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 Four: The Dividing Line
America had spent a year with England in his Mother Country. England had quickly taught her and caught her up to the modern world, and Rome benefited from the lessons alongside her. He had been surprised to learn that England actually was somewhat of a conqueror, and a smidgen (a smidgen!) of pride entered him when he'd learned of that.
Perhaps he had been more of an influence on England than he'd thought.
He had also felt a bit lightened at that, because perhaps he wouldn't have to correct or un-teach too much of England's teachings to America. And he was also amused to hear of England's exploits as a former pirate, having remembered some of his own encounters with pirates, including that of the infamous "meet and greet" of Julius' kidnapping and subsequent return to cut down the fools.
Rome had also regretfully learned about both Greece and Egypt not only being referred as "Ancients," but also having faded away.
However, a year later, England was forced to send America back to her homelands. The Nation had fretted over this excessively, not wanting to part with her and also because he couldn't be with her on the journey back. America, actually, was the one who would calm and reassure her fellow blond Nation. She just simply smiled brightly and cutely leaned towards him, tugging at the ends of his hair with her little fingers as she spoke in her now perfect English that it was alright and she didn't mind, as long as he wrote to her regularly.
England practically melted into goo.
(So did Rome, but he wasn't going to mention that.)
And so it was, that America and Rome was sent back to her home and where they'd also caught up with what was going on in America's home since they'd been gone. Things had been…updated. There was a lot more foreigners in her land, and America's natives had started to feel restless and subdued (and even a bit violent and angry). And, though America had been kept from it in England (Rome had suspicions, since she'd been somewhat sick at times), there had been a lot of…killings of her people on her lands. She hadn't been happy about it at all.
However, for those who were originally of her land (yet had also long been immigrants of themselves long ago) and of those who were new and moving there, she tried to make peace and keep them on equal grounds. The newcomers had become part of her and she would welcome them openly.
But it was hard to make everyone happy.
However, America was doing the best that she could and Rome was very proud of his little one. Except…she wasn't quite so little anymore. Her introduction to the world, her integration into the collection of personified Nations, and the rapid growth of her lands and her world because of it, had caused little America to grow herself.
The years were passing and Rome watched her grow before his eyes.
Soon, America was no longer a little girl, but a very beautiful young woman. He could guess in the middle of the springtime of her youth, fifteen or sixteen.
The eyes of his ghostly body could not help but admire her new femininely curved body, and watched her slender limbs as she moved around like the vibrant youth she still was. The bright happy smile she always wore was, as always, on soft pouty lips that she'd always had, but had now become much more enticing. Her blue eyes, the color of her skies, were as pretty and clear as ever, but she had moments where they darkened into a deep sky blue and her eyes hooded and he could not help but watch her hungrily…
He watched her like a hungry wolf, with a gaze that would have made Romulus and Remus proud.
She was nearly as tall as him too. Slim and lean, and as graceful as he and England had taught her to be. If she'd been a man, he had no doubt grace would have been the last thing on 'his' mind, but as a proud, beautiful woman, she carried herself like the queen he'd wanted. Even her childlike and happy nature carried an undercurrent of regality and elegance one would not expect to match with a bright, open, and outgoing personality. And when she was serious, her poise and charm was all the more obvious.
Yes, he was very proud of his masterpiece.
Things had even been coming along fine, and America was starting to get the hang of the migration of people, and of how mixed the lot were. And she took care, trying her best to keep peace between her natives and the ones who'd come onto her land upon her reveal to the world.
And then England came back.
He had been watching as America was about to start on breakfast, idly chattering about how she'd slipped into the crowd of people and pretended to be one of them, observing and interacting with them curiously. And then there had been a polite knock on the door, and America had opened it to see a familiar blond Nation that Rome had been hoping to never see again and to have forgotten forever.
England's happy and hopeful smile greeted America and the continuously incorporeal Rome.
The Nation's eyes were closed, as if he were expecting a hit or was afraid to see America standing there angry and resentful of such a long absence. But it surprised even Rome when she took a few steps forward quickly and threw herself at England, willingly going into the other's arms and embracing him back. Rome frowned to himself as he watched, not at all happy and feeling the stirrings of jealousy on his part, as he uneasily looked on.
When England realized the difference in mass and weight of his once miniature little ball of sunshine, he opened his eyes in astonishment and finally saw the growth of his colony. And then when America extracted herself from his arms and stood back sheepishly, England could only gaze in awe and shock at the much taller and older America. And like Rome, he guiltily noticed her beautiful form, and had to rapidly backtrack his thoughts and shove down away feelings he felt he shouldn't feel for his "little sister."
Rome's body immediately shifted into a tense and defensive structure, glaring at the other Nation. While America remained oblivious, he could see and witness the beginnings of England's feelings starting to change and morph already, and the early stages of attraction forming from the Nation to their shared charge. He was, after all, in a similar predicament.
But Rome always won, and he wouldn't lose to this little boy.
England found out she was just about to start on breakfast and eagerly offered to cook for her, and she agreed without a protest. Rome scrunched up his nose in disgust, but she only gave him an amused look while he glanced at England and cringed.
He nonchalantly thought that England had a chance against him if he ever managed to choke some of his food down Rome's throat and murder him with it.
That night, as England told her regretfully of his needs to go out and see how things are and find out the situation, America had fallen asleep quickly as it turned dark out. Rome took his usual spot by her, on "his" side of the bed, lying on his stomach as he observed her peaceful, sleeping face.
Her silky blonde tresses almost looked like they were glowing in the moonlight. He moved his hand through them as he gazed down at her, having moved up slightly onto his elbows.
England had left hours ago by now, but it only meant more time for Rome to be alone with his regina. She was young, certainly. But it wasn't an issue with him. Especially not when it came to her, his precious girl.
So suddenly, his paternal feelings had turned into a darker realm…Perhaps, they had never been paternal in the first place.
He knew that he and America had shared an unusual and complex relationship since the beginning. The easiest way he'd tried to describe it was master-apprentice, but he quickly saw that they were much closer than that, so he'd easily swapped it with more familial terms. But it never sat right, because America was not anywhere near someone he felt like family to, though he was completely sure of that they were as close to (if not closer) in those terms of relationship.
Rome knew then, that he'd always wanted America to be his queen. His queen.
When England would come later that night (very late, Rome noted), Rome watched with sharp eyes as England would check in on America. The English Nation watched from the entrance to her bedroom, a fond smile on his face as looked upon the other blonde in the room. But then his smile faltered and he retreated quickly, closing the door with an uneasy click.
The subsequent nights were all too alike, and Rome watched as the other started to feel affection that only he was allowed to cultivate for America.
One night, America was up later than usual, reading a book Rome had wanted her to read to continue her education. It was late and stretching the time in which America really, really should go to sleep, when England entered again, opening the door without his usual knock.
The blond flushed red. "I'm sorry, America. I thought you were asleep and was checking up on you."
Rome watched.
"I'll be in bed in a bit, after I mark my page, England," she promised, smiling widely.
He started to clench his hands into angry fists.
"Would…would you like to sleep with me tonight, America? Like old times," England sheepishly asked.
The former empirical Nation shook angrily, but stayed silent and continued to watch the proceedings.
America blinked in surprise, before continuing to smile and nodded her head. "Sure! That would be nice, England. I'll change first."
He couldn't help but glare at the other male viciously.
"Ah, me too," England grinned slightly. "I'll see you in a bit then."
He wanted nothing more than to charge forward and choke the other into submission, and show him what a real conqueror could do.
But still Rome watched.
When America turned to him, he had quickly composed himself and his face was stoic and unrevealing. He nodded evasively to her, her questioning look diminishing.
When England returned, knocking this time, he entered and smiled slightly at America and slipped into bed beside her. The two faced each other, and America gave a brief smile at England before closing her eyes and having no trouble falling into an easy sleep.
England didn't echo her.
Instead, he lay on his side and slowly reached out his trembling hand to touch the side of her face, lightly caressing her skin as he gave a look of wonderment towards the girl, one that Rome could understand the other would have, but did not like seeing it on anyone else towards America.
The two sleeping together also agitated Rome, but it had been common when America was a child. Now it did even more, seeing as she was much more grown up.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart," England murmured, and he fell asleep still holding his hand to America's face.
For now, Germania and his descendants would have to wait. Rome would be focusing on waging this silent war against this former Pirate Nation.
He would like to show England how he dealt with pirates, and it would make what Julius Caesar did to his captives children games in comparison.
However, right then, Rome could only watch them.
It was all he could do at the moment.
It was the year 1754.
It was the year that England finally and unfortunately (in Rome's opinion) came back into their lives.
It was also the year the French and Indian War would begin, with tension rising to alarming heights and the British colonies would fight against the French colonies, with some of America's natives allying with the French.
It was the year that America was inducted into the hell that was the life living amongst other Nations, where conflicts were bound to happen and there was no escaping or keeping peace for everyone involved, as she so realized as she continuously threw up in the basin, with England tenderly holding her hair back and murmuring comforting words into her ear, sounding regretful and apologetic.
It was his war, but in return it had become hers.
Throwing up again, she cried into the basin and sobbed and just begged for the pain and sickness to go away. She looked up with teary eyes, seeing Rome watch her solemnly. His gaze was unwavering and he didn't look pitying nor had any trace of sympathy. He merely watched, but then smiled sadly.
'Be strong,' he formed the words, though his voice stayed silent.
Because it was only the start, now that she was a known Nation. He knew this life, and had even thrived on it. He would teach her endurance and make her refuse to buckle down.
It couldn't be helped now that everyone knew of her, and Rome would make sure that she would be like him and not fold from the pressure. She would even rise up, if he had any say in the matter.
This was neither the first nor the last of her sick spells, even when England was forced to go back overseas and continue to fight France there as well. But he made the point to come back and forth frequently, trying not to stray from America's side.
…It was the year 1754, and it was the year where both Rome and England started to have feelings for their charge.
When it was all over, it was the year 1763 and Rome had been watching over his exhausted regina. She lay on her bed, pale and with dark circles under her eyes, and sweat coating her smooth skin.
"It hurts, doesn't it, Angelus?" he murmured, standing above her bedside and towering over her. "It's painful and awful, and England has been part of the cause because of this war. Wasn't he?"
And he would continue to whisper words of sedition into her ears, longing and knowing it wouldn't be long until it was time for him and her to break away from England finally.
She didn't answer, and her pretty but dulled eyes only blinked tiredly at him.
"America? America, I have a surprise for you," England's voice echoed from downstairs, and Rome turned his body slightly to face the door, as America barely moved her eyes.
England knocked, per usual, and entered. He walked in quickly, and both America and Rome were surprised to see a male that was rather similar-looking to America tentatively walk in behind England.
England smiled excitedly. "America, this is your twin brother, Canada. He'll be living with us for now on."
The two "siblings" stared at each other, before America, the first in a long while, began to smile brightly and greet her new brother happily. Canada's breath hitched in his throat at the action, and he immediately began to feel a warm feeling and already protectiveness towards her.
"C-Canada! I'm America," her smile widened.
And then she promptly passed out.
As England and Canada rushed over to her and began to fret in panic, Rome frowned to himself as he pushed aside his own worry.
This new…brother. If he did not interfere in Rome's plan, then he could be tolerated.
When Canada looked up to address England in distress, he accidentally caught the look on the other's face towards his new sister.
"America," England murmured, threading his hand through her hair tenderly.
In that moment, both Canada and Rome could easily see that England definitely did not see or have feelings of America as family, not in the way England had asked Canada to view him as an older brother or even a father figure.
The light in his eyes, the fondness that was too fond, the care and tenderness he showed towards her, and the obvious affection spoke volumes.
Started 4/2/13 – Completed 4/2/13
A/n: And now we go to the American Revolution next! That should be a few parts actually. As you can see, Rome's already helping to set the stage for the Revolution. I don't think I mentioned it before, but I drew the cover page myself :D If you enjoyed, please leave a review! Hopefully, at least ten of them?
To KittyKat: Thank you! That's so awesome for you to say. Rome will probably continue to reflect or mention the past, and some of the people he knew, so hopefully I can weave it into the story well. She'll start to claim her independence next chapter, for sure. And Rome will definitely be part of it!