Knotted Flags 18

Beeps all around him. All rhythmic, along with a sharp hissing noise every moment or two. A voice, far away and fuzzy, spoke. Wasn't anyone he recognized. " I think he's coming around. " Sudden warmth on his hand, and it was pressed to something equally warm. And wet. " Doitsu? Doitsu? " Italy... he knew that beautiful voice anywhere. His sense of taste was the first to slowly come back to him. A metallic taste... blood. His mind played back the sight of his mouth hacking up blood onto the smaller country and his chest ached. He tried to cough again from this ache, but this only brought a flash of pain through his rib cage. Italy grabbed his hand tight as Germany let out a whimper. " Don't move, doitsu. He broke all your ribs and some vertebra... but the doctor said you're gonna live. " And his lips pressed on his palm before he started to cry again.

Blue eyes fluttered open and tried to focus. It went from blurry lights, a shadow of someone hovering over him. Then to fuzzy, more shapes and colors. A white lab coat, the doctor no doubt. The scent of dried blood and oxygen danced into his nasal cavity. And then clear vision was gifted to the German. He looked down so his first sight was Feliciano sobbing into his hand. His hair was wild like he hadn't taken care of it, and his clothes were wrinkled. How long had he been out? His thumb twitched, then slowly rubbed up and down his temple. He tried to speak, but it came out a weird, hollow haaa noise. Italy's eyes rose to blue ones, and he squealed in delight. " DOITSU! "

The doctor spoke up, watching the monitors. " Your throat's going to be dry and sore, Ludwig. We removed the tube a couple hours ago and replaced it with an oxygen mask. " So that's what that nagging pressure was on his chin alongside the strange smell. A shaking hand rose and arranged it some until it was comfortable, then took it off his face to speak. Italy stood to get him some water from the bottle he had. " H-How long...? " Italy held the water bottle to Germany's lips, and with little spilling splashed water into that hot, dry mouth. Doitsu groaned softly, the cold liquid was so good. " You've been asleep for five days Doitsu. Japan went to the Allies conference and called off the attacks meant for our countries. They only knew about me being pregnant with Angel, nothing about Russia... " And he looked down.

Germany's hand rested on Italy's that held the bottle and gently pulled the plastic from his face. Enough water, but with a hard swallow he sighed in pleasure. So much better; the air didn't taste like blood anymore. " Where's he now? " Italy scooted closer so he could hear Doitsu better. " Still talking with the Allies. The treaty is being worked on. They called it the Angel Treaty. " Germany smiled and squeezed Feliciano's hand tightly. But then the machine to his left began to beep wildly, and he realized his lungs were screaming for oxygen. He quickly whipped the mask back over his mouth and inhaled sharply, violent waves of agony hitting him and yet the feeling of hitting air after jumping off the high dive also grabbing his heart.

Italy's hand gently rested on Doitsu's stomach, gently petting it until his seme got enough air. Once Germany's machines calmed down he spoke again. " The doctor said you'll take a long time healing. Your ribs may not be one hundred percent anymore, but close. Your lung was punctured in three spots each, but they managed to fix you. You're lucky that none of them got your heart. I was so scared I was going to lose another family member... " His little chin trembled softly and he rubbed on his eyes some to fight off tears. Doitsu winced, and he spoke. It was muffled under the mask. " I love you. I'll never, ever leave you. " And his hand went for Feli's again. Italy kissed the top of Doitsu's hand, which was laden with taped down needles. " I love you too Doitsu. "

Germany's eyes looked around the room some, and he took his mask off slightly again. Dark circles were under beautiful blues, his hair doing its best impression of Denmark's wild locks. He rasped. " Where's my pants? " Italy looked confused with the request, but he stood and went to the tacky pink and tan couch. He unzipped a duffel bag, and pulled forth his blood stained pants. " These, Doitsu? " Germany nuzzled the mask on his face as he nodded, and Italy skipped back to his bedside. A couple deep breaths, and he took the mask off. " In the right leg... look in the pocket on the thigh. " Mask on, and he closed his eyes for a moment. He just needed to listen right now.

Italy watched him close his eyes, and blinked. " A-Alright... " He dug into the pocket, and found a soft wad of white cloth. Germany spoke as he took the wad into his hand. " Open it over the bed... It might drop and break. " Italy held it over the sheets then, and unraveled it. As Doitsu predicted, there was a flash of silver that dropped onto the sheets with a ultra quiet thump. Feliciano looked down to a silver ring, with a big diamond on top surrounded by an array of smaller, colored cubic zirconium pieces. A choked noise came from his throat, and blues opened up to see a blushing Italy slowly picking up the jewelry. " Italia... I wanted to do this when... you were holding Angel and... on our way home. But... I don't think I'm going home... any time soon. " Breathing was starting to be a burden, so he spoke in chunks. Along with holding his eyes open, which proved to be growing more and more difficult.

" Doitsu, you don't mean it... Do you? " He slid the ring onto his right ring finger and held the ring in the light. Colored prisms came from the light it was held in, coloring the room around them. Italy was the one who ate the white pill, killed their baby... But Doitsu was smiling as wide as he could in his exhaustion. He could see the glitter back in Italy's eyes when he first realized he was carrying Angel. A glow... " Marry me, Feliciano? Please... We'll adopt. I'll... do anything to... have a family with you. " Italy actually sobbed softly to himself and nodded hard, tears replacing the now dry ones. But seeing that Germany's eyes were closed he muttered. " I will, Doitsu! I'm yours forever! "

And he leaped onto the bed to lay on top of Germany, giving him a great hug. Germany's voice tried to raise in a scream... but his heart didn't let him. Shaky arms wrapped around the nation, each lung and rib hammering on his pain-receiving nerves. But his heart pounded in joy, and this overrode every feeling inside. His voice was a whisper, nuzzling the mask into the top of his head. " I love you, Feliciano. " Italy whispered back, his face feeling the rough bandages below his hospital gown. " I love you too, Doitsu. " He felt Germany's arms slowly loosen around his body, and he moved to lay beside him instead of on top. Doitsu's hand rested on his hip before his face lost the smile to slumber.