Scars of Conquest; Germany x Reader

Chapter 3 - What Was Lost

LUDWIG

He dreams of her.

            He dreams of her curled up with a book in her lap.  Eagerly waiting for their return home so they could watch the movie with her.  She always whined about how she found watching a movie alone boring.

            She looks up at him with her e/c eyes.  He doesn't acknowledge her as he stalks past.  He hears her ask the albino that followed behind him what happened.

            He slams the door and leans against it, panting.

            "His boss had some demands that Ludwig didn't want to meet," his brother replies.

            "Is it about [Country Name] and how it's getting stronger?" she asks.  He stays pressed up against the door, listening to her soft voice.  "Is there going to be a war?"

            "He doesn't want that at all.  We're all changing and we've learned war is not the best answer."

            "It looks like we're all changing again," she mutters.

            "Don't worry.  This threat won't crack him.  It's been going on for a while.  But this is the first time I saw him get angry.  I know everything will be alright because of that.  He'll stand his ground."

            "I'm going to go talk to him."

            He tenses against the door as he moves robotically to his desk.  The familiar leather chair squeaks as he sits down.  He doesn't hear her knock.

            Don't come near me.

            There's the knock.  "Hey, Luddy?  You alive?"

            Please don't come in.  I'll –

            "Go away, Y/n," he commands, head lifting up as he steels himself.

            The door pushes open easily.  She smiles brightly before walking up to his desk.  "You're not usually like this."

            "Well, my boss usually doesn't make such odd requests."

            "What is it this time?"

            "He wants to set up...those camps again."  He doesn't look her in the eye.  He can't.

            The girl freezes.  "Again?" she stammers.

            He nods in response.  "He wants to break [Country Name] by using its citizens.  Of course, we always end up with an assortment of different nationalities..."

            "The country doesn't even have a personification yet!" she cries.  "It's already starting to fall into two different factions over who the personification should be!"

            "It became a country by taking land from Germany.  Besides, the camps are better than the other option."

            "Which is?" she spat.

            Don't tell her.  Don't you dare tell her.

            "He wants to hunt down the people who were part of the first camp and continue what had happened before."

            "Then do it."  Her voice was so flat.  So submissive.

            Don't.  Please.  Stop.  Don't.  Please.

            The German's fist connects with the table as he rises angrily.  The girl straightens as she prepares to counter the onslaught.