A/N: I'm so sorry for the late update, OTL! My grandmother finally returned from Texas with a broken hip, so we've been getting her situated back in Georgia. We're also moving in closer to Atlanta, so we're a little busy trying to move soon. Anywho, I sincerely hope you enjoy this chapter! Reviews and Comments, along with critiques are always appreciated! Thanks~
By the time Romano brought up the cold bath, the water in the tub was long past cold - it was lukewarm.
"So, Roma!" The Spaniard cheerfully chimed, "What should we do while we wait for your tub to refill?"
The child arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean, stupid? We're going to sit there and wait for it to fill." Doing anything to pass the time was begging for trouble, Romano thought, it was like the equivalent knocking on mayhem's door. Antonio could read the expression on the child's face; he was not amused. "Why are you always so grumpy, Roma? You need to relax and have fun~"
Ugh, the way Antonio said that made it seem like he was spewing rainbows from his mouth whilst talking to a unicorn, while in reality, however, he was talking to the ever so grumpy Romano Lovino Vargas.
"Hell, no!" The child blandly responded, "If I do, I will surely end up as dumb, clueless, and hopeless as yourself."
The Spaniard scoffed. How dare he? Why, he, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo, was one of the world's former superpowers! He had found most of South and Centeral America! Lovino was growing up, but his smart mouth was growing twice as fast! It looks like time for Antonio to introduce some Spanish-style discipline to Mr. Too-big-for-his-britches Romano! "Why, I oughtta!" murmered Antonio under his breath.
"Excuse me?" The small child blurted, "You oughtta do what?" Little Romano puffed out his cheeks.
"That's it. You come here, right this instant, Lovino! And don't you roll your eyes, mister!" Antonio's voice was steady and strong, and you could hear the discipline in his voice, no doubt. Upon hearing his boss with such a tone, Romano abruptly turned around to face his caretaker, a frown finding a way onto his face. Lovino wasn't the slightest bit un-nerved or worried. Antonio had bouts of being a 'responsible and disciplinary caretaker'. Usually it just took a long boring lecture he never paid attention to, and Lovino was off. "You know, Romanito, you're going to have to learn some manners! And, I'm done with lecturing you, as it really doesn't work with such a rebellious child as yourself! Now, follow me." And with that, Antonio ushered the child upstairs.
Lovino scoffed. "We're in a bathroom, boss." The way he said boss screamed mockery, he spit out the word like poison. Boss.
(Lovino was certain this had to do with the squirrels wetting his bed, but, he was wrong.)
"Now, I want you to take a nice long look at this bar of soap. Because this right here," Antonio tossed the bar into the air and caught it, "will be your mid-day snack."
The child let out a cold chuckle. "Nice joke. Now seriously, I'm hungry, so go and make me some pasta."
Mr. Carriedo lifted an eyebrow. "So you don't believe me?"
"Why should I?"
The child paced away.
"Lovino... You get your smart mouth over here this instant!"
The rebel took his sweet time waltzing over to Antonio, but the minute Lovino was within his reach, the caretaker scooped the Italian off of the floor, and had the disgusting bar of soap shoved in his mouth. Romano writhed, squealed, and and squirmed in Antonio's strong arms. Now, don't get me wrong. Saying Antonio even remotely enjoyed seeing the child get what he deserved was an outright lie. Lovino meant the world to him, seeing him upset was heart-wrenching, but...
It had to be done.
"Now Romano, repeat after me. I will not use bad language. I will respect my caretakeres."
The child did as he was told. "Again."
"I will respect my caretakers, I will not use bad language!"
"Once more."
Romano obeyed, his eyes stinging with forming tears. Antonio sighed. "Now, apologise."
The Italian blubbered. He was just like any other child - he hated being yelled at. "I'm sorry!" "You know, I hate doing this to you, Roma, but you just have to learn!"
The child stayed silent.
"Now, let's go down stairs and make you some paella to make you feel better."
A trip down the stairs (literally), and a sneeze in the face later, the two reached the bottom floor. Antonio's cheerful demeanor had vanished as he gaped at the now flooded floor from the overflowing bathtub. "Shit!"