literature

Dreaded Thunder

Deviation Actions

Sideshow-Cellophane's avatar
Published:
1.5K Views

Literature Text

I couldn’t decide which brother to do, so I did them all! North Italy, South Italy (Romano), and Seborga.

Warning: Romano's cursing, and extreme adorableness. Handle at your own care.

~~~~~

Another burst of thunder.

Feliciano shrieked and shot up in his bed.

He ran into Elizabeta’s room as lightning lit up the room, and a large clap made the small child jump and scream again. He had forgotten, she wasn’t here. She was off seeing some friend. So, considering the circumstances, the small child ran next door to Roderich’s room…

Which was locked.

“Mr. Austria!” His little voice squeaked out. “Mr. Austria!”

BOOM.

“MISTER AUSTRIA!” He shrieked and began to cry harder. It wasn’t uncommon to hear the Italian cry often, but this was different. It was thunder! Surely Austria would understand!

“Go avay,” Came the muffled response.

Please!” Italy sobbed. “Please, Mr. Austria!”

No response.

Lightning flashed.

“Please, I’m-a scared!” Feliciano cried harder and pounded his little fits against the door. “Per favore!”

BOOM.

He screamed. This ended in louder wailing that not even Roderich, who had been living with the child for some now, had heard. Maybe it was because the Holy Roman Empire had left last week. Maybe it was because Austria had thrown Italy out of a window for asking to sleep with him multiple times (in his defense, Austria had never been asked by a child to do such a thing and of course assumed the dirtier version of that question).

Either way, he knew that Hungary took care of and sheltered the Italian during times like this, although she was certainly not here now. So, Roderich lazily got up and unlocked the door. “You had better have a good exc—hey.”

Feliciano had hugged his knees, crying and sobbing harder than usually seen.

“Stop zhat,” Austria yawned. “It’s not very dignified,” He tried to take a step back and pull the child away, but Feli hung on with a vice-like grip. “Italy, stop zhis!” He sighed and tried again.

Feliciano let out a shriek and refused to let go.

“Italy…” He let out a sigh, now fully awake and annoyed. Elizabeta spoiled the child, and this was his proof. “I said stop zhat! You are fine. Let. Go. You should be in bed, it is late at night und past your bedtime!” He tried to pry the child off of him (his pants were now wet and he did absolutely not appreciate that), but nothing would work. This was ironic, Italy normally had little to no strength…maybe she was scared. (Remember, this was a time before Italy hit puberty and his voice deepened. Roderich thought that Feli was a girl, and it was bad enough that one woman in the house was stronger than he was…Which Elizabeta enjoyed to flaunt around with her frying pan.)

“Alright, fine. Vhy are you so scared, hm? Is it zhe storm?”

Shaking, Feliciano nodded. And then shook his head.

Roderich sighed again. “I don’t have time for zhis. Tell me vhat is wrong, or so help me—”

“Nightm-mare a-AND storm!” He squeaked out. “I’m-a scared!” He sobbed.

“Alright, alright. Let go of me, I von’t make you go back to your room,” He promised, he really did. The Austrian was tired and just wanted to go back to sleep.

But little Italy looked up at the man. And I mean, opened his wide, tear filled, beautifully brown eyes. “H-hold me?”

The eyes alone were enough to break his heart. The whimper in Feli’s voice was enough to make him feel guilty about being so cruel. “J-ja…Sure.” He picked up the small child, whose grip had loosened, and took a handkerchief from his pajama pocket. “Here. Blow,” He walked back to the bed as Feliciano blew his (her to him) nose, and set it on the nightstand. “Better?”

Feliciano sniffled once more. “Si…”

“Good. Here, you can have this side of zhe bed.” He set Feliciano down on the king-sized bed, on the one side with two pillows.

Austria sat on the other side, and draped the blankets around them both. He knew that he was being far too nice, but frankly: he was tired, he wanted to go back to sleep, he didn’t want to argue with the little Italian or break ‘her’ heart, and since the Holy Roman Empire had left Feli hadn’t been as happy as ‘she’ used to be.

And, well, Roderich had lived through some of Italy’s tantrums and melt-downs, but this was among the worst that he had seen. He figured that they needed to keep an eye on ‘her.’ He relaxed into the pillows (that were still warm mind you; nothing is better than coming back to bed on a cold night to warm sheets) and shut his eyes, momentarily forgetting that his glasses were on the nightstand and he hadn’t put them on.

And then: BOOM.

Feliciano shrieked. The bed was shaking, but thankfully not wet. Roderich felt it move again though, and then a pair of arms try and wrap themselves around his back connected to something nearly vibrating.

Italy was terrified and shaking.

“Vhy are you so afraid?!” He whisper-shouted, reaching behind him and shoving the child back. “Go back to your side of zhe bed, you are lucky zhat I even let you stay in here!”

“Big Brother!” Feli protested, sniffling again.

“Go,” He ordered, maybe a bit too harshly and loudly over this next clap of thunder.

This only made the small child scream and hide under the covers on “her” side of the bed, shaking like a leaf.

“Und for Gott’s sake, stop zhat shaking!”

“Sorry,” Italy whispered miserably. He crawled all the way to the end of the bed under these sheets and curled up there, still shaking and whimpering.

Crap. Roderich rolled over and saw the shivering, sniffling, miserable, and terrified little lump. Guilt clawed at his mind as he sat up, and Roderich was reminded of his own childhood at this pathetic display. He used to be terrified of storms too, being left out in the rain in the woods all alone. Nobody had ever been there for him during those times, when he had no home or shelter to go to. Those were the days before even Switzerland was an ally offering help, when the human representatives of countries were considered evil beings of forbidden magic and lore by their own citizens. The kids that were alive in those darker times had been chased into the woods (or worse) during those times. He and Britain, among many others, had exchanged more than a few stories about the many deaths and tortures they suffered through.

 “Italy?” Roderich rubbed his eyes.

A sob escaped as the thunder rumbled, and the ball shook even harder still.

“Hey,” He had been too harsh, and reprimanded himself. Feliciano was sensitive right now, even more so than usual. Roderich should have kept the fact that he was young once too, and didn’t even have a home to stay in during these storms, in mind. The Austrian sat up from the covers, and crawled to the lump. He pulled back that corner of blanket to reveal his terrified underling. “Hey, Feli,” His voice was softer now. “…Zhe thunder isn’t going to get you.”

With another large sniff, Feliciano wiped his eyes and shook his head. “Yes it is!” He sobbed.  

“Nein, it really isn’t,” He chuckled and picked up the child. “Let me tell you somezhing zhat nobody told me vhen I needed to hear it most: zhese storms von’t get you.” Roderich used a thumb to wipe Feli’s eyes clean, and held him close to his chest. “It is only a loud noise.”

He crawled back to his spot, and adjusted the blankets over both of them. Feliciano wouldn’t let go of his night shirt. “D-don’t-a let go!” ‘She’ whimpered, and opened her eyes to reveal the complete innocence and fear in them.

“…Ve can share zhe same side of zhe bed, fine,” He nodded. “But only zhis once, do you understand?”

The Italian nodded, and smiled now. “Grazie, M-Mr. Austria!”  ‘She’ leaned up to kiss his cheek.

Roderich’s face went a bright red in the darkness. “Er…You are very velcome, little lady. Now go to sleep, you’re already in my bed and arms. For zhis you’re helping me vith dishes tomorrow, nightmare or not.” He tried to stay stern as the little Italian snuggled into his chest and melted his icy heart, but the mean façade the aged teenager put on was quickly fading away.

“Si,” Feli cooed as he nuzzled under the sheets, and not even Roderich could resist that face in the darkness that was halfway buried under the sheets. Feliciano’s eyes were half shut now in sleepiness, still a bit red and puffy from crying, but otherwise they were filled with relief and absolute adoration while looking up at the Austrian. It was like a puppy.

Austria didn’t remember the last time anyone had ever given him those puppy eyes, but he knew that being kind tonight had made an impact on his young charge . . . He had to change the subject now before Italy realized the effects of his cuteness. “Goodnight. Zhis once.”

“Just don’t-a leave me like before…”

“Before?” He questioned.

“In my-a nightmare.”

Oh yeah. Italy had a nightmare too. Roderich mentally cursed himself yet again. “So…Vhat vas your nightmare about?”

Italy shut his eyes, looking troubled again. “…I was-a all alone in the house. Just-a like we are now. Miss Hungary is gone, and the Holy R-Rom…Roman Empire went off to fight in his war…And-a you had left me alone finally, and there were-a…bad things…in the house with me. And-a they were getting me!” Feli began to sniffle and cry again.

Roderich sighed. Just when the kid was happy again. “Stop crying, you’re avake now…” And then he realized, “Vait, zhey vere getting you? Most monsters are going to get you in dreams, but zhey never do. It’s part of zhe nightmare und fear.”

“These ones did,” Feli sniffed. “They-a got me and…and…WAAAAAAH!”

This made the Austrian jump, and squeeze Feli tighter. “…You’re avake now, Italy. Und I’m not leaving zhe house vithout you, you might burn it down alone…” He chuckled.

 The small child huddled up under his neck, calming down slightly with this rare attention and coddling that he loved (and would beg for from everyone as an adult). Thankfully that had been the only wail the child let out, Roderich’s insult had been the nicest one he had ever given Feliciano and it made him feel a bit better.

“See?” Roderich yawned and patted the ‘girl’s’ back. “Calm down. Go to sleep, ve have dishes und chores to do tomorrow.”

“Mm…” Feli sniffled and wiped his eyes. “Okay, Big Brother.”

“…Vhat do you say?”

“Graz—er, danke!”

Roderich smiled and patted his back. “Good girl.”

Feliciano didn’t bother to fix his mistake.

~~~

Another burst of thunder.

Lovino shrieked and cowered beneath his sheets.

He wouldn’t get up. He wouldn’t show stupid Spain that he was a coward. They had beat them up, all of those countries, ripped North and South away from their families and killed their loved ones. Lovino had been crying when Austria gave him away to Spain because it meant he would be far away from his little brother, and that idiota couldn’t protect himself! And Spain the country only cared about his Grandfather’s wealth and fortune, while Antonio the person only cared about having an underling, just like they all did.

Nobody cared about him. At least if he was with Feliciano his brother would give him a hug or say something sweet. But no. Lovino had been taken away. He had been taken away from Rome too, and sent under Mother Greece’s rule where he was treated kindly. But at least he was somewhat innocent back then. He got to know Mother Greece’s son and lands, as well as Rome’s empire that he built, along with seeing Feliciano from time to time.

Another bolt of lightning.

Another loud BOOM that made the boy jump out of his bed and run through the hallways to the bathroom, bless his tiny heart.

He cleaned his hands when done of course, and saw another flash outside in the windows of the long hallway. His vision blurred by tears, Lovino let out a loud wail as he ran back into his room and heard not a boom, but a giant CLAP that made him jump right back into that bed. He buried his face into the pillow and cried.

He had seen what being struck by lightning did to a person and that alone was horrifying, but it was the thunder that truly scared him. The loud sound that he didn’t understand. The Italian sniffed and sobbed, wanting to be held but at the same time not wanting anybody to see him like this. He was South Italy dammit, and he had been here for a few months now. He had handled thunder in the past all by himself, and—

“Romano?”

Ah, fuck.

“Are you alright?”

Romano sniffled and swore. “F-fine! Go awa-away!”

BOOM.

Lovino practically flew into Antonio’s legs with a loud wail, screwing dignity.

“Hey,” Spain’s voice softened for the boy, and he leaned down to pick him up. “It’s the thunder, huh? Why haven’t you said something  before?”

Romano sniffled and looked up at him with the most pitiful eyes…All teasing remarks froze on Antonio’s tongue with that look. He had never seen him look so vulnerable.

“Let’s go back to my room, eh?” He rubbed Lovino’s back and turned around to begin walking back. “And tomorrow morning I will let you pick and eat as many tomatoes as you want, how does that sound?”

The child sniffled and squeezed his shirt when another loud BOOM came, but otherwise nodded.

Bueno!” Antonio smiled and opened his chamber door. “Good! You know, the thunder won’t hurt you. And we are inside, so neither will the lightning!” He tried as he set Lovi down on the bed (this was nearly impossible, as he was firmly grasping the man’s shirt) and lay down himself.

“Don’ care…” He muttered sheepishly. Romano snuggled into the crook of his caretaker’s arm, attached to his side. He sniffed one last time, “I-if you tell anyone about-a this then I will-a kill you!”

“Of course! This is just between us men,” He patted the other’s back and blew out the candle that served as reading light. And then Antonio rolled over so he could properly snuggle the boy (really, he looked more like a toddler). “So long as I’m around, I won’t let anyone or thing hurt you! That is a promise!”

Lovino sniffled one last time, but otherwise nuzzled into his chest. Shit. The stupid Spaniard was starting to grow on him. “Why are you-a doing this?” He hiccupped.

Que?”

“Do you want-a money for taking care of me or-a something?!”

Que?! I am doing this because you were crying and scared!” Spain chuckled. “I am not one to leave an underling in such a state! And before you tell me otherwise, I could have left you alone. But I didn’t because I love you!” He ran his hand through Lovi’s hair, being sure to avoid the curl.

…Romano sniffled one last time and finally relaxed in his caretaker’s hold.

The next morning Antonio was greeted by a head-butt anyway, but at least Lovino was willing to let the Spaniard hold him until both were ready for breakfast...Well actually, it went more like this:

Lovino head-butted Antonio.

Lovino stayed in Antonio’s lap.

“Jeez, you’re hard-headed…”

“Fucking hold me, bastardo.”

“…OKAY YAY!” Antonio cheered, and did indeed hold the toddler.

“Tell anyone and-a you die.”

“I PROMISE!” The Spaniard practically squealed.

“I-a mean it, Tomato Bastard!”

“SO DO I!” The Spaniard squealed.

~~~

“Big Bwuthas!” Seborga cried. “Big Bwuthas!

Romano was unpleasantly awakened by his youngest brother jumping into bed with him, and then he realized that, fuck him, it was thundering out. And Feliciano was still sound asleep, that bastardo had snuck into Romano’s bed again. He knew he had smelled garlic in his dream!

Waaah!” The boy cried into Lovino’s chest.

“I swear, you didn’t inherit this stupido fear from me! The-a thunder isn’t going to get you! . . . Now let’s snuggle Feliciano.” The southern Italian, now that he realized that it was thundering out, clung onto his younger brothers like a lifeline.

“Veh…Mm, Lovino? What-a are you doing?” Feliciano yawned.

Seborga was just sniffling now, his big brothers would protect him! “Th-thunder!”

“Oh,” The northern Italian nodded, and cuddled into his brothers. He had outgrown that fear a few centuries ago. “Aw, does little Sebby need to-a be he—”

Lovino had (never) outgrown his own fear and just snapped, “Shut up and-a hold us!”

“Don’t-a hurt me over some thunder, Romano!” Italy sniffed, and rolled over to hold both of his brothers. “Sebby, you have-a nothing to fear! The storm won’t hurt you, and you have your big brothers to help protect you!”

“Gwazie, Feli and Lovi!”

“Don’t call me that,” Romano grumbled.

“Sahwy…” The child nuzzled into Feliciano’s chest as the oldest held him, and drifted back to sleep.

“Night night, Romano~!”

“Night, idiota…” But the South had relaxed himself, and slowly began to drift back to sleep. Feliciano had the incredible capability of falling asleep in two seconds flat, and Romano was positive that wasn’t a normal thing.

Still, he was thankful that they were finally together to protect each other from the storms.

Soooo this sucks and I know. I just wanted some fluff in my life and decided to share it with the world. Plus, there aren't enough stories out there that include Seborga as an Italian brother, which he is. So I decided to add him in! :D In this both Italy brothers are obviously raising him together, although if I knew my history a bit better then that may not be the case.

But, imagine this as a one-night thing. Besides, while it's storming out Seborga has his big brothers and the fact that he isn't in a dress to make him feel better! :D

Hetalia belongs to: :iconhimaruyaplz:
© 2016 - 2024 Sideshow-Cellophane
Comments31
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
alyjaana's avatar
its sho cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute x333333333