Don't Go

Habsburg Rivalry

Spain was sitting on a hill, staring miserably into the distance, his knees drawn up to his chest as he sat alone. The sea was shimmering in the distance and he was glad that he managed to escape to a place so peacefully calm and quiet. He was not his usual cheerful self, with a smile on his face wherever he went, or able to greet others with his most delightful demeanour, but instead, he was distressed, and something dark drained the colour from his face.

Italy lumbered for a while up and down hills when he found him. "What's wrong, fratello?" Italy asked, staring at Spain from behind.

"Hola, mi hermano..." Spain replied, seeming to know that Italy was not a girl (which everyone mistook him for except from Hungary). His voice was flat and too quiet and serious for Italy's liking, and he was not used to seeing Spain like this at all. "Let me give you some advice... you should go do all of the things that you desire as soon as possible."

"Eh?" Italy asked, perplexed, his voice hinted with a slight sense of worry, as his little hands fumbled at the ends of his over-long white sleeve. "Why do you say that?"

Spain turned around to look at him. It nearly terrified Italy at how sorrowful he looked. "Austria and France... I am not sure what will happen, but I do not want them to be fighting because of me."

"I get it now..." Italy answered, frowning, eyes becoming a little watery. "Who do you think will win?"

"I formed a union with France... but Austria gave me an offer for an underling..." Spain put his head into his hands, closing his eyes in distress. "They're always fighting - I can hear their swords clashing and their voices shouting..."

"Is that why you came here?" Italy asked and Spain nodded a little, his brown hair falling over his darkening eyes.

Spain stood up, brushing dirt off his blue trousers before sitting back down again, pulling down the sleeves of his yellow shirt so that his hands were hidden underneath them. "Don't worry," he told Italy quietly. "You'll find out soon enough..."

***

"Big brother!!!" Italy cried out, as Austria dragged Romano away, sending him to Spain's house. "Noooooo!!!" Italy cried, his tears falling down as he stared at his brother, who was reluctantly being carried by Austria with a grumpy expression on his face.

However, Austria ignored him, closing the door as he threw Romano inside. He began to talk to Spain, who came out, cheerful as usual again, as Italy sobbed harder, falling onto the ground, hopelessly.

Holy Rome watched him too, unaware that France was standing right behind him in a flashy blue outfit and ostentatious red pants. France seemed irritated, yet bitter that Spain had chosen Austria and decided that he and France should remain separate, despite being friends. "Hey, you know what, Holy Rome?" France said, pointing at Italy as Holy Rome turned to face him, slightly startled that France was behind him. "There are other people around you to chase besides Italy."

Holy Rome looked away from him, staring at the ground, pensive. Italy looked at them, hearing his name mentioned and tottered over to them, standing next to Holy Rome who blushed. "What's going on, big brother France?" Italy asked innocently.

France laughed. "Since Spain refused to marry me, why don't you come over to my place?"

Holy Rome stared up at him, eyes widening. "I won't allow it!" He looked at Italy nervously. "Didn't your grandpa forbid you from joining France?" Italy nodded and Holy Rome looked away and spoke quietly, in order for France not to hear him. "Why don't you come to mine?" He offered.

Italy looked tearful and Holy Rome was worried that he was going to burst out crying. "But grandpa told me I'm not supposed to go to yours either!"

Holy Rome looked at France who was smirking, then backed away from Italy. France pulled out a long sabre, and held it in front of him, stopping Holy Rome from reaching Italy who was watching them intently. Holy Rome stared with wide blue eyes, pulling out a sword as well, in order to defend himself.

France laughed and declared; "I want Italy!"

Spain stopped talking to Austria, having noticed the tension between them, and made his way to Italy carrying a bowl of churros. "Do you want some churros?" Spain asked Italy kindly, to distract him from France and Holy Rome, who were sword-fighting next to them.

"Si!" Italy smiled, his mood immediately switching from scared to happy, as he held out his hand as Spain offered him churros.

Not only had Italy forgotten that France and Holy Rome were fighting, but he had seemed to forget that Austria had traded his brother away to Spain.

As Holy Rome's sword hit France's, he noticed what was happening with Spain, and that food seemed to cheer Italy up. He still felt bad about what had happened when they had first encountered, but now that Holy Rome knew how to make Italy happy, it was much easier for him to make his way over.

Ever since they had met, Holy Rome had been trying to find a way to approach Italy, but he never seemed to be able to, as Italy looked so fragile and he wondered how Austria or Hungary found it easy. Now, it was easier for him, and he didn't have to hide behind trees while France mocked him for it, but he could give Italy food, and in that way, talk to him.

It had been his goal from the start to create an empire - the Holy Roman Empire - that was what he wanted. However, he needed more people to join him, and Italy was one of the countries he wanted the most in his empire. Everyone knew that Italy was weak and not warrior material, but that did not matter to Holy Rome, and he felt that the others were being too harsh on Italy, only to use him.

Holy Rome liked Italy, and from all the times he spent watching him, he had always wanted Italy to be happy, to be treated better. He was sure that he could give Italy just that, and knew that France was the worst person for Italy to join.

His grandpa Rome forbade Italy from joining the others and Italy believed him as he was also afraid of what could happen. His grandpa had been an empire before, and he had told Italy the devastating consequences of being one, and told Italy that it was best not to.

Holy Rome wanted to give Italy everything, a paradise of a world, a happy place, where he could protect Italy from the cruel countries who bullied him, and become the strongest so no one would ever dare to cross him or Italy.