Hello again! I apologise for taking so long to update. I really really am! I hope you all enjoy this chapter especially since it's not terribly short like usual (I am getting better at that, yay!). I'm not going to rant today so just delight in this new chapter while I try my best to get the next one up soon!
"Slow down!" Feliciano called out unable to gain ground between the two of them, causing his brother to stop and collapse unto a nearby tree. Stumbling past the tree roots he crouched beside him and without warning found himself pulled into a crushing, desperate hug. "It's okay Lovino; we'll just go there and get him. It'll be fine."
Lovino shook his head and pulled back, blinking repetitively "No; He's dead. We can't go get him, he's dead and it's his own fucking fault. He runs off by himself without a fucking word and dies. He deserves that," Conflict flashes briefly in Lovino's eyes and he interrupts himself, looking to meet Feliciano's, "I didn't go with him though, I let him die. I sent him to his death. It's my fault and I…"He stops again leaning onto his brother's shoulder; mouth gaping and unable to find an answer "I don't know Feli".
"It's no one's fault Lovi. I hear the world ended" he smiled slightly, pulling his brother closer, "and I guess things like this happen now, all we can do is mourn and keep living".
There was a brief silence before Lovino sat up, letting out a pained laugh "And just when did you get so fucking smart?"
Feliciano laughed "I hear the world ended, I guess thing like this just happen now".
Lovino laughed back, offering his brother a rare smile of thanks "What'll we do then?"
"Go to Seychelles; if you're okay with that? It would be nice not to sleep with one eye open."
"I'm upset, but the idea of a warm showers more appealing than that idiot." Lovino replied "Should we go back then"
Feliciano nodded "If you want t- actually, I need to ask you something", that moment seemed as good as any to bring it up, "Uhmm, I'm not quite sure how to- I guess, are you sick Lovino?
"What are you talking about sick?"
"You're always coughing, and you're voice sounds hoarse and, I'm not sure something just seems off". Lovino looked down so that Feliciano was unable to read his expression, "I'm really worried, what's-"
"Nothing. I'm fine and I honestly have no idea what you're referring to" he stood up quickly, bumping Feliciano a bit "I'll meet you there then I guess" and with that he quickly walked off from the tree, leaving the other nation more than a little confused.
When Feliciano returned to the side-of-the-road-pit-stop-camp, everyone was off on little jobs. Arthur had just driven their car from behind the bushes onto the road, Romano was aiding Lili in the preparation of dinner, Francis and Gilbert off together somewhere, and Peter was attempting to climb a tree for apparently no reason whatsoever. After some deliberation he decided to talk to Arthur and walked over to him. "Hey Arthur, do you know where Gilbert and Francis are?"
Startled, the Englishman looked up from his seemingly zoned-out state "Oh; yes sorry. Gilbert said he had to talk to him about something."
"Do you know which way they went I'd like to-"
"You probably shouldn't, it looked pretty serious. The kind of thing that is between close friends like them"
Feliciano nodded, although a bit upset there was one more thing he was left in the dark about, "Well…what's for dinner then?"
Arthur chuckled a little, slipping out of the car "Pea and Carrot soup I believe it was"
"Yuck, I was hoping for more beans", Arthur shot him a confused look so he quickly added "We have had A LOT of beans".
The other nation nodded and smiled "Do you think you could help me set up all these tents? Peter and Francis decided to run off at the first sign of work", pulling two tent bags from his truck. "We'll put up yours too".
Feliciano agreed and the two of the got started on putting up the tents, which took over an hour to get all three of them up but luckily for the last on Peter decided to come help. By the time they were finished, Francis and Gilbert had returned both looking slightly shaken but dinner was well and truly ready so Feliciano decided to inquire about it later.
"No! No you can't be!" A yell from outside the tent woke Feliciano up, and despite his urge to stay in bed he sat up. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he saw his brother sleeping comfortably beside him, but the rest of the tent was empty.
"Please… Please no" It was a strained whisper, but in the silence of the night he could hear it easily and made his way to the entrance to see what was going on. Gilbert and Lili were sitting together and talking quietly, as they so often did but this time it was different. Horror was pasted onto Lili's face and Gilbert looked so sickly and pale in the moonlight; or maybe it wasn't from the moon. He suddenly realised what they were discussing and it made his stomach turn because, if he was worrying Lili with it it must be getting worse.
"I told Francis, he's going to help me and-"
"You can't! You're different, it won't affect us or we'll find a cure. It'll be okay"
"No Lili. I'm afraid it won't be, not for me at least"
Over the time they had spent together, Feliciano had woken up in the middle of the night many times to listen to their conversations but he had never spoken up and told them he was there. This time though, it seemed different, colder and sickeningly it felt final so he pulled back the flap of the tent and slipped half out, "Guys?"
They both spun around, eye-widening in shock before Gilbert spoke up "Yes Feli?"
"What's Francis going to do?"
"he-" Gilbert looked from Feliciano to Lili and then back again sighing as he spoke "He's going to make sure I don't end up as one of those things."
"How-" Lili started before realising and falling quiet.
"Oh" Feliciano said simply "Are you sure?"
Gilbert nodded but before he could add anything else or Lili could protest him, Feliciano slipped back inside the tent. He didn't want to hear anything from either of them, He didn't want to lose someone again and if he didn't hear it, he could pretend it wasn't happening. So he slipped quickly back to sleep.
The next morning, Feliciano was woken up by the sound of chatter and the smell of a fire as though nothing was wrong; and, he reminded himself, nothing was. After changing his clothes, he walked over to the fire where everyone was sitting.
"Someone slept in late" Francis smiled to him, offering a chair.
Arthur, whilst poking absentmindedly at the fire added "Even peter woke up earlier than you."
Avoiding the urge to look over at Gilbert he sat down on the chair and peeked around Lili to see what was cooking. Beans. Great. "I suppose I'm just exhausted from putting all those tents up. Hammering tent pegs is hard work".
"Well" Arthur reminded, smiling "We've got to take them all down again today."
"Don't remind me" the Italian nation groaned, stealing a cup of water from the bucket beside him.
After several minutes of slightly-awkward banter, Francis led Arthur and Peter away no doubt to inform them of what was to happen. Although still trying to deny it himself, he realised that no one would tell his brother if he didn't and with a deep breath gestured for his brother to follow him. Once they returned, everyone else had too and the atmosphere felt as though it had been twisted upon itself a thousand times. Lovino hadn't been particularly close to Gilbert and Feliciano was thankful for that as it meant there was someone that could comfort him, something he desperately needed. As soon as they took their seats, Gilbert stood up with a little nod, Feliciano had a hunch that was the only direct explanation they'd get though, he then gestured for Arthur to follow him.
They returned minutes later and Gilbert asked Peter to follow him, apparently he wanted to avoid the topic but not the goodbyes. After everyone else had gone and returned Gilbert asked Feliciano and Lili to follow him behind the truck, so he could say goodbye together. They were pulled into a bone crushing hug, and when his face was pressed closely to her Feliciano noticed just how hard Lili was trying to fighting the tears off. "Hey Feli?" Gilbert asked as he released them both.
Yeah?"
"Thankyou" He smiled, ruffling Feliciano's hair; with great care taken to avoid the curl and before the other nation could ask, he continued "For coming with me, for being so brave, for keeping my head straight, for looking after Liechtenstein too."
Feliciano returned the smile, but it wasn't as broad "If we hadn't gone with you, you never would have ended up getting bitten back there. You'd be fine Gilbert."
Pulling the two nations closer again, Gilbert grinned wider but Feli noticed to things; how hard Gilbert was trying to fight the tears off and how hard he himself was crying. "It wouldn't have it any other way though! We had some awesome times, the awesomest of times! You two just have to promise that won't stop now."
The two of them nodded and were released, Gilbert then turned to face Lili. She looked lost and scared, she probably was, as she muttered out "Gil…".
Feliciano glanced to him and was surprised to see he looked very different, determination plastered on his face as he leant down cupping her face. He met her shaking lips with her own, their motions delicate and desperate at the same time and their tears finally overflowing onto their cheeks. The Italian nation's heart sunk realising that it was their first and last embrace. It was too cruel but in the end they should have known that if they hold love where love isn't welcome it will never end well. Tragic as it was it was their own fault for thinking they were the abruptly stopped his thoughts, shocked at the pessimism that twirled within him. It wasn't cruel or tragic, or at least it wasn't just that, it was beautiful and pure and amazing and… too short for what it was. They parted somberly and the three of them returned to the group, pretending they were prepared for the 'execution'.
Silently Francis stood up to meet them and gestured to Arthur who, in turn, led Peter away from the fire. Gilbert stepped forward with Francis, not looking back as they walked to the road's side together and Feliciano began to shake. He felt his brother's hand gingerly clasp his shoulder and was lead to the other side of the road. They stopped, and waited, and grieved silently. Lili burrowed into his side and he into his brother's; it wasn't much comfort but it was enough to keep him from weeping. The world went cold and still, the birds stopped chirping, the hearts stopped beating and the wind stopped blowing around them. Silent, questioned by incomprehensible words from the distance, shattered by an echoing bang and destroyed by a cruel thud on the pavement. Lili shuddered and howled, pulling closer as the world became deafeningly loud once again.