A/N: Progressing along! What do you all think so far?
"If you continue to make that racket, I am going to drive my sword right through you, boy."
At the sound of the old man's voice, Prussia lifted his head and smiled without hesitation. "Old Fritz!" He dropped the two thick sticks that he had been drumming loudly on the side of the stable house.
Frederick the Great chuckled lightly as he made his way down to the kingdom. "Is there ever a time when you are not making such loud noises?"
When the king reached the younger, he stopped and held out his hand as greeting. Prussia came forward and chose to ignore the offered hand. Instead, he hurried forward to trap the older man in a big hug.
Old Fritz's laugh deepened, hugging the albino right back. "I hope you have been… fairly good while I was away."
"I was awesome, per usual." Prussia informed him. It was the truth, of course.
"I do not doubt that." Old Fritz agreed, earning a bigger smile from the youth. "I was pleased to see there was no fire this time upon my return."
A slight frown began to overtake the pale face. Eyes narrowed a fraction. "It was Austria's fault…"
"Mm hm. I am sure." The king stepped back, looking down at his kingdom with a cocked eyebrow and contemplative expression. "You must learn to take responsibility for your own actions, Gilbert."
The younger slumped a bit, letting out a dejected sigh. "He did start it, though. I told you."
"Oh, quit acting like a five year old." Old Fritz reached out to ruffle Prussia's hair a bit roughly, smirking. "From what I have heard, it is just not nice to trap people in a room and set that room on fire. Honestly, I must know; what is wrong with you?"
"You wish you knew, old man." Prussia replied back with a tiny half smile, turning to face the path leading back up to the castle and beginning to venture up the path.
Old Fritz followed.
"I can live the rest of my life without knowing and be just fine." He said up to the leading teen. "But I suppose it is just what makes you… unique."
There were many times when Prussia sat there and wished that this great king was his father instead of the barbaric German who barely acknowledged him anymore. The man who barely accepted him as his son.
Old Fritz was caring and kind; he adored the kingdom personification as a father should his son. When Prussia was being loud and obnoxious, the old man was patient and amused. He did not yell or become violent toward the teen. He understood that Prussia could just as well be mature and serious if the situation called for it.
To the king, Prussia was a unique individual. He was misunderstood. He needed the king's guidance and admiration. He sure was not receiving any from his own father.
Fritz did not see Prussia as a devil.
He saw him as a human being. A carefree individual who had been told all his life that he was a creation of evil and would never be accepted or liked. It was surprising that the Prussian was not as tormented mentally as he could have turned out.
At least as far as Old Fritz knew.
What ran through the boy's mind continued to be a mystery to the king. There were times that a blank look took over his features, telling anyone who happened to notice that the albino was far away, in some other time. A time where he was beaten down and burned. Thrown into waters to drown.
"Never let anyone tell you that you have no potential." Old Fritz would tell Prussia continually, hoping he would take these words with him as he continued on with a life that Old Fritz would leave eventually. "You are just as much of a person as they are. Do not let any of them say that you are not equal."
Prussia would listen and nod, his eyes trained on his king with strict attention. He was a man worth listening to and Prussia would make sure to take every word out of his mouth to thought.
He was the first to tell Prussia that he was an equal.
And for these reasons, Prussia could not help but fear for the day Old Fritz would no longer be with him, to support him and guide him along the right trail. It was the first time he had ever had someone to lean on and the feeling was so great, Prussia wished for it to never have to end.
The pair returned to the castle gates, laughing as they chatted about Fritz's journey north. Prussia tried to push those fears back, enjoying the time he had now with the king.
He had already made the decision, that as he would progress through life, it would be his goal to make Old Fritz proud of him. To honor his reign and kingdom, and to always keep Prussia going strong. The king was the greatest father-figure he had ever had the privilege to have, and because of this, he would see to it that Old Fritz was never disappointed in him.
For this small portion of his life, Prussia understood belonging.