When Ludwig returned to his house from his passionately short trip to see the love of his life, he found his grandfather there waiting for him. He had his arms crossed with a stern expression on his face. He looked like he had been standing there a while, but with him you could never fully tell. "Ludwig." He greeted. His voice cracked with impatience. "Where were you?"
Ludwig considered not answering at all. He had enough of what hi grandfather had done and didn't want to continue with it. A nagging voice in his head muttered what would happen if he didn't answer though. When he made up his mind, the German walked by without a backwards glance, but stopped a few yards away. It was a very dangerous game to play if he didn't say anything. If anything, that would only make things even worse. "I was visiting...someone very special to me."
"That mermaid." His grandfather stated, not asked.
"Merman." Ludwig barked softly under his breath.
"Still a creature that shouldn't mix with a human, Ludwig." Ludwig heard steps come closer to him, but didn't turn. "Humans don't belong in the mer world."
"Then what are you doing here?" He snapped and walked forward, ignoring the reflection of his grandfather on the glass door. Even the reflection was ugly enough to show the evil within.
Gilbert was lounging on the sofa when he walked in, feeding Gilbird some pieces of bread. "Hey, bro. How was the fish man?"
Ludwig found himself sitting next to him, sighing deeply. "Feliciano is doing well. Grandfather though is just-"
"A total shithead. I know, he got onto me about where my less awesome brother is and how it isn't awesome that I don't know." Gilbert shrugged and looked at him. "But that's grandpa for you."
Ludwig clenched his fists. "It shouldn't be. How could he just sit there thinking that I actually need some babysitter. I'm over twenty years old, I think I could handle a simple…" Ludwig trailed off, not knowing how to describe his lover.
"Well, yeah, but you're also doing it with a fish. I think that gains some points, right?" Gilbert laughed a bit and threw a piece over to the bird. "But seriously, Luddy, I wouldn't worry about it too much. I mean, imagine how Feli must feel."
Ludwig stopped his train of thoughts and considered his stupid brother's wise words. This was true. A man who killed merpeople was his lover's grandfather. What did that say about his own family? What did the day about humans?
Ludwig focused on the carpet between his legs and tried to think clearly. Everything seemed to hurt his head. All the ideas he had, all the memories of his love, everything was just hurting him. The poison his grandfather set in was seeping through his vessels, killing cell after cell, slowly making it's way down to his heart. It stopped for nothing and the only thing that could possible hold it back any further were the memories of Feliciano kisses, the way his cheeks turned inwards when he smiled, the perfect shade of trees his eyes produced when reflected. That slowed the killing poison down enough to where Ludwig could focus on what he had to do next.
His grandfather was tricky and would not accept anything less than perfection from his grandchildren. Of course, his grandchildren lived by their own rule of perfection which only made it worse for the ever growing temper. He had repeatedly cursed the old man under his breath, but Ludwig knew that it wasn't enough to let the steam out that way.
It was time to actually take action.
Ludwig began to consider a plan that could help them finally get rid of their family member. If he had drove him to the police station and reported him for whatever he had done, he would be arrested. He would have to figure something out though. Without thinking, he already knew what he would report his grandfather against: child neglectance. He neglected them for years on end, and when he did come back, it was for a very short visit.
Could people even be arrested for neglect? He knew that if the kid died then, yes, but otherwise?
He sighed. "Gilbert," He spoke softly. "I think our grandfather and I should have a talk. Will you be here when I get back?"
"Yeah, I guess. Why?"
"Because it could get rocky. I just wanted to let you know."
Gilbert quirked an eyebrow at him. "Whatever. You okay, bro? Seem kinda weird. Weirder than usual I mean."
Ludwig nodded and stood. "I'll be fine."
Ludwig convinced his grandfather that they needed to talk, which he agreed to, but Ludwig demanded that they do it in the car while driving to give him some ease of mind. That, and for none of them to back out. His grandfather nodded to these agreements and went with him. They were on the highway so far and silence was overwhelming them both.
Rain began to pour down. Usually it wasn't this bad, but it was one of those showers that left mist slowly rising from the ground from how hard and heavy it was pouring. The rain seemed to fit for how Ludwig was feeling. He felt like nothing was certain anymore, how everything was being affected by the rain and how the rocks shifted everything. The currents, where the water landed, how they blocked the water from achieving their goal of helping the plants everywhere. The scent in the air was sweet of fresh rain, giving some more ease to Ludwig, but the fog in the windows was getting very annoying.
Ludwig shut his eyes for a second, just a second, before opening them to obey the rules of the road: a how to guide written by Ludwig the Stern, as his brother would advertise. Only nineteen-ninety nine, plus shipping and handling. Buy yours before time runs out.
"Did you know that they used to call me Germania?" His grandfather's tone cut through his thoughts. "They called me that when I was sailing."
Ludwig's knuckles turned white on the wheel. "That's what I wanted to talk about." He lied. "I think I might be considering what you do."
"Oh? And killing your boyfriend?" His grandfather sneered. "I cannot believe that a related member of my family is gay. And even worse, two."
"There is nothing wrong with being who you love." Ludwig growled from clenched teeth. "And how dare you think otherwise when you simply leave us alone and don't even get to know us?" He growled and shook his head. His hands were beginning to shake. "And no, that isn't what I meant. I could never hurt Feliciano."
"Oh?" Germania cocked an eyebrow. "Then what did you mean?"
"I meant that I would pick up what you were doing and leave. Only I won't be coming back. Ever. I'm leaving and I am not coming back."
Germania's face twisted into a fierce glare. "You think that's all I do? Is leave?"
"Yes! That is exactly what I think you do!" Ludwig yelled. "You don't even care for us, you leave us money and a prepaid house then call it good."
"I love you boys!"
"Like hell you do."
"Excuse me," Germania grabbed the wheel and pulled sharply to the side.
Panic quickly filled his veins and Ludwig slammed on the breaks before they could do anything serious and pushed the arm to the side and off the wheel. The car was in the other lane, but nobody else would dare drive in this weather. They were safe, he had to repeat to himself. They were safe and nothing would happen to him.
His heart was beating wildly and he couldn't breathe, but his grandpa continued on in their pointless conversation. He couldn't hear whatever pathetic excuses his grandfather was spewing out due to how furious his heart's beat was in his ears, but eventually it faded away.
"...trying to be something you aren't. You need to grow some balls and think about reality!"
"I need to grow balls?" Ludwig scoffed. "Are you serious? No. No I have them, thank you. You, on the other hand need to."
"Ludwig, how dare you? How can I talk to you without you being so childish?"
"How can I talk to you with you hounding down on everything me and Gilbert are doing when you aren't even here to know about it!"
The two continued to bicker on, not realizing that another truck was coming down the road. The rain was so heavy that the windshield wipers weren't clearing any water away. By the time it swept off the water, more was back. The driver grunted and continued to drive, but by the time that he recognized that shape was another car, it was too late to brake.
"You're just like your mother, Ludwig. A useless-"
The words were cut off. It all happened in slow motion to Ludwig, who was glaring at his family member. The truck's griddle was in view before the horn blared in their ears. It crashed into their puny car, shattering the windows and denting the metal effortlessly. The car lifted up and began to flip-still in slow motion. His grandfather had a pained expression on his face, but Ludwig couldn't focus on that. The glass in the windshield shattered beyond repair, sending shards everywhere.
The car began to flip on it's own, turning one, two, three, four, times before it landed on it's side, sending Ludwig's head sharply to the side and hitting the ground and the side of the door.
This happened in less than three seconds.
Red slowly drifted into the wet ground, sending a soft shade of pink into the streets. The water from the rain carried it out further. Ludwig's eyes were shut tightly. He couldn't feel himself, he couldn't feel anything but the cold feeling everywhere in his body. His lungs hurt too much to breathe, he couldn't focus on anything.
Except the small voice of his love in his head. "Luddy!" It sang to him. Yes, this was it. But it was nice. Ludwig was happy enough. He would go swimming with Feliciano. Maybe he could finally meet his family. That would be nice. Anybody to raise Feliciano like that had to be loving and caring.
Ludwig smiled and went still.