(A\N: I don't like sixth chapters of any fanfics. If you know why, you too, know why.)
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Ludwig was in the garage, placing boxes back on top of boxes. The garage had little to no space left, all filled with other junk the family most likely didn't need. The boxes he was placing had fallen down earlier that morning, and Ludwig being the only one up, had to place them all back. He didn't know what triggered them to fall, but what he did know was that many of the boxes were unsteady.
Roderich opened the door from the house to the garage and saw Ludwig. "Oh, good afternoon. I heard something earlier and wanted to check it." Ludwig sighed, shrugging. "Boxes fell... we really need to clean this place up." Roderich walked over to him, inspecting the mess. "Well, Father has been wanting to clean it up for a while. Maybe we could do it today? If you're not busy, that is."
"Wouldn't we need him around, though? You know how he is. He'd want to be in control of the whole ordeal..." Roderich looked at Ludwig, an almost mischievous smirk on his face along with a chuckle. "Good news is, he can't," Roderich said "Lilli told me he's been sick ever since he woke up. We just have to ask what stuff not to throw out, and we'll be good."
"Well, poor Lilli," Ludwig said, "she'll have to care for him all day again." Roderich sighed in response, looking back into the hall behind him. "Maybe I'd be better off assisting Lilli instead? You'd be alone though, since Vash won't be here and Gilbert is, well... Gilbert. But either way, what do you think?" Ludwig shrugged while running his fingers through his hair. "I don't know... maybe go see if Lilli needs any help first?" He suggested. Roderich gave a quick nod before running off.
Roderich went down the house's stairs. Lucky enough, Lilli was just at the end of the stairwell, seemingly just having come downstairs right before Roderich. She had a tray in her hands, with a cup of coffee and some breakfast she'd quickly prepared for Gauthier.
"Lilli!" Roderich called out, putting his hand on Lilli's shoulder. She jumped slightly, before simply realizing it was Roderich. "Oh! Roderich! You scared me there!" Lilli said. "Oh, my apologies. I just wanted to ask if you'd be fine tending to father by yourself?" Lilli sighed, giving a quick nod. "I should be. He's barely aware of anything with how sick he is. Sometimes I wish he was always like that..."
Roderich chuckled lightly. "Anyway, mind if I speak to him?" Lilli gave a quick nod, moving to the side and letting Roderich towards the door. As he turned the knob and pushed, the door let out a loud creak. He stepped in. Gauthier was sweating, yet still looked to be cold. His head was dug into a pillow, his long blonde hair a tangled mess.
"... Father?" Roderich whispered. He got no reply for a few seconds, before hearing a muffled voice. "What?..." Roderich sat on the bed's foot, his head facing back at Gauthier. "Well, I know cleaning out the garage has been a discussion for some time now, and me and Ludwig would be willing to do it today along with other chores. I'd just like to ask what you'd like us to not throw out?"
Gauthier sighed, struggling to sit up. Once he did, he wiped his forehead with his arm. "Just... anything important to me or Ludwig." Roderich titled his head. "Just that?" Gauthier nodded. "Well, unless it's really important to you and the other imbeciles. And I mean crucial."
Roderich nodded. "Yes, father." He left the room, closing the door. He looked around the hall.
...
Of course he didn't give a shit about anyone but Ludwig.
Roderich gulped before heading up the stairs. Lilli was in the kitchen, and Ludwig was still in the garage. Roderich walked and stood at the counter, resting his elbows upon the tile countertops as he faced forward. "What are you making, Lilli?" He asked.
She turned, giving a light sigh. "Breakfast for father. Might just make some eggs. Would you mind doing me a favour and starting the coffee maker up? Please?" Roderich gave a nod. "Ah, of course. I'll get some for me and Ludwig as well." Lilli gave a tiny smile as a response. "Thank you."
As Lilli finished cooking the eggs, Roderich placed the cup of coffee right by her. "Be careful bringing the cup down, okay? I don't want you to burn yourself." Lilli nodded before she put everything together on a tray, bringing it downstairs. Roderich poured the remaining coffee into two travel mugs. He screwed the lids on tight, before heading out into the garage.
He stepped through the door, the lack of insulation immediately showing. He shivered lightly before handing one of the travel mugs to Ludwig. "So? What did father say?" Ludwig asked. "Only keep stuff really important. And don't throw away anything belonging to you or him." Ludwig raised an eyebrow. "I didn't-"
"Father puts you up on a fucking metre-high pedestal, you know. He puts himself on an even bigger one so he can pull at your strings." Roderich said, pulling out a box. "Basically, he values you so much he controls your life."
"Why did you have to simplify it like I'm illiterate or something?" Ludwig asked with squinted eyes. Roderich shrugged as he opened the box in front of him. "I don't know." He pulled an item out of the cardboard box before looking back at the mountain of boxes beside him. "... How long is this gonna take us?" Ludwig took a deep breath in, holding it. "Well, I guess we'll see."
Ludwig and Roderich crouched down, still focusing on the box and its items. Roderich inspected the one he pulled out before his eyes went back to the box.
"This might be... Gilbert's stuff? No, I think it's Vash's. Wait, no-" Ludwig sighed, putting his hands over his face. "Lovely. We can't remember shit." The box had a series of toy planes and soldiers. They had some wear and tear from years of play, but still worked fine. "Okay... keep, sell, toss. What's this one?" Roderich shrugged. "Eh... sell."
The brothers went along, and despite the boxes with memories big and small... most things they just couldn't remember. Some artifacts had vague memories associated with them, but apart from that, barely anything.
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About halfway through, they reached a box. It didn't stand out from the rest, just a beat-up box, lazily taped up. Roderich removed the tape, throwing it in a pile they had off to the side. He pulled the top flaps away, his eyes widening as he fixated on the contents. Ludwig stepped closer, seeing exactly what it was. "Those... those are mothers' dresses, aren't they?" Ludwig asked. Roderich's breathing hitched. "They have to be..."
Roderich dragged his hand across the fabric, tracing all the little details with his eyes as well. "Didn't she sew her own dresses?" He said, gently taking one out. "Gosh... she was quite talented with her hands, I see." Roderich gulped, thinking for a moment. "What do we do with them though? I don't think-"
"Keep."
"... Wh-"
"There's no way I could live with getting rid of some of the last memories we have of her!" Ludwig exclaimed, before sighing "... I think we should show these to Lilli sometime. She's picked up sewing herself. I'm sure she'd love seeing these. Maybe she'd love to wear them once she can fit in them when she's older."
Roderich sighed with a nod. "I think she'd love that." Roderich put the dresses back in the box, writing on the side with a marker, giving it new tape, and putting it with some other boxes. "I marked it so we can find it later on."
The two continued. Some boxes just had random stuff thrown into them with no clear origin, most of which was thrown into the sell or throw-away piles.
Ludwig came across one of these boxes, sighing. "Shit. Nothing good in- wait." Ludwig stopped himself, pulling out something from the box. "Huh. Music trophies? Probably yours, Roderich." Roderich looked at them, inspecting every aspect. "Those couldn't be mine. All mine are displayed out there." Roderich pointed out through the door, confusing Ludwig. "Huh... who else would-" Ludwig stopped himself. "Didn't Gilbert have some? He had musical talent, but father ignored it in favour of yours." Roderich shrugged. "Ask Gil."
Ludwig sighed, grabbing one of the small artifacts and heading to Gilbert's room. He knocked on the door, waiting. He could hear talking inside the room, most likely Gilbert calling his friends. "Come in!" A voice exclaimed. Ludwig entered, the door loudly creaking as it swung.
"What's up, little bro?" Gilbert asked, sliding off his headphones. "One, I'm not little. Two, are these yours?" Ludwig held out the objects. Gilbert stood up with a curious look in his eyes. He took them into his own hands. "I... I think?" He started "I know I had musical talent. But... father just ignored it in favour of Roderich. He was better anyway."
"That doesn't mean you weren't good." Gilbert chuckled in response to Ludwig. "Whatever. Classical music wasn't my thing anyway. Observe." Gilbert pointed to the corner of his room. He had band posters, as well as two guitars. A regular six-string one, and a bass one. "All these guitars? From my own money I saved up. No need to know where the money came from. I'm more of a six-string guy, but... my band with Mathias and Al needed a bassist, so yeah."
Ludwig was going to bring up the vague part about where Gilbert got the money, but honestly, no answer could surprise him.
"Where'd you get these anyway?" Gilbert asked "I could've sworn they disappeared. Can I keep them?" Ludwig sighed. "They were in those boxes in the garage. And yes, you can keep them." Gilbert pumped his fist, mumbling something happily. Ludwig then left the room, heading back upstairs.
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As Roderich and Ludwig finally finished, a wave of relief seemed to fill the air. They had two piles left - throwing out, and selling. They spent another few minutes packing the two piles up for their final destinations. "Alright," Roderich started, "I think that's all for now. I'm exhausted." Roderich tiredly stumbled back into the house before slamming the door.
He looked at the time on his watch. It was just about dinner time, and the only thing that had been cooked was some soup Lilli had quickly made for the siblings' father. Roderich went into the kitchen and grabbed himself a bowl of it. He then headed into the living room, intending to relax while eating it.
As he walked in, he saw quite an unexpected sight. Lilli, who must've been folding the laundry, was passed out on the couch.
Roderich went over to her and inspected the situation. She seemed to be sleeping calmly. Roderich sighed. He gently brought Lilli into his arms and carried her down to her room. He placed her on the bed, covering her with a soft, pink blanket.
He then went back up. He placed the soup aside, folding the laundry instead. Ludwig. Who'd stayed behind in the garage to do a few final things, had finally come out now. "Everything good?" He said. Roderich gave a quick nod. "Lilli fell asleep. Poor girl must've been exhausted from doing chores and taking care of father."
"Do you need me to do any chores?" Ludwig asked. Roderich gave a shake of his head this time. "I'll be fine. There's soup in the kitchen if you're hungry." Ludwig walked away, heading downstairs. "I'll be fine."
"You sure?-"
"I'm sure."
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A\N: I have nothing to say for myself at this rate. All I know is that my favourite band has a new album out next year, I dyed my hair, and you guys get to meet an oc next chapter, who will become crucial to the storyline.
Once again, no beta we die like Alia