As soon as the door opened, Italy's eyes flew up and onto his German lover. There was something there deep within his eyes that seemed off. Was he sad? Angry? Where had he gone? Too many questions...
"...ziano? Hey, dumbass? Aren't you listening?" Italy blinked and looked over to his frowning brother.
"Uh..."
"You weren't paying attention...again. As I was saying! First thing I'm going to do is get you the hell out of this shit hole and back to Italy. Then I'm going to call up that fat bastard and give him a piece of my mind!"
Germany nodded. "I'll take care of the troops. They should have been my problem in the first place. France is under my control; I don't see why Mussolini would put it under your responsibilities to take care of some rebels."
"Who gives a fuck why? That dumbass piece of shit of a boss has more noodles in his brain than him!" Lovino motioned towards Feliciano, who was once again zoning out. Lovino rolled his eyes and glared back at the German before him. "Besides, it's probably your fucking fault in the first place! Isn't your boss the potato bastard in charge of all this bull shit?"
Germany became slightly annoyed, and snapped at Romano's accusation. "I was in Russia, as was my fuhrer! We had no idea of all this! As soon as he found out, my fuhrer chewed out Mussolini! How dare you accuse me of this?"
Romano 'tch'ed and rolled his eyes again. "Because it's ALWAYS your fault! You're the bastardo that seduced my dim-witted fratello into joining your 'cause' and dragging all of Italy with! It's your fault! Yours! Maybe if you would have let him be all those years ago, we wouldn't be in this situation!"
Germany lost his temper, grabbing Romano by the collar and pulling him close so that their noses were almost touching. "Listen to me, now. I would never put him in harm's way," Germany growled, his face contorting in anger. "Why do you think I hauled ass to your brother's side? Huh?" He threw Romano back into Spain's arms. "Because I love him, you fucking moron."
Romano's face went red and he made to jump at the nation, when Spain's hand shot out and grabbed his lover's arm; holding him back.
"Lovi! Calm down! This isn't getting us anywhere!" Romano wasn't listening. He was screaming every insult he knew in Italian. All the while Italy was just sitting there...completely oblivious.
"Kraut! If that's what you call fucking 'love' then maybe your country is more fucked up than I thought! You 'love him so much' that you brought him into this fucking war were his people are dying for a bullshit cause that your boss came up with on the fly? What bullshit! You hear me? BULLSHIT!"
"You think I wanted him to get involved? Why don't you ask him why he's here? He came to me. Get your shit straight!" Germany shouted at the tops of his lungs, fists clenched at his sides.
"HE came to YOU because YOU seduced him! You bastardo! If you loved him half as much as you say you do, you would have tried harder to keep him away!"
Italy slowly looked up at the arguing nations. He blinked. They were arguing over him...again. "Guys..." he said, too quietly to be heard over the yelling countries. He needed them to stop. His heart race was picking up and he was starting to hyperventilate, which was hurting his chest so much, tears came to his eyes.
"I tried my best! But Italy came after me with all of his people! Including your boss, who fawns over my fuhrer! There was nothing I could do! Blame your leader for sending you out unprepared! My plan was to keep him on the sidelines until the war was over! And I never seduced your brother! Idiot! Why don't you take his feelings into account for once! Go ahead! Ask him how he feels!"
"HE'S DELISIONAL! How can I ask someone how they feel when all they feel is fake? You've fucked up his mind so much he doesn't know what's left from right!"
Italy was crying now. "STOP!" he screamed with all the strength he could muster. His eyesight faltered slightly and he swayed, clutching his burning chest. Spain was the first to run to his side and embrace him in a hug.
The Spaniard glared at the bickering men. "I told you this wasn't helping anything." Just then the door opened and a German nurse came storming in with armed guards behind her. She began yelling at them in German and gesturing at the weak Italian still in Spain's embrace. Spain turned to Germany, "What does she want?"
"She's asking us to leave. We're disturbing Italy." He crossed the room and planted a kiss on Italy's brow. "Mark my words: I'll get them for this. Your pain won't be for naught." Germany then strode from the room angrily, shoulder checking Romano on his way past.
Romano glared after the German and walked over to Italy. "Sorry. I'll be back later to get you out of this hell hole." he whispered in Italian. "Come on, tomato-bastard." He grabbed Spain, who kissed Italy's head and muttered something that sounded like "fusososo" before leaving. Italy felt tired. The guards followed the three out while the nurse laid Italy back into bed and checked his vitals. She left after making sure he was ok.
Italy sighed. He felt horrible...and tired...but he didn't want to sleep though he knew she gave him something that would make him. What he witnessed on the battlefield was sure to be creeping just beyond his conciousness. He shuddered. Those eyes...filled with such hate and anger...why did Britain hate him so much? He never even talked to him before... his eyes grew heavy and he was lost into the darkness of his nightmares...
Germany shrugged out of the grasp of the guards with annoyance. "You shouldn't do that to your superior." He flashed his ID, and the guards stood at attention with a cry of "Heil Hitler!"
"Ja, ja, Heil Hitler. At ease." Germany looked back at Romano and Spain. "They're with me. Leave them alone."
The guards left and Romano glared at Germany. He opened his mouth to say something, but felt better about it. Last thing he wanted were those potato bastards to come back and taint his air. One was bad enough. "Che..." he muttered before grabbing Spain and walking off towards the exit, muttering something about changing hospitals the whole time. Spain, back to being his clueless self, waved goodbye.
Germany returned to the hospital later that night, Japan with him this time.
"Oh dear..." Japan sighed. "Italy looks terrible."
Germany nodded in response. "He was worse when we first found him."
Having collected a large bouquet, he decided that he should present them to his lover. "Ve~! Doitsu~! I have something for yo-" He turned around and saw that everybody had gone. He blinked. they'd been standing there just a second ago. "D-doitsu?" He looked around, but didn't see them anywhere. "Doitsu!" They were nowhere. "DOITSU!"
Germany, taking note of Italy's furrowing brow, sat next to his lover, taking his hand and squeezing it gently. "Romano blames me for this," Germany told Japan, letting out a sigh. "Not that I blame him. He's never liked me."
Japan nodded. "But surely Germany-san knows that this is not his fault?"
Germany nodded. "Ja... But I wish I was here when Mussolini gave the order... I could have stopped him..." He dropped his head, resting his forehead on Italy's hand.
He was panicking now. They had all just been there! Now he was alone! He didn't want to be alone! "Doitsu! Fratello! Japan! Please! I don't want to be left alone! PLEASE!" Tears began falling down his cheeks. "Please..." His flowers fell from his hands and he began running towards where they had been standing only moments ago. They had to be around here somewhere.
Not noticing Italy's growing state of worry, Germany and Japan continued their conversation. "Ah... I see..." Japan sighed, looking at the ceiling with his hands folded behind his back. "I understand Germany-san's feelings of guilt. I would feel the same way." At Germany's silence, Japan continued, "But Germany-san must understand that if it was not for him, Italy might be with his... what do you call it... God?... right now."
Germany smiled up at Japan, nodding. "Ja, I know. But still..."
No matter how fast he tried to run, he didn't seem to be making it far at all. Finally, he slowed down to a stop and tried to catch his breath. It was no use. Maybe he missed them? He should try to slow down. He took a couple steps and paused when he heard a squish sound beneath his feet. Looking down he saw red. Everywhere. His heart speed up and he screamed.
Italy began to toss and turn in his sleep, and Germany became alarmed. "Italy?" He shook Italy's hand gently.
Everywhere he looked, the ground was covered with thick, red blood. The field was no longer there and instead he was standing in ankle deep redness. The sun faded away and he became more panicked. He could barely make out the shapes of bodies scattered all around him. He needed to get away, to find his Doitsu. He began running again. Blood splashing all around him, covering his legs with the sticky, wetness. It made him feel nauseas, but he ran anyway. Laughter filled his ears and he paused. He knew that accent, though he had never really had one on one conversation with it. But he knew him, from all the meetings he had attended with him. Slowly, Italy turned around and faced Britain.
Italy began convulsing in his sleep, and Germany shook him by the shoulders. "Italy! ITALY!" Meanwhile, Japan stood on the other side of the room, unsure how to react to the situation.
His green eyes, glowing in the darkness. "P-please...d-dont..." He pleaded.
Britain only laughed harder. "You did choose the side of evil...now you must be destroyed."
Italy shrunk at the venom in his voice. The Britain raised his gun and took aim.
Italy screamed as he was snapped into reality. His eyes opened and he stared up into blue eyes..."D-doitsu?"
"Italy... you were starting to scream in your sleep..." Germany hugged him closely. "Japan is here."
Japan stepped forward with a cordial smile. "Hello, Italy-kun. I brought you flowers. I hope you feel better soon."
Italy blinked."Japan?" He looked at the shorter nation and smiled. "Ve~!" His eye trailed down to the flowers in his hand and his smile fell. His face went completely white as he stared at the white daisies he was being offered. He gulped and took a shaky breath. Why couldn't his dreams just leave him alone?
"Italy-kun? You look pale... Are you feeling ok?" Japan asked, concerned at Italy's state of mind.
"Ja, should we call the nurse?" Ludwig added.
"N-no! No." He looked up at them both and smiled. "I-I'm fine." His voice sounded strained, but hopefully it would convince them. Italy thought that he should talk about his dreams, but decided against it. They didn't need to know. He slowly reached out and took the flowers. "Grazie..." He whispered, holding the flowers as if they were a bomb.
Germany noticed the tension in Italy's hands, how he held the flowers as thought they were going to overpower him, the scared look in his eyes. He took the flowers gently out of Italy's hands and asked gently, "Maybe you'd like me to put these in a vase back at home?"
He looked into Germany's large blue eyes and nodded. "Grazie..."
Germany kissed Italy's forehead, knowing the present company would not mind the display of affection. "Consider it done, Liebling," Germany said softly, his face still concerned.
Italy blushed and tried to hug him, but then remembered the...issues he was having and sighed. His body was healing at the normal country-healing rate, but it still seemed to be going so slowly. He whimpered. "Doitsu...I wanna go home..."
"I know you do, Italy. So just focus now on getting better so you can come home, ok?" Germany took Italy's hand in his and kissed it.
"Germany-san is right," Japan added, giving Italy a small smile. "You should rest for now, so that you can get better."
His bottom lip trembled. He didn't want to stay here anymore. He wanted to go home and sleep with his love. "B-but..."
"Don't worry," Germany said soothingly, rubbing Italy's hand with his thumb. "I'll be staying here for the time being. Being a nation has its... perks. One of which being that I can disregard hospital visiting hours' policies."
Japan nodded. "I cannot stay with Italy-kun, because I have business. I have a hotel not far from here, so I shall visit Italy-kun every day, if that should make Italy-kun happy."
"Si~! That would make me very happy." He turned back towards Germany. "Y-you're really going to stay with me? All night?" His eyes were wide with hope.
"Of course." Germany's cheeks tinted pink. "I-I don't want to leave you alone... like this..."
Italy smiled a true smile. Germany was going to stay with him. He would protect him from his nightmares. From the war. From...Britain. Suddenly engulfed with safety, his eyes felt heavy and with one yawn, he fell straight to sleep in Germany's arms.
Japan left soon afterwards, and Germany settled himself in a chair next to Italy's bed. He held the Italian's hand, kissing it once. "Guten nacht, mein Liebling," he murmured, then rested his head on the bed next to Feliciano and fell asleep.
Scarlet: Gah! Been too long since I updated! Rev's been getting on my case about editing and updating this installment... But I've been too lazy. . Anyway! Hopefully this will appease some raging fangirls like myself... enjoy~ Next chap should be up in a week or so. Probably less.