Adult-FanFiction.org : Anime

My Manipulated Misfortune	By : FlayraDowitcher Category: +G to L > Hetalia: Axis Powers Views: 2030 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. This fic is for fun. I'm not making any money off of this fanfiction

Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
***Warnings: Language, violence, blood, humor

***Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. This fic is for fun. I am making no money off of this fic.

Chapter 13

Two days had passed after their escape from VOX and the patients were beginning to recuperate. Some were better off than others in the healing process, but the real doctors and nurses were properly caring for them. Ludwig practically lived at the hospital while everyone was healing. It was important for him to check on everyone and assure them that he was still here. Ludwig would make at least five rounds a day, checking up on each one and spending a short time with them.

Many of them had their quirks too. Often, Ludwig would see Francis sneaking after the nurses, trying to woo them with his French. Antonio had been placed in wheelchair for healing after the kidney transplant and had learned to tip the chair to balance on the wheels. Every time someone saw him doing it they would scold and lock the chair wheels. Ivan had wondered off many times and had to be retrieved. The large man had hid in the laundry cart while Ludwig and the other hospital staff searched frantically for him. The only useful task Ivan did was help a young nurse place the water jug on the cooler. If anyone else but Ludwig scolded Ivan for his games, the Russian would get mad. The staff ended up placing him in the same room as Yao, who could watch him.

Yao had received new hearing aids that gave him little trouble or pain. Kiku was given a walking stick but rarely left his room. Ludwig was growing concerned of Kiku's inability to leave the sanctity of his hospital room. The fear of being in a new place was starting to turn into anxiety for the blind man and Ludwig knew he would have to put special time aside to work on him. Arthur was receiving physical therapy for his fingers while there was little they could do for his tongue. The British man would not allow his sons to be placed in the pediatrics wing in fear of something happening to them. Instead, Alfred just caused constant mayhem to the point where the staff grew tiresome and short of the boys' rambunctious attitude.

Which brought Ludwig to his task for the morning: Remove the boys from Arthur's care. This was a task he had to perform alone for if anyone other than Ludwig tried to restrain him, Arthur would go into extreme fits of massive anxiety. He did, however, have two male nurses follow him for when he had to carry the boys out. Arthur would likely go after him and the nurses would have to restrain and quickly sedate him. When they got to the room door, Ludwig told the men to wait outside silently as he went in.

"Unkie Ludwig!" Alfred shouted happily from the floor as he played with a rubber glove.

"Hello Alfred." He looked over at Matthew, who was calmly coloring at the end table and waved at him. "Good morning, Arthur." He said to the father.

Arthur's response was a slight grunt, but he did smile.

"Arthur, it pains me to say that I have come here to take the boys to the pediatrics center."

"No!" Was Arthur's response and green eyes glared at him in warning.

"I promise you they will be fine. There are security guards everywhere. The pediatrics ward is well looked after. The boys will be better off there. There are toys and television and games-"

"I WANNA GO! I WANNA GO!" Alfred squealed in excitement and ran to Ludwig, holding his arms up to the tall man.

"NO!" Arthur started to get out of bed and Ludwig called Matthew over.

"Matthew, come with me." The small boy hurried over to him but Arthur grabbed him right away, holding him close.

"No! No!" Arthur reached for Alfred in Ludwig's arms but the tall man held the boy out of reach. Arthur growled and shoved Ludwig with his body, but did nothing more than bump him. Ludwig hated to do it, but he shoved Arthur back just as hard and knocked him onto the bed. He quickly sat on the screaming Brit and wrestled Matthew from his arms. "NO! NO! GIVE BACK!"

"They will be fine, I promise." Ludwig said and stood up, rushing to the door with the boys. He heard Arthur coming after him and alerted the nurses. They immediately grabbed Arthur and one shoved a needle into his arm. Ludwig did not look back but he could hear Arthur's muffled shouts behind him. "Do not worry, boys. Your daddy needs to rest properly and little children can not remain in this ward."

"We will be able to see daddy, right?" Alfred asked him.

"Of course. Now, when-" He paused as he noticed the big moist eyes and trembling lip of Matthew. "Oh no. Do not cry! Please, do not-" Matthew opened his mouth and started to wail loudly. Ludwig did not know what to do, but he did hear Arthur give a loud scream in reply. "Please…Matthew, stop with the crying." Children made him nervous.

"Don't crwy Mattie!" Alfred leaned over and smooshed Matthew's cheeks. "Big brother is here!"

Ludwig just raced to the pediatrics ward with a squirming Alfred and a screaming Matthew. Someone suddenly trotted up next to him and he turned to see the smiling face of Ivan. "We playing a game? I play too!"

"WHY ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR ROOM!" Ludwig slid to a halt and hollered at Ivan, which in turn made Matthew scream even louder.

"Yao had to go potty so I snuck out!"

"I JUST…ARGH!" Ludwig balanced Matthew in the same arm as Alfred and gripped Ivan's ear painfully. "IT IS TIME I CRATE TRAIN YOU!"

"Owieeeeee!"

Ludwig dragged Ivan with him to the pediatrics ward and eagerly handed the boys over to the nurses. "TAKE THEM!"

"You come back, Unkie Ludwig?" Alfred asked.

"Yes. I will visit soon. Be good. And you!" He grabbed Ivan's ear again and pulled him along. "Keep up this behavior and I will have them put you in a locked room with padding on the walls! That is where you belong because-" Ludwig took notice of the large man's hurt face before his eyes focused on the metal plate bolted to his skull. He gave a heavy sigh and dragged a hand down his face, for it was not Ivan's fault. "I apologize for yelling at you. I am only concerned for your safety." He brought Ivan back to his room and Yao was back in bed.

"Where did you find him?" Yao asked. "I left for a second! A SECOND!"

"He found me." Ludwig said and pointed sternly to the bed. Ivan slumped his shoulders like a dog scolded and climbed into his bed. He crawled under the covers and curled into a heap, a big lump on the bed. "Keep better watch over him if you can." Ludwig left the room and stopped by Kiku's, peeking in. "Kiku?"

"Ah, good morning Ludwig-san. How are you today?"

"I am well." Ludwig smiled and entered the room. "Would you like to accompany me for awhile?" Kiku shook his head. "You will not have to worry about anything for I will be with you. It is safe."

"I am doing well here." Kiku said with a smile. "Thank you for your kind offer."

Ludwig frowned. "Kiku, I would really like for you to walk around more. Staying in this room is not healthy."

"I am perfectly content to remain in my quarters until I feel better." Ludwig saw the pure look of calm challenge on Kiku's face, just daring him to try and remove him.

"Sorry to disturb you. I will be back at a later time to check up on you."

"Thank you for your concern, Ludwig-san. Enjoy the rest of your day." Kiku bowed and Ludwig turned away only to bump into Vash.

"Oh, there you are." Vash fixed his glasses. "I wanted to let you know that we've brought in the Vargas brothers. They're in the cancer ward right now in stable condition so you may want to tell your friend."

"Wonderful. I will let him know. Thank you." Ludwig hurried to Antonio's room to find the man singing a Spanish song happily at the top of his lungs. Ludwig cleared his throat.

"Oh! I didn't see you there! What brings you here?" Antonio asked.

"I have good news for you. Your friend, Lovino, has come in with his brother. They are safe in the cancer ward where they are being cared for as we speak." Antonio's eyes lit up. "Do not ask to see him, because you can not at this moment. I will let you know."

"But…but…I won't cause any trouble!" Antonio begged.

"I am sorry, but that is the rule. The people here are going out of their way to focus on all of you. I would appreciate it if you were to do as you are all told out of respect for the care they are giving you."

Antonio looked hurt by Ludwig's words but he nodded. "Si."

"Thank you. Now rest well."

Now that his rounds were done, Ludwig went back to Gilbert's room to check on his brother. He had bought some third grade workbooks for Gilbert to practice with when the man wasn't having withdrawal symptoms. When he looked into the room, he saw Gilbert chewing on his pencil as the workbook lay out on the tray in front of him. Ludwig gave a small smile and walked over to him, looking down at the page full of multiplication problems. "How are we doing?"

"This is kind of hard…" Gilbert looked up at him with a grin. "But I think I got it this time! Check my work! Check it! I want that star sticker!"

Ludwig picked up the workbook and took the pencil, checking over the work. He saw Gilbert had closed his eye, not wanting to see how many 'x's Ludwig would have needed to put. Sadly, it was a lot and Ludwig was not looking forward to the sad face of his brother. "Keep trying, Gilbert. You will get there."

"What?" Gilbert opened his eye and ripped the book from his hands. "But…but I worked really hard this time, Ludwig! I did!"

"I know you did and the more you practice at it, the better you will be. It takes time, Gilbert. You need to focus your mind."

"Well, forgive me if you got the brains of the family!" Gilbert crossed his arms with a pout. "Do I…still get the star sticker for trying?" Ludwig shook his head. He had hidden the sticker page from Gilbert. "WHY NOT?"

"You have not earned it. The harder you work to earn that star, the more accomplished you will feel. It will mean much more to you." Gilbert gave him a short raspberry and Ludwig frowned. "Childish. Now, let me see your reading workbook."

Gilbert handed it to him but would not look him in the face. Ludwig flipped through the pages, finding most of them empty except for a few circled words above a picture. "I told you I can't read English that well."

Ludwig sat next to him on the bed and placed the tray on the floor. "I will orally translate this passage to you in German, then I want you to answer the questions."

"In German?" Gilbert grinned at Ludwig's nod.

Ludwig cleared his throat and proceeded to read the short passage. Gilbert listened intently and followed along with Ludwig's finger. The passage was no more than a couple of paragraphs and once finished, Ludwig asked him the questions. Gilbert answered to his best ability, but Ludwig knew the man could not comprehend very well, which of course would hinder his learning. Ludwig gave him the right answers and pointed out why. Gilbert gave him a look as though he was understanding Ludwig, when in reality he was zoning out. His brother did not have the attention span to properly focus. Ludwig decided then to hire a tutor when everything was eventually settled. He wasn't sure if he had the patience to teach someone like Gilbert.

"You did well." Ludwig stood up. "Let me make a phone call, then I will be right back." He took out his phone and dialed Roderich, knowing the man would just be getting out of class. When Roderich did not pick up, he dialed Sadiq and waited for an answer.

'I was just about to call you!' Sadiq said with a laugh.

"What for?"

'Herc set up some Paypal account thing for people to donate money. He wrote about VOX, threw it out all over the internet, and now people are donating for our patients! He started it up yesterday and already there is about a thousand some in the account! It's still growing!'

Ludwig's eyes widened and he hurried out of the hospital to get better reception. "That is actually marvelous news! I did not think of that! It had just occurred to me today about what to do with all of them after they leave the hospital. Gilbert will be staying with me, of course. Someone like Ivan can not function on his own. Arthur has small children attached to him. Most of them have not had proper education or functioned independently outside of their handicaps. They have never even explored this country, only kept behind closed doors at VOX."

'Damn…that is an issue. Well, I would assume that after the rulings the government will place them all somewhere. And hey, with this donated money, we can ship a few of them out! Like Kiku could go to a school for the blind and Yao for the hearing impaired…and Ivan to the crazy house. Arthur can go to one of those family boarding houses. We'll figure it out.'

"Yes, but until then." Ludwig pointed out, and realized he needed a cigarette so he lit one up. "I have not heard from Roderich's father yet. My father said that no arrests have been made, but that they were currently awaiting a date for the first court appearance. Once the court finds Dr. Carty and the others guilty, then they will be arrested. Until that happens, say nothing to any of our patients about it. Let them think Carty is in jail for they will be more calm."

'Agreed. Anyway, what did you call me for?'

"I hate to bother you, but Roderich did not pick up and you can get things done fast. I need you to pick up some Dr. Suess books and bring them to the hospital. Just get the most basic ones. I will give you the money back."

'Dr. Suess? What the hell for?'

"For Gilbert. I want him to start learning to read in English. I would asses him at having a third grade reading level in German, but he is at a kindergarten level for English. So get the most basic ones."

'Yeah, I can do that. I'll bring them over by lunchtime, say twelve?'

"Sounds good, thank you. See you then."

Ludwig hung up the phone and puffed on his cigarette, watching the cars fly down the street. He thought about his phone conversation with Sadiq just now. What was he to do with everyone while the trials were going on? Most of them were done with hospital care and the beds would be needed for others coming in. Ludwig would have to find a place for all of them to stay. Now that there was donation money he could put them all up in a hotel. Then again, if no arrests were made, Dr. Carty and the others could still do them harm. They would not want to be away from him either and Ludwig would have to stay at the hotel as well. Gilbert would come with him and stay on hospice at the apartment, but it would not be fair to the others. So, what could he do?

"At least I have received a break from school for all this. I would have killed all my brain cells should I have to study as well." He said out loud to himself and finished his cigarette.

Looking back out onto the street, he noticed a black car with tinted windows driving by slowly in the fast lane. Ludwig had to squint his eyes to see, curious as to why it was slow. The hospital entrance and drop off were on the other side so Ludwig assumed the person was looking for it. The window began to roll down and something stuck out from inside. Ludwig's eyes widened as he realized it was a gun. Everything at that moment froze, including his body. The gunshot went off, striking him in the shoulder. The pain was enough to snap him out of his petrified fear so he made a stumbling break for it. The tires of the car screeched loudly as more shots were fired. Ludwig cried out as he felt a bullet strike him in the side while another shot by his ear.

It was the sheering pain on the side of his head that brought him crashing to the ground. His body was wracked with pain and too paralyzed to move. He lay with his cheek to the grass, seeing only the green blades in his vision. Blood leaked down into his eyes and he felt his heart beating faster with each drop. The sound of his heartbeat was rapid in his ears and his mind was fighting to stay awake. He knew he had been shot in the head but could not think beyond that. He could not move. He could not speak. What exactly had just happened?

The world finally went black and the pain was gone.

/

Gilbert was jerked awake from his nap when he heard someone screaming Ludwig's name. He sat up in the bed and saw some nurses running around. "Ludwig?" He tried to shout for someone to tell him what was happening but no one came. Getting out of bed to find out was not an option. What had happened? Why was Ludwig's name being screamed like that?

"Gilbert!" Francis appeared at the door with Antonio, who was still in the wheelchair. Francis was panting and Antonio was crying. "Gilbert…we have trouble."

Gilbert's heart sank. "What? What's wrong?"

"Well…we don't know why or how it happened but…" Francis gulped. "Ludwig's been shot."

Gilbert just stared.

"They wheeled him in on a stretcher!" Antonio said. "He had blood all over his head and in his hair and-!" Francis hollered at him to stop talking.

"He…he was…he was…what?" Gilbert couldn't find the words to speak.

"They rushed him into the E.R." Francis said, a few tears welling up in his own eyes.

"But…but he was just here." Gilbert whispered, looking down at his hands. "He was just…talking to me. Oh…oh God…" He held his stomach, leaning forward as he felt like he was going to vomit. Francis rushed into the room and Antonio wheeled in behind. Gilbert hardly felt when Francis jumped onto the bed and held him tight.

"I'm so sorry, Gilbert!" Francis said with a soft sob into the white hair.

Antonio forced himself out of the wheelchair and onto the bed to be on Gilbert's other side. He too hugged his friend. "He'll pull through it, Gilbie! I know he will!"

"It was those doctors, I'll bet!" Francis said angrily.

Gilbert spoke softly. "I know he will pull through. He wouldn't leave me…he wouldn't leave us." Gilbert felt his eyes begin to well with tears, one soaking through the bandage. "Mein bruder…" His mind was in a fog. He did not know what to think about the news he had just received.

"We will stay with you." Francis whispered to him.

"Thank you." Gilbert squeezed his two friends close to him, feeling his body begin to tremble. They all thought they were safe but now this had to happen. It only proved that the evil haunting them was still out there trying to do harm.

'Be warned, VOX.' Gilbert said darkly to himself. 'Should anything happen to my baby brother from your cruelty, then I will make you suffer. There will be no mercy for any of you. Hurting me is one thing…but you will never hurt my brother again! If I have to sell my soul to get to your asses then I will. In a heartbeat.' The hot, angry tears poured down his face.

/

Ludwig opened his eyes slowly as he started to wake up. The first thought on his mind was the gunshots, then it went straight to Gilbert. What had happened and where was he? He had to blink a few times to adjust to the bright light. It was a hospital room, of that he was certain. The familiar beeping of machines and smells of disinfectant were overwhelming. He tried to sit up but let out a hiss as his muscles screamed in protest. A sharp pain shot up his back and went straight to his head. It was the worst headache he ever had.

"Thank God, you are finally awake!" Ludwig recognized Roderich's voice and watched as the man ran to the door, calling out for a doctor. "You gave us all a massive scare!"

"What happened?" Ludwig asked, his voice hoarse.

Roderich went over to him and fixed the sheets. "You were shot down, Ludwig. You were shot in the side, in your shoulder, and at your head. But you are EXTREMELY lucky that the bullet only grazed your head, ripping at the skin. It did not make it to your skull but the impact was enough to knock you into a coma."

"A coma?" Ludwig gasped. "How long was I out?"

"Almost an entire week. About five, including this day."

"What about the others? How are they?" Before Roderich could answer him Vash came in.

"Welcome back, Ludwig." Vash said plainly and checked his stats. "You gave everyone quite a scare."

"The others. How are the others?" Ludwig was more worried about his patients and Gilbert.

"Well, it hasn't been pretty. Not in the slightest." Vash looked down at him. "In your case, you will recover with little issue. You are going to have to have your shoulder rehabilitated and your head will need some extra care."

"That is fine. But I want to know about the others."

"I'll let Roderich tell you all about it. Let me run and get some pain killers for you."

Ludwig immediately turned to Roderich who had a distressed look on his face. "Tell me. What of Gilbert? And the others?"

"Everyone is well." Roderich said softly and sighed. "Half of them are not here. They were put up in a nearby hotel. Heracles and Sadiq are with them, as well as some police officers my father sent."

"Who? Who is not here?"

"Yao, Francis, Antonio, Arthur, and the boys. Gilbert, Ivan, and Kiku remain."

"Tell me."

Roderich folded his hands on his lap. "Gilbert's health failed the moment he heard of your shooting. It was only up until a few days ago that he started to eat again. I am sure his health will be brought back now that he knows you are alive and well. Ivan is currently in the psychiatric ward because he tried to mutilate himself to help you. His thought process was to cut out the metal plate with a stolen scalpel to give to you as means to heal the bloodied wound on your head. And Kiku had a nervous breakdown when we tried to get him to go with the others."

"…Bring Gilbert here. I want to see my brother."

"Not yet, you should-"

"Now, Roderich!" Ludwig glared at him.

"Sorry. I will bring him right to you."

Roderich got up and left the room, leaving Ludwig alone with his thoughts. Ludwig started to remember what had happened to him that day, when he was shot. The shooting was planned, that's why the car had been going so slow. It was possible that it had been hired to scope the hospital in hopes of seeing him. Ludwig knew that the only people who would want him dead are the doctors at VOX, mainly Carty. No arrests had been made so Carty was free to walk the streets. Who was to say he did not hire someone to try and assistant him? Ludwig was bringing the man to court and Carty would likely go to jail. Of course he would be on the defense.

How did it come to this? One minute he was the top student of his class gaining a perfect internship and the next he was gunned down by an hit man. Was this to be his misfortune now that he rescued so many lives? Would he always be hunted like this even if the doctors are behind bars? Where was he to go from here?

"Kleiner bruder?" Ludwig looked over at the door to see Roderich wheeling Gilbert in the room. The bandage was removed from Gilbert's eye, which sported a straight scar from his eyebrow to his cheekbone. The blind eye was a very faint pink.

"Bruder." Ludwig motioned for Gilbert to be wheeled over, but the albino stopped Roderich from proceeding.

"No. Let me. I want to show him!" Gilbert carefully placed his slipper feet on the floor and gripped the chair arms. Roderich immediately locked the wheels and stood beside him, reading to catch him should he fall. Gilbert smirked at Ludwig as he slowly stood up on his feet, his knees shaking only slightly. "I'm going to walk over to you!"

Ludwig's eyes were wide at seeing Gilbert standing on his own. He felt his eyes start to sting with tears, but he would not let them fall. "Gilbert…you can stand!"

"I said I would walk to you and the doctors worked hard to get me to stand." He started to take baby steps, using his arms to balance himself. Roderich walked closely beside him. "I had to do something to get my mind off your attack." He was inching closer to Ludwig.

"You can do it, Gilbert. Focus." Ludwig had forgotten all of his pain from just the sight of Gilbert walking. He even forced himself to sit up against the pillows.

"I'm one… step closer to…to killing those bastards who hurt you!" He made it over to the bed and collapsed onto it, mindful of Ludwig's wounds. "I DID IT!"

Ludwig was truly happy despite his ordeal and he hugged Gilbert tightly. "YES, YOU DID!"

Gilbert hugged him back, kissing his face all over. "So we had a mishap, but you're going to be alright!" He continued to shower Ludwig with kisses. "That hit man has bad aim!"

"Nothing is over yet, Gilbert." Ludwig said seriously. "We all have to be on our guard. Everyone." He kissed his brother's nose. Ludwig was certain the realization of his attack would hit him full force in a short while, but right now he was happy and content having Gilbert in his arms. "I just want you to get better."

"I already am! You're one lucky duck there, Luddy! You got the luck of the Devil!" Gilbert cuddled him.

"Yes…it was luck." Ludwig said in a whisper.

"We are all targets now." Roderich said. "Even me. I should go and stay at the hotel with the others."

"No." Ludwig said firmly, looking into Roderich's surprised purple eyes.

"No?"

"No. The moment I am able to leave, we are all going back to our apartment. No matter what."

"Who is 'all'?" Gilbert asked him.

"Everyone. They will leave that hotel and come to live with Roderich and I."

Gilbert grinned and Roderich's jaw dropped open.

"Ludwig, are you on too much medication? This is not the time or the place to be making such decisions! You were just shot and have come out of a coma!"

Ludwig gave him a curt nod. "Yes, but I am alright now. It may hit me later, but for right now I am thinking properly. Gilbert will be on hospice and the others will move in with us."

"You. Are. AWESOME!" Gilbert gave his brother a big kiss on the lips.

"But…but our apartment is too small for so many people to live in it! It is also a building violation! Not to mention a fire violation as well!"

Gilbert pouted at Ludwig who only held him tighter.

"So we will rent a bigger place. Easy as that."

Roderich huffed. "Why not a farm house where they can all run free in the back fields? Are you trying to recreate the "It's A Small World" ride here in the city?"

Ludwig gave a chuckle at that. "It does sound that way. But no, they are living with us. All of us. Together. We are deep in shit enough so we might as well deal with it together. We can all watch out for the other. And that way, I will know everyone is safe. We have the trials coming up as well. I want everyone with me."

Roderich cleared his throat. "Which reminds me. We have the court date set, whether or not you would be awake for it. Next week, Wednesday, nine o'clock a.m. Everyone is to be there to testify."

Gilbert looked at Ludwig and threaded his fingers with the larger ones. "I'm a little nervous about testifying, Ludwig. Carty will be there and what if they ask hard questions?"

Ludwig nuzzled him. "Do not worry. Everything will be alright."

Gilbert gave him a pitiful look. "You said that before and you were shot."

"Well…I can not predict the future. However, you know I will do my absolute best to ensure that everything works out according to plan." His vision started to get a little fuzzy and Gilbert's voice seemed far away.

The next thing he saw was a look of panic wash over Roderich's face as he bolted from the room. Gilbert was above him, frantically shouting his name with tears in his eyes. His mind was telling him to react but his body was unresponsive. It was as if his bones did not care. Suddenly, the room grew cold and he started to shake. Gilbert was hollering for help but Ludwig still could not react. The light started to fade as his eyelids slipped closed.

End Chapter 13 TBC
- 12
- 13
- 14
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

My Manipulated Misfortune