Tʜᴇ Pᴀᴛʜ Tᴏ Hɪɢʜɢᴀᴛᴇs

Tʜᴇ Rᴏʙʙᴇʀ Bʀɪᴅᴇɢʀᴏᴏᴍ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 11

"Zo vu liked it ja?"

"Reich I said I liked it ten minutes ago, I haven't changed my opinion that fast." You laughed at the young German's uncertainty as he fiddled with the bind around your wrists.

You had nearly finished your breakfast when he had walked in, Salem's black body trailing after his. You had only noticed for a short moment, but Reich had looked dejected when he first dragged those platformed heels into the room. His eyes were sunken and puffy, his face pulled down in a frown, he looked very near faint with sadness. But when he noticed Salem sprint for the counter, he looked up, his white eyes glistened like a snow globe for a moment, the remnants of tears still swelling under its glassy layer. But once he noticed you he snapped out of it. His face brightened as he rushed toward you, his strides lacking the despondent drawl of his heels. Slamming his hands on the counter he took no time to bombard you with questions. "Why did he let you out?" And "How long have you been here for?" Were repeated until you answered to his every satisfactory detail. Yet his favourite question had been "Did you like it?" While referring to his cooking.

Just like this very moment, at least 12 minutes since he had arrived.

His red fingers utilised his oddly long nails as he unbound the tie the Empire had put in a while ago. "Vell I know zat, but I just vanted to double check." The young German shrugged as he pulled the knot free and tugged the ends out from the loop, finally loosening your wrists and untying your hands. 

You retracted them and rubbed your wrists. Sweat was wrapped around a red mark indented into your skin, the entire flab of flesh that wrapped around your arm was sweaty and irritated, you itched as much as you could wherever your fingernails could find. "Thanks." You mutter with a smile. Reich didn't reply, but he looked away, his face low with modest embarrassment, his arms resting on the countertop and holding his head in place.

"Zo." The boy suddenly said, drawing your eyes back to him, lowering your wrists and awaiting what he had to say. "Vy did he let vu out?" You deadpan, that must have been the 10th time he asked you that.

"Reich." You say monotonically. Reich smirked, his lips peeling up in a smile that creased his eyes. "Right, zorry." The German dropped his arms onto the counter and stood up straighter, forcing you to crane your neck upwards to look at him. "Vell at least ve can hang out more!" He chirped, moving his arms to be akimbo, creasing his beige shirt. You smile and look away, not having much else to say, you focus on Salem instead, something Reich noticed. It took a moment, but after he saw your thin smile fall away, Reich's happiness seemed to quiver, as if its instability was rotting from the inside out. His muscles felt too weak to smile any longer, as they fell away to reveal a soft insecurity.

He swallowed something thick in his throat, like a dagger or rock— a ball of shame for his own sadness. Your fingers were intertwined with Salem's soft pelt, your gaze occupied with her leafy green eyes. Not noticing nor caring about the despondency festering in Reich's expression. He looked down, his eyes blurred in a flurry of alienation. "I vant to make it up to vu." The young country whispered. Though his voice went largely unheard, whether or not you subtly ignored him because of your distraction or because of some ignorance was unknown to him, yet it hurt him still. "I already told you, you've made it up to me already!" You chirp, still petting Salem.

Reich gazed at you with a frown. His face contorted downward in a way that creased his lips, the bridge of his nose twitched then ruffled, his eyes widening and bulging out of shape. The young German exhaled and looked away, was it rude that you wouldn't look at him, or was it weird that he wanted you to look at him? "Vell I vant to do better," Reich uttered distantly, his eyes cast downward and away from you, seeming to do himself a favour by outwardly avoiding your presence, in a more pathetic way than he thought however. He didn't notice your smile.