Ah, and the last little tidbit. Enjoy.

Freedom of War

Part IV: Eyes

He snapped together his uniform with care. Although they told him he was no longer a military man, they would not be able to strip away his military pride. He would make sure he appeared ready to march for the Führer himself. He checked over his thick jacket, inspecting the brass buttons and medals. He ran a finger down his boots to make sure there was not a speck of dust on them. With a satisfied sigh, he adjusted his eye patch one last time – a lovely memento given to him by his bruder. He was ready. Although it didn't matter, now. It was over – the end.

"Ludwig Brandt."

The proud SS officer walked into the courtroom when his name was called with his body rigid at attention and his blue eyes flinty, ready to be stoked to fire at the slightest provocation. Pinned down with a dark glare, no one dared make comment on the disgraced officer's uniform.

"The defendant is charged with crimes against humanity."

Ludwig waited patiently until he was required to take a part in his trial. Not that there was any need – he knew how it would end. The Regisseur had already been hanged. So had the Doctor Lehrer. He would not be any different.

"Would the defendant take the stand."

With all the grace and dignity of his former status, Ludwig ascended to the small box that they had allotted him, hands clasped stiffly behind his back.

"Do you feel remorse?"

By now, Ludwig was familiar with the question. It took him no longer than any of his fellow officers to answer, "No."

"Would you care to describe what tasks you managed."

"No."

Ludwig did not need to look down to know his lawyer was shooting him an ugly look. He ignored it, directing his stare towards the prosecutor. The man fumbled under his heavy glare, and mumbled, "The prosecution rests. No more questions for the defendant, your honor."

The aged man peeled his face off the podium. "Has jury reached a verdict?"

"Yes, your honor. We find the defendant guilty on all counts."

The words prompted utter madness from the court, but none of it reached Ludwig's ears. A familiar vacuum pulled sound and body from his mind, leaving him alone. He did not protest as he was led from the stand to the doors, where he knew death was waiting for him. It was only another order, another mission, and as a soldier, he obeyed.

There was no fear when he gazed up at the tall scaffolding, the hangman's noose waiting for his neck. His eyes moved past them to look towards the low, overhanging clouds, ready to scoop his limp soul up in their arms – bloody, calm, and quiet. It would never change – not for him.

Blue eyes slid shut.

Raise me up, bruder.

I'm sorry for killing BOTH brothers! It's just that there's no way that Ludwig would survive; the Nuremberg Trials would catch up to him. Hell, they even caught a ninety-year-old man last month or something. The guy was ninety, and he was still tried and convicted. Sort of. Either way, although it's a bit excessive, the general idea runs thusly: leave no Nazi untried.

Anyway, that's the end of this lovely little four-part something-or-other. Whooo~ Hey, thanks to Blood Promises and Nelopaw for reviewing! You guys are awesome.

Thanks to Riley Lupin-Black, Montita, BlackXxXRose, Blood Promises, Bhel-Elryss, and Akari Izume for watching this fic, and to pein21, Nelopaw, Montita, andazaneti for faving it! And thanks to ANYONE who read this and might have neglected to leave a note - just reading it makes me feel special. ^^"

There were a lot of things that didn't make sense in this fic, and I know it: nurses don't carry guns as far as I know for one, and there are some psychological issues with Gil that might make some question exactly what was going through his mind at that particular moment. He makes some weird choices and I'll try to explain them if anyone has questions. But hey, I made it through without stopping entirely! Yay! This is still a gigantic accomplishment for me. (I had to turn it in for school and so therefore had to finish it? What? Naaaaaw.) Anyway, I was hit with a plot bunny for something entirely new, so you might be seein' me again.

~Until we next meet, thanks to ya'll again, Unseen.