Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Hetalia.
PART 1: Children of China
Chapter 1: Macau's birth
When Portugal first arrived with his ships in 1513 headed by Jorge Álvares, he could not stop the flutter in his stomach upon laying eyes on the most beautiful creature he'd ever witnessed in his life. That long wispy black hair and those golden orbs bore into his with a coyness that he did not know a woman to have before.
He decided then that he would court this lady and conquer her heart.
Portugal was an adventurer, and on this day he could finally boost the title of first European explorer to have arrived in the mystic country that China. Surely this achievement was a quality to be admired? Surely it was something he could use to win the lady in front of him over?
Portugal strode confidently across the dock towards the lady and took off his hat. "Olá," he said in greeting, but he was met with a curious lift of a brow.
Portugal belatedly realized that the lady would not understand Portuguese.
He silently cursed himself, and started over with a stuttering, "N-nǐ hǎo..?"
He berated his own laziness. Why hadn't he studied more Chinese?
The woman in front of him suddenly chuckled; and after a few more moments, the chuckles grew into a loud laughter. Portugal had the distinct impression that he was being made fun of, but the bell-like quality of the sound was so enchanting that he could not become upset at being given the role of a fool.
"Wèi shén me nǐ xiào a?" he asked her with heavily accented Chinese. Why are you laughing?
The woman's laughter petered off until only a smirk remained on her doll-like face. "What's there not to laugh about, aru?" she asked, using the Common Language of Countries; only the 'aru' ending her sentence gave away her Chinese accent.
"Y-you're a country?" Portugal stuttered.
"I am," the woman confirmed.
"B-but," said Portugal, "I thought this was China?"
"It is," the woman said, "I am he."
The woman, as it turned out, was actually male; and he was the country China himself.
xxx
It mattered little to Portugal that China was a man, he was still love-struck and he decided to court him. He brought China many goods from the sea, but he was only met with indifference. And yet, unable to let go, he continued in his pursuit. It was in 1557 when he finally had success.
"China?" he said as he knocked onto the other country's front door.
China opened the door to peek outside. "You again, aru?" he said, in a bored tone. "I'm already letting your traders anchor their ships at my harbor, why are you bothering me, aru?"
"I, uh..." Portugal blushed, but then took out the necklace which was made by intricately stringing together silver taels. When he held it up for China's inspection, the necklace took on the shape of a silver heart. "I love you, China! You've stolen my heart! Please accept this gift and allow me to stay beside you."
"Hnn, finally we are honest, aru?" China replied with a smirk. "I was wondering when you would confess your feelings, instead of boosting about your achievements."
He took Portugal's arm, pulled, and to Portugal's surprise soft lips suddenly pressed against his. When China pulled away from the kiss and met him with a coy smile, Portugal knew his face was flushing red. He did not protest when China pulled him to the house and slammed the door behind them.
xxx
In that year, China allowed Portugal to build a house in his country, where he oft came to visit and where they had their rendezvous. It was not long when a new baby came to the world.
"How will we call the boy?" Portugal asked his lover.
China smiled, and it was that coy smile, with which Portugal first fell in love. "Macau," was his answer.
Chapter note:
The necklace made of silver taels refers to the fact that Portugal paid an annual rent of 500 taels of silver for Macau, until he 'took the custody rights' in 1887.
And that's it! I'm likely going to do Hong Kong as well, so stay tuned for the next child!