?" Arthur smiled slightly.
"You're not going to do anything with that last wish?" Alfred asked. "You could make everyone forget you were a girl, you could get your arms and legs back, you could do whatever the hell you want."
"I'm the rightful King of Germany," Gilbert smirked.
"You're what?" Arthur deadpanned.
"I don't think I need anything," Gilbert laughed. "And my arms and legs are now awesome, so why the hell would I get rid of these?"
"And being a girl?" Antonio asked with a grin.
"I'll suck it up," Gilbert sighed slightly.
"Excuse me," Arthur walked towards him. "You're a King?"
"Long story," Gilbert smirked and handed him the now useless lamp. "But, ja."
"And, the lad, Matthew?" Arthur asked.
"Here," Matthew smiled slightly and Arthur glanced at him.
"How the bloody hell do you manage to solve every single one of your problems without using a single wish?" Arthur blinked.
"Hey, I needed you for the one time I almost died," Gilbert smirked. "And to get me back here."
"You're such a…" Arthur stopped, as if searching for the right word.
"Awesome guy?" Gilbert laughed. "Wonderful person? Gorgeous man?"
"Pillock," Arthur finished.
"I will take that as a compliment," Gilbert smirked.
"Don't you have magic now you could use?" Elizaveta asked from her spot on the floor.
"I have absolutely no idea," Arthur shook his head, glancing down at the lamp.
"Well, while you figure that out," Gilbert casually started towards the door, "I have one more thing I'm gonna try to do."
"Gilbert, where are you going?" Ludwig sighed.
"Come on Toni, let's go for a walk," Gilbert smiled and Antonio happily hopped down from the bed.
"Gilbert, where are you going?" Ludwig repeated himself.
"For a walk," Gilbert shrugged. "You worry too much, Luddie."
"With you, I should," Ludwig sighed, but he didn't make any move to follow them as Gilbert turned the corner and Antonio followed him.
"So, where are we going?" Antonio asked.
"Franny," Gilbert said simply. "Figured I should talk to him without people who are ready to kill him for treason."
"And you are taking me because…?" Antonio asked, waiting for him to fill in the blank.
"You are the one in the room with the least amount of reason to want to kill him," Gilbert shrugged. "Besides Feli, but he's not going to be useful."
"What are we going to do?" Antonio blinked.
"Talk," Gilbert shrugged as they made it to where Matthew had said the dungeons were on the tour. It was a long walk down the small hallway where they were stopped by a few guards. But Gilbert was easily recognizable and so they were let through. It was also very easy for Gilbert to tell which cell Francis was in on account of the guards. "We're gonna be talking to him," Gilbert stated to the guards, who moved out of the way.
"Are you sure about this?" Antonio asked.
"Of course," Gilbert shrugged as the door was opened. "My wish did something, right? I'm not sure what the hell it actually did, but it seemed to work."
"Gilbert?" Francis asked as the two stepped into the room and the door was closed behind them. Francis was lounging on the bed in the room, but he was clearly stressed out. And very, very different.
"What the hell happened to you?" Gilbert blinked. Last time he saw him, he was a lot…older.
"You got rid of half my life," Francis shrugged, chuckling slightly.
"Awesome," Gilbert couldn't hold back a laugh. "So, how old are you now, 25?"
"You thought I was 50?" Francis held a face of mock shock.
"You were whatever the hell I wanted you to be," Gilbert laughed and Antonio was even laughing a bit, too.
"Ah, bonjour, King of Spain," Francis nodded to him.
"Buenos días," Antonio nodded to him.
"I have to ask," Francis turned to Gilbert again. "Why did you not have me killed?"
"Ah, Birdie gave me this sob story about you while I was trying to live through the pain of my limbs getting practically torn apart," Gilbert stretched, "und I figured it was worth giving you a shot."
"Well, merci," Francis smiled, giving him a nod. "I owe you my life."
"Yeah, well, that's only if I decide your awesome enough to stick around," Gilbert smirked. "There is one thing I need to do first."
"What is that?" Francis asked.
Gilbert stepped forward, pulling his fist back, before punching Francis right in the face. Francis's head snapped back and he quickly scrambled to hold onto his now bleeding nose. Gilbert couldn't help but laugh; punching with a metal fist really was awesome.
"That's for kidnapping me," Gilbert laughed and then held out the same hand for Francis to take to help him up off the bed.
"Oui, I think I deserved that," Francis shakily smiled and used the hand not covering his nose to grab onto Gilbert's hand and he was soon on his feet.
"Hell yeah, ya did," Gilbert smirked. "On the bright side, you're now under the protection of the German crown, so no one should be able to do that to you again."
"What about you?" Francis turned to Antonio, both of his hands now trying to stop the blood now gushing out of his nose.
"Ah, I trust you enough," Antonio shrugged. "Even though you nearly had me shot at the pool."
"Friends forgive each other, right?" Gilbert laughed, bringing his arms around both their shoulders just as the door opened next to them.
"Gilbert," Matthew sighed. "I should have known you'd come here."
"Then why the hell didn't you follow me?" Gilbert laughed.
"What happened to Francis?" Matthew asked.
"He punched me," Francis said simply, but he was laughing anyway.
"Now, one last thing I just thought of!" Gilbert said happily and unwrapped himself from the two to hug Matthew and get a face-full of hair before pulling back. "There are a shit ton of reporters outside, ja?"
"Um, yes," Matthew nodded slowly.
"Then we go!" Gilbert announced happily and spun Matthew around as they began walking back to the castle.
"W-wait, what?" Matthew asked. Antonio apparently decided to stay with Francis in the cell.
"Well, just think about all those un-awesome rumors that are going to be spreading right now," Gilbert smirked as they easily made their way through the hallways. "Might as well give them the true story before they start saying things that could actually be worse."
"Worse than what actually happened?" Matthew laughed slightly.
"People are crazy, what can I say?" Gilbert laughed and started for the front door.
"You can't be seriously going out there," Matthew shook his head with a smile.
"Why not?" Gilbert smirked. "I would love to re-tell my awesome story."
"Yes, awesome is the word," Matthew chuckled as Gilbert dramatically opened up the apparently really heavy front doors. Immediately, cameras began flashing and people starting talking over each other so much, Gilbert couldn't even understand them. Gilbert couldn't help but smile to himself at all the attention.
"I knew you'd agree with me," Gilbert cackled.
There was a small tweet above his head and he saw a little ball of yellow make its way down to nest in his hair. He laughed, going to pet Gilbird before braving the crowd in front of him.
So I managed to write this yesterday with some random inspiration. I don't know. But now all that's left is the Epilogue and I shall be done! I feel like I'm dragging this on a bit, but Gil had a lot of loose ends that needed tying up. And now Francis is chill. Fair warning, there's gonna be a time skip to the epilogue, so don't be alarmed.
As always, please review! It really does help!