Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia nor any of it's characters.

Day: December 1

Location: roof top of a random building

Antonio flexed his fingers around his M24 sniper rifle, attempting to regain feeling in the digits after sitting out in the freezing cold temperatures. He gazed through the guns scope, shifted around, and finally settled on a young man sitting in the cafe caffè pomeridiano.

Lovino Vargas, or as he liked to call him, his next target.

The young man was the oldest son of the boss of the Mafia or so Antonio had heard. From what Antonio could tell through his scope, the cafe the man was currently occupying was empty besides him and four burly men dressed impeccably. If that wasn't suspicious, then Antonio would give up his job as an assassin, become a stockbroker, and change his name to Lenny.

Studying the four men, he thought critically, "Those must be his body guards. They don't look too sharp and should be easy to take out."

Just as Antonio was about to pull the trigger and take the bodyguard closest to him out, he saw all the guards jerk upwards and stand quickly, hurrying Lovino away and towards the back of the shop.

Antonio felt a fluttering of panic slip into his stomach. He didn't know when the next time he would be able to get this close to his target, especially if they caught on to his plans for the Italians fate. If he didn't get this done, who knew what his Boss would do.

Quickly adjusting the guns aim to the back of the bodyguard at the rear of the pack guarding Lovino, he pulled the trigger with a renewed focus and watched the man crumple into a heap. Another guard took his place, and Antonio shot him down as well. Aiming for the head of the third, he watched as the guard dropped like a sack of stones.

Just as he set his sights on the fourth and final guard, Antonio heard a click and a voice materialized from some place behind him.

"Move away from the gun. Now." Heeding the gruff voice with a german accent behind him, Antonio slid backwards on his stomach.

"Now, stand up and turn around slowly." Moving like a snail stuck in molasses, Antonio stood and faced the man speaking. The man looked just like he sounded: strict, powerful, and serious. With slicked-back blonde hair, stern blue eyes, and a frown that would have frightened a lesser man, he definitely looked like someone you wouldn't to get on the bad side on.

The man approached carefully and looked Antonio up and down, searching for any sign of a possible attack.

"Do you have any more weapons?"

"No," Antonio said truthfully.

"Will you come along peacefully?"

"No," this time, Antonio smirked.

"Well, if that's how you're going to be..." The man trailed off as he got closer and closer to Antonio. When he finally arrived in front of the Spaniard, he let out a soft sigh and said in a quiet, almost flummoxed, tone "Why do they never want to come along quietly? It would make my job so much simpler."

The stranger then did something that completely surprised Antonio; He pistol whipped him. Hard.

As black spots danced across Antonio's vision and warm blood trailed down the side of his head, he fell to one knee. He heard the man take a step closer and prepared for another blow, and was not disappointed.

This time, Antonio collapsed as his sight began to blur. He felt himself be picked up, and instead of the rooftop he had previously been seeing, he saw the bright blue, cloudless sky.

As the man carried him, Antonio's eyesight grew dimmer and dimmer. Just as the man wrangled the rooftop door open, Antonio succumbed to the beautiful world of darkness with one last conscious thought.

Boy, I sure fucked up this time.

Date: December 1

Location: Inside caffè pomeridiano

Damn, I'm out of coffee.

Lovino let out a sigh, and shifted back in his seat. He stared at the ceiling and closed his eyes, wishing he could be somewhere else, someplace anyplace besides right here.

By right here, Lovino didn't just mean his regular cafe, caffè pomeridiano. He meant here, New York City, surrounded by danger he never wanted or bargained for.

He didn't like being surrounded by body guards or being constantly targeted. He wasn't as strong as most would believe, with him being the head of the Mafia son and all. He'd even admit- to only himself, of course- that he cowardly.

He'd much prefer a quiet life with his brother in some distant land where no one would bother or come after him.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of resolve wash over him. He wasn't going to wish for it. He was going to make it happen.

However, Lovino was snapped out of his thoughts when the sound of multiple chairs screeching on the tiled ground sliced through the silent air. The four men surrounding him stood and yanked him to his feet, before practically shoving him towards the back room of the cafe.

"Wait, what is go-" Lovino began to say but was cut of by the body guard in front of him.

"Sniper spotted. We have to get you to a safe location, sir,"and as soon as he said that, the body guard behind Lovino dropped like a fly. Lovino gulped as fear seized him, and his heart began to race.

I'm too young to die.

The bodyguard on his right side moved to the back but was taken down just like the first guard.

I'm too young to die.

Unexpectedly, the guard to his left fell to the ground as well.

I don't want to fucking die!

And with that, Lovino put on a burst of speed and busted into the kitchen of the cafe, breathing heavily. Leaning against the counter, Lovino tried to catch his and calm his speeding heart. A tense silence fell over the room.

"Sir, the assassin has been detained and is being taken to the House. Would you like to go home as well?" The last guard spoke, effectively breaking the silence.

"I guess so," Lovino said, at a loss for what else to say.

"The car is in the alley beside this building. Leave through that side door," he pointed at a grey door located next to the stove on the right wall, "and the driver will take you home." Lovino nodded his head and approached the door. As he pulled the handle, he looked over his shoulder at the guard.

"T-thanks for… saving my life."

"I didn't do anything. It was the guys who are staining the floor out there red who saved your life," the guard said, sounding as dead as the guards "staining the floor out there red".

Lovino let out a mute sigh and left through the door. He got into a black, inconspicuous car with tinted windows- no doubt bullet proof- and leaned his head back against the seat as the driver headed towards his house.

He felt a lone tear slip down his cheek and quickly wiped it away. Crying would do no good, but only one thought controlled his mind at that moment. One earth-shattering, soul-shaking thought.

I almost died.