May I love you?
May I be your shield?
When no one can be found,
May I lay you down?

-May I, Trading Yesterday

On the twenty-fourth of February, Prussia goes to Canada's house. He goes every year, without fail, and spends the night. When he wakes on the morning of the twenty-fifth, he is already in Matthew's arms, and the Canadian is already awake.

Neither of them speak about it, and no one comes looking for Gilbert there. Many years ago, all the others, mainly France and Spain, learned that on this day he doesn't want to see anyone. He doesn't want their pitying looks or their condolences. He doesn't want to be reminded that, technically, he doesn't exist anymore.

So he spends the day wrapped in Matthew, knowing that every second of that day, Canada has to hold himself back from apologizing over and over and bursting into tears. That's one of the reasons Prussia loves him, because Canada knows that even though he doesn't want to hear it, he still wants to say it.

Even so, on this day, Canada does not call him Prussia. Today, he is only Matthew, and Prussia is not 'Prussia', or 'East Germany'. He is only Gilbert. They lay together as two humans, rather than as nations. Because, as a nation, Prussia has been left behind. He has been forgotten by his own people, who are now only called German. Matthew knows all too well what it feels like to be forgotten, what it feels like to be called by a name other than your own.

So when Gilbert holds Matthew close as the sky darkens, Matthew does not judge, or look down on him if he cries. Because today, Gilbert is just a man who has been hurt.

February 25, 1947: Prussia is formally dissolved by the Allied Powers. ;-;

(But most of Prussia is North/East Germany now, so that makes it better. Kinda.)