Chapter Text
Germany was doing paperwork as they talked, Austria appreciated the casual feel it gave the conversation. The blue eyes being fixed on the documents meant he could focus more on his words, not having to worry about keeping a presentable facial expression as he spoke.
He explained the situation vaguely, omitting details he entrusted Prussia with at the café. Ludwig hummed in acknowledgement occasionally, he was glad for his professional nature, not feeling up to another emotional lament.
As the conversation came to an end, Roderich excused himself, standing from the armchair in the office and taking the empty coffee cup on his way out.
Setting the cup in the dishwasher, he noticed racket coming from the living room. Despite Prussia’s demeanor suggesting he’d make for a terribly noisy housemate, he was surprisingly quiet at home, something he’d come to realize shortly after he’d started living with the two previously. He’d initially wondered if it was just to avoid setting off his brother’s temper, though he seemed to simply enjoy the quiet leisure of reading or writing. He turned to see the source of the loudness, puzzled by the sight.
Prussia was tuning a grand piano that hadn’t been there when he entered Germany’s office, surely it hadn’t been long enough to get a piano. “Where did you suddenly get that from?” He questioned.
“The storage room.” He replied nonchalantly, leaning over the keys to reach the soundboard, tuning hammer in hand as he adjusted the strings. Moving closer, Roderich realized it was the same one Ludwig had gotten for him when he’d moved in all those years ago.
“You still have this?” He spoke, a rare delighted surprise tinting his voice as he approached the instrument, amazed at the pristine condition it was in.
“Why wouldn’t we?” He asked, twisting the hammer.
“I don’t know, maybe because it’s been nearly eighty years since I’ve lived here.”
“We didn’t keep it in the living room for all that time, it was in storage.” Gilbert reasoned.
“My old room is the same though.”
“It was just a guest room before, and no one uses it. The only one who visits is Ita-chan, and he just sleeps with Germany.” He explained.
“Will it even work anymore? And how do you know how to tune a piano?”
“Who do you think tuned it back then? I don’t know if it will work, I’m almost done though. We’ll find out sooner if you stop interrogating me, go do something else.” He waved a hand to shoo him away. Roderich huffed and walked back to the kitchen.
He figured he’d fill the time by making another coffee for Ludwig as a thanks for listening to him while he worked. As he cracked open the door again, exhausted eyes looked up in greeting, half lidded with dark circles underneath, he cringed at the pitiful sight, setting the mug on a coaster.
“You should really take a break.” He suggested, concerned.
“I will in a few minutes.” Austria rolled his eyes.
“Sure, you will.” He scoffed.
“What’s with the noise? Is my brother up to something? I’m sorry, I’ll go tell him to stop.” He stressed, putting a hand on the desk to help him stand up, but Roderich held a hand up to stop him.
“Everything’s fine, he dragged my old piano out of the storage room and is tuning it.” He explained.
“Oh, I see.” He ran a finger through his slicked back hair, sipping the coffee. “Would it still work?” He asked, curious.
Austria shrugged. “I don’t know, I’ll guess we’ll find out soon.” He said, sparing another glance at the workaholic before exiting the office again.
As he walked back into the front room, Gilbert was setting a stool in front of the piano. “Here you are, Princess.” He gestured to the pulled-out seat, mockingly imitating the way a handmaid would bow to an aristocrat.
Roderich ignored his teasing, sitting down, he set his fingers in place, not expecting much. He played a simple piece that utilized most of the keys to test them, shocked to see that it worked perfectly. He quickly turned his head to face Prussia who was watching him play from over his shoulder.
“How did you manage to keep it in such good condition that it still works after so long?” He asked, bewildered. Gilbert mentally captured his expression, violet eyes practically twinkling as a rare smile graced his features.
Prussia shrugged. “Not sure, I just like cleaning, so I tended to it a bit over the years I guess.”
“You clean your storage room?” He shrugged again. Austria turned back around, warming up with basic exercises. Prussia smiled fondly, very pleased with his reaction, he knew it was an awesome idea. He sat on the sofa, listening to the music.
Ludwig emerged from the hallway shortly after Roderich finished warming up and began playing, a mug of coffee and a stack of papers in his hands. He set them on the coffee table and collapsed on the other sofa. “So, it works.” He said. Austria only nodded, gaze focused on his hands.
“Can you help with those.” Germany pointed to the papers. “I’m resting for a bit, you can have the coffee if you want.”
Gilbert reached over to ruffle his hair, messing up the gelled style. “Your awesome big brother will take care of it, rest well.” He assured with a bright smile, Ludwig sighed contently, shutting his eyes.
Gilbert moved to sit on the rug in front of the coffee table, clicking the pen, he started on the work. Roderich’s music made for nice background noise as he wrote. When he paused to take a sip of coffee, the clicking of paws grew closer, he looked up to see it was Aster, he pet her head before she jumped up onto the couch to snuggle against Germany’s side. Berlitz followed, sitting on the rug next to him, he gave him occasional pets as he worked.