61. Sogni d'Oro

Date Written: June 5, 2019

Date Posted: November 8, 2020

Characters: Veneziano, Romano

Summary: Romano suspects the worst when he sees a very young woman on Veneziano's couch.

Notes:


They were supposed to have a fun night out.

Romano wasn't expecting much when he decided to visit his brother for a slight romp on the town that night. What he expected was his brother cramming one week's worth of government work or napping on top of his paperwork. Perhaps he even expected Veneziano to be busy preparing in his bathroom for their activities. However, that wasn't what he was looking at when he managed to pick his way into Veneziano's studio apartment.

He had been about to barge into his brother's office when he caught sight of a figure lying on his brother's couch in the middle of an open room. At first glance, Romano had thought that Veneziano had brought a lover before his visit, but then he noticed…

The young woman was young—younger than most of Veneziano's lovers. In fact, as Romano strode over and glanced critically at the young woman's features, he would wager that this young woman was still a young girl.

What was Veneziano doing with—

"Romano?"

Before Veneziano could utter another word, Romano grabbed him by the front of his office shirt's collar and hauled him towards the kitchen. Rage, like that of an all consuming inferno or that of the fierceness of a tsunami, embraced Romano from all sides.

Once in the kitchen, Veneziano found himself released and facing a ruddy cheeked Romano—an accusation was clearly brimming in his dark green eyes while threats of danger emanated from his twitching hands. Knowing what Romano must have thought concerning the young woman on the couch, Veneziano tried to speak, but Romano slammed a heavy hand onto the countertop.

"Why the ever loving—"

Like a gunshot in the night, Romano's voice rang out through the thick tension of the silence of the apartment. His words were quick and infused with the anger of a man with righteous fury. There was no other explanation that he would accept at that point, especially if a young girl's honor was at stake, but Veneziano was willing to take his chances.

Gesturing towards the young woman in the other room, Romano grumpily quieted but still looked at his brother with something akin to disgust and hatred in his eyes. Normally, Veneziano would have been hurt that his brother was looking at him like he was someone deserving of such negativity, but he was honestly happy to note that his brother would react in such a way.

Veneziano would have done the same.

"That doesn't mean—" Romano's voice, much to his chagrin, began to rise to a volume akin to yelling.

This time, Veneziano physically silenced Romano: a firm hand clapping over his brother's mouth did the trick. The urgency of such a gesture had Romano acquiescing, but the annoyance in his eyes belied how he truly felt. Slowly, Veneziano relaxed the hold on his brother before he gestured to the guest who rested fitfully on the couch.

She was a small little thing. Her face was full with rosy cheeks while dark brown curls framed her complexion. Her body lay huddled underneath a nest of blankets that further dwarfed her figure. A dainty foot attached to a tanned ankle revealed a pair of mismatched socks to which Romano eyed the pair in distaste. As the brothers watched, the young woman sighed because of whatever dream she was having before turning over to lie flat on her back. That was when Romano saw it.

Lying on her side, the woman could carefully conceal her body. However, once she shifted position, the blankets did little to disguise the roundness of her belly. It was only a slight impression underneath the cloth, but Romano could tell that she was well along her pregnancy. Averting his gaze, he caught sight of his brother who looked at the young woman with familial adoration and concern.

Silently, Romano watched as his little brother brushed aside some of the human's hair away from her face, muttering a soft but caring, "Golden dreams, cara" before turning back to his older brother. Knowing now that Veneziano wouldn't have been so stupid as to have accidentally impregnate a normal human, Romano decided to calm down until he received an adequate explanation. With an inward sigh, he gestured for his brother to follow him outside the apartment.

After softly clicking the door behind him and walking a fair distance away, Romano turned to his brother.

"Explain." His voice brooked no room for argument. Concern and something deeper swirled in his eyes as he regarded his younger brother.

Point blank, Veneziano immediately began speaking. His voice, always melodic and higher than his brother's, managed to remain soft, but held the lilting cadence of authority. His hand gestures, usually erratic, yet free flowing, seemed subdued and almost hesitant as he delivered the explanation. Unlike most of his speeches, the Northerner managed to spill all the details in a manner that was so concise, his neighbors to the north would have been pleased.

"She needs help." Veneziano took hold of Romano's wrist, his fair skin deeply contrasting the tan of a skilled laborer. The pulse underneath his fingertips was slow, comforting. The skin on skin contact grounded the both of them while they stared deep into each other's eyes, both in deep thought. "Please, for one night."

Romano was not cruel.

No, far from it.

He was a pessimist.

A realist.

A person who was far more practical that most of their colleagues would have given him credit for. Keeping a human—a pregnant one, no less!—it just wasn't done. There were too many things that could go wrong, like human to Nation bonding, and being close and… gahh… Nations weren't meant to deal with humans on a one on one basis unless they were assistants or bosses.

One night could extend to a day.

A day into a week.

A week into a lifetime.

But Romano was not cruel.

Romano was many terrible, sinful things, but he was not cruel.

He gave a side glance to his brother before nodding—a slow and measured gesture.

"What's her name?"