Thanks to apurehetalian, MonalisaRomano17 and an anon for reviewing. 200 reviews! Thanks!

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Chapter 55

"So, Lovino is really sick now, huh?" Yao asked as he and Feliks browsed the toy store.

The two of them realised that they had a mutual love of cute things, which included stuffed animals. The only difference was that while Yao preferred pandas, Feliks liked ponies. They still had some time before the movie, and the others were browsing in other stores as well.

By now, the whole group knew of Lovino's encounter with his bully, and all of them promised to make sure that Lovino never found out that they knew. They knew that Lovino showed a lot of trust in Feliks by admitting something like that to him, and they all knew that the only reason why Feliks broke that trust was because the others pressed him for the information. If Lovino was angry at Feliks, then it would have been their faults.

"Like, he says he has a sore throat and stuff," Feliks said. "It's been two days, so whatever it is, like, it must be serious. Like, I hope it's not too bad."

"So, are you saying it's pretty fast?" Yao asked.

"Like, pretty much."

Due to Feliks's father's profession, he had more medical knowledge than the rest of them, which impressed them. Feliks was smarter than he let on, and all he needed was to really have an environment in which he could let his intelligence shine through.

"I feel really bad about this," Yao said. "I think I'm going to see if I can find him a gift. Kind of like a 'get well soon' gift. Hey, do you know what his favourite animal is?"

"Like, I think it's a wolf," Feliks replied.

The two of them searched around until they could find a stuffed animal keychain which was in the shape of a wolf. Yao held it up to Feliks.

"Do you think he'll like it?" Yao asked.

Feliks didn't reply immediately, too focused on the other keychains. Only when Yao called out his name did Feliks turn towards the Chinese boy.

"Like, sorry about that," he apologised. "Like, I was just thinking that we could get one for everyone, you know?"

"You mean, like a matching set?" Yao asked, before he grinned. "That sounds like a great idea! Yes, we should definitely do it."

The two set out to find animal keychains that would fit the rest of the group.

…

"Are you okay in there, fratello?" Marcello asked, standing in front of the bathroom door.

"S-si," Lovino said, before the sound of retching reached Marcello's ears again.

Lovino had scared them when he announced that he wouldn't be joining the others because he wasn't feeling well. This was the first time since he left the hospital that he'd cancelled his plans with the others. His breakfast consisted of oatmeal, and now, this happened.

Well, at least they knew he wasn't lying about being sick.

Their father had already gone to the store to get some Coke, ginger biscuits, energy drinks and cheese puffs. So, the basic essentials for sickness, especially if it involved vomiting.

Marcello stood straighter when he heard the toilet flush, and after a few moments Lovino emerged, his eyes bloodshot and the hazel looking particularly green.

"I put some medicine on your bedside table," Marcello said. "Are you going to be fine?"

"S-si," Lovino said. "I just… need to go lie down a bit."

"Of course. Call if you need anything, okay?"

Lovino nodded, and Marcello watched as Lovino returned to his own room. He was worried about his older brother, but he couldn't help but wonder where Lovino would catch whatever it was he caught.

…

"So, we all got one of these?" Miguel asked, holding out his rooster-shaped keychain.

"Yep," Yao said. "It was Feliks's idea."

"Like, Yao's the one that picked them out," Feliks said, eyeing Miguel's rooster as well.

"Well, Yao does know us better," Heracles said. "What gave you this idea, anyway?"

"We thought we could give Lovino a 'get well soon' gift," Yao said. "And then we thought we'd get everyone one of these."

"They're cute," Vlad said. "But, it's not a bad idea. To get Lovino a gift or two. We can all go shopping after the movie. And when Feliks goes back, he could deliver it to Lovino."

"Like, you can count on me," Feliks said, grinning happily.

They were on their way to the cinema, each one mentally determining which snacks they would get.

…

Romulus knocked on Lovino's door, and when there was no answer he opened it. Lovino was sleeping – which was difficult to monitor now that he was sick – with Chiara curled up by his feet. The puppy wagged her tail, but did not move from her spot, only snuggling closer to Lovino.

"You're worried about him too, aren't you, girl?" Romulus asked.

He placed the bag of groceries next to Lovino's bed, before he placed his hand on his son's forehead. Lovino was warm, but not warm enough for Romulus to suspect a fever. He was on the pale side, though. It would be necessary to keep an eye on him.

The glass on the table was empty, so Romulus quickly went to refill it. Water was especially important right now. Water and sleep.

He could at least say that he hadn't been entirely negligent in the past when Lovino was sick. He wasn't as doting as with Feliciano and Marcello, but he didn't leave Lovino alone to his fate. Part of it was because Lovino tended to keep it hidden until it was really serious. He'd been called to pick him up from school a few times because he passed out or had a high fever. There was another time when he couldn't stop coughing, and he had been sent to the office in the first period. It turned out that he'd developed pneumonia, though that time he hadn't realised that he was sick until he woke up that morning.

Romulus realised that the reason why Lovino usually didn't tell them when he started feeling ill was because he figured that they would think he was just faking it. And looking back, his past self would definitely not have believed his son until it was undeniable. And by then, it would have been really serious. There were a few times where Lovino almost ended up in the hospital because of the severity of his illness.

When Romulus returned with the water, he saw that Lovino's eyes were open. Romulus tried not to shudder when he saw the listless look in his son's eyes.

"Hey," Romulus said softly. "How are you feeling?"

"My throat's sore," Lovino whispered.

"I bought you something for that too. Are you hungry?"

Lovino shook his head. Romulus sighed.

"I'll leave you for now, but I want you to at least eat a piece of toast during lunch," he said. "You'll need to get something in your system. And remember to drink enough water."

Lovino nodded, before he closed his eyes again. Romulus checked Lovino's forehead. He was a bit warmer than earlier. He worried that his son might have been developing a fever.

He decided to check on him in an hour, and if he was even hotter, then it might be time to give him something for a fever.

…

"Do you think Lovino will be okay?" Feliciano asked.

Feliciano and Marcello were working on their homework in the dining room. Friday was usually their day off when it came to homework, and so they often made sure to do their homework on Saturdays, even if they had something else to do. The only exception would be when they had a project that required a lot of work.

"If it's just a cold, he'll be fine," Marcello said. "I guess we should just wait and see."

"How long do you think he's been feeling sick?" Feliciano asked.

"I don't know. But if he felt it yesterday, then it makes sense that he wanted to avoid us."

"Why didn't he say anything before?"

"Well, I know I don't always say something immediately. I think Lovino is the same. We should let him rest."

The two of them jumped when their father placed two glasses of orange juice in front of them.

"Drink up," Romulus instructed. "If Lovino's sick, there's a chance that you two might catch it too. So I want the two of you to build your immunity."

Marcello and Feliciano exchanged a look. They realised that this was how it would be for the next week or so.

…

When the movie was finished, the friends decided to go to the bookstore. They knew by now which books Lovino had on his bookshelf. From their own experiences, they knew that the time spent in bed could be quite boring, and having a new book to entertain them was always something they looked forward to, and was the one thing that made being sick worth it. So they would try to find a book that would cheer Lovino up.

While browsing, Feliks suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Heracles standing behind him, and he held out a book.

"I think you might enjoy this one," he said. "The main character is gay, and a large part of it is to make peace with his life."

Feliks looked down at the book. Release, by Patrick Ness. He frowned, reading the description at the back. It sounded interesting enough, and Heracles picked it out especially for him.

"Thank you," he whispered, accepting the book. "Like, have you found something for Lovino?"

"Crime and Punishment," Heracles said. "He doesn't have that book, and I think the name alone might cheer him up."

"Definitely," Feliks said, smirking.

…

Lovino was feeling a bit better, but he knew that it could change at any moment. He was using the opportunity to eat some soup. It was the instant kind that could be made in a coffee mug, and was thankfully very light on his stomach.

He absently stroked Chiara, and he wondered if her presence was making him feel better. She was certainly a huge comfort.

He looked up when someone knocked on his door, and Feliciano poked his head in.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"A bit better," Lovino said. "For now."

"You have a visitor."

Lovino's eyes widened, and Feliciano moved out of the way, allowing Feliks to enter the bedroom.

"Like, hey," Feliks said. "So, you say you're feeling better?"

Lovino nodded.

"You shouldn't have come," Lovino said. "I don't want you catching this too."

Feliks shrugged.

"My dad is a doctor," he said simply. "Like, I'll be okay. So, looks like he actually managed to get what he wanted."

"Si," Lovino sighed. "That bastard actually managed to pass on his sickness to me. How was the movie?"

"Like, it was nice," Feliks said. "It's totally a shame that you couldn't watch it too."

"Looks like I'll have to wait for the DVD."

"Like, I brought you something."

Lovino cocked his head to the side. Feliks handed him a bag, which Lovino recognised as the bookstore's bag.

"Like, everyone decided to give you a gift. Everyone wants you to get well soon."

Lovino stared at Feliks for a while, before he felt tears stinging his eyes. They were too kind to him, and he still didn't believe that he deserved it. He also wished that he could have found friends like them earlier in his life.

"Thank you," he whispered.

He smiled when he saw the book that they had given him. He also noticed that there was something else in the bag, and he blinked when he saw that it was a stuffed toy, in the shape of a keychain.

"Like, we all have one of these," Feliks said, holding up his pony-shaped keychain. "And for some strange reason, Miguel's is a rooster."

"I wonder if he's patriotic," Lovino remarked. "Tell the others… 'thank you'. Really, this… you didn't need to do all of this."

"Like, that's the thing with friendship," Feliks said, smiling softly. "You don't need to do anything. You do things because you want to. And, like, if one of your friends is in trouble, or needs comfort, or totally just has a bad day, then you would do your best to make them feel better. Like, that's how we all feel about you."

Hearing those words caused the dam to burst, and the tears started streaming down Lovino's face. Feliks walked closer and pulled him into a hug, and for a moment, Lovino didn't care that he was sick. He wanted this comfort.

He knew that he owed his life to Feliks, in more ways than one. Feliks had saved him that one time. Had seen his pain. Hadn't left him alone, regardless of how insistent Lovino was. Had supported him when he was in the hospital. Had followed him to the new school. Helped him with the transition. Helped him connect with the people that decided that they would accept Lovino as a friend.

Out of everyone, Feliks was the one person that he wanted to keep in his life.

…

On Monday morning, Lovino was still lying in bed while Romulus scrutinised the thermometer.

"I hate to say this," Romulus said, "but you're staying home today."

"I can't," Lovino said. "I have a test today and…"

"A fever of 40 degrees. You're staying. Or would you rather that I send you off to the hospital?"

Lovino pouted, but lay back down. In the past, he would have been more than happy to stay home, but he actually enjoyed school now. He actually had friends now.

"Stay in bed and rest," Romulus said. He turned to the puppy on the bed with him. "I'm counting on you to keep an eye on him."

Lovino rolled his eyes, but he could see the humour in the situation. And he had to admit that he didn't mind not being alone this time.

…

Romulus was working at the gallery alone that day. Toris was also out sick, and he wondered how much of the town was out of commission due to this bug. He also couldn't help but wonder where Lovino might have caught it.

The hospital was the only place he could really think of. But that was strange. The place was designed to make it difficult for diseases to spread, and it was certainly disinfected well. Just thinking about the hospital immediately brought the scent of the antiseptic to mind.

He looked up when the bell chimed, signalling that someone was entering the gallery. His eyes widened when he saw who it was.

"Wulfric Beilschmidt," he greeted. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

The two went back a long time. When Romulus first moved to this town, Wulfric was his drinking buddy. But as the years went by, their relationship soured, especially with all the complaints made towards Lovino. Romulus still had a sour taste in his mouth from when he found out that it was actually Wulfric's son that was bullying Lovino.

Yes, Romulus would admit that he's a bit upset that he'd been apologising for nothing.

"I see you've done well for yourself," Wulfric said. "Tell me, how're your sons? The eldest especially."

Romulus sighed.

"They're alright," he replied. "But Lovino's sick right now. I called the doctor. His appointment's this afternoon."

"My son's also sick," Wulfric said. "We went to the hospital last Thursday."

"Thursday?" Romulus asked. "We… We were there too. Lovino's hand was broken, and we could finally remove the splint. But… Um, was your son with you all the time?"

Wulfric frowned, but shook his head.

"We went to the bathroom at some point," he said. "He took a long time. He has stomach flu, so it's not too surprising, but…"

"Lovino went to the bathroom too," Romulus muttered. "And when we left, he said something about getting immune boosters."

The two men were silent for a long moment.

"You don't think…?" Romulus began.

"Call your son and find out," Wulfric said. "I think, all things considered, he's a bit more reliable than mine."

…

Lovino was stirred from his sleep when he heard his phone ringing. He groaned, before grabbing the infernal device. He noticed that it was his father, and figured that he just wanted to check on him.

"Hey," he greeted.

"Are you feeling better?" his father asked.

"Si. You just woke me up."

"Sorry. Anyway, I'm here with Gilbert's father, and… Lovino, did you have a run-in with him at the hospital?"

"W-what?"

"We just find it a bit too odd that we were both at the hospital on Thursday, and that Gilbert was sick, and you started feeling sick two days after going to the hospital. Well? And don't try to lie."

"I-I… S-si. He… he was waiting for me in the bathroom."

"What did he do?"

"He… he punched me, and he… coughed in my face. On purpose."

There was a swear from the other side, but it wasn't his father's voice. He felt himself pale when he realised that it was Mr Beilschmidt.

"Wait until I get my hands on that little…" Wulfric muttered.

Lovino felt a cold finger of fear go down his spine. If Gilbert was angry at him before, then what would he do now?

"Why didn't you say something before?" Romulus asked gently.

"I-I was scared," Lovino whispered.

Now, more than ever, he hoped that he didn't run into Gilbert again. Because he didn't want to see what Gilbert would do to him after Lovino indirectly told his father about their encounter.

The three of them were always at their most hostile towards Lovino whenever they got into trouble for the things that they did to him, even if their exact deeds weren't known. And they always blamed Lovino. He looked down at his right wrist. That was how the bone had been broken, after all. What would happen this time?

I actually once got sick where I didn't have any prior symptoms until one morning. I developed a cough soon after getting out of bed, which I attributed to me inhaling the cold air sharply after climbing out of the warm bed. I specifically remember my throat stinging slightly as the cold air passed through, contrasting with how hot the skin was. But the cough didn't stop, and during first period I was sent to the office. Doctor confirmed that afternoon that I had somehow developed pneumonia.

And I believe someone suggested that Feliks and Yao would bond over cute things.

Cheese curls and the like are among the things used to stop vomiting, along with ginger cookies and flat Coke. My dad usually buys sports drinks (here, we have Powerade, Energade and Lucozade) to help recover electrolytes and to give a general energy boost.

My sister is a huge fan of Patrick Ness. She lent me Release, and even though it wasn't the only book I've borrowed from her, it's the only book she hounded me to read.