Of course, Gilbert thought to himself with a smile. At first he was briefly surprised his brother brushed him off as some psychological melt down but quickly remembered who he was speaking with.
"There’s always a logical reason for everything, right? There’s no way I could be here. After all, ghosts aren’t logical or fact based, are they?" Gilbert stood there still grinning, his back to the grave his brother felt was more real than the soul standing beside him. "You haven’t changed a bit since we last spoke. But I shouldn’t be surprised. I never stopped watching over you, even beyond the grave."
He then shrugged, patting Ludwig’s shoulder; he couldn’t really touch him in a normal physical sense—his touch was more like the pressure of an invisible hand, one that was ice cold. “Sorry, warm is reserved for the living. I’m as cold as the snow that is soon to come.” Gilbert studied his brother’s reactions carefully before removing his hand. “But who knows? Maybe I am just in your head, an illusion created by your loneliness and longing to see me.”
He hardened himself, setting his shoulders with a knit coming to his brow. He expected an answer like that, in that exact voice, with that exact cadence and if he didn’t know any better - which of course he did - he would swear it wasn’t coming from somewhere within. But giving any quarter and he knew this would just shut him out of commission. No, there was nothing natural about this death, and it just had to happen to his brother.
He did manage a scoff of a smile, yes of course he would be looking down. Though suddenly all that wound, pained, energy that screwed his face up savagely unwound into shock. Evidence. He had evidence now, even if he could blame something on the wind, rationalize an errant breeze, it would never chill his collar and the muscles beneath but not the rest of his shoulder. He whirled on the translucent figure, eyes wide, mouth parted - and there where he felt the frigid sensation was a hand. All Ludwig ever needed was proof, concrete proof, something that didn’t require belief anymore. But then he suddenly had it. His eyes watered and he was struck absolutely silent. He remembered to breath in the next moment but he didn’t dare another until he could reign himself in.
"I would never think of you as a ghost!" Was the first thing he barked, albeit a bit louder than he meant; the only thing he could think of that didn’t make him sound like he was blubbering. He couldn’t bring himself to fight the accusations. Tears stayed in watering eyes, trapped somewhat by blonde eyelashes as he stared a hole through the figment. He snapped his mouth shut, clenching his jaw so hard he was getting a headache but the last thing he wanted Gilbert to see was him crying. He held his breath, wondering if this is what it was like to drown.
He had to breathe, though. With a huff, his shoulders shook and he felt a tear, but it didn’t roll down his cheek. “Rome was…” he huffed “Physically here. Actually here. What’s your excuse, brother?” He set his jaw again, steeling himself, quickly rebuilding himself. Tears would help no one right now.
That pained expression on Ludwig's face struck Gilbert's unbeating heart as if his brother's pain was his own. He never meant to hurt him, only to make him great. But to do that, sacrifices must be made and he was willing to shed blood and tears to make it so. He knew from way early on that his life would be part of that sacrifice, and yet he charged on with his sword held high.
A small hearty chuckle left Gilbert's lips as he smiled widely, his white teeth exposed. A genuine smile he reserved solely for the person that meant the most to him. "Hey now, little brother. Don't fall apart on me the second I see you, I made you stronger than that, ja? Those better be tears of joy in seeing me!"
He rolled his crimson eyes and shrugged as if he didn't have a care in the world. He gave Ludwig a mock serious expression before retorting with, "I've always been a special case, don't you know? Rome's influence is still very prominent all over the world. That, and he tied up God to sneak back to Earth to see his grandchildren. Hey, I'm not so gutsy as to assault my maker, so you'll just have to take what you can get.
"Nonetheless," Gilbert sighed, grinning again. "It's good to see you again Ludwig."
