Survive to Fight
Summary: Things would be so much easier if the world just got along, or if there was only one representative. America fights to stop a plot that would destroy the foundations of the world, no matter the cost. Prequel to Regrets.
Warning: Major Character Death
Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.
Chapter 1: Bittersweet Endings
England coughed up blood, his hand reaching for America as he pushed his book about old magick towards him.
"You must…fight…America. You're…good at that. Don't…let…him…wi-…"
America could feel the traitorous tears prickling at the edge of his eyes. It wasn't fair, England…England was gone and it was all his fault! If England hadn't been trying to protect him, if Canada had been more noticeable…he crumpled to the ground and sobbed clutching England's precious magic book to his chest, the dull eyes of his love staring at him unseeing, his brother's body not far off.
He could remember days they spent together when America and Canada had just been colonies, bedtime stories, the awful food he ate because England was always so happy when he did, England watching them play, taking care of them when they were sick. Memories of the wars, Revolutionary, Manifest Destiny, Civil, WWI, WWII, and the rest filtered through and America wonders how they had survived this long.
He felt like he couldn't breathe and his chest it hurt so much, how did anyone bear the pain? Was this what it felt like for a heart to break? The chest that burns but feels so cold, the emptiness and loneliness, and the total loss of connection?
He could hardly understand why anyone would want to fall in love. But he had heard that it could be something beautiful. That it was something to cherish and worth remembering and he did. Every moment with England he was happy, even when he felt hurt by the other, he was just so happy the other man bothered to speak with him at all it hardly mattered. Who cared if he went home and cried later because the man would point out his flaws and tore him apart with everything he stood for?
…But he did care. It hurt so much, everyday, and now the man had just died for him...all he wanted to do was die with him.
But he had to live. England wanted him to live. To fight. To win. He stood and wiped his tears away. He had work to do. He who fights to run away lives to fight another day. He would fight another day, he would fight over and over if he had to in order to protect the others. He would suffer for them. All he had to do was find the answers. Maybe Mother and the Spirits would help.