We Are Zodiac (Hetalia Fanfic)

Chapter 17

A couple of days later~

Highway 2 had been left behind already. Now the seven traveled off-road, trekking through forests and dry land alike. Their compass said they were heading in a north-easterly direction, and the North America atlas said they should see the Washington state route 231 shortly. 

'The Spokane Indian Reservation is just north of here' Alfred thought to himself as he walked alongside Arthur. Yes, the Brit had elected to walk on his own power by then. The sides of his wound were holding up well despite a distinct lack of stitches. Thus, it was proven that a country could still heal relatively quickly, even in this world.

Thankfully, no one else had been seriously injured in the span of those last couple of days. Lithuania was thanking his lucky stars for that, because their medical supplies was running low. 

That night, he was checking up on Romano's arm and was glad to see that it wouldn't need a bandage any longer. "Zhis is looking good, Romano."

The Italian looked down at his earlier injury and sighed. "Buono. Grazie"

Lithuania couldn't help but frown a bit. "Mr. Romano, i-if you don't mind me asking.. Vhat is wrong?"

"Huh?" Romano asked, eyebrows rising up like he couldn't believe he was being asked this question.

"You've been very quiet, and it vorries me," Lithuania explained. "Is zhere somezhing bozhering you?" 

"... Damn it," Romano groaned, using his uninjured arm as a place to rest his forehead. "I just... What is-a there to say? I'm-a fuckin' angry... And-a don't you dare tell anyone else-a this." He glared at Lithuania, who looked startled for a second before replying.

"I-I von't! I promise," he swore. "I just vanted to make sure you vere okay. You haven't been talking much."

An inkling of a thought wormed its way into Romano's mind then. Lithuania already took care of Poland, who wasn't talking. If he was feeling afraid for Romano for the same reason...

"Look... You don't have-a to worry about-a me. I'm fine," Lovino assured the other brunette.

Toris smiled softly at him. "Ačiū."

"Che cosa?" Lovino answered. (What?)

"I said "Zhank you," Toris answered. "I von't try not to vorry about you, zhough."

"But--"

"I'm  zhe doctor of zhe group, Lovino," Toris cut him off suddenly, which was almost uncharacteristic of his timid nature. "It's my job to be at least a little vorried about everyvone."

"Oh..." Wryly, one corner of the Italian's lips turned up for a couple of seconds.

"Found some more firewood," America announced as he walked past the two of them. A bundle of dry sticks was in his arms, and he dropped them next to the small blaze Germany had going. "If it can really be considered firewood, that is." He laughed a little bit and sat down to watch the fire grow.

"If it feeds zhe flames, it is firewood," Germany stated, using his breath to make the fire rise more. He added a few of the new sticks to it and watched as the flame grew more substantial.

"I soooo want some Jiffy Pop right now," Alfred whined a bit as he ripped open an MRE and started to almost unwillingly devour its contents.

"Vhat is zhat?" Ludwig asked him.

"Oh, it's this, like, thing you hold over a campfire, and there are popcorn kernels inside and they pop over the fire and you eat it," Alfred explained in one run-on sentence. "The fire made me think of that."