Germany sighed, and leaned his head back. The beer bottle clutched in his hand let off a clanking sound as it made brief contact with the concrete below him. He was sitting on the ledge of a bridge that spanned a deep ravine with a raging river at the bottom. Germany's hope was that he would be so drunk that, by the time he hit the bottom, he would feel no pain.

Unfortunately, all of those years of drinking beer had made it impossible for him to become so with the few bottles he had brought with him to this remote place. He wished he could go back home and get more, but he didn't want Italy to know what he was doing.

Germany sighed once more. I couldn't tell him. What would he do? Cry? Try to wave a white flag in my face to make me stop?

Shaking his head, he tried to clear it of thoughts of his best friend. Sure, the other countries were nice to him now, but he knew nobody really liked him. Italy probably hung out with him because he was protected with Germany.

Taking another sip, he closed his eyes. Hopefully, He thought. I have the guts to go through with this. I'll jump when the moon is right above me.

He glanced upward. The moon was only a few feet away from where he wanted it to be.

I wonder who Italy'll hang out with after I'm gone. Who will protect him? Germany squeezed his eyes shut even further. It was bad enough he was destroying himself, why did he have to destroy Italy too? Maybe he'll find someone better.

Germany flexed his arm, and the bottle crashed onto the rocks below and shattered.

That's what happened to me. Germany mused. Held for a while, and then thrown down and cracked like an egg. No-one can pick the pieces back up again. God, when did it all go so wrong? Why do the other countries hate me so much?

With this thought, Germany opened his eyes just a fraction to check on the moon's position. Only a foot away now. Might as well stand up to get a good last look at things.

With a small grunt, Germany unbent his stiff knees and stood, leaning on the cold metal brace that he had rested his head against before.

I wish I could be drunker for this. This is going to hurt like hell. I wonder for how long?

He tapped his fingers solemnly against the unyielding substance. It echoed dully, and Germany chuckled weakly. Just like my heart. Empty, and hollow.

Germany looked down. The water pounded against the ground there, and he winced. Hopefully, he would be dead before he was impaled by those rocks. Will they find me? I hope not, I hope they just tell Italy I ran away somewhere…

Glancing upward, Germany saw that the moon was exactly where he wanted it to be. He dropped his coat on the concrete, and, hugging himself tightly, got ready to jump.

"Germany!"

Germany jumped, almost falling off the bridge.

"Germany, no!"

Germany turned, and saw a figure running towards him. The next thing he knew was a pair of small but surprisingly strong arms was being wrapped around his chilly waist.

"Italy?"

The small country buried his head in Germany's stomach, sniffling. "Where were you? I was looking all over; everyone's been looking for you!"

"I…" Should I tell him? "Italy, let go. I was about to….to jump off the bridge. Let go!"

He attempted to prize Italy's arms from around his waist, but he couldn't. He was shaking from the cold.

"Germany, NO!" Italy screamed. Germany jumped, he didn't think Italy could make such an unearthly sound. "I can't lose you! You're my best friend!"

"Italy, let go, dammit!" Germany hopped down off of the barrier, hoping to detach Italy with the force, but he just curled his arms tighter and continued screaming into his chest.

"Germany, you can't leave me! What would I do without you?" Italy sobbed.

"Italy, calm down!" They stood, with Italy wrapped awkwardly around Germany, until Italy calmed down. He turned his face up to stare into piercingly blue eyes.

"I've lost someone before." Italy mumbled. "It won't happen again. I know you don't like yourself, but I-Germany, you can't just leave! What do you think would happen?"

"You're just saying that because you want to use me!" Germany shouted. "Everyone wants to use me! America wants to use me as a footstool, China won't talk to me, and the whole world mocks me for my past!"

"What about me?" Italy demanded. "I'm a weak coward!"

"You use me too!"

"How so?"

"You use me to protect you!" Germany yelled. "You probably don't even like having me around!"

"You idiot!" Italy said. "I love you, stupid!"

"You-wha?" Germany said, confused.

"I love you!" Italy sobbed. "Your blond hair, your blue eyes, your attitude, the way you protect me-you idiot! I didn't hang out with you so you could protect me! I hung out with you because I was selfish and I wanted you for myself!"

"Italy, I-"

"Fine! Jump off a bridge!" Italy screamed, now climbing up onto the barrier himself. "But if you're going, I'm going too!"

"No."

"What?"

Germany stared down at his hands. "I won't-I won't jump, okay?"

Italy's eyebrows raised slightly.

Germany sighed. "I promise, okay! Just, promise me that-"

"AH!"

Italy slipped and started to fall down towards the icy river. "GERMANY!"

"Italy!" Germany leapt forward and caught Italy's hand. Italy swung back and forth, like a pendulum on the edge of death. "Hold on!"

"I trust you!"

Germany felt new strength with those words, and grabbed onto Italy even tighter.

"Don't let go!"

"I won't ever let go!"