Italy's hair floated to the side of his face, turned pale from the cold wind. He fixed his gaze to the weathered boards of the jetty. His jacket flapped back and forth, silently. The boy found himself unable to speak-silence had filled his lungs and left him speechless.
"I guess this is goodbye." Germany eventually spoke up. Italy raised his head, his amber eyes glistening. The man's blue eyes stared back. The boy swallowed.
"I-I guess it is."
"Italy...I'm sorry. I'm sorry it has to be this way. But the war is over...and I have lost it, for the second time. I'm sorry." he trailed off. The boy shook his head, clenching his teeth. He clamped his eyes shut, his face on the verge of crumpling. His fists rolled up into tight balls, his arms trembling. As his final gesture to the man, Italy raised his arm and held it rigid to his forehead, saluting. A weak smile grew on his face. Germany looked on, frozen for a moment, his face absent, his eyes blank. He grew suddenly pale and his whole face caved in, his eyes streaming with tears. He let out a sharp sob and wrapped himself around the boy, towering over his small frame. Italy slowly raised both hands and hugged the man back. His hands rose and fell with the sudden jerking of the man's back as he cried. A single tear lingered on the boy's face. He drew himself away and looked the man in the eye.
"B-but you know this isn't forever, don't you?" Italy piped up. The man stared through swollen, reddened eyes. "Nothing is forever. I know this isn't truly goodbye. We'll meet again-I know it." The man's face suddenly darkened. His eyes darted back and forth on the ground before looking back to Italy. He leaned over and in a faltered whisper, said: "I remember...a long time ago, y-you told me nothing was forever and we'd meet again. I told you I would always think of you and I did. I never truly left...Italia." The boy recoiled backwards.
"No..." Italy shook his head, clapping both hands to his mouth. "It can't be..." The man returned a ghost of a smile.
"It's no coincidence I found you again, Italia. I will return. I promise." The man glanced back once over his shoulder and smiled, forcing more tears from his eyes. Italy dropped his arms, tears rolling consecutively one after another down his face.
"I believe you. I always did." he smiled with a trembling lip as Germany's figure disappeared in the thick fog. "I always did."
The End