After the wall was put up, West Germany didn't know what to do. He was aging a lot quicker recently, already reaching 13 in just a few decades. But apparently that was proof that he no longer needed his brother.

But he did.

And now that he was going to work, he needed his brother more than ever.

At least they could still write to each other. But America said that he didn't know for how long they would still be able to do this.

Unfortunately, it had been weeks since he got his last letter. He then heard the door behind himself get unlocked.

"Hey kid, what's going on?" America said as he entered the house.

"Why hasn't F-East written to me?" West asked, but America just looked away.

"I have a new letter from him..." America said quietly, handing over a bloodstained piece of paper.

West didn't want to think about where the blood came from, so he simply started to read.

"Dear Noah, I'm starting to get used to living with Soviet, and how are you getting along with America? I know he can be an ass sometimes, but that's the UK's fault, not mine. I think. Either way, I hope you're doing well. I'm not in the best condition, but it's getting better I think. Or I'm just lying to myself. I don't know, but I do know that I love you. Please eat well and varied, I hope you're doing well."

West's eyes began to well with tears, which he tried to swallow down.

"I'm sorry, but you can't write back," America eventually said to break the silence.

"What?" West asked in disbelief.

"Exactly what I said, I don't want you to write to him and Soviet only let this letter go through because East begged him. But that won't work on my boss. He won't let you write anymore," America explained.

"But why? He's my brother! I should get to-" West started, raising his voice for the first time at somebody else.

"You wouldn't understand! I can't risk my ass getting put in the same position as your brother!" America yelled back.

"What do you mean the same position as him?" West asked, in a much quieter voice.

"He's been imprisoned, and Soviet's facing punishment as well. This letter was never meant to get through," America explained before leaving the house again, not looking back at West, who simply stared at the closed front door.

---

It took about a week for West to leave his bedroom again after these news. When he did, it was because America showed up on his door, with a message from his brother.

"East is free again," America said through the closed door. "He wanted me to tell you that he's doing alright for now."

West muttered something under his breath that even he wasn't able to decipher. But he ignored that, instead getting up and opening his door, to ask America if he was telling the truth.

But when he opened the door, he saw America's face sprouting a blackeye and bloody nose.

"What happened?" West asked instead.

"Just a little run in with Soviet's boss, but you should've seen Soviet, I'm sure that guy won't be competing for a while," America said with a forced smile. "Ah who am I kidding, he didn't deserve that."

"Why did you help me?" West asked, wiping the tiredness out of his eyes.

"Because you're just a kid- I don't care what your bosses say, they're wrong. And I'll be dammed if I can't help out someone I care about. Even if my country won't be doing shit for you in the future. I just feel like my country doesn't have long until we're failing all over again."

"Can I see Finn?" West asked.

"No, I can't allow that. I can't even safely visit him. A small country like you, you have no chance," America explained.

West simply closed the door again. Shutting himself in for another week or maybe a month. He didn't know yet. However long it took for his mind to calm down.

---

West Germany's mind never calmed down, it only got worse and worse, until America and England forced themselves into his room and talked it out with him.

The talk itself was long and tedious, but it helped. At least a little.

He understood that he couldn't contact his brother anymore from the start. But he was starting to see the danger around it too.

If someone as powerful as America was injured there, then he stood no chance, not anymore.

But this was all his fault. His country started the second world war, his country killed millions in the name of "betterment" and his country was the one that had to have a wall built through it. He just didn't know what to do about it.

---

It was after the moon landing happened that West and East were finally reunited, even if East wasn't able to speak due to a recent throat injury, he was still there.

America and Soviet were also present, but busy talking in the corner.

It was also the first time that West got to see Soviet, and how small he looked. Even if he was technically 2 meters tall, he simply felt small. Maybe it was his age.

---

It was 1973 when the brothers were reunited again, though only through being allowed to write letters again.

West wrote daily, East whenever he had the chance. It helped both, but East's letters were still stained with blood at times. West's only with tears luckily.