SOY: there we go, another chapter. For new readers, this fic is already complete, but I am editing it, so fixing grammar and whatnot. Hope you enjoy!

Also. Whenever there's just Italy in the scene, I'll refer to him as Italy, but if there's Romano there, they will be Veneziano and Romano, since both are Italy.

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Rating: K+

Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

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Eggshells

Chapter 06

The house in Rome was a big building in the outskirts of the city, far enough from the centre of the city to avoid all the smog and traffic but close enough to be at walking distance with all the things both Italy brothers enjoyed.

It had ample, well-lit rooms, with a painting room for Veneziano and a sculpting room for Romano, a big kitchen and a shared bedroom for both of them.

They did not use that house a lot –both preferred to live on their own, one in Naples and one in Venice– but there were times they felt lonely in their respective, big houses, and they converged together without even talking about it, just by feeling it through their shared connection as part of the same region.

Even Seborga was invited into that house sometimes, even though their relationship with him wasn't as tightly-knit as the one they shared with one another, but Italy was Italy, and family had an entirely different meaning for Veneziano and Romano.

"Feli! The phone!"

From where he was lounging on the sofa, not even taking his eyes away from the book to look at his brother, Italy Veneziano let out a soft huff. "You answer," he replied, waving one arm towards the ringing phone.

He returned his full attention to the book, finishing the paragraph and flipping the page, eyes darting up to the small pile of books on the table at his side. He nodded to himself, smiling slightly. He was determined to finish them all by the premiere, so he would be able to enjoy himself even more, especially with the last one…

The phone was still ringing.

"Lovino~" he called out, whining slightly. "I'm pretty sure that's fratellone Antonio calling again… go get that call!"

"Damn it!"

Italy Romano stomped over to the phone, muttering curses under his breath, but Veneziano was already buried back in the book, and didn't pay attention to him anymore.

"Pronto?" Romano growled into the phone. While getting Spain's call was somewhat pleasing for his ego, the damn guy had already called twice in the morning for stupid reasons, and if he was calling once again he had half a mind to end the call without listening. More than that, if it was Germany calling, he would first insult him, and then end the call.

Yes.

"Oi, is that Italy's house? Feliciano~ it's me!"

Italy Romano blinked, his mental rant momentarily forgotten. What the fu– "… America?" he hesitantly asked, and heard some shuffling from the sofa. Apparently Italy was listening in now. what a surprise. "Alfred?"

"Oh? Isn't this the wrong Italy?" Romano cursed at him in Italian, but of course America ignored him completely. "Can I talk with Veneziano? Give him the phone! Come on! C'mon!"

Romano grunted. "What about you taking your statue of liberty and inserting it–"

Italy reprimanded him with a "Lovi!" at the same time as America snorted at him from the other end of the phone, "Whoa, do you kiss Antonio with that potty mouth? Hahaha!"

"Fottuto Americano del cazzo chiami casa mia e mi insulti–"

"Aww, don't be mean, Lovino, I just want to know if Feli wants to come over at my house to hang out with me!"

Rubbing the bridge of his nose, resisting the growing urge to slam the phone and forget all about America, Romano glared at his curious brother. "Not sure he'd be up for that," he replied, looking smug. "Not until the weekend at least".

"Aaah?" America managed to convey so much disappointment in just one syllable that even Romano felt a tinge of guilt. "Oh. Oh, well, that's… too bad, I thought…"

Romano exhaled. "He's busy rereading his fucking books," he explained, closing his eyes. "For the fucking premiere of the movie. He wants to 'find out all the differences' as he watches it," he imitated Veneziano's cheerful voice. He heard his brother chuckle. "The movie comes out the day after tomorrow or some shit and he still has one book and a half to reread".

There was a moment of complete silence from the other end of the phone, then…

"Is this about the Harry Potter movie?" and Romano was almost sure America had perked up with that question.

"Yeah, that stupid series! Don't tell me you read it too! Fucking stupid book about magic and–" before he could start his rant again, a hand pushed him away from the phone and stole the receiver from him. He stumbled to the side, feeling affronted.

"Alfre~d! You read Harry Potter?"

Romano sighed and felt the strong desire to go bury his head in the covers of his bed as Veneziano started what for him was a one-sided conversation about the saga of books he disliked greatly.

If there was one thing he could not understand was random magic without reason –he preferred different book genres after all– but it looked like his brother loved that kind of shitty thing.

In fact, having a night in with movie or TV–show marathons with his younger brother was a valiant challenge, as they only enjoyed a handful of the same things, and both were vehement with pointing out the bad things in what the other liked. Though he had to admit, what they did like the same, it was pretty great.

"Ve~ I was disappointed they left out such a nice scene too," Feli was saying, waving one hand in the air. "Also the Gaunt Family isn't going to be in the movie, and I'm not even sure how they'd get to explain the history of the Horcruxes without them!"

Romano grunted, and was about to leave the room to do his own stuff when he paused, and glanced at his brother again. When was the last time he'd seen Veneziano smile this freely with someone? Usually he did that with Germany, but it had been a while since Romano had seen him like this, happy and cheerful. It was hard even for him to get this sort of reaction –and no, he wasn't jealous, damn it– but he had noticed Veneziano wasn't looking as happy as usual, recently…

Maybe… maybe when Romano had felt the pull in his core and had moved to Rome, it meant more than just his brother being lonely (a feeling he shared, although he wouldn't ever admit it). Veneziano had a lot of friends, but because of one thing or another, it was hard to see them often. Poland was around once or twice a month, and Japan was far enough that they were lucky to see him around the same time. Germany, Spain and France were the only ones the two Italy brothers saw often, even more than once a week, and possibly Prussia. Even Austria and Hungary were seen around less often than that.

Romano hadn't noticed much, because he was content with this, but maybe his brother needed something more than that, and America, of all people, supplied Veneziano's need for company. They were both happy and boisterous, and Romano hoped that Harry Potter would not be the only thing the two had in common.

Thinking this made South Italy wonder about Germany's presence in Italy's life. He was used to seeing the potato bastard more often than he considered healthy, because he was the only friend Italy saw every week, but lately he had to admit he had not seen him that much.

Which was worrying, even counting how happy Romano was that Germany wasn't around so much. Still, for the sake of his brother, he had mellowed about the fucking German idiot… but now…?

When was the last time he'd seen Feli being clingy with Ludwig?

Were they growing apart?

The notion, instead of making him happy, served only to sour Romano's mood even more. Despite him being grumbling and huffy about it, Veneziano always looked happier at Germany's side. Italy Veneziano had chosen him as romantic prospect, Romano couldn't deny the obvious, and that was enough for him –that his brother was happy.

What had changed? And when? And why had Romano not noticed it, or felt anything through their shared core? If Italy wasn't happy around Germany anymore, he should have felt it. Were things so bad that the northern brother was keeping his feelings concealed even from his own blood and soil?

"Ve~ that would be soo good! Going to see the movie with another fan would be twice as fun! Good idea Alfred!"

Lovino looked over at his younger brother, troubled and worried, and hoped he was just looking too much into it. It was not possible, wasn't it?

"Thank you Alfred! I've always wanted to watch a movie with a friend!" North Italy glanced over at his southern brother, and smiled teasingly. "Lovi doesn't count~"

"Oh, yes, remind me you said that next time you want to go watch one of 'Captain Sparrow' movies," he sniffed, turning his back to a now frantic Veneziano and leaving the sitting room, moving quickly towards his study, where he knew his brother would not follow.

Things might be weird lately, but maybe Veneziano just needed a friend like America to change the pace. That didn't mean his feelings for Germany were changing. It could be just a different thing altogether.

Romano was not going to butt in, not if America kept the Northern part of Italy smiling like that.

He could wait a bit.

…–…–…

Two weeks and a half.

Two entire weeks and a half without having Italy come around to pester him.

In a normal situation, Germany would have felt… if not overjoyed, at least relatively relieved. Italy made it difficult for him to focus on paperwork or cleaning the house or doing job-related activities, because he always remained close to him and demanded attention.

Italy was not hard to please, but it still filled Germany's days in non-productive ways, which was something that made him feel uneasy and like he was wasting hours by doing absolutely nothing.

So, if the Italian nation was giving him some privacy, Germany should have coveted this time and felt good… but no. It didn't take long for him to realise that days without Italy there were somewhat too empty and silent, even when before he'd coveted the same silence. Prussia somewhat filled in some of that time, whining and demanding attention just as much, but he was his brother, and it was different.

Two weeks weren't much, honestly, especially not in the life of a Nation, but… he was used to meeting up with Italy at least once every few days, sometimes even more –the only person he saw so often, aside for his own brother– and this much time without seeing that happy-go-lucky face felt wrong.

After four days without Italy appearing on his door, Germany had started to miss him. Four days. In a way he felt almost embarrassed to admit that to himself, but that was the truth, no reason to deny it. He missed his constant presence, the bubbly happy bursts of 've~' while observing Germany work, the casual touches and the gentle smiles.

He missed Italy.

The house itself felt empty without him. With no Italy to sneak the dogs inside (something Germany did not allow) to play, there was no loud barking or stuff falling and breaking. With no Italy sneaking into the kitchen to cook stuff at any hour of the day there was no smell of foreign food unless Germany himself was cooking at determinate times. Everything was still and empty.

Once, Germany had purposely let the dogs inside on his own, expecting them to fill the silence with something, and if that wasn't testament enough of Germany going crazy, he was not sure what would be. (Not that it had worked. The dogs, confused but on their best behaviour, had remained poised in the sitting room, lounging only on the floor without climbing on the sofa and the armchairs. It seemed they only went wild when they could have someone else to blame for it, namely Italy)

So, as it was, Germany was close to a nervous breakdown.

That said, there was only one thing he could do, and it was to take the initiative and be the one to approach Italy to find out what was wrong. If his friend was sick, then he could offer some strict regime and put him back to full health. If not, well… he just wanted to know why wasn't Italy coming to visit him anymore.

If there was a good reason, he'd be satisfied by it.

Maybe he was swamped with work? Italy didn't seem to work all that much but the few times Germany had seen him forced to focus on his paperwork, Italy had been on his best behaviour, if only to finish everything as soon as possible.

What if Italy Romano had convinced him to stay away, though?

Germany's heart constricted just a little bit at this thought. Renouncing to Italy's presence and going back to life before… no, he did not fancy that. At all.

Annoyance or not, he had grown used to the Italian's presence in his life. Italy was a good friend, the first one he ever had, someone he had come to trust and care for. Italy might be afraid of war and conflict, and prefer to resolve situations civilly, but… he was a dear friend.

He preferred Italy in his life, not out of it.

This was the reason why Germany found himself standing in front of Italy's house in Rome, after having been told by a nice neighbour that the house in Venice was currently empty.

He moved to the door, hesitating slightly before lifting one hand, ready to knock, but then he heard some shuffling from the other side.

"Ve~! I'll be going now, Lovi~"

Instead of doing the reasonable thing and stay put where he was at hearing Italy's voice, Germany found himself hurrying away and hiding behind a tree, unable to face his friend all of sudden without having had time to prepare himself for the possible confrontation.

Both Italy brothers appeared on the doorstep, looking ready to leave. Italy Romano was dressed normally, but Veneziano was wearing a big striped scarf around his neck, of two colours. It was weird, since with the temperatures of the past few days, and Italy's usual moaning about heat, Germany wouldn't have expected him to wear such a heavy garment.

"Oi, don't eat too many sweets, you know what happens if you do," Lovino, in a sudden bout of doting-brother-ness, fussed over Feliciano, patting his head. "Have fun, though, and if you need me, I'll be over at Antonio's".

"You're going to have your monthly Star Trek marathon, huh? You're such a Trekkie!"

"Shut up, Warsie! I just happen to like it, damn it! Think for yourself! Wizards and Witches, like that isn't unreasonable at all!"

Feliciano snorted, playfully elbowing Lovino, then the two split up and walked in two different directions.

Oh, so Italy was going somewhere. Germany frowned, not sure what that could mean. Usually, he'd receive an invitation to go with him, no matter where he was going –and it surely did not look like he was having a work meeting.

Well. this called drastic, and embarrassing, measures.

Germany coughed, hoping the blush on his cheeks would fade.

He could not let things be as they were. Maybe if he just followed Italy around for a bit he would find out something that could help him… talk with him. Solve things.

With this set in mind, determined and ready to crack this weird mystery, Germany prepared himself to follow Italy.

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Glossary:

Fratellone (Italian) – big brother.

Fottuto Americano del cazzo chiami casa mia e mi insulti (Italian) – Fucking shitty American calling my house and insulting me.

Gaunt Family – HP book 6 information. For the non-fans, it's the dead family of the evil guy. They are all dead.

Horcruxes – HP book 6 information. Horcruxes are parts of a person's soul that get split when one commits murder with this intent. They are used to preserve a person's soul alive even if their body is killed. (Voldemort has seven of them).

Trekkie – Star Trek fan.

Warsie – Star Wars fan.