hetalia_kink | Hetalia Kink meme part 15

Ludwig stiffened, back ramrod straight as he mentally examined his actions. He... he had been calm hadn't he? Calmed than the situation would normally warrant. But that was the thing wasn't it? Shocking as it was, Arthur just needed a little time to recover, and to be taken away from morgues and potential autopsies.

"Am I?" he murmured, glancing over his shoulder at the young man. There seemed to be uncommon cleverness in his eyes, more than you'd expect for a mere delivery boy.

He flashed a bright smile that wasn't quite innocent. "Well, yeah. Most people're too cut up to be sensible in a situation like that."

Ludwig shrugged. "I fought in the war," he said coolly. "And you sound as though you have experience with this. You certainly didn't seem particularly shaken by what happened." The uncomfortable niggle in the back of his mind grew larger and more insistent.

The man just smiled. "I've seen a lot of things."

"Who are you?" Ludwig asked bluntly, fixing him with an intent look. "You said that the shot was meant for you."

The man turned away, an unhappy expression on his youthful face. "I know the risks. No-one else is supposed to get involved."

"That doesn't answer my question," Ludwig snapped.

"Is a name really gonna help you?"

Ludwig glared for a moment at the evasive answer, then turned away in disgust. He grabbed a clean shirt and pulled it on quickly. He would go to the nearest police station and... think of something on the way. Maybe if he claimed that Arthur had gone out and not returned, or...

He slammed a hand against the wall in frustration and ignored the pain which flared through his knuckles.

"Geesh, you'll put a hole in the wall like that," the man said, approaching him warily.

"My friend was just shot!" Ludwig said, giving him a vicious look. "I apologise if my company is not the best right now." He looked away and then went to pull on his jacket. He would find some way. What other option did he have? He certainly wouldn't leave Arthur there. "I don't know why I ran," he muttered. He could have explained to the police if he'd stayed there.

"They wouldn't care that you're innocent," was the man's response, and he shifted awkwardly, crossing his arms over his broad chest. He looked awkward, uncomfortable, Ludwig realised, as though he were revealing some deep dark secret of his soul with those words. "Most of 'em are corrupt and it's easier to make a quick conviction than hunt down people who're protected by the mob."

"So I should just do nothing?" Ludwig asked derisively.

"Your friend is dead," he said. "What're you expecting to do?" He sounded pitiful for a moment; it was the only thing that kept Ludwig from hitting him. "If they find his papers then they'll find you. I'm sorry but... all you can do is wait and... return the body to his home, I guess."

"There's only me to return it to," Ludwig said rashly. Arthur had never mentioned anyone else.

"Oh. Oh," the man said, cheeks flushing slightly. "Didn't realise you were..."

Ludwig stared for a moment and then felt his own cheeks heat as he caught the boy's meaning. "No!" he said, "nothing like that. We're friends, that is all." It wasn't a lie, not really.

The silence hung between them, thick and cloying and why had this boy even followed him? He couldn't take it any more. He headed to the door and pulled it open. "Out," he said firmly. "I have to go to the police."

The man blinked. "They'll arrest you."

"Why do you care?"

"Why do you need to get the body so much?" he asked. "What are you, spies or something? He got some documents on him you didn't have time to grab?" It was said mostly sarcastically, but there was a certain gleam in his eyes that Ludwig latched onto.

He was silent for a moment before he nodded slowly. "Yes, that's it," he said, not certain if he was trying to be serious or not, but the man seemed to accept it.

"Really?"

"Really," Ludwig said, forcing down his trepidation if it meant that he could get somewhere without interference. "My partner was carrying some information regarding a man... a communist."

Arthur would have known what to say if he'd been here. Arthur would have come up with a much better story, but the man's eyes widened then narrowed seriously and Ludwig knew that he had him.

"Well, if that's the case," he said, holding out his hand. "Alfred Jones. Let me help you!"

Oh lord, he'd just made things infinitely worse.

Ludwig stared at the outstretched hand and then back up at Alfred's face. "I apologise, but I hardly see how a... an alcohol smuggler can help to get Arthur back."

Alfred dropped his hand and shoved it into his pocket instead, face falling just a little. "I'm not just a booze runner," he said cheerfully; rather inappropriate considering the situation, Ludwig thought. "I have connections! Let me call my boss and he'll help us. He has connections in the police."

"Oh god," Ludwig said, expression twisting in horror. "You're Mafia." He had suspected but this just confirmed it! He was... was consorting with a criminal connected with the Mafia!

Alfred gave him a flat look as he reached for the telephone on Ludwig's bedside table. "You need help to get those papers back, don't you?"

Ludwig's shoulders slumped and he nodded glumly. "Yes." And somehow he had to get Arthur's body away from the mob as well as the police now.

While Alfred dialled, Ludwig slumped on the couch, arms resting on his knees, a million 'if only's wandering through his head in a macabre parade. If only he hadn't run. If only they hadn't been reckless and curious.

If only they'd gone to Berlin. Or Stockholm. Or Paris even. Or... Or Sydney or somewhere.

"Boss," Alfred said, while Ludwig listened carefully. "Yessir. I know it's been a while. Six months isn't really that long though and... I can't come back yet! Just..." He rolled his eyes and turned away, lowering his voice so that Ludwig couldn't easily hear him. It was probably for the best.

Finally Alfred put the phone down and turned back, a wide grin splitting his face. "Well, that's all done," he said brightly. "Think I woke him up."

"That was fast," Ludwig said sceptically.

"I don't fool around when it's time to be a hero!"

"A hero, hm?" Ludwig said, a wry smile on his lips. "We're trying to break into a morgue to recover a corpse."

"It's a matter of national security," Alfred replied enthusiastically.

"I wouldn't have that that someone with the mafia would care so much about that."

Alfred shrugged. "Commies're bad for business," he said dismissively.

Right. How very pragmatic. Ludwig shook his head. "What do we have to do now?" he asked in lieu of a real response to that.

"We need to go to the police," Alfred said, and he sounded excited, as though this were some kind of game or great adventure that they were embarking upon. If Ludwig hadn't needed his help, he would have been snarling. Arthur's life and freedom were in jeopardy.

"You told me that was a bad idea," Ludwig said sourly.

"Not after my boss makes a few calls. He took some persuading, but he can't resist me!"

Ludwig sighed heavily. "Very well," he said, "we should go. The sooner this is resolved, the better."

----------

Alfred's plan turned out to be fake government ID papers and Ludwig almost wanted to cry. They were both going to be imprisoned. He would be incarcerated as a foreign spy and end up a victim of scientific experimentation when they discovered that he couldn't die.

Somehow though, the attendant at the morgue didn't immediately see through the obvious forgery and he allowed them inside, not even asking any questions. He even seemed to believe it when Alfred said that it was a matter of national security.

It was near empty at this time of night (whatever time that was; Ludwig had long since lost track), and their footsteps echoed ominously around the hallways as they were led through the building. Ludwig tried to work out in his head roughly how long it would take Arthur to recover. It was difficult when he wasn't certain how much time had actually passed.

"This is the right one," the attendant said, pulling open one of the drawers to reveal a sheet covered corpse. He pulled the sheet back to reveal Arthur's pale face that should have been a great deal paler for someone who had been dead for several hours.

"Well that- that's very strange," the attendant said, frowning as he noticed the very life-like pallor of Arthur's skin. Why, one might almost think that he was alive!

Arthur gasped, taking a deep first breath. Ludwig moved quickly, grabbing the man and slamming him hard up against the wall. When he let go, the man crumpled, unconscious, to the floor.

"The hell was that for?" Alfred said sharply, moving up towards him. The clatter of metal distracted him though, and he caught sight of Arthur just started to move on the slab.

"What the..."

Ludwig said and grabbed him. This was not how he had hoped that things would go. "I'm very sorry," he said, before slamming Alfred's head up against the wall. Another crumpled bosy to account for.

Ludwig stood there for a moment, breathing heavily and staring down at the two unconscious men. He was fairly sure that they were both alive. This had been... messier than he had intended. They'd need to move quickly. Leave the hotel that night if they could.

"Lud-wig?" The voice was a corpse rattle from Arthur's mouth and he moved quickly to Arthur's side, helping him to sit up.

His skin was cool and clammy still, eyes cloudy with death, but he gripped Ludwig's arm with strong fingers, leaning into his warmth. Ludwig rubbed his back, stroked his hair, trying to reasurre him that he wasn't alone. "I'm here," he murmured, and a part of him was selfishly glad of the way that Arthur clung to him. He could remember how disorienting and confusing it could be, that return to life that they endured.

"Ow..."

Ludwig froze, eyes widening when he heard the voice, and it certainly wasn't Arthur. He turned just in time to see Alfred stagger to his feet. He glared and reached up to rub the gash on his forehead where he'd hit the wall. "You really shouldn't have done that," Alfred said, even as the blood stopped and the wound began to knit and mend at the edges, healing before Ludwig's very eyes. "It still hurts y'know!" Alfred added reproachfully.

"What are you?" Ludwig asked, staring as the wound closed, not even a scar left behind. it was impossible. Impossible for humans at least.

Alfred took a menacing step forwards. "What is he?" he asked, pointing accusingly at Arthur who was coughing violently, gouts of dark blood spattering over his hands and his lungs and other organs recovered.

"Well..." Ludwig began, glancing back at Arthur and wishing that he could just focus on him and not the boy in front of him. "Spy things?" He wanted to cringe at the lameness of the excuse, but he had hardly been given time to reflect on the current situation! And there was an obvious answer really, but he could hardly believe that this booze running brat was...

"America?" Arthur's voice was rough and hoarse but intelligible, and both Ludwig and Alfred glanced over at him. His gaze was fixed on Alfred, brows drawn into a deep frown.

"What'd you say?" Alfred asked. His blue eyes were very very wide. He looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Arthur smiled, a rather morbid expression when his lips were blue and his teeth streaked with blood. It was was Ludwig who replied though. "Is he correct?" he asked wonderingly. "Are you a Nation?"

Alfred's shocked look was enough of an answer, even though he quickly tried to hide his expression. "You're both crazy. Escaped from a crank house." But there was a note of desperation in his voice as though he truly wanted to believe them.

Arthur laughed, a horrible gurgling sound that sent a chill down Ludwig's spine. "You've just seen me rise from the dead. I don't think that asylums have gone quite so far as long distance necromancy."

Alfred regarded them suspiciously, as though he believed that resurrection could be feigned. "Who wants to know?" he asked finally.

Ludwig had to force down the urge to roll his eyes at the inane question. "I would think that it was obvious," he muttered. "Our accents are hardly inconspicuous." He had certainly been getting filthy looks whenever someone heard him speak. The was was still a looming shadow and would be for a good few years he would guess.

"It seems ridiculous," Alfred said, disbelievingly. "You just turn up after all these years and expect me to believe..."

"What other explanation is there?" Arthur asked, grasping Ludwig's arm to help himself down off the table. He staggered as he touched the ground, ending up pressed awkwardly against Ludwig's chest for a long moment.

"Aliens," Alfred said suddenly. "I read this neat new magazine, Weird Tales, and it had all sorts of..." He trailed off, looking rather sheepish at the baffled looks that Ludwig and Arthur were giving him.

"We aren't aliens," Arthur said flatly, managing to imbue the words with a good amount of his usual dryness.

He was suitably distracted when the attendant began to stir, starting to regain consciousness. "Oh eh... we should go," he said. "Are you able to walk?"

Arthur smiled weakly. "I can stagger," he said, clinging onto Ludwig who got the distinct impression that it was the only thing keeping Arthur standing upright. He carefully wrapped his overcoat around Arthur's shoulders to hide the wounds and the man's nudity.

Alfred nodded and led them out of the morgue and back up to the street and unerring accuracy until they stood out on the pavement, watching warily in case someone came past and saw them. There was a large black car waiting there.

Alfred frowned when he saw it. "Oh." He smiled suddenly, whiplash mood swing, and went over to it. "Guess my boss must've sent it over for me."

Ludwig looked concerned, his grip tightening around Arthur. "Alfred, I'm not certain that we should be trusting the Mafia." he wasn't certain how a Nation could bear to work in something so damaging as organised crime.

"Who said anything about the Mafia?" Alfred asked as he pulled open the car door, holding it wide for them to climb in.

"You said 'boss'," Ludwig replied slowly. "I assumed..."

Alfred looked startled. "No! I mean my Boss! America's Boss! The President of the USA!"

Hey! Sorry for the long time between updates! I'll try to get the next one out sooner ^^

Thankyou as always for the lovely comments ^^

A few notes.

So, even back in the 1920s, there was a lot of suspicion in America about Communism. The first Red Scare, as it were, came around this kind of time, following World War One.

Also, Weird Tales was a magazine first published in 1923 and was one of the first publications to deal with stories of extra-terrestrials. One of the most well known writers for Weird Tales was HP Lovecraft, the author of the Cthulu mythos! So while aliens weren't really in the public consciousness at the time, spies definitely were! But I figured Alfred would probably have picked up on the alien thing early.

I cheered when I saw this update. I have this page bookmarked and practically check everyday for updates. Totally understand about the delay though as you are settling into another country. How's Poland btw?

I had a feeling about America's boss was the President, as he seems the type to get on well with his presidents. Is America being a bootlegger because he is subconsciously influenced by public sentiment or is it for personal reasons? Also loved that you've made him a hardcore alien fanatic even before it really entered popular culture. Your A/N about Lovecraft at the end was really interesting and I really appreciate the research you're putting into this story.

Can't wait for the next update and am looking forward to seeing how Arthur and Alfred it it off.

It really makes me so happy that this fic that I began on a whim has made people so happy ^^

Poland is lovely, although it's getting a bit chilly right now XD Autumn is gorgeous because the leaves fall but it doesn't rain to soak them through. There was also All Saint's Day on November 1st when a Polish friend took us to a graveyard. The tradition in Poland is that people go and light candles on the graves. Hundreds and hundreds of them. It was a pretty amazing sight!

America just has to be an exception, yeah XD While Europe tends to shy away from contact with their bosses, America has embraced them. And the bootlegging is a bit of both.

I was looking for something for him to assume Ludwig and Arthur were. Like I say, it was a little early for aliens to be really mainstream, but I was so happy when I found out that Weird Tales came out that year XD I'm a bit of a Lovecraft fan so I couldn't resist mentioning it.

Thanks for commenting!!!

I'm so glad to see this updated! And how did Arthur know who he was, hm?! I love this story. I've been stalking it since you've been writing it, but shame on me for my woeful comment history. :(

I adore this, please don't ever stop!

Ah, Arthur guessed, really. He's the only one willing to make that leap of logic and actually say what everyone is thinking XD

I'm really glad that you're enjoying the fic so much ^__^ It makes me so happy to know that people are reading it! Thankyou so much for commenting!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU OOOOOMMMMFFGGG AMERICA FUCK YEAH

i check so many times each day for an update. you just made my day with this one!

hope poland's treating you well, authornon <3

I'm so glad that it made you happy! It makes me happy!

Poland is good! Really pretty autumn right now, although the cold is starting to bite. I'm hoping to abscond to Vienna weekend after next since we have a long weekend! :D

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

I cheered when I saw this update too! Author!anon, it is lovely to see you back, <3 And as always I love this update.

Ludwig and Alfred's encounter is very intense and interesting, yet having a side note of hilarity in it (lol, Ludwig, what lame excuses you came up), I really really love the way they met, and very much looking forward to the next chapter when they properly interact. I secretly love the way Arthur cling to Ludwig for support too, XD.

One of the things I love most about your story is your research into the background of the time period, making the characters really connect to that era!

Anyway, I am looking forward to your next update, as always, ;)

Hee <3 I'm glad you enjoyed it so much!!!

Ludwig is just way too straight forward, in my mind, to be good at coming up with good lies on the spot. Arthur would be able to embellish them just enough to make them believable. Ludwig just... Arthur is a spy, Ludwig is a soldier XD

I try to add a few touches to make the history real-ish. I'm not claiming that it is historically accurate or anything XD but I like to avoid glaring errors! You would not believe how long I spent researching how Swiss Private Banks works for the chapter with Switzerland. And finding out if banking was even a thing in Switzerland in the 1920s.

Thankyou as always for commenting ^^ I really appreciate it!

So happy about this update!
As usual, it's wonderful and leaves me craving more. :)
Looking forward to the next one! <3

Thankyou! :D I am really happy that you enjoyed the fic <3 Thankyou so much for taking the time to comment!

Lol, aliens! America is always so entertaining. Love the Weird Tales shout-out : )

Thanks for continuing this story, authornon. I love the way you write. Whenever there's a new update it really makes my day!

Hehehe, I was so pleased when I found out that the first issue of Weird Tales came out about the right time for this chapter. I was checking out if aliens were really part of the consciousness of America back then, and not really, but yeah, I can see Alfred as getting into it pretty early!

I'm so glad that you're enjoying the fic! Thanks for commenting!

So happy to see this updated! I love how you manage to make each meeting with other nations very interesting and unique as compared to previous ones. I laughed when Alfred thought they were aliens; it was a funny contrast from Ludwig's pragmatic assumption that Alfred was a mafia member. (Ludwig's inner dialogue is actually surprisingly funny with his imagination for things turning for the worst like being locked away because he was a "spy" and then experimented on when they found out he couldn't die and "oh god".) XD

And poor, poor Arthur. But, I definitely liked the image of him clinging on Ludwig so as not to fall. :)

It's also nice that you are making a mature effort to cover one of the darkest periods of German history which most people just tend to skip over lest they cause offense.

Anon is starting to wonder how long this fill will be... I hope you can be thorough and cover a lot of the countries out there. :D And OMG can't wait for Russia. Please, please keep going.

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

Heh, Ludwig's inner dialogue is so much fun to write. No-one can be that straight-laced without having a lot of stuff turning over in his head before he opens his mouth XD

The time period is coming up to WW2. I can't imagine just glossing over it. It happened and since I'm going to be looking at that period, I'd feel worse if I just glossed over it rather than making an attempt to portray it somewhat realistically (anthropomorphic nations aside).

Haha XD I wish I knew how long it was going to be. When I started it, I kinda expected maybe 10,000 words. It's now at roughly 55,000 and we've only covered a tiny number of countries! I have meetings with quite a few more countries planned though, don't worry! I'm just glad that people are enjoying it so much!

Waaa! You reply to comments. I feels so happy.

I'm glad to know you'll be covering WW2 and I hope you keep finding inspiration to incorporate many nation-tans. :)

And yes, Ludwig's POV is so fun and it's amazing to have something on the kink meme like this because he really is a neglected character and so is the LudwigxArthur pairing (which, I had never even thought about until this fanfic). You have no idea how much I love you! <3

I try my best to reply to comments! I don't always manage it, but people take the time to comment and it's always lovely to know that people are enjoying it ^^ The least I can do is try my best to reply.

Yes, WW2 is definitely going to be covered. With this pairing, it has to come up!

LudwigXArthur is one of those pairings which does seem pretty neglected, yeah. It's a shame because Germany and England have so much history together. They were on very very good terms until WW1, and hell, the British Royal Family are all of German Descent (House Saxe-Coburg Gothica - only became Windsor during WW1). I mean hey, even Prussia's favourite monarch, Frederick the Great, was the grandson of One of England's kings (European royalty are all related though so... XD)

Hetalia Kink meme part 15

Night Like This (18b/?)

Night Like This (18c/?)

Night Like This (18d/?)

Night Like This (18e/?)

Author's Notes

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I LOVE YOU

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OP

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Re: Night Like This (18e/?)

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