Lovino watched as his brother stood over one of the covered beds. The top was drawn back, revealing the pale face of Ludwig. His eyes were closed, mouth slightly open in a way that made him look like he was asleep.

Or... it would have if it wasn't for the black and red hole in his forehead, sides crusted with remnants of dried blood.

"I'm sorry Luddy" Feliciano muttered, kissing the wound and then putting the blanket back over the top of him.

Lovino's eyes wandered to the side, to the bed next to Ludwigs. He didn't want to see Antonio again. He didn't want to stare into those blank, lifeless eyes which hadn't been closed yet. He hadn't wanted to close them, it made him feel like he was actually gone. He was Antonio. Antonio couldn't be gone. He couldn't.

"Fratello?"

Feliciano appeared next to him with wet, worried eyes.

Lovino blinked and felt a tear slide down his face. Furiously, he wiped it away and turned his head. "I'm fine" he grunted, clenching his fists. He tore his gaze away from the bed and walked out as quickly as he could. It was Feliciano's job to show weakness. Feliciano and Sebastian's. Not his. He was Lovino Italy Vargas. He couldn't show weakness.

He strode down the corridor, keeping his head low. No one bothered him. Gilbert was leaning against one wall, stroking Gilbird, who sat on his shoulder gently rubbing himself against his cheek. A little further down, Yao sat with his head in his hands outside the conference room where the remaining Allies were talking. It wasn't loud like it had used to be. They used to shout a lot. Now it sounded more like civil discussion. More like people who didn't actually hate each other, and who wanted to actually resolve some point or other.

His thoughts went back to Antonio, lying still under that sheet. What would happen to Spain now? Would it descend into chaos? Die due to some sort of financial debt? No. He couldn't let that happen. Maybe... they could look after it. His brothers and him could look after the country. It'd become... a colony to them. Yeah, a colony, like Grandpa Rome used to have. Because, it's a countries job to look over their colonies. He'd talk to Feliciano about it later. But now... now he wanted to be alone. He didn't want anyone.

Lovino slunk out of the conference building and sat down on a bench outside it. Here, it was peaceful. Here it was quiet. He didn't like noise. It hurt and made him angry. People made him angry. Here, just out of the view of the carpark in the conference building gardens, he could be calm. It wasn't much, some bushes here, flowers there, and a little pond in the middle with some fish and a couple of turtles.

Urgh... turtles.

He hated them. Them with their stupid shells and their leathery necks and their slow speed. Antonio had liked turtles. He'd once said that the turtles recognised him as their king... or something like that anyway. He hadn't really been listening. Hadn't really cared. Now, he'd give anything just to go back to that moment and see Antonio alive one last time.

One of the turtles had wandered over and was sitting at his feet, still. Lovino grimaced and then picked it up, inspecting it carefully. If it could make a noise, it would have as it disappeared into it's shell, it's hide out. It was threatened. He threatened it.

Lovino sighed and put it down next to him. "I'm sorry. I just... I guess I'm just not that good with turtles."

The turtle came out and wandered to the edge of the bench. He carefully reached out and set it down on the ground before it went on it's way again... slowly. Maybe turtles weren't that bad after all. Maybe after all this was over, he'd get one and... no. That was going just a bit too far.

He chuckled to himself and sat back, staring up at the sky. What would happen when this was all over? Would they even be there to retell the story to the other nations? Surely some of them would be curious, like the Baltics and other European and Asian nations. Would they all just... disappear?

Footsteps on the grass sounded. Lovino picked his head up lazily and glanced across the garden. Nothing. But the footsteps were still there. He sighed. Probably just some trespassing kid. He wasn't in the mood to go chasing after some kid. The footsteps quickened and he looked up again, a moment too late.

Lutz lunged and dragged his dagger across his throat. Lovino was allowed a split second of shock, horror and pain before darkness blocked it all out.

*********************************************************************************

Feliciano waited outside the conference room. Lovino had been gone for a couple of minutes now. It wasn't anything to worry about. Opposite him, Prussia stood, stroking Gilbird. The door opened and the Allies came out.

"Right" Alfred sighed. "We need to get our head round how we're actually going to do this and... where's Lovino? Dude, he should be here."

"Fratello is just walking" Feliciano said. "He should..." then he collapsed. Prussia rushed forwards to catch him and slowly set him down.

"Feliciano? Are you alright?" Francis knelt down next to him.

"L... Lovino" Feliciano stuttered before he blacked out.

"What's happened?" Ivan peered out of the door.

"It's... " Francis leaned back. "L... Lovino's dead."

Gilbert stared at him for a second and then leaned forwards, gently slapping Feliciano. "Hey, wake up. This is unawesome Feli. Wake  up."

"How nice"

They turned to find Lutz in the corridor behind them. In one hand was Lovino's body which he dropped into a heap.

"Damn it" Alfred cursed, getting out his gun. Mathew ducked behind him and France who stepped forwards, picking up a random knife in the process. "This could get ugly."