Words And Doodles

Layers

A/N: Eeeeeyyyyyyy, guys; I'm back at it again with the doodle soulmate AU. Sorry about the last one ;; I just couldn't gather the motivation to continue it. Thanks to a friend (*cough*Cazypup*cough*) I was able to finally move on. If I had continued it, it probably wouldn't have been as great as I once hoped.
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Ludwig Beilschmidt lives with his older brother.

It took five years and two hundred dollars a month, but he finally lives with his brother -where he'd always wanted to be. Safe and fed and cared for; unlike what he felt at "home".

No, that wasn't home.

Home was where his brother was, no matter how much or how little he could do or give.

Home was with Gilbert.

-

Ludwig sighed in content as he pulled a chair up to his brother's bedside. He noted that it was nearly time for the albino to take his medicine and carefully shook him.
"Gilbert," he whispered. Said German grunted softly as he blinked awake. His crimson eyes flickered around the room before landing on Ludwig, and he cracked a small, tired grin. "Did you have a nice nap, sleeping beauty?" The tall German let his tough façade drop; he'd decided that his brother was the only one who would see him without it.
"What do you mean 'sleeping beauty'? I'm sleeping sexy," Gilbert chuckled.
"More like napping narcissist." That earned Ludwig a weak punch in the arm. Gilbert's attention drifted to the arm he had punched.

"Why do you always cover up so much, bruder?" Gilbert asked, picking at Ludwig's excessive clothing. The younger German smacked his hand away, though lightly as to not actually hurt his brother.

"There is never a time when I am not covered head to toe as if I were a tattoo enthusiast," he grumbled. The older brother tilted his head a bit.

"What about your face?" he asked, arching a brow.

"Who in their right mind would draw on their face?"

"Ah, your soulmate's a doodler," he chuckled. Ludwig sighed and nodded.
"Can I see?" Gilbert pushed, returning his hand to Ludwig's forearm. The blond finally loosened up and allowed Gilbert to push his sleeve up. The albino stared in awe at his brother's skin. It really was covered from elbow to fingers in gorgeous doodles in multiple colors of ink.

"Whoever they are, they deserve a better soulmate," Ludwig muttered, "I can't draw anything as intricate as these." Gilbert focused on a sketch of a young woman drawn in dark green ink and pondered for a little while before suddenly jumping, startling Ludwig just slightly. He leaned over and whispered in the taller man's ear.