71. Cool Bosses

Date Written: July 9, 2019

Date Posted: November 18, 2020

Characters: Veneziano, Romano, Germany, Prussia

Summary: Both Veneziano and Romano visit the German brothers in order to celebrate one of the Prussian boss' anniversaries.

Notes: Old Fritz, also known as Frederick the Great, died on August 17, 1786. I headcanon that this mini fic occurs on August 17, 2036, which marks the 250th anniversary of his death. Before he was buried, Old Fritz requested that he be buried with all of his Italian greyhounds, a dog breed that he has loved throughout his life.


A car trundled down the road and came to a hesitant stop in front of lovely little house. When Veneziano cut the engine, he drummed his fingers against the material of his steering wheel before unlocking the doors and smoothly stepping outside. His older brother followed suit, a grumble forming on his lips but never making it outside of mouth.

For once, Romano was relatively silent.

Even though he carried a bushel of potatoes in his arms, he kept his thoughts to himself. Meanwhile, Veneziano held a bag full of small figurines of Italian greyhounds that he kept at his side. It had taken both brothers a while, but after a painstaking few weeks and constant research, they managed to make eleven beautiful figurines.

Hopefully, it would appease their friend.

The duo walked from their car and towards the entrance of Germany's and Prussia's house. Although they would often visit unannounced, they actually felt a little nervous visiting this time around. Today was… well today wasn't necessarily a bad day, but it certainly wasn't the best day to go about gallivanting onto their neighbors' territory. Despite whatever misgivings they had, it was surprisingly Romano who nudged his brother forward as they knocked on the door.

It took a couple minutes and the sound of dogs to erupt on the other side did Germany finally rise to the occasion and answer. Dressed quite casually in contrast to the business attire that he would often wear during meetings, Germany almost looked embarrassed that he was caught off guard within his home. However, he erased his look of sheepishness with a welcoming expression. Although his smile was tinged with awkwardness, he still ushered them inside as he fussed over their sudden appearance.

"Veneziano, Romano… It's good to see you."

"Likewise, Germany."

He led them towards the main sitting area where he served them a plethora of treats that he had recently baked with the help of the neighbor's children next door.

At any other time, Romano would have teased the younger Nation that must have not been skilled enough if he needed the children's help, but he said nothing. Instead, Romano buried his teeth in some traditional pastry while Germany looked on with a small smile on his face.

Even Veneziano, who would would have asked dozens upon dozens of questions concerning the children remained uncharacteristically silent. Instead, he busied himself with inhaling a couple pastries before the Italian brothers began to address the manner of why they were there in the first place.

Germany crossed one leg over the other as he sipped some tea from a porcelain cup that Austria had gifted him almost a century ago. Despite his being quite relaxed in this state, there was a sense of sadness in his posture, as if he already knew why they were there.

The blond glanced at the calendar and sighed.

It was definitely more than coincidence to know the Italian brothers were there on… August 17 of all days… Germany bit back a smile. France and Spain had already visited earlier with their own gifts…

"You're here for my brother, aren't you?"

Romano scoffed but clutched the bag full of potatoes close to his chest protectively. God help him if someone other than whom it was for decided to take it away. Bad enough that he had been lugging it since their trip to the grocer's, it was definitely going to be somewhat embarrassing going to give it to him.

Veneziano chuckled a little bashfully before resuming his serious countenance that he adopted especially for this trip.

"If you don't mind…" Veneziano jerked his head towards the door of where he knew Prussia dwelled. To any other Nation, they would have been displeased to know that they had been moved to the basement as if they weren't someone who had amassed great lands, had brought upon great military conquests during their glory days…

But not Prussia. Prussia was…

Prussia was okay nowadays for the most part.

Germany nodded before leading them to the door. He knocked three times and then listened closely. He must have been privy to some sort of code or a sound because to both of the Italians' trained ears, they didn't hear anything. After a moment, the blond man allowed them in with a small smile before heading back to the sitting room where he could clean up after his guests.

Down the steps, both of the Italian brothers descended. The walk was relatively short, but it was torturous to go down into the dim lighting. Other times, when they had visited the Prussian, he was often bathing himself in light or he would have gone outside of his domain so that he could bask in whatever sunlight he would have until the day that he was no more. Today, he was huddled under a thin blanket, cards and journals clutched in his pale hands.

After he had been denounced as a Nation, the transformation was slow, but gradual. Over the course of the century, Prussia no longer looked as healthy or as domineering as he had when he had been a full Nation. No, this was the closest he was to being human and thus… death….

It was Romano's voice that broke through the silence and had the Prussian's chapped lips curling up into a smile.

"You look like shit."

"And you look like a pretentious bastard."

Prussia made as if he were about to move outside of his huddled nest, but Veneziano stopped him with a sharp yelp that conveyed how much he didn't want to see his dear friend overexert himself on such a day.

It was true. Prussia definitely didn't look as good as he could have. His skin, already so white and pale as a Nation, had become gaunt and waxy. Nowadays, as time marched forward and his own clock had started counting down the days of his limited humanity, his skin had gone waxy, almost translucent. Painfully sensitive and prone to tears.

His body could no longer withstand the powers of what once was a Nation.

Dimly, Veneziano wondered if this was what Rome had looked like before dying. Before disappearing and leaving his inheritance behind for his descendants to find.

Prussia wasn't that much older.

But he was definitely that much more frailer now that he was basically a human with a prolonged expiration date.

It was eerie.

It was sad.

It was—

Prussia's laughter stunned Veneziano out of his thoughts. So concerned he was with Prussia's health, he was almost surprised that the Prussian still had the stamina to heave laughter ring through his frail body.

"Still worrying about me, huh?"

Romano blanched and dropped the bag full of potatoes at Prussia's feet.

"Fuck it, I'm leaving." Romano looked like he was actually about to make good on his threat, but Veneziano's gentle grip on his jacket sleeve had him hesitating.

Romano didn't mean it.

There were tears in his green eyes—eyes that had seen so much and were going to see so much more before he, too, would disappear back into the earth.

Prussia knew that already as he picked at the bag and fondled the insides with the disposition of a naughty child.

"Potatoes! Heavens above, Romano!" Prussia looked at the Southern Italian, his bright red eyes filling with what Veneziano could only claim was tears. "The old man… The old man would be so happy."

Romano shrugged, but he curtly answered with a "You're welcome."

As for Veneziano, he brought his bag and began to take out the figurines. One by one, all eleven Italian greyhounds began to fill Prussia's hands. Within his eyes, Prussia's eyes began to water some more.

"V-veneziano…"

Veneziano only hugged the once Nation with the force of someone who handled breakable objects for a living.

"Old Fritz would have been so proud of you, you know? No matter where you are now, he would still be proud."