Forget About the Sunshine
Spain lost his place in the new world, even his title as the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets. Romano taught him how to forget the sunshine when it's gone.
Short multichapter songfic for the song "Sunshine" by The All American Rejects
First time actually writing something that isn't AU
Please bear with me ...
.::.
I
Romano was packing his clothes. He had delayed preparing for his departure for weeks and weeks since he first told Spain that he is leaving. But with his brother fetching him the very next morning, he now has no excuse to postpone this any further.
While skimming through his clothing articles, he found a red ribbon. He remembered it as the one that Spain used to tie his hair when he still sported long hair in his Armada days.
He remembered him taking it off when he finally returned home ragged after losing everything to England. From his precious Armada to the title of the Empire on Which the Sun Never Sets.
.::.
It's a new day, it's a bright day even when you stand in the dark. It's just that you've been broken in fifty pieces.
.::.
It has been three months since Spain had happily bid Romano goodbye, promising to kick some English asses for a while. The little Italian just grumbled a half-assed farewell and headbutted Spain in the stomach like he usually do. He gave no hint to the oblivious bastard how he actually didn't want him to go.
Every afternoon after that, Romano would be found sitting on his favorite spot on that tall wall, looking far away. At first it was just short glimpses whenever the Italian was free from chores but right after Belgium has told him the news of their boss's defeat, the little boy lingered on the spot much longer, and his face would always scrunch up in anticipation whenever a shadow of someone was seen approaching the Spaniard's mansion.
On that very spot, Romano had watched many many sunsets. He learned too well how the sun won't always be around. And as the darkness engulfs the surroundings, no matter how he wished to have the sun back, it will not return just by Romano's bidding. No, not even by silently begging or secretly crying for leaving him behind. When Spain left, it was as if he took the sun with him as well.
But when he returned, it was dark. No sun was with him. He might have left it in England.
It was one midnight.
Romano was awakened by the door crashing. At first, he was so afraid that some evil bastard might be attacking the house while Spain wasn't around, but when he heard the gasps and not so soft voices of the servants fussing over the guest, he raced downstairs as well.
There stood Spain. Wounded, bloody, feeble.
Unsmiling.
His vibrant green eyes were vibrant no more. Instead, they were hollow and far away. Romano couldn't even bring himself to look at them... So he just stood and watched from a distance as the maids tried to clean Spain and his wounds.
When they finished, they left the Spaniard to sleep. Romano sneaked in to his bed, hoping to savor his boss's return while the latter was still unconscious. His hand found the red ribbon on his boss's bedside, now useless as his hair has been cut for being too bloody. The Italian decided to keep it.
"Hey bastard..." Romano whispered. "Welcome back."
But it was an unheard greeting. The next day, the Spaniard woke up to a sleeping Romano beside him. Most of his wounds aren't healed yet, but he can move already. He took out a hand to caress the Italian's cheek. So Romano saw his pitiful state... He probably also heard about his defeat. What does he think of Spain now?
The Italian woke up at the Spaniard's touch.
"S-Spain!" he gasped. "I... W-Welco-"
But the elder brunette held his hand to stop Romano from finishing his sentence.
"Please leave me alone."
.::.
What the... Fuck?
Romano kicked the stone blocking his way with all the frustration he had, but it only flew a few meters. Stupid Spain. That bastard! Didn't he... Didn't he know how Romano missed him? How he regret not saying a proper goodbye before? Or is he angry because of that?
Why?
Why?
Why did he ask Romano to leave?
The young Italian stopped trying to fight the tears for a long time already. He couldn't... He couldn't even be worth enough of his boss's attention now...
.::.
From behind the thick curtains adorning his bedroom window, Spain sadly watched as his lackey run to the tomato fields. Being in a state that he is at the moment, he doesn't think he even deserves to be seen by Romano. In his pitiful state, how could Romano even believe that he can protect him?
It was one thing that England has humiliated him and now the world is laughing behind his pathetic back... But for also Romano to despise him... It was very disheartening. Like how the little Italian avoided his gaze last night. Spain couldn't... Spain couldn't stand it. At least not Romano. But it was probably a lost cause now.
.::.
His colonies left Spain one by one.
"I'm really sorry Spain," Belgium said as she walks out the door. Her brother managed to take her away.
Spain has totally lost its place in the new world.
"Heh. Don't think too much about it. It's not like I actually need you," the Spaniard said harshly at the Belgian's retreating back. She flinched, but said no more. As the Netherlands take her, he did spare a cold glare at their former boss.
When the siblings finally disappeared from sight, that's when Spain broke down. He was just acting tough, for the very last time, he doesn't want to look as pathetic as he actually was. But that facade does not change the fact that he has become nothing but a weak and poor country.
Romano saw everything.
"Spain..." he breathed.
The elder brunette went rigid when he realized the Italian's presence. Great. Just great. He tried so hard to look strong but he was still caught at his weakest.
"It's alright, Spain!" the Italian tried his best to assure the man, despite being so afraid himself. He delicately approached the man, careful so that he wouldn't run away and finally sealed him inside his small embrace. Inspite himself, Spain let himself melt inside Romano's warmth. It was funny, how he was now the one being comforted by the very person he promised to protect.
Is this how low he has become?
"Why... Romano, I'm already a weak country. I no longer deserve any of this..." he sobbed. "I'm no longer the empire on which the sun never sets."
"I-Idiot. There was never an empire on which the sun never sets," the Italian murmured, remembering all the sunsets he had watched while Spain was gone. "But still, no matter how many times the sun has gone down, it will always shine it's brightest in the morning. The next day will always promise a brighter tomorrow." So please, Spain... Come back. Come back and be the sun that you've always been to us... To me.
"Even when you are in the dark... The day will always be bright."
At that moment, nothing else matter for Spain. He just wanted to stay that close forever.
As the room grow steadily darker, his house becoming emptier, all Spain and Romano could do was be with each other and fulfill the holes left by the others behind.
.::.
The day is gone and I'm the only light that you see. You need someone. I know all you needed was me.
TBC