Re: Blood and Iron

Bruno’s warm welcome by his eight older brothers was met with the attitude you would not expect from a man nicknamed the Butcher of Belgrade and the Red Scourge. In fact, as he shoved his older brothers away, preventing them from lifting him into the air, as if this was some kind of concert there was almost a hint of playfulness in his tone.

As well as something else entirely. In his youth, Bruno was isolated from his siblings. Having been born with exceptional intelligence and wisdom beyond his years, his early displays of intellect had garnered jealous behavior from his older siblings.

In addition to this, he was the youngest of nine brothers, making him a natural target to be picked upon. His mother’s overly affectionate nature towards him, which far exceeded what she showed his other siblings most certainly did not help in this regard.

But adolescent feelings of petty jealousy and the foolishness of youth did not last forever. And as the years passed Bruno found himself growing closer to his brothers. However, of his eight brothers, one of them was not partaking in the festivities.

In fact, in an unusual display of character, the man was acting rather timidly while standing in the corner with his own family. This was the first year that he was welcomed back with open arms by those who had cast him aside.

And when Bruno noticed this, he was quick to cease his brother’s celebration of the accomplishments he had made that had elevated their family to the highest of heights within the German Reich. And instead point out that someone was missing among their ranks as he cast a gaze over to the man in question.

"Alright you fuckers, calm down... It’s not like I’m the only one who has aided this family these past few years... As a matter of fact..."

Bruno went silent and emphasized with his expression who he was staring at. Maximilian and his children seemed as if they were wild hares surrounded by a pack of ravenous wolves. And as the Alpha of the pack approached them, they damn near lost the strength in their legs.

For Maximilian who had wronged Bruno personally in more ways than he could ever forgive himself for, this was the moment he dreaded most. Only through sheer strength of will did he resist the urge to shamefully collapse.

The man closed his eyes, expecting Bruno would slap him across the face for the foolishness he had done to get himself so thoroughly expunged from the family to begin with... But Maximilian was surprised to find that Bruno did not strike him, but rather instead embraced him with a brotherly hug before releasing the man and letting him know that he had more than redeemed himself with a simple phrase.

"Welcome, home Brother..."