Germany x Reader ~The Weight of Porcelain~ 1

-Part 1-

There wasn't a single mirror in the house. The blinds were sealed shut and any glass that had once been proudly displayed in the lounge was taken away for reasons you did not fully understand.

"____________, you should finish your water," Ludwig said when you nearly got up to leave the table.

"I'm not thirsty anymore," you replied with a stoic expression, but Ludwig's icy stare made you think otherwise.

"It's important to keep yourself hydrated," he said. "Please finish your water."

"Alright," you sighed. "I'll finish it." With that, you took your glass of water and downed it in a few gulps.

Then, Ludwig scooted out of his chair and leaned over to your face with a napkin to wipe away the stray droplets. When he was done, he gave you an approving nod that meant you were free to go.

"Hey, Ludwig, Gilbert's coming today, isn't he?" you asked remembering you had overheared a phone call he had made with his brother yesterday.

"He is," Ludwig nodded. "You should get dressed right now."

You silently pressed your lips together and nodded just like he did. Then, you began to balance yourself against the railing constructed throughout the house and started to make your way to your room. By the time you would get there, Ludwig would be done washing the dishes.

Your hair never had any knots thanks to Ludwig's meticulous habits. He did everything for you: dress you, feed you, tuck you in bed, wash your clothes…The list went on. You were practically no more than a small child to him, but your relationship was different.

There weren't any memories of what had happened during the time you were sleeping, but Ludwig had said many things had happened in the time you had been gone.  How old did that make you? You had asked him once, but he had never gotten back to your question.

Ludwig had said you were still recovering so until then, he had refused to let you leave the house. You didn't mind too much, though. Your mobility skills were as efficient as a three year-old child's, and your ability to think beyond simplistic reasoning was far too much for you to grasp.

It took a while for you to start talking again. It was like you had completely forgotten how to speak. However, Ludwig had been patient with you, guiding you and watching you every step of the way. Shortly after being able to speak again, you were able to walk—but just barely.

You never saw anyone save for two people. The windows were always shut tight like a prison trying to bar you inside the house. Every once in a while, Ludwig's older brother, Gilbert, would visit from another place and bring you little gifts from the outside world.

Gilbert was different than Ludwig: while Ludwig's hair was blonde and combed back, Gilbert's was a platinum silver and slightly messy; while Ludwig's eyes were an icy blue, Gilbert's were a fiery red; while Ludwig's personality consisted of patient and serious, Gilbert's was obnoxious and arrogant. You liked Gilbert. Whenever he came over, he brought some noise into the house making the space feel alive. Like a favorite uncle coming over to visit his dear little niece, he would tell you stories about what sorts of things he was doing while Ludwig took care of you. Last time, he told about how he got to visit a hospital on the other side of the world to sell a special type of medicine that had the ability to regenerate body parts. You wondered what sort of stories he would tell you this time around.

"How long is Gilbert going to stay this time?" you asked excitedly as Ludwig tied a ribbon in your hair.

"Just for two days," he answered. "He has to go back to work after he visits."

"Oh…" You frowned. Two days wasn't enough time to hear very many stories. Even when Gilbert came, it wasn't just to see you; he had business to take care of with his brother. Neither Gilbert nor Ludwig would tell you what they did, but you knew one thing for sure: it had something to do with you.