hetalia | [Fanfic] Drag This Blade 'Cross My Bloody Heart

Title: Drag This Blade 'Cross My Bloody Heart
Characters: Prussia, Austria, Germany, Hungary (Carli is Austria's maid)
Rating: T +13
Summary: In a war-torn era, Austria loses his men and opera house to Germany... and his only love to Prussia.
Warning: Mild language, with some alcoholic references, and suggestive themes.

~*~

Carli: *opens the music room door and peers inside* E-excuse me, Herr Roderich, but ... you have a guest.

Roderich: *turns his head, his glasses glinting from the evening sunlight* Oh? Show them in, then.

Carli: *gives a slight bow, before disappearing, Ludwig returning in her place*

Roderich: Ah... Ludwig. *smiles, standing* What a pleasant surprise.

Ludwig: *extends a hand forward to shake Roderich's, his posture impeccably straight*

Roderich: *adjusts his glasses* To what reason do I owe this pleasure?

Ludwig: Mmph. It won't be nearly such a pleasant visit, in a moment, I'm afraid. *draws up a folder from his side* Roderich, I heard just recently that your opera house is still running. Is this true? *opens the cover and filters through the first couple of pages*

Roderich: *blinks rapidly, before clearing his throat, his hand adjusting his cravat* Yes, that is true.

Ludwig: And as I understand it, there are quite a few men among the theatre troupe. Is this also true?

Gilbert: *watches his brothers with narrowed eyes*

Roderich: Yes... Of course that is true.

Ludwig: *hands Roderich a handwritten roster, but doesn't look him in the eye* These are the men that have been enlisted into the army.

Roderich: *stares at the German's rigid brow line before accepting the roster, eyes slowly traveling down to it* ...But these men are not practiced in fighting! The closest they've come to drawing a sword is with rubber replacements!

Ludwig: *is silent for a few moments, taking in Roderich's words, before looking at him, his jaw tight* I trust you'll see to it that they be informed.

Roderich: Just one minute, Ludwig! *tears the paper from the clipboard, crumpling it in his fist* You cannot for a moment think these men are fit for war! It's out of the question! They will not be going with you!

Ludwig: It isn't up for you to decide, Roderich. *arranges the papers in a tidy stack, before closing the folder* These are my orders, and I'm trusting you to handle it. If you cannot, then Gilbert shall take over operations in your country.

Gilbert: *blinks rapidly* Oi, I have enough to worry about, West. I don't need his problems, too! Make him deal with it! *opens his mouth again, before falling silent under his brother's stare*

Roderich: *stiffens, gaze fixed on Ludwig's broad shoulder* ... You are unbelievably insane. *tosses the wadded paper to the floor, stepping over it to reach his piano bench*

Ludwig: Is that a 'no', then?

Roderich: *a tremor runs through his fingers before he places them on the ivory keys; swallows quietly, not turning as he answers* I will give you your sacrifices.

Ludwig: Also, I came to inquire if Elizavéta is here, in your house.

Gilbert: *breathes in sharply through his nose*

Roderich: *fingers crash on the keys, his shoulders arched stonily* Yes, she is here.

Ludwig: *tips the bill of his military cap with two fingers* Then I'll bid you a good day, Roderich, and find her on my own.

Roderich: *stays, unmoving, on his bench, his shoulder blades pinched together, his hands slowly curling into fists on his thighs*

Ludwig: *walks toward the door, and opens it slightly, before looking back* Oh, and Roderich, I left you a new uniform with your maid, Carli. Please let me know if it's fitted correctly.

Gilbert: *eyebrows raise, before glancing over at the brunette*

Roderich: *snaps his head up, the bench toppling over in his haste to stand, his hand snatching up a vase of edelweiss and hurling it at Ludwig's head* LEAVE ME!

Ludwig: *exits silently, closing the door behind him*

Roderich: *shoulders rise as he breathes heavily, before straightening and dragging a hand below his lips* Verdammt, Ludwig. Verdammt noch mal alle in die Hölle. *leans against the piano, a hand over his heart*

Gilbert: Roddy ... ?

Roderich: *breath cracks as he swivels hastily, loose bangs falling across his violet eyes* Wäs?! Do you wish to take something, too? *glasses slip down his nose from beading sweat* I saw the scattered books! *flings a stack of sheet music at the Prussian* And the buttons! You stained my couch with your LUST!

Gilbert: *raises his hands, causing the sheet music to burst, and float to the ground every which way* Roderich! Calm down!

Roderich: Do you wish to ruin me?! I know she has two sides! *storms forward, grabbing a fistful of Gilbert's collar and tugging hard* I know she has darker wishes than simple caresses and poetry!

Gilbert: *glances down at Roderich's clenched fist, bunching the fabric around his neck, choking him slightly* I didn't sleep with her to ruin you!

Roderich: *words tangle in his throat, spilling out in a mangled groan* Elizavéta... *releases Gilbert's shirt, stumbling away, clutching the knot of his cravat, tears trickling down his cheekbones, mingling with the sweat*

Gilbert: *watches him, his eyebrows furrowed and chest heavy, as he tries to fix his black tie*

Roderich: *stumbles to the wine cabinet, his fingers fumbling in his pocket* Where... Where are the... *tears into the hole, ripping the coat down the seam* Wo sind die verdammten Schlüssel?! *grabs the metal rods in his fingers, scraping the wood around the lock as he tries to fit one in*

Carli: *knocks on the door and opens it, sticking her head in* Herr Roderich?

Roderich: *turns the key in its lock, flinging open one of the cabinet doors* 1867... 1867... *the bottles clank as he searches through them, before extracting one from the back, ripping the stopper away* 1867 was a good year. *tips his head back, gulping the bitter liquid, eyes squeezed tightly shut; coughs, red trickling from the corners of his mouth, before taking a deeper swig*

Carli: *eyes flicker to Gilbert* Sir Ludwig requests that you leave with him and give my master some space, please.

Roderich: *red beads fall to the rug underfoot, staining the woven threads crimson* Ja, lass mich in Ruhe. Das ist mein Schicksal. (Yes, leave me alone. This is my fate.)

Gilbert: *tugs on the bottom of his jacket, and straightens his posture, before heading toward the door, Carli moving out of his way* You know, Roderich ... *glances back him, his hand resting on the doorframe* She would still sleep with you, if you would but allow it. *brows knit together, before departing, as well*

Roderich: *bottle slips from his hand, shattering on the rug, as he falls against the cabinet, holding the open door for support*

Gilbert: *descends down the stairs quickly, taking in deep breaths to compose himself, before meeting up with Ludwig in the foyer*

Ludwig: *turns and watches as Gilbert makes his way toward him* Has he calmed down, any?

Gilbert: *gives a slight shake of his head, as he reaches the last step and walks across the stone floor, the heels of his military boots clicking* Nein. He's taken to cursing and drinking to collect himself, better.

Ludwig: Hmph. Well, we each find our own poisons, don't we?

Gilbert: Bruder, what did you have to speak with Elizavéta about? *places his arms behind his back, his stance automatically likening to an "at ease" position*

Ludwig: *raises his eyebrows, as he looks at his watch* Military matters. I asked for her help in running a campaign out of Berlin.

Gilbert: Wäs? Warum?

Ludwig: Don't play stupid, bruder. You know why. *lowers his wrist* Mein driver is late. *glances at Gilbert from the corner of his eye, before sighing* If you'd like, you can go and speak with her. God only knows when the next time might be that you see her again.

Gilbert: *straightens, before clicking his heels together and saluting his brother*

Ludwig: That ... that isn't necessary. Just go, before I change my mind. *turns and faces the door* She was in her apartment when I left her.

Gilbert: *nods, and ducks out, practically scrambling up the stairs*

Elizavéta: *pulls her hair through the knotted kerchief binding it, dropping the fabric to her vanity table* Sokkal jobb. (Much better.) *rests on the cushioned seat, staring at the sagging gray beneath her eyes, before dragging a brush through her chestnut locks*

Gilbert: *bursts through the door, too pressed for time to bother knocking* Elizavéta!

Elizavéta: *lurches slightly, surprise widening her eyes* Ah, Gilbert... *shoulders visibly slacken* What's wrong?

Gilbert: I ... *stops short and stoops over slightly to catch his breath* I came to say ... "auf wiedersehen". I'm leaving with Ludwig.

Elizavéta: *pauses, the brush hovering above the vanity before clicking atop it* I... see. Yes, of course. *stands slowly, aware of every tick of the old clock's hands* Well, then, I suppose I'll see you on the battlefield... sometime. *gives a half-spirited smile* Just like old times, mm?

Gilbert: Ja. Of course! *gives a laugh* When are you coming to Berlin?

Elizavéta: I'll be there shortly, just as soon as I've slipped through the Soviet's borders. They're closing in quickly. *touches the end of a hair strand, stroking it subconsciously*

Gilbert: When ... do you leave Vienna? *eyebrows knit together, a bit alarmed that she'll be dealing with Russia*

Elizavéta: At daybreak. I am needed immediately, we have no time to spare with leisurely packing. *grabs her brush and kerchief, turning to drop them in an open travel bag*

Gilbert: *blinks* Ludwig doesn't waste any time ...

Elizavéta: He has no time to waste. *unties her apron, folding it over her arm twice, before dropping it into the bag as well*

Gilbert: *head turns toward the window slightly, with the sound of tires pulling up on the gravel outside, his heart sinking*

Elizavéta: *glances up at him* That'll be your ride, yes?

Gilbert: *clears his throat, nodding, as realization dawns on him* Well ... I guess ...

Elizavéta: *smile wavers* ...this is goodbye? *holds his gaze, her jade eyes searching his for unspoken sentiments, a knot twisted in her throat*

Gilbert: *eyelids lower despondently, his hand reaching out to tuck a piece of her hair back behind her ear* Auf wiedersehen ... mein vogel ... *rests it on her cheek, briefly, before pulling it back to his side*

Elizavéta: *catches his hand, gazing at is as she turns it over, tracing the faded scars on his palm* Viszlát, lelkem. (Goodbye, my soul.) *presses the raised flesh to her lips*

Gilbert: *a shudder runs through him, as her lips touch his skin, his eyes stinging briefly* Hahh ... *pulls his hand completely from her grasp, and turns away, taking his departure*

Elizavéta: *watches him retreat, her heart growing icier with each of his footfalls, before she slumps onto the bed, her eyes staring into nothing*

{Ludwig, Gilbert, Carli played by albino_gil}
{Roderich, Elizavéta played by Me}