Die Katze lief im Schnee

Easter

Ludwig parted the leaves of the blooming willow and crouched down to get underneath the branches, bright blue eyes scanning the dry earth surrounding the willow's trunk. A disappointed frown appeared on his face at the absence of any kind of toy or candy to be put into his little wooden basket.

He came crawling back and pouted, crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at his feet. This was stupid! He hadn't found anything yet and his lower lip had begun to tremble dangerously.

Gilbert, who had been watching Ludwig's hunt for Easter toys or eggs from the veranda rubbed his neck sheepishly. Maybe he shouldn't have hidden them that hard.

"Ludwig, I'm quite sure I saw the Easter bunny hide some over there." He called out to his brother and pointed into the general direction of the birch trees where he had hidden a larger Easter nest a bit higher up.

Ludwig listlessly picked up his basket, pout still evident on his lips, but his eyes were firmly set on the birch trees now, determined to find his Easter treats. He searched around their trunks, in the small bushes scattered around them, he even stuck his head down the fox's den. No luck.

And then, just when he let himself fall back on his bottom to pout some more, he saw it. Lodged firmly in between the higher branches of the birch, he spied the colourful piece of fabric belonging to an Easter nest.

"I found it! Big brother, I found it!"

Gilbert smirked, strolling closer to watch Ludwig scramble to his feet and round the tree to make out the best way to climb and reach it.

"You did, didn't you? See? I told you, awesome little boys like you get the most awesome of Easter presents! And you know what?" Gilbert placed his hands firmly around Ludwig's waist and lifted him up, setting him down in between the branches. "The Easter bunny told me that there'll be more in the house!"

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Ludwig placed his treasure in his basket and held his arms out to be put back down. Once back on his own two feet he grabbed Gilbert's hand and dragged him into the direction of the meadow, new determination burning in his eyes.

"Big brother?"

"Ja?"

"I know that you are the Easter bunny."

"Wha… what? What are you talking about?"

"I love this anyway."

"Oh…"

"Big brother?"

"…Ja?"

"I love you, as well."

Fear

Fear wasn't something Gilbert would admit to having ever felt. He would say that he was the bravest, never felt even a shiver or tremble of fright or even worry, not on the battlefield, not in the face of his darkest nightmare.

But that moment when he turned around and found the spot where Ludwig had previously been standing to be deserted, it gripped his heart in an ice cold hold and squeezed.

"Ludwig?" His voice wasn't waving, it wasn't! "LUDWIG?" Frantically turning his head from one side to the other Gilbert marched back down the street they had come from, always in the hope of catching even the slightest of hints of blond hair.

His heart began to beat faster, sweat tickled down his neck. He pushed past people in a daze, shouting his brother's name at the top of his lungs.

Oh Gott, what if the boy had gotten himself in trouble? What if he had been kidnapped? Had been run over by one of the carriages? Had they always been this fast and unmindful before? Or maybe he had wandered off and now was alone and cold and hungry, calling for him?

Gilbert turned, one hand tangling in the mess of white curls. How could he lose a boy as obedient as Ludwig? He'd only turned around once!

"LUDWIG!" He stormed back to the shop he had been in before, desperately searching through the alleys and every store Ludwig had shown even an ounce of interest in before. Nothing.

And he was growing more and more frantic the more time passed.

The sun was setting by the time he had to make a break, his hair plastered to his forehead, ruby eyes wide and wild. He must have been quite the sight for the people passing by.

He couldn't continue searching in the dark, there would be even less of a chance of him finding Ludwig. Poor, little, scared Ludwig. He had to find him! He'd return home to change into something warmer and to get himself a lantern, then he'd continue searching.

With his shoulders sagging and eyes only kept open by the pure adrenaline still cursing through his veins, he marched through the streets back to the brick building he had bought rented to show Ludwig the big city.

The sight that met him almost made him break down and cry.

There, curled into a tiny ball in the corner of the doorway sat a little bundle, only tuffs of blond hair still peeking out from the coat he had wrapped around himself. Gott, of course. Ludwig was a clever boy, of course he would go home!

Gilbert didn't remember how but he found himself holding his brother tightly to his chest, staring into sleep laden blue eyes and pressing his forehead against his.

"Ludwig! Ludwig, Gott, Ludwig." He murmured the name again and again, held the boy to his chest and rocked them both from side to side.

"Gil?" He felt small hands on his cheeks.

"Why are you crying?"

Gilbert laughed and leaned his face into his brother's hands, cuddling him closer. "Because I was scared."

"Scared?"

"Yeah, scared. Gott, Ludwig! I love you!"

Gender

"Gilbert?"

Gilbert glanced up from his boring book, more than happy to let himself be distracted. And by his favourite little brother anyway.

"Ja?"

Ludwig fiddled with his sleeve, biting on his lower lip and shying away from eye contact.

"You and the maids… you do… things together. At night, I mean. Ja?" Ludwig looked up for a mere second, face burning up to his ears.

Gilbert felt a smirk tug at the corner of his lips. Oh was it time for the birds and the bees already?

"Yeah. Yeah we do."

A pink tongue flickered out to wet his lips, and the boy shuffled around nervously. Not exactly odd, but the fear and uncertainty he had seen in his eyes in that split second were. His smirk slowly vanished.

"Everything alright, Kleiner?" Another shy glance up.

"Why the maids?" Oh, was it one of his moments of childish jealousy? So cute.

"Lutz, that isn't something brothers can do with each other and-…"

"I know that. But why the maids? Why not the… the servants? Why not… not Markus, for example. I like Markus." Ludwig brought his hands in front of his chest and tugged on his suspenders. "And he's pretty, ja? I think Markus is pretty."

And suddenly, after a heavy pause, Ludwig looked up at him, so much rare fear in his eyes, and a barrage of words broke out of his lips, tainted by upset tears. "I think Markus is pretty a-and nobody else thinks boys are pretty, Gil!" He sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "I-is that bad, Gil? A-am I…" he hiccupped, broke himself off. "Is that wrong?"

Gilbert placed his book to the side and quickly knelt down in front of the upset boy, taking his face into his hands and shushing him with a chuckle.

"Don't be stupid, Ludwig. Of course it isn't wrong. I mean, you are the second most awesome person I know, how could something you feel ever be wrong?" He pressed a kiss to his brother's forehead and wiped his tears away with a rough thumb.

"How could a feeling be wrong, hmm? Love can't ever be wrong, right?"

The boy was still hiccupping, clearly upset and confused. But that was alright. Ludwig still had time to figure it all out and Gilbert would be there every step of the way.

Heaven

Gilbert spread the blanket out across the grass and grinned to himself, flinging himself down on it and reaching into the wicker basket for one of the sandwiches.

"Gilbert! Don't! You promised we'd play tag before we eat!" With a soft sigh his hand retreated and he groaned, rolling onto his back and craning his neck to stare at Ludwig.

"Do we have to?" A huff and a hand tugging on his own.

"Come on!" Ludwig whined and tugged again before slumping down on his stomach, landing on top of Gilbert's chest who groaned again at the added weight.

"Alright, alright. We'll play tag. Get off, you heavy little beast."

"No." Gilbert was sure he could hear a smirk in Ludwig's voice as he ruffled a hand through his hair, then let it settle down on his neck.

They quieted down, Gilbert enjoying the sun on his face and the sound of birds chirping in the trees above them. Soon the noise of deep breaths and light snores joined.

Cracking an eye open he looked down at the blond on his chest, curled against his body and fast asleep.

Ah… With a broad grin he let his head flop back. Heaven could wait, for all he cared. He thought this was pretty damn perfect!

To be continued...

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