[Complete] It’s all the same.

[thebestandwurst]

Characters: Germany, Italy, their shadows
Location: On the way to Casualty Communal
Rating: R.
Time: July 18, very early.
Description: Germany and Italy head off to see to Hungary. They never make it.

Comments

[miarrendo]

It was hard to listen to Germany's shadow, Italy thought. He sounded very angry, maybe even a little hurt. And Italy remembered hearing that Shadows were supposed to be inner thoughts that they had. Or something, like that. He tried to look at Germany again, but his own shadow turned his face.

"You're no better," the shadow sighed, annoyed. "Why the hell are you worrying about that guy? All he does is abuse you. All the countries do. Because you're so stupid."

Italy shook his head as best as he could. "No! Germany is my friend!"

[thebestandwurst]

"Your friend. Hah!" His shadow sounded unpleasant when he laughed, like a gunshot, or maybe even the sound of burning wood. "Do you know what he feels for you, little Italien? How he fears and wants you? Maybe you should fill the little gap in his head so he'd understand his own tragedy better. Or maybe I should kill you, so he no longer has to deal with these things and he can finally deal with me."

Germany made a noise of protest. "Do not listen to him, Italien," he said, struggling to his feet despite the ache. "Do not listen to either of them." Lies and slander. He had no such inner persona. "Touch him and I will end you," he promised savagely.

[miarrendo]

"Oh~ Listening to all of you talk makes me want to vomit!" scowled Italy's shadow. He turned his attention back on Italy again, expression suddenly becoming fierce. "How can you be friends with someone who bullies you? Do you know what he and Japan say behind your back? You must know, because I know! And your fratello!"

The more Italy's shadow talked, the more scared he became. No, he loved Japan and Germany. And even though Romano said hurtful things, Italy still loved him, too. "No! Germany said he cared about me! He told me!"

And Italy's shadow rolled his strange eyes before getting to his feet again. He gave Italy a swift kick to the side of his head and knocked him over. "You shouldn't believe everything he tells you. He is only using you."

[thebestandwurst]

"As if he can be used," Germany's shadow scoffed. "The only thing you Italians are good for is se--"

Germany punched him in the mouth, making his own shadow take a few steps back. The creature examined the split on his lip and grinned at him, all fangs and white teeth. "You shouldn't wonder how I know. I am you and your desires and all parodies of it. Your pains, your insecurities, your guilt, your destruction. I know more about you than you do and we rot for it. How does it feel to watch, Italien?"

<_<

[miarrendo]

For a split second, Italy's shadow gave Germany's shadow a side-long glance, as though he were disgusted. But then his attention was turned back to more pressing matters; Italy had already gotten up in an attempt to crawl to his Weapon. A stop was put to that immediately when the shadow placed a hard boot on his back and pinned him to the concrete.

"Do you hear that? Did you hear what he just said about us? That's how he really feels."

Italy only whimpered in response.

[thebestandwurst]

Germany had managed to put a bit of distance between himself and his shadow with the earlier punch. That gave him just enough space to leap at the fake Italien (neversopoisonousnevercruelhisItalien) and shove him to the ground by his collar, growling litanies under his breath. A kick to his side made him let go of his target.

"Can't kill him because he has your partner's face, can you. When will you STOP. BEING. SO. DISTRACTED?" Oh, his shadow was truly angry. Germany felt it more than saw it, the air between them thrumming.

[miarrendo]

Of course, Italy's shadow was far less than amused by this. He was not here to target Germany, though he should have known that that fucking potato-loving bastard would get in his way. Once Germany was off him, he quickly got to his feet and sent a whip in the direction of Germany's shadow.

"I know it must be hard for you, but keep him under control." He looked repulsed by the fact that Germany had even touched him.

[thebestandwurst]

Germany's shadow deflected the lash with a well-placed flick of his own riding crop, before he gave the other shadow an icy glare. "It must be easy to control the coward."

But his attention was back toward Germany before the blond could do anything about it. "What went wrong, Deutschland? We were doing so well, killing so many, purging the world and uniting it under our rule. The guilt would have been worth all if we had won, but we didn't, did we?"

Germany spat out bile before he could choke on it, and wearily looked up at his shadow. "It is not 'we'. You and I are not the same." The beating that followed was expected, but still painful.

[miarrendo]

Coward! Italy's shadow lifted his leg and slammed his foot down on Italy's back again in anger. Italy, in turn, just continued to wail, clawing at the ground as he tried to get free.

"A coward. Bumbling idiot. Lazy." Italy's shadow fumed. "These are all the things he calls you after you gave him your infinite trust. You even made pasta for him on the battlefield. But did he appreciate it?"

Italy choked back tears. He couldn't think of things to say. All he wanted to do was get to Germany. Once he was with Germany, things would be okay. They could fight together. "Germany..."

The shadow's foot dug into Italy's back. "Don't! Don't call to him! You don't owe him anything! All those years he loved you, and yet he couldn't even remember your face in the end!"

[thebestandwurst]

"Then maybe you should tell him!" Germany's shadow snapped, baring his teeth again. He had reduced his original into a broken pile at his feet but his anger still ran hot, and he was not beneath turning on his fellow shadow to vent. "The fool's mind is already on the verge of breaking between him and me and him and I. Maybe if Deutschland knows, he'll be able to focus more. But ah, ah, ah, the only problem is that you Italians are all simpering cowards!"

"Tell me what?" Germany managed to croak numbly. It was difficult. He couldn't feel anything but pain and an overwhelming worry for his meister.