Love's Last Embrace

Gilbert was dying. Of that he was certain. His health was failing and there was nothing he could do about it. He looked around Ludwig's kitchen, where he was raiding the fridge for beer; there were so many signs that he lived here, yet none of them were permanent: the empty beer cans that cluttered the floor and work surfaces (as well as most of the rest of the house) would be cleared away, the ketchup stains would be scrubbed of the ceiling and the coffee beans swept up. Within a day or two, the house would look as if he had never even been here. He sighed and gave up his search for beer; his brother had probably drunk the last of it. Slamming the fridge door shut, he skulked of back to his room. This was the room of the house that would take the most clearing up when he was gone: on the floor alone there were enough clothes to keep a Laundrette's in business for a month and enough aluminium cans to melt down and make a small plane. The walls were originally pained in magnolia (trust Lud to be boring like that thought Gilbert, if he had his own way the walls would be bright orange but Ludwig had forbidden Gilbert from any form of decorating after he had painted the kitchen fluorescent pink the previous summer), but none of the cream paint could be seen behind the massive Prussian flags which had been pinned to the walls. Ludwig had simply sighed and walked away when he first saw this new addition to the bedroom and merely requested that Gilbert fill in all the holes from the nails when he gained some artist sense and took them down. Ludwig would never understand Gil's obsession with the long-dead nation. Gilbert slumped miserably on his bed; there had been no sign of Ludwig all day, so he was incredibly lonely. However, it did mean that Lud couldn't see how ill-looking he had become recently: the dark circles under his eyes had become increasingly difficult to hide and his already pale skin had turned a deathly shade of white.

His boredom getting the best of him, he dragged himself off the bed and to the door, kicking clothes out of the way as he went. He stomped dejectedly down the stairs, not even looking at the bannister he delighted in sliding down (much to Ludwig's disapproval). He pulled open the door, stepping outside into the chilly night air. He would go to the pub; alcohol would take his mind off things. Slowly, he trudged down the driveway, past the neatly manicured bushes and ornamental fountains, and out through the decorative pillars of his brother's house.

He walked into the pub, collapsed onto a stool and slumped on the bar.

"Give me the strongest thing you have" he slurred; if he didn't get alcohol soon he was going to become VERY depressed. His life was swirling down the plughole and he felt he deserved a little bit of happiness before all chance of it vanished for ever.

"You sure mate?" inquired the bartender, "You look pretty sloshed already!"

"I'm not drunk!" protested Gilbert "Just tired." he added as an afterthought, as the bartender gave him a look of disbelief.

The bartender seemed to realise that money was money no matter what and started mixing Prussia a drink. When it was placed in front of him, it was a radioactive shade of green which Prussia would normally been extremely willing to drink as it meant he would be off his face within minutes of swallowing and so would qualify as being 'awesome'. Today however, he just saw it as a way of forgetting his predicament; forgetting he was going to die.

Ludwig P.O.V.

I don't know what is wrong with Gilbert, he doesn't seem himself: he hasn't declared anything to be 'awesome' in days! I know that Gilbird can sense it too - his cheerful chirping has seemed to be almost fake recently as he only does it to cheer Gilbert up. Which doesn't work. Nothing works. I wish Feliciano hadn't dragged me to this pub; I really don't see the point when there is nothing to celebrate. Also, the beer here is nothing like as good as proper German stuff!

"Doitsu!" Feli shrieked in my ear, causing me to wince in pain.

"Why is Mr Gilbert slumped on the bar over there?"