Ludwig continued to look deeply into your eyes. It seemed as if he had a new found respect for you as your irises collided in thought. Your shining (e/c) reflecting off his baby blue eyes. You could feel your face turn red out of embarrassment for staring at him for so long. Your heart started to race as well, beating so fast you thought it would snap your ribs. You liked this side of Ludwig. He was a lot more calm and understanding, while defending you, a stranger, in front of his brother. He didn't even have to speak but you seemed to understand his kind heart through his fortified facade.

Ludwig's face started to brighten as he stared back but he suddenly turned around facing his back towards you. "Vell let's start heading towards your commander, _" Ludwig said as he made his way through the thick brush. Gilbert rolled his eyes and followed his brother deeper into the forest.

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You, Gilbert, and Ludwig seemed to be chasing the nightfall eastward as dusk approached the horizon. A breeze flowed through the forest as the shadows grew under the trees. Everyone was completely silent through the trip out of fear of the nearby Russians and the past humiliating situation. Your clothes were still awfully wet and muddy which caused you to drag your feet along the ground. As night approached, the wind started to pick up which left a shiver down your spine. Ludwig walked in front since he had the map and was well experienced with the nearby terrain. He must have heard you chattering your teeth because he turned around in annoyance.

"Sorry," you whispered as you looked down in shame. You could tell you were slowing the brothers down.

"Nein... it's ok. We aren't going to make it back before nightfall anyways," Ludwig said as he placed his map down, "it's been a long day for everyone so we can rest here until the morning." You sat down on a fallen tree still shivering from the crisp wind. You knew you couldn't start a fire as the Russians could be anywhere in the dense forest. The fire would only attract them to your location like a horde of moths flying into a lantern.

"Here you can have my jacket," Ludwig said as he gave you his olive green jacket. It was too dark to see his face but you could tell he was looking away as if he didn't want to reveal his reactions. You took the jacket and thanked him.

"How are you cold? It'z in the middle of August," Gilbert asked in shock. Ludwig glared at Gilbert warning him if his choice of words. You were never really fond of the cold. Snowfall and Christmas was always great but you didn't enjoy the feeling of the cold wind numbing your body. The jacket removed that feeling from your body. Ludwig's jacket seemed to evaporate all the shivers and numbing. It was finally relieving to feel safe wrapped in the warm jacket.

"Bruder, go scout the area, ve got to make it's ok to rest here. Hopefully the Russians are not anyvhere near here," Ludwig asked Gilbert sternly. It seems he was just trying to push him away. He must have noticed that Gilbert made you feel extremely uncomfortable with all of his 'jokes'.

"Zhats not a very awezome of you but no matter I'll make thiz awesome," Gilbert said as he smirked and ran into the bushes.

The air stood still again. It was past dusk now and the only source of light was the crescent moon that rose just above the tree line. The wind was still howling between the trees and an owl could be heard hooting in the distance, but you and Ludwig were silent. You felt awkward just sitting there but didn't want to speak as you knew Ludwig was easily angered.

"Hey... I'm sorry about mein bruder. He haz always been a handful. He doesn't really have a filter besides the word 'awesome' so he just says vhat he vants. I think he still doesn't trust you. I'm sorry he vas so rude to you earlier it was extremely impolite," Ludwig said finally breaking the silence.

You continued to look down at the dark ground trying to avoid direct eye contact. He sat across from you staring at the ground as well. You didn't want to put Ludwig in an awkward situation even if your thoughts seemed to drown in his shimmering eyes.

"Oh... It's ok. I understand you both are trying to be cautious especially since you're high ranking generals. I would probably feel the same way. It's hard to trust people during war," you replied with a smile. You still were a little shocked from the whole situation but didn't want to linger on it anymore. You had to focus on helping the brothers return to the frontlines.

"Danke for being so forgiving too. Ve don't really see much of that on the frontlines," Ludwig said as looked up. The moon was now just above the trees shining down on his golden hair and pale face. You could see how genuinely sorry he was in his face. Usually he always looked uptight and serious but he seemed more relaxed and solemn under the moonlight.

You gave him another small grin with the moonlight reflecting off of your face as well. "I don't understand how you switched to trust me so fast though? All my commander said was a few names," you asked Ludwig in confusion. You remembering hearing the names before but didn't understand how they were your saving grace. Ludwig chuckled a little from your response and laid down on the grass to look up at the stars.

"Ja... I know them from a while back. You could say ve are somevhat 'frenemies'," Ludwig replied with a chuckle, "During the first Cold Var Alfred's, Arthur's and Francis's parents worked with my mutter. My Vather was trapped on the east side of Berlin after trying to help people cross the wall. My mother desperately wanted to save my father so she worked with the others to help him cross. Eventually, Alfred's father found a way to allow my father to cross the border back into the west. Since then I've known the three forever. They would constantly come visit since my parents knew the others so well. My brother and I studied with Alfred, Arthur, and Francis in college as well. Even a few years ago, before this whole thing started ve vere very good friends. Ve vorked together all the time even if ve also fought a lot... It's always been a mixed relationship." Ludwig seemed to laugh at the memories. You could tell he knew and trusted the three very well.

You found it odd that Ludwig was telling you all this. You only met a few hours ago but it seemed like Ludwig was very trusting of you. He probably hasn't talked to a normal person in a while. He must have been constantly barking orders under stress while the Russians were squeezing into his homeland. You were glad you were able to listen and found it comforting to talk to someone so openly.

You laid down across from Ludwig to stare at the stars too. There wasn't a cloud in sight and the stars and the moon helped brighten the forest floor. You started to wonder how Elena was doing, if she was still helping out refugees or if she was staring at the same sky as you. You knew you had to return to the frontlines just like Ludwig but you enjoyed the quiet forest. There wasn't any rush or stress to be anywhere. You weren't on a constant alert fearing for your lives and you could just sit in peace listening to the faint sounds of owls hoot and the wind rustling the leaves.

"I have to admit though," you heard Ludwig say across from you, " I haven't heard from those three since the var started. I vas surprised to hear your commander say their names. Once the var started ve lost all communication vith them. I knew they vorked high up in the UN but I didn't know they were in charge of a whole operation."

"We'll obviously they knew you were here. They must have sent us here knowing you two could trust us. Even though the UN isn't supposed to be placed in Germany militarily, they must have known you could keep this secret; however, I find it really odd that they didn't send you something about us in advance," you replied. Ludwig continued to laugh.

"If anything they sent you here to laugh at us. A kind of 'vell if you aren't going to get the job done then ve vill'. Especially Alfred, he always vas too competitive. This is probably just their vay of mocking us for not pushing the Russians back." Ludwig paused for a moment and sighed. "They probably sent us a message mocking us vhile ve vere captured." Ludwig and you both laughed at the same time.

"Why and how were you guys captured anyways? You guys are supposed to be commanding the entire force, not running out into enemy lines and getting captured," you asked sarcastically.

"My Bruder and I have ein cousin that is currently trying to cross the Austrian border. Ve knew ve couldn't just sit behind the lines so ve decided to go out and find him ourselves. Gilbert and I aren't people who like to just sit still either," Ludwig replied.

"Oh I see well hopefully he has already crossed the border. If not I'll try to search for him as well. Could you tell me what his name is?" You asked. You wanted to help as much as possible. Ludwig trusted you enough to share so much about himself and the German forces so you wanted to help him in return.

"Danke, but don't do anything as reckless as me and mein bruder," he laughed slightly but said in a serious tone, "His name is Roderich Edelstein. He has brown hair and violet eyes but you vill probably be able to recognize him based on his single strand of hair that sticks out of his head. It's honestly so stupid looking but at least it makes him unique and identifiable."

"Alright sounds good. If I find him I'll try to contact you two," you replied. Ludwig didn't reply as he laid there in silence. You looked over to see him completely exhausted and asleep on the grass. It surprised you that he wasn't cold since you were still wearing his jacket but you figured he was used to the weather in this area.

Your heart started to beat again as you stared at him innocently sleeping beneath the blades of grass. His hair wasn't slicked back anymore allowing the wind to flow through his hair. The moonlight continued to brighten his skin and his slight smile. You hadn't seen him smile like this and your face started to blush. You were surprised he allowed himself to fall asleep so easily in the middle of a forest during wartime but you knew he must have been exhausted. At least he trusted you enough to allow himself to get some much needed sleep.

You laid down across from him watching the stars glimmer in the dark purple sky. Your eyelids felt heavy and you could feel your breathing slowly fade. You allowed the blades of grass to cover you body as you drifted asleep after a long and exhausting day.