Romano stood there for a few minutes watching the Englishman in the rain before shaking himself. He-he must be a damn good actor right? To be thinking those sorts of thoughts…
"Oi, you'll catch a cold if you keep standing there like that, idiot!"
England seemed to stop of it, frowning for a minute as if he'd forgotten where he was "Oh…Romano…"
"Are all the English complete idiots or are you just 'special'?" Romano frowned, glaring at the man
England paused, pushing his wet hair away from his face "...is it that surprising?"
"Well I don't know about you, but most people round here know that when it starts raining you go somewhere dry..." The Italian rolled his eyes "Why are you out here anyway?"
The Brit shrugged "It's too stuffy in there and...I missed the rain." He turned back to look at the sky "I'm pathetic, I moan about the rain, but the second I go somewhere warm, I miss it"
Romano raised an eyebrow "You miss the rain?"
It was weird and the Italian would not admit it but it made England seem more endearing
"Oh, like you never get homesick? Your rain is different though..."
"What do you mean? Rain is rain wherever it falls..."
"No...Here it's either hot and dry or a full on shower...my weather can never make up its mind." England shook himself and walked over to join Romano under the awning "I'm rambling, sorry"
"No I don't mind...it never occurred to me my weather was that different...guess it's what you're used to" he shrugged then looked England up and down "you need to dry off and change your clothes..."
England grimaced "Ugh, my boss is going to throw a fit. I'll be fine though, it takes more than this to give me a cold"
"I don't really want to take chances, we are being host to you after all...I am sure if I ask Feli we can find something for you to borrow..." Romano grabbed England's wrist and began to drag him back towards the meeting room grumbling under his breath about stubborn Englishmen and obsessions with rain.
"Really, I'll be fine; you don't need to go to so much trouble."
"Just shut up and do as you're told" he pulled England back into the meeting room
Italy looked up in surprise as Romano pulled a wet struggling England over to where he was standing
"Inghilterra ha bisogno di cambiarsi prima di prendersi un raffreddore… [England needs to change before he catches a cold...]" Romano spoke bluntly, a little irritated that England was still trying to be a gentleman.
"Ummm, penso che potremmo avere qualcosa di ricambio al piano di sopra...ve, ma che hai fatto, fratello? [Umm, I think we might have something spare upstairs...Ve, but what did you do brother?]"
"Non ho fatto altro che trascinare il bstardo via da sotto la pioggia! Giuro che deve aver un qualche feticismo... [I did nothing but drag the bastard out of the rain! I swear its some form of fetish]" He looked at England. It wasn't because he was worried about the tea bastard...no...just really, really angry at him…because he was stupid...
Italy ve'd at this new information "Meno male! temevo che gli avessi gettato qualcosa addosso. Oh! [That's good! I was worried that you'd thrown something at him. Oh!]" He pulled a key out of his pocket "Sono abbastanza sicuro che ci sia qualcosa in quell'armadio al piano di sopra. Potrebbe andargli un pò piccolo, però...[I'm fairly sure there's something in that closet on the top floor? It might be a bit small though...]"
"Purché il bastardo indossi qualcosa che non lo faccia ammalare, andrà bene! [As long as the bastard is wearing something that won't make him ill it'll do!]" Romano snarled, grabbing the key. England found himself pulled out of the room again as Romano began pulling him towards the lift.
"Honestly Romano, it's fine, my jacket is still dry, I'll just..."
"Shut up and get in the lift!" Romano yelled, pushing the button to call it.
England, startled by the outburst, stayed quiet as the lift doors opened. Had he done something to offend the Italian? "Err, Romano, I..."
Romano walked in and folded his arms "Just get in will you..." His voice seemed more concerned now, was he actually…worried?
England gave up arguing and entered the lift. "So where are we going now?"
"To get you some clothes" Romano realised he had a chance to get closer to the Englishman. He waited for the doors to close "Look..." he started
"Yes?" England sighed, he didn't see why Romano was so anxious, he was used to getting caught out in the rain!
"I may not understand why you did it...but...don't do it again..." he looked away "please..."
England looked at Romano, startled "Don't...what? Get wet? Romano, I...are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" he snapped staying turned from the man "I...when I turned and you weren't in the meeting I got worried! Anything could have happened!" he felt his face going red, he just had to make sure his acting wasn't over the top "You're in my country after all...I know what it can be like here"
England sighed, was that all? "I...can understand that, I guess. It's...nice to know that you care so much about guests"
Romano looked back, now realising how red he had become " I...Just...w-well whatever r-right?" the door opened and Romano grabbed England and dragged him out again
"Umm, why do you and Italy even have clothes in your conference rooms?"
"No reason!" Romano shouted dragging the spare clothes out of the cupboard masking the real reason since he suspected why Veneciano had clothes in this particular closet and it was embarrassing "Put them on!"
England frowned, taking the pile of clothes "Is there a bathroom or something up here?"
Romano pointed to a small bathroom. England entered and began changing into what appeared to be some kind of tailored suit. He absently wondered why the Italies kept things like this in broom closets.
Romano slapped himself "Why the fucking hell am I so red? I need to stop getting caught up in this..."
England sighed as he did up the shirt. It was well made, he had to hand it to the Italies, they knew how to make a suit. It was made for a slightly shorter person but it would do for now. He pushed open the door "Umm, ok, do you want to head back down now?"
Romano jumped and went redder in shock "Y-yeah! And don't sneak up on me you bastard, I almost had a heart attack!"
"Sorry, I-I didn't mean to startle you." England apologised as they made their way back to the lift.
Romano pressed the call button again and sighed "It's fine... let's just get back...least you won't catch a cold now"
They entered and stood in the lift in silence. England cleared his throat "Umm..."
"Hmmm?"
"Thanks...I guess...for the clothes..."
"Oh...you're welcome..."
"N-not that I needed them! But...I'm sorry I made you worry"
"W-well, I mean and I...ah look we're here!" Romano rushed out
England sighed "Time to face the music. It was nice meeting you again though"
"R-right..."
As England left to talk to his boss, Romano frowned. T-that…that was definitely acting wasn't it? Must be, he was just so-so good at this that some feelings were lingering, that was all. It wasn't like that proved anything; the Englishman could've stayed out there and died of cold for all he cared! And…oh merda, he knew that look on Feli's face…he was going to have to think up some excuse for tonight.
England kept his face as neutral as he could as his boss berated him. What was he doing? Was he trying to ruin his reputation with the Italians? Why did he feel the need to embarrass himself and the country blah blah blah, this boss wasn't the worst he'd had, but he was a bit too worried about other people for England's liking. One thing was worrying him though, Romano's comments, hell the entire way Romano had acted since he'd found him in the rain had confused the Brit totally. He could understand that the Italian would want to leave a good impression on him and be a good host, but the way Romano had acted suggested something more than that…ugh, for heaven's sake, he must be spending too much time around France, there was no way Romano could be interested in him that way…right?
Italy, to Romano's surprise, actually had the control to wait until they had left before he pounced on his older brother "Lovinoooooo"
"What is it, Feli?"
"Why did you go to look for England?"
"Because…because, well how would it have looked if he'd got in trouble in our country, idiot? We don't need that sort of thing"
"Ve…is that so, fratello…"
"What are you getting at, Feliciano?"
"Hmm? Nothing Lovi, it's nice to know my big brother has friends!"
"W-what? I barely know the stupid rain bastard, idiot!"
Italy frowned, now he knew his brother was lying to him. Romano would never have acted that way around a stranger…but any further thoughts were driven from his head when he saw the figure lounging on the porch outside their house
"Big brother Spain!"
Spain looked up and smiled at the sight "Feli! Lovi!"
Romano scowled "What are you doing here, tomato bastard?"
Spain's expression didn't change; he was used to Romano's moods by now "Do I need an excuse to come see my little tomatito?"
"Ve! Ignore Lovi, he's just being grumpy!" Italy smiled, walking into the house to make some pasta to celebrate the unexpected visit
Spain's face lit up. Grumpy? Had Romano been unsuccessful then? "Grumpy Lovi? What could have brought that on? Or should I say who?" he teased, eyes glittering
"Shut it bastard, it's not who you're thinking of!" Romano snapped back. Damn it, he should've known that would be why Spain had come
"Now come on Lovi, don't spoil it all, you know I only came over to help nurse your broken heart" Spain teased grabbing Romano's hand and placing it on his own chest
"You- get off, pervert!" Romano tried to pull his hand out of the Spaniard's grip
"Pervert? I am not! Besides...you're the one touching me..." he laughed "Now come on tell me what happened, you know you can trust boss with anything!"
Romano felt his face heat up "Bastard! Any I tell you, you'll regurgitate to those idiots next time you go drinking!"
"Oh now, I would never do anything like that! I am just worried that the English bastard's corazón de piedra [heart of stone] crushed you"
Romano allowed himself a small smirk "Your 'passion' must harden hearts then, I've barely had any trouble"
"Huh? Oh really? Then enlighten me because I don't believe you"
"Do you need it, Spagna? You and your 'friends' are crappy at hiding"
Spain got defensive "I have no idea what you are talking about"
Romano grinned inside, it wasn't often he got the upper hand in these conversations so he would make the most of it "I could clearly see Francia and Prussia laughing at you from miles away, newspapers aren't that big you know"
Spain felt his eye twitch "Still no idea what you mean..."
"Honestly, it's a miracle Inghilterra didn't spot you; you made so much noise when we left"
"OK, OK...why are you so defensive of telling me you obviously messed up with Inglaterra and yet you are so quick to tell me when I did wrong?"
Romano frowned. First his brother, now Spain? "I haven't 'messed up' anything bastardo, just because I didn't immediately shower him in rose petals or some cazzata [shit] like that is no reason for you to assume I failed!" Romano turned to fully face Spain "And I'm quick to tell you where you went wrong, bastard, because if you are planning on stalking me this entire time, I would prefer it if you weren't so fucking obvious! It's distracting!"
"Distracting?" A small smile curled on his face "Oh, I am sorry that my presence is so captivating"
"Fuck off, it's not that, pervert! But I was listening when England was talking about you, and if he spots you, it's not my fault what he decides to do"
"Ooh, I am so scared of that cabrón [bastard]" Spain scowled
"Fine then, it'll be funny to see if some of those threats you two make are true"
Spain found himself growling a little "You're pushing it Romano..."
"Ve! Let's eat!" Italy called, bringing steaming plates of pasta through into the room. As they ate, Spain smiled at Italy
"So, did your talks with Inglaterra go well?"
Romano dropped his fork with a clank "How did you know that's where we were?"
Spain shrugged "Francia told me. Why the face, Lovi? Boss was worried about you!"
"I-you know, never mind. Figures you would have found out from the French bastard"
"Fratello, don't be so rude!"
Italy and Spain chatted amicably for the rest of the meal, with Romano butting in whenever he thought they were getting too stupid. Romano almost thought the Spaniard had forgotten about England, until they were bidding their goodbyes and Spain pulled him to the side "So? Or has Inglaterra's ice heart beaten you?"
Romano just smirked "Italians can get anyone to love them Spagna, even Englishmen"
I was missing Spain ^_^ btw, England didn't see the Bad Touch Trio in the cafe, he had his back to them. Romano only noticed them after Spain began getting annoyed. Huge props to Samstar1990 for helping me with the massive block I had with this, I owe you big!
I tried a new way of showing the translations in this chapter, what do people think? Good or bad? EDIT: Thanks so much to Red Hot Holly Berries for the corrections to my rubbish Italian! Never trust Google Translate!
As always, to everyone who reviewed, faved or alerted, thank you so much, it gives me so much motivation to do this! I noticed some people who were reading The Ripple Effect are reading this, just want to assure them that I haven't given up on that fic, I'm just waiting on the next chapter since I'm not writing it, it will be continued!