Hetachains (Rewritten Hetalia Reader Insert)

Chapter Twenty*

Chapter Twenty

Not All Plans Are Good

"You asshole! I can't believe you left me here with all these other fucktards for so long!"

It took three nations, half an hour, and threats of burning all the pizza to get Lovino off of Antonio. Alfred scooped his arms under the Italian's armpits and lifted, dragging him unwillingly into the house.

"Come on, Lovino! Let's get you away from Toni before you bite him too." He said, laughing happily as Lovino cussed him out. Lovino wriggled and yelled, promising to shave Antonio's head bald in his sleep, but couldn't escape from Alfred's hold. The door closed behind them with a slam, leaving me standing with the Earth Squad: Carla, Mike, Vladimir, Tino, and Matthew.

From above, the moon shined down like a spotlight. Covering the area in a white light which circled our group. I felt exposed as grass peaked between my toes and Antonio smiled up at me from the ground. The light washed out his skin, dampening the natural tan which I'd gotten used to seeing after two years. His hat tilted sideways, barely hanging onto his hair after the attack from Lovino. He looked so normal. Like he was just a college student who I happened to sit with during lunch.

But he's not. He's a personification too.

I knew that. It was the next step but still...I didn't want to acknowledge it. But I can't stay ignorant any longer. I can only react. I'd been down the roads of anger, sadness, and anxiety already. Maybe I'd try acceptance for a change.

"Let me guess," I began, walking towards Antonio and holding a hand out, "You're not Hispanic. You're literally Spain." I said with emphasis on the 'literally' because we all need a little Chris Traeger optimism every now and again. Antonio's smile turned sheepish as he grabbed my hand.

"This isn't how I imagined telling you, but I'd be lying if I said it isn't a relief for it to be out there." He said. I pursed my lips, unsure of what to say next. Being okay with things wasn't really my thing. I'm so used to letting the bad take over that I have to fight against it to see the light. I laughed at my own lack of emotional control.

"God, I hate you all so much." I said, words contradicting the smile on my face. I lifted a hand and slapped Antonio on the shoulder. The blow was weak by most standards, but Antonio still gasped and held his shoulder with a dramatic expression on his face.

"You wound me, ____. Emotionally and physically." He said, turning away from me, "I'll just go back to Lovi. At least he loves me." Vlad snorted, nudging Matthew to get his attention.

"I don't think the words Love, Lovino, and Antonio should ever be in the same sentence." Vladimir said, pulling laughter out of both Tino and Matthew. Through his act, Antonio let out a small laugh as well. He relaxed his shoulders and turned back to me.

"Well, ____, do you think you could forgive the secret-keeping?" He asked me. Carla cleared her throat, gesturing to herself with a flare of the wrist. Antonio held out a hand to Carla, "And Carla, of course. Would both of you forgive me?"

Carla thought loudly, answering after a few seconds of thought, "I don't have a big problem with it. Just glad to be included in this whole 'woah! Nations!' thing." She said. At least she's aware of her needs.

"That's good." Antonio bit his cheek as he looked at me, "____? What about you?" The guilt fell from his voice like an overflowing basin, polling at our feet and mixing with the moonlight.

Did I forgive him? I hadn't ever thought that would be a question I'd answer. Did I even forgive Matthew, Tino, and Vladimir?

Sure, I acknowledged that they are other dimensional beings but I don't think I had ever forgiven them for keeping that from me for so long. They deserve forgiveness. God, they deserve forgiveness for all the patience they'd given me during this whole time. But I wasn't sure there was any forgiveness inside of me to give.