Chapter 27: Weakness

5th May 1961

Gilbert woke up feeling groggy as all hell, this had become his every day at this point. No matter how much he slept it was never enough. Not only that he was constantly feeling weak and getting headaches too.

'It's time to wake up my little sunflower.' Ivan said softly, rolling over and kissing the Prussian on the back of his head.

'Ja… ja…' Gilbert groaned as he sat up and pulled his hands along his face in an attempt to feel less groggy.

He knew why he felt this way, even with all the tightened controls his Bosses were putting in, his people were still fleeing en masse. At this rate he was going to slowly waste away here before the decade was through.

His only solace was his monthly visits to Berlin, where he would sneak off and get to see his brother. At least if he did fade away it won't have been with having seen Ludwig one last time. His brother was getting so strong again, he was proud to see it.

Gilbert was surprised to see the Russian not in uniform but in his normal clothes when he looked back up.

'Not going out today then?' Gilbert asked as he slowly stood up to avoid falling.

'No, I am working from home. I think I look more friendly in normal clothes, don't you?' Ivan smiled showing off his black slacks and soft woollen knit jumper.

'I think just about anyone looks more friendly when not in a military uniform.' Gilbert sighed as he got his own clothes on.

'Oh.' Ivan pouted, having been looking for a compliment.

'Come on, we better get to breakfast before it goes cold.' Gilbert said as he walked to the door.

Breakfast went by very peacefully, Ivan seeming to be in a very good mood making everyone feel more at ease. Once everyone was done, Ivan headed to his office and Gilbert, as he always did, tasked himself with doing the washing up. No one cleaned them as well as he did after all and he wasn't eating off poorly cleaned plates.

However as he was doing it he began feeling weaker and weaker than ever before, every plate feeling heavier than the last. He just pushed through it, refusing to let some small weakness take him down.

Taking another now clean plate out the sink he went to place it on the drying rack but before he got it there he felt his hand lose grip as the plate fell to the floor and shattered.

'Fuck.' Gilbert knelt down and picked up the shards. Trying his hardest to ignore just how tired he was feeling and how much his hands were shaking.

'Maybe you shouldn't do the washing up if you just keep dropping everything, that's the ninth one this month.' Lithuania scoffed as he walked by the kitchen.

'Maybe if the rest of you fucking cleaned them right I wouldn't have to!' Gilbert snapped as shot up and he tossed the shards into the bin, ignoring the fact moving that fast had left him lightheaded.

No, he was the awesome Prussia… or well DDR, there was not a timeline in the universe where he was too weak to even do the fucking dishes.

'Fuck that guy man, why is he such an ass.' Gilbert spat as he grabbed another plate and plunged it into the water.

It didn't take long for Gilbert to finally finish and thankfully he did not break another item. Gilbert grabbed a towel to dry the bowls, plates and cups, sorting them into neat piles so he could put them away more efficiently.

Putting the towel away he grabbed the stack of plates and began walking to the cupboard when he felt his legs give way beneath him. Before he could comprehend what had happened all he heard was a loud crash off all the plates shattering as he hit the ground with a hard thud.

Ivan had heard it from all the way in his office and immediately ran to inspect the noise. Pipe in hand and a displeased look on his face.

Upon entering the room and seeing the Prussian laid on his back with shattered porcelain around him Ivan's face switched to worry as he put his pipe away and ran to Gilbert, kneeling on the ground by him.

'What happened? Are you okay?' Ivan asked worriedly as he helped the Prussian sit up.

'It's nothing… I'm fine… I just tripped!' Gilbert said annoyed, pushing the Russian off him.

He didn't want to tell him the truth. One he didn't want everyone else in this house knowing he was so weak and treating him like a fragile flower, two he didn't want Ivan to see him that way either and three he knew Ivan would just worry.

'You need to be more careful! Plates are expensive!' Ivan said annoyed as he began picking up the shards.

'Yeah I think I fucking know that!' Gilbert growled.

'Maybe someone else should do the washing up. You have been very clumsy lately.' Ivan grumbled.

'I am not fucking clumsy! Besides, no one else does it right!' Gilbert snapped as he got up, ignoring the fact his legs felt like they were burning.

'Breaking the plates is doing it wrong as well and it pisses me off!' Ivan said darkly as he stood up too, glaring at the Prussian.

'Fine! You can fucking do it for all I care!' Gilbert spat before going to run off to the door.

'Don't you talk back t-' Ivan yelled, cutting himself off as he watched the Prussian begin to fall.

Ivan tried to catch him but wasn't in time and Gilbert slammed his head off the table, knocking himself out, before hitting the floor.

'Gilbert!' Ivan panicked as he cradled the Prussian in his arms, a cut on his head from hitting the table began leaking blood over his face.

Getting no response, Ivan lifted Gilbert up bridal style and carried him back to his bedroom, laying him on the bed before running to his ensuite to grab the first aid kit.

Gilbert awoke to a throbbing in his head and winced in pain as he felt a sharp pain, opening his eyes he saw it was Ivan dabbing his head with a wet cloth while tears ran down his face.

'What happened?' Gilbert said going to sit up but getting forced back down by the Russian.

'You collapsed, you should stay lying down.' Ivan said as he grabbed a bandage and began wrapping it around the Prussian's head.

'I am fine. It's nothing. The floor was wet and I tripped. I got shit to do so get off me already.' Gilbert groaned, allowing the Russian to finish bandaging his head.

'No you're not fine! You didn't trip! I saw it! Stop lying to me!' Ivan yelled as he cried more.

'Your recent clumsiness and this is connected, isn't it?' Ivan said sadly, playing with his own hands as he sat in a chair by the bed.

'Yeah…' Gilbert sighed, he had been caught out after all and he knew Ivan would not drop it if he kept lying, the guy was as stubborn as he was.

'How long?' Ivan asked.

'The last few years, it's been getting worse.' Gilbert answered.

'Why didn't you tell me when it started?' Ivan said sadly.

'I didn't need you all feeling pity for me and thinking I am weak. I am the awesome DDR gott damn it! I am not weak!' Gilbert said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Ivan got up from the chair by the bed and got on the bed beside Gilbert, placing his head on the other's chest as he wrapped his arms around him.

'It's not pity… It's worry… I want you to be stronger… so we can rule the world together, remember? So you need to tell me when you feel weak so I can fix it, da. We are stronger working together.' Ivan sobbed into his chest.

'Stop crying, you sappy oaf.' Gilbert laughed, running his hand through the Russian's hair.

'It's not like you can do much to fix it anyway. People keep leaving Vanya. You can't really blame them.' Gilbert sighed.

'But if they leave you will die! I will not allow it!' Ivan yelled, grabbing onto him tighter.

'I won't die. I am the awesome DDR am I not? I will find a way.' Gilbert smirked, mostly trying to convince himself.

'NO!' Ivan said letting go and sitting up, leaning over the Prussian.

'That's not how it works! You know it's not! You can't just be so awesome you don't die!' Ivan screamed as ugly cried.

'You promised you wouldn't leave me! That includes dying! I won't allow it! You are mine! You belong to me!' Ivan continued as his tears fell onto the Prussian below him.

'Vanya just calm down… I am not dying… I also belong to myself…' Gilbert said nervously.

'They won't take you from me! They will do more to keep you alive or else! If you die I will kill them all!' Ivan screeched as he lay on top of the Prussian, holding his head in his hands tightly as he cried into the top of his hair.

Gilbert would be lying if he wasn't slightly uncomfortable right now. The Russian was damn right scary to be around when he was like this. However Gilbert could tell he was just scared, his face said it all. Ivan was very very clingy at the best of times and it only got worse the more and more he thought he was going to lose you. He really was like a child, he didn't have any ability to handle extreme emotions at all.

'I am not going anywhere. Just please calm down. Your screaming is just making my headache worse.' Gilbert said softly as he rubbed the Russian's back.

He hated seeing Ivan this upset, not that he would ever admit it. He wasn't about that sappy shit.

'I'm sorry…' Ivan said at a normal level.

'Your such a big softy you know that.' Gilbert laughed lovingly as he pushed his other hand through the Russian's hair.

'I think I am going to call your Boss and discuss this with them.' Ivan said, pulling away and sitting back up.

'What now? Are you sure your Boss won't be mad?' Gilbert said, sitting up too.

'Fuck him.' Ivan said seriously as he picked up the handset and dialled the number of Gilbert's Bosses office.

Gilbert meanwhile shuffled over so he could also hear the phone. Surprised when Ivan leaned his head into Gilberts, placing the headset between so he could also listen.

'Hello this is General Braginsky, I need to speak to the General Secretary immediately.' Ivan said as soon as the line connected.

'Of course General Braginsky. I will put you through now.' A woman said on the other end before the phone rang out again for a while.

'Ah, General Braginsky, to what do I owe this pleasure?' The man on the other end said uncomfortably after the beeping stopped.

'You are not doing enough to stop people leaving. You need to give them a reason to stay. It is weakening the country and is unacceptable.' Ivan said angrily.

'We are currently working on a plan to fix that I assure you.' The man sighed.

'What plan? How soon will it be implemented?' Ivan said impatiently.

'I can't give you that information, you will have to ask your Boss if you want it. Just be assured it will be very soon.' The man assured.

'It best be or else I am going to inform my Boss of your inability to manage this nation and have you replaced. You understand me da?' Ivan said in a threatening tone.

'I think you will find me and your Boss have been discussing this at great depth already, I understand its importance. Is there anything else I can do for you General Braginsky?' The man asked.

'No.' Ivan said, placing the handset back on the receiver and ending the call.

'I hate bosses.' Ivan spat as he wrapped his arms around the Prussian.

'What do you think their plan is?' Gilbert asked.

'I don't know but all that matters is it keeps you here with me.' Ivan whispered softly as he ran his hand over the Prussian's cheek.

'I just hope it's not something awful.' Gilbert sighed.

'If my boss is involved… it might be. I will ask around.' Ivan said sadly.

'Just be careful he doesn't find out. Only person beating your ass should be me.' Gilbert smiled softly, leaning his head on the Russian shoulder.

'Don't worry, I have been sneaking around and walking on ice my entire life. I am good at it. You should know this by now.' Ivan said proudly.