69. Blood of the Covenant
Date Written: July 6, 2019
Date Posted: November 16, 2020
Characters: Veneziano, Romano
Summary: Are the Italy brothers really related? Should they even care? (Or, Veneziano wants to have a philosophical discussion when all Romano wants to do is go back to sleep).
Notes:
Very few Nations were truly blood related.
As much as China and France tried to boast that they were basically the caretakers of their respective regions, they weren't truly kin. Sure, the older Nations could hem and haw at the younger generations like any other good natured parent could, but the truth of the matter remained clear: Nations were very different from their human charges. Springing up from the beliefs and the ideologies of their people, it only stood to reason that Nations were far more inclined to be attached to their people, to feel an affinity for their children rather than others of their own kind.
There were, of course, exceptions.
A DNA test confirmed that Norway and Iceland were in fact brothers. As much as a rarity that was, it made sense. Norway's people had settled into Iceland; therefore, most of the civilians in Iceland were of Norwegian descent. The point still stood, though.
Nations were not supposed to be blood relatives with each other.
"Romano—" Veneziano poked a tiny spot in between Romano's shoulder blades, his voice low and inquisitive. "—are we related?"
The elder Italian rolled over onto his back and scowled at the ceiling. " Are you really asking or did taking a siesta rob you of your brain cells?"
As the younger Italian tried to think of a viable reason why he was waking up his brother so late in the evening (or was it very early in the morning?), Romano absently flicked Veneziano on the nose. Although the flick was anything but painful, Veneziano reared back and shot his older brother that pleaded for him to take him seriously.
Romano responded by closing his eyes.
"I'm serious!" Veneziano rubbed his nose before playfully shoving Romano's shoulder, to which his brother retaliated with a huff. "We look alike, but I'm taller—"
Romano flicked him again, this time, on the forehead.
"Ouch!"
"Mention my height again and I'll shoot you in the knees next time we have military training." When Romano received a slight glare for the threat, he pinched his brother. "Just tell me why you're questioning our relations."
Veneziano faced Romano, his face filled with an age old weariness that Romano didn't want to have to confront when they should have been sleeping. "We're so different and yet so alike. We take after our citizens… Do we really have anything in common? Or are we just similar due to our shared territories?" Although Veneziano's tone was light and airy, Romano got the feeling that the matter wasn't as easily solved as what Veneziano's voice made it out to be.
"If you're trying to be philosophical about this… just know that you should seek advice from Greece."
"But I really want your opinion!"
This time, it was Veneziano who flicked his brother's nose. Once the deed was done, Veneziano sat up straight on his side of the bed, his eyes furrowed in concern. His brother, on the other hand, shoved his pillow over his eyes in an attempt to fall back asleep, but Veneziano was faster than him. With reflexes honed over a millennia, Veneziano managed to rob his brother of his pillow and of his dignity.
"Ha!"
Veneziano only chuckled when Romano tried to grab him around the ribcage so that he could exact physical vengeance for his dignity, but only ended up falling over his face as Veneziano evaded his attacks. Again.
After a few seconds of further roughhousing, Romano finally gave up. Expending energy on his brother had gotten his blood flowin, which was the total opposite of what he wanted. Now that his body was expending energy, he was now more awake than ever when all he really wanted was to go back to bed.
"All right… What does your philosophical heart wish to discuss tonight?"
Immediately, Veneziano jumped at the opportunity to question his brother without further repercussion.
"Both of us have lived for thousands of years among other Nations who have lived that long or for even longer. Yet, we still do not know who or what we are! Are we truly human? Are we something else?" Veneziano looked a little worried as he stared down at his older brother. Despite the way that he spoke—lighthearted and over the top—there was still a hint of reality to him. For a moment, he was truly worried over this little problem of his.
Romano really wanted to scream at his brother at that moment.
"At the very least," Veneziano murmured, "I want to know if we are brothers."
"And what brought this existential crisis on?"
"Answer me first, Romano!"
"Have it your way." Romano sat up in bed while his brother watched with bated breath. "I'm no scientist, archaeologist, or whoever the hell is qualified to study Nations. However, I think I'm qualified to tell you one thing." South Italy clasped his brother's face within his hands. "You are an idiot! Of course we're brothers! Do you not see our curls? Do you not see that you have his eyes, I have his hair? We are the successors to Rome. No amount of DNA bullshit can change that. Do you understand me? DNA test results have nothing in the face of a shared brotherhood."
For a moment, both brothers stared at one another. One pair of olive green eyes stared into dark brown and then—
"I knew you loved me! My brother! My dearest, greatest—"
Romano shut him up with a swift pillow to the face.
