How to Say Thank You (Germany x Reader)

"Ugh!" Someone wasn't watching as they accidentally knocked you over. Papers flew everywhere along with your report which landed out of view.

"Are you alright?" A thick German accent spoke behind you. You flung your head towards a tall muscular figure whom wore a concerned expression.

"Oh um-" Before you could even utter any intelligible words, the German began helping you gather your things.

"Thanks," you muttered before you remembered where you were heading. "Oh! I'm sorry but I really have to run!"

And with that you rushed to turn in your report ignoring a voice that called out for you. Little did you know he held your report in his hand and was trying to give it back.

"I'm here! I'm here!" You called out to your professor as you wheezed. She blinked at you in surprise but eventually grew a warm smile.

"Oh. Good morning." She greeted with slightly furrowed eyebrows at your exhaustion. You searched your stack of papers looking for that pesky history report. Your heart shattered in several pieces when it was nowhere to be found.

"But it was with my-" A thought struck you that perhaps you had missed it while ogling the large German.

"Could I run home and reprint the report? I lost my things on the way here and I forgot the paper and-"

"I'm sorry but by the time you get back here, it'll already be passed the due time," She shrugged with a glance at the clock. "Better luck next year."

Next year. That paper was worth quite a bit and missing it means in order to pass, you’d have to do perfect the rest of the year. Your professor already knew that wasn't going to happen since this was your worst class.

Tears began to form in your tired eyes as your feet drug on the ground out the school and into the courtyard. You sat yourself at the base of a nearby fountain placing a heavy head between two weak hands.

"____" A German accent called your name. Immediately shooting your head up, the gaze caught the man from earlier sprinting towards you with a something in his hand.

"Here." He held out several pieces of stapled paper while panting slightly. "I zhought you might need zhis."

Hesitantly, you removed the object from his fingers to reveal the lost report. A pleasant pain echoed through your chest and without realizing it, you wrapped your arms around the stranger. He tensed, but relaxed a bit and awkwardly hugged you back.

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you," the German was still tensed as you released him immediately. "Oh! Wait here, please."

When you emerged from the building a second time, your gaze caught the fit German pacing slightly while muttering about someone named Feliciano. When in view, he stepped on over with a soft grin.

"You just saved me back there. I might pass with a 'C' now." A nervous chuckle burst forth.

"I noticed it vas history," he began with a slight blush dusting across his stern features. "I could-maybe-tutor you. I-if you vould l-like."

A blush crept onto your own features, but a nod and a smile quickly masked it.

~

"Ja, zhat ist right!" The German grinned when you were able to answer every question. You felt your face grow warm under his proud gaze as a tense silent moment formed between you two. It almost seemed as if Ludwig was moving his face slowly towards, so you did the same.

"Kesesese~" A loud familiar laugh filled the room causing the both of you flying in opposite directions with bright red cheeks. "Vhat is going on in here, lovebirds?"

It was true you had formed feelings for the German, but you would never admit that. Especially since Gilbert always teased you two and he would always shoot down the possibility.

"Vhat do you vant, Gilbert?" Ludwig sighed.

"Vell zhe awesome me vas on my vay to a party, but I can see zhe fun is here." Gilbert whisked you from the sofa and into his arms with a smirk. His grip was incredibly strong, although it was a large contrast from Ludwig yet still proved too difficult to escape from.

"Bruder!" Ludwig growled pulling you away from Gilbert. He howled his annoying laugh while lightly pushing Ludwig in a playful manner.

"Do not be so gullible bruder." Gilbert withheld a slightly evil grin despite him being quite harmless-to a certain degree that is. Ludwig mumbled something about the bathroom and left still grumbling.

"Gilbert, could I ask you a question?" You nervously twiddled your thumbs.

"Oh nein! Have you fallen for mein awesome charms? I'm flattered, but you und I-"

"I did not fall for you! I just simply needed to know something." Your face flushed at such a notion.

"Oh vell vhy didn't you just say so, frau? Go on. Ask away."

"How do you say 'thank you' in German?" Gilbert gave an incredulous look before a smirk swelled upon his egotistical face.

"Are you sure zhat vill vin mein bruder over?" Gilbert feigned an innocent expression.

"Wha- I don't think of him that way," you exclaimed even though it wasn't true. Of course it was correct that you wished to thank Ludwig in his native tongue, but it was not to 'win him over'. "I just want to properly thank him for helping me. I just supposed that if I said it in German he would understand that it meant much more to me."

"Oh~ Much much more." Gilbert teased with his signature laugh.

"Gilbert!”

"Alright! Alright! I'll tell you."

~

Ludwig was driving the two of you to class in a comfortable silence. He may not always be one to talk, but just being around him made you happy.

"I'm sorry about mein bruder last nacht." Ludwig rubbed the back of his neck with slight frustration. You had left before he emerged from wherever he had hid away.

"Don't worry about it. It's not the first time he's done something like that." You smiled to remove any tension in the air.

When you arrived at the college, Ludwig was out and swiftly opened the passenger side door. You stepped out and softly thanked him. Before you parted ways, you decided to try out those new German words.

"Ich liebe dich, Ludwig." You smiled softly while walking away unbeknownst of a bright red faced German paralyzed by shock.

Ludwig chased after you and snatched your wrist into his palm. You were shocked to see his face so brightly lit and confused as to why he would do this.

"Is something wrong-"

"How can you say zhat so casually? Do you mean it or are you just trying to embarrass me?"

What? Embarrass him? Why on Earth-

"Of course I mean it! I've been meaning to tell you for a while now, but I couldn't figure out how on my own. Was it wrong to say it in German?" You grew nervous that perhaps the accent you had butchered his language so much that it was insulting.

"Y-you mean it?" If possible, Ludwig's face became darker.

"Yes! I mean it with all my heart," you laughed and repeated yourself. "Ich leibe dich, Ludwig."

Ludwig forced you towards him and connected his soft tender lips to your own. There was so much passion behind the sudden action, yet it confused you as to why he did that even though you were happy he did.

"Wh-why did you-" Ludwig grew perplexed by the unfinished question.

"Because I love you too," he nuzzled into your neck.

"L-love?! Too?" Ich leibe dich means I love you? That sneaky little Prussian-
Wait a second. He said he loved you too! Ludwig loves you! Perhaps Gilbert needed to be praised rather than beaten. Perhaps you'd tell Ludwig what you actually meant to say, but for now, why not enjoy the moment.

You pecked Ludwig one more time before entwining his fingers with your own and walking together to class.