001 - Introduction.
Characters: Romano, multiple others.
Warnings: Maybe some Spamano if you squint at the end. I intended it to platonic but you can take it how you want.
Meetings. No matter how insignificant they seem, each and every one of them holds importance. Whether it is a first-and-last time, the start of a long friendship, or an intense enmity, each meeting you have with another person has an impact on you. It may be how that person dresses, it may be how they talk. But even so, it makes an impression on you. Whether you hate the person or love them at first sight, it all stems from your first meeting.
And of course, when you meet someone, the first words that pass your lips will be the introduction. While the meeting is easily remembered, the way an introduction is said is forgotten by most. Few will often remember how they made fools out of themselves but those memories fade very easily.
But not Italy Romano. He would never forget the day he met his younger brother. Even though it took a very long time for their official meeting. He remembered every time they met and every single introduction that was voiced...
It was around the beginning of the fourteenth century that his Rome Nonna dumped him in the southern farmlands and rushed North to care for 'another young one'. Romano was still a young child who had complete faith in his big and strong Nonna. He believed that he would one day go all the way to Rome City and take his rightful place beside the mighty Roman Empire in caring for the country. How the little child dreamed of that day!
He blended in with the locals, picked up their way of talking and behaviour, always waiting. A century passed by. Then another. Slowly, but surely, a Kingdom, The Kingdom of Naples grew in the southern region of the land. And as the kingdom grew, Romano's faith in his grandfather lessened. One day, he felt his grandfather pass away and he threw the last of his faith away.
All the while, news of an unusual period known as 'La Rinascita' or The Renaissance came from the north. The tales people told of the beautiful art and style of the northerners irked Romano. The tales of the city of Venice in particular made him see red. No one knew why. In fact, he himself had no idea. All he knew was that he held a strong hatred for Venice.
In order to solve the strange riddle of his emotions he went on a solitary scouting mission to Venice. The ruler didn't notice his absence. After all, as child Romano would go outside for days, sometimes weeks, travelling all over the kingdom, studying its lands and people. He did this sequence as often as possible, a small hope in his heart that he would care for the whole of the country one day.
He travelled the longest journey he had ever undertaken in his life. From Naples to Venice, the whole distance by cart. Once he had crossed the border of the Kingdom, he felt a small lurch in his heart. In that instant, he knew that he was no longer in his territory. He peeped over the back of the cart and watched the boundary fade into the distance until it was no more. Huffing, he turned himself the right way around and settled in his seat. It was a long journey to Venice and he needed all the rest he could get if he was going to explore a foreign city.
Romano was rudely jolted awake by the cart driver who screamed at him for hitchhiking in the cart.
"Well fuck you you damn coin eating bastard!" He screamed back, made a rude gesture with his hands and jumped out without a care. Yes, Romano had a potty mouth way before Spain's arrival in his life. In fact, I'm pretty sure he swore more as a child than as an adult... No really! Compare his two Hatafutte Parades and you'll understand!
Che. Rome is far more amazing than this dumb place. He though angrily. Venice couldn't even compare to the city of his heart! All those story tellers must have been blind.
Romano wandered around the pathways of Venice in silence. The rich clothes of the people made him feel more like a beggar than a personification and he hugged his cloak even tighter over his body. He rounded a corner and found a strange scene in front of him.
"I'll give you as much as you want." A wealthy man held out a little bag to a small figure in front of him. Romano couldn't see the face of the child. After the child opened it up, a heavenly smell wafted over. Romano's stomach growled a bit and his mouth began to water. It was then that he realised that he hadn't eaten a bite of food. He cast a fearful glance in the direction of the people but thankfully, they didn't notice him.
The child munched on the sweets he got from the weird bastard. Yes, Romano just came up with that name on the spot. He bent down and spoke in a very I'm-gonna-butter-you-up tone.
"Now would you consider it?"
After a few more munches, the child spoke up again.
"No means no!"
Could he be...
"Alright!" Romano heard a voice cry out from the other side of the path. He and the two other people stared in it's direction. All he could see was a cloaked figure around his height run off.
"Hey! Stop!" The weird bastard yelled and scrambled after it. The child tried running after him.
"Ah wait- Oof!" He/She stumbled over, white robes all over the place. "Uwaa! It hurts!"
Romano shook his head and turned to leave. Then the smell of the sweets wafted over again. His stomach growled again, louder this time.
"Ve? Who's there?" The child looked in his direction. Romano cursed lightly under his breath and would have kept walking... If that amazing smell hadn't wafted over again. As if commanding him, his stomach growled again, making him turn around. Giving in to his hunger, he turned around and stomped over to the brat who was trying to get up.
"Get up dammit." He mumbled and stuck his hand out.
"Ah! Grazie!" The kid grabbed onto his hand and got up. He dusted his white robes. Romano couldn't take his eyes of his face. The kid's hair was a bit lighter than his and his eyes seemed to be glued shut but even so... There was the telltale curl on the side of his head.
"What's your name?" He chirped. "I'm Italy! Italy Veneziano! Want some sweets?"
This time, Romano couldn't believe his ears. On instinct, he reached out and pulled on the curl bobbing up and down on 'Italy's' head.
"Wha- what are you doing?" The lookalike's face turned a bright red and he began panting. Romano promptly released the curl. That reaction was enough proof for him. His brain processed everything very fast. Way too fast. He whirled around ran out of Venice. He jumped into the back of a cart heading to Naples and went straight home. Years later, he would always try to make up excuses as to why he ran off but he knew why.
He was afraid of what the existence of this other 'Italy' meant for him. Once he returned to Naples, he threw himself into his nation duties with great vigour, surprising everyone. He was determined to grow big and strong and become the true Italy.
At least there was peace... Until the invasions began.
Screams rang out through the city. Romano tried to flee but wherever he ran, the road was blocked off.
Screw this. He thought and scrambled up to the rooftops and sat down. "Now no damn bastard can catch- CHIGII!"
A hand gripped his shoulder and an accented voice purred in his ear. "Well, it seems I've got me a new toy." Creepy perverted laughter followed.
"Chigi! Get off!" Romano screamed and wriggled out of his captor's grip.
"Not so fast!" The hand grabbed onto his -forbidden- curl. Romano went limp at the feelings and images that flashed through his head and blacked out.
When he came to, he learnt that his assailant was none other than France and the only valuable he carried around, the gold coin his grandfather had once given him, was gone. The North was outraged by the 'Sack of Naples' as everyone was calling it. The Republic of Venice in particular was enraged and formed an alliance with other northern kingdoms to keep the French out. It looked like that other Italy had a spine. Romano wasn't sure how to respond to his actions.
Another first meeting he would never forget, this time with the so called country of love and fashion.
It was the 18th century. Yet another country stepped in to meddle with Italy's affairs. This time, the effects and frustrating associations were long lasting. Romano scowled up at the huge figure standing over him.
"Hola pequeño!" The tanned man flashed a bright grin at him.
"Shut up bastard!" Romano kicked him as hard as he could. The tall man laughed at his attempts to fight him.
"You're still a child. You can't stand up to me, the kingdom of passion yet! I can't believe that stingy old Austria decided to give you to me!"
"I wasn't given to anyone least of all to you bastard!" Romano yelled.
"Oh we're going to have so much fun together pequeño!" The weird guy began to slip into a cozy dreamland.
"Stop that!" Romano screamed.
"Stop what?" The man knelt down and looked at Romano straight in the eyes. Romano noticed that they were the most beautiful shade of green. He pinched himself to bring himself back to the current situation. The man continued looking at him with puzzlement. He even looked a bit... Crestfallen?
"Stop calling me weird things in your stupid language bastard!" Much to the little nation's bafflement, the guy threw his head and laughed heartily.
"Chigii! It's not funny dammit!" He blushed angrily and his scowl deepened. The man fell over and began rolling over the ground.
"I'm sorry!" The man finally said as he wiped a few tears away from his eyes. "I didn't realise that calling you a Little One would offend you so much."
"Then why the hell are you laughing?"
"It because I didn't know your name silly!" He gently poked Romano's forehead. Romano swatted his finger away. For a second, the grown man looked like a child who couldn't play outside because it was raining. Then his strange sad expression was replaced by his usual cheerful aura.
"Are you hungry?"
"No!" Romano said too hastily but his stomach had other ideas. The man's eyes sparkled when he heard the loud growl.
"Here. Eat this." He held out a shiny red fruit to the young nation. The latter carefully took it in his hands, as if it would explode. He held himself from biting into it as long as he could. Finally, unable to restrain himself, he took a tentative bite.
It was love at first taste. Romano hungrily devoured the rest of the fruit.
"How's the tomate pequeño?"
"Don't call me that you bastard." Romano grumbled.
"Okay. Guess I'll go first then! I'm the Kingdom of Passion, Espagña! Ah, but you can call me boss kay?"
Like hell I will. He thought but he only mumbled one word aloud.
"Romano."
"Hmm?" Spain smiled.
"My name's Romano." He said a bit clearly this time. His face turned slightly red with embarrassment. A huge, happy grin spread across Spain's face and he lifted Romano up and spun around.
"Romano! My cute henchman's name is Romano!" He laughed.
"Hey! I'm not your henchman!" Romano tried to protest but the estatic spaniard paid no heed and made sure that Romano was comfortably seated on his shoulders. Romano felt his eyes close and he slowly laid his head on top of Spain's curly brown locks. It had been a long day and he was tired. Before long, he was sleeping peacefully as Spain carried him all the way home.
Historical notes:
The Sack of Naples:
Charles VIII sent envoys to the town and the castle of Naples to seek a surrender of the Neapolitan garrison. The garrison killed and mutilated the envoys and sent the bodies back to the French lines. This enraged the French army so that they reduced the castle in the town with blistering artillery fire on February 9, 1495 and stormed the fort, killing everyone inside. This was the famous "Sack of Naples." News of the French Army's sack of Naples provoked a reaction among the city-states of Northern Italy and the League of Venice was formed on March 31, 1495. The Leauge of Venice was dedicated to exclusively stopping further French raids.
(gotten from Wikipedia)
AN: Romano is a character I find myself able to write very well. I just thought I'd make him the focus of the first one shot of this fic. Random, I know. Also, I'm not sure if all my oneshots will be this long. It just ended this way. My personal word count is at least 1K words. Also, I think I went off theme... *sweatdrops*
Next time on a hundred memories, Love
