as i promised here i am on friday! ciao everybody!
guys! girls! i love you all! 2150 views! :'D
i promise i will make pasta for everyone when this story finishes! ve...! 3
i saw you liked the two brothers cheating XD i really enjoyed writing that part C:
i apoligize in advance for this chapter (you will understand once you read it) *hides behind rock defensively*
anyway!
ENJOY
When he entered his room, after wishing goodnight to everybody, he saw that Romano was already lying on the mattress, his back turned to him. Again.
Feliciano sighed, and started taking off his shoes and preparing himself for the night.
When he sat on the mattress, he 've'd. He had another flash in his mind. Again, a scene that had happened before: him, going to bed with his brother. He smiled and said the same words he had said back then. "It's been so long since I had big brother to sleep with, right?" he laid himself down, and Romano did not respond. He did, however, hit him with his elbow by turning around.
"Gh-ack!" Feliciano gasped, the air shooting out of his lungs.
"Serves you right, you bastard." Romano muttered glaring, before turning his back on him again.
"Ve, wait!" Feliciano sat up again. His brother did not bother to move at all. "What is it."
Feliciano put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Romano, I want to tell you something…and to ask something, too!"
Romano turned and sat up a bit. "Be quick. I'm fucking tired."
Feliciano hugged him again.
"What the FUCK, Feliciano! Let me go!" Romano tried to wriggle free from his brother's grasp.
The smaller Italian shook his head, voicing his worst fear. "No! Because…because…I don't want to forget you again!"
Romano suddenly stopped struggling. "What did you just say?"
"I…I don't want to…forget again." Feliciano mumbled, tightening the hug. He really felt guilty about it, now that he knew he had forgot a brother. What else had he forgotten, missed, lost? He actually felt kind of scared when thinking about that. As if he was staring in a black bottomless pit, and the pit was staring right back.
Romano turned a but to look at him. "Forget? What are you talking about, dimwit?"
Feliciano gulped. "I…l-lost my memory. All of it. I woke up two…no three weeks ago in the nearby city with no memories at all. I'm sorry if I forgot all about you, fratellone…" he let his brother go.
Romano took the chance and slapped him on the back of the head, very Berwald-slapping-Mathias-like. "You idiot! Stop bulshitting me!" he thought for a moment that he was joking.
Feliciano did not answer to that, looking down at his fiddling hands.
The older Italian suddenly realized he was telling the truth.
"Che cretino che sei, Feliciano." He said in Italian, his gaze softening a little. "So you really don't remember anything? Anything at all?"
Feliciano shook his head, and Romano sighed. "The fuck, Feli."
"A-and you thought I was dead…no, you said that I was dead… what happened, fratellone?" Feliciano asked, voicing yet another of his greatest fears.
Romano took a sharp breath. He did not want to talk about that. Nononononono.
The smaller Italian noticed that by looking in his brother's eyes. "Oh, it's okay if you don't want to talk about it! I mean…it must have been hard, right? So…well… buonanotte allora." He laid himself down again, and pulled the covers over his body.
"Wait. I think… oh fuck me, I'll tell you, damnit." Romano stopped him.
"Ve! You will tell me? Then you do care! You're so nice, Romano." The Italian cheered up.
The other's face reddened. "S-shut up, moron. I just think you should at least have memories that go further back than two weeks, okay?"
"Sure, okay!" Feliciano smiled.
"…Tch." Romano started telling the story.
…Thirteen months earlier…
The two brothers were walking through the destroyed city.
"Ve, fratellone, ho paura." Feliciano whimpered, some tears in his eyes.
"Shht! Be quiet."
The Nightmares had attacked this city the day before (during the fucking DAYTIME, dammit!), and they both had survived by a hair's width. They now were trying to get out of the city, but many streets were blocked because of collapsed buildings. It had made escape difficult. And the sun was setting fast, in an hour or so it would be dark and…Romano did not want to think about that. He tightened his grip on his sword, and gulped. "Let's just hurry up, okay?"
"Hm!" Feliciano nodded.
They walked on, until they finally got into one street, and Romano saw a way out of the damned city. "Finally! Let's get out of here, Feli."
Feliciano yelped behind him. "Ouch! R…romanooo!"
"Oh for FUCK'S SAKE Feliciano, what the…" he said annoyed, turning around and then gasping.
One of the many stones had been shifted, and from under it had popped out an arm. A long, hideous, black-armoured hand. It had clasped itself around Feliciano's ankle, who had fallen, and who tried to kick the hand unsuccessfully.
"Molla subito mio fratello, Incubo figlio di puttana!" Romano shouted, running back towards his brother. He hit the hand with his sword, and the thing let go, even if he hadn't even hit e weak spot. Guess he was just lucky.
"Quick, get up and let's move before all those bastards wake up!"
Feliciano nodded, crying a little because of the scare.
They both ran like hell(and they were pretty good at running), but then the stone where the hand had come from shattered with a loud crack. The brothers glanced over their shoulders, and saw a Nightmare get out from the space under it. Romano frowned. What the hell was it?! It looked almost…human? Sure, it had a huge build, but it still was human-shaped.
"Ve! What is that, fratello?" Feliciano asked, frightened.
"How am I supposed to know? Just run, dumbass!" Romano almost shrieked. Totally not girly-like, mind you.
The thing eyed them almost amused, and then…Romano blinked, and it disappeared.
"Oh shi-"
Something suddenly tackled Feliciano down. "Vee!" "Feli!"
The thing pinned Feliciano to a wall by the neck. Feliciano coughed, choking, the monstrous hand closing his windpipe. "HEY! G-get your filthy hands off my brother!" Romano shouted, pointing his sword at the thing. He was acting brave, but his legs and voice were shaking. He quickly scanned the enemy's body for a weak spot, but did not find one. Fuck! Even its face was completely armoured! But only if you called that a face. It looked as if it had nothing on it, except the eyes: no nose, no mouth, no ears…. It was almost as he was wearing a plain helm with just two holes for its eyes. Well, that sucked.
"Let him G-GO, damnit!" he threatened the Nightmare again, his voice shaking. Feliciano in the meantime was still choking, but the Nightmare seemed to have lost interest in him. He turned his FULL attention towards Romano, who started shaking even more, but it did not release the Italian's neck.
It looked at him, and Romano felt a shiver run down his spine. It looked as if it was…smiling…! But it didn't even have a mouth…! Romano suddenly only saw its eyes, and he felt himself falling into those deep violet depths…
Romano snapped out of it when he noticed his brother's chokes had stopped. He looked at him in horror as he saw his eyes roll back into his head, losing consciousness. The Nightmare let him go, and Feliciano sank to the floor motionlessly.
"T-tu, brutto figlio di puttana…" Romano said, tightening the grip on the hilt of his sword. The Nightmare tilted his head to one side, almost like a curious child. Then Romano 'felt' the thing smiling again.
"Ooh, such beautiful Cowardice…" it said in a distorted voice.
Wait, the thing could talk?!
The monster made a step towards him. Romano panicked, swinging his sword left and right. "DON'T COME ANY CLOSER, YOU FREAK!"
The thing plainly ignored him, stepping closer. And still with that creepy smile, and those wicked eyes…Romano felt himself falling in them again…
Nononono, NO! Snap out of it! He commanded himself, clearing his head. I need to get out of here! But what of Feli…? He glanced over to his brother, motionlessly on the ground behind the Nightmare. "C…CAZZOOOOOOOOOO!" he yelled desperate, stepping backwards a little, grimacing and with tears beginning to pool in his eyes.
The thing spoke again. "You know, you would have died already if not for one thing…my choice..."
Romano growled, the tears threatening to fall out of his eyes.
"You could survive all of this. You could save…your dear life. And maybe your companion's as well, hm…?" the Nightmare had a persuasive tone, and walked really calmly towards him.
"S-shut up! Chiudi quella cazzo di bocca, Incubo di merda!" Romano retorted. What did the thing want from him?!
"Such liveliness… Why throw it all away, when you could just…KeEp On LiViNg…?" The last words the thing spoke got even more distorted, if that was possible.
Romano's head was spinning. He couldn't think straight, or see straight, for that matter. Those glowing violet eyes were dancing in front of his vision, then they were swallowed by black, and then they popped up again… He saw horrible images. His brother, attacked by Nightmares, screaming in pain. Himself, being already devoured by one. Blood…
"Why not come…with me? You could live on…without any fear…knowing you have saved your fellow human's life…" The Nightmare kept on talking, a small hiss in his voice. He was really close now, at arm's length, and Romano was paralyzed. He did not know what do to.
I…I can't accept this thing's offer! It's a Nightmare, damnit! What the hell is he planning with me? But then again… he glanced towards his brother, who was still lying motionless. If I don't, we both die…
"What will it be, human? Do you…accept…?" the Nightmare stretched a hand to him, waiting for him to take it.
Romano felt dizzy. What do I do? What do I do?! WHAT DO I DO?!
"I…I…" he swallowed, and lowered his sword, losing grip of it. It clattered on the ground. "I…a-accept…". He closed his eyes, defeated. At least Feliciano would live… He looked up at the Nightmare, waiting for whatever was to come.
The thing 'smiled' again, more widely. "I'm glad you made the right choice…human."
The Nightmare retracted its hand, closing the palm except the index and middle finger. It lunged forward, aiming for his heart. Romano gasped, and closed his eyes shut, falling backwards and expecting the pain of the thing's claws in his chest…
But it never came.
He heard the sound of ripping flesh and broken bone, but he did not feel it.
What the…?
He fell on his butt, and opened his eyes, not knowing what to expect.
He did NOT expect that. Not that back. Not that blue jacket…
He started crying.
"F…fe…"
The figure in front of him fell on his knees, slowly, as if in slow motion. Then he fell sideways, revealing the Nightmare still standing in front of him. And its hideous hand was bloodied.
A wail came out of his mouth, scrambling over to the fallen figure.
"FELICIANOOOOOOOOO!"
"This was not expected…he doesn't even have the requirement… he'll just die." the Nightmare said, almost disappointed. Then it smiled in a twisted way again. "Oh, then I'll just have to kill you too, hm? But first I'll enjoy seeing you in agony, human…" he stepped back a little, almost as he was trying to be kind, giving the two brothers some space.
Romano was despairing, pulling his brother's shoulders up and turning him to see his face. He was still breathing, but Romano felt hopeless when he saw Feliciano's punctured chest, right where his heart would be. Blood was oozing from the wound, and was already pooling under them. Romano's hands became sticky, and his vision was blurred from the tears.
"Feli…"
His awfully pale brother focused his eyes on him, and forced a small smile, tainted by the blood flowing out of his mouth. "Stupido…fratellone…" he just managed to form the words.
Romano was crying harder and harder. "God d-damn it, Feliciano! What the f-fuck was t-t-t-that for?" his voice trembling, trying to deny the horrible truth.
"Romano…I didn't want you…to do that…" Feliciano wheezed. "I…" suddenly his eyes were out of focus. "Fratellone…?! Dove sei…?"
"I-I'm right here, Feliciano…" Romano hiccupped.
" It's dark…fa freddo…" Feliciano whispered as he clung to his brother's chest, tightening the grip.
Romano wanted to say something, but his throat was knotted. He sobbed, hugging Feliciano tighter.
The smaller Italian breathed some more times, but then fell silent. He relaxed in Romano's arms, his last breath wheezing out.
"Feliciano…?" Romano sobbed.
No answer.
"…Feliciano?!" he started shaking him a little.
Still no reaction. His brother's eyes were staring in nothingness, dull. The bright amber-like shimmer gone from his brown orbs.
"Fuck, no…" he cried louder, and shook him more violently. "Feliciano! FELICIANO! RISPONDI, CAZZO! I TUOI OCCHI SONO ANCORA APERTI!"
His brother still lied motionless.
"R-rispondi…per favore rispondi…" he sobbed.
Romano had no strength to form words anymore. He wailed loudly, tears falling on his brother's cheeks as he hugged him more tightly, not wanting to let go.
Someone clapped his hands slowly. But it was a strange clap, sounding metal-like…
The Nightmare was clapping, smiling again. Feliciano's blood was tainting its right claw.
"Bravo! Really touching! That was really…emotional!"
The Italian tilted up his head, not believing what he had just heard. Just what kind of monster was that thing?
The thing stopped clapping, the smile disappearing. "But it is time for you to be gone, now. You are of no use to me like this." It started approaching them. Romano bowed his head, defeated. He could not fight anymore. He shut his eyes, tears still falling on Feliciano's awfully white face.
When he heard the Nightmare scream, however, he suddenly looked up.
The monster was grasping its right hand, screeching. Romano saw the hand smoking. What's happening?
Still holding his hand, the Nightmare stopped screaming. "What is this?! It burns!"
"Hey! You there! Big, black and ugly! Get away from him!" someone yelled.
Who's that?
Two people appeared on his right, both holding rifles. But Romano had not heard a single gunshot. Then why was the Nightmare screaming…?
"Puny, insolent humans… YOU…" the thing glared at him, with its violent purple eyes. "You WILL pay." Romano blinked, and the Nightmare disappeared.
The two people rushed to him.
"Hey, are you alright?"
"It doesn't look like it…oh God…"
They stopped when they saw he was holding the corpse tightly, glaring at them. Daring them to take him away.
One of them neared him, and kneeled, getting to his eye-level. "Hey…I'm really sorry…but-"
She reached a hand out to him, but he snarled, scaring her away.
No one would touch his brother. No one would take him away from him.
No one. No one. No one…
"He's in shock, Bella."
"We can't blame him now, can we?"
"I suppose not…"
"Well, you try it, then, clever boy."
The other one got near him, and kneeled. He did the same as the girl before, stretching out his hand, and Romano growled again, like a wounded beast. He hugged Feliciano's corpse tighter.
The man just smiled. Was he stupid or something? He was going to fucking bite his hand if he did not take it back…!
While he was thinking, the man got closer and put the hand on his shoulder. He smiled, fucking smiled again.
"Hi, my name is Antonio. I'm sorry I have to do this…I really am."
Romano was ready to lash out to the man, but the other was quicker. He struck him on the back of the head, and he fell unconscious.
Feliciano was shocked. He really had died!? And by a Sentient Nightmare's hand, too! He fiddled with his shirt, trying to pull it up. He found what he was looking for, and that confirmed his brother's story. Not that he didn't believe him in the first place, but… He just told him a story in which he died. It was a difficult story to believe…! But then he saw the faded scar in the middle of his chest. It was true...
Romano 'Tch'ed. Then he blushed, turning into a deep shade of red. "I…I'm just really fucking glad you're alive, fratellino."
Feliciano still did not understand something, though. "But…why didn't Bella recognize me right away then? And what happened after that…Antonio knocked you out?" he said, pulling the shirt down again.
Romano scowled, and his eye twitched at the mention of Antonio. "How am I supposed to know? Apparently she did not saw you clearly. Antonio told me Nightmares were beginning to wake up, and that they had no time to convince me to let you go… And that we could not bring you away. I was furious at him for months."
Feliciano nodded, thoughtfully. But…where did Antonio go then, if Romano had stayed only with Bella? He had the slightly terrifying feeling he would know the answer to the question though… "W-what happened to Antonio?"
Romano emitted a low growl. "The moron got himself caught by the same Nightmare he saved me from. I guess the monster was right. I did pay. The thing turned him into a RED. Fuck."
Feliciano saw this hurt his brother a lot. He wasn't scowling, but his gaze was lost in nothingness, far away. So Feliciano hugged him tightly again. "Ve! I'm so sorry fratellone!"
"Shut up, jackass. It's not like you can do anything about it anyway." He wriggled himself out of his brother's grasp and laid himself down again, turning his back to him. Feliciano heard him mumbling some Italian curses, and then something like 'Ma grazie lo stesso'.
Feliciano smiled, and laid himself down too. "Buonanotte, fratellone."
Another mumble from the other side of the mattress.
But sleep was distant from Feliciano. He still did not understand so many things. How did he survive? Why? And why did the Nightmare's hand burn? Was Arthur's 'anti-Nightmare' theory correct, maybe?
So many question marks started building up in his head, he got tired of it soon enough. He eventually fell into a deep slumber.
*makes herself smaller behind the rock* i know, i'm SORRY, okay?! i've been really cruel with the two brothers! D:
hey, i left some clues to figure out who the Sentient Nightmare is! can you already guess? (i did not make them obvious, but still...)
and i know almost all the 'action' has taken place in flashbacks. i promise i will write it in the present soon enough!
until next chapter (as always, i will upload next friday and maybe before that)
whoa, a lot of italian in this chapter
sorry for romano's foul mouth :P
Che cretino che sei, Feliciano : (italian) you're such an idiot, Feliciano
ho paura : (italian) i'm scared
Molla subito mio fratello, Incubo figlio di puttana! : (italian) let my brother immediately go, Nightmare son of a bitch!
T-tu, brutto figlio di puttana… : (italian) Y-you, ugly son of a bitch...
C…CAZZOOOOOOOOOO! : (italian) S...SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT!
Chiudi quella cazzo di bocca, Incubo di merda! : (italian) shut your fucking mouth, fucking Nightmare! (lit. Nightmare of shit)
Stupido...fratellone... : (italian) stupid...big brother...
Fratellone…?! Dove sei…? : (italian) big brother...?! where are you...?
Fa freddo... : (italian) it's cold...
RISPONDI, CAZZO! I TUOI OCCHI SONO ANCORA APERTI! : (italian) ANSWER, DAMNIT! YOUR EYES ARE STILL OPEN!
R-rispondi…per favore rispondi… : (italian) A-answer...please answer...
Ma grazie lo stesso : (italian) thanks anyway