Summary: Italy has finally been captured by the Allies, trying to endure the pain for Germany. But even when Germany arrives and their true feelings are revealed, will the horrors of war separate the two?
Collab with twilightwolfqueen409
Ludwig didn't move until the door was opened the next morning. He shifted a bit from having fallen asleep.
"He should have surrendered..." he said softly.
Francis looked at the weakened nation and sighed.
Another Italian, Lovino Vargas, suddenly barged into the room, shoving Francis aside.
"YOU! You bastard! You killed my brother!" Lovino attacked Ludwig with a barrage of punches, ignoring the German's physical state.
"No wonder I've been having constant pain all this time! It's all YOUR fault!"
Francis just stood there and watched as the shell of a proud nation let himself get beat up.
Ludwig did not care anymore. He only wished he could bring Feliciano back.
"Jerk! Bastard! Kraut! HOW COULD YOU!" Lovino kept up his tirade and his punches, completely ignoring the fact that Ludwig didn't seem to care at all. "Bring him back, potato bastard! Or I'll rip those stupid muscles off your damn body!"
"Go ahead then. There is nothing I can do.." he said darkly.
Lovino glared, suddenly realizing attacking Ludwig wasn't going to do any good. He knelt down next to Feliciano's body, picking it up gently and holding it tightly to his heart.
"Let me bury him," Lovino demanded, turning his head to Ludwig, glaring intensely. "I'm not going to let your filthy hands touch my brother, bastard!"
Ludwig nodded to Lovino and got up, much to hard effort. He moved away as far as the chains would let him and collapsed against the wall.
Francis carefully approched Lovino and knelt next to him. "We'll prepare a casket for your brother, don't worry," he said softly.
"No! I'm going to bury him myself!" Lovino declared. "I'm not letting any of you bastards touch him!" Francis threw his arms up and backed off.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Lovino shouted, shifting his gaze all around the room. "I'll fucking kill you!"
The two blond nations made no response to the saddened nation. Francis walked out of the room to discuss with Arthur possible preparations for transport.
Ludwig held his gloved hand over his mouth to muffle the sobs.
"How did it come to this?" he thought.
Lovino stared at Ludwig angrily. "This is all your fault!" he shouted. "You brought him into this damn war in the first place, potato bastard!"
He smirked while speaking, "I bet fratello is happy to be dead. He's away from you."
Ludwig lowered his head slightly, accepting the blows. He knew there was nothing he could say that would ease the pain.
It was his fault.
"You deserve to die, you bastard!" Lovino shouted, before punching Ludwig in the face and making blood drip from the German's forehead. "I'm not letting you get away with all the crap you pulled!"
Ludwig fell back into the wall behind him and held where his head was bleeding. He stared up at Lovino, his eyes dark and saddened.
"You're absolutely right..." he agreed and lowered his hand.
"Hey, it wouldn't hurt to just kill you right now," Lovino thought out loud. He glanced over at Francis, hoping there was a gun around somewhere. "Sure, it would hurt you, but what does it matter?"
"Go right ahead," Ludwig moved onto his knees and looked up at Lovino. "Kill me then."
Francis took out his gun and loaded it with one bullet. "You only get one shot, make it worth while," he said darkly.
He left again, not wanting to watch anymore, to switch off.
Lovino stared at Ludwig for a moment, a bit surprised. Ludwig was asking to be killed. He was only trying to be threatening, he never really wanted to kill Ludwig. But the fact that the German wanted it was enough to convince him to commit this act.
No matter how many times he tried to convince himself, he really hated killing deep inside. And the fact that he was going to kill a nation was even more troubling. He gripped the gun tightly in his trembling hand as he knelt down in front of Ludwig. Lovino turned his head to his brother's body, lying next to him.
If Ludwig lived any longer, he'd only live with the guilt, Lovino thought. And I'm sure... he'll be happy. He'll be saved.
"Turn around," Lovino demanded.
Ludwig turned around, holding his head high.
"I ruined you, Feliciano, this is only fair..." he thought as he closed his eyes.
Lovino pressed the muzzle of the gun to the back of Ludwig's head.
"I hope you're happy."
A shot rang through the air after Lovino pulled the trigger.
"Please forgive me, Feli-"
Ludwig's fell to the floor. The strong nation had fallen.
Arthur was leaning on the door frame and watched Lovino.
"Who knew he would go so willingly.." he said softly.
"Anyway," he said as he stood up straight and clapped his hands together.
"I have arranged a coffin and a truck for you so you can take your brother back to be buried. Is this okay?"
Lovino turned away with a huff, sliding the gun onto the cold floor. "Sure..." he sighed. "J-just... l-let me take care of the rest, dammit..."
He stared at Ludwig's body, a new feeling overcoming him. Kneeling down next to Ludwig's soft, lifeless porcelain face, Lovino felt his lips curve up in a tiny smile. Turning his head up to the small window, he thought to himself:
At least fratello will be happy now. I just wish... I could see his smile again...
He called back to Arthur, still keeping that rare smile.
"Uh... do you have an extra coffin?" he asked, turning back to the two bodies lying right next to each other. "I just... want Feliciano... to be happy..." he said, tears forming in his eyes.
"D-don't think I'm crying, dammit!" he quickly added, trying to hide his tears. Even though he knew he really didn't need to anymore.
Arthur nodded, "I will make the necessary preparations."
Arthur called in a couple guards to unshackle the bodies and carry Ludwig out to be placed in a coffin. "I am supposing you still do not wish to have us touch your brother?"
"Don't you dare touch him!" Lovino shouted. "You've already hurt him more than enough!"
Lovino was still wondering why he wasn't dead yet. After all, the two brothers both made up Italy. He always thought, if one half fell, the other would too.
At that moment, Lovino realized it was up to him to carry on his grandfather's legacy. He knew Feliciano would have wanted it that way.
Arthur merely nodded and led Lovino to the caskets. Ludwig was already laid in one; his belongings from capture, a pistol and his cross, laid across his chest.
"The other is for your brother. I have sent someone to fetch what he was carrying at the time so you can take them," he said.
"Whatever." Lovino rolled his eyes, a sign he had returned to his normal self. "I could have done all of this shit myself, you know. What do you care! You're on the Allies, dammit!"
Arthur just sighed before answering.
"Yes, I am. However, without anyone for the position of Italy, we could wind up Russia gaining more land. Neither Francis nor I can afford holding up your people in our current state while protecting what is left of Ludwig's people.." he paused a moment and looked at the dead nation.
"Hnn! At least you're willing to do something!" Lovino replied, growling. "Nothing can fix itself. And even though this change may seem like shit to us now, there's always something good about it." Lovino realized he was starting to think like his brother for the first time.
"Dammit Feliciano..." Lovino grumbled. "Even after you're dead, you still get to me..."
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Nuuuuu Germany's dead! But yes, we had to make Germany die too, right? Oh, and sorry for Lovino's OOC-ness! Although it's probably a good thing. Inner conflict is always good.
And the fact that Lovino is starting to think like his brother is because Feliciano is dead.
