GerUk/GerEng Collection

All is Found

GerEng Week 2021 Day 5: Gone

CW: reference to kidnapping and being drugged (against one's will), but only through some dialogue (so no details)

"And then I said...Arthur, are you even listening?" Francis sighed in annoyance.

It took Arthur a moment to register that he was being spoken to. "Oh...uh...sorry."

Francis' eyes softened at the lack of comeback from his friend. He had hoped after a year Arthur would have started to go back to normal, but that was wishful thinking. Francis couldn't imagine how it felt to have a lover missing, abducted, or potentially something worse.

It was a mysterious case. Ludwig, Arthur's fiancee, had gone out to walk their dog only for the dog to return home distressed and without Ludwig. When Arthur went looking and the police joined the search they found barely any leads and the ones they did led them to dead ends. Today marked one year since that night and Arthur hadn't been his usual, fiery self since.

"I know this is hard on you. Maybe you should start considering that we won't-"

"How dare you even consider that," Arthur growled dangerously.

"I'm just saying. You're miserable. You don't eat, barely sleep unless Afonso or I come over. You can't keep living like this." Arthur opened his mouth to protest but Francis went on. "Don't forget, Ludwig was my friend. I miss him almost as much as you do, but we can't keep going on like this."

The Brit huffed, crossing his arms and leaning against the back of his chair. He was not going to have this argument today of all days.

After a moment, Francis spoke up again, "I'm sorry...Today's probably not the best day to have this discussion. But please...at least consider talking to a therapist or something."

"Whatever."

They lapsed into an awkward silence, Arthur's bitterness hanging over both of them like a cloud. It wasn't until Arthur's phone started ringing that it was finally broken.

"Hello...Woah Gil what's wro-" Arthur's eyes went wide as he let his phone drop to the floor.

"Arthur, what the hell?" Francis hissed. No answer. "Arthur? Arthur, what's the matter?"

Arthur remained silent. With a huff, Francis picked his friend's phone to find Gilbert sobbing on the other end.

"Mon ami? What's going on?"

"Ludwig...They found Ludwig."

Francis couldn't believe what he was hearing. He looked back at Arthur who was still in shock. "We're on our way," Francis whispers, barely audible before hanging up the phone and guiding Arthur to the car.

---

Arthur, like most people, never liked hospitals. They always made him anxious, having been one too many times during his mother's final years. But now, those nerves were accompanied by a sliver of hope. Ludwig was in this very building. After what felt like an eternity, Arthur would be able to see him once more.

He didn't even bother to greet Gilbert and instead made his way to Ludwig's room. With each step, his knees seemed to become weaker and his vision more blurry. By the time he got to the door, he felt as though he would collapse from all the emotions coming forward. He opened the door quietly in case his long-lost lover was asleep.

Ludwig laid on the hospital bed, completely relaxed and eyes closed. His hair hung in his face, his cheeks were becoming hollow from lack of proper nourishment, his face unnaturally pale, but other than that he seemed fine.

"Bruder?" Ludwig called, his voice hoarse and low.

"N-N-No," Arthur managed to reply. He began stumbling towards the bed, tears now falling. He collapsed onto the floor beside the bed, gripping at the sheets and breaking out into loud sobs. He was so overwhelmed that he barely noticed when Ludwig's hand tangle itself in his hair.

"Arthur..." Ludwig murmured, only for his words to fall on deaf ears. Instead, Arthur began to mumble Ludwig's name over and over, his words barely coherent. "Arthur...hey...look at me."

"Please tell me this is real," Arthur sniffs, "I-I don't want to look and you disappear."

"It's real. At least I think it is...Hard to say since I don't think the drugs are out of my system quite yet."

"Drugs?" Arthur shrieked, shooting up. His concern didn't last long as his eyes locked with Ludwig's pale blue ones. They were just as bright as they were the night he lost him. "Oh, Ludwig..."

The German tugged at Arthur's hand, lacing their fingers together. Arthur still couldn't believe this was real. "I...I missed you so much," he breathed, bringing Ludwig's hand to his lips to place a soft kiss on it. "I...I was starting to think...but I didn't even want to think...I...Oh gosh, this all feels like a dream...I've dreamed about this, about you for so long I...I'm scared that I'm going to wake up and you'll be gone-" Arthur's blubbering was cut short by Ludwig pulling him in for a kiss.

Arthur pressed back, his hands finding their way to Ludwig's cheeks only to find them wet with tears. The Brit felt his own tears start to fall again. For a few moments that's all they did. Kiss each other, hold each other and cry against each other's lips. But eventually, they settled and pulled away from each other to catch their breaths.

"So...what happened?" Arthur asked.

"I...I don't even remember. I barely remember anything from this past...year. I can't even believe it's been that long. One minute, I'm walking Berlitz, the next I feel something sharp at the back of my neck and I pass out. There are some occasional moments of clarity, but all I remember from those times is a dark room and muffled voices. Then there was when I was loaded into the ambulance and now I'm here."

"Any injuries?"

"Not that I know of. I think they're keeping me here since whoever had me kept me heavily drugged and I'm a little disoriented."

Arthur sighed in relief. 'Thank God,' he thought to himself. Was this the best-case scenario? No. But it was better than him turning up dead. Was it terrifying to not know what Ludwig had gone through? Yes. But maybe it was for the best. Less weight on Ludwig's mind. 'None of that mattered right now' Arthur told himself. Ludwig was safe, alive, and right here in front of Arthur after a whole year apart. "Well you're safe now," Arthur stated, assuring himself as much as Ludwig. "The police I'm sure are already looking for the culprits and-"

"Can we not talk about it anymore?"

"Lud?" There was a pained look in the German's eyes and Arthur agreed to drop. "Of course love."

Ludwig immediately brightened at the pet name. "Now how have the dogs been?" he asked.

Arthur couldn't help but smile. Ludwig, after everything was still Ludwig and Arthur couldn't have asked for more.