Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia

Warning: This chapter contains major(ish) character death and violence.

Otherwise, enjoy~

Chapter 7

"You are such a stupid bastardo, you know that?" Lovino complained, sat on Captain Carriedo's bed with his arms folded across his chest. "And this is a stupid plan."

Antonio only grinned, selecting his attire for his planned encounter with Captain Kirkland. "It will work, Lovi, I promise!~"

"You haven't even recovered from the last time he beat your ass!" The Italian boy voiced his opinion very easily, not caring that he was insulting his Captain's actions.

The Spaniard smiled goofily. "Aw, are you worried about me, Lovi?~" he teased, coming over to him, wearing only his breeches. He was shirtless and he had a bandage over his chest from where Arthur had stabbed him. Lovino looked up and blushed darkly at the sight of his half-naked Captain, before averting his gaze quickly.

Antonio grinned again, tilting the Italian's chin up so that Lovino was forced to meet his gaze again, and he brushed his lips against the boy's gently, murmuring. "Are you worried about your Captain?~"

Lovino scowled at him, but he leaned up, connecting their lips softly. He and Antonio had been lovers ever since Antonio discovered Lovino stowing away on his ship. It was why the Spaniard was so tolerant of Lovino's criticisms.

Lovino pulled back, blushing darkly as he mumbled. "Of course I am. Because you're always doing stupid things…"

Antonio smiled, leaning over him slightly and forcing Lovino to lie back on the bed. "Si, but it was doing stupid things that made you fall in love with me~"

The Italian rolled his eyes, about to make a sarcastic comment in return, but he was cut off by the Spaniard's lips hungrily claiming his again. He hated being interrupted, but his anger melted as Antonio's tongue found its way past his lips, making Lovino moan softly. The Italian hated that Antonio had such an effect on him, but he found the Spaniard addicting and the fact that he was shirtless certainly did not help Lovino's willpower in the slightest.

Antonio snaked one hand under Lovino's shirt, but before he could get any further a knock came at the door. The Spanish Captain pulled back reluctantly, straightening up.

"Un momento!" he called, pulling a shirt on and giving Lovino time to stand and smarten himself up again, before he gestured for the Italian to answer the door.

Glaring at him, Lovino opened the door to a man he did not recognise, but Antonio grinned.

"Ah! My little espiar~ Did you find out what business Kirkland has in Calais?" the Captain sat at his desk, gesturing for Lovino to let the man in.

The spy strode over, sitting opposite Antonio. "Si, he has a man there."

Antonio raised an eyebrow. "A man?"

The spy nodded. "He runs an old tavern near the dock. Kirkland spent the night there and when he left, the man watched him go from the window of one of the rooms."

"How interesting~" Antonio purred, playing with the cross he wore around his neck.

Lovino listened silently, seeing the smirk on his lover's face as the Spanish Captain began forming a plan.

"And what does he look like, hm?"

"Like a woman." The spy described gruffly. "Long yellow hair. Blue eyes."

At this, Antonio let out a chuckle. "I suppose I shall have to pay a visit to Kirkland's little Frenchman~" he rose out of his chair, dismissing the spy as he went up on deck, shouting orders to set a course for Calais.

XxX

Arthur sighed as he already missed Francis, but he felt much happier than the last time he had left him, and he silently vowed that he would always say goodbye before he left. The English Captain was stood on deck, looking out at the calm sparkling waters, when he spotted the familiar and unwelcome sight of The Esmerelda on the horizon, and coming this way. The two ships were in Spanish waters, but Arthur had grown protective of the Calais port and didn't want the Spaniard sailing in French waters.

He would be too close to Francis.

He barked at his crew to prepare for an engagement with the Spanish ship, and the men fell into their unspoken roles to bring the ship about, readying the cannons.

Cannon fire filled the air as The Bloody Rose and The Esmerelda engaged in combat, neither Captain holding anything back. Antonio was fighting with the intent to put an end to his rival, whereas Arthur was fighting to protect Francis from the Spanish Captain and his merciless crew.

The two majestic ships crashed into each other, the sound of splintering wood filling the air in a deafening way, and Arthur lost his balance, tumbling backwards onto the deck. When he righted himself, Captain Carriedo was standing in front of him, sword drawn.

"Hola, Captain Kirkland~" the Spaniard grinned, barely giving Arthur time to draw his own sword before he lunged.

Arthur dodged the attack, drawing his sword swiftly and blocking the next assault from the Spanish Captain. Antonio laughed as the ships lurched again, managing to keep his balance although Arthur stumbled once more.

"What's the matter, mi amigo? You seem to be losing your touch~" Antonio purred, slicing Arthur's arm almost effortlessly.

Arthur grit his teeth as he registered the pain, but then a single thought entered his mind.

Francis.

I need to protect Francis.

With this thought circulating in his mind, Arthur smirked, lunging at the Spaniard and anticipating his side step, following and swiftly swinging. Antonio widened his eyes as he only just managed to block it, astonished by Arthur's sudden change in motivation.

Arthur grinned as he and Antonio engaged in a rapid parry, a lethal one where if one did not keep up, he would be quickly finished off. The ships lurched and shuddered under their feet, making stumbling onto the other's sword far more likely, but both were too focused to pay much heed to these factors. They also did not notice one person in particular watching the swordfight with wide eyes and baited breath, who then spurred into action, rushing from The Esmerelda onto the deck of The Bloody Rose.

Arthur was ferocious in his onslaught, his love for Francis fuelling his desire to end the man before him, and Antonio was more than surprised by the relentless force of the Englishman's attacks. He tried to dodge his attacks, but when he did, Arthur sliced the hand that held his sword, making the Spaniard drop his weapon and therefore disarming him effectively. Antonio yelped in pain, holding his hand, and he let out a gasp as Arthur aimed a powerful kick to his chest, pushing him to the floor.

Antonio widened his eyes as he knelt on the deck of The Bloody Rose, clutching his bleeding hand as Arthur pointed his sword at the Spaniard's throat.

"Any last words, Captain Carriedo?" Arthur smirked, retracting his sword and preparing to plunge it into the Spaniard's heart.

Antonio only glared at him. "I will see you in hell, Arthur."

Arthur grinned, thrusting his sword at the Spaniard, but all at once everything changed. The ships broke apart from each other just as someone barrelled between Arthur and Antonio, hugging the Spanish Captain as Arthur drove his sword into his back, still assuming his target was Antonio.

Lovino let out a gasp, clinging to Antonio as Arthur's sword went straight through his heart, and he shuddered.

Antonio's world stopped.

Lovi.

His beloved Italian had thrown himself in between the two Captain's to save Antonio's life.

Arthur widened his eyes, realising that he had killed one of the Spaniard's crew, a boy that Antonio seemed to be particularly fond of.

Lovino died instantly, as the sword ruptured his heart completely, and he fell forward against his Captain's chest, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.

Antonio let out a strangled sound as he caught Lovino, before cradling the boy in his arms.

"L-Lovi? Lovi!" he cried, tears welling in his eyes as the light had already left his beloved Italian's eyes.

Arthur stepped back, having intended to kill Antonio, but now he knew the Spaniard would definitely be after his blood. He knew an apology would be meaningless, and he prepared himself for the Spanish Captain to lash out at him.

But Antonio just stayed on the deck of The Bloody Rose, cradling his dead lover in his arms, stroking his cheek and whispering in Spanish to him. The Spaniard seemed not to care whether anyone was watching, as he kissed Lovino's lips softly, and then passed a hand over the Italian's eyes to close them, before placing a gentle kiss to each eyelid. He tore his cross from his neck, holding it over Lovino and uttering a Catholic prayer so that Lovino's soul would be free to enter heaven, as the poor boy did not deserve to sail the seas aimlessly for all eternity.

Arthur did not know what to say, dropping his sword in surrender.

But Antonio had seemed to forget the English Captain was even there, focused on freeing Lovino's beautiful soul from his cold body. He placed gentle kisses all over Lovino's face, taking out his handkerchief and gently wiping the blood that trickled from his mouth.

After what seemed like an eternity, Antonio scooped Lovino's body into his arms, standing and crossing the deck, intent on returning to his ship, before he hesitated, turning back to Arthur with a hatred in his eyes that had never been present before.

"This is not over. I will take everything you love from you and you will watch." He threatened, his eyes dark with grief and anger. With that, he returned to The Esmerelda, wordlessly taking Lovino's body to his cabin. The Spanish crew watched as he passed them, and with an unspoken understanding they readied the ship to set sail for Spain.

Arthur watched as the ship sailed away from The Bloody Rose, and he knew that Antonio would do his best to follow through with his threat.

But at least he did not know about Francis…

Did he?

A/N: Oh dear…I think Francis needs to watch out~

Please review and let me know what you think will happen to our precious Francis now?

Love you all x