Christoph understood that something had changed in Bruno following the war in Manchuria. He was not acting like his usual self. Threatening his own family with violence over petty matters such as insults between children? It was not exactly something that a calm and rational man would do.
Because of this, he was quick to confront his father with the news. After all, the man which Bruno was named after was the only other member in their immediate family who had actually seen battle. With Bruno Sr. having served in both the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian wars during his younger years.
When the two of them were seated together in the Bundesrat where Bruno Sr. worked. There was little chitchat, with Christoph damn near immediately bringing up the conversation he had just had with his youngest brother.
“Father, have you spoken with Bruno since he returned home from the War in Manchuria?”
Bruno Sr. raised his brow when he heard this. If Christoph was mentioning this, then clearly he had met with the youngest of his brothers. And something must have happened to cause the older of the two siblings to come running straight to him.
“No, I have yet to find the time to do so. Besides, I figured soon enough we will meet at the family gathering, so such a thing can wait until then, unless, of course something happened?”
Christoph was visibly anxious as he explained the conversation that he had with his youngest brother. And when he did so, Bruno Sr. remained silent for some time, before finally responding.
“Your brother has been through a lot. I heard that more men died in a single battle within Manchuria then the entirety of the Franco-Prussian War. To witness such death and destruction, it changes a man, and most of the time not for the better.
I’ll have a word with him, but Christoph, if he has really made such a statement, it would be wise for you to warn your siblings not to provoke him. He has just come home from the war. It has been less than a week since he was out there killing men in the trenches. He is probably having a hard time remembering who is friend and who is foe.
I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but it would be incredibly unwise at this time to continue with your petty insults towards his wife and children. If you antagonize the man, he might lash out with violence, which is something that is to be expected if his mind is still in a state of war.”
Bruno Sr. narrowed his gaze towards his second eldest son, who immediately tried to pretend like he and his brothers had not been mistreating Bruno’s family for years now.
“Father, I don’t know what you have heard, but-”
The man’s father however was quick to interrupt his second eldest son with a stern gaze, and an equally fierce tone.
“Cut the shit. I know all about the things you and your brothers say behind their backs. Until now, I have tolerated them as mere sibling banter. But if Bruno is reacting this way, then clearly he doesn’t consider it as such. And by the way, in case you haven’t realized, your mother and I have long since accepted Heidi as a member of this family. Long before she married your brother.
To insult her is to insult our entire lineage. Especially if you insult her children who carry your brother’s blood in their veins. So, I’m only going to say this once. Bruno won’t have to deal with you little shits, because if I hear a single one of you, or your little brats mention a word out of line to your brother and his family, then I will personally take charge of discipline you lot, do you understand?”
Christoph had never seen his father so upset with him or his brothers. In the past he had heard the man was furious with Kurt and Ludwig when the two of them were caught mishandling his firearms. Or allegedly so, according to Bruno.
But he had not personally witnessed the man’s fury at the time. Because of this, Christoph could only bow his head and accept his father’s words.
“I understand. I will make sure to educate my family properly, as for my brothers I will spread the word.”
Bruno Sr. quickly nodded his head in an approving manner before standing up from his seat. He walked his young son to the door. Where he left one last word of advice to the man before allowing him to depart.
“You let me handle your little brother. I happen to have experience dealing with men who are suffering from the state of mind he is in. I’ll make sure he’s not in such an irritable state by the time the Family gathers at the estate.”
After which Christoph thanked his father before departing. He would make sure to spread the word that his father had instructed him to. Whereas Bruno Sr. immediately got on the phone in his office and called his son’s home.
Heidi answered the phone, causing the severe look on her father-in-law’s face to lighten up as he spoke with the woman briefly about life in general, before getting down to business. Heidi then handed the phone over to her husband, who only heard his father’s voice speak to him with a single statement before hanging up.
“Bruno, I need to have a word with you. Meet me at the usual place tonight at the usual time.”
After this, the line went dead, where Bruno sighed. He had just gotten home from his meeting with Christoph, and now he would be entertaining his father over drinks at the local tavern. As a result, he was quick to inform Heidi he would not be home for dinner before heading out.
—
Bruno Sr. was already sitting at the bar waiting for his youngest son to arrive when Bruno entered the through the tavern door. The man had a glass of Korn in his hand, which was a form of distilled spirits native to Germany dating back to the 15th century.
When he saw his youngest son enter the building, he ordered the bartender to hand the young man a glass of his own. Where Bruno sat down and quickly took a drink. As Bruno grabbed hold of the cup, his hand was visibly shaking, but only slightly so.
Even so, it was enough for his father to notice. Which once the whiskey hit Bruno’s system, his hands began to still themselves. It was only then that Bruno Sr. sighed and shook his head before commenting on Bruno’s condition.
“Were you ever going to tell me about your condition?”
Bruno looked rather ashamed, as if suffering from the early stages of PTSD was somehow something he should hide from his family. Because of this, he quickly denied there was anything seriously wrong with him.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine… I’m just a little tired that’s all…”
Bruno’s father nodded his head with an expression on his face that said he wasn’t buying what his son was selling. Even so, he did not say a word and instead sipped his drink. He then changed the subject, or at least partially so, as he addressed the elephant in the room.
“Your brother came to visit me at the office today. I’m sure you know why… Let me ask you this. Is there a reason for me to be worried about this upcoming family reunion of ours?”
Bruno shook his head, drinking another glass that had been poured for him by the bartender as he assured his father everything would be fine.
“Not at all. I lost my temper when Christoph tried to extort me, that’s all. It won’t happen again, sir…”
Despite his words, and the confidence with which he spoke them, Bruno’s father looked at him with the same expression that he had when the young man told him he was fine moments ago.
Because of this, he sighed once more before patting his son on the back. Paying the tab for the both of them before walking out the door. But not before giving the young man one last piece of advice.
“Whatever happened over there, that’s something that you need to deal with on your own. Don’t take it out on your family. We are not the enemy, even if your brothers and their brats have a tendency to behave like it.
But either way, you will be happy to know that the matter is settled. I told Christoph if any of your brothers or their children act out, I will see to it that they are properly disciplined. So don’t do anything you will come to regret… Welcome home son, you should get some rest… Lord knows that you have earned it.”
Bruno finished the last drink that the bartender had poured him before his father walked out in a single gulp before thanking the man properly. After doing so, he returned home, where he was happy to see that his wife and children were waiting for him with loving smiles on their faces.
He would ultimately get very little sleep that night as he thought about all that he had been through, both in his past life during his time deployed to Afghanistan, and during this life while fighting in China and Manchuria.
No matter what happened, he could not let such a thing break him. Because if it did, then Germany would be doomed to make the same failures they had done in his previous life. And if that happened, then what the hell was the point of his reincarnation to begin with?
