Liar

"Why don't you go and find Feliciano, maybe he'll appreciate you more!" Romano shouted at Spain, storming away from him down the cobbled walkway. He wasn't going to listen to Spain give him another speech about being 'more grateful' or 'more appreciative'. He was perfectly fine living in Austria's house; in fact he was better off. Austria had lots of money, and Spain was poor. He could barely take care of himself.

That was when it struck Romano; Spain could barely take care of himself, yet Spain still managed to give him what he wanted. In fact, he still got clothes, pasta, and all the tomatoes he wanted. He was never without. Yet Romano recalled his little brother crying about how Austria never had good food…

No, damn it. He would still have it better at Austria's house. He would trade places with his brother any day, and it was clear that Spain wouldn't mind the change either.

When Romano found the bridge he frequented when he argued with Spain, he took a seat on the ledge and let his legs swing as he thought about his fight. It wasn't like he was in the wrong or anything; he just didn't feel like working all the time. He was still little, and work was for older countries.

Romano sighed and cradled his face in his hands, looking down into his reflection. It was true, his little brother was so much cuter than him, and nicer too. It was no wonder so many people liked him more. The most Romano could do was complain or whine, he was completely and totally useless.

Romano picked up a broken piece of cobble lying next to him and threw it at his reflection. He couldn't bear looking at his own reflection. He watched as the small ripples distorted his reflection, wishing that when the water settled, he wouldn't look like the same person any longer.

When the water settled, his reflection hadn't changed, but someone else's reflection now joined his. It was Spain, standing behind him with that infuriating smile on his face.

"Romano," Spain sighed happily. "I was so worried that I wouldn't be able to find you."

"Go away," Romano said, turning his head away from Spain defiantly.

Spain, however, chose to disregard Romano's complaints. He threw his legs over the side of the bridge and settled down next to Romano. "The view is really pretty here, isn't it, Romano?" Spain looked at Romano with a smile on his face, "is that why you always come here?"

"I always come here because you piss me off, bastard."

"That's not nice, Romano," Spain said, mouth turning down in a sad smile.

"Well it's true," Romano huffed. "You always piss me off."

Spain was quiet, and for a moment Romano believed that he was finally going to take the hint and leave. But he didn't, instead he inched even closer to Romano on the bridge, "why do I make you so mad, Romano?" Spain picked Romano up, and despite his protests, put him in his lap. "Is it because I do this?" Spain began tickling the small child's sides, smile lighting his face up when Romano couldn't contain his laughter due to the tickling.

"S-S-Stop it you B-bastard," Romano kicked his small feet out. "I'll scream!"

"OK, OK," Spain laughed, stopping his assault on Romano's ribs. "But please, Romano," Spain's voice took on a serious tone. "Tell me why you always get so angry with me? What am I doing wrong?"

"You're doing everything wrong, damn it." Romano tried to wrench himself away from Spain's hold, but he wasn't strong enough.

"I just want you to clean up after yourself, Romano," Spain said. "Why is that such a big deal?"

"It is a big deal because I can't, bastard," Romano looked back down at his reflection. "I try, but I can never do it as good as Feliciano can."

"Roma-"

"He does everything better than me. He cooks better, he cleans better, he's cuter, he manages his portion of the country better, and he's ten time nicer than I'll ever be." Romano only realized he was crying when he saw his tears hitting the water, causing small ripples on the surface. He couldn't stop them. "Everyone likes him more than me, the only reason anyone even bothers with me is because I still have Grandpa Rome's inheritance."

Romano tried to sniffle back his tears, but to no avail. They began falling even more than before. "I know you want him more than me, too."

It got quiet for a long time, and the only thing that could be heard were Romano's soft sobs and Spain's breathing. Spain, however, eventually spoke up. "That's not true, Romano."

"Yeah right," Romano said. "You're only trying to cheer me up now so I'll go home and clean some more."

Without warning Spain leaned over Romano's small form and smiled at his reflection in the water. "You're my special little henchman," Spain laughed. "I wouldn't want anyone but you, Romano."

"Stop it," Romano covered his face.

"It's true," Spain said, pulling Romano's hands away from his face. "Do you want me to tell you why?"

"No," Romano said.

Spain started telling him despite Romano's protests. "I think everything you do is special, even if it isn't right. I think you're a great little cook, I think you're adorable, I think you manage your country with respect, and I think you are the sweetest person I know."

Romano eyes widened, but he didn't speak.

"I would also never use you for your Grandpa's inheritance," Spain laughed. "Look at how poor I am, if I were going to steal your inheritance, I would have done so a long time ago."

Romano rubbed at the fresh tears trying to escape.

"And most of all, Romano," Spain turned the small Italian around to face him. "I love you more than anyone in the world. No one could replace you."

Romano tried his best, but he couldn't hold his tears back any longer. Stupid Spain and his stupid words, lying to him like that. It wasn't like Romano was happy about Spain saying that or anything, when he knew it was all lies. He was just saying that so Romano wouldn't be gloomy anymore, and everything would return to the same way it was.

Yeah, that was it.

Romano gripped the front of Spain's shirt and balled the fabric up in tight fists. He was trying to say something to Spain. Something like 'go away', or 'leave me alone,' or 'liar,' but it wouldn't come out. All Romano could do was sob and cry like a little baby.

Spain hugged Romano tight to his chest and laughed. "You really do look like a little tomato when you get embarrassed."

"Bastard," Romano managed through his tears.