God Loves Whomever, Part Two
Jun. 8th, 2009 11:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
historizeTitle: God Loves Whomever
Author/Artist:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
historyblitz
Character(s) or Pairing(s): primarily Prussia and bitty!Germany; and a whole slew of others
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, war and some suggestive dialog
Summary: The unification of Germany.
posted here
Revolutions broke out all over Europe in 1848. The one on everyone’s lips was the one in France, which saw the emergence of Napoleon the Third, nephew of Napoleon the First. Though, fortunately, he was not as apt as his uncle at war. (He was better at remodeling Paris and giving his people the right to vote.) He still caused quite a bit of chaos.
Schleswig went up in arms when Denmark was considering annexing the dutchy, which contained both Germanic peoples and Danes. Prussia had been happy to take a trip to Denmark, as he much enjoyed the man, personally. But, Sweden was there as well, supporting the Danes—
“Haha, and making everyone get their frowny faces on!” Poland laughed, dragging down the corners of his mouth. “I swear to gawd, that’s how he looks all the time. Totally.”
“Sweden is a straight-backed son of a bitch. Not a bad guy to have on your side. Just too serious. He couldn’t loosen up unless he was fighting,” Prussia added, getting out another cigarette.
“The Nordics are so weird,” said Poland. “How do you sweety Finland and serious Sweden and crazy Iceland and Norway is all by himself—though I totally love his hair clips—and then you get Denmark, gawd Denmark—“
“Don’t say it like that,” Hungary cut in, rolling her eyes. “He hears admiration from ten leagues away.”
“What’s that? Is he here too?” Prussia put his feet back on the table. “OI! DENMARK!”
Ukraine started a little and poured herself more tea. “Quiet—you’ll startle Latvia.”
“Aw, Latvia, are you okay?” Poland threw an arm around him.
Latvia quivered and wrapped his arms around himself.
Then the door burst open and a black and red uniform dominated the door. “Hey! Who called!”
“Denmark!” called Prussia, jumping up.
“Prussia! I didn’t know you were here!” Denmark leaned across the table and clasped hands with him. Then he looked around the table. “You guys having a little party?”
“Hell yeah, have a—“
“Prussia’s telling stories~!” Poland said.
“You say it like I’m mother-fucking-goose or something.”
“You would be the absolute worst mother goose!” Hungary laughed.
“No one asked you,” said Prussia, handing a cigarette across the table to Denmark as he flopped down in a chair and put a boot on the table.
“She’s right though,” Denmark pointed out.
Prussia laughed. “Well, I never said she was wrong.”
“So, what were you guys talking about?”
“1848,” said Ukraine.
“Ah,” said Denmark. “I see. Hell, what else is there to say. 1848 was fucking nuts. Go on ahead. Oh—hey—can I have a piece of that cake?” He jumped up and grabbed the platter, nodding cheerfully at Ukraine. “Thank you, darling.”
Prussia and Denmark were standing together. Ludwig was sitting at a small table with a glass of Danish mead.
“We should really stop them from killing each other, shouldn’t we?”
Prussia nudged him. “Do you really need to annex them?”
“Well it is mine,” said Denmark. “And Schleswig has Danes, Holstein doesn’t.”
“I’d rather just keep the sta—“
The door flew open and England came storming in, eyes burning, clearly irritated.
“Oh shit,” Denmark snickered. “Look who it is.”
Prussia’s shoulders shook, grinning. “Well if it isn’t England! Cheerio, old pip!”
England was not amused. “You both—!”
“I told you I didn’t want your mediation, England,” said Denmark, standing up and crossing his arms. His fingers lingered on his battle axe but he didn’t draw.
“You two either get your shit together, or I’m sending my fleet!” England snapped, pointing at them. “I am sick and tir—“
“Good fucking God, England. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
England bristled. “Dammit, Prussia—“
“Calm down, England,” Denmark said, laughing. “Prussia and I have no problem talking—“
“Then get your commanders together!” He turned his hard eyes, like chips of jade, on Prussia. “Russia’s Tsar told you the risks—“
“Hey,” Prussia clamped his hand on the hilt of his sword and he heard the scrape of a chair behind him. He glanced back and was pleased to see that Ludwig had not moved a step forward but was watching, eyes like flint. He looked back to England. “We don’t need you looking over our shoulders. Go back, drink some tea and calm the fuck down. ”
England’s eye twitched. “Then learn to control your goddamn people.”
“Prussia and I get along a lot better than our humans. Humans fight too much.”
“Well, we like to fight.”
“Point. But. It’s only fun if we actually get to go all out. Holding back is boring. Sure, this is a war but—hey, it’s not like it’ll be a big deal.”
“Let me warn you, Prussia—that it will be worse for you if you draw this out. No one wants war again right now. You can either sign a treaty with Denmark and end this—or you’ll fight all of us.”
Prussia frowned, eyes hardening. “I don’t take kindly to threats, England.”
Denmark stepped back, smirking. His fingers were caressing the handle of his battle axe. He noticed when Ludwig took two measured steps forward, how the boy’s hand went beneath his cloak, how he looked so ready. Denmark smirked. Shouldn’t surprise me. He is Prussia’s boy.
England squared his stance. “You know I don’t threaten, boy.”
Prussia’s eyebrows lifted and his frown vanished, turning into a mocking smirk. “Boy? Surely the only boys around here are the ones who have never had a woman. Haha, I am—“
“You are fifteen hundred years too young to be anything but a child to me, Prussia. So you two work this shit out. Now. Or I will knock you off the pillar you’ve placed yourself on.”
“You mean like you did to America?”
The room went deathly quiet. Prussia smirked at England, who had his hand on his flintlock. The leather of his gloves creaked. “One disgusting little upstart of a colony lost is of no consequence when one has a history like mine.”
“Oh, yeah, you’re totally right,” Prussia agreed, nodding. “When you’ve got a history of being a total cocksucker—what’s one little bitch that got away?”
England looked down his nose at Prussia. “Indeed. Now either deal with this or step aside and allow me to keep the status quo for you.”
Prussia grinned, cackling and turned around, opening his arms to Denmark. “Got a treaty for me?”
Denmark laughed and his hand slid away from the grip of his axe. He slapped his palm against Prussia’s. “My boss is gonna fuck you over, Prussia. Sorry, bro.”
“Tough shit rule,” Prussia laughed. “You bastard.” I’ll get the duchies back later.
Ludwig’s eyes remained on England, watching the empire.
He seemed to feel it, eyes moving from Denmark and Prussia to the boy. His eyes narrowed, something flitting over his face that Ludwig couldn’t quite name. England said, “You’ve grown, boy.”
Ludwig nodded, once. He didn’t blink.
England’s eyes narrowed. Eyes of steel. He snorted and turned away to leave.
Austria beat Hungary within an inch of her life that year.
Rizi’s daughter, Aniya, had replaced her mother recently and she raced up the stairs with the letter to show Prussia. “Master Beilschmidst!” She burst into the parlor and stumbled.
Ludwig was standing on a stool, being fitted for a new uniform. Prussia was sitting in an armchair close by, watching the tailor. When Aniya entered, he stood, raising a hand to stop Ludwig from moving forward. “What is it?”
“Sir,” she offered the letter. “Hungary has had a revolution! My mother has friends there. They sent her a letter, Sir. And she told me to show you.”
Prussia smiled. “Your mother is an amazing woman. Even when she has retired, she is still so loyal.”
“She loves her country, Sir. As do I.”
He took the letter and opened it to read. “So Hungary has finally tried to get away from Aust…” he blinked, eyes narrowing, “…ria…”
Ludwig’s eyes were trained on Prussia. The tailor continued working, sticking pins and marking with chalk.
“Hmmm,” Prussia mused, reading the relevant bits a few times and then folding up the letter and handing it back. “Thank you very much, Aniya. Tell your mother that she is, even now, irreplaceable to me.”
“Thank you, sir,” she gave him a pretty little bow, not seeing that his eyes had darkened. Too young to see it.
“Please go to the stables and tell the staff to ready my carriage.” She nodded and turned away to do his bidding.
His smile fell away and he turned to Ludwig.
“Did he kill Hungary?” Ludwig asked him.
Prussia smiled. “Your mind is dark, Ludwig. No, she isn’t dead. But we’re going to visit her anyway.”
Prussia paused there, sucking on his cigarette. “Going to need another beer.”
Denmark laughed quietly. “This is the sad part, eh?” He stuck his fork in what remained of Ukraine’s torte.
Prussia smirked up at Hungary.
She shrugged and chuckled. “Ah, it was. You didn’t even show up in the nick of time to beat him off, Gilbert. You got there too late, as always.”
“Well, you never asked for my protection.”
“And I never would have either. I can stave him off.”
Prussia grinned. “Hey, Latvia, go grab a servant and get us a round, would you?” And then he looked to Hungary. “Do you want to tell this part?”
Latvia hopped up and went to the door, vanishing for a minute.
Hungary stretched and took another drink of her beer. “Go on ahead, Gilbert. And dammit, Denmark, quit eating all of that torte. Give that here, I want some before you eat the whole damn thing.”
Prussia smiled and took his beer when Latvia returned, Lithuania in tow, which made Poland scream.
Lithuania jumped. “Felix--!”
Poland jumped up. “Omigod, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in, like, an hour!” He hugged Lithuania and then drug him over to sit with him and Latvia.
When they arrived at Hungary’s house, Ludwig got out first and held the door open. “Is this going to start a war?”
Prussia got out and straightened his glove. “This isn’t political, Ludwig. There is a difference. If I wanted to start a war about Hungary, I would go and beat the hell out of Austria for being such an ass.”
Prussia stepped down the path and went right up to Hungary’s door. Prussia touched the knob. “Locked,” he said, idly, amused.
He knocked. Looked at Ludwig. “To be polite.” He winked.
No one answered.
Prussia kicked the door in.
Ludwig followed him into the foyer until Prussia raised his hand. “Sweep the house. Ensure it’s empty. If you find a soldier, take him into the kitchen and hold him there. If Austria is still here, do nothing.”
“Do you think he will be?”
“No, but it never hurts to indulge paranoia.”
“Do you know where Hungary is?”
Prussia’s eyes didn’t even flicker. “I have a very good idea. Start on the first floor.” He walked away, removing his gloves as he started up the stairs to Hungary’s room.
She was lying on her bed in full military dress. But her clothes were in tatters and her hair was bloody and matted, sticking to the sheets. It made Prussia jolt when he saw it, seeing a different day. He locked his jaw, pushing Brandenburg from his mind and went to her. He knelt on her bed and touched her. “Elizabetha?”
She stirred when he touched her. Her eyes fluttering open—they shot open and her fist flew out and got him crack on the nose. Prussia jerked back, hand flying to his face and he swore, “Goddammit, Hungary! It’s me!”
She was pushing herself up, snarling. “Oh, God, it’s you. What do you want?”
“I came to see if Austria had killed you or not. And to see if I could have Ludwig steal everything that wasn’t bolted down.”
“Sounds like you.”
He smirked. “Well, you seem to be just fine.” He got off the bed and reached down, curling his fist into her collar and jerked her to her feet. He saw how she flinched, how her hands flew up to the one on her collar, how her body tensed. He said nothing of it, just put her on her feet and then let go, so see if she could stand. “Come down to the kitchen,” he said. “I will clean you up.”
She grumbled but allowed him to support her and help her down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Prussia sat her down and said, “So, you wanna make out?”
Her eyes narrowed and she reached up, pulling him down by his collar. “Oh, Gilbert~”
“That is not what happened!”
Prussia burst out laughing. Denmark choked on his beer and reached across the table to bump his knuckles with Prussia. Poland was giggling. “That would make this story awesome!”
“Prussia, that is terrible,” Lithuania admonished, gently, quietly.
“You are such a dick, Gilbert,” Hungary said, glaring at him.
He grinned at Hungary. “I know. It’s such a burden, being me.”
“I did not make out with you. Get on with the story and no more lies!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Ludwig entered to see Prussia helping Hungary remove her jacket. He stiffened a little, but pushed it away—that suddenly flash of—of—. “There is no one in the house, Prussia.”
“Good boy. Come here and help Hungary. Her arm is broken.”
She gritted her teeth and didn’t quite look Ludwig in the face. “I’ll be fine, you jerk. Go away. We heal quickly, remember?”
“Shut up, it’s not as though I’d be here if I didn’t…” He trailed off.
Her eyes narrowed. “Didn’t….didn’t what?”
His smirk returned in a flash. “If I didn’t want to rub it in!” He laughed in her face. “What? Thought I was going to say something sappy?”
“You asshole!” She tried to kick him and he cheerfully dodged. Though she held her broken arm still and allowed Prussia to wipe the blood off her face.
“You ought to just make an alliance with my boss. I’ll help you kick out Austria.”
“You love warring with Austria. I don’t need your help. I’ll be independent someday.”
He shrugged. “Your funeral.”
“And then I married him.” Hungary chuckled.
Prussia snickered. “You did, right after Denmark and I—Second Schleswig War, right after that—you married Austria.”
“Yes,” said Hungary and her eyes were suddenly far away. “After he came back—he was in that war too—after he came back.”
“Do you regret it?” Poland asked.
“I would,” said Denmark, laughing.
“No,” said Hungary. “I don’t. Austria and I have a long history.”
Prussia rolled his eyes. “I think he sucked out your brain.”
“Shut up, you don’t know what it’s like.”
“What—to be married? Hahaha! Why would I want to be!”
“Well, you kind of were,” Poland cut in, raising a hand. “You and Brandenburg—“
“No—“ Prussia interrupted, quickly. “That doesn’t—“
“Stop—wait—hey, there he is! Let’s go!”
“Oh, but, Belgium—he—!”
Everyone looked up.
There was a heavy thump on the door. And then a soft sound like fabric scraping against the wood. “Wait—we—we’re in public, we—“
Another shift against the door. “Let’s—check the knob—we can—“
The door flew open and two people fell in. The smaller one kicked her leg out and the door slammed.
The taller of the two figures flipped himself over onto his back. He started to sit up and then noticed the people around him. His bespeckled blue eyes went wide.
The smaller got up and looked up and then groaned. “Oh geez. If it’s not your damn nosy brother it’s—what is this—and Eastern Europe only party?”
“Hey, hey, Belgium, I’m not Eastern Europe,” said Denmark. “And what are you doing with him?”
“What’s it any concern to you?” Belgium stood and smoothed her uniform. “Brussels is an international city, you know. Did you forget where you are?” She offered her hand to the blond-haired young man, who seemed to be stuck to the ground. “Canada, get up!”
Prussia was laughing. “Way to score, Canada. Your brother nagging at you? You should hit him in the face.”
Canada was blushing up to his roots. “I—I—“
“Oh, hey, I get it!” Poland laughed, pulling on Lithuania’s sleeve. He pointed at Canada. “Maple syrup,”—he pointed at Belgium—“and Belgian waffles! Perfect! Omigod, did you two plan that! That is totally awesome!”
“I, uh, well.” Canada looked at Belgium.
She just laughed. “Oh—hey—is that a torte? I want some.” She swung by Hungary’s chair and nabbed a slice of the cake and sat down next to her. “Come on, Canada.”
Canada hesitated but then came forward and sat with them.
“Don’t feel like the odd man out, Canada,” said Denmark. “You’re just outnumbered and outclassed. And from the other side of the ocean.”
“Denmark,” said Ukraine, her voice, though soft, held a steel edge. “Canada, please feel free to order coffee and whatever sweets might suit you.”
“Thank you, Ukraine,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
“So what are you guys talking about?”
“Revolutions in 1848,” said Lithuania.
“Oh, yeah,” said Belgium. “That was when Switzerland became a federal state.”
“And I got a constitution,” said Denmark.
“And France went all crazy again,” said Poland.
“And I met Otto von Bismarck.”
Prussia liked Bismarck. A perfect mix of sly diplomacy and military right-hook, provoking Austria into a fight, dreamt of unification—Prussia found himself drawn to him. One of his bosses that he really, really liked. And Bismarck even listened to him and took an interest in Ludwig. He was eager to hear the history of Prussia and Prussia enjoyed indulging him and planning with him. He was the only one that Prussia hinted at his true plans and Bismarck helped put them into motion.
When the Seven Weeks War started, Prussia took Ludwig with him but, this time, put the boy in command of his own battalion. He did very well and Prussia beamed with pride, happily rubbing it in Austria’s face.
Italy was there too. On Prussia’s side this time but Ludwig did not acknowledge him. He kept away from him unless absolutely necessary. He did very well until Italy sought him out.
“Holy Roman Empire…”
Ludwig looked up from his book and did the smallest of double-takes. He stood and gave a short bow. “Italy,” he said stiffly.
Italy wibbled. “Holy Roma--
“With all due respect, I am not the Holy Roman Empire any longer. I am a commander under Prussia.”
“Y-you are bigger, now,” Italy whispered.
Ludwig nodded but stayed silent.
They looked at each other.
“Um. Well. I guess. I’m pretty hungry. I’ll. I’m. Going to go get something. Um.”
Ludwig nodded.
Italy hesitated and then turned away, sniffling a little.
Ludwig went back to his book.
Prussia called him to his tent later and said, “I am going to go to Austria. I want you to come and watch.”
“Has a treaty been signed?”
“Yes,” said Prussia and Ludwig noticed that Prussia was changing to a different set of dark leather gloves. “The Peace of Prague. The German Confederation is being dissolved and we are annexing Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, and Nassau.”
Ludwig smiled. “That’s great, brother.” He didn’t notice the use of ‘we’. “You got those duchies back from Denmark anyway!”
“Yes,” said Prussia, who was smirking. “Just goes to show how things can change. France has to be there to watch, since Austria is too proud to give Venetia directly to Italy—”
“Because Austria crushed them?”
"Precisely. He’s going to give it to France and then France will give it to Italy.”
“Seems like a waste of time.”
“It is but. That’s Europe for you.” Prussia smiled. “Sometime, I will have to take you to Asia and North America and meet the other nations there. Would be an interesting time—since Napoleon the Third doesn’t compare to his uncle.”
Ludwig appeared to think for a moment. “But France is extending influence in China. And did well in the Crimean War—he and England beat Russia. He has taken Vietnam and had a campaign in Korea—“
“But that wasn’t legal.” Prussia reminded him. “France’s government hadn’t authorized action in Korea—and it failed.”
“And that checks France’s influence.” He nodded a little. “So because of that—will France’s influence in Asia decline?”
“It’s very likely.” Prussia looked thoughtful. “Follow me. Tell me more about what’s happening in the world today.”
So he did. As they walked, Ludwig walked just a step behind his brother, straight-backed, voice calm as he recited the news. News of France intervening in Italy—pointing towards the possibility of Italian unification. About France dabbling in Mexico. He spoke about the boy Prussia had trained, the other young nation, America—who was in the midst of civil war. England had sniffed and felt, deep down, that it likely served the little bastard right and France was right along with him—planning to possibly ally with the Confederacy—if only England would officially recognize the south as a separate nation. Russia had openly supported the Union north.
“You see, Ludwig. That’s why grudges are useless. France and England are willing to see the economic downfall of the one they created—because they’re still sore about the boy kicking out one and turning his back on the other. As if they’re never done that to each other a million times.”
“What do you think of America, brother?”
“When I trained him, he was young and naïve and he still is. Unlike you—who spent your time as a child in war torn Europe—America spent his young years in solitude and then grew very, very fast when England showed up. Do you understand the difference? It makes him young and makes you old.”
Ludwig looked sidelong at him as they made their way to their horses. “Do you think I will have potential?”
Prussia smirked. “I want you to think like you do. You have commanded troops in my army to my satisfaction. I have personally trained you. As I did America.”
“And America managed to beat England.”
Ludwig held Prussia’s horse while he mounted it. He looked down at the boy. “Exactly.”
And Ludwig smiled.
Prussia blinked at that smile--that smile--and then grinned. He understands. He is ready. A swell of pride warmed him and he waited for Ludwig to mount his horse.
He was taller, the top of his head near his shoulder. His fine blond hair shone in the sun and he’d started combing it back, away from his face. His blue eyes were like the sky—a spring sky—and he was sure and strong. More confident than he presented himself, able to follow orders, able to perform well in battle. He didn’t break under pressure. He handled power carefully. The only space that Prussia had not yet tested Ludwig was diplomatically. A realm Prussia quickly grew bored with.
He will be tested soon enough.
At the signing and conference, Prussia sat Ludwig on his right and he looked across the table at France. He smirked. This was going to be good.
And then France said, “Oh, Prussia—my emperor wants to buy Luxembourg.”
Prussia burst out laughing.
But France wasn’t joking and threatened war, Prussia was all too happy to rise to the challenge but Russia intervened.
“Let us go to England,” he said, smiling.
Prussia grinned and gently touched Ludwig’s hand. The boy looked at him, seeming puzzled. When Prussia went to London, he took Ludwig with him and he said, “What do you think of Napoleon the Third’s foreign policy?”
“France did not demand that you accept his expansion in exchange for his neutrality in the war with Austria. He just asked that you accept his annexation of Belgium and Luxembourg.”
“Does that puzzle you, boy?”
“Yes. It does.” Ludwig’s young face was solemn. “You no longer need his neutrality and you are the real threat to Napoleon in Europe.”
Prussia nodded. “Napoleon the Third is a silly man. And France is an idiot.”
There was silence for a moment and then Ludwig said, “You can…use that.”
The smirk felt good. So good. It curled up his narrow face. “Yes, Ludwig. We can.” He reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. “It is a comfort to me that you see what I see, Ludwig. You have such promise.”
Ludwig smiled and it was no longer the innocence of younger to elder but…to a friend. To an equal. To a brother. It held loyalty and love and warmth and Prussia may not have been good at expressing anything of the sort but he understood its importance. Brandenburg had taught him that importance—unity, loyalty, brotherhood. The love of a man for his family, the love of a soldier for his commander, the love of a king for his country.
Ludwig reached back, touching Prussia’s shoulder. “I will support you, brother.”
Prussia chuckled. “And I will raise you up.”
“Wow,” said Hungary. “You almost sound like a good man in that light.”
“Hey, hey,” said Belgium. “I’m still independent because Prussia refused to let France take over.”
“We should text France, get him in here for the next bit,” Denmark laughed and the table laughed with him.
“Canada, are you comfortable with this discussion?” Lithuania murmured, leaning over to look at him.
Canada perked. “Oh, oh, no. It’s fine. None of us are perfect. France has done some really stupid things. We all have.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Ukraine murmured.
Denmark got his cell phone out. “Ordering food—what do you guys want?”
Otto von Bismarck watched Prussia sit back in the chair and smile. “You are pleased, Gilbert?”
“I am. Very much so. I like you, Otto. I like where this is going.”
“You’re going to raise the boy above you. He could become more powerful than you. It happened to England and France.”
“The difference is that I raised that boy as a soldier, not as my son. He knew what I expected from him—he knows that respect and loyalty is earned. Not given. England did nothing to keep the loyalty of his subjects in America. He didn't show himself as the boy's commander. He showed that boy that he needed America but that America didn’t need him.”
“Ludwig is loyal to you.” Bismarck was smiling now too.
“He is. And he has earned it. I am loyal to him.”
“You saved him from abolishment. Maybe he will save you one day.”
Prussia snickered. “Let us hope that history does not always repeat itself.
Bismarck took out a sheet of paper. “Then, you are with King Wilhelm and me in thinking the time is ripe.”
“I am, Otto. Make it good.”
It was ridiculously effective. How Prussia laughed and laughed.
Bismarck cleverly edited the account of a meeting between French ambassador Benedetti and the Prussian King Wilhelm the First and published it. The French were led to believe that the king had insulted the ambassador. The Germans believed the ambassador had insulted their king. It was a deliciously simple trap.
Prussia kept Ludwig close to him during the entire process, let the boy read it and contemplate and exam why it worked.
France declared war within the week.
All too easy.
The German confederation united behind Prussia and they wiped France’s army away. Bismarck acted fast, without hesitation, negotiating with the southern German states, bringing them into the fold. A constitution, a national identity—it was built and crafted and one day, Prussia stood next to Ludwig in a richly furnished room in Berlin.
Ludwig hardly paid attention to the glamor of the building around him. He was gazing at Prussia, watching him unfold a wrap of cloth. “What is that, Gilbert?”
Prussia smiled. “Something I have been waiting to give you.” He unwrapped the Iron Cross.
“This is mine, Ludwig and now, it is yours.”
Ludwig inhaled sharply, almost a gasp. “But…Gilbert…that’s…”
“Shut up,” he said. “You’re about to become my equal. This reminds us of our connection to each other.”
“You’ll be all right, won’t you?”
Prussia lifted the cross and pinned it at Ludwig’s collar. “Of course. I always am. You should beware because now that you will no longer be my direct ward, I am going to mock you a lot more.”
Ludwig’s smile was suddenly tremulous, nervous. “Gilbert…my brother—I am…anxious.” He swallowed in the mirror, watching the Cross bob.
“I have raised you as a self-sufficient soldier, Ludwig. You can handle anything.”
Ludwig looked at the floor. “I know that I can do it.”
Prussia nodded. “Absolutely.”
Ludwig shifted. Awkwardly, always awkward—he had never picked up Prussia’s social graces—if you could call them that. Stern and disciplined with a phantom sense of humor that he only showed to a select few but cool-headed and strong on the field. Ludwig looked at him. “Prussia.”
Prussia crossed his arms, smiling. “What is it, Ludwig?”
Ludwig turned to fully face him. “I am what I am today because of you. Thank you.” He bowed and then, rather abruptly, hugged him.
Prussia stiffened automatically and then made himself relax. “You are welcome, Ludwig.”
“Forgive my impertinence.”
Prussia clapped his shoulder, sort of half-hugging him. “You are, of course.” He gently pulled back, squeezing Ludwig’s shoulder. “Now, let us make a nation of you.”
Bismarck was taking care of the people-details. He was very, very good at it. One of his few bosses that Prussia felt like he didn’t have to babysit. So Prussia let him handle that—all the treaties and such—and Prussia organized a party in Berlin for Ludwig, where he would officially name him, in the way of nations.
A dinner and drinks and dancing. France didn’t come but England did and America and Canada came and Spain, the Scandinavians and Eastern Europe. He invited Asia but China refused and Japan was in the middle of the Meiji Restoration and—well—Prussia hadn’t had much to do with Asia anyway. And the West was always in the process of fucking the East in one way or
another, so introducing them to another who might end up doing that same just seemed sort of tacky, even for Prussia. Besides, they always refused to dance or try any of their food.
America stayed away from everyone at first. He lingered at the edge of the room, avoiding England, who was keeping Canada close. But then Russia went to America, drew him out of the corner, so that was all right.
The Scandinavians were all sitting together, until Denmark started drinking and got up on his chair. Then Sweden shoved him off and Norway jumped up to catch him, so he wouldn’t smack his head on the floor.
Norway sagged. “Help me. He’s heavy. Denmark, get up.”
“Wow, that hasn’t changed at all!” Denmark laughed, jumping up to open the door. “Hey, Iceland! Norway! Ireland! Christ, how many of you came? Oh, hey, Estonia.”
“We were in the lobby when the guys showed up with your food order, so we took it to bring it back,” Norway said.
“Whoever ordered chicken with the baked potatoes,” said Ireland, smirking. “It was good.”
“You bitch,” Prussia moaned. “Goddammit. Hey, Poland, let me have some of yours?”
“Ah, whatever~! As if, Gil.”
“Canada, what are you doing here?”
Canada looked slightly embarrassed. “I’m. I’m talking with them. Uh.”
“He’s with me,” Belgium clarified.
“They’re exploring their mutual love of waffles and syrup, apparently,” said Denmark, smirking and holding out a cigarette to Ireland. “Sounds sticky.”
“Shut up!” Canada begged. “Please don’t tell France or America, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Ireland grinned and took it, giving a nod of understanding and a thumbs up. “Well, Australia is on his way—he stopped to grab a drink and he said he’d follow me here.”
“How’s he going to do that?” Ukraine asked.
“Howard. Don’t ask me how,” said Ireland, pulling up a chair. “That koala of his is evil.”
“So what’s the meeting about?” asked Estonia.
“Nineteenth century,” said Hungary. “And stop inviting people. It’s getting stuffy in here. I’m not sharing my food.”
Iceland stood by the door, just watching quietly until Ukraine pulled a chair out beside her and gestured for Iceland to sit, which he did after a moment’s hesitation.
“Oh my god, Norway, your hair clips are so cute. Where do you get them!”
Prussia looked around at the impromptu gathering which had started so small and shrugged. “Guess I should finish this off.”
“Yeah,” said Hungary, “especially since you don’t have any food now.”
“Shut up.”
Ludwig came when Prussia hailed him, standing next to his brother and looking out at the many, many nations of the world. He had met only a small number of them. Soon…I’ll be meeting them all…
Prussia tapped his fork against a glass and raised it when silence fell. “When I was a little brat and so full of innocence—“
Hungary burst out laughing, shattering the silence.
Prussia struggled not to. “Ahem—still thinking Hungary was a boy—“
“Hey--!”
“I knew someone who is forgotten now. Brandenburg, who has come to shape much of what I am now.” He paused, as if to await a catcall but no one did. “When I took up this boy, I had no idea what to expect from him but it has turned out very rewarding. So.” He picked up a glass of beer. “We older nations remember the naming parties but you young ones that came from colonies—Canada, America and so on—you never got one and for shame. You’ll just have to party tonight to make up for it.” He drank from the glass of beer and then held it out.
Ludwig took it, meeting Prussia’s eyes. He felt Prussia’s hand descend on his shoulder, giving it a stiff squeeze. Ludwig nodded and his brother smirked.
Ludwig drank.
Prussia let him go and turned to the crowd. “My younger brother, I present him to you now no longer as the Holy Roman Empire, no longer by his human name and no longer as merely someone I command. I present him as my brother-nation, Germany. ”
Germany looked out, where America was heartily applauding. Where the Scandinavians were trying to keep Denmark in his chair and politely clap at the same time (except Iceland, who looked to be spacing out). Where England didn’t frown but he didn’t smile either and where Canada was looking interested in all the different people, looking a little sad when he saw his brother and raised his hands as if to clap but saw England wasn’t and so lowered them. Where Spain raised his glass and drank, where Austria sat in his chair and smiled a little bit, where Belarus was sitting stiff like England and Switzerland was drinking and Belgium was laughing; Ukraine was clapping nicely and Russia was standing still as a great tree but he was smiling and speaking to America—
Now, I am like them. I will stand with them and against them and for them and beside them.
Prussia stood beside him and then Hungary appeared in front of him and he blinked, started a little. He smirked, opened his mouth—
“Don’t you dare ask me about Roderich.”
He snickered. “Glad to see he let you come.”
“It’s not as though I am a prisoner. He’s actually not that bad.” She turned to Germany, shaking his hand and congratulating him.
Prussia rolled his eyes and walked away, stealing a drink from someone’s table and downing it fast.
“Was your naming party as wild as Germany’s was?” asked Hungary.
Prussia shrugged. “No idea. Don’t remember.”
“You liar. There’s no way you forgot.”
“I forgot.”
“I remember everyone talking about it,” said a sleepy voice.
Everyone looked up.
“Who…?” wondered Estonia.
“Ah! Greece!” Canada exclaimed. “He’s under the table!”
He was, curled up. “Prussia, you set the building on fire.” He idly reached up, scratching his mussed hair.
Prussia looked under the table. “Have you been down there the entire time?”
“Yes,” he murmured, sitting up a little and petting his kitten.
“You are so weird,” Poland informed him, lifting an eyebrow. “To the max.”
Ukraine leaned down too. “Would you like some cake, Greece? Or perhaps some coffee.”
“I would. Very much.”
“So that’s the whole story,” said Denmark, climbing up to stand on the table. “You raised the little bastard until he became Germany and worked that shit out until the world wars—and let’s not have a mood kill talking about those--just goes to show what a crappy boss can do.”
“Everyone gets them at some point,” agreed Ireland.
"Or the irony in Prussia saving Germany from abolishment and then Germany abolishing Prussia during--" Lithuania whacked Poland over the head.
The door opened again. But this time, it was Germany.
“Hey, speak of the devil,” said Denmark, reaching down and grabbing Norway around the waist and pulling him up onto the table, despite his struggles.
Germany looked around at the group of them, then under the table of Greece and then back up. “I was looking for England.” And then, “Devil?”
Canada pulled his sweatshirt sleeve back to check his watch. “It’s almost four—England will be having tea somewhere. He’s probably out.”
“Don’t worry about it; the Devil, I mean,” said Hungary.
“Thank you, Canada. I will—“
“I’ll help you look,” said Prussia, standing up from his chair and stealing a bite of Hungary’s meat. “I need to get away from all these nosy dumbasses.”
Germany sighed. “We won’t find England if you come with me. You’ll want to stop and get a beer.”
“What’s wrong with that? If it’s truly important then it can wait. Belgium has great beer.”
The corner of Germany’s mouth turned up but he didn’t refuse, letting Prussia follow him out.
“You know, for any other, Germany would have refused,” Hungary told her beer.
Ukraine smiled. “That’s Prussia for you.”
Outside, Germany said, “What were you all talking about?”
“You.”
Germany started and jerked his eyes over. “Wh-what?”
“They wanted to know if I nursed you on beer.”
That made Germany smile. “What did you tell them?”
Prussia pointed to a pub and headed for the door. “That it certainly wasn’t wine.” He winked. “You chose that yourself.”
Germany shook his head, not quite laughing but not silent either. “You are such a—“
“Loving, wonderful brother?”
Germany snorted as they sat down at the bar. “Not what I was going to say, but it will suffice.”
1. Schleswig and the two wars concerning it.
2. The various revolutions of 1848
3. I never learned about this in high school--about France and England wanting to side with the Confederacy. It's interesting. Russia was the only nation to support the Union North. Go Russia.
4. Bismarck was a crafty bastard. The Elms Dispatch.
Author/Artist:
historyblitzCharacter(s) or Pairing(s): primarily Prussia and bitty!Germany; and a whole slew of others
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, war and some suggestive dialog
Summary: The unification of Germany.
posted here
Revolutions broke out all over Europe in 1848. The one on everyone’s lips was the one in France, which saw the emergence of Napoleon the Third, nephew of Napoleon the First. Though, fortunately, he was not as apt as his uncle at war. (He was better at remodeling Paris and giving his people the right to vote.) He still caused quite a bit of chaos.
Schleswig went up in arms when Denmark was considering annexing the dutchy, which contained both Germanic peoples and Danes. Prussia had been happy to take a trip to Denmark, as he much enjoyed the man, personally. But, Sweden was there as well, supporting the Danes—
“Haha, and making everyone get their frowny faces on!” Poland laughed, dragging down the corners of his mouth. “I swear to gawd, that’s how he looks all the time. Totally.”
“Sweden is a straight-backed son of a bitch. Not a bad guy to have on your side. Just too serious. He couldn’t loosen up unless he was fighting,” Prussia added, getting out another cigarette.
“The Nordics are so weird,” said Poland. “How do you sweety Finland and serious Sweden and crazy Iceland and Norway is all by himself—though I totally love his hair clips—and then you get Denmark, gawd Denmark—“
“Don’t say it like that,” Hungary cut in, rolling her eyes. “He hears admiration from ten leagues away.”
“What’s that? Is he here too?” Prussia put his feet back on the table. “OI! DENMARK!”
Ukraine started a little and poured herself more tea. “Quiet—you’ll startle Latvia.”
“Aw, Latvia, are you okay?” Poland threw an arm around him.
Latvia quivered and wrapped his arms around himself.
Then the door burst open and a black and red uniform dominated the door. “Hey! Who called!”
“Denmark!” called Prussia, jumping up.
“Prussia! I didn’t know you were here!” Denmark leaned across the table and clasped hands with him. Then he looked around the table. “You guys having a little party?”
“Hell yeah, have a—“
“Prussia’s telling stories~!” Poland said.
“You say it like I’m mother-fucking-goose or something.”
“You would be the absolute worst mother goose!” Hungary laughed.
“No one asked you,” said Prussia, handing a cigarette across the table to Denmark as he flopped down in a chair and put a boot on the table.
“She’s right though,” Denmark pointed out.
Prussia laughed. “Well, I never said she was wrong.”
“So, what were you guys talking about?”
“1848,” said Ukraine.
“Ah,” said Denmark. “I see. Hell, what else is there to say. 1848 was fucking nuts. Go on ahead. Oh—hey—can I have a piece of that cake?” He jumped up and grabbed the platter, nodding cheerfully at Ukraine. “Thank you, darling.”
Prussia and Denmark were standing together. Ludwig was sitting at a small table with a glass of Danish mead.
“We should really stop them from killing each other, shouldn’t we?”
Prussia nudged him. “Do you really need to annex them?”
“Well it is mine,” said Denmark. “And Schleswig has Danes, Holstein doesn’t.”
“I’d rather just keep the sta—“
The door flew open and England came storming in, eyes burning, clearly irritated.
“Oh shit,” Denmark snickered. “Look who it is.”
Prussia’s shoulders shook, grinning. “Well if it isn’t England! Cheerio, old pip!”
England was not amused. “You both—!”
“I told you I didn’t want your mediation, England,” said Denmark, standing up and crossing his arms. His fingers lingered on his battle axe but he didn’t draw.
“You two either get your shit together, or I’m sending my fleet!” England snapped, pointing at them. “I am sick and tir—“
“Good fucking God, England. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
England bristled. “Dammit, Prussia—“
“Calm down, England,” Denmark said, laughing. “Prussia and I have no problem talking—“
“Then get your commanders together!” He turned his hard eyes, like chips of jade, on Prussia. “Russia’s Tsar told you the risks—“
“Hey,” Prussia clamped his hand on the hilt of his sword and he heard the scrape of a chair behind him. He glanced back and was pleased to see that Ludwig had not moved a step forward but was watching, eyes like flint. He looked back to England. “We don’t need you looking over our shoulders. Go back, drink some tea and calm the fuck down. ”
England’s eye twitched. “Then learn to control your goddamn people.”
“Prussia and I get along a lot better than our humans. Humans fight too much.”
“Well, we like to fight.”
“Point. But. It’s only fun if we actually get to go all out. Holding back is boring. Sure, this is a war but—hey, it’s not like it’ll be a big deal.”
“Let me warn you, Prussia—that it will be worse for you if you draw this out. No one wants war again right now. You can either sign a treaty with Denmark and end this—or you’ll fight all of us.”
Prussia frowned, eyes hardening. “I don’t take kindly to threats, England.”
Denmark stepped back, smirking. His fingers were caressing the handle of his battle axe. He noticed when Ludwig took two measured steps forward, how the boy’s hand went beneath his cloak, how he looked so ready. Denmark smirked. Shouldn’t surprise me. He is Prussia’s boy.
England squared his stance. “You know I don’t threaten, boy.”
Prussia’s eyebrows lifted and his frown vanished, turning into a mocking smirk. “Boy? Surely the only boys around here are the ones who have never had a woman. Haha, I am—“
“You are fifteen hundred years too young to be anything but a child to me, Prussia. So you two work this shit out. Now. Or I will knock you off the pillar you’ve placed yourself on.”
“You mean like you did to America?”
The room went deathly quiet. Prussia smirked at England, who had his hand on his flintlock. The leather of his gloves creaked. “One disgusting little upstart of a colony lost is of no consequence when one has a history like mine.”
“Oh, yeah, you’re totally right,” Prussia agreed, nodding. “When you’ve got a history of being a total cocksucker—what’s one little bitch that got away?”
England looked down his nose at Prussia. “Indeed. Now either deal with this or step aside and allow me to keep the status quo for you.”
Prussia grinned, cackling and turned around, opening his arms to Denmark. “Got a treaty for me?”
Denmark laughed and his hand slid away from the grip of his axe. He slapped his palm against Prussia’s. “My boss is gonna fuck you over, Prussia. Sorry, bro.”
“Tough shit rule,” Prussia laughed. “You bastard.” I’ll get the duchies back later.
Ludwig’s eyes remained on England, watching the empire.
He seemed to feel it, eyes moving from Denmark and Prussia to the boy. His eyes narrowed, something flitting over his face that Ludwig couldn’t quite name. England said, “You’ve grown, boy.”
Ludwig nodded, once. He didn’t blink.
England’s eyes narrowed. Eyes of steel. He snorted and turned away to leave.
Austria beat Hungary within an inch of her life that year.
Rizi’s daughter, Aniya, had replaced her mother recently and she raced up the stairs with the letter to show Prussia. “Master Beilschmidst!” She burst into the parlor and stumbled.
Ludwig was standing on a stool, being fitted for a new uniform. Prussia was sitting in an armchair close by, watching the tailor. When Aniya entered, he stood, raising a hand to stop Ludwig from moving forward. “What is it?”
“Sir,” she offered the letter. “Hungary has had a revolution! My mother has friends there. They sent her a letter, Sir. And she told me to show you.”
Prussia smiled. “Your mother is an amazing woman. Even when she has retired, she is still so loyal.”
“She loves her country, Sir. As do I.”
He took the letter and opened it to read. “So Hungary has finally tried to get away from Aust…” he blinked, eyes narrowing, “…ria…”
Ludwig’s eyes were trained on Prussia. The tailor continued working, sticking pins and marking with chalk.
“Hmmm,” Prussia mused, reading the relevant bits a few times and then folding up the letter and handing it back. “Thank you very much, Aniya. Tell your mother that she is, even now, irreplaceable to me.”
“Thank you, sir,” she gave him a pretty little bow, not seeing that his eyes had darkened. Too young to see it.
“Please go to the stables and tell the staff to ready my carriage.” She nodded and turned away to do his bidding.
His smile fell away and he turned to Ludwig.
“Did he kill Hungary?” Ludwig asked him.
Prussia smiled. “Your mind is dark, Ludwig. No, she isn’t dead. But we’re going to visit her anyway.”
Prussia paused there, sucking on his cigarette. “Going to need another beer.”
Denmark laughed quietly. “This is the sad part, eh?” He stuck his fork in what remained of Ukraine’s torte.
Prussia smirked up at Hungary.
She shrugged and chuckled. “Ah, it was. You didn’t even show up in the nick of time to beat him off, Gilbert. You got there too late, as always.”
“Well, you never asked for my protection.”
“And I never would have either. I can stave him off.”
Prussia grinned. “Hey, Latvia, go grab a servant and get us a round, would you?” And then he looked to Hungary. “Do you want to tell this part?”
Latvia hopped up and went to the door, vanishing for a minute.
Hungary stretched and took another drink of her beer. “Go on ahead, Gilbert. And dammit, Denmark, quit eating all of that torte. Give that here, I want some before you eat the whole damn thing.”
Prussia smiled and took his beer when Latvia returned, Lithuania in tow, which made Poland scream.
Lithuania jumped. “Felix--!”
Poland jumped up. “Omigod, where have you been? I haven’t seen you in, like, an hour!” He hugged Lithuania and then drug him over to sit with him and Latvia.
When they arrived at Hungary’s house, Ludwig got out first and held the door open. “Is this going to start a war?”
Prussia got out and straightened his glove. “This isn’t political, Ludwig. There is a difference. If I wanted to start a war about Hungary, I would go and beat the hell out of Austria for being such an ass.”
Prussia stepped down the path and went right up to Hungary’s door. Prussia touched the knob. “Locked,” he said, idly, amused.
He knocked. Looked at Ludwig. “To be polite.” He winked.
No one answered.
Prussia kicked the door in.
Ludwig followed him into the foyer until Prussia raised his hand. “Sweep the house. Ensure it’s empty. If you find a soldier, take him into the kitchen and hold him there. If Austria is still here, do nothing.”
“Do you think he will be?”
“No, but it never hurts to indulge paranoia.”
“Do you know where Hungary is?”
Prussia’s eyes didn’t even flicker. “I have a very good idea. Start on the first floor.” He walked away, removing his gloves as he started up the stairs to Hungary’s room.
She was lying on her bed in full military dress. But her clothes were in tatters and her hair was bloody and matted, sticking to the sheets. It made Prussia jolt when he saw it, seeing a different day. He locked his jaw, pushing Brandenburg from his mind and went to her. He knelt on her bed and touched her. “Elizabetha?”
She stirred when he touched her. Her eyes fluttering open—they shot open and her fist flew out and got him crack on the nose. Prussia jerked back, hand flying to his face and he swore, “Goddammit, Hungary! It’s me!”
She was pushing herself up, snarling. “Oh, God, it’s you. What do you want?”
“I came to see if Austria had killed you or not. And to see if I could have Ludwig steal everything that wasn’t bolted down.”
“Sounds like you.”
He smirked. “Well, you seem to be just fine.” He got off the bed and reached down, curling his fist into her collar and jerked her to her feet. He saw how she flinched, how her hands flew up to the one on her collar, how her body tensed. He said nothing of it, just put her on her feet and then let go, so see if she could stand. “Come down to the kitchen,” he said. “I will clean you up.”
She grumbled but allowed him to support her and help her down the stairs.
In the kitchen, Prussia sat her down and said, “So, you wanna make out?”
Her eyes narrowed and she reached up, pulling him down by his collar. “Oh, Gilbert~”
“That is not what happened!”
Prussia burst out laughing. Denmark choked on his beer and reached across the table to bump his knuckles with Prussia. Poland was giggling. “That would make this story awesome!”
“Prussia, that is terrible,” Lithuania admonished, gently, quietly.
“You are such a dick, Gilbert,” Hungary said, glaring at him.
He grinned at Hungary. “I know. It’s such a burden, being me.”
“I did not make out with you. Get on with the story and no more lies!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.”
Ludwig entered to see Prussia helping Hungary remove her jacket. He stiffened a little, but pushed it away—that suddenly flash of—of—. “There is no one in the house, Prussia.”
“Good boy. Come here and help Hungary. Her arm is broken.”
She gritted her teeth and didn’t quite look Ludwig in the face. “I’ll be fine, you jerk. Go away. We heal quickly, remember?”
“Shut up, it’s not as though I’d be here if I didn’t…” He trailed off.
Her eyes narrowed. “Didn’t….didn’t what?”
His smirk returned in a flash. “If I didn’t want to rub it in!” He laughed in her face. “What? Thought I was going to say something sappy?”
“You asshole!” She tried to kick him and he cheerfully dodged. Though she held her broken arm still and allowed Prussia to wipe the blood off her face.
“You ought to just make an alliance with my boss. I’ll help you kick out Austria.”
“You love warring with Austria. I don’t need your help. I’ll be independent someday.”
He shrugged. “Your funeral.”
“And then I married him.” Hungary chuckled.
Prussia snickered. “You did, right after Denmark and I—Second Schleswig War, right after that—you married Austria.”
“Yes,” said Hungary and her eyes were suddenly far away. “After he came back—he was in that war too—after he came back.”
“Do you regret it?” Poland asked.
“I would,” said Denmark, laughing.
“No,” said Hungary. “I don’t. Austria and I have a long history.”
Prussia rolled his eyes. “I think he sucked out your brain.”
“Shut up, you don’t know what it’s like.”
“What—to be married? Hahaha! Why would I want to be!”
“Well, you kind of were,” Poland cut in, raising a hand. “You and Brandenburg—“
“No—“ Prussia interrupted, quickly. “That doesn’t—“
“Stop—wait—hey, there he is! Let’s go!”
“Oh, but, Belgium—he—!”
Everyone looked up.
There was a heavy thump on the door. And then a soft sound like fabric scraping against the wood. “Wait—we—we’re in public, we—“
Another shift against the door. “Let’s—check the knob—we can—“
The door flew open and two people fell in. The smaller one kicked her leg out and the door slammed.
The taller of the two figures flipped himself over onto his back. He started to sit up and then noticed the people around him. His bespeckled blue eyes went wide.
The smaller got up and looked up and then groaned. “Oh geez. If it’s not your damn nosy brother it’s—what is this—and Eastern Europe only party?”
“Hey, hey, Belgium, I’m not Eastern Europe,” said Denmark. “And what are you doing with him?”
“What’s it any concern to you?” Belgium stood and smoothed her uniform. “Brussels is an international city, you know. Did you forget where you are?” She offered her hand to the blond-haired young man, who seemed to be stuck to the ground. “Canada, get up!”
Prussia was laughing. “Way to score, Canada. Your brother nagging at you? You should hit him in the face.”
Canada was blushing up to his roots. “I—I—“
“Oh, hey, I get it!” Poland laughed, pulling on Lithuania’s sleeve. He pointed at Canada. “Maple syrup,”—he pointed at Belgium—“and Belgian waffles! Perfect! Omigod, did you two plan that! That is totally awesome!”
“I, uh, well.” Canada looked at Belgium.
She just laughed. “Oh—hey—is that a torte? I want some.” She swung by Hungary’s chair and nabbed a slice of the cake and sat down next to her. “Come on, Canada.”
Canada hesitated but then came forward and sat with them.
“Don’t feel like the odd man out, Canada,” said Denmark. “You’re just outnumbered and outclassed. And from the other side of the ocean.”
“Denmark,” said Ukraine, her voice, though soft, held a steel edge. “Canada, please feel free to order coffee and whatever sweets might suit you.”
“Thank you, Ukraine,” he said, smiling sheepishly.
“So what are you guys talking about?”
“Revolutions in 1848,” said Lithuania.
“Oh, yeah,” said Belgium. “That was when Switzerland became a federal state.”
“And I got a constitution,” said Denmark.
“And France went all crazy again,” said Poland.
“And I met Otto von Bismarck.”
Prussia liked Bismarck. A perfect mix of sly diplomacy and military right-hook, provoking Austria into a fight, dreamt of unification—Prussia found himself drawn to him. One of his bosses that he really, really liked. And Bismarck even listened to him and took an interest in Ludwig. He was eager to hear the history of Prussia and Prussia enjoyed indulging him and planning with him. He was the only one that Prussia hinted at his true plans and Bismarck helped put them into motion.
When the Seven Weeks War started, Prussia took Ludwig with him but, this time, put the boy in command of his own battalion. He did very well and Prussia beamed with pride, happily rubbing it in Austria’s face.
Italy was there too. On Prussia’s side this time but Ludwig did not acknowledge him. He kept away from him unless absolutely necessary. He did very well until Italy sought him out.
“Holy Roman Empire…”
Ludwig looked up from his book and did the smallest of double-takes. He stood and gave a short bow. “Italy,” he said stiffly.
Italy wibbled. “Holy Roma--
“With all due respect, I am not the Holy Roman Empire any longer. I am a commander under Prussia.”
“Y-you are bigger, now,” Italy whispered.
Ludwig nodded but stayed silent.
They looked at each other.
“Um. Well. I guess. I’m pretty hungry. I’ll. I’m. Going to go get something. Um.”
Ludwig nodded.
Italy hesitated and then turned away, sniffling a little.
Ludwig went back to his book.
Prussia called him to his tent later and said, “I am going to go to Austria. I want you to come and watch.”
“Has a treaty been signed?”
“Yes,” said Prussia and Ludwig noticed that Prussia was changing to a different set of dark leather gloves. “The Peace of Prague. The German Confederation is being dissolved and we are annexing Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel, and Nassau.”
Ludwig smiled. “That’s great, brother.” He didn’t notice the use of ‘we’. “You got those duchies back from Denmark anyway!”
“Yes,” said Prussia, who was smirking. “Just goes to show how things can change. France has to be there to watch, since Austria is too proud to give Venetia directly to Italy—”
“Because Austria crushed them?”
"Precisely. He’s going to give it to France and then France will give it to Italy.”
“Seems like a waste of time.”
“It is but. That’s Europe for you.” Prussia smiled. “Sometime, I will have to take you to Asia and North America and meet the other nations there. Would be an interesting time—since Napoleon the Third doesn’t compare to his uncle.”
Ludwig appeared to think for a moment. “But France is extending influence in China. And did well in the Crimean War—he and England beat Russia. He has taken Vietnam and had a campaign in Korea—“
“But that wasn’t legal.” Prussia reminded him. “France’s government hadn’t authorized action in Korea—and it failed.”
“And that checks France’s influence.” He nodded a little. “So because of that—will France’s influence in Asia decline?”
“It’s very likely.” Prussia looked thoughtful. “Follow me. Tell me more about what’s happening in the world today.”
So he did. As they walked, Ludwig walked just a step behind his brother, straight-backed, voice calm as he recited the news. News of France intervening in Italy—pointing towards the possibility of Italian unification. About France dabbling in Mexico. He spoke about the boy Prussia had trained, the other young nation, America—who was in the midst of civil war. England had sniffed and felt, deep down, that it likely served the little bastard right and France was right along with him—planning to possibly ally with the Confederacy—if only England would officially recognize the south as a separate nation. Russia had openly supported the Union north.
“You see, Ludwig. That’s why grudges are useless. France and England are willing to see the economic downfall of the one they created—because they’re still sore about the boy kicking out one and turning his back on the other. As if they’re never done that to each other a million times.”
“What do you think of America, brother?”
“When I trained him, he was young and naïve and he still is. Unlike you—who spent your time as a child in war torn Europe—America spent his young years in solitude and then grew very, very fast when England showed up. Do you understand the difference? It makes him young and makes you old.”
Ludwig looked sidelong at him as they made their way to their horses. “Do you think I will have potential?”
Prussia smirked. “I want you to think like you do. You have commanded troops in my army to my satisfaction. I have personally trained you. As I did America.”
“And America managed to beat England.”
Ludwig held Prussia’s horse while he mounted it. He looked down at the boy. “Exactly.”
And Ludwig smiled.
Prussia blinked at that smile--that smile--and then grinned. He understands. He is ready. A swell of pride warmed him and he waited for Ludwig to mount his horse.
He was taller, the top of his head near his shoulder. His fine blond hair shone in the sun and he’d started combing it back, away from his face. His blue eyes were like the sky—a spring sky—and he was sure and strong. More confident than he presented himself, able to follow orders, able to perform well in battle. He didn’t break under pressure. He handled power carefully. The only space that Prussia had not yet tested Ludwig was diplomatically. A realm Prussia quickly grew bored with.
He will be tested soon enough.
At the signing and conference, Prussia sat Ludwig on his right and he looked across the table at France. He smirked. This was going to be good.
And then France said, “Oh, Prussia—my emperor wants to buy Luxembourg.”
Prussia burst out laughing.
But France wasn’t joking and threatened war, Prussia was all too happy to rise to the challenge but Russia intervened.
“Let us go to England,” he said, smiling.
Prussia grinned and gently touched Ludwig’s hand. The boy looked at him, seeming puzzled. When Prussia went to London, he took Ludwig with him and he said, “What do you think of Napoleon the Third’s foreign policy?”
“France did not demand that you accept his expansion in exchange for his neutrality in the war with Austria. He just asked that you accept his annexation of Belgium and Luxembourg.”
“Does that puzzle you, boy?”
“Yes. It does.” Ludwig’s young face was solemn. “You no longer need his neutrality and you are the real threat to Napoleon in Europe.”
Prussia nodded. “Napoleon the Third is a silly man. And France is an idiot.”
There was silence for a moment and then Ludwig said, “You can…use that.”
The smirk felt good. So good. It curled up his narrow face. “Yes, Ludwig. We can.” He reached over and clapped him on the shoulder. “It is a comfort to me that you see what I see, Ludwig. You have such promise.”
Ludwig smiled and it was no longer the innocence of younger to elder but…to a friend. To an equal. To a brother. It held loyalty and love and warmth and Prussia may not have been good at expressing anything of the sort but he understood its importance. Brandenburg had taught him that importance—unity, loyalty, brotherhood. The love of a man for his family, the love of a soldier for his commander, the love of a king for his country.
Ludwig reached back, touching Prussia’s shoulder. “I will support you, brother.”
Prussia chuckled. “And I will raise you up.”
“Wow,” said Hungary. “You almost sound like a good man in that light.”
“Hey, hey,” said Belgium. “I’m still independent because Prussia refused to let France take over.”
“We should text France, get him in here for the next bit,” Denmark laughed and the table laughed with him.
“Canada, are you comfortable with this discussion?” Lithuania murmured, leaning over to look at him.
Canada perked. “Oh, oh, no. It’s fine. None of us are perfect. France has done some really stupid things. We all have.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Ukraine murmured.
Denmark got his cell phone out. “Ordering food—what do you guys want?”
Otto von Bismarck watched Prussia sit back in the chair and smile. “You are pleased, Gilbert?”
“I am. Very much so. I like you, Otto. I like where this is going.”
“You’re going to raise the boy above you. He could become more powerful than you. It happened to England and France.”
“The difference is that I raised that boy as a soldier, not as my son. He knew what I expected from him—he knows that respect and loyalty is earned. Not given. England did nothing to keep the loyalty of his subjects in America. He didn't show himself as the boy's commander. He showed that boy that he needed America but that America didn’t need him.”
“Ludwig is loyal to you.” Bismarck was smiling now too.
“He is. And he has earned it. I am loyal to him.”
“You saved him from abolishment. Maybe he will save you one day.”
Prussia snickered. “Let us hope that history does not always repeat itself.
Bismarck took out a sheet of paper. “Then, you are with King Wilhelm and me in thinking the time is ripe.”
“I am, Otto. Make it good.”
It was ridiculously effective. How Prussia laughed and laughed.
Bismarck cleverly edited the account of a meeting between French ambassador Benedetti and the Prussian King Wilhelm the First and published it. The French were led to believe that the king had insulted the ambassador. The Germans believed the ambassador had insulted their king. It was a deliciously simple trap.
Prussia kept Ludwig close to him during the entire process, let the boy read it and contemplate and exam why it worked.
France declared war within the week.
All too easy.
The German confederation united behind Prussia and they wiped France’s army away. Bismarck acted fast, without hesitation, negotiating with the southern German states, bringing them into the fold. A constitution, a national identity—it was built and crafted and one day, Prussia stood next to Ludwig in a richly furnished room in Berlin.
Ludwig hardly paid attention to the glamor of the building around him. He was gazing at Prussia, watching him unfold a wrap of cloth. “What is that, Gilbert?”
Prussia smiled. “Something I have been waiting to give you.” He unwrapped the Iron Cross.
“This is mine, Ludwig and now, it is yours.”
Ludwig inhaled sharply, almost a gasp. “But…Gilbert…that’s…”
“Shut up,” he said. “You’re about to become my equal. This reminds us of our connection to each other.”
“You’ll be all right, won’t you?”
Prussia lifted the cross and pinned it at Ludwig’s collar. “Of course. I always am. You should beware because now that you will no longer be my direct ward, I am going to mock you a lot more.”
Ludwig’s smile was suddenly tremulous, nervous. “Gilbert…my brother—I am…anxious.” He swallowed in the mirror, watching the Cross bob.
“I have raised you as a self-sufficient soldier, Ludwig. You can handle anything.”
Ludwig looked at the floor. “I know that I can do it.”
Prussia nodded. “Absolutely.”
Ludwig shifted. Awkwardly, always awkward—he had never picked up Prussia’s social graces—if you could call them that. Stern and disciplined with a phantom sense of humor that he only showed to a select few but cool-headed and strong on the field. Ludwig looked at him. “Prussia.”
Prussia crossed his arms, smiling. “What is it, Ludwig?”
Ludwig turned to fully face him. “I am what I am today because of you. Thank you.” He bowed and then, rather abruptly, hugged him.
Prussia stiffened automatically and then made himself relax. “You are welcome, Ludwig.”
“Forgive my impertinence.”
Prussia clapped his shoulder, sort of half-hugging him. “You are, of course.” He gently pulled back, squeezing Ludwig’s shoulder. “Now, let us make a nation of you.”
Bismarck was taking care of the people-details. He was very, very good at it. One of his few bosses that Prussia felt like he didn’t have to babysit. So Prussia let him handle that—all the treaties and such—and Prussia organized a party in Berlin for Ludwig, where he would officially name him, in the way of nations.
A dinner and drinks and dancing. France didn’t come but England did and America and Canada came and Spain, the Scandinavians and Eastern Europe. He invited Asia but China refused and Japan was in the middle of the Meiji Restoration and—well—Prussia hadn’t had much to do with Asia anyway. And the West was always in the process of fucking the East in one way or
another, so introducing them to another who might end up doing that same just seemed sort of tacky, even for Prussia. Besides, they always refused to dance or try any of their food.
America stayed away from everyone at first. He lingered at the edge of the room, avoiding England, who was keeping Canada close. But then Russia went to America, drew him out of the corner, so that was all right.
The Scandinavians were all sitting together, until Denmark started drinking and got up on his chair. Then Sweden shoved him off and Norway jumped up to catch him, so he wouldn’t smack his head on the floor.
Norway sagged. “Help me. He’s heavy. Denmark, get up.”
“Wow, that hasn’t changed at all!” Denmark laughed, jumping up to open the door. “Hey, Iceland! Norway! Ireland! Christ, how many of you came? Oh, hey, Estonia.”
“We were in the lobby when the guys showed up with your food order, so we took it to bring it back,” Norway said.
“Whoever ordered chicken with the baked potatoes,” said Ireland, smirking. “It was good.”
“You bitch,” Prussia moaned. “Goddammit. Hey, Poland, let me have some of yours?”
“Ah, whatever~! As if, Gil.”
“Canada, what are you doing here?”
Canada looked slightly embarrassed. “I’m. I’m talking with them. Uh.”
“He’s with me,” Belgium clarified.
“They’re exploring their mutual love of waffles and syrup, apparently,” said Denmark, smirking and holding out a cigarette to Ireland. “Sounds sticky.”
“Shut up!” Canada begged. “Please don’t tell France or America, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Ireland grinned and took it, giving a nod of understanding and a thumbs up. “Well, Australia is on his way—he stopped to grab a drink and he said he’d follow me here.”
“How’s he going to do that?” Ukraine asked.
“Howard. Don’t ask me how,” said Ireland, pulling up a chair. “That koala of his is evil.”
“So what’s the meeting about?” asked Estonia.
“Nineteenth century,” said Hungary. “And stop inviting people. It’s getting stuffy in here. I’m not sharing my food.”
Iceland stood by the door, just watching quietly until Ukraine pulled a chair out beside her and gestured for Iceland to sit, which he did after a moment’s hesitation.
“Oh my god, Norway, your hair clips are so cute. Where do you get them!”
Prussia looked around at the impromptu gathering which had started so small and shrugged. “Guess I should finish this off.”
“Yeah,” said Hungary, “especially since you don’t have any food now.”
“Shut up.”
Ludwig came when Prussia hailed him, standing next to his brother and looking out at the many, many nations of the world. He had met only a small number of them. Soon…I’ll be meeting them all…
Prussia tapped his fork against a glass and raised it when silence fell. “When I was a little brat and so full of innocence—“
Hungary burst out laughing, shattering the silence.
Prussia struggled not to. “Ahem—still thinking Hungary was a boy—“
“Hey--!”
“I knew someone who is forgotten now. Brandenburg, who has come to shape much of what I am now.” He paused, as if to await a catcall but no one did. “When I took up this boy, I had no idea what to expect from him but it has turned out very rewarding. So.” He picked up a glass of beer. “We older nations remember the naming parties but you young ones that came from colonies—Canada, America and so on—you never got one and for shame. You’ll just have to party tonight to make up for it.” He drank from the glass of beer and then held it out.
Ludwig took it, meeting Prussia’s eyes. He felt Prussia’s hand descend on his shoulder, giving it a stiff squeeze. Ludwig nodded and his brother smirked.
Ludwig drank.
Prussia let him go and turned to the crowd. “My younger brother, I present him to you now no longer as the Holy Roman Empire, no longer by his human name and no longer as merely someone I command. I present him as my brother-nation, Germany. ”
Germany looked out, where America was heartily applauding. Where the Scandinavians were trying to keep Denmark in his chair and politely clap at the same time (except Iceland, who looked to be spacing out). Where England didn’t frown but he didn’t smile either and where Canada was looking interested in all the different people, looking a little sad when he saw his brother and raised his hands as if to clap but saw England wasn’t and so lowered them. Where Spain raised his glass and drank, where Austria sat in his chair and smiled a little bit, where Belarus was sitting stiff like England and Switzerland was drinking and Belgium was laughing; Ukraine was clapping nicely and Russia was standing still as a great tree but he was smiling and speaking to America—
Now, I am like them. I will stand with them and against them and for them and beside them.
Prussia stood beside him and then Hungary appeared in front of him and he blinked, started a little. He smirked, opened his mouth—
“Don’t you dare ask me about Roderich.”
He snickered. “Glad to see he let you come.”
“It’s not as though I am a prisoner. He’s actually not that bad.” She turned to Germany, shaking his hand and congratulating him.
Prussia rolled his eyes and walked away, stealing a drink from someone’s table and downing it fast.
“Was your naming party as wild as Germany’s was?” asked Hungary.
Prussia shrugged. “No idea. Don’t remember.”
“You liar. There’s no way you forgot.”
“I forgot.”
“I remember everyone talking about it,” said a sleepy voice.
Everyone looked up.
“Who…?” wondered Estonia.
“Ah! Greece!” Canada exclaimed. “He’s under the table!”
He was, curled up. “Prussia, you set the building on fire.” He idly reached up, scratching his mussed hair.
Prussia looked under the table. “Have you been down there the entire time?”
“Yes,” he murmured, sitting up a little and petting his kitten.
“You are so weird,” Poland informed him, lifting an eyebrow. “To the max.”
Ukraine leaned down too. “Would you like some cake, Greece? Or perhaps some coffee.”
“I would. Very much.”
“So that’s the whole story,” said Denmark, climbing up to stand on the table. “You raised the little bastard until he became Germany and worked that shit out until the world wars—and let’s not have a mood kill talking about those--just goes to show what a crappy boss can do.”
“Everyone gets them at some point,” agreed Ireland.
"Or the irony in Prussia saving Germany from abolishment and then Germany abolishing Prussia during--" Lithuania whacked Poland over the head.
The door opened again. But this time, it was Germany.
“Hey, speak of the devil,” said Denmark, reaching down and grabbing Norway around the waist and pulling him up onto the table, despite his struggles.
Germany looked around at the group of them, then under the table of Greece and then back up. “I was looking for England.” And then, “Devil?”
Canada pulled his sweatshirt sleeve back to check his watch. “It’s almost four—England will be having tea somewhere. He’s probably out.”
“Don’t worry about it; the Devil, I mean,” said Hungary.
“Thank you, Canada. I will—“
“I’ll help you look,” said Prussia, standing up from his chair and stealing a bite of Hungary’s meat. “I need to get away from all these nosy dumbasses.”
Germany sighed. “We won’t find England if you come with me. You’ll want to stop and get a beer.”
“What’s wrong with that? If it’s truly important then it can wait. Belgium has great beer.”
The corner of Germany’s mouth turned up but he didn’t refuse, letting Prussia follow him out.
“You know, for any other, Germany would have refused,” Hungary told her beer.
Ukraine smiled. “That’s Prussia for you.”
Outside, Germany said, “What were you all talking about?”
“You.”
Germany started and jerked his eyes over. “Wh-what?”
“They wanted to know if I nursed you on beer.”
That made Germany smile. “What did you tell them?”
Prussia pointed to a pub and headed for the door. “That it certainly wasn’t wine.” He winked. “You chose that yourself.”
Germany shook his head, not quite laughing but not silent either. “You are such a—“
“Loving, wonderful brother?”
Germany snorted as they sat down at the bar. “Not what I was going to say, but it will suffice.”
1. Schleswig and the two wars concerning it.
2. The various revolutions of 1848
3. I never learned about this in high school--about France and England wanting to side with the Confederacy. It's interesting. Russia was the only nation to support the Union North. Go Russia.
4. Bismarck was a crafty bastard. The Elms Dispatch.
