Hetalia Oneshots

Gilbert (Prussia) x Readrer - Car Troubles

I pulled into the shop, dreading what was ahead. My little car's check engine light had been blinking angrily at me for weeks, and I knew I should've brought it in sooner. But today was the day, like it or not. The usual mechanic—a gruff but friendly older man I'd come to know—gave me a wave, but when I approached, he told me he wouldn't be handling my maintenance this time.

"Oh? Why not?" I asked, trying to hide the rising worry in my voice. A trainee didn't exactly sound reassuring, especially with the issues my car was having.

"He's good, trust me," he assured, nodding toward the garage where a figure appeared. "Gilbert, c'mere a sec!"

And that's when I saw him.

The man who approached was tall, striking, and so unlike anyone I'd seen before. His white hair fell in slight, messy waves, glinting almost silver under the bright lights, and his skin was nearly as pale as his hair. But what really caught my attention—aside from his impressive build—were his red eyes. They gleamed like embers, their intensity softened by the relaxed, easygoing expression he wore. His overalls were tied around his waist, revealing a black tank top that clung to his broad shoulders and arms, streaked here and there with oil. He stopped a foot in front of me and gave me a nod, a small smile spreading across his lips as his eyes ran over me with an obvious, flirtatious interest.

"[Y/N], meet Gilbert. He'll be helping you out today," the old man said, clearly amused by my wide-eyed stare. Before I knew it, he'd excused himself, leaving me alone with Gilbert and a growing feeling of warmth spreading up my neck.

"H-Hi," I stammered, mentally cringing at the way my voice shook. I fumbled to explain the issues, rambling through what little I understood of the car's problems, but Gilbert's gaze never left me. His eyes held this confident, playful spark, and I felt as though he could tell exactly what kind of effect he was having on me.

"Got it," he finally said, flashing me a grin as he turned to pop the hood. And that's when things got worse—or better, depending on how I looked at it. Gilbert leaned over, flexing effortlessly as he adjusted hoses and checked connections, completely at ease. The muscles in his arms and back moved in perfect sync, his hands expertly navigating the car's engine while I stood there, transfixed. I'd never thought watching someone fix a car could be... this attractive.

He looked up, catching me staring, and his smirk only grew. "Everything okay?" he asked, clearly amused.

"Oh, yeah!" I blurted, cheeks flaming. "Totally. Just... making sure you're not, um, missing anything."

He chuckled softly, going back to work, but every now and then I'd catch him glancing at me, as if he knew the exact impact he was having. I bit my lip, forcing myself to look away, but no matter where my eyes went, they always seemed to drift back to him. The gentle sheen of sweat on his skin, the way his shirt clung to him—it was all impossible to ignore.

Finally, he straightened up, wiping his hands on a rag and flashing me a grin that made my heart race all over again. "All done," he said, leaning casually against the hood. "You should be good to go."

"Oh—thanks! Really, thank you," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady and probably failing miserably.

He gave a small shrug, his gaze holding mine. "Anytime. And hey, maybe I'll see you around again."

"Maybe... maybe sooner than you think," I replied, barely recognizing my own voice as I heard myself say it, feeling my heart skip as he chuckled softly.

I climbed into my car, gripping the steering wheel tightly as I took a steadying breath. My cheeks were still warm, and I could feel Gilbert's gaze on me as I adjusted the seatbelt. The engine hummed to life smoothly, sounding better than it had in ages, and I couldn't help but glance back in his direction.