Coincidental Meeting
Rating: T
Pairing: ScotGer (though they don't get together in the fic. Just a lot of pining)
Word Count: 852
Author's Note: Based loosely on this TikTok my friend shared with me
Read on AO3
âWhat are you doing here?â
Ludwig in Munich, chatting up both Germans and Scotsmen who had gathered for the Euro Cup, in the middle of a campground. Okay, him being in Munich and talking to fellow football fans wasnât that much of a surprise. But he expected him to be home prepping for the game, if not already at the arena, considering how punctual he liked to be.
Ludwig blinked, freezing in the middle of handing a sausage to one of their fellow campers. He seemed to relax when he noticed it was just Alastair.
âWhat a coincidence?â Ludwig mused, slightly slack-jawed.
Alastair laughed shortly, the kind that came from the throat and was a bit too loud. Warm splotches bloomed under his skin. Hopefully he wasnât as red as he felt.
âDidnât expect to see you here,â Alastair explained awkwardly. âThought youâd have a place out here, or youâd drive from one of your places.â
Ludwig shrugged. âGilbert thought a change of scene for a bit would be good for me. And I like doing things like this. Might I say your people have been surprisingly warm and even entertaining despite our opposing teams.â
If his face wasnât noticeably red before, it definitely was now. It may not have been a compliment towards him directly, but pride swelled in Alastairâs chest, and coming from Ludwig, he was left flustered.
âAre you alright, Alastair?â
âYeahâŚYeah. Just a little warm is all.â
Ludwig gestured to a nearby table. âSit, sit. Iâll get you a drink and something to eat.â
âLudwig, you donâtââ But Ludwig took matters into his own hands, wrapping an arm around Alastairâs shoulder and forcing him over to the table.
âSit,â Ludwig commanded, not harsh, but firm. Like he always sounded controlling the meetings before he lost his patience. Alastair had to obey, especially with the way the tone made his legs feel like jelly.
Ludwig went back up to the grill to collect food. Alastair watched from a distance as he exchanged some words with the man who was helping him on the grill. Even from this far away, Alastair caught the red creeping along Ludwigâs cheeks. What had him flustered now?
In the end, it didnât matter, for when Ludwig returned with food and drink in hand, his cheeks had gone back to their regular, pale colour, and his expression in its normal, neutral position.
âSoâŚâ Alastair began as they both dug in, âYou like camping?â
Ludwig nodded. âMhm. Itâs a nice way to get away from everything. Like a whole other world without having to travel very far.â
âIt definitely is nice. Camping reminds me of my childhood. There were a lot of times we were moving around without a stable home, especially after MumâŚdisappearedâŚâ
Alastair was pulled out of his thoughts when Ludwig touched his hand. Alastair flinched but suppressed it enough not to pull away.
âIâm sorry.â
Alastair swallowed saliva that wasnât there. If he had been getting misty-eyed about his mother, it was quickly forgotten and replaced by the fluttery feeling set off by the warm touch against his hand. âItâs fine. Really. I brought that up to say I get joy from it too. Itâs nostalgic. And like you said, a great escape.â
Ludwigâs brows remained knitted, but he didnât press further. And he didnât let go of Alastairâs hand.
âUmâŚL-Ludwig?â Alastair stuttered out after a moment of enjoying the feeling of Ludwigâs hand in his.
Ludwig gave him a confused look before he noticed that he still had his hand over Alastairs. He pulled away quickly.
âS-Sorry,â Ludwig muttered.
âItâs okay.â
Awkward silence. At least it gave them a chance to get back to their food. Not that Alastair had much of an appetite now, with his heart pounding so much that it rattled his stomach until he felt nauseous.
âSorryâŚI made things awkward,â Ludwig finally said once they finished. Cheeks pink, eyes darting off to the side in uncertainty.
Alastair smiled softly. It was easy not to notice the soft soul that lay beneath the tough, self-assured soldier. Ludwig seemed to make sure no one did. And Alastair, blinded by his admiration for Ludwigâs leadership and desire to impress him to join the EU, failed to notice it for a while despite the constant attention he gave to him. But when he finally did, Alastair realized he was in love.
âItâs okay,â Alastair assured him. He went to reach for his hand again, though stopped short, just hovering over it. âIâŚumâŚâ
In the end, Alastair pulled his hand away. Ludwig made a noise. Tight, high pitched. Disappointed? No, it couldnât be.
Alastair cleared his throat. âItâs nice to spend time with you outside of business. And frankly, Iâve made things awkward between us many times, so letâs just say weâre even.â
Ludwig blinked slowly before a small smile rippled across his lips. âI suppose so.â
âWith that cleared up. Want to head over to the arena together?â
Ludwig paused for a moment, brows knitting once more.
âOkay,â he finally said. âIâdâŚIâd like that very much.â

















