Healing

Germany awoke to find himself in darkness and couldn't quite believe at first that he was really awake. The bed he was on didn't feel right at all and the single blanket was twisted all around him. Plus there was a strange, constant beeping noise that wouldn't go away no matter how many times he tried to pop his ears. And then everything came back to him in a rush and he sat up hurriedly, feeling not quite so light headed as before, but still needing to take several deep breaths before he could swing his legs off the bed and stand up shakily on his feet. He reached around blindly in the direction of the little table by his bed and at last found the light and pulled on the cord. Instantly the small amount of light from the little lamp illuminated the heads of the two beds and he could at last see Italy.

It appeared that another new bandage had been wrapped around his friend's head because this one wasn't stained with blood, or maybe just not enough to show through the cloth. Germany was having a bit of trouble staying standing so he fell to his knees beside the bed and reached out a hand to place it carefully around Italy's. His skin still felt colder than was normal, but not the same deathly chill it had been in the cave. He hoped so deeply that the beloved other nation was starting to heal the same as he was. Perhaps in a few days he would be awake and then...well then what?

Was there even a remote possibility that they could be like Ludwig and Feliciano? These latest dreams had implied a relationship between the two that Germany had never actually really considered with Italy. The relationship with his fellow male nation had just been such a new and interesting idea before that he hadn't really thought of everything that would probably go along with it. It had just felt really good to him that they could be together almost all the time. But now he started to consider the things that had come about in his dreams. Countless hugs, cuddling, kissing, touching, and...

He inhaled a deep breath and ran his thumb over Italy's hand. There would be time to consider those possibilities when the other country was actually awake. If he even dared to pose them to Italy at all.

"Good, you are awake. I was hoping you might be. I want to talk with you a bit."

Germany turned in surprise to see Romano standing in the doorway. He looked completely exhausted and on this second meeting, Germany could see the scars that the war had left on him. The series of scars were nearly faded from around his neck, but the one along his jaw-line still showed pink, and his left ear was completely gone.

"Did Belarus...?" Germany started to ask but Romano waved a hand.

"Never mind about me, I want to know about him. Tell me, what happened to my brother. Please, I have to know, and you're the only one that was there who's on our side."

Germany took a breath and tried to figure out if he should take any care in his wording to Italy's brother. But he decided that it was better he know everything in case...in case...he felt pain in his eyes once more and shook his head to make those terrible, sickening thoughts go away.

Romano looked a bit shocked at his actions.

"Hey, is something wrong with you? Should you not be up right now?"

Germany took a breath once more and looked at the older Italian with as much calm as he could manage.

"I'm fine. As for your brother, he defied Russia right to his face."

Romano looked shocked and Germany couldn't help but smile with pride for his usually weak friend.

"It surprised me too. I felt so proud of Italy in that moment, but..." he sighed and felt his heart clench again, "as you can imagine, Russia didn't react too well to that. I couldn't do anything to help Italy since Belarus attacked me just after that, but my fight still couldn't block out the sound of the blows and the pained gasps and shouts."

He shuddered and shook his head once more.

"And I did catch a glimpse of Russia's face at one point..." he closed his eyes and clenched his hands to stop them from trembling, "His face was splattered with blood but his eyes gleamed and his mouth was curved in a delighted and cruel smile."

Germany took a deep breath again.

"I see it sometimes when I close my eyes and the sight still sickens me. After that, I fought harder than I think I ever have before and got the better of Belarus. I hope she's still licking her wounds like the deranged feline that she is." he hissed, "Then I turned my attention to Russia..." he stopped and felt his stomach churn as he had come to the part of the memory he hated most. The part that had Italy lying in that bed, hooked up to machines, and fighting for his life.

Romano did something in that moment he never had before. He reached out and touched the German's arm.

"Tell me." he pleaded quietly, "I'm sure it's painful for you but I have to know. I have to know what Russia did to make Veneciano like this. I can't...lose my brother without knowing." he breathed.

Germany flinched. So Romano was thinking of that horrible possibility too then.

He nodded and spoke up once more.

"I couldn't stop it. I couldn't get there in time. It felt like running through water and I could only watch helplessly as the pipe made contact with Italy's head. The crack seemed to echo all around and shoot through my whole skull. And Italy fell."

Germany stopped once more and refused to look Romano in the eyes. He could hear the other nation was breathing fast and shallow and little noises kept making their way into it as well. He was prepared for him to walk away in order to hide his emotions from someone he hated. Instead there was a sudden weight on his arm and he felt soft hair and moisture dripping onto his bare skin.

He looked down at the older Italian in complete shock. Romano, the irritable young man who represented the southern half of Italy, who from the moment they had met had made it clear that he absolutely hated Germany and kept trying to get his younger brother to stop hanging out with the nation, who tried very hard not to show weakness in front of anyone apart from his brother or Spain...

And yet here he was, using Germany to cry against.

Germany was at a complete loss of what to do with the situation. He knew how to calm Italy when he got like this, but Romano was not his brother and that special treatment was only for Italy. His Italy. Veneciano.

So instead he just waited for Romano to finish the tears and step back before turning away.

"Sorry." The older Italian brother spoke shakily, "Thank you for telling me what happened. I've had my own fighting experience and talked to Spain about his, but neither of ours resulted in anything remotely close to how my brother looked when you two got brought in. I just...needed to know why."

Germany nodded.

"I understand. Had I not been there I would have demanded to know as well."

Romano turned back to study his face for a few moments before he sighed and turned away once again.

"I was told that if you seemed up to it that I should tell you to go to the cafeteria to get something to eat. If you don't want others to know exactly how you feel about Veneciano then I suggest you wipe it off your face first."

Germany blinked at him and then sighed.

"I don't care anymore. Let them know. Maybe that's better even. Maybe one of them will have some words of wisdom on how to start heeling despite the situation."

Romano stopped in his tracks to the door but didn't turn around this time as he spoke softly.

"Find someone else to latch onto for the time being. That's the only way I'm coping."

Germany stared at his back and had no doubt who he was referring to. He was about to ask how Spain's recovery was going when Romano started moving again and reached the door. The Italian nation waved his right hand.

"Cafeteria is to the right and fourth door on the left. Head there if you're feeling up to it and when you're ready to."

Then he was gone out the door, leaving Germany alone with the beeping machines and comatose body of Italy once more.

The German nation thought over their conversation and nodded at the reasonable suggestion the older Italian had given. Seeking companionship and comfort from someone is exactly what he most desired right now.

He turned back to Italy and walked close enough to reach out and take his hand.

"You've always wanted me to make more friends. It looks like your wish is finally undeniable for me."

He raised the hand and knelt his head down enough to brush a kiss over the still chilled flesh, before he gently set it back down onto the bed and headed out of the room.