You swore it, one day you'd have him trained.

"GILBERT BEILSCHMIDT, YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE THIS TIME!"

You bolted down the dimly-lit hallway in pursuit of your runaway roommate/boyfriend, holding at least three dirty bathroom towels in your clenched fist.

"I already told you, _______! I'M TOO AWESOME FOR THOSE DAMN CHORES YOU WANT ME TO DO ALL THE TIME!"

Gilbert could only laugh – almost hysterically – as you skidded after him as he turned a sharp corner. You swore under your breath as you glared after the childish German.

Doubling your speed – he was uncharacteristically fast when he wanted to get out of something – you shot down the dormitory corridor, ignoring the surprised looks of the various other students as you and Gilbert raced past them at warp speed.

"I refuse to clean up after you all the time!" you hollered at the albino, shaking the towels in your hand menacingly. "I'm not your bloody keeper or something!"

"But it's so much easier for you to do it!" Gilbert threw you a grin over his shoulder, pushing his way through the glass doors leading to the outside world. Hell, he knew what would happen if you caught up with him… and it would be painful. "And anyway, I like you taking care of the awesome me!"

"Gilbert! I swear, when I get my hands on you…" you threatened with a growl, almost tearing the door off its hinges in your fury.

If he wasn't so damn loveable, you would have kicked the arrogant nation out of the apartment MONTHS ago. It still didn't change the fact that his distinct lack of enthusiasm for chores was driving you up the wall. His casually untidy nature didn't help matters at all, either.

The two of you raced through the campus gardens, startling various students bunking lectures and various other freeloaders. You almost lost him a few times, but eventually Gilbert turned a sudden corner and found himself in a dead end between two science laboratories.

His looked at the solid brick wall in front of him, a distinct sense of dread worming its way into his stomach. He heard your footsteps slow to a walk behind him, and eventually stop at the mouth of the alley. Well, this wasn't going to be too awesome…

You saw Gilbert's shoulders tense and guessed his predicament. He knew just how pissed off you actually were at his little game. And now he was about to lose.

You wrung the towels between your hands, a victorious smirk gracing your features. Taking slow, deliberate steps towards the albino German, you savoured his sheepish expression as he turned to face you.

"What were you saying about me 'taking care of you'?" you asked innocently, with a predatory glint in your (e/c) eyes.

"I meant that in the sincerest way possible, frau," he held his hands up in a defensive gesture, grinning nervously. You continued to move towards him, and he matched every step you took with one in the opposite direction.

"Sincere my ass!" you growled, launching yourself at him. Before Gilbert could even move, you had two towels you had tied together beforehand wrapped around his torso, binding his arms to his sides. "The only sincere thing you said was that you were too awesome to do any chores!"

Despite his protests and struggles, the knots you tied held firm. You grabbed the collar of Gilbert's t-shirt and pulled his face down to your level. Noting the trace of fear in his eyes with approval, you surmised that you must be getting through to him on some level.

"Now, we're going to go back to the apartment and you are going to help me clean up everything you've left lying around after your last little…party," you told him firmly, with an innocently frightening smile on your face. "Got it?"

Gilbert nodded silently, then seemed to regain some of his former spunk. His eyes gained a mischievous twinkle. You found yourself almost getting lost in those deep ruby orbs, but managed to pull yourself together before Gilbert noticed – you were meant to be disciplining him, not giving into his whims.

No matter how tempting it was.

"If I agree to go back without a fight, do I get a reward for being awesomely helpful?" he asked with a playful smirk.

You returned the look. "What kind of reward?"

Gilbert looked thoughtful for a moment, before his smirk widened. "I was thinking something along the lines of this…"

Even with his arms bound at his sides, he managed to pull into a passionate kiss. You smirked inwardly and returned the kiss, deepening it. That was your Gilbert – his thoughts were always so one-tracked. Your arms subconsciously circled his neck to bring him closer.
But before it could get too heated, you broke contact. Smiling thoughtfully, you closed your eyes and leaned your forehead against his.

"I'll tell you what…" you began, "If you help me with the apartment, you can have as many 'rewards' as you want when we're done."

"That's the kind of bargaining I like to hear," you chuckled as Gilbert literally purred his agreement.

"Do I have to do something like this every time I want you to help?" you sighed, pecking him on the cheek and untying the towels.

You began to walk towards the mouth of the alley, but Gilbert wrapped his arms around your waist from behind and pressed his lips to your shoulder. You could feel him smirk against your skin as he replied, "Don't give me any ideas now, frau."

You rolled your eyes and chuckled. "You are such a child sometimes."

You swore it, one day you'd have him trained. Mark your words.