T/W: Mild Violence

Chapter 25: Grey

7th October 1949

Gilbert woke up slightly before the alarm went off. His bird was sleeping on the side of his face and Ivan was sleeping with his face buried in Gilbert's chest and his arms around him.

'Glorified bed am I?' Gilbert laughed softly to himself.

This had become the norm for Gilbert through the years, not that he minded. It was nice to almost always wake up to a full bed. Especially nice in the cold Russian winters.

Gilbert moved his head slowly so as not to disturb the bird sleeping there and looked over at the almost grey uniform sitting on the dresser across the room.

Today was the day, he was going to be his own country again and not just a occupied bit of land. At least on paper anyway. He was still trapped here. It was bitter sweet but maybe one day he could rise again and break free of this.

He only hoped that when that day came Ivan didn't hate him. It's not like it was him he wanted to run from but his leaders and government.

Besides, he would come back and claim the Russian for his own anyway. He longed for the battlefield again even after everything. He still longed for the fights he and Ivan would get into back then. The competition and challenge thrilled him.

It didn't take long for the alarm to go off and the Russian to start angrily swearing at it. Gilbert just rolled his eyes and shut it off.

'Wake up.' Gilbert smiled, sitting up and poking Ivan's face.

'Keep poking me and I will hit you with my pipe…' Ivan grumbled.

'Are you really going to make me late to me become a country again? So hurtful. I might have to dump you for your sister with the big boob's. So bouncy.' Gilbert mocked.

'DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT MY SISTER LIKE THAT!' Ivan snapped up pushing his pipe into the Prussians neck.

'I was just kidding, she's too much of a cry baby for me but it got you up.' Gilbert laughed.

'That wasn't very nice!' Ivan pouted, hitting the Prussian on the top of his head with his pipe.

'Ow that fucking hurt you asshole!' Gilbert grumbled rubbing his head.

'Stop being mean then.' Ivan smiled as he got up and headed to the dresser where their uniforms were.

'And get ready. We need to get a plane after all.' Ivan added throwing the grey uniform at Gilbert before heading into the on-suite bathroom to get changed into his own.

'Hey don't act like I didn't wake you up idiot!' Gilbert snapped back before getting up and getting changed.

Even though they had been together for over 4 years, Gilbert was still yet to see the Russian with his shirt off. He wasn't sure exactly what he was hiding under there but he never pushed it too much, if it was anything like his neck there was likely some very dark memories around it that he wasn't ready to share with him.

Gilbert looked at himself in the mirror and sighed sadly. He much preferred blue, the ever so slightly green grey along with his white hair just made him look washed out. If it wasn't for his red and purple eyes he would look as if he was some sort of fading painting with its best days behind it.

Actually on second thought that was sadly fitting right now. Gilbert had got his best days behind him at this point and even though he wasn't going to give up on rising back to the top, he knew that the odds were against him but they always had been.

'So do you like it?' Ivan asked as he walked out the bathroom now fully dressed.

'Its grey…' Prussia pouted.

'It's what your government decided but there's nothing stopping you dying it blue if you want. It's what you did with your last uniform, isn't it? I don't remember anyone else wearing blue.' Ivan said, placing his head on the Prussians.

'Wait you are actually going to let me dye it blue?' Gilbert asked in disbelief.

'Just leave one of them grey so I don't get in trouble and then whenever you want to wear one and my Boss isn't around you can. I think blue looks better on you anyway.' Ivan said, kissing the Prussian on the top of his head.

'My little DDR. We will make you strong again. Then together we can rule the world.' Ivan said genuinely as he rubbed his face in Gilbert's hair.

'Your Boss definitely will not be happy about that.' Gilbert laughed, placing his hand on Ivan's head.

'Then I will get stronger too so I don't need a boss anymore.' Ivan mumbled, enjoying being this close to Gilbert.

'That's not how this works you naïve idiot.' Gilbert rolled his eyes.

'But it will be. I will eventually be so strong I can do whatever I want, even disobey my bosses and then I can make my dream come true.' Ivan said hopefully.

When Ivan finally let him go they went to breakfast and endured the plane ride to Berlin, unfortunately Ivan's Boss was tagging along so it was acting as if they merely tolerated each other again.

There was much pomp and parade about. With a lot of talk about rising from the ashes. Gilbert had to admit Berlin looked better than it had last he saw it in 1945, however he found himself looking west, longing to cross that line. It wasn't hard, he knew that the 'border' in Berlin was basically non-existent and even outside it was just some low fences.

Not like he was going to get much of a chance today. He was here for the parade and ceremony only to be flying home straight after. No doubt done on purpose by Ivan's Boss to prevent Gilbert attempting to see his brother.

'Ivan wouldn't try to stop me right? He promised.' Gilbert thought to himself as he looked up and over at the tall blond who was standing at attention.

He didn't want to doubt Ivan's word. However it had been so long since he got to see his brother.

'He's not just using me right?' Gilbert thought as he got more and more concerned.

Like he knew Ivan loved him but that still didn't mean he wasn't willing to manipulate him. Gilbert noted to ask about it again tonight. No point in doing anything now anyway, Ivan's Boss would just make an example of him.