Chapter 28: Die Mauer

10th July 1961

Gilbert was on his monthly visit to Berlin in his hotel room and finally done with his meeting with his boss. Getting ready to head out and meet with his brother as he had done many times before since 1949. He placed a plain black coat with a fur trim over his uniform that Ivan had gifted him and walked to the door.

Opening it slowly he peaked around to check no one was there before leaving and running for the fire escape. Pushing the door open quietly he left it propped open with a small fragment of wooden board he had in his pocket and ran down the stairs.

Once on the street he began to make his way towards the West of the city. Checking he wasn't followed every so often until he made it to the bar. It wasn't old but was built to look that way. After all, the city was flattened only 16 years beforehand.

Gilbert walked inside and began scanning the bar for his brother. Locking eyes on the tall bland sitting reading a book he smiled widely.

'West!' Gilbert yelled as he walked up to his table.

'Brother, good to see you again. I got your favourite as always.' Ludwig smiled, pointing to a beer as the Prussian sat down.

'How has my little brother been doing this month anyway? Awesome I would hope.' Gilbert smirked as he drank his beer.

'Very good brother. What about you?' Germany was more worried about the Prussian.

'Awesome as always. I taught my bird a new trick.' Gilbert said excitedly.

Ludwig watched as his brother showed off his bird's new trick. He could tell his brother was still weakened from the war, but Gilbert never would say it to him. However he didn't want to pry and risk anything. Maybe his brother had to lie he was doing well to be allowed to come here. He was just happy to see him again and would be there if he ever needed him.

'Is that a cool trick or what?' Gilbert said proudly.

'It is indeed interesting.' Ludwig sighed happily, he missed his brother's antics now he was away.

The two continued and drank for hours until it was time for Gilbert to make his way back East and back to his hotel. Getting up Ludwig followed Gilbert outside and stood with him as Gilbert had one last smoke before leaving.

'So, same day and time next month?' Ludwig asked hopefully.

'Of course, Russia's sunflowers should bloom soon. I will bring you some.' Gilbert smiled.

'I would rather not have any of his sunflowers.' Ludwig scoffed.

'Aw come on West, I helped plant them after all.' Gilbert pushed.

'Fine, just don't piss him off by cutting them down.' Ludwig sighed.

'He won't mind, trust me. Either way, best get back before I am missed. I have got to get a plane tomorrow afterall.' Gilbert shrugged as he threw his spent cigarette to the ground and put it out with his boot.

'You keep yourself safe okay.' Ludwig said in a voice filled with worry.

'Don't you worry about me so much. You keep making me proud, okay. My awesome little brother. See you next month West.' Gilbert smiled as he pulled Ludwig into a tight hug.

'See you next month East.' Ludwig smiled sadly as the Prussian pulled away.

'Say hi to Italy for me too and I am going to steal him from you if you're not careful!' Prussia laughed before running into the night.

'My brother… always an asshole..' Ludwig smiled before walking back towards his home.

14th August 1961

Gilbert couldn't explain it but something felt off, he had felt off since the day before. It had sucked too as it was one of the few weekends Ivan's boss had gone away leaving them plenty of time to hang out without the Russian drowning in work.

Instead of going out and having fun with the Russian around Moscow he had been stuck on the sofa as the Russian was too worried about him getting unwell while he was out.

Hell it was a fight and a half to get the Russian to let him go to this meeting alone. However his boss had called him and informed him of an emergency meeting so he had no choice but to let Gilbert go off alone.

Gilbert got off the plane at around 11 with his bag and some sunflowers safely in his hands. It was typical for Gilbert to fly in for an 2pm meeting, stay overnight and then level the morning after.

However Gilbert was shocked by the level of security that was on the strip, normally there was one or two to meet him and take him to the hotel but there were 10.

'What's the deal?' Gilbert said, confused.

'Comrade Beilschmidt. Please excuse the extra security. The people have been… unsettled… if you would follow me to the car I will explain on the way.' Comrade Neumann explained, he was one of Gilbert's bosses helpers and always met him here.

Gilbert followed him into the car, sitting in the back by Neumann's side, he turned to face the older man.

'I am very curious what you define as unsettled?' Gilbert grumbled as he car began moving.

'Let's just say our new border control policies are controversial.' Neumann said cagey.

'What border controls?' Gilbert spat.

'We can worry about that at the meeting later, where we can discuss it in detail. First let's get you to and settled into your hotel room.' Neumann smiled.

'Um… no. You're telling me now.' Gilbert snapped back.

'I am under strict orders not to discuss this until the meeting at 2.' Neumann asserted.

Gilbert pushed and pushed but it was to no avail. Once in the hotel room Gilbert had no plan on sitting here until the car picked him back up in an hour, so he decided to hit the street and see what he could find out for himself.

Placing his bag on the bed and the sunflowers in the sink he grabbed his black jacket to cover up his uniform and snuck out the hotel's fire exit like he had many times before. As he got onto the street he began looking around for a place he could get information, not realising that he was subconsciously walking the path he normally did into West Berlin.

Suddenly Gilbert came to a stop when he saw a crowd of people screaming and yelling, before them was a barbed wire fence surrounded by East German border guards. The fence was cutting through a street that the month before hand had been unblocked.

'WHAT THE FUCK?!' Gilbert said in shock.

'WHAT IS THAT THING?!' Gilbert continued.

'Wait you don't know?' A young girl in the crowd turned around and faced Gilbert.

'I have just come back from Moscow and… now this is here' Gilbert said in shock as he stared at the fence.

'They have cut us off from the rest of the city. They have put a border between us. No one can pass.' The girl explained, sounding distressed.

'No. My brother is over there. Out of my way!' Gilbert exclaimed, pushing through the crowd and beelining to the fence.

'Halt or I will shoot!' One of the guards yelled pointing a gun at him.

'You idiots! You would shoot your own country!' Gilbert spat, pulling his jacket away to reveal his uniform.

'I don't care! I have my orders!' The guard yelled back.

'You! You know blindly following orders is what got us here right!' Gilbert spat.

The guard shot a warning shot at Gilbert's feet causing him to flinch slightly.

'GET BACK!' The guard screamed.

'Fine! But I will make sure you lose your job, you little shit!' Gilbert growled before storming off to the nearest payphone.

Once he did he grabbed some change from his pocket and frantically dialled Russia's home office number.

'Hello?' The Russian asked, his voice sounded exhausted and hoarse as if he had been crying.

'Your not going to fucking believe this! They have restricted the borders! They have built a fence through fucking Berlin and the shits won't let me close without shooting me!' Gilbert yelled down the phone.

'I know… that's what that emergency meeting with my Boss had been about. He had signed the order on Saturday, that's why he was away. I tried to call you but you were already on the plane.' Ivan sighed.

'I haven't been able to see my brother yet. I need you to get me the permission to go through. Just this once. I can't just stand him up. I might not get to see him again! Please!' Gilbert begged not even noticing how shaky his voice was sounding.

'I want to but I have no control over something like that. I would have to ask my boss but he wouldn't allow it. If I even asked… I dread to think what he would do.' Ivan explained nervously.

'What a load of fucking help you are!' Gilbert yelled before slamming the receiver down.

Gilbert growled as walked away from the phone, kicking a bin over in frustration.

No! He had to find a way. Gilbert started running to every single street that connected two half of the city. Hoping that just one of them would be unguarded or unblocked but no such luck. He knew it was a fruitless venture but he had to try. He had even tried to beg every single border guard but they all gave him the same response as the previous one.

Gilbert fell to the floor at the last one as his legs had given up on him. He was still way too weak for this but he didn't want to stop, he needed to see Ludwig again. It was his younger brother goddamnit.

Just as he was about to give up hope he heard the sound of a familiar voice screaming his nickname, the one only Ludwig called him, East, Gilbert looked up to see the otherside of the fence Ludwig was standing there screaming his name.

'WEST! WEST!' Gilbert screamed back as he got up from the floor, ignoring the guards yelling at him.

'EAST! I AM GOING TO FIX THIS! I WILL FIND A WAY! JUST DON'T GET KILLED OKAY!' Ludwig yelled back.

He looked like shit, his clothes and hair were dishevelled and his eyes had bags under them. Knowing Ludwig he had been running up and down this barrier since it had been built in the hope of seeing Gilbert. His little brother was such a worry wart.

'WEST! I PROMISE YOU I WILL FIND MY WAY BACK JUST STAY STRONG OKAY! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH LITTLE BROTHER!' Gilbert yelled, not even caring he was crying at this point.

'I LOVE YOU TOO BIG BROTHER! I LOVE YOU TOO!' Ludwig yelled, crying as well.

'I SAID STOP TALKING TO HIM! HIS WESTERN SCUM!' The guard screamed at Gilbert again, this time throwing a canister of tear gas at him.

Gilbert covered his eyes and mouth as he ran away. Last thing he needed was to get shot and arrested. Even though it hurt knowing that could be that last time he would ever see his brother for a while, at least he got to see him one last time, even if it was from behind a chain link fence.

'Fuck this meeting, I am late anyway. I need to get to Ivan, he can surely fix this!' Gilbert said to himself as he ran for his hotel.

Gilbert ran back to his room to grab his bag. As he did, Comrade Neumann walked in.

'Where have you been, we have been looking for you! The meeting was meant to start an hour ago!' Neumann shouted.

'Oh go fuck yourself Neumann. Your shit at hiding stuff you know. I saw the fucking fence so what more is there to talk about.' Gilbert scoffed as he walked to the door.

'I would consider your next moves carefully, Comrade Beilschmidt.' Neumann warned.

'I am fucking 771 years old. You think no one has ever said that to me before? They have and now they are all fucking dead as dust because human life is short. The awesome me will out live you and your pathetic fence you little weasel.' Gilbert growled right in Neumann's face.

'Now if you excuse me. I have better things to do with my time.' Gilbert scoffed, pushing Neumann to the floor before running off.

Sneaking out the back before Neumann could follow him. Taking the back streets he made it to the airport and onto a plane back to Moscow. He was amazed that not a single soldier in the airport had tried to stop him. Maybe they didn't know, or his boss didn't care.