Mein Bruder, Mein Erlöser, Mein Zerstörer

[Carina Jones]

Title: Mein Bruder, Mein Erlöser, Mein Zerstörer (My Brother, My Savior, My Destroyer)
Words: 410
Rating: T
Summary: Beyond everything else they are brothers, and no matter what they look out for each other.
Warnings: A history expert I am not. So I’ll have to warn you that historical accuracy is not going to be likely. Also keep in mind that all of this is Alternate Universe to both the normal Hetalia verse and the real world, so some things are a little modified because of that.
Disclaimer: Hetalia does not belong to me.
~~~~

Bruder

1806

The day Gilbert found him was perhaps the most frightening day of Gilbert’s life. The little blond boy was barely breathing, badly wounded from this last battle and as his empire crumbled around him he would certainly die. Gilbert didn’t know what possessed him then. They hadn’t even gotten along, always seeming to rub each other the wrong way, but Gilbert couldn’t bear to see him die. That night as he tended those fearsome wounds he kept insisting to the unconscious boy that he would be all right. He kept babbling, barely even aware of what he was saying.

“Well I guess you’re just Germany now. You hear me Germany? Your awesome brother is talking to you. You can’t die. You are Germany.”

He fell asleep in a chair beside the bed, clutching the smaller nation’s hand, sure despite all his efforts that he would be dead by morning. When he awoke that morning and saw him breathing easier, nearly healed from his wounds… Gilbert cried. And he swore to himself right then that he would always take care of his “little” brother. He didn’t think he could bear to watch him fade away as had almost happened this time.

The boy on the bed awoke and groggily looked at Gilbert, “Who are you?”

“I’m your brother, Gilbert.” He hurriedly wiped a hand across his eyes.

“Oh.” The clear blue eyes showed no recognition of the name at all.

“You know, Prussia?” He tried, again no recognition. “Don’t you remember?”

“No. I – I don’t remember anything.”

Prussia sat stunned for a moment. His brother… couldn’t remember? Perhaps after all that had happened, it was for the best.

“Well, your name is Ludwig, but you are also Germany. And I am your awesome big brother Gilbert, Prussia. I will be taking care of you from now on.”

In the days and weeks that followed Gilbert would discover that while he remembered nothing prior to his awakening after his recovery, that his brother still retained his skills from that time. But even if Ludwig could take care of himself, Gilbert was never found far from his side.

It seemed incomprehensible to many of the others. The two brothers were like oil and water, the unstoppable force and immovable rock, and yet – never was one found very far from the other’s side should the other need him. In the end, they were brothers, and that was a bond that couldn’t be broken.

~~~

AN: I know you might be thinking that this doesn’t really explain much, but it isn’t meant to in some ways. As far as this universe goes, Germany/HRE simply wasn’t meant to die and between that and Gilbert’s conviction that he would recover, he recovered and became a new nation. (Yeah, If I recall right there is a gap between the fall of HRE and the rise of Germany, but in this universe they all existed before their nations did in their present form so that isn’t really a factor. It is simply how things are meant to be.)

In the end this is meant more to focus on the relationship between Gilbert and Ludwig and how the two brothers care about each other despite their differences.

[Lorenzo da Firenze (Vargas)]

*squees* So exited~

[Carina Jones]

This particular set is sort-of three one-shots focused around the brothers mostly, although in parts 2 and 3 there are other characters around as well.

~~~
Title: Mein Bruder, Mein Erlöser, Mein Zerstörer (My Brother, My Savior, My Destroyer)
Words: 2,726
Rating: T
Summary: It’s the end of the cold war and Germany is finally able to see his brother again. If only Russia would let him go. When diplomacy is getting nowhere, Ludwig takes things into his own hands. ~~~ Prussia reflects a little on his time at Russia’s house. When rescue comes, however, he’s reluctant to flee as quickly as his brother would desire because there’s someone else who he can’t leave behind.
Notes: Thank you for the German check Corinna. For some reason when people think I’m usually writing fully English unless it’s Russia, when they speak it’s always with random gratuitous native language.
Warnings: A history expert I am not. So I’ll have to warn you that historical accuracy is not going to be likely. Also keep in mind that all of this is Alternate Universe to both the normal Hetalia verse and the real world, so some things are a little modified because of that.
Disclaimer: Hetalia does not belong to me.
~~~~

Erlöser

It had been so many years, so many long painful years since Ludwig had last seen his brother, but the nightmare was finally ending. He could finally go up to Russia and demand that he release his brother from servitude, but of course, things never went as intended.

Ludwig did indeed march up to Russia and ask that his brother be released, but that was where the plan failed. Russia said no. No he would not release Ludwig’s brother, he smiled darkly saying that he didn’t wish to have to break a new servant. When his “error” was pointed out the Russian man innocently replied that he had meant to break in a new servant, but Ludwig was not reassured.

What had that man done to his brother? Had he truly managed to break the spirit of the indomitable Prussian? The man who proclaimed that he was the incarnation of all that was ‘awesome’?

The politicians urged him to let them negotiate. They urged him to not do anything rash, but this was his brother. This was the man who had cared for him from the earliest times he could remember, who had never left his side, even though they always seemed to rub each other the wrong way. He could not in good conscious leave him imprisoned when he had the right, the duty, to free him.

And that was when Ludwig decided to take things into his own hands.

~~~

(1945 to 1989)

It sometimes seemed to Gilbert that he had been stuck in this house for so much longer than the near four decades that it was.

It seemed like from the moment he entered the Russian’s front door he had been constantly under watch. It was clear from the moment that he walked through that door that he was a servant and Russia would be his master. Russia seemed to delight in taking away everything that he cared about, all his possessions and clothing had been taken and hidden away; where Gilbert could never discover.

He had been issued a servants uniform and given instructions on what to do. He was the least senior of the servants, to be at the beck and call not only of the master, but of the others should it be necessary. For a man with so much pride it had been humiliating. The only thing left to him was Gilbird, and even then she was to remain in his room. With how busy he was kept he almost never saw her. Had it not been for the kindness of the others she might have starved in those first few months.

Yes, the first few months were the worst. Gilbert cringed at every mistake he made fearing to anger his Russian master. Indeed there were times that he was punished quite severely. He tried his best to control his temper and not to snap, but sometimes he did. And when he did… it was a horror getting out of bed the next morning covered in cuts and bruises and knowing that he still needed to complete his chores. He would have been stunned to realize that the Russian was making an effort to be kind to him, an effort he did not expend as much on his other servants.

~~~

It was nearly six months after he had come under Russia’s control that the routine changed. He returned to “his” room just as the sun was setting to hear a loud crash. He rushed into the room, ready to face whoever was in there breaking his things, only to stumble over his own feet and land hard on the ground at the sight that greeted him.

Ava was human, and his table was not a pleasant thing to land on if her cursing was any indication. The parting words of the magician all those years ago floated into his mind.

“She will be human again, someday.”

And there she was, attempting to find her feet from where she had fallen, not expecting such a transformation, and cursing just as badly as he did. She was still wearing the bloodstained uniform from the day that she died. He picked himself up off the ground and crossed the remaining few feet to her, pulling her up from where he stood behind her and crushing her to his chest in a tight hug. She had evidently been taken by surprise as she shouted at him but he couldn’t care less.

“Ava.” The single trembling word silenced her faster than anything else he might have said.

She turned around to face him as his grip loosened, wiping away the tears that he hadn’t noticed on his cheeks.

“Ich liebe dich.” He whispered, I love you.

She smiled and kissed him softly, “Ich liebe dich auch.” I love you too.

~~~

Unfortunately all the commotion had drawn Russia’s attention. He had stormed over to see what all the commotion was about and interrupted Gilbert’s perfect little moment. They turned to face the door with frightened expressions, and as Russia stood there expression unwavering Gilbert had reached out and pulled Ava protectively too him, her back to his chest. But after what felt like an endless eternity of being started at and Judged Russia had just smiled his creepy smile.

“It looks like you have brought me another assistant, da? Prossiya will behave or else he may cause trouble for his little friend.” The man said with a nod. The next thing Gilbert knew his arms had been pried off of Ava and she had been escorted out to see Russia’s sisters about a uniform.

In the morning it became apparent that Gilbert and Ava’s good fortune, such as it was, was less than they had hoped for. As soon as the sun rose Ava reverted to the bird that she had been. Gilbert had smiled a bit at the irony, it was just like every cliché fairytale he had ever seen.

Prince finds Princess, Prince falls in love with Princess, Prince losses Princess, Prince reunites with Princess only to have something else crop up… ok maybe it wasn't exactly a fairy tale. After all most Princesses weren’t able to best the prince at least one out of three in sword fighting and tactical maneuvering, but that wasn’t the point. The point was that just like in Cinderella it looked like his Princess was turning back into a pumpkin when the sun came up. Or was he still mixing them up, eh whatever, it didn’t matter.

When Russia discovered this little fact, and he was the first to discover it, having been in the same room at the time, he just smiled delightedly, if a bit wickedly. The man decided that it was time for “Prossiya’s little birdy” to earn her keep. She was to sleep during the day while in her bird form, and to work as a maid around the house during the night. To ensure this schedule was kept, he would be keeping her cadged in his office until just before the sun set.

Gilbert, however, was to work during the day. He would have little choice but to sleep at night lest he face waking too exhausted to do his work properly the next day. But Russia said he would be “kind” he would give them a day each month that neither would have to work so that they could see each other. To Prussia it just seemed as if the man delighted in doing whatever he could to make him miserable.

There was one other thing that Gilbert soon discovered. All talk about the ‘night maid’ was to be kept within the house; under threat of violence should anyone speak of it. It didn’t stop the rumors once people were able to even get to see Russia for negotiations and such in these later years, but it kept them simply that, unfounded rumors.

But now the time had come for this to end. Everything was prepared and ready and Gilbert should have been leaving, there was only one problem. Russia wouldn’t let them go.

“I will be taking my leave.”

He stood in front of Russia’s desk; his hands clenched at his sides in anger, the larger man staring him down. There was one hand placed deceptively delicately on top of the golden birdcage the rested on the desk.

“Nyet. You will stay. Da?” The metal of the cage protested as it was slightly dented out of shape.

Gilbert was the first to break, his gaze moving to the floor even as he shook in anger. The Russian strode over to him, one large arm placed around his shoulders – Gilbert just knew he would be wearing that innocent smile. “I knew you would see things my way, Komrad.”

~~~

It was midnight in Moscow and there were two figures hiding near Russia’s home and shivering.

“S-so, you know the plan right, dude?”

“Ja, I know the plan. I wrote the plan.”

“Oh, eh-he. That’s right.” Alfred scratched the back of his head nervously.

He had been quite surprised to find the German outside his hotel room when he opened it that morning. Actually he hadn’t been expecting to be awake and opening his door that early in the morning either, but the knocking had woken him. Moments after opening the door he had found a coffee being shoved into his hands as a peace offering of sorts while the German explained just what exactly what going on.

Last week Ludwig had gone to pick up his brother, just as they all had planned. However Russia refused to allow him to leave, going so far as to slam the door in Germany’s face and call the guards on him. Ludwig had been left with no option, but to retreat. He had tried several more times, but he had not even been able to get near the Russian’s house. With his leaders urging patience and more time for diplomatic discussions, Ludwig was caught between a rock and a hard place. His own sense of duty and a peculiar feeling of dread, spurring him into taking action on his own.

It was this that had brought him to Alfred’s door. The only person that he felt could both understand how he was feeling and be willing and able to help him achieve his goal. Almost before Ludwig had even finished explaining Alfred was in. While Ludwig didn’t know it, the sandy haired American had a peculiar relationship with the other superpower. They weren’t friends, in fact they barely tolerated each other, but they had one thing in common. Canada. Both of them cared about Matthew, even if Russia would deny it.

So, the two had spent the day formulating a plan; Ludwig’s systematical evaluations of each course of action balancing out Alfred’s occasional outrageous suggestion. There were, however, less of these outrageous suggestions than Ludwig would have expected. It appeared that when the situation was serious, even America could button down and focus on ideas that could become a real solution.

And now here they were, mere meters from their goal, ready to charge in guns blazing to rescue Gilbert. Diplomacy be damned.

“Ich zähle bis drei.” ((I am counting to three)) Ludwig muttered. “Eins…” They took their positions, “Zwei…” They took one last look ensuring that the past was clear, “…Drei!” The two men simultaneously sprang into action, quickly incapacitating the few remaining guards and barreling down the path to Russia’s house, Alfred slamming the door open, Ludwig coming through just seconds behind them.

Ludwig grabbed the first person he saw roughly by the shirt dragging them close. “Where is mien Bruder?” He growled.

The trembling man pointed towards one of the closed doors. “H-he’s down t-there. S-Second door on the r-right.”

Ludwig carelessly shoved the other man away from him, striding over and nearly ripping the door off its hinges. He stormed down the stairs, not noticing as Alfred failed to follow him, instead making his way up the main staircase, and wrenched open the door.

He gave a small brief smile at the startled look on his brother’s face. “I have come to bring you home, Bruder.” He said gruffly.

When Gilbert continued to just sit there in stunned silence Ludwig grabbed his arm and roughly pulled him off the bed, dragging him behind him. “We have to hurry.”

They were already out the front door and halfway down the walk before Gilbert started to protest, “But my things, he still has my things! And Gilbird!”

“I got your things, dude. The little dude that your bro scared knew where the Commie was keeping them.” Alfred said, puffing a bit as he caught up to them. It was only as the America came up behind them that Ludwig realized that the man had been missing. He frowned at the casual disregard for the plan that had been formulated.

“But Gilbird!”

“You can get yourself another bird when we get home, Bruder. It’s just a bird.”

At these words Gilbert started struggling in earnest. “No! Gilbird is not just a bird! He’ll kill her, he’ll-”

“Sorry about this dude, but it’s for your own good.” The protests cut off abruptly as Alfred did something that knocked the albino man unconscious.

Ludwig turned to America giving him a thankful nod as he scooped his brother up to carry him the rest of the way to the airplane that would take them out of Russia. The first rays of sunlight were just starting to brighten the sky.

“Look, you take care of your bro. K, man? I’m gonna go back and get his bird. He’s really freaked out over it and I might be able to get Russia to hand it over.”

Ludwig looked doubtful, but he nodded anyway. “Should you succeed I expect to see you tomorrow evening at six o’ clock sharp.”

Alfred grinned and snapped off a salute. “Sir yes, sir!” Before turning back the way they came and jogging back to the house. He wasn’t quite sure what exactly he was going to do. The plan hadn’t involved having to go back so soon after and Russia was going to be pissed at him...

~~~

When Alfred arrived back at the house Russia was there waiting for him.

“Tell me why I should not kill you now.” He demanded coldly, his anger, tightly leashed, coloring each tone.

“I only stepped in because you broke your word.” Alfred replied in just as frigid a tone and completely without his usual smile. “If you had done as you had been instructed there would have been no need for me to help him storm in here and take his brother home by force.”

In the blink of an eye Russia had stepped forward, landing a solid blow across Alfred’s jaw.

“I should kill you.” He hissed.

“But you won’t.” There was no question.

“Da, I will not this time. Next time, I will not stop. Not even for the tears Kanada would shed.”

“Good to know.” He replied lightly. “Now, I think you still have something that belongs to Gilbert.” He said, one eyebrow raised.

Russia snarled savagely and hurled a crushed bundle of yellow feathers at the wall. “Take it and get off my property.”

Alfred picked up the little bundle horrified at the casual act of cruelty. He had thought even Russia was better than this. He turned and walked out of the house, wondering how he could explain this to Prussia, when he felt a weak fluttering movement from his hand. By some wonder the little creature was still alive, and by all that he held dear, Alfred swore that he would make sure it stayed that way.

He spent all of that day caring for the little creature, watching in amazement as it recovered. He fell into bed that night exhausted, never once waking even as another person wandered over to the couch to lie down, groaning in pain as injuries continued to mend. By morning when Alfred woke he found the little yellow chick healthy as ever and peeping around his head asking for food.

It was impossible. It was a miracle. It was proof that Gilbert knew what he was talking about. Gilbird wasn’t any normal bird at all. She was one of them.

~~~

AN: no he doesn’t know that she’s actually a human, but he’s aware she isn’t a normal animal either after surviving that and recovering so quickly.

P.S. Slight Additional scene to please Russia –nowpleasestopgivingmethatlookIvan.

(617)

6pm Moscow – Six hours previous to the Rescue

Russia frowned deeply at the unexpected interruption to his dinner at the phone started ringing. Luckily by now his staff was well accustomed to getting up and answering the phone so he wouldn’t be bothered. However this time a shaking Litva came over to him, Ivan frowned.

“I-It’s Canada. He says he needs to speak to you immediately.”

Ivan growled causing the other man to flinch and when Litva’s head bowed Ivan gave a tiny vindictive smile. “I will take the call now, but if it was not important you will be very sorry, da?”

The brown haired man just nodded and scurried away from Russia as he stalked over to the phone, his expression dark. However when Ivan picked up the phone none of his earlier irritation was evident.

“Privit Komrad Kanada. Are you calling to become one with Rossiya?” Ivan said with a smile. However the smile left his face quickly as the Canadian got down to business, replaced by a deep angry frown.

“Da, Da. I understand. I will not kill him… this time. Do svidaniya Kanada.” He hung up the phone without waiting for a reply.

Amerika and Germany were coming. They were going to take Prossiya away, they could not be content to wait until he was ready to release the other. He would do as Kanada asked. He would allow them to get away unharmed, but - he thought darkly – he was not going to make it easy on them. Rossiya was not going to back down without a fight entirely.

~~~

Russia strode into his office, eyes snapping to the figure sitting in the chair in front of his desk. He gave a slight smirk at the woman’s expression. She was fidgeting from nervousness –tugging on a piece of shoulder length dark blond hair -, not knowing why he had called her to the office, but her grey eyes still held defiance.

“Germaniya and Amerika will be coming to pick up your foolish husband tonight.” He said shortly. A triumphant smirk graced her face, knowing that Russia would be unable to keep him captive any longer. “You will not be going with them.”

She shot to her feet. “Was zur Hölle! What do you mean I won’t?”

Ivan gave her a flat look. “I mean that you will be remaining here until dawn. They will be coming at midnight. Is it not true that Prossiya does not want anyone else to know about his little ptichka?” ((birdy))

Still fuming Ava sat back in the chair. “And how is that supposed to work. I doubt anyone’s coming back for a bird.” She said, pain evident in her voice.

Russia shrugged nonchalantly, “Amerika is not one to leave any Komrad behind, even if it is only an animal. He will come back, although he is skum this much I am assured of. However such a transfer of custody could be quite dangerous. Amerika makes me quite angry and if I cannot kill him I am afraid that I will not be able to control myself from harming such a fragile creature.” He had a dark smile.

Ava gave him a hard look. “I’m willing to take the risk. We’re both well aware of situation.”

Russia smiled his dark smile. “Then we have an accord. But you know,” he added, “Someday you will both return, because one day all will become one with Russia.” He waved his hand dismissing her from his sight.

Ava nodded and hurried downstairs. She had about an hour to pack what few things she had and cared for into a bag in Gilbert’s room, and then…. Then she would wait.

AN: Not sure how good this bit is, but Russia wanted to make sure you knew a little bit of the “behind the scenes” as it may be.

~~~
Zerstörer Summary/Teaser
(I would start this now, but I don’t have the time to dedicate to it today that it needs)

Germany is uniting. When there is no more East Germany for Prussia to cling to he wonders if he will fade away. He finds comfort from an unusual source as Feliciano tells him the story of another nation with two personifications. East and West, North and South, it’s not the name of the land that matters, it’s where you were formed and whatever that form was meant to be will come to be in time. Something tells Feliciano that, like himself, Gilbert isn’t meant to die.