I do not own Hetalia nor the movie
"Ve, where are we going, dad?" Antonio is buttoning the coat over the sweater that his son wears. His face is neutral, masking the anxiety that itches beneath. He gives Feliciano a smile, tightening the scarf around the little boy's neck a bit.
"We'll go for a walk today, Feli. Isn't that great?"
Feliciano's face brightens, but a confused expression soon replaces it. "But I have school today, dad, ve…" Antonio flinches inwardly. "I know. But today's just a great day to have a walk, so school can wait. I'll go tell Ms. Bella about this. Okay?"
His son nods, and Antonio grins to him, pinching his cheeks lightly before putting his knitted hat on his head. "Well, now you're ready!" Feliciano giggles and nods, slipping his hand into his father's. Antonio grips the small hand tightly but gently and slips into his shoes. Then both of them are out of the apartment, into the cold and gray-colored sky outside.
They walk together, hand in hand, on the street. It is bustling with life despite the weather, but for Antonio it all seems unreal. The only things that are real are his memory about his wife, Feliciano's warm and small hand inside his own, and the absence of Romano's hand in his other one.
Even after the revelation last night, he still doesn't know what exactly happened and where to look. He only knows one thing, Romano is missing and it's not just missing. It's just like he vanishes from this world, erased like he is never there to begin with. The anxiety that has been lingering in his chest is now mixed with a slight anger. Whoever does that, he got guts.
They arrive at Feliciano's school a little past eight. The courtyard is filled with children rushing into the building since the bell has already rung. Antonio walk through the hallway, carefully brushing past the smaller children, Feliciano's hand is still in his. Miss Bella is standing outside the classroom, waiting for all the children to enter. She spots them and gives them a warm smile.
"Good morning, Mr. Carriedo. Hi, Feli! It's not usual for you to be late."
Feliciano waves to her and gives her an innocent smile, and her smile widens on the sight. Antonio smiles to her and says, "Good morning, Miss Bella. Well, I'm afraid today Feliciano won't be attending school, so I come to explain."
The Belgian woman looks at him, her brows furrow slightly in concern. "Did something happen, Mr. Carriedo?"
"No, no," Antonio shakes his head and gives her a reassuring grin. "Just, it's a family matter."
"Oh, I see," She nods in understanding, but still looks a little concerned. "If there's anything I can do to help, I would gladly do."
"That's really kind of you," Antonio replies, sincerely. "But really, nothing is wrong. Please don't worry." He looks down at Feliciano and motions him toward his teacher. The boy smiles to her and says, "Ve, see you tomorrow, Miss Bella!"
The young woman laughs endearingly and pats his head. "See you tomorrow, Feli." Then she and Antonio excuse themselves politely as she enters the classroom and the Spanish man leaves for the principal's office with his son.
The principal is a nice woman, short grey hair with hairclips on the left side, a gentle expression, and a pair of otherworldly big boobs. Even now, Antonio still wonder if there's other person in this world who has boobs as big as hers.
Ms. Iryna smiles warmly to them as they enter. "May I help you?" Antonio returns her smile before kneeling down and says to Feliciano, "Feli, why don't you wait outside? Dad won't be long. There's a bench just outside the office, right? Don't go anywhere, just wait there."
Feliciano answers him with a silent nod, seems confused but doesn't ask. After he leaves, Antonio walks over to the principal's desk, and the woman stands up, sensing the serious air.
"I'm sorry to disturb you so early in the morning, Ms. Braginskaya. I'm Antonio, father of Feliciano Vargas."
"Don't be too formal with me, Mr…" The Ukrainian woman smiles to him, warm and comforting.
"Carriedo,"
"Mr. Carriedo. Just Iryna is fine. May I help you with anything?"
This is the difficult part. Antonio fidgets with his fingers. "I'm looking for someone, Ms. Iryna. If you can be so kind as to help me by looking in the school database,"
The principal eyes him questioningly, but her eyes don't lose their warmth. "May I ask who are you looking for, and for what purpose, Mr. Carriedo?"
"It's my son," Antonio replies, the words sound weird even in his tongues, and he feels a pang of guilt. "Not Feliciano. My other son, Romano. I can't tell you why, I'm sorry."
Ms. Iryna raises both eyebrows at that, seems really confused but concerned. "Is he missing? If he is, you should call the police, Mr. Carriedo."
"It's complicated," Antonio sighs lightly, frustrated. "I can't explain, I'm really sorry, Ms. Iryna. But please, I need to find him."
The principal eyes him for another moment before motioning him to sit down. "Please wait just a moment." She herself sits down and starts typing on her computer. "His full name is…?"
"Romano Vargas." Antonio tries to suppress his anxiety, but to no avail. His palms start to sweat as the woman behind the desk begins to scroll down the list.
Five full minutes passed, Ms. Iryna's eyes scan the list twice, then three times, before she finally shakes her head, face sympathetic. "I'm truly sorry, Mr. Carriedo. But I can't seem to find him. There's no one in this school goes by that name." Antonio bites his lower lip. For some reason, he has predicted that this would happen. But is it so foolish to still try?
"I see…" He rises from his seat, and the principal does as well. "Thank you very much for your help, Ms. Iryna."
"I didn't do anything," the kind woman replies, eyes glint with a hint of sadness. "I must apologize."
"No, you've done everything you can," Antonio forces a smile, trying to assure her. "I really appreciate it. Now if you'll excuse me."
They shake hands and Antonio leaves the room. Feliciano throws himself into his father upon seeing him. "Ve, is everything okay, dad?"
Antonio nods and pats his head, smiling a shaky smile. "Yes. Now, let's get going."
-o-
They venture around the town aimlessly, Antonio tries to keep Feliciano happy and unaware. But when the sky turns orange and red, they set down at a nearby park. Antonio recognizes it as one that kids usually play in. There are already some kids there. Some playing tags, some climbing the jungle gym, the others playing in the sandbox.
Antonio recognizes almost all of them. They are the children that usually play with his sons. One of them, a blue-eyed and blonde haired boy, comes running to them, face bright and a strand of hair stands proudly on his head, defying all gravity possibilities. "Hi, Feliciano! Let's play!"
The boy is Alfred, Antonio recalls. The younger brother of Arthur, his rival when he was in high school, and cousin of Matthew. Antonio still can't fully understand how the family bear children, since Arthur is only one year younger than Francis, his uncle. Well, his family is unique in the first place, so Antonio decides not to question it anymore.
Feliciano looks at Antonio, face hoping, and Antonio nods, smiling. The boy's face breaks into a wide smile and he gives his father a short but tight hug before running to play with Alfred. Antonio sighs and sits down on the bench, trying to sort his thoughts out.
Romano is missing.
He didn't remember about him the night before, didn't even know that he exists.
Feliciano claimed he doesn't have a brother.
Romano is not in the school database.
Well, so much for trying to sort things out inside his brain. Antonio lets out a frustrated sigh and lets his eyes stray away to the children. There's Kiku, a quiet Japanese boy that is also best friend with Feliciano and Alfred; he's playing with them on the jungle gym. Peter, Arthur's another little brother, is also playing on that, but at the opposite side, while waving around a small flag. Upon a closer inspection, it is Sealand's flag.
In the sandbox are Mei, Yong-Soo, Xiang, and another Asian boy he doesn't know yet wearing a pair of glasses with his hair combed tidily. He looks slightly similar to Thai, who's trying to get Linh to smile by making jokes not too far from the sandbox.
Really, if Arthur's family is unique, Yao's is more unique and almost otherworldly. If not, how the hell did he manage to have little brothers and sisters, all from different nationalities in Asia while he himself is a Chinese?
All those children are cute, and Antonio lets himself smile a little. Then he stands up and walks over to where Arthur and Yao are sitting. Seeing him, Arthur scowls and Yao raises one eyebrow questioningly.
"It's not usual to see you here, aru. You usually just come to pick Feliciano up." Antonio cringes at the lack of mention of Romano.
"I'm just in the mood today," he replies, not bothering to think for more proper excuse. "And can I ask both of you something?"
Both look at him questioningly. Antonio hesitates, is he really going to do it? They will think he's crazy. But he quickly shakes that thought away. This is for Romano, and he'll do anything. Only the thought of his son and his determination is renewed.
"Have you seen Romano around?"
"Who, aru?"
"My son. Feliciano's twin brother."
"Are you out of your mind, you git?" Arthur's scowl deepens. "You only have one son, I'm bloody sure of that."
"He's right," Yao nods. "As far as I've seen, you've only brought Feliciano here all these times. But I don't know if he has a brother, aru."
Arthur tchs. Yao frowns at him. "You can't deny that I got the point there, aru. We've only seen that boy, that doesn't mean he doesn't have a brother." He looks up at Antonio. "But if that's true, why do you ask us? We won't know."
Yao indeed is wise, and Antonio is thankful for that. He doesn't need Arthur's hostility towards him to worsen the situation. "You're right. I'll go ask the kids. Thanks." But when he's about to leave for the jungle gym, he notices a small racket in the sandbox.
A young man, 20 at the most, is kneeling down, talking to Xiang. Deep blue eyes, blonde hair that is pinned back on one side with a cross-shaped hairclip. His face is desperate.
"You know him, right, Xiang? My brother."
"I don't understand what you're talking about, mister. I don't even know you."
"But you've got to know my brother. He's best friend with you."
Wait, that sounds familiar. Antonio stops on his track, watching as the conversation becomes more tense. The question, the desperate tone, that reminds him too much of the incident today.
"I don't have any best friend. You've got a wrong person, mister."
"I don't. I'm sure of it. Please, just take a moment to remember. I have to find him." The young man bites his lower lip before continuing. "And you're my only hope to know where he is."
"I don't understand what you're talking about," Xiang takes a step back, clearly uncomfortable and slightly annoyed, or maybe scared. That kid's expression is hard to read. His other siblings in the sandbox have stopped playing as well and eyeing them warily. The youngest, Mei, starts to look scared. From the corner of his eyes, Antonio sees Yao rises to his feet, face wary.
"His name's Emil. You've got to remember. That's all I ask of you, Xiang. Please…"
The Chinese boy shakes his head and takes another two steps back. "I told you, I don't know what you're talking about." Before the young man has the chance to say anything else, Yao steps in, standing protectively in front of his younger siblings who gathers behind him in the sandbox, curious and scared eyes peek out from behind his back.
"What business do you have with my brother, if I may ask, aru?"
The man stands up, looks at Yao with a depressed look and replies, "My brother's missing. He's best friend with your brother, so he must know something."
Yao looks back to the said boy, but Xiang shakes his head. "I don't know what he's talking about," he replies, slightly irritated. Yao returns his eyes to the man before him. "You heard him."
Before the man has any chance to answer, the conversation is once again interrupted, this time by Antonio. He steps in between the two men and raises both hands in front of them. "I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding. Let's just not be all emotional." He gives Yao an apologetic look and Yao sighs, nodding. "Alright, aru. But he better not disturb my brothers anymore."
The young man opens his mouth to argue, but Antonio puts a hand on his shoulder and gives him a meaningful look. Yao goes back to his seat on the bench and Antonio motions the young man to another bench at the other side of the park.
After both of them sit down, he says, "I know your situation. Because I'm in the same one."
The man's eyes widen a bit, but he seems to believe him. "Then, someone in your family has… disappeared?"
"I see that you've got grasp of the situation, since you say 'disappear' and not 'missing'." Antonio smiles ironically. "To answer your question, yes. It's my son. Twin brother of my son over there." He gestures toward Feliciano who's climbing the jungle gym with Alfred and Kiku.
The young man doesn't say anything, just gives him a sympathetic nod. So Antonio continues, "It's your brother?"
"Yes," the man nods. "My younger brother, Emil." He falls silent again, face desperate.
"I'm Antonio," Antonio says, stretching out his hand. "If you want to look for him, we better do it together. Two is better than one, right?"
The young man returns the shake. "Christian. But you can just call me Chris."
Antonio smiles a small smile to him. "Alright, Chris. Now we need to sort things out. Then maybe, hopefully, we'll get something."
A/N:
So sorry for the very late update. m(_ _)m
A lot happened, but it's fine now.
So sorry for any OOC-ness here. Yao's siblings here are Japan, Taiwan, Korea, HongKong, Macau, Thailand, and Vietnam.
As usual, constructive criticisms are always welcomed. Thank you for reading and reviewing :DD