Ludwig winced slightly as he woke up to Gilbert punching him in the face. He slowly tuned in to what he was saying, and came to find himself listening from the middle of a rant. "How could you do that to me? I don't understand why you distracted me until the very end, when I fell! That was incredibly heartless and cruel, especially the manner you did it in! I hate you, Ludwig, because you didn't just let me die with my people, my self. What am I worth now, little brother? Tell me one thing I'll be good for. I have no land, no people, no anything. I am worthless, and it was you who made me this way. I should have fallen honorably, fighting till the very end. Instead, I get this." Germany decided his older brother wasn't going to shut up any time soon, so he sat up reluctantly, let him rant on for a little while longer, then leaned over, kissing him deeply. Gilbert shut up and kissed him back automatically before pulling away, eyes flashing in anger. Gilbert slapped Ludwig full across the face and Ludwig stared at the wall as his cheek steadily turned red from the force of the slap. Gilbert sniffed in annoyance before sighing and getting up, dressing in his uniform. He muttered to himself about not knowing what else to wear, and Ludwig lowered his eyes before standing and dressing as well. Sighing deeply, Germany looked over at his brother, who downed a whole beer, and the sun was just coming up. Ludwig shook his head, choosing to just walk outside, to go talk to Italy. Even if he was an idiot, he knew more about relationships then Ludwig. Even if he knew nothing, it would be a relief to tell someone.
He was surprised to find Gilbert following him after a minute, always just almost out of his sight. He sighed and turned to face his brother, waiting until Gilbert reluctantly walked forward. "I'm going to talk to Feliciano," Ludwig said, staring at Prussia, "Unless you have some reason to be walking this way as well, I would really rather you quit skulking in the shadows and around corners." Gilbert snorted, not quite laughing, and Ludwig turned back around, walking to Feliciano's house. He let himself in, and momentarily berated himself for not calling ahead. With a small sigh, he went to Italy's bedroom, and shook the Italian until he woke up; crying out, "Don't hurt me! Germany, Germany, help!" When Feliciano realized it was Germany, he relaxed and smiled, sitting up in the tangled mess of covers he had made when thrashing around, calling for Germany. Ludwig sat on the edge of the bed; hands clasped together, head bowed slightly. Gilbert had sat down outside the door silently, smirking to himself. Surely he would catch Ludwig doing something, so he could yell at his brother more, and maybe forget the pain that lurked deep within him, the emptiness and the betrayal. He heard Ludwig start talking, and was surprised when he heard his little brother start talking, his voice laced with regret and pain.
"I've done something terrible," he began, and the Italian just sat there, listening attentively for once. "I have completely wronged my brother. As you know, Prussia was destroyed. This was partly, if not largely, due to me distracting him and sleeping with him. I feel terrible for what I did, but Gilbert won't understand, and I doubt he'd listen long enough anyways. I honestly felt love for him, still do, and I know it will take a long, long time for him to forgive me. Or maybe he'll be his spastic self and forgive me randomly. I don't even know anymore. I just want him to forgive me. He woke me with a punch this morning. It was most unpleasant. It's wrong to love my brother in the first place, and to have that love not returned after that wonderful night is nearly unbearable." When Ludwig lapsed into silence, there was a sudden noise of exclamation and a loud thump. When Gilbert looked into the room, he saw Feliciano rubbing his head and crying, while Ludwig was back against the wall, as far as he could be from the Italian. Gilbert stalked in and demanded, "What just happened in here?" Feliciano continued to wail, and so Ludwig took a deep breath and said, "He kissed me." Gilbert's eyes narrowed and he seemed to spark with anger as he advanced on Feliciano. Italy pulled out a white flag and waved it frantically, tears streaming down his face.
Just when Gilbert was about to punch Italy rather hard, Ludwig caught his fist in his hand, and turned his brother around to face him, only to receive a punch in the stomach. With a quiet sound, Germany bent over slightly to get his breath back, and Gilbert glared at him, so neither of them noticed when Italy slipped out of the room and fled. Ludwig slowly straightened, and his eyes widened in shock when he got a forceful kick between the legs. Dropping to the ground, the curled up, and Gilbert nearly spit on him, but held himself back, contenting himself to just whisper, "Do not let that Italian touch you again or I will disappear and come nowhere near you, little brother." With that, he turned on heel and stalked out of Italy's house, heading back to his own. He stared in shock at where his house used to be, because now there was nothing, and the land it sat on was split up. He collapsed to his knees, because nothing else had truly brought the realization that his country was no more. Shuddering on the ground, his fingers left furrows in the earth. He shook his head, shivering violently, a silent wail caught in his throat. He couldn't make a noise, and stay sitting on the ground like that until nightfall, when he got up like a stiff, broken doll. His head hung down, and he walked with shuffling steps, not bothering to control his arms or how he moved. He went back to his little brother's house, because that was the only place he could imagine going at a time like this.
When he came in the door, he found Ludwig waiting, and then he was in his brother's embrace, and he broke down. His red eyes were swimming with tears, and grass was sticking to his hands and uniform. Germany brushed it all away, and Gilbert shook his head in denial. "It can't be gone. It just can't. I don't understand how this happened. Germany…Ludwig…" Ludwig silenced him with a gentle kiss, and Gilbert sighed deeply, nestling into his brother's arms. "…I need somewhere to crash. Not just for the night either." Ludwig nodded and sighed; half carrying him to a room he'd spent the day preparing. He laid Gilbert on the bed, and when he went to leave, Gilbert grabbed his sleeve. "Don't leave, Ludwig. Stay with me." When Ludwig nodded, Gilbert shifted and Ludwig slid into bed with him. Gilbert curled close, closing his eyes to hide that they were shining with tears, and sighed, falling asleep. Ludwig stayed awake for a while, staring at the ceiling, and stroking Prussia's hair. He couldn't imagine a world without his brother, and that was why Gilbert had to live. Even if he was no longer a country, Ludwig needed him. They were family, and looked after each other. Or at least, they were supposed to. He winced when thoughts of his treachery came to mind, and closed his eyes, just listening to his brother breathe. He smiled to himself, and promised he would never hurt his brother again. He just wanted them both to be able to be together, so he hoped sleeping beside him meant that Gilbert had forgiven him. He could only hope. With a small smile, he fell asleep.
Three months later, Gilbert was nestled again in Ludwig's arms. Ludwig was murmuring to him, and Gilbert was actually laughing. They were laughing about how they had fought. Both where so grateful to be together again, they couldn't imagine being apart like that again. Gilbert teasingly kissed Ludwig, admiring the sweaty body under him as Ludwig breathed slightly heavily after they had made love again. This was the first time since that first time, so it was special. Ludwig kissed him back, and they fell asleep together, content and happy in being together.
Well, Happy Birthday Gilbert! :D I wrote this lovely second chapter because it was your birthday so…have a good one xD