38. Bass-ic Courtesy

Date Written: March 24, 2019

Date Posted: January 18, 2020

Characters: Veneziano, Romano

Summary: Romano violates one of the basic rules of borrowing.

Notes: Will remain unfinished, but please enjoy what I have so far.

Really, it shouldn't have been too hard to figure out. When a person borrowed something, no matter how small or insignificant, you, as the borrower, were required to bring back that certain something in perfect condition. Anything less was a serious violation against the basics of propriety and courtesy. If one was serious enough or the thing that was borrowed was something really important, it could practically be considered a war crime.

Such was the reasoning when Italia Veneziano stormed into his brother's office. At first glance, it seemed that the Northern Italian looked like his normal cheery self. However, if one were to look closer, they could see the faint tremble in his hands, the stern demeanor and coldness in his eyes.

"Romano."

The other Italian representative, bombarded with work and several emails from his boss, didn't spare him a glance. Instead, all Veneziano received was the universal sign of disrespect and a few Italian derivatives. While most other Nations would have immediately left, Veneziano was not deterred.

Like a roaring hurricane, the auburn haired man stormed his way towards his brother and held something in his hands. The object dangled from his hands and directly in front of Romano's line of sight.

This time, not only did Veneziano receive a finger salute, he also got a scowl and a grumbed threat to trash Veneziano's house.

Veneziano scowled. "Romano."

Extra emphasis was placed on jangling the object in front of Romano.

"Fine." The older Italian derisively pressed the 'send' button and faced his brother. "What do you want?"

Veneziano waved the object in front of Romano again.

"And?" Romano's eyebrows rose, disinterest still clear in his eyes. "What do your earbuds have anything to do with me?"

"You borrowed them."

"I recall."

"You borrowed them."

Veneziano jangled his pair of earbuds once again. For a moment, Romano's eyes flickered from the pair of earbuds and back to his brother's unflinching gaze. Normally, any other person would have been unnerved by such a look from someone famed to be so happy go lucky suddenly look so severe.

Romano arched an eyebrow. "Was I not supposed to?"

"The right bud does not work."

"Yeah, your earbuds are trash. I can't believe you wasted your money on something so breakable."

At that moment, the younger Italian dropped himself on top of Romano's office desk; he was sitting atop and amidst piles of paperwork. A few documents riddled with harsh handwriting were cast askew onto the ground while Veneziano remained seated like a gargoyle.

Veneziano's eyes flashed in anger.

"They were working perfectly fine when I bought them—before I let you borrow them." The younger Italian learned into his brother's space, the look of what could be considered pure malice hiding behind his eyes.

Romano pushed his brother away with the flat of his palm. Although he put little force behind the gesture, Veneziano obliged by allowing the movement.

"And I already told you, they were already broken! The left side is so weak I can hardly hear the bass!"

"Because of you!"

"No, it's because you don't take good care of your things!"

Veneziano's practically gleamed red as he pounced at his brother. "Have you looked at your house? So many valuables strewn about with garbage. Have you no shame? Do you think I like picking up after your crap? Newsflash, idiot—"

"Since when have I ever asked for your help? You have the audacity to come in—"

"—and you think that I like having to ask Germany to help clean our house? It's beyond embarrassing. In fact I bet—"

"—do you realized how much I don't need your help? I can manage things on my own because—"

"—Nonno would be ashamed!"

"—Nonno named me as heir, you're just a pile of lagoons!"

For a moment, both brothers stood staring each other down. Brown met green as the younger loomed over the older. Fists were flexed and their breaths became haggard.