What had he done?

Friedrich's blue eyes swept the devastated landscape. All around him lay Prussian soldiers. Dead, Prussian soldiers. His splendid army had lost, some of his people had even fled, and Austria had carried away this victory.

The great king made his way into the medical tent, where the wounded were being tended to. He made his way through all the misery and pain around him. It was all his fault. Friedrich remained stoic though. His soldiers needed a resolute standpoint from him now. If he showed weakness, they would abandon all hope.

Soon, he had reached a small, curtained off portion of tent. He knew who lay beyond the thin linen. Already he could feel the pained gasps and sputters of his beloved nation. Quickly, he entered the small section, his eyes widening as he saw just how bad Gilbert looked. Prussia was gasping, coughing up blood; his body seemed drenched in the crimson liquid. The albino was shivering with pain, and any attempts of the medics to relieve his pain seemed pointless.

His red eyes rolled around, frantically looking for Friedrich, for his king and lover. Speech seemed impossible for him; a painful gurgle was all he could muster as he spotted his regent.

Friedrich couldn't keep up his façade of strength anymore. He sunk to his knees next to the bed, hands gripping those of his nation. Tears rose in his sky-blue eyes.

"Leave us alone."

His voice was just a whisper, but the medics left them alone together immediately. They couldn't do anything for the albino anyway.

"Gilbert…Gilbert I am so sorry, Gilbert, forgive me…" the king rested his head on the bloody best of his nation, who's heaving breaths shook his whole body.

He had done this to him. He had pushed Prussia this far. True, he couldn't have known how long this war would be…But he had known it would hurt Gilbert.

It broke his heart to see the once strong and proud nation so weak, wounded and defeated. His fault, his fault alone. Warmongering, stupid king.

The tears rolled down his face, soaking into the stained clothing of his nation. He couldn't sob, he could only pour his heart out silently, wishing he could do something to help his beloved Gilbert, his beloved kingdom.

A shaking hand landed on his cheek, making him look up at the one he was crying for. Gilbert was still having trouble breathing, but his eyes seemed to have conquered the immeasurable pain.

"My king…" he croaked, his voice was a mere scratching noise, "I still live for you…I will still fight for you…"

"Gilbert, no, you cannot. I cannot watch you be destroyed, my beloved kingdom," Friedrich swallowed heavily, gripping Gilbert's left hand, "I would rather surrender than lose you, Gilbert."

The bleeding albino shook his head only by a fraction, he couldn't manage a more powerful gesture at the moment.

"I will never be a coward and surrender, Friedrich…we are not finished…I can't lose if I follow you, my king."

"Gilbert, I will never let you fall…Let me figure out how to save you…Please, just hold on my precious one!"

The nation gave a weak smile, closing his eyes,

"I will, obey, my king. I will live just to be at your side again…I want to wake up next to you in Berlin again…You will save me…"

The king had to bite his lip again. This dedication and blind trust always moved him. How had he gained this respect from this unruly nation, from this wild man? Friedrich had to think about the night of his coronation, the beginning of a love he could never have imagined.

-1740-

Gilbert had lead his new king to his sleeping chambers and had sent the few servants of this area away. He demanded complete privacy for this 'ceremony'.

After all, this was between Friedrich and himself.

Friedrich had kept silent, unknowing of what awaited him. How could he know, after all it wasn't a discussed subject that the king had to sleep with a man in order to complete his coronation and assert his ownership and sovereignty over his country.

The freshly crowned king blinked as he found himself standing in front of his own bed, his heart pounding harder as he tried to think of the possible inundations of their location. This could only mean some sort of intimate and private thing was about to happen, right?

His light blue eyes travelled to his pale companion, who was seemingly preparing himself for an explanation of this event. Surprise widened his orbs as the albino began undressing. So this really was something intimate.

"Erhm...G-Gilbert, what is the meaning of this? Why are you shedding your garments?"

A blush now decorated his cheeks. Though he preferred men as lovers, he rarely acted on his desires. The death of his childhood lover and friend Katte had scarred the young king, so he had been living rather chaste.

"My king, this is part of the ceremony. A king and his nation must unite in the flesh," Gilbert's voice wasn't agitated, much the opposite, he sounded rather content with the situation.

"His...nation?" Friedrich was more than a little shocked. Was the albino insinuating he was some sort of embodiment of the kingdom of Prussia?

That was absurd.

"That is right, my king. I am...the embodiment of Prussia. I do not age, and I cannot be harmed by conventional weapons. I feel every crisis, every war and change in my lands and people on my own body. And I have served your predecessors in exactly the same way I will serve you. But in order to make this bond, we have to unite."

Friedrich gulped. The albino was so casual about it, about this act of intimacy that he connected with love and affection...Not a business transaction.

"I...my, my kingdom, I am not very...experienced in this area. Is it truly necessary for us to do this right now?"

Gilbert gave a mental groan, now he was going to play coy? He couldn't exactly relate to that, he was simply glad Friedrich was more attractive than his father. So it would seem he, Gilbert, would have to take the lead. He turned to the flushed king, slowly pulling off his powdered wig, revealing soft, wavy brown hair. Really, it was an amazing improvement over the purely white wig.

He proceeded to cup his new king's face; he could feel the tremble it sent through the human's body. Was he that damn good? Probably yes. Gilbert suppressed a smirk as he leaned closer. Friedrich seemed paralyzed, blue eyes widening further as the distance between them was shortened rapidly.

"W-wait a moment, Gilb-"

His stammered sentence was cut off as Gilbert kissed him. A swarm of butterflies seemed to explode into life in Friedrich's stomach at the contact. His hands, which had previously been held helplessly into the air now closed around the man in front of him, gripping the thin fabric of his undershirt. The young king closed his eyes, submitting to the dominant nature of his seducer.

Said nation was experiencing something quite odd. Usually, he felt a short tingle when he united with his regent, but nothing through a simple touch like this. What was that shudder running down his spine? Why was he so damn aroused from the taste of those soft lips?

His mind discarded all questions as he ran his tongue over Friedrich's lips and was granted access immediately. It felt...nice, to do this. Almost as if they were true lovers. Gilbert gave a small grunt as he lifted up the young brunette in front of him. Friedrich was light, and short for his age. The nation had no trouble carrying him to the bed, which was rather spartanic, but that was just typical of his king. His predecessor had preferred simplistic over luxury too, and Friedrich seemed to have inherited that preference.

Friedrich was trying to control his racing heart and his trembling hands. This was a bit overwhelming, all these sensations he was getting from the albino in this moment. His taste, his touch, the feeling of his body in those strong arms, Friedrich liked it all and wanted more. His usual reluctance to let go of his self-control seemed to have melted away in the hot kiss that had still not been broken.

He felt himself being pressed down, and skilful fingers made short work of his complicated clothing. Soon he felt the slightly cool air of the room hit his bare skin, causing Goosebumps to break out all over his arms.

Finally, Gilbert broke the kiss that had been getting so intense it threatened Friedrich's air supply. Sultry red eyes glanced up at the regent, a silent question burning in them. Gilbert had fallen completely still, though his body was tensed and burning for further contact with that of the young human's beneath him. Like a predator, he crouched over Friedrich, dressed only in his undershirt and trousers.

"My king. May I?"

Finally, he voiced his question, his voice laced thickly with desire, husky with anticipation. He had liked it a whole damn lot to touch his new king. He was soft, inexperienced, and looked utterly ready to be ravished with that delicious blush on his cheeks.

And apparently, he was unable to speak, as he just nodded once in confirmation to Gilbert's question. But that was enough for him. He dove down and attacked the young king's neck, covering the tender skin with deft, none too gentle kisses.

Friedrich was not used to such affections, the last time he had felt the touch of another closely was with Katte...and then it had felt different, as Katte had been as inexperienced as himself, so it had been far more nervous and insecure.

But Gilbert knew exactly what he was doing. Soon, all too soon, a moan escaped Friedrich's lips under the nation's ministrations. He clamped his mouth shut in embarrassment, but too late. Gilbert had heard it, and a pretty mischievous smirk danced over his pale lips.

"Ah, my king likes this."

Another silent nod from the blushing young king. He couldn't help himself, as Gilbert's lips trailed down his shivering but willing body, he gave a wanting moan. He was beginning to become really aroused by this man, who was no more than a stranger to him.

Yet he could feel that he was a part of him, and that he would be a big part of his life. He believed him with all of his heart and soul now that he was his nation.