Gilbraltar

Treasure Island

Something definitely happened. Yep. Definitely. Question is: What?

Victoria Carmen Kirkland stares up from her Treasure Island book. And to think she was just at the best part! Pirates breaking and burning everything! Did that idiot have to come back now? And what's his problem? He looks like a beaten up stray dog! Did his Italian stand him up again? Nah, he wouldn't be this depressed! He looks like the world is ending … … Oh well! That's his problem! Victoria buried her nose back in her book. Whatever his troubles, she would not help or care in the least! Hasta la vista, sweetheart!

The tanned girl, with long black curly hair reaching to her shoulders and sprawled down her back like a waterfall, turned her thin and elegant body sideways as she laid nonchalantly on the ruby red sofa. She was tall with voluptuous curves despite her 18 years old aspect. Her features were typically Mediterranean but her breast slightly more inviting than usual girls from the region, thanks to her Northern blood. If you asked her, what she liked best from her appearance wasn't the beautiful sexy body, the perfectly tanned skin of a mermaid, the silky dark hair or her natural elegance. What she praised most about her looks was the intense emerald eyes she inherited from her Northern father.

Gibraltar frowned in annoyance as she got once again disturbed by the loud sighing of the man seated in the nearby chair. She glared murderously at him. He was hunched, shoulders slumped forward in defeat, hands joint against his forehead and his face shadowed behind his dark curls as he stared pitifully at the ground. If he's going to sulk and feel miserable, can't he do it somewhere else? Where he wouldn't ruin her book reading! Bloody Stupid Spaniard!

Spain sighed again in defeat. Gibraltar clicked her tongue in annoyance.

"Can't you go be depressed somewhere else? You're spoiling my book, España!" her crystal voice sang the rolling sounds of her Spanish tongue.

Antonio grunted something incoherent. Victoria ignored him and flipped another page of her book. A tensed silence stretched painfully in the living room. But that wasn't unusual. This was in fact a frequent occurrence in the Spanish villa in Barcelona (Spain likes Barcelona better than Madrid as a living place but does frequent journeys to the capital for work and has an apartment there). The daughter and father tended not to get along well. If anything, Victoria spent most of her time visiting her uncle Portugal (she wasn't allowed many visits to England sadly enough). Spain tried to be a good father but … uh … it's hard when your daughter refuses to even consider you as her parent! It wasn't unusual for them to fight and argue, then they'd each sulk, both being of a fiery temperament and so full of pride, neither would give in. They could stay mad at each other for weeks! Usually, Portugal would intervene and make Spain apologise first. He'd have no chance in convincing Gibraltar to make the first move. She's not England's stubborn daughter for nothing!

But right now, no fighting. Quite unusual. The tension is palpable but Spain seems out of it, as if his mind is too troubled to even bother with his daughter. This brought curiosity upon the girl's frowning face. What could be going on that would make Spain ignore her? She dropped her book and settled an analysing emerald gaze upon him. She saw him shiver and glare darkly at her with his own spring green eyes. He didn't like her stare. Of course he wouldn't. Victoria knew very well why. Because Spain hates seeing in her the same eyes as her blond father. Maybe it reminded Spain of his past failures? She hoped so! The more she could piss him off, the better! She smirked. The same smirk she had seen so many times on that pirate ship. The smirk of her pirate father. Colder than ice but fierier than fire, with an evil glint in her green orbs.

Spain growled. He hated seeing that expression on his daughter's face! It reminded him of her pirate father! Worse, it reminded him of his defeat to that pirate father! And he hated to see his own female reflexion with the eyes of that sea monster! Eyes of sparkling emeralds, like precious jewels, deeper than the deepest oceans, and more mysterious than any misty horizon.

"Carmen." He muttered darkly. She ignored him and in fact, her smirk grew wider.

"CARMEN!" He barked, the sudden reaction caused her to jump and lose her composure. She stared at him in confusion. Spain himself didn't understand why he had reacted so drastically. He usually just starts ignoring her until Portugal turns up. So why … why did this time … why couldn't he face up to that expression of hers? It wasn't new. He had seen it on her so many times. And before that, he had seen it so many other times on …

Spain rose up suddenly from his seat and walked out of the house. Victoria noted that he had taken his axe. Not a good sign. She vaguely wondered what could have caused such uproar from her Spanish parent. Her eyes settled on her Treasure Island book as if it held the answer to her question. And maybe it did. Her face lightened as she thought of a sudden, strange, completely unreal and improbable reason to explain Spain's anger. Treasure. Island. A soft smile played on her thin lips and she gingerly rushed after her care-taker, leaving behind her book.

Antonio slammed his axe against another tree. That's the fifth. Four already lay dead on the ground, ripped off from the savage cutting of his axe. He didn't care. His eyes glared at nothing in particular and his mind was clouded with an insatiable thirst. He couldn't bear it. Not anymore. That … that …

Spain growled like an enraged bull and another tree fell. He heard someone shout but didn't pay them any attention. He was in a bad mood and needed to vent off before he accidentally killed someone! Spain knew of his anger management problem. Nowadays, things are peaceful and he rarely needs to get angry … but those who remembered him from his Conquistador times, know NOT to get on his bad side. The only person he would tolerate such behaviour from would be …

"ESPAÑA!"

Antonio's eyes widened as he suddenly saw Carmen jump in front of him, right in the way of his moving axe. Shit! He won't stop his movement in time! Move! Carmen! Move!

"MOVE!" he yelled in panic as he saw her own eyes widen in fear. But she didn't move. Her face showed fear but also determination. In that moment, Spain could have sworn he saw England. Exactly the way the blond nation had looked like the first time they battled at sea. Fear but brave determination. Foolish stubbornness not to back down despite having all the odds against you! And the piercing jades, accusingly staring at him … Antonio closed his eyes, not able to see those green orbs staring at him so intently.

There was a loud crashing sound. A tree fell.

Antonio hesitantly opened his eyes and was relieved to see his daughter still standing in front of him. But panic washed over him as he noticed her bleeding and the wide cut in her shoulder. The axe had evaded her just enough to save her slender neck but not enough to leave her unharmed. But she didn't move. Her expression never changed. No pain showed in her sea emeralds. Antonio felt his body tremble and he dropped his axe, falling to his knees and wrapping his arms around his precious daughter. Why had she come?! She knew not to interfere when he gets an anger crisis! She knew better than anybody else! So why …? He could have lost her! Antonio shivered at the idea and tightened his embrace. He felt her body stiffen and a small breath of pain escaped her lips when he accidentally touches her injury. He immediately lets her go and stares at her still shocked face. He could tell that she had almost seen death just seconds ago.

"Lo siento, mi cara! Lo siento! Lo siento!" he mumbled desperately, holding her hands in his in a praying manner. She tilted her head away, her eyes gazing up at the blue sky. Too blue for her taste. Much too blue. Much too perfect. Without a cloud and a shining sun blazing over her head. Too blue. Too peaceful. Too … too … fake.

"España … did you talk to daddy?" she asked in a hopeful whisper. If anything could make Spain this angry, it had to be her father! She eyed him as the Spaniard stilled suddenly and his expression turned serious. Dead serious.

"Why?"

"Because you wouldn't have snapped otherwise."

"I could be angry for something else."
"Not this angry."

Antonio hesitated then sighed in defeat. It's no use. She knows him too well.

"Si. We talked."

"What about?"

"He wanted news of your well-being. I told him you were fine."

"That wouldn't be enough."

"We started arguing about petty things."

"Seven trees, Antonio. Seven! Last time you snapped, it was only four." Victoria scolded him with an unwavering stare. He shrugged.

"Things happened."

"What happened?"

"… Carmen, just leave it be."

"First of, my name is Victoria! Second, unless you tell me right now what happened, I'll tell dad that you nearly cut me in half and then I'll ask him what all this is about after he comes over to murder you!"

Antonio stayed quiet for a few moments before chuckling lightly. Victoria frowned in confusion before pouting. What's so funny? She was serious!

"Ah … Si. He would not like that." Spain sighed after calming his laughter. He sat down in the grass and pulled his daughter on his lap. She resisted but he was stronger than her. He rested his head against her unwounded shoulder and breathed in her salty scent of the sea so similar to Arthur's.

"España … I'm serious! I will …"
"I wasn't angry from an argument with Arturo."

Gibraltar silenced. This was the first time Antonio gave up to her threats. And he doesn't seem reluctant to tell her. He must have gone insane! But she listened. She'll decide whether to send him to a mad house or not after he tells her the whole story.

"Then what was it?"

"Jealousy. Just jealousy."

"Jealousy …? What are …?"

"You know about my relationship with your father in our past times?"

She nodded. Yes, Uncle João had told her about it. Spain and England fought, allied, fought again in an endless cycle. He told her about their love affair and called it their Sea of Passion. And then … one time was worse than the others. After the fall of the Spanish Armada, Antonio and Arthur completely broke up. And that was it. She was born much later though. And Arthur was the one to find her on the shores of Spain. It seemed all so accidental, even Gibraltar herself thought her existence was merely an accident. But a very pleasant accident. Arthur recognised his eyes in her own. She remembers the sad and nostalgic smile he offered her when he spoke those words:

"Do you wish to sail the world with me, little mermaid?"

She didn't have to think. Why should she? She knew this man, despite having never met him. She instinctly knew him. She nodded eagerly and jumped in his arms. She remembers the salty scent similar to her own. Yes, that was definitely the right decision. And they sailed off.

"Carmen, I know you hate me …" Carmen snapped out of her memories at Antonio's resolute voice. She frowned.

"I don't hate you, España. But I don't like you either." She huffed haughtily. He smiles softly.

"That's exactly the kind of thing he would say."

She didn't answer. There was nothing to say.

"I … I still love your father."

She nodded. She knew that already. She didn't need to be told to figure it out. Besides, who wouldn't love her father? In her opinion, he was the best man in the world!

"I was foolish in my youth. We were rash and let our emotions govern our mind. I made a mistake. I should never have let him go …"

"No. You shouldn't have." Her voice was an accusing whisper. He nodded.

"I've regretted. And I tried to improve our relationship but … it keeps getting in my way."

"What ..?"

"Jealousy, mi cara. Jealousy."

"I don't …"

"Whenever I see him … he's with another. Always with someone. And he always seems so … so close to those people. I get angry. I do stupid things. Sometimes I tease and annoy him because even if he's angry, I want his attention solely on me. Other times, I ignore him, foolishly thinking he might get jealous too. But he never spars me a glance. The only times he comes to me is when he wants news from you. I hate it. I hate seeing his attention drift from left to right … just like at sea, he'd always drift wherever he wanted, not settling for anything fixe. He keeps moving away from me. And I can't hold back his attention anymore. I get jealous. Even of you, mi cara. I get jealous that he only speaks to me because of you. I get jealous because when I see you both together … I wish he could act so caring with me too. And I wish to see you look at me the way you look at him. Not challenging, but loving. And I get jealous."

Victoria remained utterly silenced. Should she say something? Comfort him? Hell no! It's his bloody fault that she can't see her daddy anymore!

"But that's just an everyday occurrence." Spain continued, uninterrupted. "Recently, things changed. You wouldn't know of this, but I've discovered that I'm not the only one with feelings for Arturo."

"… I already knew that."

Spain shot her a surprised glance. She clicked her tongue in exasperated impatience. Was he oblivious or what?

"Romano and Veneziano. China. America. France. And that Prussian friend of yours. All of them, I'm sure."

"Mi cara … how did you …?"

"Unlike you, I pay attention to things around me! Daddy's too busy to take notice but I do. And Portugal also knows."

"… Germany, Japan, Norway, India, Netherlands, and Russia."

The girl jumped in shock.

"Them too?!"

Spain nodded sadly. He had been just as shocked as her. In fact, the biggest shock for him was to learn that Romano was after England too. He had never …

"So what?"

Spain looked down at the pouting girl on his lap. She looked so cute … just like Arturo when he sulks. So childish and cute!

"Carmen?"

"It's Victoria! Fucking Bloody Spaniard!"

"Si … Victoria for Victory."

"Exactly!" She smirked triumphantly. She loved her name. She was proud of it. But right now wasn't about her. She turned a serious frown to her Spanish care-taker. "España, even if there are others … why would that be a problem?"

"… I learned about them due to a series of unexpected events. I had to meet Arturo's siblings …" Antonio frowned at the devilish grin he spotted on his daughter's face when he mentioned the British Isles. "And I'm not exactly sure how but … we ended up with a competition …"

"What competition?" Gibraltar frowned. Hong Kong had mentioned something like that to her in an e-mail, hadn't he? Or was it Iceland?

"A challenge between nations of the world to conquer Arturo's heart."

Gibraltar stared at Spain for many minutes, not able to speak or even process the information. Then she burst in a fit of laughter causing Spain to blush angrily of embarrassment. He did not like to be made fun of by his own daughter. Once she calmed down, Victoria smirked with a thoughtful expression.

"Hum … that is quite a challenge! Making my dad fall won't be easy! And you'll definitely fail without help!"

"… Car- …"

"It's Victoria, wanker! And you better get used to it because nobody calls me Carmen back in Britain!"

"Eh?"

"I still would have preferred Uncle Portugal to go out with dad but I guess it can't be helped! Fine! I'll do it!"

"Eh?"

The girl curled up, snuggling on her Spanish father's lap and all she needed was to purr to be a perfect cat. But she wasn't a cat. No. She was a mermaid. A being that captures hearts with beautiful songs. And she will catch hearts. Definitely will if it can mean that she can live with Daddy again!

"I'll help you catch the heart of a pirate." She whispered in a soft giggle. Antonio looked down at her in surprise.

"But … But … Car-Victoria?"

She smiled sweetly back at him. Oh god. She really does remind him of Arturo. So much.

"Si, España?"

"Why …? How …?"

"How? That's for me to know and you to find out. Why? That's because … I wouldn't mind living with both my parents together." Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke. She didn't like complimenting Spain but … he was her Papa after all! She expected cries of joy from her over-emotional father. Not a depressing dark mutter.

"It's no use."

She jumped and glared at the disappointing tone of her idiotic parent.

"What? How could you …?"

"Arturo … Romano …"

Oh. So the Italians had already outpaced everyone, had they? Like that's going to stop her!

"So fucking what?" she snapped back acidly. She didn't like Spain's sigh. Not one bit. How could he just give up like that? Stupid Spaniard!

"Are you just going to sit back and let them steal our treasure! Just like that? I thought the Spanish Empire was not one to give up on his possessions! I thought you wouldn't let pirates steal even a penny from you!"

Spain took a very old and very strange expression. Gibraltar smirked.

"Is The Empire of the Sun so weak that he can't even deal with a couple of Mafiosi? I'm disappointed! You're willing to let your treasure slip away!"

Spain's grip tightened sharply around her shoulders. She winced from the pain. The blood still leaking but neither paid attention to it.

"If you're that weak, don't even dare to claim your passion for my father!" The pirate girl whispered darkly.

"Weak? Who are you calling weak?" She smiled at the low growl in Antonio's voice. Looks like the old Empire was back! And what better conqueror than The Conquistador! She'll need at least that to conquer back her father's heart!

"Hum? I thought you had given up? I thought you felt threatened by the Italians …"

"Threatened?! I am never threatened by anyone! If anybody dares to step on my property, I'll rip them to shreds and feed them to sharks! If those Italian kids think they can steal what's mine … If anyone thinks he can steal MY treasure …"

Gibraltar didn't need to listen to the flow of threats and insults. She knew very well how possessive and passionate Spain is. So very passionate. And anybody who dared to stand in his way will be washed away. She smirked. Only a pirate could challenge the conqueror of the seas. And only an Island could charm the ex-maritime Empire. And only the finest of treasures would cause such a furious folly of anger overwhelm the Spaniard. No sun will shine forever without the breaking of a storm. And only she could stop the raging storm ahead. But where was the fun in that? Victoria smirked. Victory flows in her blood like water in the sea. And nobody will stop her from getting what she wants. She'll conquer like a Spanish and steal like an English if she must. But she will get what she wants. Then … the storm might ease down.

"Come on, Carmen! Let's take care of that wound! Your dad might kill me otherwise!"

"Si, he definitely would, Papa."