Chapter 8: Dinner
As I promised, a quicker uploaded chapter (and yes within a week ^.^)
Sorry but it isn't much longer that the last one.
Disclaimer: T.T No I do NOT own Hetalia, hima-papa does (guys he is back :D YAY)
The sun has started to sink behind the mansion, turning the sky a nice color of pink/purple.
"I thinks it better if we return" Antonio jumps down from the tree he was in landing next too Lovino.
"I wonder what we will be eating" Belgium puts the last few leaves in her basket.
"Aren't you cooking tonight?" Romano asks from her right.
"No, we have dinner in the dinner room and the cooks said it would be a surprise" Belgium picks up her basket while Netherland jumps out of a different tree with a blade.
They all return to the mansion, putting the baskets away before leaving together for the dinner room.
When they arrive Spain is not there yet and the table is set for six people.
They all take a seat and luckily Lovino and Antonio don't make the mistake of going to their usual seats, especially in Antonio his case since Spain sits at the head.
They talk for a bit filling the time until Spain arrives, and until the food will arrive, most of them have gotten rather hungry.
The door on the left of the room opens, which leads mostly to a few studies and the main hall, to allow Spain to walk in, taking his seat at the head of the table.
"Man, I'm I hungry, better get started" Spain smiles at the others, but there is something off about the smile but Lovino can't really place it. Netherland glares sideway at the Spaniard. 'Does that weed bastard know something?' the older of the Italians questions in his head.
Within the next minute, butlers and maids walk into the room serving the food. It looks great and Lovino can see the water from Antonio his mouth.
They all eat peacefully with the occasional talk from the more southern nations and Belgium.
"Everyone" Spain gets the nations their attention stopping the meaningless chatter "I'll be leaving for a few days and I want everything to be running smoothly while I'm gone" For a second he looks at Netherland with a pointy look.
Romano starts to feel a little nervous, sitting uneasy in his seat.
"Are Austria and Holy Roman Empire going to spend the night here?" Belgium looks at Spain with a questioning gaze together with her usual sly smile.
"No the two have already gone back to begin with preparation for my arrival" Spain answers before resuming in eating his dinner.
They all resuming eating while Belgium, Antonio and Spain chat away. Antonio tries to act normal wanting the guilt to go away.
Lovino sends a few curses Antonio his way before looking up from his plate to look at his younger self.
Romano has his usual growl on his face while trying to eat but there is something, an emotion, in his eye that doesn't fit.
Lovino recognizes the emotion immediately, for he has seen it many times in the mirror. The emotion of hurt, determination, uncertainty but most of all sacredness. Not the kind of sacredness for spiders, but that for mistakes, anger and disappointment.
"Now hold it like this, yes hold it" Spain is modeling Romano his hand around a spoon trying to teach him how to hold it properly, but the moment Spain lets go of Romano his hand the spoon fall onto the table, making Romano growl in frustration.
Spain and Belgium have been trying to teach Romano how to eat properly with a spoon but to no avail, every time Spain or Belgium would put Romano his hands in the right position with the spoon, would the spoon fall out of the Italian his hand wans the older one led go of it.
The spoon has more than ones fallen on the floor, for Belgium to get a new one, and sometimes even fell into the bowl of soup he is supposed to eat.
The only one who is calmly eating as if this is everyday business is Netherland, not bothering to make everything more hectic and complicated.
"Leave the boy along, can't you see this isn't working?" the Dutch boy stops eating, putting his spoon on the table, glaring at Spain.
"But he needs to learn how to eat properly" Spain insist while Belgium furiously nods along, determent to teach Romano the right way.
Netherland lets out a sight, knowing better than to argue with those two, resuming in his task of eating his meal.
"Alright Romano, ones more" Spain and Belgium continua teaching Romano, which gets more frustrated with every attempt, which all result in a falling spoon.
"Arhg" Romano lets yet another spoon fall, fed up with all of it, he crosses his arms, wanting to do no more.
"Come on Romano" Spain holds out his hand to Romano, but the boy doesn't move, not wanting to try anymore, tired of failure.
"Please Romano" Belgium pulls out the big guns, putting up her puppy dog eyes.
Romano seems to give in for a slight second before stubbornly shaking his head.
Spain lets out a sight in defeat, giving up for today, starting to eat his own meal.
Belgium looks with a sad expression at Romano before doing the same.
The three older nations eat in silent, two of which have a sad expression while the other shows little care or emotion.
The younger nation glares at his meal and spoon, but the angry glare slowly turns into a sad almost defeated expression.
Romano looks up from his meal to look at the older nation but non look up from their meal.
He watches Spain and Belgium, hoping to learn how to eat from watching them, but no such luck. He can't clearly see how they are holding their spoon or which movement they are making.
With little hope, he looks at Netherland, thinking it will just be the same as with the other two.
To his surprise, Netherland his movements are very clear and easy to follow and mimic, holding his hand so that Romano can easily see how to do it himself.
The Italian boy watches the Dutch boy eat for a few more minutes with utmost interest and concentration, before trying it himself.
It doesn't work and after a few failed attempts, he start to give up again, angry but also sad. He expects Netherland to have given up as well, wanting to eat normally.
He looks hopeless and defeated toward the northern boy, finding him eat just the same, same stand, same space, same everything.
Romano finds some determination and tries again and again, looking up at Netherland for guiding, who doesn't change his panther thou the whole course.
Belgium looks up from her meal to look at Romano, hearing the spoon fall all the time, to find a frustrated Italian. Sad, she looks back at her meal and resumes eating.
After hearing Romano try and fail for a few more time, the noise stops.
Belgium thinks Romano has given up again but looks up out of curiosity. To her surprise, she finds Romano eating his meal the proper way.
Shock overwhelms her, but the shock quickly makes place for happiness, joy, excitement and a feeling of proud "Romano, you did it" she jumps up from her seat to hug Romano tightly, making the Italian boy blush furiously.
Spain looks up just in time to see Romano eat on his own before he is hugged by a overjoyed Belgium "Romano, that's my boy, I'm so proud" Spain stands up too to hug Romano together with Belgium.
Romano tries to look though a bundle of Belgium and Spain to find Netherland still eating his meal.
Feeling a little crushed that Netherland shows no care, the Italian boy looks down before looking up again with little hope to find a small, proud, smile on Netherland his lips.
The memory fades into the back of Lovino's mind, not knowing why that particular memory came up.
".. and Lovi~ was so cute, just like a tomato" he hears featly next to him bringing him out of his thoughts completely.
"It's Lovino, you bastard" Lovino hits Antonio who just smiles back rubbing his hurt shoulder.
I know not a very interesting, action, emotion packed chapter. But I wanted to show how much of a family they are together, all having their place in Romano his live. Spain for obvious reason, being his boss, caretaker, and undying support. Belgium for being there for him, always enthusiastic, teasing him in time, a strong sweet girl. And Netherland as the toxic big brother type, helping and supporting him from the shadows, giving Romano all the space he needs to keep his pride intact.
I could go one forever, but I will spare you guys all my head canons and rambling.
Have a nice day and please …...….. enjoy it.