"Scheisse" Germany muttered, staring in front of him. Italy crashed into his back, stumbling backwards and looking up.

"G... Germany" Italy stuttered. "What're we going to do now?"

"They can't be too far behind" Japan muttered, turning round in the direction they'd come. "We'll have to act quick."

Germany swallowed. It wasn't like him to be scared, but he was now. They'd lost the Allies a bit ago, but that didn't mean they wouldn't be able to find them again, and when they did, they'd be trapped. There was no way any of the three of them would be able to scale the cliff in front of them by themselves. It was at least sixty foot tall, a sheer cliff face without a single hold, disappearing to the other side of the bay at one end, and at the other, sinking into the ocean. It didn't seem to go in that deep, but underwater shelves round here weren't that uncommon and he had no idea how long it went on for as a wave breaker. All three of them were exhausted having been trapped on the island for weeks with limited food and drink supplies, and then forced to run at least a mile, the Allies right behind them.

This time, there was no escape.

From only a little way away, there was an obnoxious laugh. America. Normally, they wouldn't have anything to fear. The three of them were powerful nations, meaning that against most, they could simply gather themselves together and get up again after a bullet to the brain. But the nations they were up against were powerful, at least two more powerful than the Axis put together.

There was no chance the three of them were going to get out of this together, alive.

"There's no need for you two to get involved" America said, pulling out his gun and gesturing to Italy and Japan with it. "You're not the ones we want, though I'm pretty pissed at you Japan for the whole Pearl Harbour stunt, but I think we're about even on that now."

Japan muttered something under his breath.

Germany remembered it, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They'd still been trapped on the same godforsaken island. Japan had gone to look for any type of food possible and at least an hour later, hadn't returned. Italy had started freaking out after a bit and they'd gone to look for him, only to find him passed out in the middle of the forest, shivering in a pool of his own blood. It was one of the many things he'd like to forget.

"Germany?" Italy frowned as he took a step forwards and put out an arm when Italy went to stand next to him again.

England smirked and took the gun from America, pulling off the safety and pointing it forwards. "This war will be over. Lives have been lost because of you, you know? Thank you for making this easy. We didn't want anymore to be lost on account of you putting up a fight."

Germany didn't say anything, just stood there, one arm still out, stopping Italy from stepping any closer. He guessed it seemed kind of right for him to die now. During the war. They'd done so much wrong, him and Prussia, simply obeying their leader. It just seemed ligit.

He watched as England's finger tightened on the trigger and closed his eyes. The dummkopf had better make it quick.

There was a bang and he waited for the bullet, for the pain.

...nothing.

Carefully, he opened one eye, then the other, staring. In front of him stood Italy, arms spread out to either side. Over his head, he would see the startled, horror stricken looks of the Allies as England lowered the still smoking pistol. Japan made a choking noise and rushed over as Italy's legs gave out from underneath him.

"Italy?" Germany caught him, gently lowering him to the ground. "Italy?" He looked up towards the Allies.

America glanced at him and gave an anxious, forced laugh. "Run away."

"Italy-san" Japan placed his head in his lap.

"D... doitsu?" Italy coughed, a thin trail of blood running down his face. Carefully, as though it caused pain, he opened both hazel eyes. "Did they get you?"

"Nein" Germany said, his voice cracking. "I'm fine. You... why?"

Italy shrugged and winced at the movement. "It seemed the right thing to do." He smiled, more blood leaking out of the side of his mouth. "I proved myself didn't I Doitsu? Japan? I'm not weak see!"

Germany shook his head. "No Italy. You're not weak. You never were."

Italy smiled, a tear slipping out of the corner of his eye. His breaths became short and laboured before they stopped all together. Germany bit his lip and leaned forwards, closing his eyes.

"Sleep well Italy"