Metal Birds

Chapter 49: Behind Closed Doors

Berlin, Germany, November 16, 1940

Pale green-blue eyes glistened, staring down at the floor in an attempt to shuffle away from the hole in the bottom of the door. He couldn't allow his feet to be seen. He wasn't sure what he would be risking if he was spotted so close to the door for so long, but it was a risk he didn't want to take. 

Andries could hear them. 

Four voices, three masculine and one feminine, all whom he could assume the owners of. 

He wasn't positive how long it had been, though he could see snow on the windowsill outside again. He recognized this. If he could even open the window, he would only be able to reach his hands through, though he would give anything to feel the harsh cold of the second winter he felt he was going to spend in this place. There was a lack of anything out of the ordinary in the place, save for the fact that the door to the toilet in the corner had been pried off, and the place lacked any decorations whatsoever except for the wall paper, the metal framed bed that he was sure he was too shaky to lift, and the window. 

Andries shifted, his overgrown feathers dragging against the hardwood floor. The floor creaked as he swayed, attempting to keep his balance, though he'd found that hard as of late. Slowly, but surely, he kept his ear pressed to the door, eyes darting about still in consideration of what he was hearing. 

They spoke German. The woman, albeit badly, but they spoke it. He could make out the words. It was hard sometimes, they spoke among each other sharply and quickly, though what he did understand made him ill. In his head, he attempting to make sense of the words. 

"-he could accept it?" 

Roderich's voice rang out, his usual haughty tone evident, though it was laced with surprise. Whatever the Austrian representation had heard that Andries hadn't appeared to be important. He inwardly cursed himself. 

"Yes, he might. If our conditions are tolerable for his wants."

That was Ludwig, most definitely. Tired, melancholy, though hopeful. 

"...I don't like it. I don't like it one bit, he's too clever when it comes to what he wants." 

Gilbert. Sharp, energetic, though currently wary and uncertain. 

"But if he gets what he wants, we become stronger. Look at us now! We're waist deep in war, the only thing we can do is push farther." Roderich said this. "Though I have confidence in this, I don't want to be on the losing side of this again." 

The woman, Elizabeta, Hungary, snorted. The group seemed to go quiet, and she spoke. "I don't understand why you'd want Ivan to be a part of this. He's so manipulative."

The men of the group might have been considering this in their silence. Andries found his eyes widening at that. His mind was reeling at the though of Ivan, the Russian Nation, becoming a part of the whole ordeal. The idea was terrifying.

Gilbert spoke. "See, I'm not alone. No doubt he's going to scramble for everything he can."

"Then I'll have it denied." Ludwig replied shortly. 

"He doesn't like denial." Gilbert replied, his voice darkening some. 

At this, Andries looked under through the hole in the door. He spotted the skirt of a dress, a pair of slacks and good shoes, and then a pair of military boots. It took him a moment to spot the second pair of boots, new looking and uniform grade, seated behind a narrowly built desk. The hallway wasn't very long from where he was, he could see it straight on. It looked into an office, he assumed.