Two Worlds (Hetalia X Reader)

16. In The Library

The room Gilbert brings you to is massive. "Why didn't you tell me you had a library?"

"Well we didn't really have time." He shrugs. He is grinning at your childish reaction.

You turn your attention back to the room. There are rows upon rows of bookshelves that reach from floor to ceeling. Each shelf holds new type of book in a new language. "Where's the (favourite book genre) section?" You ask eagerly.

Gilbert points you in the right direction and disappears into a different aisle, announcing he'll look for a book too. "Then we can sit down and read together!"

You laugh and place your notebook down on a nearby coffee table. "(Y/n)?" Elizabetha's familiar voice sounds as soon as you turn into the aisle Gilbert indicated.

You look up into her green eyes. "Hello." You move around her and begin scanning the shelves.

"Ok what's wrong?" She asks, stepping up beside you. "You've been acting strange all day. I know something is bothering you."

You pull a random book off the shelf and 'read' the synopsis. "It's nothing. I'm sure everything will go back to normal." You try to seem nonchalant but all you can really think about is why you didn't return to your world. Would you ever get home?

You glance over at Elizabetha who is giving you a cynical look. Sighing, you slide the book back into palce and turn towards her. "I didn't go back to my world when I fell asleep last night."

She stares at you. "Is that... bad?" She seems all of a sudden very unconcerned. "I thought you were going to tell me that you and Gilbert hooked up or something."

Your face flushes. "No!" You rip a colourful book off the shelf and turn on your heels, leaving Elizabetha in the aisle looking shocked. All you could think about was the shape of Gilbert's naked body.

"You should still talk to Arthur about that!" She calls after you. You refuse to look back for your face is tinted red from embarrassment. "I will give you his home phone number later."

***

Gilbert was laying on his back in the grass, the book he had chosen held above his face by his two pale hands. You sat beside him crossleged with your book on you lap.

"(Y/n)?" Gilbert broke the peaceful silence. He snapped the book shut and put it down in the grass beside him. He rolls over onto his stomach and only speaks again when your eyes are focused on him. "What would you do if I say I love you? "

You pause. "I beg your pardon?"

His face is completely serious. "What would you do if I say I love you?" He repeats.

He doesn't seem to be joking. With a frown, you turn your attention back to the book in your lap. "I'd say we only just met."

"Yeah..." he adjusts his position so he is closer to you. "But what I'm basically trying to ask is if you believe in love at first sight?"
You look back up at him, your heart pounding. "Who are you talking about? Because you're saying this like you've experienced it before."

"There is a human girl I met a few years ago when I was in your world." His slender fingers start pulling at the grass. "I don't know if she's still alive... but I knew I was in love with her the moment I saw her."

His eyes seem to sadden. You reach out and place your hand over his. "You miss her." Your heart clenches slightly at the thought of Gilbert being in love with some other girl. Yeah. You had basically just shot him down, but the idea of loving him and him loving you wasn't all that bad. "What is her name?"

Gilbert looks back up at you. "She's probably not alive anymore. Time passes differently here. For me, it may be only a few years that have passed but for you, it may have been hundreds of years." He is obviously trying to avoid the painful subject... even though he was the one that brought it up.

"Her name." You request.

"Willow. Willow Roussel." He looks away.

Roussel... that name sounds familiar. "I didn't know countries could travel to the human world." You try to distract him, for he looks like he's about to cry.

"We can." He nods. "It's just a little more difficult for us. We need to find the physical portal. You, however, use an astral portal."

"There's a physical portal?" You perk up slightly. You'd ask what the astral portal was later.

"Yes. But it moves. Everyday it's in a new place." He shakes his head. "I thought Arthur would have told you. He doesn't believe humans should enter our world."

"Why not?" Arthur had been kind and patient with you... but had that all been an act?

"He says that there are long term consequences for immortals getting involved with mortals." His jewel-like eyes flick to you. "Francis fell in love with a human. He watched her die and he's never really been the same. Alfred, who is America, had a friend who was a human. When he died, it triggered Alfred's growth... but he is obviously hidding his pain. Humans we happen to get involved with tend to make a great impact on us." You aren't sure if Gilbert is talking about Willow anymore or if he's talking about someone else...

"And you." You move your hands so your fingers are interwoven with his. "Willow. The girl who may or may not be alive and the girl you love."

Gilbert stares at you for a moment. "Loved. Past tense." There's another silence. "The girl I love, present tense, is right here." He squeezes your hand.

Your heart flutters as his face approaches yours. Even though you'd just reminded Gilbert you'd just met, you couldn't help but lean in as well. Your eyes settle on his lips before sliding shut.

His soft lips met yours in a gentle kiss. Your lips fit together and moved in perfect synchronization. Gilbert moved his hand up and cupped your jaw, titling his head in order to deepen the kiss.

You never thought his kisses would be this gentle... not that you were thinking about it! You scolded yourself, trying only to focus on the feeling of his mouth over yours.

Gilbert pulled away and you opened your eyes to look at him. He wasn't smiling. "I really do love you." He said.

Only you couldn't say it back.

***

After you'd kissed, Gilbert brought you back to his library so you could return the books. You spilt off in your separate directions after Gilbert brushed his fingers across your lips one last time.

You hurried back towards the (favourite book genre) section, heart pounding in your throat.

Yes. You liked him in a romantic way.

No. You did not love him. Yet.

With shaking hands, you slid the book back into place. For some reason, you were suddenly feeling very light headed. You closed your eyes and leaned against the bookshelf in attempt to stabilize yourself.

"(Y/n)!" A faint voice called your name. But it wasn't Gilbert's voice. It wasn't any of the countries' voices, in fact.

"Ethan?" You slide to the floor.

"(Y/n)! You need to stay with me!" Ethan's voice rung again in your head.

"(Y/n)!" It was Gilbert's voice this time. You opened your eyes to see him stumbling over to your crippled form. "Hey! What's wrong?" He held your head up.

Your eyelids started feeling like lead. The last thing you are aware of was Gilbert's warm hands holding your face.