HOME | DD

Description
body div#devskin0 hr { }

After running around for a while, you and Gilbert stood against a fence, taking a while to catch your breaths. Being in human form makes it necessary to pretend to feel fatigue, so other humans would be convinced that you were a human and not some supernatural phenomenon. “Pretending to be tired is such a pain.” You whispered as you panted, hoping that you weren’t attracting any unnecessary attention. Thank goodness that it’s already dark… I wouldn’t be able to pull that off in the middle of the day.

Gilbert looked at you, puzzled as to why you aren’t even tired from running away at all. “(name), how can you just run for so long without any breaks? I mean, don’t angels feel tired or anything?” You tried to think of the last time you felt tired. “Hmmm… There was the time when we fought against Lucifer…Oh! I remember a time! It was during the World Wars. The paperwork was drowning Sir Michael, and I couldn’t lift the gavel to hand down the judgement after a few million people.”

Gilbert looked at you in awe and fear at the same time. “That was the last time you felt tired? Oh mein God…” You turned around to face the man. “What do you expect? I’m an angel. I’m supposed to be immortal. Oh, and anyway, after using that special privilege to Ms. Héderváry, I cannot grant you anymore privileges. I’ve used up my reserve power…”

Gilbert looked alarmed, almost afraid. “But (name), how will that affect you?” You sighed. “You see, I’ve been saving up power for a guy I’m supposed to meet. He disappeared during our search for fallen angels… but because you reminded me of him, I used the power I saved to help you out. It’s a privilege that only high-ranking angels can use… every few hundred years. Count yourself lucky.”

“Fraulein, I don’t understand. You are the one that has all those awesome powers, why waste it on me? Not that the awesome me isn’t awesome, but isn’t this an important… matter for you?” You looked up at the sky, as if you longed for it. “I’m glad that your big-headedness knows its limits… but I’m not so glad to see you so sharp.”

You exhaled deeply. “Gilbert, he was my partner… the one who was created with me. But during Lucifer’s rebellion, he was forcibly corrupted by Lucifer. And now, he’s vanished. Not even my powers, or Sir Michael’s could track him down. And our creator, God, is unwilling to help us, saying that his disappearance is his punishment for siding with Lucifer. But there is a chance to find out. Perhaps he is hiding among the human souls…”

As you trailed off, Gilbert managed to put pieces together. “So the reason why you’re helping me out is because you think that I’m him?” You turned around to see Gilbert’s upset face. “You think that the awesome me is this… other person.” “No! I…you...You are like him. I don’t intend to replace this man with you! You’re not his replacement!”

Gilbert smiled sincerely, something that was unlike him. “Thank you, (name).” Did he do that because I said that he wasn’t that man? Or was it my desperation that made him think that I really cared for him? “The awesome me thinks that we need to move on and find that dumb pianist with no sense of direction.” … And he goes on to badmouth his love rival and distant cousin. Sighing, you walked away, leaving Gilbert behind. “Hey! Wait for me!”

*********************

“Seems like we’re here.” Standing in front of a beautiful renaissance-styled manor, you jumped across the high wall and onto a tree with ease whilst Gilbert walked through it effortlessly. Clicking your fingers, your form quickly reverted back to its original form, and you floated down from the branches.

“Hmm, this love rival of yours is actually pretty rich.” Gilbert scoffed. “Nowadays, not really. He usually spends his time sitting around and having Feli doing all the chores for him and Eliza doing the housework for him. He was better in the old days.” You looked Gilbert with surprise, but said, “Well, I guess he was just used to being rich. I didn’t think he would use Ms. Héderváry like that.”

Gilbert shook his head. “Eliza does it out of her own will. The awesome me used to spend his time fighting with her when we were kids, but I guess she didn’t realize that she wasn’t a boy back then. If I had made my move earlier… maybe it would be the awesome me that got her.” Finishing his reminiscing of the past, the nostalgia made Gilbert smile.

“Hmmm, I never really had childhood, so I don’t really know how to feel about yours, Gilbert.” Gilbert looked at you with interest. “So… what was your life like? The awesome me knows next to nothing about you anyway. Why don’t you tell me?”

You looked at him as if he was out of his mind. “Why would you like to hear about my life? I mean, I’ve never come across a human asking an angel what their life was like.” Gilbert just responded, “Well, the awesome me wants to know about the high ranking angel that’s escorting him. I’ve been talking the whole time. You might as well tell the awesome me. All I know about you is that you’re trying to find your old friend or something.”

“I’ll consider it. But we’ve been talking for too long now. We’re already here in Mr. Edelstein’s house. We should find him and get this over with.” Gilbert sighed. “You’re not going to tell me, are you fraulein?” You rolled your eyes. “I said I’ll consider it. Just stop calling me fraulein.”

You and Gilbert approach the big main door, and you walked through the door along with Gilbert. “I didn’t know you could walk through things like I can.” Gilbert remarked, surprised that you also had the ability. “Well, I’ve always had it. Weren’t you paying attention? When I was in your house I did it too.” “The awesome me was too busy thinking about his brother.” I want to know why he keeps making excuses…

“Anyway, let’s go to the room where he has his piano. He’s usually there, isn’t he?” Gilbert nodded, and both of you scaled the stairs, and went through the door to the piano room.

“I never thought Mr. Edelstein’s piano room would be so… beautiful, yet simple…” Looking around you, you see well polished floorboards, clean windows with simple dark purple velvet curtains and a beautiful white piano in the middle of the big room, with Roderich sitting on the piano bench, scribbling furiously on the paper.

“What is he doing?” “He’s just composing something. This is usual for him.” Gilbert explained as he went closer to Roderich. “Mr. Edelstein seems to have quite a bit of talent when it comes to the arts.” You replied, walking towards Roderich as well, noticing how much crossing out he had done on his score with his beat up old fountain pen.

“Gilbert, why does Mr. Edelstein not buy a new fountain pen? It’s so beat up, I think ink is smudging the pages. Not that I wish for humans to be consumed by earthly desires…” Gilbert laughed. “That guy is such a stingy guy. The awesome me can talk all day about Roddy saving money by sewing up his torn boxers and shirts.” He is not even hesitating to bad-mouth this guy…

Seeing your reaction, Gilbert sighed. “(name), you’re no fun.” You quickly retorted, “Am I supposed to be? Remember, I’m supposed to be the one handing down your judgement, and I don’t think that not being serious is in the job description.”

“Fine, fine. I’ll go. If I stay here any longer, I’ll become a boring one just like you.” Glaring at the hovering spirit, you tapped Roderich’s scrunched forehead, making him go unconscious whilst you used your other hand to force Gilbert into Roderich’s head.

—Gilbert's POV—

“Ugh… She didn’t have to do it so hard…” I rubbed my throbbing head. Guess some angels really do abuse their powers. Looking around myself, I seem to be in the piano room again. “Why am I here? Aren’t I supposed to be inside that numbskull’s head or something?”

“I presume you are talking about me, aren’t you, Gilbert?” Turning around, I see Roddy writing a sheet of music on his piano. “Ja, of course the awesome me’s talking about you.” I frowned as Roddy didn’t reply and continued to write.

“Hmm. I just don’t understand. I can’t get this part to sound right.” Mumbling to himself, Roddy continued to scribble on his scores. I walked across the room, and stood behind Roddy, looking over his shoulder, hoping to see what he was writing. “Verdamnt, don’t block my light!” Roddy lashed at the awesome me, spilling ink onto the floor and brushing his spare sheets onto the floor, revealing his angry face.

Although attempting to go back to his calm exterior, Roddy curses again as the ink dripped onto his trousers after picking up the wet sheets of paper. “I hate you, Gilbert Beilschmidt.” He spoke plainly, and I responded with the same tone of voice. “I hate you too. The awesome me doesn’t understand why he’s even visiting you.”

“Then why come at all?! Your very presence is contaminating my piano room. Just leave!” His shaky voice betrayed his calm exterior. I kneeled down, looking at Roddy in the eyes. “Why are you so upset? I’m just here to say goodbye. I’ll be out of your life as soon as you wake up from this dream.”

Roddy opened his tear-filled eyes. “I really hated you. You got on so well with Eliza, and now that I have her, you took her away from me again.” I shook my head. “That’s where you’re wrong, Roddy. She’s always been yours. And she already left me behind, waiting to move on with you. It’s not me she’s waiting for.”

“Arschloch… It’s your fault I’m feeling this way. Even though you’re out of the way, I feel like I can’t write anything. I can’t even compose.” Roddy wiped his eyes with ink-stained fingers, and took out his handkerchief to wipe his face.

“Es tut mir leid, Roderich.” Roddy glared at the awesome me when I used his real name, but his glare softened as his angriness disintegrates, leaving him with a remorseful expression. “Why did you have to go? Certainly, I disliked you for your stupid pranks, but you… didn’t have to go!”

Feeling that (name) was about to take me out again, I tapped his shoulder gently. “Roddy. My time is up… but I’m glad I got to meet you in the end.” Roddy shook his head, pleading with his eyes. “No! Don’t go… What would Ludwig, Eliza… and I do without you?” I grinned. “Never thought the day where you beg would come…” Seeing him glare at me, I cleared my throat and continued on seriously. “Roddy… you know what to do. Take care of Ludwig and Eliza for me… They need you. Danke…und entschuldige für sein egoistisch schließlich (and sorry for being selfish in the end). Farewell.”

Roddy wiped his sad expression of his face, his usual annoyed expression replacing it. “Farewell, Gilbert. I will take care of Eliza and Ludwig so much that you’d be so jealous of me.” I laughed. “The awesome me already is.”

Feeling myself disappearing, my mind went blank as the last image of Roddy smiling despite his tears slowly faded away.

——— Normal POV———

As Gilbert reappeared in front of you, you say, “So how was meeting Mr. Edelstein?” Gilbert sighed, scratching his head. “Man, that guy… He should be more honest. Our meeting could’ve gone better. But I have to say, the awesome me hates seeing guys like him cry.” Placing his slightly transparent hand on Roderich’s forehead, Gilbert went on saying, “But it’s awesome that I got to see it… Not everyone can see Roddy crying in their lifetime.”

“You included.” Hearing you joke, Gilbert laughed bitterly. “Ja, ja, schatz. The awesome me remembers that he’s dead.” Both of you headed towards the door, with Gilbert turning around to loom Roderich one last time. “See you later… Roddy.”

As the two of you exited through the door, Roderich lets out a small sob, his tears streaming down his face in his sleep.

“Are you alright, Gilbert?” You asked, sincerely concerned for the man who had to go through more emotional trauma than you had thought. “The awesome me’ll be fine, schatz. I just need time… but to be honest, I'd rather not see everyone suffer because of my death.”

“That’s good to know. How many people do you think we have left?” Gilbert looked thoughtful. “There’s only two people left… meine awesome Freunde… Toni and Francey-pants.” You looked at Gilbert amusedly. “That’s what you call Mr. Bonnefoy? I mean, I understand Mr. Fernandez’s nickname, but to call Mr. Bonnefoy ‘Francey-pants’?” Gilbert shrugged. “Well, the nickname stuck since we were kids, so me and Toni call him Francis or Francey-pants.”

“I see.” Walking through the gates and back onto the streets once more, you returned back to your human self, conserving power. “So… shall we take a rest in the park?” Seeing that going through all the emotional trauma made Gilbert exhausted, you felt that it would be better for him to take a break. “I was waiting for that! (name), you’re awesome!”

“Well, let’s go to the park then.” Strolling along the dark streets, you looked at the dimly lit pavements and the dark houses with occasional light on in some. Wondering aloud, you say, “I haven’t been to Germany for quite a while now. It has been around 70 years, I think.” Gilbert immediately became interested.

“The last time you came here… was around that time? During the World War II?” You nodded. “Well, because there were a lot of souls to be collected and judged, I had to come down myself. I didn’t escort anyone though. It was pretty bad, with the genocide and everything.” Gilbert’s expression reverted back to a remorseful one. “I’m very sorry… but I know for certain that most Germans and Prussians… we all regretted having followed that man. The way lives were taken… it was horrifying.”

“Gilbert, there is no need to feel bad for the past that’s gone and done with. What God wants humans to learn, is that humans must accept their past mistakes and live in peace according to it.” You spoke, hoping that Gilbert would change his remorseful expression to a more cheerful one. “Danke, schatz. I could just imagine you, running around, taking souls of the dead. The dead back then probably were not as fortunate as I was. I am thankful for that.”

“Good that you are. The last time I had to personally escort someone was then. Those soldiers keep slaughtering each other and the leaders kept using God’s name, and I had to intervene. But yeah, World War II was pretty bad. Most of our messengers came down to Earth a lot. I hardly saw my subordinates during that time.”

“Well, you’re here now with the awesome me now, ja? Don’t think to much of the past.” You smiled. Gilbert’s actually trying to make me feel better… just like that guy did. “To be honest, you remind me of the past even more. But I won’t think about it anymore.”

Gilbert pouted, but returned the smile when he saw that you were happy. “You better be thankful! It’s because of my awesomeness after all.” To which you replied, “Whatever. I think we’ve gotten a good long break. Let’s go.” Standing up and walking quickly, you grinned to yourself after hearing Gilbert shouting “Wait!” and struggle to run after you. You stopped after a while, feeling sorry for the poor soul that couldn’t run properly with half transparent legs.

Panting, Gilbert continued to look at you with tired eyes.“Fraulein, that was mean! You didn’t have to just run off because I said the awesome me is awesome! I was only stating a fact!” You shook your head, sighing. Why do I even try? He’s not going to improve.
“Oi, (name)!” And his need for attention is a rather interesting characteristic… “Sorry I couldn’t resist, Gilbert.”

Taking a look around, you realized that it was getting rather dark. “Actually, I think we should be taking the rest of the night off. I think that you are already too emotionally worn out by saying goodbye to three people.” Gilbert sighed. “I think that’s the awesomest idea you have so far, schatz. Never thought that you were this considerate of mein feelings…"

You gave Gilbert a smile, one you used for threats. “Isn’t it natural for me to be this nice? After all, I’m an angel.” Gilbert quickly shook his head. “I don’t think that angels should always be nice, schatz.”

Taking a deep breath, Gilbert gives you a serious look and continues. "Look at you. You’re an angel, but you have a variety of emotions, and characteristics. You aren’t just some robotic girl with wings dropping down from Heaven. If everyone were to be something like that, I’d freak out. It’s refreshing to have angels that aren’t so… inhuman."

You laughed. “Is that a confession of a sinned man, Gilbert? Or is it a confession of a masochistic guy?” Gilbert blushed, his pale face quickly turning red. “O-Of course it’s a confession of a human… The awesome me's not a masochistic guy!” Amused by his pouting face, you placed your hand on the soft white hair, smiled and said, “Yes, yes, Gilbert, we all know that…”

Walking back to the park, you sat down on the bench, and Gilbert sat down next to you. “Hey Gilbert-“ “Actually, just call me Gil. I would rather you call the awesome me Gil.” Surprised by Gilbert’s interruption with his strange request, you asked, “Why? Why should I call you Gil?” Gilbert looked at you, his eyes softening.

“Schöne, to tell the truth, I… you…” Seeing how he was struggling to put things into words, you reassured him. “It’s fine, Gilbert. Don’t force yourself to tell me.” “(name), you called me, Gilbert again.” Just when you were about to protest, Gilbert put on his serious expression. “But it’s important. I think you should know.” Nodding, you allowed him to continue.

“(name), I think I’ve met you somewhere before.” You shook your head. “That’s impossible, Gilbert-“ “Gil.” “That’s impossible, Gil. No human, and I mean no human, has ever seen me before. With the exception of the people whose memories I wiped and the dead, of course.”

“(name), trust me. I’ve seen you countless times… in my dreams. I just didn’t give it much thought until now. You… you were always crying in my dreams. I feel like you’re my awesome friend in another life, but I’ve never really met you in real life… before I died.” Gilbert sighed. “I’ve tried so many times to stop your crying, but it never works.” No… this can’t be…

Grabbing Gilbert’s shoulders, you looked at him desperately, searching for an answer within his ruby orbs.

“Gil… What was I saying? Tell me! What was I saying?!” Seeing how you suddenly became upset rattled Gilbert. “(name), you kept saying, ‘I can’t find him’ and ‘Why isn’t he here’…”

Looking away, you ask calmly, “Did you ever hear me say, ‘Nox de Mortem’?” Gilbert became confused. “How did you- How did you know?"

I knew it…. Gil… you really are…