Requested by a_wolf_with_no_name
Alfred was one of the pitied, a member of a small handful of people who will never meet their soulmate, the red string that attaches them having been severed before they ever met. His soulmate, Ludwig Beilschmidt, having died from a head injury at the age of sixteen, the injury caused him to forget his childhood. When a soulmate dies before meeting their other half they become a sort of guardian angel for their soulmate.
Although Alfred doesn't believe in ghosts he always believed the lore surrounding soulmates which was quite lucky for otherwise he might of thought he was insane when Ludwig appeared to him and only him. Every since that day Ludwig had been following Alfred and keeping him safe to the best of his ability, longing for the day the two would meet in the afterlife but also dreading it as he wanted Alfred to live a long and happy life with or without him.
Alfred reached for a burger in his fridge but a see through hand lightly grasped his wrist, that was about as hard as Ludwig would ever be able to touch Alfred, "Dats not healthy." He scolded.
"I was getting it because it's healthy, I'm grabbing it because it's good food yo." Alfred responded and easily took his wrist back, grabbing the burger and heating it up.
"Your metabolizm ish going to catch up vith jou eventually." Ludwig said as he watched Alfred in disappointment.
"I exercise, it's fine." Alfred replied with a shrug, putting the burger into his mouth.
"Being skinny and muzcular doesn't mean healthy." Ludwig replied, watching Alfred shove more junk food in his mouth. This was a daily routine, Alfred would stuff himself with unhealthy food and Ludwig would disapprove but not be taken seriously when he told Alfred not to.
"When jou're older jou'll I vas right." Ludwig sighed.
"Let me live!" Alfred whined, "Besides I have to go to that state meeting today so I'm loading down on food now because we all know you don't eat food at one of those." He rolled his eyes at the thought of the meeting. He didn't know why they set food out, it's looked down on to eat during important meetings so the food went to waste. He learned the hard way that you shouldn't eat at them, when he ate at one and was pulled aside by his friend, Arthur, and told he wasn't supposed to eat there.
"Oh right." Ludwig rolled his eyes, "Ztupid rule if jou ask me."
"I agree." Alfred stuffed more food in his mouth and then drank some water-slowly-so he wouldn't burp of smell like food as he tugged on a suit, Ludwig put one on himself despite being invisible because he felt he should support Alfred in this way.
Alfred arrived at the office building and headed inside, sighing to himself and forcing a smile as he walked in. He looked around, heading to find Arthur as he always did and taking a seat next to him, listening to their board director talk about stock changes and consumer rates.
As Alfred went to poke Arthur to ask him why they were changing their directive when the power went out, "What?" Arthur let out, he and Alfred both stood up.
A few moments later they felt a tremble from the floor and realized they were in the middle of an earthquake. "Okay so-so we gotta get out the building." Alfred said, remembering a TV program he once saw about earthquakes-well, it was on in the background while he played on his DS but still.
"I can't even see past my face." Arthur replied blankly, "I'm sure I can navigate the halls of this building perfectly."
"Now is not the time to be sarcastic." Alfred mumbled and grabbed Arthur's arm so he wouldn't lose him as he blindly tried to find the exit while the building shook.
"Al." Ludwig's voice broke through and Alfred looked to him, "Follow me." He said. Alfred nodded and told Arthur to follow him, leading him out of the building by following Ludwig. As they reached the stairs Al stumbled but Ludwig steadied him.
Quickly they left the building and put some distance between them and the building before Alfred turned to Ludwig, "Scary." He breathed.
"Who are you talking to?" Arthur asked, looking to where Alfred had spoken.
"Um.." Alfred sighed, "My uh, my soulmate."
"Your s-oh." Arthur coughed awkwardly.
"Alfred." Al turned back to Ludwig and nodded to show he was listening, "There's no need to be afraid because I'll always be here to protect you. I'm here to guard you. Ich liebe dich"
Alfred was taken aback by the sudden sincerity, "I love you too, Luddy."
"Do not call me that." Ludwig said, rolling his eyes lightly.
"Okay Luddy." Alfred replied, smirking when he saw the annoyed look that crossed Ludwig's features.
When he got home that night, he flopped into bed and fell asleep as he was exhausted from the day's excitement. He didn't know Ludwig never slept as he didn't need it, that Ludwig just watched him dreaming, that Ludwig wished he could curl up next to him and hold him tight. But he could protect Alfred and that's what mattered to him in the end.