Just a note, because I've been getting this a fair bit, I know my translations aren't perfect, I hate having to use Google Translate, but it's honestly my best option as I'm not bilingual. Corrections are appreciated.
The phone rang. Romano frowned as he got up to answer it, wondering who it could be, hardly anyone rang him in the middle of the day
"Pronto?"
"Fratello?"
"Who else would it be, idiot?"
"Umm well, it could have been…"
"Never mind, why are you calling me in the middle of the day, fratello? Are you alright?" Romano tried to ignore the slight fear that had begun to gnaw at him. Veneciano hardly ever rang at this time unless it was urgent. There was silence on the other end of the phone, no voice came but what sounded like fidgeting was heard. "Fratello?" Romano could hear the worry edging into his voice "Are you hurt?"
"Ah! N-no I am not hurt...it's just ...well you see..." Veneciano was still fidgeting
"What? Fratello, has someone upset you?"
"No, no!" Italy suddenly realised he had yelled down the phone and cringed a little "Well, you know how I have another meeting with England coming up?"
Romano sighed "I do now"
"Well..." Italy took a deep breath "It's really cold there! The food is horrible and England really scares me! He gets so into his speeches when he is in his own country!"
Ah. Romano frowned, could he use this to his advantage? "Veneciano..."
"So since you were so good last time and you really, really, really love me" Italy stressed the word really over and over "You would be happy to take my place, si?"
"Eh? Don't try and push all the work on me, Veneciano!"
"Cosa? [What?] I am not pushing all my work on you! After all you so clearly said" Veneciano cleared his throat and gave his surprisingly good Romano impression "It's my country as well, you know..." this was followed by a laugh "Or something like that"
"I-I never said I wouldn't do it, idiot! Che, I guess I should be thankful that you listened to me for once...but why would I want to go to that tea bastard's country? Like you said, its cold, wet..."
"He still has your clothes that you lent him" Italy broke him off midsentence "But I know Big Brother France goes to England's a lot so I guess I could ask him to pick up the clothes and bring them back to you..." Italy mused over whether Romano would enjoy a visit from France
"Veneciano...Fine, I'll go. Why did you call me so early though? Trying to give me a fucking heart attack?"
"Really? It's early?" he looked at the clock and laughed "Ve~ so it is, I spent so long trying to get my work done and trying to convince myself to call you, I forgot to go to sleep"
This scared Romano more than the actual call had done "You...haven't slept? Idiota, it's nearly midday! Is that stupid potato eater's work ethic rubbing off on you or something? Go and sleep before you pass out, stupid brother"
"But I don't feel sleepy…" This was followed by a rather loud yawn
"Bullshit Feli, now go take a siesta before I come up there and make you. Honestly, how has your workload piled up so high?" Romano began to feel guilty. Maybe he should take on more of his brother's workload if they were working him this hard… There was a strange slur of words which was either I don't know or ant De low, either way Veneciano, now over the worry of talking to his brother was slipping into unconsciousness.
"Veneciano? Veneciano? Answer me dammit!" Romano felt panic begin to creep into his voice, since when had Veneciano been such a workaholic? He'd heard of a few cases where Japan and Germany had nearly worked themselves to death, they must be rubbing off on his brother.
Italy snapped to attention at the sound of his brother's voice
"Ve, Fratello? Did you want something?" Italy replied happily "M...maybe you're right, I should go...go to bed..."
Romano rolled his eyes "Really, you don't say, idiot? Don't you dare scare me like this again, stupid"
There was another slur of words then "oh...s-sorry...did you say something?" Italy rubbed at his eye, walking over to the bed and sitting on the edge of it.
Romano sighed. There was no use in berating Veneciano now, his brother could never pay attention when he was tired "It's nothing Feli, just hang up and sleep alright? Fucking worrying me like this..."
"OK...Ciao, Romano" Italy hung up and 3 seconds later was fast asleep on his bed. Italy felt a little guilty for making his brother worry, he'd meant to call the previous evening, but he'd got so worked up trying to figure out what to say, he had somehow not noticed the night slip past him. Still, it would be good for Romano to get out and meet new people, and he had got on so well with England, it was a pleasant change from a few months ago, when Romano had been practically house-bound.
Romano put the phone back in its cradle before sighing and allowing himself a small smile "Honestly fratello, what would you do on your own?" His brother had been surprisingly useful though, a trip to England would be exactly what was needed. Not that he was looking forward to it or anything; he had never been before and from what Veneciano had told him it was dreadful…and very cold. Before these thoughts could develop any further, the phone rang again
"Dammit Veneciano, I told you…"
"Err, is this a Lovi?"
He didn't recognise the voice, but only one person would have him down as Lovi
"This is Lovino Vargas. What did Antonio do?"
"Him and his friend smashed my bar up pretty good. Can you come and get him?"
His head screamed no, but his mouth said "Fine, I'll come get the bastard in a few minutes"
When Romano arrived at the bar in question he saw the owner had not been exaggerating. Bar furniture lay obliterated on the floor among shards of glass. Only one stool was still intact, on it sat France, who miraculously had found a glass of wine to nurse. Spain lay unconscious on what was once a table on the other side of the room.
Cautiously, in case any bar staff were still around, Romano made his way over to France
"Francis…"
On hearing Romano, France turned a sly smile across his lips.
"Ah, bonjour Lovino! Ca va?"
"Well, I was woken from my siesta to hear someone with the name 'Lovi' in his phone had trashed a bar with his idiot friends…where is potato 2 anyway?"
France blinked, then put one finger to his cheek in thought "Gilbert? I don't know actually…he was here when we started"
Romano could feel his temper rising "Why did you even need to trash the place in the first place, wine bastard? Do you realise how much trouble it is?"
France considered yelling at Lovino too, but it wasn't like it would achieve anything, it was most likely Spain's fault anyway, so instead settled for "Oh, just a minor disagreement, ma cher…and how are you getting on with your and Espagne's little bet?"
Romano flushed; he went to yell that it was none of France's business, when he heard England's voice from outside
"Apparently, someone who calls me 'mon lapin' trashed a bar and needs bailing out…fancy clearing this up for me, frog?" England finished about 2 inches from France's face, until he realised Romano was there "Sorry about this Lovino, but I need to castrate this wanker!"
Romano shrugged "Be my guest" he grinned, sliding his phone out of his pocket. He needed photo proof of this
France swore he could see the pirate in England's eyes, as England curled his fingers around France's neck, choking him. The grip relaxed slightly as England turned, confused, to Romano "Why are you here, anyway?"
Romano jerked his thumb in Spain's direction "You aren't the only one who has annoying people in their phone contacts"
"Ah" And with that, England turned to once again concentrate on throttling France.
Romano, figuring it was best to leave England and France to it, walked over to Spain and kicked him into semi-consciousness "Come on, tomato bastard, I've wasted enough time here" Spain jerked awake enough for Romano to start dragging him out. As he left he suddenly remembered his conversation with Veneciano
"Oi Arthur, I'm replacing Feli at the talks in a few weeks by the way" he called over his shoulder before leaving the bar with a drunken nation in his wake.
England looked up in surprise, releasing France's neck "Eh?" But before he could make a proper reply, Romano was gone. England sighed
"Where are your keys, frog? I can't leave you here"
France gave him a half lidded gaze "Guess, Angleterre…"
"We play this fucking game every time I get called to pick you up. Just give me the bleeding keys or I'll throw you through your own window"
France sighed "You're no fun anymore, Angleterre"
Another short filler chapter, sorry! I wimped out of writing the "France goes fully apeshit" scene, so I'm making this a contest for who can write this scene the best. I'll write a oneshot of the pairing of the winner's choice for the best ^_^ Good luck!
Thank you for all the reviews, favourites and alerts. I always answer questions about the fic as best I can, so feel free to ask if something isn't clear!