As the hotel in which Haya is currently staying strangely lacks internet despite it's snobish charm, you are left with Go here xD So sorry you have to deal with me. Haya's in here in spirit! We did do this together, as always XD ONWARD! *ish shot*

Chapter Fifteen: Furlough

Ludwig was tired. It wasn't often that he was truly tired. He complained of getting exhausted by his brothers antics, or Italy's, or his dogs. Really it was just a mental fatigue though. This was a soldier we were talking about her. He could withstand multiple forms of torture, and this included lack of sleep for days on end. At least, he liked to think he still could. But these days, the world set out to prove him wrong.

Before the sex-less week he had been working quite a bit, already losing sleep. Then with what followed it only became worse. How could it not? Still working, stress was brought to him physically and mentally at the hands of both paperwork and Prussia. It was to be assumed once he finished it all and their challenge was ended he would return to normal. This assumption was a wrong one.

Now he was truly tired. He hadn't slept in without meaning to. He had simply allowed himself more sleep in hopes of rejuvenating his waning immune system. Yeah, that was it...
Germany thought the air conditioning was on the fritz and frequently checked it, but found nothing wrong. So then why did he feel so hot? It was frustrating. As was the falling tenacity of his brain. It wasn't in the least bit productive, the work he was doing. It was hard to concentrate, he felt a tad dizzy or his vision became fuzzy. Eventually he just tried to make some headway in a few books.

Germany sighed. It had already been a few days of this. Now he was in his office, just looking through his email. But a headache had been coming in, and staring at a screen didn't help. He sighed again, leaned back in his chair, and rested a hand over his eyes.

"Weeeeeest!" Prussia's voice split through the house and the office door slammed open seconds later. "How do you work the toaster?"

And another catalyst for his headache. Germany shifted his hand to look at said being in a halfhearted glare. "You just had lunch."

Prussia crossed the room and sat himself in Germany's lap. "Yeah but you look like you need a pick-me-up."

Saving the both of them from falling backward Germany sat up straight, raising a brow at the albino in his lap. "I don't trust you with any machinery."

"But West, you look like you're gonna fall asleep mid-sentence! You need something yummy!" The albino laughed and nuzzled his lover's cheek, then abruptly pulled away with wide eyes. He placed his hand on Germany's forehead. "Gott West, you're burning up."

He didn't have the energy to pull away from the touch. All Germany could muster was, "I'll look at the AC again."

"Nein West, nothing is wrong with the AC! In fact, it's been beyond chilly these past few days. I was wondering how it kept getting lower." He jumped off Germany's lap and grabbed hold of his hands. "You're going to bed. Now."

"Was? Nein," Germany pulled his hands away and shook his head. "If I sleep now I won't be able to tonight." He absolutely hated a screwed up schedule. It sent everything into chaos.

"Ha, I beg to differ. Where's the thermometer?" Prussia left the office with a frown. After rifling through their bathroom for a bit, he returned with the item of question. "Say AAAH!"

Begrudgingly Germany did as he was told, opening his mouth so the thermometer could be slipped in. Dear God let it come up normal so he could get Prussia off his back and make another attempt at work.

Unfortunately for Germany, his wishes weren't granted. Once the appointed time was up, Prussia pulled the thermometer out and gasped. "West! You have a temperature of 39 degrees!" Prussia grabbed Germany's hands once more, but put more force in his pulls and dragged the feverish German to his feet. "Bed! Now!"

"Only an hour. I don't trust you for any time longer than that," Germany consented with a sigh.

"No way!" He yelled, dragging the blond to their room. "You are restricted to your bed with exception of the bathroom until you are better! No work, no complaining, and you will get better!" As he spoke, Prussia stripped Germany of his clothes and forced him into bed.

Was his head spinning from the fever or the sheer speed in which he found himself in the bed? Germany didn't take the time to think it over and just gave Prussia a glare before he closed his eyes. "Bruder, du bist komisch," he murmured.

"How am I the stupid one? You're the one that has been pretending he isn't sick!" Prussia sighed and sat down next to Germany. "Do you want anything?"

"Nein, danke." Clinging to his manners even in this state. There was a pause before Germany spoke again. "You could be quieter though. I'm ill, not deaf."

"Oh, sorry," he whispered in response. "Just lemme know if you need anything West. Wait, wait, actually you need liquids, right?"

Maybe being sick made Germany act a bit differently than he would in the norm. He was being strangely complacent. And here he actually laughed. "It's no surprise you wouldn't know anything like that, being you. Ja, fluids are important."

"Oi, don't discredit me! The last time you were sick you were just a little dude! Of course I don't remember what to do!" He stuck his tongue out then brushed loose hairs off of Germany's sweaty brow. "What do you want to drink?"

"Water. Can you handle that?" Germany quipped.

"I just thought you might want something more fancy. Want it in a sippy cup?" He asked smugly. A blue eye cracked open to glare at Prussia as a response. "Okay!" Prussia chirped as he ran off to the kitchen. He returned several crashes and minutes later with a Hello Kitty sippy cup. "I have no idea when we got this, but I kinda love it." He laughed as he passed it to Germany.

Of course he would find that. Germany shouldn't be surprised at all. "It was a gag gift China put in at the party America forced everyone to play White Elephant," he remembered out loud with a faintly risen brow. The nation must have just found the first thing he saw of the brand. America had announced it last minute. As in, the day of.

Normally he would put up a fight, but Germany just sat up, took off the top, and drank the cool liquid before setting it aside on the bedside table. "You're hopeless."

"Hey you drank it wrong!" Prussia laughed as he put the lid back on. He pushed Germany back onto the bed then climbed over him and nuzzled his side. "Now go to sleep."

"Ja ja." Lids fell again as he spoke in a murmur. "Danke, Bruder..."

"... est..."

What was that sound?

"... West..."

His name? But he was sleeping, he didn't want to be bothered.

"West!"

No, no. He scrunched his eyes tightly shut, clinging to the dark embrace of sleep. Germany didn't want to wake up.

"WEST!"

Eyes fluttered open then blinked a few times to bring the world into focus. The young nation looked around, confused. Why was he in the hallway? Why did Prussia look so distraught? "Bruder?" Ack, his throat hurt, making his voice a little hoarse.

"West!" Prussia wailed, hugging the little boy close. "Gott I thought you died or something! Fuck what's wrong? You just totally collapsed and fuck you're burning up!"

"Bruder, stop yelling, bitte," Germany mumbled into the older males shirt, wincing at his brothers volume as it split into his head.

Collapsed? Really? It would explain why he was on the floor in the hallway. What was the last thing be remembered... He had been walking down the hall so he could retrieve some cool drink to relieve the soreness in his throat. At one point sounds began echoing in his head and a slow fade began in his vision in the form of a slowly closing circle of black. He couldn't even recall the feeling of hitting the floor.

"I was just going to get some water," the blond mumbled.

"You need more than that! Shit what am I supposed to do? Ah bed! Bed then water!" Not really conversing to his brother, Prussia tightened his hold on the boy and stood. "I need to get a messenger to go get Antonio for me too... Fuck I'm no good at this stuff."

"I said stop shouting." This time a grumble in a hint of annoyance. Pulled to stand, Germany now moved his hand to the back of his head. No lump from the fall, that was a plus.

"Oi hey no walking for you!" With great care, Prussia picked up the blond and cradled him in his arms. With great haste, he brought Germany to his large and plush room of the mansion they shared. He tucked him under the covers then kissed his forehead. "Stay here and I'll get you some water, okay?"

Face pink with the fever and embarrassment of all the attention, he snuggled down under the covers. You'd think he would be used to this albino of a man always flitting around him and being affectionate towards him. Yet Germany still felt uncomfortable being fretted over. "I don't plan on moving if I passed out," he grumbled.

"Good boy!" Prussia exclaimed, already running out the door. He was much too worried to mind that West was making fun of him. After filling a giant mug with water and telling a stable boy to get a message to Spain, Prussia was back in Germany's room, gently stroking his hair.

"Hey West," he whispered quietly to the dozing boy. "I brought you some water."

It was easier letting go of sleep this time around. With a mumbled, "danke," he sat up to take the cup and sip down a good portion of it. Momentarily his throat felt a little better. This left him able to look away, blushing in his already flushed face. "You're overreacting, as usual..." It really wasn't that big a deal. He was dehydrated, needed water. Nothing for Prussia to worry about and drop everything. "You should go back to what you were doing."

"Nein! Nein! I'm not leaving! You're sick and dying!" Prussia wailed and flung himself on top of the boy. "Ich liebe dich! Don't die!"

"Oof!" Germany released in surprise, what air that had been in his lungs released in the sudden pressure of a full grown man on his child body. "I'm not... Dying... Get... Off..."

Prussia whined and rolled to his side and pulled Germany close. "Oh West why didn't you say you were feeling bad?"

Attempts to push Prussia away were futile and eventually cheeks just puffed out a bit when he gave up. "I was getting better. You didn't have to know." He hated worrying Prussia, hated taking him away from his work. Germany had been so sure it would all go away if he just slept a little more and bundled up when he slept. It hadn't been working, but he had still refused to let anyone know. Being trouble was something he really didn't want.

"West!" Prussia whined, hugging him even closer. "I am your Bruder now! It's my job to worry about you and pamper you! How could you not tell me? Think I don't have to know? West! You need to tell me these things!"

His face was hot from the fever, that was all it was. Germany told himself this as he again mumbled to himself and timidly nuzzled into the hug in small and hardly noticeable movements. "Es tut mir leid... I didn't think... I didn't want to take you away from your job..."

"Kese, what have I told you kiddo?" The albino snickered and snuggled his captive. "I enjoy being distracted from my work!"

Germany pouted. "Please don't call me that..."

"Call you what?"

In a sigh, "kiddo." His lids fell and he breathed out. Germany was feeling rather sleepy, as warm as he was.

"Haha but you are a kid..." Prussia frowned then smiled warmly and kissed Germany's forehead. "You can go to sleep."

"Ja." The blond boy curled into the larger man and nuzzled his chest, too tired to blush or stop himself. He was too warm to pass up. "Danke Bruder..."

"So cute~" Came from the doorway. Having arrived a moment before, Spain opted to wait until he spoke up, instead leaning in the door while smiling at his friend. Prussia was simply too adorable, caring for his little charge.

Prussia looked up and scowled as he hissed quietly, "Shhhh. He's going to sleep!"

"Hm? Oh, I'll just go then." Eh, Prussia seemed to have a handle on things. Spain turned to leave.

"What? No! Get your ass over here!" Prussia hissed. He carefully climbed over Germany and tucked the blankets tight around him. "He's still burning up! I'm just keeping my cool for him! I'm still freaking 'Toni! What am I supposed to do?"

Turning back to his friend, Spain chuckled. Seeing the high and mighty Prussia succumb to human anxiety was worth leaving the house. "First, quiet it down. You'll be the one to wake him at this rate."

Spain tilted his head, looking to the patient. "So what's wrong with him?"

"I don't know!" He whined, pushing Spain out of the door. "I called to him as he was passing the office and then he just collapsed! And he's hot and thirsty!"

"Fever, huh?" Far be it from him to call himself any kind of doctor, but Spain had pulled Romano through one or two small illnesses. "His voice was strange too, his throat could be bad. Brandy is good for that, or warm tea. As for the fever... Well, keep him warm, give him warm foods that aren't hard on him like a broth or something. Let him get fresh air but don't let the room get chilly, and if he sweats too much clean him. That's all I can say."

"That's all I gotta do?" Prussia exclaimed in disbelief. "But he fainted! He's not dying?"

"You of all people should know we don't die that easily. Though..." In the pause Spain thought. There was one example of a country dying young. "Holy Roman Empire..."

"Nein nein nein don't say it!" Prussia wailed, covering his ears as his voice erupted in 'lalala's.

And he had stepped into a bad spot. It should have been obvious. Spain hugged Prussia. "Lo siento, lo siento! He fell for different reasons. I've never heard of one of us dying from illness. Romano had a disease and lived through it, sí?"

"That's right!" The distressed albino instantly brightened and hugged his friend. "That's right! If a brat like Lovi can get over something like that, my perfect little brother will be perfect!"

Offering no debate of the level of bratiness his Italian held Spain nodded. "Sí. So ask a doctor if you want, have some servants help, and he'll be alright."

"Oooh what would I do without you?" Prussia hugged Spain tighter than ever. He paused then quickly added, "Cause you're like a Mutti and know all this shit!"

"That doesn't sound like a compliment," Spain said with a twitch of his smile. If he was like a mother it was because he'd been taking care of a problematic child in Romano, "but I'll take it anyway."

Prussia laughed and patted Spain on the back. "You're great mensch! Now go take care of your brat, I have a cutie to snuggle with."

There was a returned laugh and parting hug before Spain did in fact leave, maybe even a few more suggestions added in. And when Prussia turned back to the sleeping patient he found him still slumbering away, coughing now and then but nothing more.

A giant smile spread across Prussia's face. He had such a cute baby brother! He rang a bell on the wall and a servant came running to the room. "Hey get me some Brandy and make some hot soup or something. Bring it up here!"

With the servant off on his chores, Prussia turned his attention back to his brother. He crawled over him once more and pulled the small boy into a tight embrace. "Ich liebe dich West~"

Between the jostling of the bed as another form joined him and his being brought into the arms of said being Germany was awoken. He cracked his eyes open, a faintly sleepy groan coming from him in mild annoyance of being woken up. "Mmm Bruder?"

"Go back to sleep West, I'll wake you up when the soup is ready, kay?" Prussia asked quietly.

"You're going to get sick too if you stay too close…"

"Are you kidding me? I never get sick genius!"

"Ja, too awesome for that," he replies sarcastically, closing his eyes again.

"Exactly!" Prussia laughed and nuzzled his little charge happily. "You're so smart West!"

Never did he seem to catch his sarcasm. But now Germany didn't have the heart to bring it up. Instead he mumbled a, "be quiet," and slipped his arms around Prussia to grasp his top and snuggle into him, again drifting off. Maybe being cared for wasn't so bad.

If possible, Prussia would have exploded from the sheer cuteness of his baby brother. Could he get any cuter? Laughing quietly to himself, Prussia nuzzled the blond hair and kissed the top. "Sleep well baby bro."

It had been a few hours since Germany had fallen asleep. The dream had lasted him a fair while, enough that when he woke he felt a tad bit hungry for dinner. "How long was I asleep?" The blond murmured as he sat up in bed.

He was answered with silence for there was no one else in the room. Hearing something from their room, Prussia appeared in the doorway with a tray of steaming soup and a mug of Brandy. He smiled and set the tray next to Germany on the bed. "I was just about to wake you! Hungry?"

And instantly the tray received skeptical looks beneath a risen brow. "... You cooked?"

"I used the microwave," Prussia laughed. He picked up the bowl and got a spoonful of the soup. Blowing on it first, he held it in front of Germany's mouth. "Open up!"

"What are you doing? I can feed myself," Germany responded quickly.

"But you're sick! That means getting pampered!"

"Pampered and babied are two different things."

A pout instantly crossed Prussia's face. He sighed and put the soup down. "You don't want to be pampered by me?"

Ah dammit. "Nein, I mean... I don't want to be pampered by anyone. I'll eat it myself."

"Not even me?"

"Especially not you. Shouldn't you be playing videogames or something?"

"I'm caring for you, duh!"

"I don't need you caring for me. If I just rest I'll be fine," the spoon met his lips after this as he properly fed himself.

"But West!" Prussia whined. "I want to take care of you!"

Why did he push this every time he was sick? "Bruder, you don't need to."

"But I enjoy it!"

Headache coming back, Germany sighed. "Du bist sehr komisch..."

"Nein," in immediate reply with a faint glaring side glance. But then he just shook his head at him and continued eating. "I'm surprised you could do this..."

"Oi! That's not nice!" Prussia exclaimed, then quickly lowered his voice when Germany winced. "I can use a microwave."

A risen brow and small grin at this statement from the Prussian. "And that's why this is the first time I can ever remember you cooking something with it?"

Ever so slowly, Prussia's eyes moved away from his patient and his cheeks turned pink. "Yup..."

"Bruder?"

"I may have gotten some help..."

"Why am I not surprised... Who did you call?"

"Antonio," Prussia sighed. "Francis would eat my head off if I asked him how to use a microwave. He takes cooking personally."

"I wouldn't trust his advice anyway."

Soon after this Germany finished his soup and sipped from the brandy, easing the tension in his throat. It was because of the fever and drink. That was his reasoning behind his putting his arms around Prussia's shoulders and resting his forehead on one of them. "Danke, Bruder."

Prussia smiled and nuzzled him. "Bitte, West. Want to take a shower? Bath?"

He shook his head. "I'll just go back to sleep. Faster I get well, the better." Germany shifted his head to look up at Prussia. "So go play your stupid videogames."

"Nope!" Prussia laughed as he picked up the tray. He kissed Germany on the head then left to the kitchen. Once everything was in the sink, he raced back to their room and jumped into bed next to him. "I'll sleep with you."

"Your schedule is already horrible, don't add to it."

"You can't make me~"

Oh he could, even now, he just didn't want to. Germany told himself this as he sighed, shook his head, and slipped back down to lie under the covers. "Du bist komisch."

Prussia snickered and nuzzled under the covers as well. He snuggled into Germany and kissed his cheek. "Ich liebe dich~"

Prussia was such an idiot. Snuggling into a sick man. Was he just asking to catch his cold as well? Despite his worries Germany returned the gesture by hugging the warmth that was Prussia. "Ja, ich liebe dich auch..."

"Kesese, good. Now go to sleep West."

"Danke, Bruder," Germany murmured, falling asleep quickly.

Quiet laughter filled the room, followed by a small questioning peep. Prussia smiled to his bird and whispered, "I love these moments when I actually feel like the older one. Go to sleep Fritz, don't want to wake the baby up."

End of Chapter Fifteen

Aha, pretty short and quick chapter, but all the same xD Poor Luddy. Can't be out long, Gil will surely ruin the house if he's out of commission for a good while

Furlough = For those that don't know – I had to do a search to remind myself of the exact term – is what they call sick leave in the military