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Prussia unlocked Austria’s front door with a feeling of familiarity from doing it the day before, he smiled proudly at the pristine state of the residence as he entered the house. Glancing around the spotless front room, his gaze fell to Roderich, he slept on the couch, the same position he’d left him in.
He walked over to him and observed the sleeping figure, not understanding how one could sleep in such uncomfortable looking frilly attire. He looked to check the grandfather clock, who even used analog clocks anymore? Noticing the time drawing near to that of the doctor’s appointment, he stretched out an arm to reach the brunette’s pale face, tugging on his cheek to wake him.
He felt the body jolt and his hand was smacked away, failing to hear the irritated reprimands over his own laughter.
“Get up, we’re going to the doctor.” He told him after Roderich finished his scolding, the frustration on his expression changing to one of confusion.
“What are you talking about?” He questioned, reaching for his glasses on the side table and putting them on.
“That,” Gilbert pointed to the corset laying abandoned on the wooden floor, “is fucking up your health, so we’re getting a different one at the doctor’s.” He explained.
Roderich’s violet eyes bore into his, frustration returning. He crossed his arms and turned away. “I don’t w-“
“I already made the appointment, and I know you take forever to get ready, so you should start now because we’re leaving in an hour.” Gilbert cut him off. “I’ll drag you there if I have to.” He threatened, Austria sighed in relentment, moving to a sitting position.
“What are you doing?” Prussia asked puzzled as Roderich picked up the corset from the floor and repositioned himself so his back no longer rested against the back of the sofa to put the garment on. “Why are you putting it on again?”
“I can’t walk without it.” Austria spoke, not meeting Gilbert’s concerned gaze as he kept his eyes trained downwards, focusing on getting the metal posts through the loops of the busk. He breathed in deeply, chest rising as he cinched the waist and tied it.
“Fine, but that’s too tight.” Prussia stressed, Roderich complied, untying the ribbon and loosening the lacing a bit.
“Is that good enough for you, Mr. Overworried?” He asked mockingly, holding the ribbons in his hands like the reigns of a horse behind his back as he waited for Prussia’s approval.
“Yeah, that’s better.” He replied, Roderich retied the laces with a scoff and stood, starting toward the hall.
Hearing a door shut and the sound of water running from a shower following shortly, Gilbert walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge and frowning at the nearly empty contents. He decided on just making toast.
After putting four slices of bread in the toaster, he sat on one of the barstools to wait for them to be done. Pulling out his phone, he texted in the group chat with France and Spain to pass the time. When he heard the metal clink as the toast popped out, he set the device down and took out two plates from the cabinet they were kept in, knowing the location from dusting the area yesterday, he set two slices on each.
He took jam from the fridge and a knife from the cutlery drawer, spreading the dark magenta colored jelly over the bread. By the time he sat down again to eat, the sound of water was replaced by the loud whirring of a blow dryer.
Roderich finally emerged from the hallway after what seemed like forever, hair dry and styled as it usually was and dressed in too fancy for a doctor’s visit clothes also per usual. He took a seat on a barstool, leaving one between them. Prussia nudged Austria’s plate closer to him.
“I didn’t know what you wanted on it.” He explained as Roderich eyed at the plate of plain toast with a confused expression.
“It’s fine, you didn’t have to make me anything. I’m not hungry anyways.” He said, biting into a piece of the bland breakfast.
Gilbert watched as he ate surprised, the aristocrat was known for having exquisite tastes, making him extremely picky, he doubted that plain toast fit the definition, but didn’t comment. Having already started eating by the time Roderich sat down, he finished first and rose to put away the jam and the dishes.
He held back a laugh noticing the marked discount on the jar, Austria was such a cheapskate. Maybe not so much anymore with shopping as he knew that Ludwig did it for him nowadays. He rinsed the knife before setting it along with the plate into the dishwasher, sitting down again after.
“I would have actually cooked something, but there’s like no food here. Why is that?” He asked, Roderich finished chewing for a moment and swallowed before speaking.
“Your brother usually buys groceries for me, but he’s not here right now and I didn’t feel like going out.” He shrugged, taking another bite after responding.
“Couldn’t.” Prussia corrected, Roderich’s eyebrows furrowed in a show of his anger.
“I can take care of myself.” He argued defensively, Gilbert easily could have refuted that, but he figured that if he did, Roderich would refuse to go with him to the clinic, so he stayed quiet and let him finish eating in peace.
Austria pushed the plate away from him after a few more minutes, leaving half of a piece of toast left. Gilbert took the plate and put it in the dishwasher next to his as the other took a handkerchief from the pocket of his coat, wiping the breadcrumbs from his mouth, priss.
“We should get going now, I’ll drive. Where are your car keys?” Prussia asked, glancing around, he couldn’t remember seeing them when he cleaned yesterday.
“There.” He pointed to the location, Gilbert strode over and took them, looping his index finger through the key ring and spinning them, the metal jingling at the action. Roderich rolled his eyes and huffed out a sigh at his immaturity as he stood from the stool he sat on, bracing himself on the cold porcelain countertop to catch his breath before walking to catch up to Prussia, who had already opened the door and was beckoning him from the porch.
It had been a while since Roderich had been in a car, he fumbled with the seatbelt, taking a few tries before getting it right with a satisfying click. The engine roared to life, and he looked out of the window as they drove away, watching the house pass them as they moved onto the road.
“I’ll try not to drive like Ita-chan this time, can’t get pulled over ‘cause I don’t have a license right now.” Gilbert mused, the words followed by his obnoxious laughter. Roderich quickly turned his head to face the man to his side.
“You’re driving illegally using my car?” He questioned bewilderedly.
“It’s not like I got it revoked or something like that, I just haven’t needed to drive in a long time so the age on it doesn’t match my appearance anymore.” He explained, gaze fixed on the stretch of road ahead.
“It’s still illegal, pull over and let me drive.” Austria demanded. “Why did you even offer to drive in the first place if you didn’t have a license?”
“It’ll be fine, relax specs. It’s not like I’m gonna get pulled over.” He laughed. “And I offered because I wanted to, I haven’t driven in so long, I missed it, it’s so much fun.” Roderich scoffed in disbelief and turned away to look out of the window again.
“Stop doing that!” Austria yelled as Gilbert sped when there wasn’t any traffic on the road they were driving on.
“You’re so strait-laced.” He huffed in disappointment, slowing down the vehicle to below the speed limit.
“What is wrong with you? Are you sure you didn’t get your license revoked?”
“Yeah, seriously, I’ve never even gotten a ticket.” He bragged, Roderich rolled his eyes, not believing the statement.
“Well, you’ll get more than that if you keep driving like that here, and then you can experience getting pulled over for the first time. It’ll be so much worse for you when they find out you don’t have a valid license. I don’t care what you do by yourself, but don’t obviously break the law using my property and much less in my presence.” He complained.
“Fine, fine.” Gilbert conceded, driving regularly for the rest of the duration it took to get to the clinic.
As the car came to a stop, Austria unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door, stepping out onto the pavement. He sighed as he heard Prussia slam his car door, he pinched the bridge of his nose and took a breath to calm himself, not feeling like making a scene in public.
“Hurry up!” Gilbert called, waving at him from in front of the entrance doors. He picked up his pace, the white-haired man holding the door open for him, he ignored the ‘ladies first’ muttered under his breath as he entered the building, they walked straight across from the entrance to the receptionist’s desk.
“Name please.” The woman at the desked requested, only sparing the two a glance before returning her focus to the bright screen in front of her, the text on the monitor reflecting on her glasses, typing something with impressive speed.
“Roderich Edelstein.” Gilbert answered for him, Roderich turned to him confused, he wondered how he remembered his last name, though supposed it made sense if he was able to schedule an appointment for him.
“Okay, seems you have an appointment at eleven, you can wait there, your physician will be with you shortly.” She spoke in a customer service typical forced pleasantness, a tight smile plastered on her face as she pointed them in the direction to the waiting area.
“Thank you.” Austria said, returning her falsified politeness before walking to sit in one of the waiting room chairs with Prussia taking the one to his left. The leather seats were uncomfortable, he fiddled with his cufflinks and jabot as they sat in the uncomfortable silence of the too sterile room, the bright fluorescent lights hurt his eyes.
Luckily, it didn’t take too long, they had arrived slightly late, which always turned out fine because doctors were always more than slightly late anyways.
“Mr. Edelstein?” A nurse called, holding a clipboard in her hands. Roderich stood up.
“Should I come?” Gilbert asked, pointing to himself with his head tilted slightly to punctuate the question, still seated.
“Yes, I don’t trust you to behave yourself here.” He answered, walking to the woman who called his name, the Prussian trailing behind him.
“Could of just said you wanted moral support, no need to be shy, Roddy.” He teased.
“Don’t call me that.” Austria chastised, hearing Gilbert chuckling behind him.
The nurse took his height, weight, and then his vitals, muttering something about lost weight and a low blood pressure as she quickly scribbled down the notes.
“Who are you?” She asked, turning to Prussia.
“Gilbert Beilschmidt.” He responded.
“And what is your relationship to Mr. Edelstein?” She questioned, he wasn’t sure how to respond to the question and faltered. The relationship between the nations wasn’t one that he knew how to explain in the short and simple answer she was looking for, and it wasn’t as if he could tell her even if he was able, the nation thing was a secret after all.
“It’s fine, you don’t have to be embarrassed. Should I put down significant other then?” She asked, offering a reassuring smile.
“That’s- We’re not-“ Austria flustered, stuttering in his very apparent embarrassment at the suggestion.
“Yes, thank you.” Gilbert replied, she nodded, writing it down.
“Alright, the doctor will be with you shortly.” She informed before exiting the room. Roderich turned to Gilbert, jabbing his shoulder with an accusing finger the moment the door shut.
“Why would you say that?” He demanded, harsh voice quiet as to not be heard through the thin walls of the examination room.
Gilbert shrugged. “What was I supposed to say, it’s not like I could tell her that we’re nations.” He reasoned. “No need to get so worked up about it, medical information is confidential, you know.” He said in attempt to settle his unease.
Roderich crossed his arms and turned away with a dramatic and overly exaggerated sigh. It wasn’t long before a knock sounded on the door.
“Come in.” Roderich quickly answered it, not wanting to be alone with Prussia for any longer.
“Hello, I’m going to be the one helping you today, what seems to be the issue?” The man asked, putting on a pair of blue latex gloves.
“I’m really fine, he’s just dramatic and scheduled an appointment without telling me.” Austria explained, gesturing to his companion.
“If that’s the case, would you mind if I asked your boyfriend what his concern is?” He requested, turning to face Prussia, Roderich flushed at the moniker used for him, to which Gilbert hid his amused smile with a hand covering his mouth.
“That’s fine.” The brunette allowed, Gilbert cleared his throat before speaking.
“He’s not ‘fine’.” Prussia started. “He’s constantly exhausted and can’t do any manual labor without being winded, I found him collapsed from just sweeping yesterday.”
“Do you have an idea why that might be?”
“If I were to take a guess, I’d assume it’s because of the corset that he wears tightly enough to bruise his ribs every waking moment.” The doctor wrote something down and nodded in understanding.
“Mr. Edelstein, can I ask you to remove your top so I can see these bruises?” Austria sighed, relenting. He removed his coat and began unbuttoning his shirt, sliding it off and undoing the corset to reveal his torso.
“May I?” He questioned, gloved hands hovering before the bruised skin. He nodded, and cold gloved hands ran over the purple marks covering his ribs, the pressure applied made him groan in discomfort. As the hands retracted, he redressed himself.
“What did you come here to get help with regarding this?” The doctor inquired, pen moving against paper as he spoke.
“He says he needs it to walk because his posture is messed up, I want him to get a medical grade one that won’t…” He paused, looking for the words before giving up, “do that.”
“I don’t have a very detailed medical history on you, can you tell me about your predicament with your posture, has it always been like this, or did something bring it on?” He prompted.
“I got shot and spent a while in a wheelchair.” The man’s expression changed for a moment before he quickly regained his composure to appear professional and nodded, writing it down.
“Did the bullet affect you or was being in the wheelchair what hindered your ability to walk?”
“The wheelchair.”
“Alright, I’ll be back in a minute with a few different braces for you to try, alright?” Roderich nodded, and with that he left the room, returning after just a few minutes with several in his hands, setting them on the metal hospital tray in the room. “I’ll give you privacy to try these on.” He spoke. “Press this when your done or if you need help.” Roderich nodded, accepting the pager.
He removed the articles of clothing he just had again, Gilbert keeping his eyes trained on the posters covering the walls in a rare show of respect. Austria looked with confusion at the contraption, the crisscrossing Velcro straps of the elastic compression bands overly complicated. With a sigh, he undid the Velcro to put it on, cringing at the loudness. Lacing one was a bitch, but at least with older corsets you only had to do it once and from then on it was a matter of simplicity.
Finally getting it undone, he wrapped the coarse fabric against his waist, tugging on the Velcro straps to tighten and fasten them. The ribbed elastic material rubbed uncomfortably against his skin. He removed the device, trying on the next one and repeating the process with the others. They only varied slightly, similar materials and fastenings across each.
He decided the third one served its purpose best, there weren’t too many straps so it was easy to put on, the fabric felt less scratchy, and it wasn’t bulky, meaning it would be easy to conceal beneath clothing. He put that one on again to confirm his choice.
“Are you satisfied with yourself?” Austria’s voice interrupted Gilbert’s reading of a poster informing how viruses are spread, he turned to see him wearing the brace.
“Is that the one you’re picking?” He asked. Roderich nodded. “Huh, that looks interesting, can I see?” He hesitated before nodding again. Gilbert stepped forward and toyed with the two Velcro straps. “This is on too tight.” He chided, loosening them.
“Does it work?” He asked stepping back to take the sight of it in. “You can walk alright?”
“Yes, it functions the same way.”
“And it’s comfortable?” He pushed. “It isn’t painful right?”
“No, it’s fine.” Austria snapped, pushing the pager to cut the conversation short. He redressed as they waited for the doctor to return.
“This one works.” Roderich informed as he entered.
“Alright, I’ll write the prescription, you can get it in the pharmacy here.” He said, handing the note to Roderich.
“Thank you.” He said, trying for naught to read the handwriting on the paper.
“Yes, thanks.” Gilbert parroted as they left the room.
The pharmacy didn’t have a line, so it went rather quickly. At Gilbert’s insistence that he change now and get out of the torture device -as he called it- he wore, he entered the bathroom, dragging the Prussian in, who looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“I don’t want you picking fights with the passer byes.” He explained, turning away as he stripped to change the corset to the brace. Prussia checked to make sure it wasn’t suffocating him, much to the Austrian’s chagrin as he batted his hands away.
A person walking by as they exited the bathroom together shot them a strange look, Prussia chuckled while Austria brightened like a tomato as he walked as quickly as he could with his sedentary lifestyle to escape the embarrassment.
“You need groceries, right? I’ll get them at the supermarket since we’re already out.” Gilbert suggested, starting the car again. “You can stay in here if you want.”
“I’ll go inside.” Roderich declined the offer.
Austria cringed as his car door was slammed again, settling his anger as they walked across the parking lot to enter the store.
Gilbert took a shopping cart, Roderich walking slightly behind him. Having never been there before, he didn’t know where anything was, so the other guided him, always picking the most frugal option he could, ever the cheapskate.
After a while, he noticed Austria’s increasingly labored breathing as he seemed to trail further behind him. “I’m the awesome Prussia, I can find my way. The café looks nice, go get something for the both of us and sit down.” He offered. “Don’t worry, I’ll get the cheap stuff for you.” He assured.
Austria seemed to want to argue, looking thoughtful for a moment before nodding. “What do you want?” He asked.
“I don’t care, surprise me.” He said and pushed the cart away, Roderich walking in the opposite direction.
After checking out, Gilbert carried the heavy grocery bags in his hands with ease over to the café of the supermarket. He smiled hearing the piano, the stylistically quick staccato of the typically played out notes familiar from the many times he’d stalked the musician.
He hummed along, the Austrian startled but kept playing without missing a beat, he met his eyes, finishing the song as his shoulders moved with the rhythm. Soft claps sounded in the café as he closed the wooden fallboard over the keys.
Roderich rose from the stool and took a seat at a table lit from the window’s peaking in sunlight, crossing one leg over the other. Gilbert took the one across from him, sipping the cup of coffee at the table.
“What’s this?” He asked pointing with his fork at the orange slice of cake on his plate.
“Marillenfleck. Mine’s a donauwelle.” He answered, Prussia hummed in acknowledgement, taking a bite.
“It’s very good.”
“Yes, I used to come here often to get cake when I did my shopping.” He looked out of the window, a nihilistic smile on his face as he reminisced the days when he had the energy to do such trivial things.
“Are you comfortable?” Gilbert asked, starting the conversation they ought to have, thinking now was a good time considering the man seemed to of been in a relaxed mood from the familiar setting and playing music.
Austria took a bite of the cherry and chocolate flavored cake, contemplative. He swallowed before answering. “Yes, it’s a different feeling, but I’m comfortable.” He answered.
“You never answered my question yesterday.” Gilbert spoke, pouring a sugar packet into his coffee.
“Which one?”
“The ‘why’ one.” He replied, mixing the sugar in with a stirring stick.
“Ah, that one.” Austria sighed, taking a sip of his own coffee. “I guess it started when Maria Theresa started her reign.”
“The blond girl?”
“Yes, her.” Prussia nodded for him to continue. “She had me make public appearances with her, quite a fashionable woman she was, so I tried to look presentable by following the beauty standards at the time and got my first corset. The ones made of whale bone were supposed to be more comfortable, but they were expensive, so I got one made with steel instead.”
“You were cheap even back then?” He teased, Roderich didn’t react.
“I wasn’t used to wearing one, so I messed it up the first day I wore it.” He continued.
“How so?”
“I pulled it too tight.” Gilbert nodded. “That day, when we went to whatever event we were going to, she complimented me. It was the first time someone ever complimented my appearance.” He said, his violet eyes seeming to shine at the memory, though the smile on his face looked painful and bordered on sardonic.
“You always said you felt you looked plain, the fake glasses and such.” Prussia added.
“I didn’t tell you that, you took them from me and wouldn’t stop pestering me, so I was forced to.” He reminded.
“Same thing.” Gilbert shrugged his shoulders, taking another bite of cake.
“I guess I just figured that the attention I got was because of the corset, so I kept wearing it like that.” He explained.
“But didn’t it hurt like hell? The bruises on your ribs look awful.” Prussia questioned, not understanding why one would go to such lengths.
“I suppose I cared about the attention more than the pain.” Roderich’s gaze fell to watch the espresso machine working.
“How do you even know that the compliment was about that anyway? Couldn’t it have just been a coincidence?” He tried not to let his frustration bleed through his voice, but it burned beneath his skin. How could his greatest rival have fallen ill to something so simple?
“I don’t know, I’ve never stopped since that day, so I don’t have any way of knowing. I guess I was too scared to lose the attention, just in case it was, but she’s gone now, so I guess I’ll never know for certain.” The bleak tone in his voice made the anger subside, he wouldn’t ever pity Roderich, but a sadness stirred at his somber words.
“But you hardly go out anymore, so what’s the point?” Gilbert pressed.
“I guess it became a habit that I never thought to fix.” The cruel smile that tugged on Austria’s lips frightened him, he hardly expressed emotions candidly, and never something so raw.
“The doctor said you’ve lost weight, is that another habit you didn’t think to fix?”
“No. I just haven’t had the energy to cook every meal these days, and it’s hard to digest food wearing a corset.” Gilbert sighed deeply, a small relief.
“Why don’t you move back in with me and West?”
“What?” Roderich asked, caught off guard from the sudden proposition.
“Not forever, just until you’re doing better. Your room’s still the same. I like cooking so you won’t have to worry about that. Plus, your house has such a desolate feel to it with everyone gone.” He reasoned.
“Alright, I’ll pack some things.” Austria accepted.
Prussia waved his hand. “There’s no need, you have plenty of clothes there already, and your fridge is empty too, don’t worry about that.”
“But the groceries.” He tried.
Gilbert shrugged. “We needed to go shopping soon anyways.”
Gilbert finished the last sip of his coffee and avoided Roderich’s gaze. He cleared his voice before speaking, “I know it’s probably more to do with you and not other people, but for what it’s worth I’ve never found you to be plain. You’re really attractive, your violet eyes and your hair make you look really distinct. Even without your glasses on, you’ve never looked plain.” His pale face made the uncommon crimson coating his cheeks in embarrassment all the more prominent.
Austria was startled, eyes wide in shock at the confession, face a similar shade before regaining his composure and chuckling slightly. “You shouldn’t say things like that, people are bound to get the wrong idea.” He advised.
“Maybe the idea you’re getting wasn’t the wrong one.” Gilbert’s confidence returned, reaching forward to stab the last bite of Roderich’s cake with his fork, eating it in front of him. The Austrian’s demeanor faltered again, flustered.
“Looks like we’ve both finished our food and drink, let’s get going before the refrigerated items spoil.” Roderich deflected from his embarrassment.
“Sure.” Gilbert complied, grinning at the other as he lifted the plastic bags.
The drive back to the German brothers’ house occurred in relative silence, Roderich opting to look out the window and Gilbert not giving him a reason to complain about his questionable driving habits.
Prussia opened the door and was surprised to see his brother there. “West? I thought you weren’t supposed to be home for another day.”
“The meeting finished early.” He answered, surprise colored his features as he noticed Austria. “Why is he here?” His eyes met the corset and his face flushed. “Oh, should I go back out?”
“It’s not that!” Gilbert exclaimed. “I’ll explain later, he’s just staying with us for a while, it’s nothing like that.”
“Why does everyone keep thinking that?” Austria sighed, following Gilbert to his old room. Prussia just shrugged and opened the door.
“See? Just like you never left.” Gilbert entered the room, Roderich close in tow, he glanced around, it really hadn’t changed.
“Want me to throw this away?” Gilbert asked, picking up the black corset Roderich had laid on the bed. Roderich quickly snatched it from his grip, defensively cradling the garment in his arms. Prussia looked at him with confusion.
“No.” He replied. “I want to keep it.”
“Why? You don’t need it anymore, right?” He inquired.
He looked pensive for a moment, eyebrows furrowed before speaking. “I know it sounds weird because it hurt me, but it reminds me of her, so I don’t want to get rid of it.” He spoke candidly, it was a refreshing change to see him so open for once.
“That’s not weird, I still keep things that remind me of Old Fritz, just as long as you won’t use it, promise?” He stuck his pinky out.
“I won’t.” Roderich assured.
“Promise.” Austria rolled his eyes as he waved his outstretched finger in front of his face.
“You’re so immature.” he relented, intwining their fingers.
“Okay, I’ll let you get settled.” He said, unlinking their hands and standing up. “I’ll be in the kitchen helping West make lunch, it’ll be ready soon, you can call for me if you need anything.”
“Okay.” Roderich nodded, Gilbert nodded too and left the room, closing the door as he left.
Austria stood from the bed and walked to look at himself in the full-length mirror. He thought Gilbert was exaggerating, but he didn’t think he looked so plain anymore. His waist looked fine, and the brace he now wore was much more comfortable than the corset he held in his hands. He opened the drawer to his dresser for the clothes he hardly wore and put the garment away. Perhaps it was time to finally move on from the past.
He laid down on the familiar bed for an amount of time he didn’t know when he heard a knock on his door. “Come in.” He could tell it was Germany from the two hard raps, not obnoxious or bursting in like his brother would have.
“I brought your lunch.” He spoke, setting the plate on his desk. “Gil said you might be tired, and told me to remind you to take off your brace before you sleep.”
“He told you then?”
“Not everything, just enough. If you want to tell me later, you can, my office is open. I’m home for the next week just doing paperwork so if you feel up to it, we can talk there.” Roderich nodded.
“Do you want me to put this in the fridge for later?” He said, pointing to the plate of food, to which Austria nodded again.
Before leaving, he hesitated at the door. “What is it?” Roderich prompted.
“Gilbert, he didn’t bother you while I was gone right?” He questioned, worried that giving him his housekey had been a bad decision considering his history of tormenting him.
“No. He was,” he paused, “very helpful.” He admitted, turning away. Ludwig smiled at the sincerity before closing the door.