Okay peeps who have read Aftermath, a lot of this is going to look (and sound) very familiar. I love writing overlapping scenes but I feel that maybe they will bore those of you that have already read them in their original incarnations. For the people that haven't this will be slightly confusing and in order to see how the rest of some situations go (between Canada and Prussia even, at times), you will have to go read Aftermath since I cannot incorporate all the scenes into this fan fiction for obvious reasons.
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Very Complicated
"Osten, ged ovf my couch." Ludwig smacked the soles of the man's boots a few times. Gilbert had appeared last night and had passed out on his couch, Feliciano hadn't minded, but he did. Occasionally Ludwig wondered where the Hell the man usually went when he was drunk. For the duration of the Spanish-Italiano war his brother roomed with him, nearly never going to his home. For the two previous years the man close to never visited except for dinner and even then he usually left to go drinking directly after. It had been pleasant while it lasted, but it still made him wonder where the man went since he hated his home.
The albino continued to snore, a smirk teasing the sides of his lips as he did so. Prussia didn't sore and Germany knew this very well.
"Osten! Ged up, now!" He grabbed the man's boots and threw them off the arm of the couch, dragging the rest of Gilbert's lower half with them.
"Gah! Westen, vhat gifs?!" The frazzled man hissed.
"I'fe askt you to ged ovf my couch."
"Vhat hes your pandies ahll vattet up und schoft up your arsch?" The red-eyed man grumbled as he wiped sleep from his eyes. A look of surprise came over his face as Germany's head whipped around a few times to survey the room. His underwear really was shoved up his ass?
"Does your chesd hurd?" The blonde whispered, gesturing to the upper part of his chest.
"It's a bid sore, vhy?" Really, Prussia hadn't thought much of it, it was a normal occurrence for someone his age to wake up with pains. His brother nodded and started undoing the buttons of his red shirt. "Voah, Westen I know you vant to ged indo my pands bud-"
"Schud up." Ludwig hissed as he opened the upper half of his shirt and bore a large gauze pad taped over his heart. The pad was red in the center, whatever the blonde was covering, it was still bleeding. That explained his odd sense of attire this morning.
"Vhen dit dis happen?" The older of the two asked, showing some concern as he stood up. "Led me see it."
"Nod hier, Italy may vake up soon."
---
Canada's eyes followed the two as they passed from monitor to monitor, all the way to the bathroom and into it. In retrospect, perhaps putting a camera in the bathroom when a man like Prussia visited nearly every day was not a wise idea. There were many times within the last two months that Canada had had to turn off the monitor screens and microphone to give his former friend some "private" time. He knew the man did things like that, but he did not need to see it. What was more was he was doing it at his brother's house. It made him shudder to think of what the man did at his house when he wasn't in the same room as him. Now that he thought about it, they rarely weren't in the same room but still, they slept in separate beds at night. He hadn't even been in Prussia's room since the last time he had come for a visit. The urge to run home then and there and wash his sheets after the second time this occurred had been so overpowering that he had to discretely tell Romano he feared for the cleanliness of his sheets.
"It happent dis morning. Feliciano vas aschleep, dank Gott."
"You don'd vant him to know aboud dis? I dink your husbant hes de righd to know aboud dis don'd you? Und, ist dis de firsd time?" Prussia slowly peeled the gauze pad away from the cut on his little brother's chest. Blood oozed from the cut, why hadn't it started healing yet?
"I don'd dink he schoult hev to vorry aboud me. It's only minor. Und… Noh, it's nod de firsd, de firsd vas on Montay."
"Vhy hesn'd it schtoppt bleeting yed?" The older asked, taping the pad back down.
"Dis vas nod from vidin de coundry, bud de ding ist… Dat cahn only mean dat it's an attack from anoder coundry… Bud I cahn'd dink of who." Germany winced as Prussia re-secured the pad.
"Soh it vas a terrorisd attack?" There was only a grunt of affirmation as Germany's fingers began to button his shirt up again.
"Ja, bud de schtrange ding ist dat day ust eqvipmend from ahll dese dif'rnd places. France, Schpain, America, dings from hier… Vhat's more ist dat dey've been soh careful in gedding avay!" The blonde angrily pounded his fist down on the sink rim, a crack appeared in it. "Scheiße!"
The blonde on the other side of the camera winced at Germany's anger. Romano's plan seemed to be working already. Really he wasn't happy with the man's plans, he had preferred the activity of the past two months to actually doing something. Before they had just been watching, watching as Prussia ate Germany's food, watching Prussia sleep on Germany's couch, watching Prussia… Had he really been paying so much attention to the nation he could not really say was his friend anymore? He pinched the bridge of his nose.
This is about Germany and pissing him off, not Prussia as he freeloads off someone other than you. He honestly tried to think of something interesting that Germany had done in the past two months and a few days… Really nothing interesting had occurred other than that strange incident of accidental jacking Italy off.
"Why did you want me to again?" Canada asked, a very confused look on his face. The two were standing in the hallway at the world meeting building. The meeting was over and now the two were having their own kind of meeting. Canada was surprised at how well the bugging of Germany's house had gone. He was grateful that the man kept his dogs in a separate kennel out back of the house rather than letting them have free-run of the place.
"Hmph, my idiot brother married Germany." Romano replied, his words nearly growled.
"That's wonderful! But… Why are you spying on them then?"
"Are you kidding me?! It's the worst thing to happen yet!"
"I don't understand…"
And he still didn't understand Romano's anger at the marriage. He was getting to the point where he thought he could understand the man especially after what had happened mere days ago. Their discussion over Romano's plan to make Germany angry and Canada's theory why he was so frustrated. It probably would have been a much longer conversation had England and America not arrived during it. Would have been less awkward too if Romano hadn't made Matthew spill maple syrup and French toast all down their fronts. Would have saved him a weird look from Alfred anyway.
He had been sitting up all night watching, nothing adverse had occurred between Italy and Germany, much to his own relief. Romano wasn't even up yet, he really wasn't looking forward to telling the man that Italy was still asleep when the attack had been carried out. Whenever Romano was unhappy it always came back to him, either he was yelled at (this he didn't mind) or the man would start crying… That was what really hurt. For the initial two months, he had never seen the Italian cry, after the other day though…
"Just want control over something, right?" Matthew attempted to console the crying man, he knew his frustration and knew it well. He wasn't sobbing, but tears still flowed from his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" Romano wiped his eyes with the back of his forearm, maple syrup smearing all over his face as he rose to throw the shattered remains of a plate away. He looked so pathetic and weak as he walked over to the rubbish bin and threw the pieces inside it.
"You're frustrated with how Germany is helping your brother while you can't, England and America just threw themselves in to help you. You don't particularly want that help, plus there is the fact that Germany saved you and your brother both… Spain… Well, I'm just mentioning him… I understand."
"Shut up Canada! You don't know anything!" A shard sailed across the room then, slicing into Canada's cheek, it wasn't deep, but like all facial wounds the blood oozed quickly. Romano wiped his eyes again, glaring at Canada all the same. The look of distain was quickly smothered as Canada closed the space between them with a bear hug. At first, Romano squirmed and attempted to break the show of affection, but when that proved futile against the determined blonde, he found himself hugging back. This whole affair was just so damn frustrating. He rested his face on Canada's shirt, the fabric sticking to him.
That was when Canada promised himself that if Romano's best friend wasn't going to be there for him, he was. Even if it was a poor consolation, he offered himself to Lovino wholeheartedly to use as he pleased. Of course, use as he pleased meant that he was required to help him with all aspects of this plan, he did most of the planning of the terrorist attacks on Germany. There were many more to come too, he sighed, fervently he wished Lovino would forgive Germany and would make up with Italy… They were so happy together and it was his job to help wedge them apart. Gilbert had always called him a softie, a wuss, a pussy… But who didn't love a good love story? Even if the marriage had been strictly political. This marriage had been to save both the Italy brothers from post-war chaos and instability, Italy himself would have died without it… Why did Lovino have to be so bitter about something that let him have his brother among the living? Even if the two were no longer unified he was still alive, the person that he loved…
Perhaps Lovino put too much importance upon the nation part of him and not enough on the human mind and heart he possessed. Nation and human affairs mashed together so much it was difficult to make logical decisions sometimes. The nation side made toys out of the human heart and mind, twisting emotions and thoughts for its own needs and desires. Though he himself knew the difference between the nation in him and the human, Lovino didn't and could potentially never separate the wants of the nation from the emotions of the human. Even for him, a person of distinct mind, had trouble untangling the mess that his being was to figure out problems. He took a deep breath and sighed, he shouldn't be thinking about this.
His observations didn't change the fact though that Lovino needed someone. It made him nervous to think that the person he needed was… Well, him. Matthew was the only one willing to help him now on an emotional level. America and England were helping with his economy, but they could never understand him. Not that Canada himself did in full but, like stated earlier, he was beginning to. Lovino needed him… And he was beginning to like that… Beginning to need and like Lovino. That frightened him, what would Gilbert say about this?
"Kesesese, fag."
Matthew jumped and looked around for the voice he was so sure was addressing him, his heart rapidly pounding.
"Vhat dit I schay aboud dat vort?!" Germany yelled at his brother, slugging him in the face and to the floor.
"Oof!" Gilbert couldn't help but laugh again, despite his sore face and bleeding nose. "Kesesesese, faaaaag." His younger brother kicked him in the ribs. "Gah! Schtop dat! I'm kitting!" The younger ground his teeth and glared down at him.
"Vhy of ahll times ahre you being immature now?!"
"Vell, Westen, it ist me, avder ahll. Kesesese."
The young Canadian smiled at the older Prussian's reminder to his brother. He was slightly depressed that he wasn't here talking to him, but hearing his voice was enough. At least he still hadn't changed at all. If they ever did choose to talk to one another again, at least it wouldn't be a surprise if they chose to reinstate their usual routine…
If, Matthew, if… He snorted bitterly, thinking about the friendship that most likely was lost. "If…"
---
A break, that was what he needed, a break… Canada sat, flipping an envelope from Spain to Lovino around his finger. He'd had it since the beginning of the week, he had kept it from the man, afraid of how he would react to it. Lovino had been in a better mood, there had been less crying and more smiles, Canada only found it in his better interest to leave for a few days. He had to get away from Lovino before something happened… Before something he really didn't want to happen did… In two months and a week it was amazing just how much affection he had come to harbor for the man. It was too much for him to take lightly. He could let the emotions for the selfish, rude and lightly irritating man grow or he could suppress them and deny himself something.
Selfish, rude, irritating… Nice sometimes and occasionally funny… Think about something else! Someone other than Lovino! His eyes flicked back to the envelope he had still twirling about his finger. If the letter inside this was a happy one, one promising apology, this whole mess could come to an end. Italy and Germany could be together and all would live happily-ever-after… Or the message could be a negative one… Something in his gut jumped, he couldn't name what it was, but it was beginning to make him feel selfish for some odd reason. He couldn't take his chances on if the letter was negative, he couldn't let Spain talk to him. If he did, Lovino would become irritated and all would get worse. He couldn't give the note to Lovino…
---
Prussia waited in the hospital waiting room, his brother had been hospitalized a good few hours ago. His right arm felt sore and hot, the muscles within it had locked up earlier as a bolt of pain shot up it. The pain had been momentary and faded to a throbbing and a disconcerting feeling of emptiness took its place. He had known his brother had passed out as soon as it happened. Even knowing Feliciano was with Ludwig at the time didn't calm him any. The moment the pain began to fade to this stiff, hot, soreness he jumped up and literally ran to the blonde's house. He hadn't gotten so much exercise since the war, a good few months of inactivity had him panting and out of breath after just a few blocks.
It had been Wednesday when Ludwig initially chose to show him some of his new scars from the attacks, it was Sunday now. The attacks had most likely continued through the whole time and this last one was most likely the finale. The small Italian boy had been subject to one attack the entire time. Whoever this was wasn't only angry at Ludwig, but he was angry at Italy too, even if it was less so.
Romano. His internal monologue growled with hatred, fuck the fact he was Feliciano's brother, he had just attacked his little brother! No one had that right! He had raised this man as his son after his amnesiac attack and had grown more attached to him than he had ever thought possible of himself. Ludwig was the man who had changed him most, he made him a better person, he had allowed him to love someone. He loved his brother and if he ever got his hands on that fucking Italian's scrawny neck he would pull his head right off it! Gilbert, that's not really fair, you don't even know if it was him. Canada would have said to him. He snorted, so what if he had no proof! He was the only one who would have done it!
Six! Six fucking attacks, two in Berlin! It made his body burn with hatred and a blood lust he hadn't known since he had began raising Ludwig. He gritted his teeth against the want to jump up then and there and storm to Italy to rend the man into pieces, he would enjoy it too. Oh, how much he would enjoy killing again, seeing the fear in his eyes and hearing him scream as he slowly tore him apart. It would be a wonderful experience! Hell! He could stick Romano's head atop a pike and parade it around with joy!
What would Matthew think of that…? He had already seen that the boy feared his anger, would his fear of him increase if he were acting like the bloodthirsty maniac he was beneath the surface? You aren't that though… Many times he had to remind himself that he was different, he had changed from who he used to be so long ago… Sometimes though, sometimes he didn't know what to believe, not that it scared him. He embraced the monster that he could be and used it to his advantage, it came in handy during any war.
"How is he?" Prussia was pulled from his thoughts by the familiar voice, he looked up to the bespectacled man, a smirk on his face.
"Voultn'd you like to know?"
"Yes, Prussia, I would." Roderich replied, irritated that he was choosing to act like a child now of all times.
"Vell I voult too, bud do dey tell me? Noh. Nod efen de facd dat I'm a nation god dem to led me see him. Only his husbant ist allowt." The Prussian almost pouted, Austria rolled his eyes and sat down next to him.
"That is very irritating, but at least we know he is alive." Nurses bustled in and out of the area Ludwig was kept in, each time a new one exited the two looked hopefully to them. But so far, for the past three hours, none of them had anything to say about their friend.
Slowly, the sun began to set and the street lights outside turned on, Austria had fallen asleep against Prussia's shoulder. Many times Prussia had considered moving and letting the man just fall to the floor, but he wasn't feeling up to irritating Specs at the moment. He just wanted to see his brother and talk to him.
Talk to Feliciano first, he won't know anything about this, knowing Westen. A groan escaped him as he realized this to be true. He couldn't talk to Ludwig until he had talked to Feliciano about their current state of affairs. Why did his brother have to worry? Why did he have to hide things from someone that obviously loved him? Obviously.
Roderich stirred at his shoulder, slowly opening his eyes and yawning. The man he was leaning on only snorted once before going nose-to-nose with him, a smirk on his face.
"Guten Abend, Sonnenschein." He said, an evil grin on his lips.
"Ich hasse dich." I hate you, Austria replied, clearing his eyes of sleep before putting his glasses on and shoving himself off the man's shoulder up straight to stretch.
"Always so cold." The albino nearly whined, poking his arm.
"Shut up, you're so damn annoying." Roderich shoved Gilbert's hand away, fixing his hair a second later, it was obvious he had been leaning against something for a period of time. All this did was make the Prussian poke him harder and his grin stretch.
"I know you are, but what am I?" That… Had to have been the most childish response Roderich had heard out of the man in nearly two centuries. It was topped only by him being called the equivalent of a "dummy head".
"Child." The brunette snorted.
"Stick up your ass."
"Stick in my ass!" Roderich jabbed an accusing finger at the Prussian.
"Kesesesesese! Was that an invitation?" Gilbert smirked.
"Sometimes, you just need to learn to shut up."
"Oh, now vhere hev I heart dat bevore?" Where have I heard that before?
"Just learn when to shut up some time Prussia! Eh!"
Oh… Canada… Prussia sighed, he missed the little guy and thought often of what he would do in some situations. Half the time when he was messing with Austria lately, he would hope the man to say 'eh' at the end of his sentences. Granted, Roderich reacted different to his teasing than Matthew did after having dealt with it for hundreds of years. Matthew was cuter about it and Austria fought back when he got too close… Not that Canada didn't, all he had to do was remember the hockey sticks the man had around the house and that was sometimes enough to deter him from a particularly nasty comment. But Roderich fought back full-force at even the smallest of things, the whole, give and inch and he'll take a mile saying was very well known with the brunette nation. Prussia sighed.
"I don't know." He shook his head and returned his attention to Roderich, resolving to find some time within all the mess that was surely to ensue to visit the boy. "I think you've probably heard it about a thousand times from me and other people."
"Provably." Roderich's eyebrow traveled up his forehead at the younger man's sudden attitude change. He chose to leave it alone and stand up, stretching and straightening out his wrinkled clothes.
"I'm hungry. You want anything?"
"Noh, I'm fine." Once again, the Austrian pondered Gilbert's suddenly very sober mood, very few things made him act that way, Hungary was one, Old Fritz was another and the last one…
Russia perhaps? Have they had a run-in recently? Really, it wasn't his place to pry into the man's life, no matter how much the other liked to pry into his. Never would Roderich sink to Gilbert's level… Even if the man seemed so glum. "If you change your mind, just call me."
"I vill." With that Roderich nodded to his semi-friend and turned to leave the room, successfully bumping into Japan.
"Oh, hello Japan…" He awkwardly greeted at the man's odd gaze. "Uhm, if you're here to see Germany, no one is allowed back to see him yet. Italy is back there with him, but he's the only one and he hasn't been out to tell us anything." The black-haired man nodded and moved to talk to the receptionist, telling her let "Ludwig Beilschmidt" know that "Kiku Honda" had been there when he woke up.
The Japanese man murmured a 'thank you' before turning to leave.
"Vhat? Nod going to efen boder to schtay undil he vakes up?" Japan stopped in the doorway of the waiting room and looked over his shoulder.
"I'm sorry Puroisen-san, but I do have other things to attend to. I wourd stay if I courd. I wirr return to visit rater." Speaking no more, he continued on his way out of the room. Leaving Prussia and Austria to stare after him, both of them wondering what had him in such a bad mood.
After about two minutes of silence and neither of the remaining nations doing anything, Austria sighed and looked to Gilbert.
"I'm going to go get that food now."
"Ja, goh." Really, he wanted to ask the Austrian exactly where he was going to get food at three-thirty in the morning, but whatever. Leave it up to him to find something.
So there Prussia sat, all alone, his mind occasionally wandering. He hated sitting around and waiting when he could be doing something about this. A snort escaped him when he realized he shouldn't have waited this long to have his little talk with his brother, but there didn't seem to be any harm in it. Most likely, Ludwig still wouldn't have told Feliciano about the terrorist attacks even if he admitted he actually had feelings for the man.
I think that actually would have made it worse… He nodded to himself, where Ludwig was protecting a friend in this scenario, he shuddered to think how he would've reacted if the man were his lover. A smirk pulled at his lips. Lover. Ludwig with a lover, hah, what a wonderful thought, but probably it wouldn't happen for a long time unless their relationship had someone to facilitate it. Hopefully that was going to be him. Prussia could see they were ready for something, Hell, they were married! He was going to goad and prod the blonde nation until he admitted it. His head tipped off to the side as he pondered how difficult this was going to be. This man was Germany after all, a very stubborn man and he had made a point of that over the years… Well Prussia was a stubborn man too, his smirk widened into a grin at the fun he was going to be having teasing his little brother. He would probably end up with a few more broken noses, but to Hell with it, it was for Ludwig's own good and he would thank him for it some day.
A nurse suddenly passed by into the hallway Ludwig was being kept in, he leered at her suggestively, she didn't miss it and glared right back. Prussia nearly laughed, but instead his smirk grew larger causing the woman to make a face suggesting she wanted to throw up. He actually did laugh that time as she disappeared behind the doors.
He was surprised that he didn't have to wait long for the nurse to return. There was an excited leap in his groin when the nurse walked straight to him. She didn't seem pleased at all about having to deal with him.
"Sir, am I correct in guessing that you are Gilbert Beilschmidt?"
"Vhy yes you ahre liddle Fräulein." A smirk split his lips, showing off his teeth, the nurse seemed to back off a few inches before clearing her voice.
"I-I was instructed-"
"Vhat's making you soh nerfous?" He adored messing with humans, it was like egging on a cat or a dog, but they couldn't bite you.
"Please, sir let me finish. I was told to let you know that Mr. Beilschmidt is awake and is asking that if you really need to talk to him about something, write it down." She held out a piece of paper, pen and a clipboard to him.
"Oh, vhy danke, Fräulein." Prussia purred, taking the clipboard and the woman's hand, pressing a kiss to it. She sputtered for a second, seemingly caught between being flattered and slapping the man.
"Kein Problem…" An evil smirk washed over Prussia's face as he once again suggestively leered at her, she couldn't have him removed, he wasn't doing anything after all. There had been no overtly sexual remarks made so she couldn't call sexual harassment. And even if she could, he was a nation and above all these little humans.
Ex-nation. He snorted to himself and scribbled on the piece of paper in his strangely neat handwriting. Still have the right to do more things than they do though. Even if you aren't a full nation anymore.
Send Feliciano out. I need to speak with him. I'll talk to you in private later.
Sighing, he signed his name at the bottom of his note and handed it to the woman. "Hier."
"Thank you, sir." She said accepting the letter and hurrying off to do something else. The brunette reminded him of a busy little worker ant. Most humans did. He didn't even attempt to censor his behavior as he stared after her butt. Oh, he would love get his hands on that well-rounded thing. And her breasts… She never did object when he called her Fräulein. Others looked down on his attitude towards humans, but what did they ever do for a nation? Yes, they provided them life, allowed the to develop as people, but in the end, all they every did was cause them trouble. He snorted, he needed a lay so badly, it had been months since his last one.
The brunette nurse scurried by again not long after, a glass of water in her hand, Ludwig must have asked for one.
It didn't take long for Feliciano to appear, he looked around the room, causing Gilbert to snort. He was albino, how do you miss one in a room of normal people?
"Ofer hier." Gilbert rose his arm from his place in the far corner of the room to catch the ADD man's attention. He took a deep breath as Feliciano noticed his location and hesitantly strode over to him, a smile on his face.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Italy asked as he plopped down into the chair next to him. Prussia sighed slightly, feeling older than he had in awhile.
"You lof my bruder, don'd you?" The Italian seemed taken aback by that, he really hadn't been expecting anything serious from a man like him.
"He's my best friend. Of course I do." Italy said simply.
"No, nod like dat… Do you lof him." Prussia stared intently at him, watching as he shifted underneath his gaze.
"Love him? What do you mean by that?" The albino was quickly growing very irritated with the boy.
"Don'd play schtupit vid me. I know you do." Really, there wasn't a reason for Prussia to even ask. He knew the answer was yes and it was as plain as day.
"Is that really-"
"Do you lof your bruder?" This was getting tiring and he was running out of goodwill towards the man.
"Like that? No!" His seriousness nearly broke as Feliciano incriminated himself. It wasn't the time for stupid jokes though, he had to get his point across.
"Noh, noh dat's nod vhat I meand… You lof my bruder… Und you lof your bruder. Ja?"
"Ja." Gilbert nearly rolled his eyes as the boy giggled at his bad attempt at German.
"I'm sure you know dat he vas attackt by a terrorisd group. He hes been ahll veek." A serious look came into Italy's eyes then.
"I know now…"
"Scheiße." What on Earth is wrong with you West? Like with any person, there were times he hated being right. Slowly, he could see the cogs turning in the Italian's mind, he wasn't happy. "You're going to nod like dis very much. Bud… I hev to tell you und I suspecd dat Ludwig knows dis alreaty too… I ahlso know dat he von'd tell you if I don'd."
"W-What…?" More cogs turning and Gilbert knew that Feliciano had at least some idea of what he was about to say.
"Romano ist de source of de attacks."
"You're lying." Prussia had been afraid the idiot would say something like that.
"Vhat reason do I hev to lie?"
"Neither you nor Ludwig like my brother…"
"He doesn'd like us eider. He ist de source of Ludwig's pain righd now. He's de reason you hat to rusch your husbant to de hospidal. Don'd fool yourselv indo dinking dat he voult nod attack him." There was an urge to attempt to comfort the man, something Prussia never felt like doing. But this was his brother-in-law, family. Deciding not to attempt it the conversation only deteriorated from there, both of them started yelling, Italy more like crying. Austria appeared back from his early morning breakfast and attempted to interceded. It didn't go well and it ended with him having to subdue Prussia as Italy ran away on the verge of tears to consult Germany.
"Led goh of me you fucking pansy!" Roderich obliged the man and let him free, taking a few steps back from him as the staff of the waiting room picked up a phone should they need to call someone about the suddenly rowdy men. "Ask Germany?! Ask fucking Germany?! Ahre you fucking kitting me?!" Gilbert angrily yelled at him, spitting German curses thereafter.
"Calm down, it's not that bad. Grow up and act like an adult."
"Do you hev-!? Gah!" Prussia huffed and took a deep breath to calm himself, he didn't need to accidentally rip someone apart. "Okay… I'm bedder, bud now he's going to take his problems to Westen und ve bode know dat von'd goh vell."
"It's not that bad Prussia."
"You don'd efen…" The albino sighed and rubbed his face that had nearly-invisible stubble growing on it now. "Alrighd…" He plopped down back into the chair he had been sitting in, rubbing his eyes. "I neet coffee."
"There's a coffee place right around the corner if you want to go." Roderich informed him, offering the very frustrated man an olive branch.
"Ja, dat sounts goot. Leds go." He shoved himself up from the chair and followed the aristocrat out of the hospital and down the street to the coffee shop.
---
I can't believe I'm doing this… The clothes the boy was wearing were sort of itchy and uncomfortable. The blackjack he held in his hand was heavier than he remembered. He hadn't had to use it in a long time now. Damn you Lovino.
Canada had been waiting in the back of the dark cafeteria for some time now, his attire was completely black. Black long-sleeved shirt, black pants, black socks, shoes, his hair stuffed and concealed beneath a black hat and face mask. He had even go so far as to wear a pair of contacts instead of his glasses.
All Italy and the brunette nurse had been talking about for the past ten minutes pertained to nations. He thought the woman stupid for not believing Italy when he said he was a nation. She seriously thought everyone who was one was insane and hurt themselves when they were attacked. It was obvious she didn't understand and never could. No human could.
Suddenly, the nurse leaned over to Italy's ear and was whispering into it….
Oh no she's not… The last thing they had been talking about was Italy's marriage, how it was strictly political…
"What do I say to what?" Italy stupidly replied to whatever it had been the nurse asked.
Oh yes she is… It was like some really bad soap opera where the woman didn't know what the Hell she was doing. Didn't know that it could kill her. She nuzzled his cheek and whispered again. Where was the popcorn?!
"Had what? I've had plenty of food, rest, I have had the bad luck of getting hit in the head, but that's all." After some more whispering, Italy jumped up and tripped backwards over his chair, hitting the back of his head on the tile floor. Maybe at this rate Matthew wouldn't need the blackjack. "I'm sorry, but I can't." Italy sweetly apologized as the nurse leaned down to inspect his head. Canada's stomach churned as he realized now was the time. They were distracted.
"No, it's my fault. I shouldn't have even asked. It doesn't look like you're bleeding and you're still conscious so you should be fine." He darted from his hiding place towards the pair, she was helping him to his feet.
"Again, I'm very sorry. But, I just met you." His arm rose as he drew within mere feet of the boy. Fear lit up the nurse's face as she shoved Italy from the way, the risen blackjack coming down on her temple. A surprised yelp escaped Italy as he saw her limp body hit the floor.
Damn it! Canada's inner monologue yelled as he turned on Italy, who had since turned to run. No you don't. The taller Canadian reached out to grab the back of the man's jacket, only to miss as Italy tripped over his fallen chair. He must have twisted his ankle and his wrist was sure going to smart later by how he landed on it. A terrified squeal escaped the boy as Canada came to stand over him as he still attempted to free himself from the legs of the chair. In one swoop Canada had the boy out cold.
The blonde was shaking, the adrenaline was still coursing through his veins, his breaths were coming in quick bursts as he surveyed his work. The nurse, hopefully, was still alive, he had been aiming for a nation and it was hard to put one out… If she died… Fear suddenly joined his adrenaline and made him shake even more. He had to get out of here as soon as possible. Bending down, he threw Italy over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes. It was surprising how light he was. Or maybe it was the adrenaline giving that illusion. Sparing the nurse one last worried look, he fled from the hospital, the unconscious Italian flopping against his shoulders.
---
Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit… Matthew had his hands laced in his hair, he had tied Italy up to a chair in his garage, unsure of what else to do with him. He was sitting against his cabinets in his kitchen at his house near Ivujivik. His body was still shaking and tears were in his eyes, what the Hell was he supposed to do now? Lovino hadn't told him and he had so rarely done this in the past.
"Prussia… What the Hell am I supposed to do, eh?" He sniffled once, he had wronged his friend in doing this too. So even if they were still talking, he couldn't ask him. This sucked, he just wanted to help someone who needed it. If he had known that person would take advantage of his kindness and make him kidnap someone… He just wanted to be at his home in Ottawa, Prussia annoying him for pancakes and fighting with him.
A distressed scream of "heeelp!" echoed from his garage just beyond the door in his kitchen. So Italy had woken up… Wiping his eyes with the sleeve of his coat and forcing himself to stop his shaking and crying, he headed for the garage.
"Scare him a bit too."
Canada took a deep breath as he considered Lovino's words from earlier.
Be frightening… Who was he kidding, he was shaking with terror, guilt and had been crying not even minutes ago. He was anything but scary. Damn it Prussia, why aren't you here when I actually need you, eh? Sniffling one last time and wiping his eyes he wrenched the door open, the kitchen light spilling across the far wall.
---
"Hm… He's nod hier…" Prussia mumbled to himself as he looked around the deserted house in Ottawa. After talking to Ludwig for a short amount of time earlier today about Italy's late-night disappearance, he decided to ask Canada if he knew anything about it. He and Romano had been speaking to one another at the end of that world meeting… In actuality, he refused to believe that Canada had anything to do with this. The blonde might know something, but was he involved? Probably not. He just needed a good reason to visit without seeming like some over-emotional pansy. "I guess he coult be aht his oder haus in Ifujifik…" Growling with frustration he left the house, making sure lock the door behind him and headed north.
Does the man even want to see me? Prussia wondered as he walked up to the front porch of Canada's home in northern Quebec. It was freezing cold in December already, why did the man want to be up here of all places? Thinking back, he had asked the boy this very same question earlier on when they were friends. He liked getting away from troubles here, something was troubling the boy? Troubled no longer! Prussia is here! Stopping to think for the first time today, he considered what the man's attitude toward him might be… Try to be polite… Or I could be mean and just pretend I forgot him… Both it is. He was Prussia after all. Bracing himself with a deep breath, he walked across the porch and knocked on the door. A few noises of someone running towards door met his ears. He was almost worried something was wrong before the door opened.
"Ueh, Prussia, hello…" The harried blonde seemed quite apprehensive as he greeted him. Whether that was just Canada being himself or from how Prussia was acting the albino couldn't say.
"Canada." Gilbert replied in greeting, suddenly feeling very acutely awkward. When he got awkward, he fell back on what he knew, militia formality and good ole Prussian rudeness. What the fuck are you awkward about?! He couldn't even answer his own question.
"Can I help you?" Canada asked, his face remaining neutral.
"I hev some qvestions dat neet answering." The albino curtly explained before shoving himself past Matthew and into the house. Hopefully the Canadian would understand where they stood with that. Then again, he was a particularly rude person… He snorted internally as he hung his coat up on a rack and their dialogue turned to Gilbird, still sitting atop his head. Really he had been confused at first, not having actually known the small yellow chick was on his head. After the uncomfortably formal dialogue between the two had finished, it was time for another heaping helping as Canada proffered his kitchen as a place to talk. The boy scurried into the room first, Prussia heard a door latch, probably his garage door had blown open or something.
Prussia settled down in a chair around the kitchen table. It repeatedly perplexed the man why Canada always kept four chairs around his kitchen tables when he only ever had two visitors at most at a time. The blonde was acting rather oddly, or maybe this was normal behavior for him now-a-days. After having not talked to him for two years, one never knew. There was something wrong with him though… At first, Gilbert hadn't been able to place it, but as he watched Canada stir a pot of brown sauce for a dish he called poutin it hit him.
"Vhat dit you do to your hant?" It was exhibiting a great lack of mobility and Canada seemed flinch whenever he moved it too far in any direction. The boy twitched and shifted Kumajirou to his left arm as he reached back to scratch his head with his right, he chuckled nervously.
"I smashed it in a door during a fight with America. Nearly lost my finger." America had hurt his brother?! The man had the capabilities of being such a doting older brother, something Gilbert himself never understood.
"Your finger?" Gilbert was slightly skeptical, nearly losing a finger hurt like a bitch, but it never inhibited the motor ability of a hand as much as his seemed to be limited.
"Yeah, my middle one. Really, sometimes I think my brother really doesn't know how strong he is. I heard from England once, that when he was still a child, he picked a charging bull up off the ground." The Prussian had heard this story before, apparently Canada forgot things too. Gilbert had to work hard to suppress a smile as he caught sight of Matthew's.
Does he smile like that when he thinks of something I've done? Woah! Where the fuck did that come from?! "Peh, figures you nearly losd von of your more usevul vons. Ist it going to be alrighd?" He asked beyond his brain's strange behavior. Canada put soup bowl of the food down in front of him, raising his shoddily bandaged hand to show him. There was open concern on Prussia's face (or as open as he got about it), but Canada seemed to miss it.
"Remains to be seen." He flexed his hand, wincing slightly. "I'm sure some other bones are broken too." Prussia raised a curious eyebrow.
"How long ago vas it?"
"Earlier today actually." Why wasn't it healed yet? If it was only a door that had done it to him and it had happened earlier that day it didn't make sense… The man was hiding something from him… And for some inexplicable reason it hurt.
"Led me see it den." A look of apprehension came back over the boy's face, his eyes flicked to his hand and back to Prussia.
"No, it's fine, I'm going to see a doctor anyway. It really hurts unwrapping it too." Well, if the boy wanted to hide something from him then so be it, it didn't bother him a wit.
"Liddle pain nefer hurd anyvon." Well, literally maybe… Canada had never been this irritating to him before. Even back before they were officially friends he always held a friendly fondness for him and he never actually found him annoying…
"Please Prussia… You're here for a reason?" Well that was blunt! Christ, one would think after being friends for awhile he would've told him off in a slightly… Nicer way…
Why the fuck do you care? Oh well, you're in his territory, be… Respectful? What the Hell is that word? You're Prussian. "Alrighd. I'm here to see if you mighd know aboud de attack on Germany." He skewered a piece of the poutin Canada had put in front of him and took a bite… His face drifted down to it, a strange look adorning it. It dawned on him then exactly why he never stayed for dinner at Canada's house. Oh… That's right…
"Everyone knows about it, it's all over the news." Canada explained offhandedly as he turned to go get a bowl of food for himself.
"Dat's nod exacdly vhat I meand." Prussia pushed the bowl of food away from himself, that shit was nasty. Really he was surprised that Canada had forgotten that he didn't like the stuff, but then again, Prussia himself had forgotten that he didn't. There was a slight look of irritation on Canada's face, but Prussia wasn't going to comment on it.
"Do you want a glass of water instead?" The blonde took a bite of his food before sitting the bowl down. Knowing that he was talking about his unwillingness to eat that God-awful concoction, Prussia nodded. The boy turned to get him a glass, how polite of him. Usually the boy would tell him to get it himself, he had to suppress the urge to sneer. "What did you mean then?" Leave it to Canada to get the two of them back on track.
"Do you know who dit it?" Gilbert said simply.
"No, I don't have the faintest idea." The blonde put the glass of water down in front of him. "Are you assuming I was involved in some way?" He asked bluntly as he gave the man a look and sat down to eat.
"Noh, noh. Nod aht ahll. I jus vanted to know if you hef been aht leasd keeping in contacd vid Romano." Canada kept eating and by the face he was making probably had been expecting a different answer.
"Not a lot of communication is going on. You're the only one that remembers I exist that's not my next door neighbor brother." Nothing more to really say on that matter, Prussia figured. It was the truth. They continued to talk a little bit more before Prussia finally told him the really bad news.
"Italy ist missing."
"Missing?!" The boy dropped his fork and jumped up from his seat. "Missing like how?"
"He vas abducdet from de hospidal. Whoefer it vas also attackt de nurse. Clubbt her in de het vid a blund objecd." Prussia tapped his temple for emphasis. "It appeart to be a blackjack."
"What?" Canada asked, clueless as to what that was.
"It's ahlod like a sant bag. It's compresst indo leader und fery hart. Usually it ist jus ust to knock people oud from behint, bud it ist evfectife to kill somevon vid too." Like any blunt object.
"Is she still alive?"
"Ja, she's nod deat. Jus incapacidadet." The boy visibly relaxed and finished his bowl of food. "Soh sensitife Canada. She vas only a human. Ist only a human." Prussia allowed a little bit of his usual personality to leak forth. Sub-usual banter occurred after that and Canada ended feeling rather dissatisfied. Prussia's politeness was irritating him to no end and he was close to strangling the rude into the man. His comment about being soft was closer to what he had been expecting. It was almost pleasant, but it didn't last sadly.
"Dank you for your hospidalidy Canada." Prussia thanked as he stood near the front door. Canada had already (weakly) complained about him leaving so early, to which he replied he had to get back to Germany or something. The blonde seemed so irritated about something the entire time and during that time Prussia never could place exactly what it had been.
"Like I said, no problem." Prussia nodded to him and turned to leave. Upon throwing the door open all he saw was white and a sudden gust of wind in his face. Well, he had been looking for a reason to stay after all. Quickly he rounded and slammed the door closed.
"Hokay! Ve ahre nod leafing!" He reached up and felt Gilbirt, shivering in his hair. "Ahre you okay up dere?" As the bird cheeped its affirmative, Prussia rose an eyebrow and looked at Canada.
"You know what America says about Ohio, right?"
"Vhat?"
"If you don't like the weather, wait ten minutes. Sometimes I feel it applies here too."
"I neet a guesd room" My room. Canada smiled to him, it was that sweet one that Gilbert had sorely missed.
"Sure, not a problem. You can just have your old room, okay?" The boy started for the stairs.
"Kese, only happy to." Prussia followed him up to his old room. He quickly inspected the chest of drawers within it, the warm clothes he had deposited there over two years ago were still there. Sometimes he was happy the boy was such a lonely person. It meant he would never throw his things out. That seems mighty evil of yourself… What else is new? He internally laughed at himself for thinking himself anything else.
"I didn't touch anything that was yours if you were worried about it. What with… You being awesome and everything…" The compliment was so awkward on his lips, Prussia nearly smacked him for it. Instead, he plopped down on the bed in front of Canada. The sheets had been washed, but it was to be expected as his friend was no slob.
"You sait 'vaid ten minudes'… Ahm I going to be hier ahll nighd?" Was it really so odd for him to wish that he would?
"I'm sorry, I wish I could control my own weather." Prussia only waved him off.
"It's okay." His house phone rang then, causing him to visibly jump. "I'll be right back." He left the room then, heading for his office. Prussia poked his head out after him, waiting until the door closed before he slunk out of his room and downstairs to the kitchen.
"Kesesese, you und me buddy. I schvear ve're gonna hev fun tonighd." Luckily for him, there was beer in the fridge. Not a lot and that distressed him. "Hm… Check de basemend." Hopefully Matthew's phone call would hold out for a bit longer as he went to the fridge in his basement. Happily, he was blessed that the boy hadn't thrown out any of the liquor that he had stored down here two years ago. It was far away from any light and all the previously opened bottles were gone. It was old, but alcohol only got better with age! Much like himself he mused. Snatching a few bottles of whisky, rum and a package of beer from the fridge, he went upstairs and put it all down on the table near the fireplace. "Kese!" He sniggered before tromping up the stairs and down the hallway to the office door. He heard a vague whisper on the other side of it and then Matthew putting the phone back on its base. "Oh, Caanadaa!" He knocked on the door before pushing it open and poking his head in.
"Y-Yes Prussia?"
"Oh drop de damn formalidies." He blew a raspberry, infinitely bored with their proper behavior earlier. The only way they were going to be friends again was if they were themselves. Hopefully Canada hadn't changed too much.
"I thought you'd never say so."
"Kesesese." Prussia walked over to the boy and leaned over his desk. "I hev a surprise for you downschtairs."
"You brought stuff with you?" Matthew rose an eyebrow, curious to what this surprise could possibly be.
"Jus ged up." Grabbing the man's shoulders he wrenched him up out of his chair, causing a terrible scream of pain to tear from his throat. Gilbert nearly winced back as Matthew fixed a most terrifying glare on his face.
"Do not touch me there!" The blonde smacked his hand off his left shoulder.
"Kesese, oh und vhat vill you do if I do?" Gilbert smirked.
"Watch it Prussia. We haven't seen each other for two years."
"Und I really don'd care, c'mon, dere ist booze vaiding downschtairs!" Gilbert grabbed his right hand and tugged him out of the room and down to the fireplace room.
"Oh… So you do remember where all my alcohol is…"
"Ja, come on." The Prussian eagerly walked over to the collection of booze. "C'mon, vhip us oud some glasses." He merrily added. Nothing brought people together quite like drinking. Sighing and accepting his fate with a calm and almost happy grace, Matthew drew two glasses from the inside of his coat.
"Alright, let's get this 'party' started then." Gilbert grinned widely at him and Matthew's chest swelled.
"Vhat in Gott's name vas dat?" Gilbert asked about an hour of drinking later after the whole house went dark.
"Hm, I believe that was the sound of my power going out…" Matthew, still not as drunk as he'd like to be, sighed. They were sort of screwed now. Out in a blizzard, miles away from humans and their heating had failed.
"Oh… Dat schucks… More booze! Varms your boty und ahll." Prussia shoved a whole bottle of bourbon at the boy.
"Gilbert, really I think we should-"
"Maddhew, I don'd dink you qvide graschp jus how goot dis ist for you." He shoved the bottle at him again. "Und, hey, ve hev heafy coads, betts? Pschft. Ve'll be fine ja?" The blonde's brain wasn't exactly pickled, but he sure wasn't sober. Somehow, for some reason, Gilbert's words made sense. Taking the bottle of bourbon and taking a sip, he chuckled.
"Alright-hic-alright." Another gulp and his throat burned. "No reason to let-hic-a little weather ruin our fun." A further gulp and Gilbert liberated the bottle from his hand.
"Don'd hog id ahll!" He hissed playfully at the boy and began to play keep-away with it as Matthew tried to reclaim it.
"Giiil!" Matthew whined, reaching over the man, pressing their chests together as he tried to grab the bottle.
"Ged someding elsch!"
"It's my booze-hic-give it!"
"Und if I don'd!? Kesesesese!" Gilbert took a swig off the bottle and Matthew started to sniffle and sat back down across from the man. "Ueh… Ahre you crying?" Another sniffle and Matthew wiped his eyes with his coat sleeve. "Euh… Uh… I-If you vant it dat bat-"
"Thank you Gil!" The blonde snatched the proffered bottle from the man and turned it skyward, somehow chugging the rest of the bottle. Even in his sozzled state, Gilbert was able to appreciate the man's drinking enthusiasm.
"Kese! I cahn oud do dat!" Gilbert picked up a bottle of whisky and began to down it. Ew, reminds me of sawdust… "Vhatefer." He mumbled to himself and drank as much as he dared without choking.
"Your-hic-facshe ish sho-hic-red!" Matthew giggled, falling backwards and dropping the bottle of booze.
"Kesesesese, you're schmascht!" The Prussian laughed as he got up on his knees to lean over the boy. The only thing this brought was a sever lack of balance ad he fell face-first into the boy's stomach.
"Guh! Giiiil! Get-hic-off!" Canada whined and squirmed beneath him. This slowly escalated to flailing and Prussia wrapping his arms around his midsection, laughing as the firmly soused man tried to get away. Various forms of this activity took place over the better part of forty-five minutes. It ended, however, as Matthew accidentally brought a bottle of whisky down on the ex-nation's head. The bottle didn't break (thank god) but it sure put the Prussian out. "Ah! Hic-Gilly! A-Are you al-hic-right?!" Tentatively, he poked the man's cheek. Yep, he was out. "Guh-hic, damn."
Deciding it to be a good idea at this point to head to bed, Matthew picked up the man's pants legs and dragged him upstairs. The smacks his head made against the stairs made him wince a lot and the man sure was heavy… His pants were slipping off his legs too… By the time this realization hit the drunken blonde though, the clothing article had already slipped clear down to his shoes.
Well, this isn't going to work anymore, now is it? Letting go of his pants to switch limbs in which to drag him by, he started heading down the stairs to get his arms. During this time however, the man's limp form started to slide back down the stairs up which he had been so laboriously dragged. "No, no, no, no!" Matthew clamped his eyes closed as a low thud resounded from the bottom of the stairs. Carefully, he peeked out at the man prostrate at the bottom of the stairs in a most… Undignified position. "Hic, if I-hic-only had my-hic-camera." He laughed to himself as he walked down the stairs (nearly falling twice) to retrieve his friend. Hey, my shoulder and hand don't hurt… Must be all the booze. Somewhere in the back of Matthew's brain he knew that not being able to feel pain from these areas was a distinctly bad thing. However, the rest of his brain was up to its parietal lobe in alcohol, so this was more of a bonus!
After many more unsuccessful attempts at dragging the man up the stairs, he, somehow or another, managed to get him into the master bedroom. By now though he was wearing little more than a pair of boxers. Just how Matthew had managed to get the rest of his clothes off in such a short amount of time (by his standards) he was completely unaware of.
"Ok-hic-ay, time for bed… It's-hic-freezing in-hic-here." Hefting Gilbert into bed, he pulled his shoes off and tossed them aside, later covering him up in the blankets. "Okay-hic-that'sh done." Next he moved on to getting himself ready. Simply, he pulled off all his clothes, exposing his wrapped shoulder and hand (as well as the rest of his sensitive skin) to the cold air of the pitch-black bedroom. Hum, odd I was able to see so clearly… Must be the booze. Rolling his shoulder a few times to inspect the bullet wound in it and feeling no pain, he resolved to do so in the morning as doing this while drunk was no help. He flexed his hand too, feeling a slight twinge of pain from that. This is all going to hurt so bad in the morning. His brain told him as he pulled on a pair of sweatpants over his boxers.
Slowly, he climbed into bed next to Prussia, snuggling up to his warm, sleeping form. He sighed contently against the man's chest muscles and fell asleep.
-----
Notes:
Italy and Germany's Marriage--You will have to read Aftermath for a proper explanation of this.
Scheiße--Shit!
Guten Abend, Sonnenschein--Good evening, sunshine.
Puroisen-san--Mr. Prussia
danke, Fräulein--Thanks miss.
Kein Problem--No problem.
Hope I didn't bore y'all who have read Aftermath too much. I suppose that it would be interesting to see things more from a Prussia-centric view since in Aftermath it's Canada-centric. Oh, for those worrying about how it will go in the next chapter since in Aftermath a large chunk of it is the proceeding scenes, I will be… Shortening them? Maybe? Well, really I'm not sure what to do about it, people who read my author notes, mind helping me out here?
Either way, uhm I'm embarrassed to inform you that there will be 7 chapters instead of 6, I'm dreadfully sorry OTZ. Please forgive me for I am a wordy person and was crying at the length of this chapter, over 10,000 words! I set out to make this much shorter than Aftermath, but I'm afraid of some chapters ending up in the 16,000 area like it was for the last chapter of AM. Sigh, here I am rambling again. Again I am sorry and will let you go read some other fan fictions now.