A/N: Hi, Cherry Blossom Cat here. This is my first Hetalia fic, so I apologise if the characters seem OOC.
There will be some lightly implied hetro pairings in here, but it will be light enough that you can just ignore it. (I hope.)
Oh yeah, and this fic is rated T because- a) I'm paranoid, b) Romano's (and other nation's) potty mouth and c) blood/violence
so... hope you enjoy the story...!
Disclaimer: See profile
Chapter 1
(Romano's POV)
World meetings sucked.
Now that was a understatement. Fratello was always such an idiot, and always so obsessed with that damn potato bastard. Then there was that stupid lazy Greece, that stupid Switzerland, Stupid, creepy Russia... the list goes on and on.
"Stupid bastard, stupid fratello, stupid potato bastard" I mumbled out loud, walking down the streets of Washington D.C. to the hotel the nations were staying at. It was a semi-decent city, not as good as Rome of course, but still not bad.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid," I mumbled louder this time.
"ROMA!"
"Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid,"
"ROMANOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Stupid, stupid, stupid,"
"Romano!"
"BASTARD!" I screamed as Spain tackled me to the ground with a hug.
"That's not a very nice thing to call boss Spain you know." He pouted- or at least I think he did. It's kind of hard to tell when he is sitting on me.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT FOR YOU STUPID ASSHOLE!" I shoved him off me. "YOU RUINED MY SHIRT!" I yanked at my white shirt, now covered in dirt and god knows what else. I have to wear this to the world meeting again tomorrow! Maybe I can just steal one from Ita.
"Aw... Roma, you looks so cute when you're angry, just like a-"
"Don't you dare say it!" I shouted, head butting him.
After a couple minutes of punching him and various other forms of physical torture, I finally stopped.
"So, WHY THE HELL DID YOU TACKLE ME?"
The Spaniard just smiled. "A couple of us were at the bar drinking and I wanted to know if you wanted to join us." He gestured to a bar, a few blocks away.
"Then you should've just asked bastard!" I yelled, kicking him in the shin.
He made a sound that sounded like a cross between a whimper of pain and a laugh before crumpling to the ground again.
"Come on Roma, for boss?"
"No. France is creepy and Prussia is a weirdo. He's not even a country anymore!"
"Prussia is East Germany now, he just prefers to be called Prussia." Spain corrected, falling face first on the ground in a attempt to get up again. "Besides, France went to go molest someone and Prussia went to go torment Austria. I was drinking with Belgium and Netherlands."
"I don't think getting drunk is a good way to impress Belgium or get on Netherlands good side, idiot. Not that Belgium gets drunk that easily." Belgium was a surprisingly heavy drinker.
Spain finally managed to get up from the ground, and was laughing.
"Come on Roma! For old time's sake?"
"I wasn't drinking back then, and Netherlands still hated your guts." I snapped.
"I know, but-"
BANG.
"Hey bastard!" Spain had fallen face first onto the ground and there was a growing pool of blood around his neck.
I whipped around to see a figure in a black cloak disappear into the shadows. I was about to give chase when I noticed the shape of a gun in the figure's hand.
Hesitating, I watched as the figure disappeared.
Spain.
I almost forgot about that bastard. Whipping around, I found that he had passed out in the still growing pool of blood.
Turning him over a little, I noticed a large gunshot wound. Shit. What was I supposed to do? If I just panicked and made an uproar, they would take him to the hospital and find out that he is a nation, which only the government and other nations are supposed to know.
Scanning the street, my eyes landed on the bar Spain was talking about earlier. Didn't he say Belgium and Netherlands were in there?
Turning to my former boss, I felt my legs shake a little. 'He's losing a lot of blood.' I thought. But he's a nation, and nation's can't die right?
"Belgium!"
The blonde nation looked up, kicking her barstool so it would face me.
"Hey Romano! Where's Spain? I thought he just went to get you!" She exclaimed brightly.
Netherlands just waved. At least he didn't hate me too.
Belgium's eyes landed on my shirt. "Is that blood?" She didn't really look worried, but then again, she's seen me make Spain cough of blood for at least a century
I just nodded rapidly. "Spain's been shot." I managed to get out.
Her eyes widened in horror. "Nii-chan, we've got to go now." Dragging her older brother by the arm, she nodded at me. "Where is he?"
By the time we reached Spain, the front of his shirt was completely covered in blood.
"My hotel room is near here, we can get him up through the fire escape," She looked uncertain, but continued to talk. "There's a first aid kit in my room, do any of you have any medical experience?" She was answered by silence. Why the hell would I bother to learn that?
"Never mind, just get him to the room, I'll see if I can get some help."
After a couple minutes, we finally managed to get him to Belgium's room. Belgium had already went to go find another nation who could help. I was instructed to try and stop the bleeding with one of Netherlands old shirts (Not that he agreed to it. Belgium took it from him and threatened him with last year's Christmas photos. Now that was a weird Christmas. I don't even remember getting 'Happy New Year' tattooed onto my chest...)
Belgium finally came a little later with Taiwan in tow.
"Sorry, I really couldn't find anyone else, but Taiwan has some experience from living with China..."
The Asian nation stood there awkwardly, nervously inspecting the blood.
"I can stop the bleeding, but I'll have to get someone else to remove the bullet...It's too gross for me. I'll call and see if I can get anyone else." She shuddered, pulling out a Hello Kitty cell phone.
"你好? 中国? 你没喝太多吧? 哎呀！把电话给香港, 你真的太烦了。喂香港，我需要你和哥哥帮帮我。Spain 被抢打倒了，所以我要你们帮我把bullet拿出来.你们可以快一点来吗？嗯好的，再见。 喂喂喂！ 扽一下！你可以把日本也带过来吗？嗯谢谢。(Hello? China? You're not drinking too much are you? Aiyah! Give the phone to Hong Kong, you're too annoying. Hey Hong Kong, I need you and big brother to help me. Spain was hit by a gun, so I need your help to get the bullet out, can you hurry? oh, okay, bye. Hey! Wait! Can you also bring Japan? Ok, thanks.)
She turned around to face us.
"Sorry about that, big brother is kind of a pain." Clapping her hands together, Taiwan glanced at us. "Okay, so I've got Hong Kong, Japan and China to help us, so for now, we just need to stop the bleeding and clean the wound a little" She announced.
When we managed to get the wound cleaned and the blood to stop flowing out. Taiwan bent down to inspect the wound, looking slightly squeamish.
"Hm. Spain's lucky, the bullet missed any windpipes, was he trying to protect you?"
What kind of question is that? I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself! I don't need bastard to protect me!
I bit my tongue. If I wanted them to help this idiot, I should at least be nice.
"N-no," I shook my head. "He was trying to get me to go get some drinks when this person just shot him out of nowhere."
Knock. Knock.
"Hey China, Hong Kong, did Taiwan tell you what happened?" Netherlands answered the door- even he seemed to know that this was serious, no matter how much he hated the Spaniard.
The younger Asian nation nodded. "Is he awake?"
The Dutch shook his head. "He hasn't woken up yet. Long time no see Japan"
"Same to you Netherlands." Japan nodded. "It's better that way, he won't feel any pain."
"Taiwan can stay and help, but I think it be better if the rest of you should go somewhere else aru, and maybe let the Spanish government know, or at least check the news and-"
"Stop nagging them bastard!" Taiwan dragged the eldest nation in while Hong Kong gestured to the door, suggesting we leave.
I wanted to stay behind. It was kind of my fault dammit!
Belgium grabbed my arm and shook her head, pulling me into the hall. My body seemed to move on its own, my feet bring me to my hotel and my hand reaching into my pocket and pulling out the card key.
The room was filled with an awkward silence. None of us really knew what to say. Spain was just shot and going through surgery in a hotel room. I've never felt more angry that we have to keep ourselves a secret to the general population. If we didn't have to, Spain would be in a hospital with some professional doctors, not a bunch of F***ing old Asian geezers!
"Do you hear that?" Netherlands whispered abruptly, looking at the door. "footsteps."
"Probably just some human coming back." I shrugged.
Netherlands shook his head. "This whole floor and the two below it are reserved for the nations. No human should be here."
"So someone like America?" Belgium suggested.
"15th floor, and he's too noisy. No way he would be that quiet."
"So maybe Norway or Luxembourg?"
"14th floor, and we dropped Lux off at a bookstore remember? He'd call so we can pick him up."
I got up and looked through the peephole. My heart nearly stopped when I saw a black clad figure walking down the hall, a dark hoodie and mask covering his face, only showing intense yellow eyes.
"It's them." I whispered, shaking (not because I was scared damn it!) a little as I walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Should we jump out at them and knock them out?"
"They have a gun genius! Do you want a bullet through the head?" Belgium smacked her older brother on the shoulder.
My blood ran cold when the footsteps stopped at the door. after a couple minutes of shuffling a piece of paper slipped through the door and the footsteps went back in the direction they came from.
Belgium picked up the paper, gasping and turning noticeably paler as she read it.
"Romano," She gulped, handing me the paper "look."
The paper was made of various cut out letters from a piece of newspaper, just like in those cheesy horror movies.
"Spain has two months before he dies." I read out loud. Die? We're nations. That's impossible. "you three (Belgium, Netherlands, South Italy/ Italy Romano) will renounce your title as a nation if you want him to live." How did they know there were three of us? They even specified my as Italy Romano...
"Renounce ourselves? Renouncing our title as a nation won't do anything. We'd still be nations. It's not even possible for Spain to die unless-" I trailed off. "Turn on the news. Now." My voice came out eerily calm considering how much I was panicking on the inside.
Netherlands turned the TV on and flipped to a Spanish news channel.
I sighed in relief. Everything was normal.
Just then, Belgium's phone rang.
Hanging up she looked at me. "They're done, but they said they have to show us something.
"It's not any kind of poison or bullet Japan could find on his fancy computer aru." China reported.
We just nodded. Trying to digest the infomation. Someone not only shot Spain, but with a bullet filled with a unidentified poison.
"It's really starting to sound like a conspiracy now." Netherlands grunted.
I just nodded, still trying to get past the part about the poison and bullet.
"I suggest you guys show this at the world meeting tomorrow and see if anyone recognizes it aru. Maybe they have a antidote. There are actually a few poisons that can kill a nation if not treated, but we can't really tell how much poison there is or what kind. I really can't tell you how long he has let aru." He looked at us sadly, handing us a emptied glass shampoo bottle. The bullet had a sickly green colored liquid running out.
"He has two months left." I said hollowly. Spain has two months left to live.
"I'm sorry aru. He will be missed."
"Don't talk like that!" Belgium burst out. "We still have sixty one days to find out the poison and antidote, and we're not giving up yet. We're nations! We don't die! He's not going to die!" By now the Belgian was reduced to tears, sliding slowly to the ground.
Netherlands bent down and pat his sister's back, trying to get her to stop crying.
"I-I'm sorry aru, I didn't-"
"It's okay China. I know what you meant." Not really, but the situation is bad enough already.
"He's. Not. Going. To. Die!" Belgium was still sobbing uncontrollably
"We better get going now." Japan announced, clearly uncomfortable. The few Asians were already beginning to file out of the room.
"Japan wait." I heard myself say.
The island nation turned around. "Hai. Can I help you?"
"B-be careful okay, something doesn't seem right."
The Japanese smiled gratefully. "Arigato. I'll keep that in mind"
Now it was just me and Netherlands having to put up with the awkward breakdown Belgium was having.
"I'll... go to my room now, good night guys." I mumbled, heading to my room. A few nations had began to return to their rooms at midnight and the sounds of arguing was heard in England's room.
Closing the door behind me, I collapsed on the bed. I don't even want to think about what happened tonight, I needed the sleep.
The image of Spain being shot kept on playing over in my head. His cheerful smile morphing into tortured pain, blood spraying everywhere, him lying in his own growing pool of blood...
"AAGH!" I threw a pillow across the room. How was I supposed to get any fucking sleep like this?
Rolling onto my stomach, I reached for the hotel phone and punched in Belgium's room number.
"Hey Romano. Can't sleep?" Belgium's voice was hoarse from crying
"Fuck no. You?"
"Definitely not. You want to come over for a little and sit with Spain?"
"yeah, I'll be there in a couple minutes."
I didn't bother leaving a note for Ita if he came back, I know that idiot's somehow already at the potato bastard's.
Belgium looked exhausted as she opened the door, her eyes were red from crying and her hair was a mess.
"Where's Netherlands?" I asked.
"Went to get Lux. I'm surprised that there are even bookstores open past midnight." She laughed dryly.
"They're going to stay in Netherland's room for the night- it's not safe for either of them to stay alone. I'm going to go freshen up so I don't look like crap tomorrow. Help yourself to some food or something, there are chairs over there if you want to sleep or sit next to him." She gestured to her bloodstained clothes before closing the bathroom door behind her
Pulling a chair next to the bed, I sighed at Spain's peaceful expression. Does he realize he might only have a month or two to live?
"You stupid idiot, look what you got yourself into this time." I looked at him hopefully. Never have I wanted him to open his eyes and tell me this was nothing but a elaborate joke more than now.
I don' know when I fell asleep, but I woke to Belgium shaking my shoulder violently.
"Romano! We're going to be late!"
Swatting her hand away, I nodded and told her to give me a few minutes.
I glanced at Spain. He was exactly the same as last night, but his breathing seemed a little more ragged.
I held his hand. "You better get better soon bastard. You owe us a lot for explaining this to everyone.
I let go, and much to my surprise, Spain held on.
"Roma..." He croaked. "Take care of Bella and Netherlands ok? Don't let them get hurt..." He trailed off, eyes dropping closed and releasing his grip on me.
I shook him a couple times, confirming that he passed out again.
"I will you stupid bastard."
Belgium and I walked down the hall in silence, heading to Netherland's room.
"Spain woke up earlier." I spoke up.
Belgium stopped suddenly, turning to face me.
"What did he say?"
"He wanted me to take care of you and Netherlands... and make sure you two don't get hurt."
She smiled. "That's just like him."
More uncomfortable silence.
"I'm sorry about last night." She continued, taking a deep breath. "I- I just can't imagine life without Spain there, I mean- I've been living with him for so long, even after I became my own country, we still remained close..." She trailed off. "I- I think I love him Romano." another dry laugh. "Netherlands is going to be pissed if he finds out."
I just nodded while Belgium knocked on Netherland's room door.
"Hurry up you two, we're going to be late!
Finally, after Belgium had slapped Netherlands multiple times and released her death grip from Luxemburg's arm, we managed to pile into Netherland's car and get moving.
Normally, I would take Spain's car or go with Italy, but I definitely preferred Spain's car. Even though fratello's car is really nice, he drives like a drunk person and usually takes the potato bastard's car. I argue with Spain most of the way there and usually complain about his bad choice in 'friends' (who almost always end up carpooling with us.). Then the bastard starts singing his stupid song (La Pasion No Se det-something) at the top of his lungs and starts driving almost as dangerously as Ita. At least Netherlands was a somewhat safe driver in comparison.
"We're here," Belgium looked at me anxiously. "You ready Romano?"
"Not like I have a damn choice." I felt just as apprehensive as she did.
"Well, better get ready to tell them. Someone has to explain how he ended up like that."
(at the world meeting)
"Okay, roll call," Germany announced. "Italy!"
"Ve~ I'm here!"
"Italy Romano!"
"Suck my balls you damn potato eater!" Just because Spain was in a bad condition doesn't mean I'll stop hating that potato bastard.
"okay... Japan!"
"here."
"China!"
"I'm here aru~!"
"America!"
"The hero is here, so everything is just fine!"
"England!"
"Shut up you bloody git! You better have some reasonable ideas today!" The British man shouted at America.
"I'll assume that's a yes... France!"
"Oui, I'm here!"
"Russia!"
"I'm here da. Become one with mother Russia?"
"No. Spain!"
Silence.
"Where's big brother Spain? He was here yesterday right fratello?" Ita looked genuinely worried. He has no clue.
Standing up, I cleared my throat. "I'd like to say something now please... Germany." I forced myself to be respectful.
The potato bastard looked surprised, but nodded "Okay, but you have eight minutes- starting... Now!" He placed a pasta shaped (Courtesy of fratello) kitchen timer on the table.
"Thank you. So, as you can tell, Spain isn't here today," I hate having to sound so professional dammit! "Well last night, he was shot." I paused, letting a collective gasp go around the room.
"Shot...?"
"Why would anyone shoot Spain?"
"I'd want to shoot him too, it wouldn't kill him."
"Okay people! Shut up now!" I pounded my fist on the table. "Thank you. Thankfully, we managed to get some help and the bullet was successfully removed," I nodded towards the general direction of the Asians. "However, upon removing the bullet, we found that it contained a unidentified substance, believed to be a form of poison. The type of bullet could not be identified either." I held up the shampoo bottle. "Please pass this around and see if you can identify either items."
I handed the bottle to Germany and let him pass it around, only holding it out so Ita could see, but not letting him touch it and somehow destroy it.
When the container was halfway around the oval shaped table, I continued.
"Last night, I also received this letter, specifying that me, Belgium and Netherlands, who were with me at the time, renounce ourselves as nations if we want him to live."
Another collective gasp- what's with that? Do they time all their gasping so that it comes out at the same time? The timer went off, but no one seemed to care.
"Want him to live? Does that mean he's going to die?"
"Die? But we're nations! We can't die unless our homeland is destroyed!"
"The news didn't say anything about Spain this morning or yesterday!"
"No one in the public is supposed to even know about us!"
I handed the paper to Germany and continued.
"There is the possibility that there are other ways for nations to die, but right now, our focus is the gun, the type of bullet and the poison. So, does anyone have anything to say?"
More silence.
Then Switzerland raised his hand.
"Yeah you," I pointed at him. "Talk."
"I took a look at the bullet, all I can say is that it is definitely a unique gun that it was shot from, and no identification on the bullet. This suggests that the gun was from the government and the bullet was a personal mold, possibly someone with military experience."
"So a personally made bullet from a bullet mold, and a gun, possibly from the government?" England's hideously thick eyebrows furrowed together.
Switzerland nodded. "That narrows the suspects down from the general population to anyone who received a honor or is in the government of every nation."
"Well that's a lot of help." Someone mumbled sarcastically.
"Well, I could take a sample back home and run some tests on it if you want." Estonia pointed to the shampoo bottle, which had made its way around the table and was sitting next to me again.
"That would be helpful" I nodded gratefully. "One more thing- this person- or group of people, it may not have just been Spain they were targeting, be careful, they may come after the rest of us too."
"Though some of you this damn world would be better without" I added under my breath, glaring at Russia.
Germany nodded in agreement. "You should never leave the house alone and if possible, always stay somewhere public. It's less likely they will target us that way. Lastly, always remember to use your human name in public. Got it?"
"That's just stupid." Someone mumbled.
Germany sighed. "I was hoping I didn't have to play this card, but anyone who doesn't follow these rules will have to run ten laps and become one with Russia."
"Become one da?" Russia smiled, an intimidating aura flowing off of him while Belarus smiled in a rather psychotic manner. (Then again, that bitch is crazy, how could she not look like a psycho murderer if she smiled?)
I sat down. I still felt unsettled. It's definitely will happen again. I scanned the room, looking at all the nervous expressions of the other nations. But who will be next?
nations shot: 1
Days left: Spain (59)
Yeah, so sorry for my fail chinese, it's a little rusty. I'm assuming that Hong Kong can at least understand chinese...
So again, sorry if everyone seems kind of OOC, it's my first Hetalia fanfic. And please let me know if you find any grammatical errors.
Reviews and opinions are appreciated!
Thanks!
CBC