The instant I saw the Roman Empire and Germany episode I fell in love with it, so this is a fic for the pairing! Please read and review.
Who the hell are you, you suspicious bastard? Those words rang in the Roman Empire's mind. Even if the young boy that was allies with his little grandson Italy was seemingly a very violent and perhaps a bit of an unsecure man, it had been… well, to a man like Roman Empire, it was quite cute.
That man, that nation, reminded him so much of Germania. The only difference was the length of his hair. Otherwise, he had it all—the face, the hair color… and his eyes… his beautiful blue eyes…
The Roman Empire had all but fallen for Ludwig Beilschmidt. This he contemplated deeply as he peered into the room, watching his grandson Italy make a phone call to one of his friends declaring that he had woken up earlier than the German; but instead of cherishing Feliciano his eyes slowly moved to stare at Ludwig himself. He could not help feeling attracted to the boy—he was so young, so innocent… perhaps not as naïve as Feliciano himself, but quite in his own way. He couldn't contain his true feelings: he wanted Germany.
Of course, Roman Empire was a man of conquest. He had taken over many countries' vital regions before, and had become one with most of Europe at one point; he wasn't going to stand back and let someone like Ludwig escape his clutches. After all, when the Empire wanted something, he got it.
Usually God didn't let him visit his little grandson very often, but under the right circumstances and a little compromising, he could manage to convince the Lord to let him stay on Earth… forever, or at least until Germany fell. Then, without a single hesitation, Roman Empire would have followed him.
And so he was granted the gift of immortality—never before had a human, or a nation, been granted that, especially even after death—but only with one condition. Yes, he would be allowed to return to heaven when Germany fell, but until then he would be allowed to stay in the world of the living. If he were able to win Germany's love in one month's time.
One month. It didn't do any good, however, to remind the King of the Universe that usually it took him quite a while, no doubt much longer than a month, to conquer any given country, even the Italy back then, but that was the deal that was agreed on. He had one month to make it happen.
Roman Empire sighed as the decision was made. Then he turned to walk outside the palace in which the dead nations dwelled in life after death. He gazed up into the sky, towards the sun that still shone brightly in the sky after so many years. Would it still shine, he wondered, when he had gone from the Kingdom of God? He had been here for so many years and could hardly believe that he was leaving for real, not just for a visit to Feliciano. He sat there for a good many hours, knowing that he was allowed to depart from Heaven whenever he wished, staring at the afternoon sky, a large blanket of a light blue hue.
"You know that he is my son, Empire?" A deep voice spoke from behind him, and he sighed wearily, knowing that voice all too well. "Aegidius, you know that he is of my very blood and yet you pursue him."
Roman Empire still did not look back at the figure that moved to sit down beside him. "Germania, never did I understand why you call me 'Aegidius'. Never have I seen sense in it. Never."
"Well… We as countries, I suppose, are not to be named according to human belief; although the modern nations have gone beyond the old ways, they are much less restricted than the way we once were. 'Aegidius' is simply a name I use for you, a name meaning "shield", for you were my shield when I was in need. A simple act of affection, I should call it so; something of similarity to the way you dub me as 'Dieter'. But it has indeed been long since we have spoken… freund."
"I know what it means, Dieter! You say it has been long, yet you still use this name for me." Roman Empire turned to stare into the icy blue eyes of the man he had once loved with a fierce passion that still had not died completely deep within his heart. "I know that he is your son, Dieter, and that you will not allow me to take him—but I cannot stop myself now. I have fallen for him as I had for you. If I can help it, it will be the last time I am swayed. I intend to remain faithful to him afterwards."
Upon seeing Germania's distressed and hurt expression at his harsh yet well-meant words, Roman Empire quickly added, "I could not allow myself to be with you, Dieter, and you know it well."
It only seemed to bring further regret for the German, and the Empire explained carefully, not wanting to hurt Germania, "I could not stay with you, Dieter, for you know that we never were meant to be more than allies. It was only a relationship gone much too far, and I had to cease it. Make it disappear…"
"You speak of our love as if it had never existed." Germania's lower lip trembled, a disturbing sight for Roman Empire to behold. Never had he seen the German so emotionally affected. "And I see that that is the way that it must be. I beg forgiveness for starting something that never had a place between us."
"Forgiveness is given." The Empire turned back to look up at the sky. "I hope we can remain friends."
"Indeed that is what we are. It was only our fate to be so." Germania smiled dimly, then reached out to brush a strand of dark hair from the brunette's face tenderly. "And I fully support your future with my son."
At this Roman Empire turned, slightly troubled, to face Germania. "You would… this surely is not a joke?"
"Surely it is not. I loved you, Aegidius, but I know now that you love the boy as much as you did me. I cannot make you love me again, nor can I stop you from feeling for Ludwig. So all I can do is to show my love for you in my support. Danke, mein liebling, for all you have given me. Now I want as well for my son to receive what I once had. Auf Wierdersehen, love. Remember me upon your descending to the earth."
Roman Empire swallowed, feeling the devotion in the German's words. He uttered a quick goodbye in his own language, knowing it was time to depart from his home which he had had for centuries, reaching out to embrace the blonde with sincerity and thankfulness. Dieter's face melted into a smile as he touched his lover's face, and before his eyes Aegidius vanished from his arms.
"I will always love you, Aegidius. I hope to you once again. But from now on, I can only watch over you. And that I will swear to do for eternity."
"Italy, what the hell are you doing?" Germany slapped a hand onto his forehead, frustration overcoming his friendliness towards the older Italian. "I thought I told you not to slack off—you're supposed to finish running your laps! Didn't I make that clear yesterday?"
"I didn't hear you then, Germany…" Feliciano cowered in fear, and with some afterthought added, "… and also I didn't get to eat my pasta this morning either…!"
"Verdammt, what on earth does that have to do with you doing your laps properly?"
"Well, you see Doitsu, I can't do anything right if I haven't eaten my pasta and I need to take a break…"
At the end of the demanding day, Ludwig lay back in bed, exhausted. The whole morning Italy had ended up ranting on and on about pasta, and he'd found himself not having a single shred of paperwork done, and England had called furiously, demanding why he hadn't yet read the thick-browed nation's letter about the increase of importing of beer to his country. And Italy… well, he had again managed to get out of doing his laps.
"I'll never be able to get to sleep tonight… why the hell do I always give in to him?"
Although he was kept awake for hours worrying about what Arthur would resort to if he did not complete his request soon, eventually Ludwig managed to fall asleep, convincing himself that at least Italy was going back to his brother's house for a month to discuss things, for example, how they were going to stand up to Arthur's future invasions; the stubborn blonde continued to insist on attacking them endlessly. Ludwig considered the reason in this—upon defeating the Italian brothers he would gain much land and wealth without putting up much of a fight, and few would refuse the opportunity.
The next morning he tried to get up drowsily, the load of paperwork on his desk still quite vivid in his head, when suddenly he realized that a pair of strong arms was wrapped tightly around him.
"W—Was zur Hölle…! (What the hell) Italy… aren't you supposed to be at Romano's—" he cried before realizing that those powerful arms couldn't belong to Italy, who couldn't even hold on to a kitten like in this manner for more than a moment or two, if he was lucky enough. He struggled to squirm out of the other man's grasp before rendering it pointless to do so. "BRUDER! Is this your idea of a stupid joke? Stumbling in here in the middle of the night and clinging onto me like—"
"Nice videre te, Ludwig." A vaguely familiar voice said in his ear. (Nice to see you)
"WHAT THE—you're not Gilbert!" Ludwig sat up, snatching his handgun from under his pillow and hastily aiming it at his opponent's chest, but when he came face-to-face with the latter, he froze.
"Salve!" greeted the Empire, waving at Germany. "Remember me?"
And all the shocked Germany could say was, "Verdammt"
I love Roman Empire and Germany's pairing. I just do. O.O I dunno why. Anyhow, please review!