Thank you very for such lovely compliments, warms my heart, it keeps me going and pumped up for writing more! ๐ป I would love delve deeper into such concepts although it will be rather short and simple. Gilbert is a bastard when it comes to giving advices, itโs always a clean cut which heโs aiming for. ๐โจ
Warning: Contains usual yandere themes, mentions of violence and drinking.
๐ฉ๐ช
Beratung
The aroma of coffee permeates the air as he is pulled back by his shoulders, his head meeting a solid, sturdy chest while his brother playfully ruffles his hair. In that moment, he feels like a mischievous teenager caught in the act, rather than a towering young man he has become.
A small cough escapes his lips, accompanied by specks of blood staining the pristine white shirt, drawing a disapproving glance from his older brother. However, his brother remains silent for a while, taking deep drags from his cigarette as they both stand beneath the glow of a streetlight.
Ludwig winces as he wipes his bruised nose, attempting to compose himself and maintain a semblance of dignity. He is already embarrassed about being forcibly removed from the bar by his brother.
โEine ziemliche Schlรคgerei, aye junge?โ his brother remarks, exhaling smoke that twists and weaves into intricate patterns as it ascends, Ludwig pointedly disregards the accusatory taunt. Both of them hear a crashing sound coming from inside the bar, followed by the slamming of a door.
They catch a fleeting glimpse of Lovino supporting a drunken Florentyna, their figures visible for a moment before disappearing around a corner.ย
โWas it him?โ
Ludwig offers a slight nod, opting not to elaborate further, although he knows his brother wasnโt known to let such incidents slide so easily. It could work in his favor or against him.
The cigarette beneath Gilbertโs polished boots is crushed, his gaze scrutinizing Ludwig until their eyes finally meet.ย
โWell? I expect more than just a nod from you,โ Gilbert presses, his disappointment evident. It was far from ideal that his older brother had been urgently summoned due to a bar brawl. Damn it, that cantankerous bartender should have kept his nose out of it.
โDonโt curse that old man in your thoughts,โ Ludwig winces audibly at the retort, confirming Gilbertโs suspicion that Ludwig had indeed cursed out the elderly man for doing precisely what Gilbert had instructed him to do in such situations.
โFrancisโ that French Arschfickerโ was the one who started it allโ,
Ludwigโs attempt to shift the blame onto Francis, earns him nothing more than an exaggerated eye roll and an indifferent look, further dampening his mood.
โIโm not here for a game of blame, Ludwig. What I witnessed was you nearly tearing Felicianoโs head off with a shard from a broken bottle.โ
In response, Ludwig merely huffs with pride, which promptly results in a firm smack to his head.
โJust tell me what caused all of this and who was involved. And donโt you dare feed me some bullshit, you hear me, junge?โ Gilbertโs voice carries a stern warning.
Ludwig rubs the back of his head and his neck, his embarrassment growing by the minute. Here he is, being scolded by his brother in the dead of night. He wonders if Gilbert had been sleeping or simply lounging around, which would explain the presence of the cigarette.
When Gilbert made his entrance into the bar, there was a contemplative air about him. Swiftly, he had landed a powerful punch on Antonio, knocking him down, and forcefully slammed Francisโ face against the wall. It appeared that he had been suppressing his frustrations and had finally found a way to release them.
โThey were making comments about her,โ Ludwig admitted, studying Gilbertโs expression closely. In response, Gilbert simply shrugged and let out a deep sigh.
โSo what? They insulted your manhood? Is that what this was all about? Antonio is going to whine like a little bitch about his broken nose, you know.โ
โThat would be Francis,โ Ludwig spat out the name as if it were burning his tongue, causing Gilbert to raise an eyebrow.
โHe wasโฆ well, he kept going on about how I wasnโt experienced enough and how I couldnโt handle her if it came down to it. He was insulting me, Brรผder, and then he just HAD TO BRING UP SOME BURIED SHIT!! And then Lovinoโฆ that damn bitch had a lot to say about love and pleasure and shitโ,
Gilbert simply let Ludwig vent out his frustrations in a stream of jumbled and incomprehensible sentences, while he attempted to wipe away the previous droplets of blood off his shirt. His efforts were futile, sadly.
"I just hate that I feel so inferior compared to them. Iโฆ.. I donโt know what to do anymore. Even she makes me feel that way, as if Iโm just pathetic. I try to be patient, but Verdammt!โ
โYou let her think that, holding yourself back and all, donโt you?โ Gilbert interjects.
Ludwig runs his hand through his hair, smoothing it down after nearly tearing it out in frustration. He closes his eyes, admitting that yes, he does let her think that way. He holds himself back, afraid of scaring her or confirming the doubts others have about him. He nods in agreement.
โWell, then youโre a dumbfuck. Stop caring about what others say and handle her directly. Put your foot down instead of tiptoeing around like an uncertain school kid,โ Gilbert asserts.
Ludwig groans in response, ignoring the intense stare from Gilbert. He knows deep down that it shouldnโt matter what others say, but he canโt help replaying their demeaning words in his mind. It becomes too much, especially when they start speaking about you, insinuating that he canโt please you or even handle you. Thatโs when he lost control.
When they began to critique your relationship with him.
โLutz, itโs not going to be easy to handle a fully grown woman if you continue down this path,โ Ludwigโs hand descends slightly to his cheek as he attentively listens to Gilbertโs words. โYou have to be tough, be patient if you want that, but if you fold so easily, then youโre in for a difficult time.โ
โItโs not about them demeaning or underestimating you, shit.โ
Gilbertโs lips purse as he opens a soda can with a resounding clang, swiftly followed by a massive gulp. His gaze fixates on the empty streets ahead, his eyes narrowing as he mutters, โItโs you belittling and underestimating yourself.โ
Ludwig raises a brow as Gilbert grabs him by the shoulders again, both of them stumbling along the sidewalk. A couple of minutes pass as Gilbert empties the soda can and effortlessly crushes it in his fist.
โSome women require a bit of building, some require a bit of molding, and others a bit of breaking. Not everyone is made the same.โ
โIโm notโฆ uh, Iโm not quite sure about that,โ Ludwig responds, voicing his uncertainty.
Gilbert pays no heed to his comment as he continues, seemingly pondering how to ensure his brother doesnโt mess things up too badly, or else he would have to intervene himself.
โThatโs the issue, youโre not sure about yourself in the first place. Buckle up, Bruder. Your woman isnโt going to be a walk in the park. Sheโs bursting with passionate fire, and sheโll end up stinging your ass if you donโt get yourself together.โ
Ludwig remained silent for a while, his brows furrowing slightly as he walked alongside his brother. Gilbertโs gaze was fixed on the moon, which hung in the sky above them.ย
โWe donโt get to love so easily, Ludwig,โ Gilbert spoke softly, his voice tinged with a hint of melancholy. โWe never had that privilege. For beings like us, humans have always been transient beings, fleeting like dust that settles for a few brief years.โ
Ludwigโs gaze shifted to his brother, his features reflecting a mix of understanding and sadness. He knew that all too well.ย
โYou remember your pretty little Snow White?โ Gilbertโs voice took on a nostalgic tone, breaking the previous melancholy atmosphere. Ludwig turned to him with a bewildered expression, caught off guard by the sudden shift in topic.
โBruder! That was different. I was a child!โ Ludwig replied, his tone laced with exasperation.
โWell, you sucked at wooing a lady back then, and it seems you havenโt improved much, maybe those cunts do have a pointโ Gilbert remarked, his words laced with a hint of mockery. Ludwig shot him an offended glare, but Gilbert responded with a half-hearted smirk.
โIf I hadnโt caught you being so captivated by that young Mรคdchen, I wouldnโt have even known she was your type,โ Gilbert continued. Ludwig let out a frustrated sigh,ย
โOkay, thatโs enough,โ he interjected, his voice firm. โLetโs just go home.โ
โI even considered arranging a marriage between the two of you, you know, get you a wife,โ Gilbert added, his tone filled with reminiscence. โDo you have any idea how proud this old man was? to see his young boy finally muster some manly balls?โ
Ludwig stared at him with a nonchalant expression, a look of surprise on his face.ย
โWhat?โ
His confusion is ignored once again.
Gilbertโs grip only tightened on Ludwigโs forearm, who had a hint of embarrassment coloring his expression. โMy point is, itโs alright to chase your romantic dreams and indulge in all that teenage shenanigan bullshit,โ he began, his voice tinged with sarcasm and sincerity.
โBut now youโre dealing with a strong-headed woman, not some delicate Victorian-era Snow White. Itโs okay to have lovey dovey expectations, but as a man, you need to stand your ground and make your intentions clear,โ Gilbert continued, his tone firm. โDonโt play around or mess things up, Ludwig. Tread carefully, or youโll end up with a tangled mess of threads.โ
Ludwig hummed, his expression growing more grounded as he narrowed his eyes in deep thought. He absorbed Gilbertโs words, carefully considering their implications.
โSo, youโre suggesting that I should be more assertive and dominant,โ Ludwig started with a thoughtful tone.
โI am suggesting that you donโt fuck around too much, donโt be too arrogant-minded or violent like that Danish imbecile or that Russian bruteโ.
The blond shifted awkwardly with his boots, gaze fixated on the beer stains which he grimaced at. His brother better not see that unless he wanted to hear another lecture.
He had heard Mathias bragging about his darling, apparently a daring young woman herself. Although his comments were, uh, quite something.
โAnd also, donโt think too much with your dickโ,
Ludwig roughly choked on his own spit, taken aback by the unexpected comment.
Gilbert, however, responded with a dismissive eye roll. He casually took out the car keys from his pocket and opened the passenger door, signaling for Ludwig to get in, even though it was Ludwigโs own car. Reluctantly, he made his way to the passenger seat.
With a smooth purr, the carโs engine roared to life and soon they were on their way to wherever Gilbert wanted to go.
โYou gotta wait for the right moment to strike, bide your time patiently, you would be surprised what France goes through with his Dame or any other nationโ,
โWhat did she do?โ
Ludwigโs curiosity got the better of him and couldnโt help but ask eagerly, for someone who was commenting on his lack of experiences, it was amusing to know the Frenchman had issues of his own when it came to his darling.
Gilbert smirked, his eyes glimmering with amusement. โTurns out sheโs quite the escape artist. Sheโs resourceful and has a way with words and her cunning mind.โ
Ludwig raised a brow in interest as his brother continued,
โThe last I heard, she caused the poor man to have flashbacks when she decided to reenact the events of the French Revolution using a butcher knife.โ
The blond snorted, well thatโs what he gets, as he turned on the radio to some shitty pop song.
โReally?โ,
โJaโ.
The romantic man had gone on and on about how to treat a woman, wooing them and intending to jab at Ludwigโs lack of experience when it came to such things.
Thatโs where the Italian brothers had joined in, with their unwanted advices which turned into passive insults. Soon enough, Antonio retorted how Lovino was like a neutered cat when it came to his bella. Which resulted in a furious bar fight which others joined in.
It hadnโt taken long after that, when Feliciano in his drunken confidence commented on Ludwigโs misfortune with women. And how his darling would be better off with someone else.
This led to Ludwigโs attempt to send him to the heaven above using a piece of broken glass shard, after punching the shit out of him.
A serene atmosphere filled the car as both brothers listened to the radio, only one of them was cringing with disdain at some of the lyrics. After a while, Gilbert started again, turning down the volume of the radio.
โThatโs the issue with these so-called romantic nations, they donโt think critically when they need to. Diving head first into situations with a bleeding heart only leaves you vulnerable and not to mention, with a fucking mess to clean up afterโ.
โYou gotta be careful and tactical, donโt let emotions and feelings cloud your judgment and think with a straight mind about how to tackle the situationโ.
He gets a firm nod with a determined resolve.
The radioโs volume increased again. Neither Ludwig nor Gilbert had spoken for a while, and the world seemed to be at a standstill in the late hours of the night.
As the car slows down to a crawl, Ludwig blinks in confusion, taken aback by the sudden change in pace.
Then, an overwhelming surge of boiling anger courses through Ludwigโs veins, threatening to consume him.ย
The frustration within him intensifies, and he clenches his fist tightly, wanting to shatter the noisy radio into pieces.
Ludwig quickly realizes that his dear older brother had carefully arranged for someone to monitor her every action, collecting any possible information and meticulously organizing every aspect beforehand.
โConsider this a tutorial, huh?โ,
Even though it is late, he observes that you radiate a lively energy, your laughter echoing loudly. A rosy hue adorns your cheeks, overflowing with an infectious joy that fills his heart with warmth, you looked so beautiful, even with tired eyes and wild, messy hair.
He doesnโt register his brotherโs words. No, his eyes are on you. And some piece of swine whoโs holding you so intimately, brown hair and judging by the light, he had gray eyes. Both of you looked like a youthful couple after a casual date. He didnโt know who he was, was he your date or just some random cousin?
Nonetheless, he had to go. Cut out of the picture, burnt, for all he cared.
โWas fรผr eine Schรถnheitโ
Ludwigโs eye twitches with barely contained jealousy.