Why, writing, do you have the ultimate desire to control my life? Why...! /shot.

One of my longest chapters yet! I'm actually quite proud of this one. Many things are discovered and if it seems confusing now, it'll all be cleared up in the end, rest assured. But still, send me any questions you have and I'll answer them to the best of my ability without revealing the underlying plot of the entire story :)

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia. I wish I did. But then again... who wouldn't?

Warnings: Language, violence

Chapter Six

Alleanza Distrutta

"That was the thing. You never got used to it, the idea of someone being gone. Just when you think it's reconciled, accepted, someone points it out to you, and it just hits you all over again, that shocking."

― Sarah Dessen

Lovino's eyes widened upon seeing his younger brother, who in all aspect, looked nothing like the brother he remembered.

"Who are you?" the man before him growled deeply, his eyes narrowing.

Feliciano's voice was deeper if only subtly.

"It's me, Lovino," the older Italian took off his cap and dropped it to the floor, allowing who he assumed to be Feliciano scrutinize him.

"There's just no way… he's dead…" Feliciano recoiled from the person in front of him.

"It's true," Lovino tried to walk towards his younger brother when he was suddenly pinned against the wall with Feliciano holding him up by his neck. Stars danced across his line of sight as his head hit the wall, trying to process what happened. He was so fast! Lovino didn't even see him move!

Lovino gasped for air and this caused Feliciano's grip to become even tighter.

"Liar!" Feliciano snarled, his eyes blazing like golden fire. "You people are the ones who killed my brother! How dare you impersonate him!"

The older Italian couldn't think straight as his vision blurred in and out of focus due to the lack of oxygen. This couldn't be his little brother! He was too different, too malevolent! It was… unheard of.

"F-Feliciano, hear me out-"

"Tell me who you are or I'll have to resort to a drastic and more permanent approach," Feliciano threatened enigmatically.

"You wouldn't!" Lovino, knowing what Feliciano's intentions were, grabbed onto Feliciano's wrists and attempted to pull him off.

"It'll be easy- like breaking a toothpick," the younger Italian squeezed even tighter and Lovino yelped in pain and dug his nails into Feliciano's arm but said man did not even flinch.

Lovino's mind became hazy and his sight dark as it became a cloudy filter. He was dying at the hands of his own brother, something he never thought would happen… something that never should happen.

"V-Veneziano…" Lovino muttered.

Feliciano stiffened when he heard the name and whispered in disbelief, "What did you just say?"

"Veneziano… y-you remember the game we played… when we were kids? Y-You and I represented Italy…" Lovino paused in his sentence, trying to breathe in what little oxygen he was receiving. "I was the southern part and you gave me the name R-Romano… and you were the northern part and you wanted the n-name Veneziano…"

Feliciano released Lovino to the floor and the older Italian took in large gulps of air, coughing and sputtering as he rolled to his hands and knees. Feliciano's mind was reeling with disbelief. His brother was… alive! Right here before his very eyes!

Lovino placed his hand to his neck, the ardent sensation of Feliciano's constricting clutch still lingered strongly. His heart throbbed violently and sent pain throughout his body in surges. Lovino rose to his feet, panting heavily as he had his hands on his knees, cherishing the oxygen he had been deprived of.

"I don't believe it… there's no way you can be alive…" Feliciano said.

Lovino stood completely, "Well, you'd better believe it because I'm here. More importantly, Feli, is this where you have been all this time?"

"How did you find me?" Feliciano didn't even bother to regard Lovino's question.

"I don't know. I just started walking and I arrived here. Now answer mine: is this where you've been for the past two years?"

"That should be obvious," the younger Italian answered.

"Wait till the others find out you've been here all this time. And that potato-loving bastard will be happy, to say the least-,"

"No!" Feliciano cut him off, his eyes remaining rigid.

"No? What do you mean 'no'? Feli, everyone's looking for you! It's been two years! We're worried sick! All but a few of us think you're dead!"

"I want to keep it that way," Feliciano started to walk away.

"Don't you turn your back when I'm talking to you!" Lovino grabbed his brother's shoulder only for said man to smack it away roughly.

"Just leave me alone and go back to whatever hole in the ground you dug yourself out of," Feliciano scowled.

"You're really starting to get on my last nerve! You're coming home with me right now."

Feliciano raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "And now he wants to act like a big brother who cares oh so much for his younger one. Give me a break."

"I know I had a hard time of showing it but I did care about you. Even when Grandpa died, I stuck around. Why? Because I cared! I could've let that bullet kill you but did I? No! I died for you! So how dare you say that I don't care?"

Feliciano said nothing.

"Look, you've been through as much as I have but continuing to shut out the world and everyone who loves you is not going to fix anything! You have to come back."

"I can't," Feliciano sighed.

"If not for me… then do it for Ludwig."

"He wouldn't understand and neither would you so why don't you just go away. You've been gone for two years- what difference does it make?" Feliciano could no longer look at his brother.

"Try me."

"I need you to go. Now."

"No, I'm not going anywhere. Not until you've agreed to come with me. I'll stay here all night if that's what it takes. Being stubborn isn't getting us anywhere so you might as well just-,"

"It's my fault, okay?" Feliciano shouted out his frustration.

Lovino halted.

"What're you talking about?" Lovino questioned, thoroughly confused.

"This entire situation was my fault: the day you died wasn't a coincidence! It was planned," Feliciano replied, trying to hold back the emotions that kept bombarding him.

"Wait, are you telling me that I was supposed to die?" the older Italian shot back.

"No, the target was me but you stopped it. And for that… I thank you, but… I was the one who was meant to die that day… not you…"

"Feliciano…" Lovino took a seat next to his younger brother when the latter sat on the bed, "why was that guy trying to kill you?"

"I got caught up in some bad people- a group of aristocrats to be exact. I'm in a huge debt and I can't pay them back. So what's their definition of me paying it off? Killing me," Feliciano explained with a light tone which irked his brother.

"Why would you be in debt with someone? What happened?" Lovino wondered why his brother would even think of getting mixed up with people of that nature.

"Remember when Ludwig became very ill?"

Lovino nodded, "Yeah."

"That's when it happened. We were unable to pay for the treatment so I had to resort to something of what I thought could help. It obviously didn't in the long run but… I was so desperate to save him. I was willing to do anything to get my hands on enough money to pay the doctors. And now look at me; I've been running from them ever since. I have to protect you guys."

He did it out of love, Lovino thought as he saw the tears collecting in his brother's eyes.

"That's why I need you to go. If they find out that anyone is connected to me, they won't hesitate to kill any of you in order to draw me out of hiding," Feliciano continued, refusing to cry.

He was going to be strong this time.

No tears. It wouldn't be tolerated.

Lovino didn't exactly know what to say but stood, understanding his brother and realizing that he probably would've done the same thing if he were in his shoes. But that didn't mean he agreed to it now. The older Italian turned to Feliciano, his gaze firm, "I'll be back tomorrow."

"I can't promise I'll be here."

"I'll find you again."

"Then do me a favor: don't look for me."

"Lovino, wake up," a voice demanded and a hand shook his shoulder.

His eyes opened at the contact, seeing the face of someone who had long since passed. "Grandpa, what're you doing here?"

Lovino looked at everywhere but his grandfather, taking note that the brightness of the room wasn't blinding but rather comforting and alarming all at the same time.

"Just thought I'd pay a visit. You know, check in on you," the older man responded with a small smile.

"One would think you'd see Feliciano first. After all, he is your favorite," Lovino ground out through clenched teeth as he stood.

"Who told you he was? I never said that."

"You didn't need to. I know for a fact that he is. He can do anything and everything to live up to your name and me?" Lovino scoffed, "I'm just the underdog, living in the shadow of his younger brother. Now, mind you, I'm over it so no need to console me."

"I didn't come here to fight with you, Lovino. I know it was hard on you during your childhood but-,"

"Then just leave! I don't need you here! You left me and my brother all alone to take care of ourselves!" Lovino interrupted the older man.

"Not by choice. I thought you understood that," his grandfather sighed.

"I was ten!" Lovino snapped.

"Death is something that cannot be avoided. You of all people should know that."

"Just tell me why you've decided to show up," Lovino growled.

"You need to wake up. Open your eyes and you will see that things are not as what they appear to be," the older man stated.

"I've got no patience for riddles, old man! Get to the point! I know you know what's going on here! How am I alive again when I'm dead? Just tell me!"

"No. You need to realize it on your own and that will only happen by waking up."

"I am awake! Well, maybe not now but I am awake!"

His grandfather did not reply and simply turned his back to his grandson but looked back at the Italian before fading away, "Don't do anything brash."

He body felt heavy as he stirred, hearing a sigh of relief from someone in the room. He opened his eyes and hissed in pain when the sheer radiance of the light made his head pound. The lights then dimmed, giving him the chance to adjust.

"I'm so glad you're awake," he heard someone say albeit garbled.

"What the hell happened…?" Lovino groaned, focusing in on the hazy face in the room, trying to make out the person's identity.

"I found you outside. You were unconscious," the person, who he assumed to be male, replied, placing a warm and damp rag over his head.

"Antonio…?" Lovino mumbled.

"The one and only," the man smiled.

"My neck is killing me," Lovino rubbed the sore area, figuring that's where he had been hit. "So what happened?"

"That's what I'd like to know. Who did this to you?" Antonio pointed to the bandage that was now covering the wound on the Italian's arm.

"Nothing; I just fell," Lovino didn't make eye contact.

"You really must think me an idiot if you expect me to believe that. This is a knife wound, Lovino," Antonio sighed in exasperation at his lover's stubborn attitude. "I'm not stupid. So I'll ask once more. Who did this?"

"I can't tell you. Just be glad that I'm alive and well and let's go on with life. Besides, even if I did tell you, I doubt that you would find him," Lovino ran a hand through his hair, knowing it was his younger brother that did this to him.

Antonio brought the man into a hug, "I was worried sick about you."

"I kind of figured… I would've called you but I left my phone here."

"I know, I called you at least ten times before I saw it. I had Arthur and Alfred looking all over town for you," Antonio hugged him tighter.

Lovino placed his head in the crook of Antonio's neck, "Sorry."

"It's fine. You're alive, that's all that matters."

Feliciano… that was the only person on Lovino's mind at this point. He had to do something. He had to help his brother despite the orders to stay out of it. He already died once and nearly died twice.

Third time's the charm, Lovino thought.

But what could he possibly do?

Open your eyes and wake up.

What in the world did the old man mean? As far as he knew, he was awake and completely lucid. But Lovino pushed that thought aside. He needed to help Feliciano and to do that, he needed to find those men that were after him.

That was the only way.

Lovino removed himself from the couch, stumbling a bit. Antonio helped his lover balance with a questioning look. What happened?

"You okay?"

"I'm fine. I just need the bathroom," Lovino replied before rejecting Antonio's assistance and making his way towards said area.

He hastily closed the door once inside and stared at himself in the mirror. He was a mess; his hair stuck out in all directions and bags drooped underneath his eyes, giving him a sleepy look. Feliciano must've been desperate to make sure that his older brother didn't follow him. He was so stubborn sometimes!

Lovino sighed and turned on the faucet, letting the water rush through his hands and splashed it into his face. He winced in pain when his neck reminded him of the soreness. The Italian rubbed it to try and soothe the aggravated region but to no avail.

As he sat down on the toilet, a light crunch could be heard from his pocket.

What the…?

Lovino dug for it, becoming increasingly curious when he pulled out a folded piece of paper. The Italian hurriedly opened it and stared at the simple sentence, causing his heart to jump in his throat and his blood to boil.

Sorry, maybe next time.

Lovino crumpled it in his hand when he recognized his brother's handwriting.

"Damn it, Feliciano!" Lovino growled under his breath, exiting the bathroom shortly after that.

"Lovi, is everything all right? You look a little shaken," Antonio wondered.

"I'm fine; I have to go," Lovino headed towards the front door.

"Wait," Antonio grabbed his lover's hand, "where are you going? It's freezing outside- you were on the doorstep for over an hour."

Lovino coughed in his throat, trying to disguise it, "I said I'm fine."

Antonio placed his hand to Lovino's forehead, "You're burning up. You're not going anywhere."

"But-!"

"No," Antonio said sternly. "You're doing too much. You're not superhuman."

"I can handle it, let me go!"

"No, I'm not letting you leave," Antonio protested as a coughing fit took over Lovino, making the Italian grow weak and dizzy.

The Spaniard started to lead Lovino to the couch but the latter wasn't having it and resisted by attempting to plant his feet to the ground.

"I have to help him!" Lovino mumbled as his weakness intensified and succumbed to shuddering from the cold.

"You're sick," Antonio reasoned, not hearing Lovino's argument. "Wait a few days and we'll see if you get any better. Then we'll continue looking for Feliciano. I know that's what you were doing all day."

"No…!"

"Lovi, listen to me. Just rest for a while and then we'll go from there."

Lovino sighed, "Fine, fine, if it'll get you off my case."

Attempting to sneak out of the house during the night was more complicated than it should've been. He kept bumping into furniture, tripping over his own two feet, and running into walls which in turn caused him to curse rather loudly.

He sighed with relief when he made it down the stairs in one piece, slipping on his shoes and jacket. Opening the front door, he glanced back up the stairs, rethinking this.

Antonio may miss me… but this is for Feliciano. He deserves to live just as much as any of us do, Lovino thought before exiting the house.

Lovino shivered in the cold, wondering when they would show up. He had been out there for a solid two hours and was steadily growing impatient. A park lamp shone down on him from where he was sitting and he sighed in frustration.

A twig snapping caught his attention as two men were strolling toward him, both dressed in dark clothing.

"It's about time you showed up. I was about a minute away from leaving your asses," Lovino stood from the bench and glared.

"We've been here," one of them answered. "We just had to make sure you came alone."

"Well, as you can see, I am."

"Follow us. The boss is expecting you within the next fifteen minutes," the other said while grabbing Lovino roughly by the arm and leading him away.

"So is he coming out here or not? I don't have all day," Lovino grumbled.

"He'll be out here when he wants. You'll just have to wait," the man by the door replied.

"Fuck this, I'm leaving," Lovino stood only to be on the receiving end of a solid blow to the jaw. The Italian staggered back and hit the floor, wiping the blood that was seeping from the crevice of his mouth.

"What the fuck was that for?"

"You're not leaving."

"The hell I'm not!" Lovino rose to his feet and doubled over from a punch that landed in his stomach from the accomplice in the room.

This beating continued relentlessly until a deep laughter echoed throughout the room, "It's amazing that the one who dares to schedule an appointment with me is catching an ass-whooping from those boys! If he can't even handle the Indians, why bring out the chief?"

A burly man with a cigar stepped out in the luxurious hall where Lovino had been kept waiting, wearing an expensive suit and sporting a walking cane. The man had brunette hair that was sleeked back, haughty coffee eyes and what sounded like… an American accent?

Come to think of it, he and his followers all sounded American.

"Who is this?" the man demanded.

"Feliciano Vargas," one of his followers replied, lifting up Lovino's head by grabbing a handful of the Italian's hair.

The leader's face scrunched up in disbelief but relaxed, "Ah, Feliciano! It's been too long!"

"Two years is a while, Brent." Lovino said, remembering the man's name.

"Help him up, now!" Brent ordered.

The other two aided Lovino to his feet.

"Get your hands off me," Lovino slapped their hands away angrily and readjusted his jacket.

"My sincerest apologies, Feliciano. I've told them to stop taking matters into their own hands," Brent flung his arm casually over Lovino's shoulder, earning a small glare from said man.

"It's fine," Lovino said, glad that the American was falling for the entire act.

"Where have you been for these past two years? I've had intentions to catch up with you and talk about what happened," Brent led Lovino into his large office where he offered the Italian the free chair in front of his desk.

Lovino hesitantly complied, easing himself into it.

"Want one?" Brent held out a box cigars.

"I'll pass," Lovino shook his head as the American grabbed one and lit it and inhaled deeply and the smoke escaped his mouth as a small cloud.

"Man, you've changed. I could've sworn you looked different when we first met."

"Time tends to change people," Lovino replied.

"That it does. To get to the point, I'm so sorry about your brother. We would never do that deliberately but, well," Brent chuckled as he tapped his cigar into the ash tray, "you know how things work out here. We had a contract and you failed to live up to it. Now I'm going to ask you the same question I asked you two years ago."

Lovino gulped faintly.

"Do you have my twenty-five grand?"

The Italian clenched his fists before responding, "No. I don't."

Brent sighed and put out his cigar completely, "That's too bad. It's a damn shame. And you were such a good kid, too- with you wanting to save your boyfriend's life and all. But good deeds won't get you anywhere in my world. Hell, it won't get you anywhere in life."

"So is that why I've decided to come on my own and let you finish me off? Because good intentions won't get me anywhere?" Lovino looked at the man seriously.

Brent raised an eyebrow, "You did what?"

"I just want this to be over and the last thing I need is you targeting my friends," Lovino glowered. "That's why I'm not going to fight back or run away. Do what you need to do."

The American moved towards a safe hidden behind a picture on the wall, and entered the combination. When the safe opened, Lovino didn't cringe in fear. He wasn't afraid of death.

It was so familiar to him. He would gladly welcome it with a smile. If it was to save his younger brother… he would do anything going to such lengths as to impersonate him.

Brent reached inside and pulled out a box, bringing to his desk and opening it. With a now gloved hand, the aristocrat pulled out a .32 revolver. Looking over, he nodded at the two men standing in the back of the room and the duo held Lovino down firmly.

"What the hell!" Lovino struggled.

"This is just a precaution in case you decide to change your mind at the last minute but then again, I doubt you can dodge a bullet," the man loaded it.

Lovino ceased to move and watched Brent calmly.

"Well, Feliciano, it was pleasure working with you but consider our contract annulled," Brent aimed the gun at Lovino's head.

Feliciano… Antonio… forgive me. This was the only way, Lovino thought sadly, staring into the barrel of the weapon.

Suddenly, the gun was knocked from Brent's hand, fast enough to miss Lovino's head but the bullet still succeeded in impaling the Italian's arm and Lovino yelled, clutching at his arm. The man landed a sturdy uppercut to Brent's jaw and the large American hit the floor, dazed. His rescuer landed on Brent's desk, glaring daggers at Lovino.

The man had swiftly finished off the duo at Lovino's flank, hitting their faces in such a way that smashed the fragments of bones into their brains, killing them.

Lovino's eyes widened, "Feliciano, what're you-"

"I'll deal with you later so just shut up and come on," Feliciano grabbed Lovino by his good arm, swinging his brother around and on his back before climbing out of the broken window he came in through.

Lovino hung on tightly as Feliciano jumped from roof to roof, nervous at first but noticed how agile his brother had become and no longer worried. The younger rapidly scaled down a fire escape ladder that ran along the side of an apartment complex and sprinted through the streets. When Feliciano believed they were far enough, he slowed down his pace, now coming to a walk.

"Feliciano-,"

"Shut up before I decide to dump your ass off right here," Feliciano snarled.

Though he had the impulse to argue, Lovino stayed silent as his brother carried him to a safe haven.

Lovino hissed and cringed as Feliciano proceeded in removing the bullet from his arm, taking all the necessary steps beforehand to prevent infection.

"If you keep moving, it'll only hurt worse," Feliciano said without looking up from his work.

"I know that," Lovino wriggled a bit and tried to stay still.

"There. It's out," Feliciano was holding the bloodied object with forceps and placed it on a napkin that was resting on the table. After disinfecting the wound once more and stitching it, Feliciano started bandaging, remaining silent all the while. The younger Italian moved on to Lovino's small cuts, applying disinfectant to those as well and avoided touching the bruises with too much pressure.

Lovino, feeling guilty, couldn't seem to speak past the lump in his throat but conjured up the courage to do so, "Where did you learn to do this?"

Feliciano cleaned up the mess, "In a span of two years, you can learn to do many things. This was just a provision in case I was injured."

Lovino nodded and then spoke again, "Feliciano, I'm sorry. I was just trying to help."

Feliciano spun on his heel, landing a fixated blow on his older brother's jaw, "You call that helping? I call that meddling! Suicide, no less! Do you realize that you could've died again today! What the hell were you thinking? Wait, I stand corrected, you weren't thinking!"

Lovino spit out a few drops of blood, tasting the bitterness of his busted lip. Nonetheless, Lovino felt like he was the younger brother. He could see the rage in Feliciano's eyes.

"Keep your nose out of my business!"

"Hey! It became my business the minute I jumped in front of you two years ago!" Lovino retorted.

Feliciano sighed in an effort to calm himself, "I appreciate the thought, but… I'm much better off handling this on my own."

"How did you find me, anyway?" Lovino wondered.

Feliciano pulled something out of his pocket which was a crumpled slip of paper, "My note with my handwriting. You pinned it on the door. It was pretty obvious what you were going to do."

Lovino didn't know what to say so Feliciano continued, "What I want to know is how you managed to locate the guys that were after me."

"We grew up here, remember? I have my ways of finding out these things," the older Italian replied.

Feliciano pinched the bridge of his nose before a small smile graced his lips, "Come on, you suicidal maniac, let's go."

"Where are we going?" Lovino asked as Feliciano assisted him getting on the younger's back due to the height difference and injured leg.

"You're going back to Antonio. He's worried about you. Before I went to get you, I passed by his house and he was flipping out," Feliciano answered, departing from the building.

"And leaving you here so those guys can kill you? I don't fucking think so! You're my little brother!" Lovino objected, whacking his brother on the head.

"I'm the little brother yet I'm taller and much stronger than you. I think I've earned a new title," Feliciano smirked triumphantly.

"Watch it, punk-ass, your head's inflating. You haven't earned a damn thing," Lovino grumbled and this won a laugh from the younger Italian. Lovino's cheeks were brushed with crimson, indicating his embarrassment.

As the walk continued, Lovino noticed the different paths they were taking.

"I thought you said we were going to Antonio's house," Lovino raised an eyebrow.

"We were but then I remembered that he left and there's only one other person who lives here that he would go to," Feliciano replied and a house soon came into view.

"Ludwig's?" Lovino questioned aloud once he recognized it.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? What about you keeping a low profile?"

"Now you support me in that," Feliciano chuckled. "No, it'll be fine. I'll talk to him."

Alleanza Distrutta- Shattered Covenant

Phew! *wipes sweat from forehead* Was it good? Many thanks to Shacra MoonFox for your idea! I hope I didn't disappoint!

Please review and tell me what you think! :D

This is Crimson signing off!

Arigatou!

Hasta la Pasta~