I'm busy with studying and writing this. I don't have time to own Hetalia.
A shot rang out in the plaza, as did a cry.
The gun in the woman's hand was sent skidding across the ground, as the people who had gathered around were scattered, looking for cover.
…Italy opened his eyes, seeing the woman clutching her hand, blood seeping through her fingers. He snapped out of his daze, and ran to pick up the gun. Somewhat unsteadily, he pointed it at the woman who had interrogated him, who was still nursing her injury on the floor, glaring at him, and also at something behind him.
"Chigi, you owe me, big time."
Italy turned, gun still pointing at her. Sure enough, there stood Romano, a gun in his hand. "Fratello! Dio mio, grazie! She-"
"Yeah, I saw! What the fuck were you thinking, as if she would give you the damn sketches back just like that! You fucking told her!"
The woman attempted to get up and run from the pair, but Romano noticed, firing again, this time hitting her leg. She cried out again, causing the people cowering behind corners and furniture to either look or hide again.
Romano came a little closer to Veneziano so he could talk without the rest of the scattered crowd hearing, still watching the woman. "Didn't you fucking hear what happened to France? He got shot, in the same way as you nearly did, and that woman was involved. We're all in danger."
Italy eyes widened, tears falling. "...Big brother France? Is he alright?"
"He's fine, but only after spending time in the fucking morgue. You nearly went there yourself."
Sirens started to come closer, and the sources of the eventually came into view. Italy still shakily pointed the gun at her, as if the gun would save him no matter what happened.
One of the police ran up to them. "What the hell is going on? Put the guns down!"
"Nu-uh, she was going to shoot my brother, and she's the person from that Paris shooting they want to talk to. Hell, I'd love to talk to her, the bitch."
"It's true, she made me answer questions and she has my sketches! She wants to hurt all of us!"
The officer called over the rest of those who had arrived. They consulted each other briefly, before moving over to put handcuffs on the woman. "You're under arrest for attempted murder and the murder in Paris."
She was led away, limping and shouting manically about nations. The officer from before came over to them when she was in the car. "Can you come with us? We need a statement about what actually went on."
Germany had by default become the one informing everyone of the latest developments, and for the first time since the discovery, he had no new news. As such, he was sat on the sofa, drinking a beer and making the most of the respite.
After all, it wouldn't last for long, if the ringing of the phone was any sign.
Groaning, he hauled himself up again and picked up the phone.
"Hallo, who is it?"
"Germany! Germany! I ran into that woman and she had my sketches and she made me answer questions about them and she nearly shot me but Romano saved me and we caught her!"
"...You caught her?!"
"Sì, we did!~ She's been arrested now!"
"I... Excellent! Maybe we can get some answers now!"
"Ve~ I know! And now I might find out where my sketches are and get them back and we'll all be safer!"
"...I'll tell everyone the good news. Bye Italy."
"Bye Ludwig, see you at the meeting!"
...Who would have thought it would be Italy and Romano to capture her? It was welcome news indeed, but he severely doubted that it was over just yet. The photos were still out there, unable to be removed just yet, and there were still at least two others out there who had also been part of the leak.
...Canada had rang earlier about how the people on the forum had pretty much figured it all out. He had taken a look for himself, and simply thinking back to it made him pale. There was no denying it, they had a problem. ...Could they really deny their own existence any longer?
So much for respite.
Romano and Italy listened to the interrogation. Romano in particular wanted to interrogate her himself, but they wouldn't let them in the room with her, let alone go along with Romano's interrogation tactics. Their flight to the meeting wasn't far away, and they needed some sleep as well before setting off, but they still had some time for this.
The woman was defiant and vocal about it, appealing constantly to the guards present to release her, repeating her assertions about how the two brothers were immortal, that they were 'abominations'.
That was the word she used, and it hurt. Italy couldn't stop the small tears forming as he listened. Why was she so angry? So much hatred...
It even got to Romano, his expression softer than usual, his eyes distant. His scowl returned when her ranting was once again directed at them, this time even going as far as spitting at them from the other side of the glass. "Come on Feli... She's not gonna talk while we're here."
Italy blinked the tears from his eyes. "...yeah, okay."
The two of them walked away, leaving behind the pure venom of her words.
"...Fratello?"
"What is it?"
"Why were you there to save me?"
"...I heard about France, I figured I might as well make sure you had heard about it too. When you weren't in, I went looking nearby. Nothing more, got it?"
"...Thanks, Lovi."
"..."
The two brothers walked in amicable silence as they headed for Italy's house.
America strolled through the corridors he had walked down so many times towards the Oval Office. He knocked and entered, the President waiting for him at the desk. "Alfred, have a seat."
Once he had sat down, the President started. "It's my understanding that we have a serious breach of security at the CIA, involving you somehow. What exactly is going on?"
America shifted in his seat. "We think that there's a small bunch of guys that have found out about us somehow, and are hellbent on revealing our existence to everyone. They've posted a ton of stuff about us on the internet, and they've also gotten more info by hacking into and infiltrating the CIA. We've no clue what they actually want, but they've tracked down and shot France, and apparently the woman who infiltrated the CIA just tried to interrogate Italy and then shoot him too. She's been arrested now, we're all hoping we'll get some answers from her."
"I'll issue an alert. What are you and the others doing about this?"
"We've got an emergency meeting soon to talk about all of this, but we're also staying in contact with everyone else. Really, we're trying to keep our heads down, but it's hard when they find us anyway. If you count my meeting with the impostor, there's five of us now that have bumped into one of them at some point."
"Do you need extra protection? Anything you need, we'll get."
"Really, I'm fine. Now that we know their tactics, I can keep an eye out. And besides, I'm immortal, aren't I? How much could they do to me?"
"Alfred, you shouldn't think like that. We have no idea what they can do, we have no room for carelessness. Keep in mind that although you may be alright in the end, they might just kill others to get to you."
"...Okay, I'm sorry. But isn't that a reason not to have guards following me? I don't want people getting killed trying to protect me when I can look after myself."
"...if that's your wish, then we won't. Please, just be careful."
"I will, thanks. I've gotta get going now, I've got a plane to catch."
And done. This took a little longer to write due to multiple things, one being that today was busy as hell. Two, I wasn't sure how to write Romano. I had thought about including him much earlier in the story, but I shied away from it because of that. I hope I didn't muck him up. Three, the reason I've been writing so fast is because I've preplanned a lot of the scenes, but here I kinda came up with on the spot because it felt right. Hoping it's okay. ;)
FINALLY GETTING NEAR THE MEETING HELL YEAH
ALSO EVERYONE'S FINE
(for now)
:3
