Berlin, 1938.

"Have you come here to gloat?'

Roderich was sitting before a piano, but it wasn't his and it wasn't his house. Erzsébet was visiting him in what was Gilbert's home, but probably now belonged to Ludwig because every belonged to Ludwig now.

She had never seen him so disheveled. There were bags under his eyes, his shirt was riddled with wrinkles, and his hair was an utter catastrophe. "What is there to gloat about?" She held his gaze steady. "I came to see how you were doing."

"How I'm doing shouldn't concern you." He plucked out a few notes on the keys, completely uninspired. "You don't have to lie to me. I know the real reason. He's upstairs." He turned back to his instrument. Where the music would've normally been beautiful, it was clunky and tense.

She put a hand atop his. "Can't I care about you?"

Roderich snorted. "You gave up that right in twenty-years ago. If you wanted to care about me, you shouldn't have filed the damn divorce." He forced himself to focus on the music. Up-tempo, a frantic flurry of keys. If the ivory feels his frustration then he won't lash out at her, right?

An unsatisfactory response. "We've gone over this. I didn't leave because I didn't care for you. I left because I love myself most."

"Did you say love?" His fingers hovered above the keys, eyes flashing wide open. He shook his head, removing himself of his fog and feeling ridiculous. Forget the silly delusions. "I don't need you. I have Gilbert now."

That was a shock. Erzsébet found herself reeling. "Excuse me?" She crossed her arms over her chest. "How stupid do you think I am? I came here precisely because you're living with him! You two must be going at each other's throats every day. I pity Ludwig-"

"Deutschland does not need your sympathy." The acid in his voice surprised both of them. He cleared his throat, trying for composure again. Roderich turned to face her, hoping attentiveness would convey honesty. "Circumstance allows some wounds to heal. And him and I have both been victims of circumstance as of late."

Considering Austria or Prussia victims was certainly amusing. She wouldn't touch that though. The ensuing argument there was not worth her time. Still, Hungary would have her fun. "What, you don't like being invaded?" The ends of her lips upturned into a smirk. "You used to be such a fan of foreign leadership, what happened?"

His eyes narrowed. "I know you were here to gloat. Typical. You haven't changed a bit."

Erzsébet winced. Why did that sting so much? She changed her tact, no longer wanting to give in to her worst instincts. "That was inappropriate, I'm sorry. I've never seen you like this before. I don't quite have my bearings."

That elicited a faint smile from him. "That makes two of us. Here, sit down. You've been standing this whole time, that's rude of me." He slid over on the bench, making room for her. With an eye roll, she complied. "Much better. Now, why are you so conflicted? I've finally got my comeuppance. You should be dancing on my grave."

"Not like this. I wanted you to be humbled, but this is beyond anything I would wish for anyone." She shook her head, the gentle waves of her hair falling into her face. "Really, all I wanted was a good uprising from one of us to have you stop thinking you were high and mighty. I would never wish for you to live in Berlin." She wrinkled her nose. "I wouldn't wish for anyone to live here."

That brought joy to Roderich's heart. He laughed boisterously. "Isn't it a shithole? I've been schlepped around, to-and-fro, by Gilbert trying to show me where the culture is so I feel more at home." His face scrunched up in displeasure. "There's nothing here. Dingey, dirty, and the people here lack any manners. Staying here amounts to little more than psychological torture! And the two of them don't make it better! Ludwig was raised without the touches of high society. All they drink is beer and the food is terrible! Do you know how much wurst I've eaten in the last three days?"

Erzsébet tuned him out, lazily watching Roderich release all his pent-up frustration. She really didn't care what he had to say on the matter, none of it interested her, but she was relieved to see some emotion flooding back into him. No longer was he the lifeless shell she'd found upon arrival. He was much more himself, which is what mattered to her. No matter the state of their relationship now, she didn't want to see him so defeated.

"You're not listening to a word I'm saying, are you?"

Her cheeks flushed bright pink. "I am! You were talking about…" Think of something. Quick, anything! "Talking about the inferiority of the local opera scene?"

"I wasn't, but close enough." He noticed the fear in her eyes that he would begin a tangent on that and laughed. "I'll spare you my thoughts on Berlinese opera. Thank you for visiting, I enjoy your company more than I should."

"Don't thank me. My conscience wouldn't rest until I saw you." Absentmindedly, she tucked a stray strand of hair behind his ear. "I don't believe you've ever experienced anything like this before. For someone so unused to it, I can't imagine the toll it most be taking." Her eyes softened on him. "It's strange seeing a once mighty man so weakened."

Perhaps she thought nothing of her actions, but Austria's breath caught in his throat. He wondered if she could hear his heart. How it hammered against his ribcage! He averted his gaze to the floor to provide himself some mercy. "I-It's not easy. But I have to get through it, don't I? All things must end."

Hungary took his hand in hers. "For what it's worth, you're not alone." He was sure she could hear his heartbeat now. "If what you say is true, Gilbert and I will be here for you, every step of the way." It was a genuine smile and her green eyes sparkled with kindness, but why did everything feel so cruel?

To Roderich's horror and Erzsébet's delight, Gilbert thundered into the room. "Erzsi, my heart heard your siren call and it led me straight to you!" He dashed over to her, a dazzling smile on his face. Erzsébet had never been so charmed, Roderich never so disgusted. "Well, really, I was in the kitchen and I heard your voice. Oh, hey, Roddy."

"She was visiting me!" Roderich's protestations were completely drowned out by their infatuation with each other. Sickening, absolutely sickening. The taste of bile filled his mouth as he strode out the room. "I'll give you two some privacy." Some wounds never healed.