Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia: Axis Powers!
Story: They all thought it was France who influenced America away from England. That only Prussia influenced America's military. That only England's culture was completely entwined with America. But there was someone else pulling the strings, and Rome was waiting to rise again.
Set somewhere somewhere somewhere (shrugs).
Spoilers: Yesssss….Noooo…I don't know?
Warnings: Violence, language, sexual situations, etc.
Pairings: RomexFem!America, one-sided WorldxFem!America, side-main platonic (and yet not really platonic) UKxUS, CanadaxBelarus, AustriaxHungary, etc…
Aeternus Amor Meus
Chapter Two: I am Trapped Inside
Because he was Rome. And he was the Emperor among Nations.
It was, therefore, unacceptable that such upstarts were invading on his territory, though it was not actually his.
Since spotting the incoming ships and the inevitable Nations aboard those ships, Rome had grumblingly taken his charge and expertly maneuvered around the intruders. He took care not to get caught or let America be seen (because he was still unbelievably invisible), and when she asked what was going on or why he was doing all this, he answered vaguely.
Soon, he wouldn't be able to keep doing that.
Oh, Rome knew that America would soon become impatient and would eventually do something to try to find things out on her own. She was young and impulsivity was common in the young. It had been a common trait with Italy and Romano.
However, it helped to buy him time and try to find a favorable solution to his problem that cropped up. He was neither fully whole, it seemed, so he could not just pop out and simply force the others into submission. It seems that he would just have to then steer America towards the Nation that would benefit him (and her) and their situation the most.
Perhaps…he'd have to look in on the Nations and decide the best one, but for now his thoughts lingered on a few Nations. He'd prefer a more docile one, therefore one that would be the most malleable to America and which meant himself.
He took time to do reconnaissance, studying the Nations that had arrived and would be the best candidate to not ruin his plans. Mildly, his thoughts went to France, who he saw had grown in the time he'd been gone. The eccentric Nation was a fool, highly self-absorbed, and yet also wasn't too bad a power Nation. The resources and power was there, and he and America could wield such things much better than France ever could.
Finland was also a good choice, if only because of how meek the Nation was. Then again, he wasn't as large or powerful of a Nation as France was, and there was that annoying Sweden to think of. He was also tempted to try a more obvious Germanic Nation, if only because his anger and bitterness clouded his head and screamed at him to use this opportunity to seek revenge.
He was still somewhat sore at the missed opportunity to take some form of revenge against Germania, by attacking that Leif Erikson some centuries ago. It wasn't even restraint that kept him back, but this pitiful semi-incorporeal state he seemed to be stuck in.
There was also that Spaniard…He was on par with France, and had actually been the first to come to the Americas, aside from Erikson (who was only human and didn't really count, as Spain arrived with the Italian Columbus and had actually spread the awareness of America's lands to the others). Spain had reached closer to the south of America's lands though, where he understood that America had relinquished control over to some other Nation that he didn't fully know or fully understood the situation. Neither of them had been to the south for a while though, so they hadn't known that until it was after the fact and too late –and all Nations had come to get their grubby hands on his protégée.
Still, this would be a good time to further observe the others and make a concrete decision. Then he could tell America and she would approach his choice, and soon enough things would fall into place.
Keeping to that course of action, he decidedly went after the Nations to look and see before making a firmer choice in who could be the greatest asset to them and have guardianship over America.
They were actually a rather pathetic lot.
France, older now, was as youthful and perverted as ever. And then there was England, whose flag was the one he had sort of (but not really) recognized. His head tilted to the side and he watched the blond with thick eyebrows shout at the Frenchman.
He remembered England well. He remembered defeating and forcing his mother, Britannia, to submit to him and conquering the British Isles. 'Albion', England had been called then. What Rome had called him. It did not seem as if that is what he was referred to nowadays, if the Frenchman's returned shouting indicated.
He wondered about 'Lerne'. How was she these days? Did she still cry at the drop of a helmet? Perhaps she still holds a grudge against England…
Rome felt rather old, with all these memories and recollections. 'Tis no matter, anyhow. He had a new start and he felt invigorated and ready to reclaim the new world. He would be a Conqueror once more, soon enough.
He inwardly scoffed at England though. Still as silly as he remembered the younger Nation. It was laughable to even think, much less acknowledge, that England had grown up to be a formidable foe for the others, much less himself. He laughed outright –no one could hear him anyways.
He decided he'd take a break and search out America, perhaps finally bring her up to speed and warn her of the other Nations as well as his future plans. He'd only gone a little ways off from the Nations, when he spotted a small child that looked remarkably like a smaller, child version of his enemy (ex-friend) Germania. His mind blanked and he saw red, rushing forward with the intent on attacking the little beast, and destroying the mirror image of his foe.
Unfortunately, he only dove right through the little brat and landed roughly on the ground beside him. Another Germanic "mercenary" appeared, and Rome recognized him as another Nation –Prussia. Once again older and taller, the albino Nation called out to the brat and had him follow him back to the Nations' camp on the shores. Grumbling in his head and glaring at the retreating backs of the Germanic Nations, he held back his snarl and forced himself to focus on his goal of finding America.
When he still wasn't able to find her after nearly a half hour of searching, he unhappily went back to spy on the other Nations. Here, he saw Finland stumble into the camp, looking bruised and beat up. The fool must've provoked one of the other Nations on the prowl and gotten thrashed for it.
He halfheartedly listened, more worried about his little America and wondering where she had gone off to. It was only when Finland had stopped talking about his situation with Netherlands that he started giving his full attention, hearing the Nation talk about seeing a little girl peeking on Sweden and him and running away before they could come talk to her.
"I'm worried. What if that poor little girl runs into Netherlands? Oh, she'll get hurt!"
Rome narrowed his eyes. He did not like the idea of America being found out, or that these Nations now knew of her. He didn't like this new development, that didn't fit with his plans. He also disliked anyone hurting her, and he would not tolerate this Netherlands laying a hand on his successor. He wouldn't let anyone hurt America.
He scowled as he saw France and England grow extremely interested looks on their faces.
He disliked their interests too.
The three of them questioned if America was one of them, and then they started to wonder if his little one could possibly be their "little sister." He snorted. As if. They weren't even worthy of being near her, much less being related to her –by blood or adoption.
France and England began to squabble over the ownership over America, and he inwardly began steaming with anger and mentally ranting in indignation at the nerve of those two, ignoring the weakling Finland's terrified watching.
Once again, he left the fools as he went searching for America. However, the longer he could not find her, the longer he began to panic. Already, having let her out of his sight and not being able to find her last time, had led to her meeting with Finland and Sweden. Consequently, that led to the discovery of her existence to the others. What would happen now? Would she meet more Nations? Would some other horrible situation occur, that would definitely not meet with his approval?
He couldn't allow anything else to happen, and he hadn't liked things getting out of his control like this. Anything more out of his control was just unacceptable.
He was nearing the end of his rope when he finally saw his little one. Except she was being confronted by both France and England, where France was attempting to tempt America with his cuisine and England had gone to sulk.
And then he saw America move passed France and worriedly go over to England, asking if he was okay.
France pouted about being rejected and England started to rejoice and smile happily at America for being chosen over "the frog."
No. Absolutely not. Any Nation but England. He was a weakling and scrawny. He remembered him as a child –spineless, cowardly. More content to play with magic and be useless, ending up always being so helpless. Rome couldn't stand it then and he wouldn't stand it now, knowing England would cripple America and make her soft and naïve to the point of vulnerable and dependent (he too would want to shield her and protect her, but to make her weak and disgustingly frail was not something he wanted at all).
No, he definitely did not like the idea of giving England custody over America, and would have chosen someone else. The very idea that England now was America's physical guardian made him furious and easily balking at the idea. He would have even chosen Germania and any of his descendents (and he hated the lot of them), if simply because they were a strong race and full of warriors. It was something he could respect, as opposite to the likes of England, who was nothing short of anything but a warrior (and coming from a bunch of tribal, barbaric nation full of savages).
She was to be a warrior queen. England stood in that path, and Rome wouldn't allow it. He would make America into a warrior queen, carve her into that image as he had meticulously planned from the beginning. England's appointment as her guardian could potentially derail that, he felt it deep down inside.
All of his carefully made notes and contemplations over who would be the best Nation to take care of America –ruined. All because of a careless and unthinking choice (plain carelessness and thoughtlessness on his part) made by he and America. All of his carefully made plans were unraveling, all because he didn't keep a closer eye on her and because she hastily went over to comfort England and chose him of all Nations.
He was not happy with this turn of events, not happy at all.
He hated that England was now America's caretaker, and he unfortunately was unable to do anything about it. But he would just have to make do and adapt to the new change, adjust his plans to fit accordingly, and manipulate the current situation to America and his advantage. There was no use crying over something that was already done. He was upset, but he would overcome this as he had with everything else.
Still, he kept his face stony and unhappy as America turned in England's arms and caught sight of him. She looked hesitant and wary, but kept still and childlike in England's arms as the thick eye-browed Nation happily walked back to camp with her in his arms, intent on showing her off and eagerly spreading the news that she was his little sister and that she'd actually chosen him.
He kept silent and kept his distance the entire time, letting America be on her own and be with her new guardian. He ignored any of the glances she sent over to him, ones that grew more desperate as time passed, and only either returned them stoically or looked away indifferently. He followed after the two when England went to the house he'd had built in the first of colonies he'd claimed in America's lands, where he brought her to her new room and where he promised to fix it up for her soon.
Rome watched in the corner as England tenderly sung America to sleep, her long lashes fluttering until she finally closed them completely. England smiled fondly, brushing a hand through her hair, before he laid a brief kiss on her forehead and then departed to downstairs.
The former Empire Nation leaned against the wall and waited. He looked at America coolly and her bright blue eyes snapped opened, and she stared back at him with them unblinking.
"I thought I told you to stay put," he said quietly, pursing his lips.
"I was bored," she said simply. "And you left me behind. You were gone. For a long time."
He narrowed his eyes, starting to scowl.
"I was scared."
That made him blink and reflexively flinch back. And then she started to bite her lip, her eyes widening and beginning to water as she looked at him sadly. He crumbled easily.
Italy had once used similar tactics against him (although his grandson hadn't been too bright and probably wasn't purposeful about doing so), and he had been weak to them and succumbed to those eyes more often than not. It was no different this time (and he was a little unsure whether or not America, on the other hand, was purposely utilizing such devastating eyes –she was much more calculating and scheming than Italy, and very much more like Rome in this manipulative way).
"Ah, my adorably and so sweet America!" he loudly proclaimed, having no fear of being overheard due to his state, and promptly tackled the little Nation and swung her in his arms as he tightly embraced her.
She blinked and pouted to herself.
"Don't be so sad, my little cherub~ Rome still cares for you very much so, Angelus," he crooned, as he rubbed his cheek against hers fondly. "We will just have more work to do, is all. This little setback is nothing to Rome –I will teach you to conquer, my darling regina."
Yes, his little American Queen will soon learn to be an Empire soon enough, with his diligent and careful guidance.
Started 7/14/12 – Completed 1/16/13
A/n: Wee~ Finally, that's over. This was one of those chapters that have to be written to help set things up, but one of those you really don't want to write. Now we get to the good stuff, now we're with England (and hopefully faster updates)! Hehe, almost a year since this was published. I'm going to try to regularly integrate history, though I'm no history buff (I'm sure mistakes will probably pop up). Italy will definitely be in here, but not soon. For both Rome and America, I'm going to combine their personalities from Hetalia canon to what I thought they'd be like if the show was serious (which I had actually originally thought Hetalia was going to be before actually watching it).
The other pairings are there, BUT the main is RomexAmerica and is the focus of the story (and main mutual one). The rest are just touched upon, so don't worry. I'm not gonna change the pairing on y'all or something. The story is about them, so really the spotlight stays on them, no matter what side pairings come up.
Also, male!America makes an appearance later on, so I warn you now that there will be some temporary slash/yaoi.
And I'm really astounded that people gave this a try and actually like the pairing. That's just awesome sauce and I love you all.