Returning Memories Part 6/?
Title: Returning Memories Part VI: Tunnel of (Not) Love
Author/Artist: lotus-genie
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Germany/Italy, HRE/Italy. Mentions of Prussia/Austria/Hungary
Rating: R for gore.
Summary: Germany finally gets back his memories of being HRE, but too bad it comes shortly before Italy's surrender to the Allies.
Warnings: Gore and later violence. Prussia and Hungary also swear like sailors.
Author's note: I wanted to write a darker Ger/Ita fanfic about the German occupation of Italy after Italy made a separate peace with the Allies. The part about Germany getting his memories back and having them make everything worse was inspired by the irony that it was Italy who proposed to Germany that they become the new Roman Empire during WW2. This will start fluffy and get dark later. Apologies for any potential out of character moments.
Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V
Germany sat in the drifting boat, Italy lying at his side. Thankfully, Italy’s injury had not been very serious and was easily bandaged. Still, the pain and blood loss had sent him into shock. Upon seeing that moving Italy into the boat would not hurt him further, he had carefully lifted the other nation into the boat and set off toward Sicily.
Italy winced and jerked slightly in his sleep. Germany considered reaching out and shaking him awake, but decided to let Italy continue sleeping. After all, Italy had been so brave in the last couple of hours that he deserved his rest.
Absentmindedly, Germany brushed the tips of his fingers against Italy’s hair, careful to avoid touching the one long curl. Memories rose in his mind of a time when he had been content to watch Italy sleep from a distance. What would the Holy Roman Empire say if someone had told him that one day he would be sitting next to Italy, running his thick, rough fingers through the other nation’s soft hair?
Germany did not know. Even though he had recovered much of his memories, he still felt like an outside observer. His experiences and centuries of memory loss had so changed him that he found it hard to think of himself as having been the Holy Roman Empire.
---
Italy yawned and slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a beautiful field of flowers, under a clear, blue sky.
Someone was stroking his hair. He turned around to see who it was.
His eyes widened as he saw a nation he thought he would never see again. Of all the nations who could be sitting there, the last one Italy expected to see was him.
"Italy..."
His voice is older and deeper, but still as hesitant as ever.
"Have I...died?" That was the only explanation Italy can think of. After all, how else would he be having a conversation with a supposedly long dead nation.
Yes, he has always hoped that France was wrong; he had always looked forward to the day that the boy would come back. However, after several centuries, the sliver of hope had grown fainter and fainter until it was in danger of disappearing altogether. Even as he desperately clung to that foolish hope, he objectively knew that the boy was probably gone. He had been dissolved; his lands and people had been given back to their component countries. For him to have survived would have taken nothing short of a miracle. And miracles were in short supply during times of war.
---
Germany let out a sigh of relief when he realized Italy had awakened. However, the other nation seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, staring into the distance and paying little attention to Germany. Germany sighed and decided that it was probably the effect of the shock from blood loss. He quietly called out to Italy, hoping to shake him out of the stupor.
He frowned a little as he heard Italy's reply. "No, you haven't."
As long as he was here, he would protect Italy
---
"Then how am I here? How are you here?" Perhaps, a miracle had truly occurred?
"You saved us both, Italy. You did very well."
Try as he might, Italy cannot remember what he had done. Still, it did not matter. After so many years, Holy Roman Empire had finally returned.
"I guess...I have grown a little stronger after all."
---
"Yes. I am very proud of you."
Italy was frustrating to deal with sometimes. His easygoing demeanor and tendency to panic meant that even Germany often underestimated him. However, when he actually made an effort, he could fight as well as any of his allies, maybe even better.
Now that Germany can remember, he saw that the other nation was always like this. Whether it was during the Battle of the Golden Spurs or the Italian Unification, Italy always proved beyond a doubt that he was Rome's descendant. In fact, sometimes, he went so far as to scare Germany with how fierce he could be.
"I'm glad." Even as Italy smiles, tears come to his eyes.
---
The Holy Roman Empire stretches his hand out and wipes away Italy's tears. "I should be the one that's glad. You are a worthy ally."
Italy nods and finally stops crying. "T-that promise we made...the promise to become Rome together...Do you still remember?"
"I remember it. How could I ever forget?"
"...I'm ready to fulfill it now. I've gotten stronger, and I'm ready to take up Grandpa's legacy!"
"It is just a matter of time. Even if things are not successful now, we will persevere. It is our destiny to inherit this Earth. It is written in our blood."
---
Germany cannot help the fact that his voice shakes slightly as he speaks. Though he is still confident of victory, the results of the battles of the past years have given him reason for doubt.
"And...when this is all over, when we do become Rome together, I will give you a beautiful surprise..."
What better reward to give to Italy than to tell him that his childhood love had survived? And even better, had been his friends and comrade and watched over him throughout the War; had fallen in love with him, all over again.
---
"Ve~ What sort of surprise?" Italy looks up at the other nation, both surprised and happy.
The Holy Roman Empire held a finger up to his mouth. "It is a secret, Italy. Fight hard, and you will find out when the time comes."
"I don't think it can be any better than this surprise."
Now, it was the Holy Roman Empire's turn to react with surprise and confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean the fact that you came back after so long."
"But I never left."
---
Germany frowns as Italy continues to talk in his daze. The other nation had seemed to respond to all of Germany’s words, so Germany did not know what was happening.
"...You did. You went and fought all those wars against everybody else. And even when you came home, you were too weak to see me again. And then...and then...France&..."
The Holy Roman Empire says nothing; he just wraps Italy up in a big hug.
"B-but it's all alright now. You're back. I couldn't ask for anything better..."
---
"...Holy Roman Empire."
In hindsight, Germany should have expected this. Italy had sounded different than he usually did; more romantic than the friendly tone that Germany had grown used to.
In his shock, he can only continue to hold Italy. He does not respond to the rest of Italy’s words-he does not even hear them. There are many emotions brewing in his heart, clashing and mixing with each other and turning his thoughts into a mess.
First, he really did love Italy. Both as the Holy Roman Empire and as Germany. But whereas Holy Roman Empire’s love had been an infatuation, Germany’s love was a fire-forged friendship. He saw Italy’s cowardice, but also his courage; his frustrating mistakes, and his boundless energy; his kindness that became a burden, but had also endeared him to Germany. Holy Roman Empire could place Italy on a pedestal as his ideal woman, but Germany could love Italy for his good traits and his bad traits. And one thing that Germany could do that the Holy Roman Empire could not was fight alongside Italy, trusting him as a comrade.
But Italy, of course, felt differently. No matter how many romantic dalliances he had, Italy’s heart would always belong to his first love. Even next to Germany, he would only love the Holy Roman Empire.
Germany's face blushed beet red. He was embarrassed, since he had gone so far as to suppose Italy's romantic dialogue was really directed at him. He was angry at himself, for being such a fool. He was angry at Italy, for unwittingly rejecting him. And, probably the most illogical feeling of all, he was jealous. He was jealous of the Holy Roman Empire for getting there first, for stealing Italy’s heart. The fact that he was actually jealous of himself just makes everything worse. It was almost funny--with anyone else, this situation would be impossible. And yet, Germany’s worst rival, one that he will probably never surpass, is himself as a child.
The anger and pass in a confusing flash, but jealousy and guilt linger. Italy had a right to love whoever he wanted. Germany was not just wrong to be jealous of himself, but he had no right to be jealous in the first place. He had changed so much from the child he once was. Perhaps, as he was now, Italy could only think of him as an intimidating friend.
He was tempted to confess everything to Italy now. Knowing that Germany is Holy Roman Empire, Italy would return his love. However, even then, Italy would not love Germany for himself, but because he was the shadow of the Holy Roman Empire. Germany shook his head. That sort of love would only hurt both of them.
"Holy Roman..."
Germany finally snapped out of his stupor.
"Y-yes?"
This would probably be the first and final time he can love Italy as Germany. Even if Italy would wake up and think that it was all a dream, Germany would indulge him for the time being. Then, after Italy woke up, they could go back to being just friends and the secret would probably be hidden forever.
This is not a solution he likes, but it a simple one. A logical one. An efficient one. In wartimes, the efficient route would usually be the best.
He loosened his grip on Italy. "Yes, Italy. I'm listening..."
Notes:
Italian Soldiers: Again, Italian failures had more to do with logistics and command than actual cowardice. Germany, of course, would know this, having fought beside Italy the entire time.
In our blood: As many of you may know, Nazi Germany considered Germanic peoples a superior race. The propaganda machine also worked to fool the German people into believing that they could still win the war even though the Allies were pushing them back.
Author/Artist: lotus-genie
Character(s) or Pairing(s): Germany/Italy, HRE/Italy. Mentions of Prussia/Austria/Hungary
Rating: R for gore.
Summary: Germany finally gets back his memories of being HRE, but too bad it comes shortly before Italy's surrender to the Allies.
Warnings: Gore and later violence. Prussia and Hungary also swear like sailors.
Author's note: I wanted to write a darker Ger/Ita fanfic about the German occupation of Italy after Italy made a separate peace with the Allies. The part about Germany getting his memories back and having them make everything worse was inspired by the irony that it was Italy who proposed to Germany that they become the new Roman Empire during WW2. This will start fluffy and get dark later. Apologies for any potential out of character moments.
Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V
Germany sat in the drifting boat, Italy lying at his side. Thankfully, Italy’s injury had not been very serious and was easily bandaged. Still, the pain and blood loss had sent him into shock. Upon seeing that moving Italy into the boat would not hurt him further, he had carefully lifted the other nation into the boat and set off toward Sicily.
Italy winced and jerked slightly in his sleep. Germany considered reaching out and shaking him awake, but decided to let Italy continue sleeping. After all, Italy had been so brave in the last couple of hours that he deserved his rest.
Absentmindedly, Germany brushed the tips of his fingers against Italy’s hair, careful to avoid touching the one long curl. Memories rose in his mind of a time when he had been content to watch Italy sleep from a distance. What would the Holy Roman Empire say if someone had told him that one day he would be sitting next to Italy, running his thick, rough fingers through the other nation’s soft hair?
Germany did not know. Even though he had recovered much of his memories, he still felt like an outside observer. His experiences and centuries of memory loss had so changed him that he found it hard to think of himself as having been the Holy Roman Empire.
---
Italy yawned and slowly opened his eyes. He was lying in a beautiful field of flowers, under a clear, blue sky.
Someone was stroking his hair. He turned around to see who it was.
His eyes widened as he saw a nation he thought he would never see again. Of all the nations who could be sitting there, the last one Italy expected to see was him.
"Italy..."
His voice is older and deeper, but still as hesitant as ever.
"Have I...died?" That was the only explanation Italy can think of. After all, how else would he be having a conversation with a supposedly long dead nation.
Yes, he has always hoped that France was wrong; he had always looked forward to the day that the boy would come back. However, after several centuries, the sliver of hope had grown fainter and fainter until it was in danger of disappearing altogether. Even as he desperately clung to that foolish hope, he objectively knew that the boy was probably gone. He had been dissolved; his lands and people had been given back to their component countries. For him to have survived would have taken nothing short of a miracle. And miracles were in short supply during times of war.
---
Germany let out a sigh of relief when he realized Italy had awakened. However, the other nation seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, staring into the distance and paying little attention to Germany. Germany sighed and decided that it was probably the effect of the shock from blood loss. He quietly called out to Italy, hoping to shake him out of the stupor.
He frowned a little as he heard Italy's reply. "No, you haven't."
As long as he was here, he would protect Italy
---
"Then how am I here? How are you here?" Perhaps, a miracle had truly occurred?
"You saved us both, Italy. You did very well."
Try as he might, Italy cannot remember what he had done. Still, it did not matter. After so many years, Holy Roman Empire had finally returned.
"I guess...I have grown a little stronger after all."
---
"Yes. I am very proud of you."
Italy was frustrating to deal with sometimes. His easygoing demeanor and tendency to panic meant that even Germany often underestimated him. However, when he actually made an effort, he could fight as well as any of his allies, maybe even better.
Now that Germany can remember, he saw that the other nation was always like this. Whether it was during the Battle of the Golden Spurs or the Italian Unification, Italy always proved beyond a doubt that he was Rome's descendant. In fact, sometimes, he went so far as to scare Germany with how fierce he could be.
"I'm glad." Even as Italy smiles, tears come to his eyes.
---
The Holy Roman Empire stretches his hand out and wipes away Italy's tears. "I should be the one that's glad. You are a worthy ally."
Italy nods and finally stops crying. "T-that promise we made...the promise to become Rome together...Do you still remember?"
"I remember it. How could I ever forget?"
"...I'm ready to fulfill it now. I've gotten stronger, and I'm ready to take up Grandpa's legacy!"
"It is just a matter of time. Even if things are not successful now, we will persevere. It is our destiny to inherit this Earth. It is written in our blood."
---
Germany cannot help the fact that his voice shakes slightly as he speaks. Though he is still confident of victory, the results of the battles of the past years have given him reason for doubt.
"And...when this is all over, when we do become Rome together, I will give you a beautiful surprise..."
What better reward to give to Italy than to tell him that his childhood love had survived? And even better, had been his friends and comrade and watched over him throughout the War; had fallen in love with him, all over again.
---
"Ve~ What sort of surprise?" Italy looks up at the other nation, both surprised and happy.
The Holy Roman Empire held a finger up to his mouth. "It is a secret, Italy. Fight hard, and you will find out when the time comes."
"I don't think it can be any better than this surprise."
Now, it was the Holy Roman Empire's turn to react with surprise and confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"I mean the fact that you came back after so long."
"But I never left."
---
Germany frowns as Italy continues to talk in his daze. The other nation had seemed to respond to all of Germany’s words, so Germany did not know what was happening.
"...You did. You went and fought all those wars against everybody else. And even when you came home, you were too weak to see me again. And then...and then...France&..."
The Holy Roman Empire says nothing; he just wraps Italy up in a big hug.
"B-but it's all alright now. You're back. I couldn't ask for anything better..."
---
"...Holy Roman Empire."
In hindsight, Germany should have expected this. Italy had sounded different than he usually did; more romantic than the friendly tone that Germany had grown used to.
In his shock, he can only continue to hold Italy. He does not respond to the rest of Italy’s words-he does not even hear them. There are many emotions brewing in his heart, clashing and mixing with each other and turning his thoughts into a mess.
First, he really did love Italy. Both as the Holy Roman Empire and as Germany. But whereas Holy Roman Empire’s love had been an infatuation, Germany’s love was a fire-forged friendship. He saw Italy’s cowardice, but also his courage; his frustrating mistakes, and his boundless energy; his kindness that became a burden, but had also endeared him to Germany. Holy Roman Empire could place Italy on a pedestal as his ideal woman, but Germany could love Italy for his good traits and his bad traits. And one thing that Germany could do that the Holy Roman Empire could not was fight alongside Italy, trusting him as a comrade.
But Italy, of course, felt differently. No matter how many romantic dalliances he had, Italy’s heart would always belong to his first love. Even next to Germany, he would only love the Holy Roman Empire.
Germany's face blushed beet red. He was embarrassed, since he had gone so far as to suppose Italy's romantic dialogue was really directed at him. He was angry at himself, for being such a fool. He was angry at Italy, for unwittingly rejecting him. And, probably the most illogical feeling of all, he was jealous. He was jealous of the Holy Roman Empire for getting there first, for stealing Italy’s heart. The fact that he was actually jealous of himself just makes everything worse. It was almost funny--with anyone else, this situation would be impossible. And yet, Germany’s worst rival, one that he will probably never surpass, is himself as a child.
The anger and pass in a confusing flash, but jealousy and guilt linger. Italy had a right to love whoever he wanted. Germany was not just wrong to be jealous of himself, but he had no right to be jealous in the first place. He had changed so much from the child he once was. Perhaps, as he was now, Italy could only think of him as an intimidating friend.
He was tempted to confess everything to Italy now. Knowing that Germany is Holy Roman Empire, Italy would return his love. However, even then, Italy would not love Germany for himself, but because he was the shadow of the Holy Roman Empire. Germany shook his head. That sort of love would only hurt both of them.
"Holy Roman..."
Germany finally snapped out of his stupor.
"Y-yes?"
This would probably be the first and final time he can love Italy as Germany. Even if Italy would wake up and think that it was all a dream, Germany would indulge him for the time being. Then, after Italy woke up, they could go back to being just friends and the secret would probably be hidden forever.
This is not a solution he likes, but it a simple one. A logical one. An efficient one. In wartimes, the efficient route would usually be the best.
He loosened his grip on Italy. "Yes, Italy. I'm listening..."
Notes:
Italian Soldiers: Again, Italian failures had more to do with logistics and command than actual cowardice. Germany, of course, would know this, having fought beside Italy the entire time.
In our blood: As many of you may know, Nazi Germany considered Germanic peoples a superior race. The propaganda machine also worked to fool the German people into believing that they could still win the war even though the Allies were pushing them back.