...I really do suck, don't I? I apologize profusely to those of you who are still sticking this out. Somehow during the summer my previous copy of this chapter got lost and then I moved and ugh. It's been a rough few months. I know; excuses, excuses...
Anyway, let me start off by saying that this went in a sort of different way than I had originally planned. And I think I like this better than how it started. From now on, I'll be branching into more modern history. (Weeell, this side of Rome modern...)
As mentioned in EVERY OTHER CHAPTER I'VE POSTED, I do not own Hetalia. Obviously, I am not genius enough for that.
I hope this makes up for my absence. It's almost 3,000 words on Word. ^_^
It started with a kiss.
Adala furrowed her brow in frustrated concentration as she took her ever-present anger out on the tiles of one of the rooms in the suite Timæus shared with his mother (and herself). One of her favorite cleaning methods involved pretending the filth was Rome's face. (Scrubbing it away made her feel a little better, but she still longed the beat the actual thing into a bloody, unrecognizable pulp.) It would make her kinsmen proud that all of her thoughts centered on causing Rome agony. She had even taken to creating detailed plans in her head as to how she would murder him. Now all that remained was selecting the best one and implementing it. Then she could escape through the hole in the palace's security and return to her kinsmen with Rome's head on her belt.
Suddenly, the former warrior (still warrior) felt the burning of someone's eyes on her person. She looked up and over her shoulder to see the spoiled brat Rome called a son. (Spoiled, even though he had been nothing but kind to her since she was given to him. He was Roman; no Roman knew true hardship.)
"Vhat are you staring at?"
Timæus smiled at her, a shit-eating grin that made Adala want to shove the rag down his throat. Or choke him with it. Or both. Both was good.
"You. The floor is so shiny it's like you're sitting on a mirror."
Adala rolled her eyes. Romans were so difficult to understand—there seemed to be no sensible logic to their thought process, and the only things they were concerned about were food, wine, and women. Trying to carry on an intelligent conversation was like trying to turn clay bricks into gold jewelry: impossible.
Before the redheaded German even knew what was happening, Timæus was cupping her chin with his hand and staring into her eyes. Without really giving the startled girl time to react, the Roman placed a gentle kiss on her lips. The kiss lasted for only a moment, but to both of them it felt like forever. As Timæus pulled away, he gave her a loving smile.
"You're really beautiful, Adela. I would love to have you as my wife someday."
Adala could only watch as he got up and walked away, stunned at the sudden turn of events. She slowly put her fingertips to her lips, which were still tingling. It took a few more moments before she shook her head and clenched the fabric of her dress above where her heart was.
"Ridiculous."
Romano (he had to start calling himself that now; Rome was insistent on it to the point of making the boy flashback to his days in captivity) wanted to be a good older brother. After all, that was what he had promised his mother years ago when he was still so young. His brothers were his world; take them away, and Romano was nothing. Just another orphan with nothing left to lose.
So when Rome announced that he would be taking the three on a tour of the empire, Romano nearly fainted with joy. It had been so long since he had seen his brothers. How had they aged, if they had aged at all? Were they eating properly? Did they still pray regularly to God? Was Feliciano able to speak more now? Had Gratiano started talking yet? Was his youngest brother walking now? Were they doing okay without him? Would they still remember him?
That last question just about killed him. Romano spent many sleepless nights tossing and turning over the fear that in his absence, his brothers had somehow forgotten him. Feliciano could be so absentminded at times, and Gratiano had been so young when Romano was taken away. Would he have to introduce himself to them, telling them his name and that he was their older brother? Remind them of things they should already know, would know if it hadn't been for Rome?
Sadly, there was very little for Romano to do to quell his fears but count down the days to Rome's arrival. He tried countless times to imagine his reunion with his beloved little brothers, imagine holding them close and swearing he'd never let them be separated again. Promise them their fratello would always be there for them, that he would never leave. Nothing short of untimely death would be able to rip Romano away from Feliciano and Gratiano.
Absolutely nothing.
Rachel's God was interesting, Adala had to admit. She was used to the stoic and strong gods of the natural world. Growing up, Adala had been told tales of the gods who inhabited rivers and lakes, who held dominion over the mountains and forests, who made the skies their homes. The idea of a single God for the entire world…it was an interesting concept. The mother of her "master" was more than willing to indulge the warrior princess in tales about the all-knowing, all-powerful God and His Kingdom of Heaven.
"So, this Jesus person was willingly crucified in order to have all humans forgiven of their sins?"
Rachel nodded as she started a new row on her loom. "Yes. The Lamb of God lived a perfect life free from sin and corruption. In his pure, innocent blood, all who believe and ask the Lord's forgiveness will be forgiven and given a place in His Heavenly Kingdom."
Adala nodded as she took in the information. She was no stranger to concepts of an afterlife; her people had such beliefs themselves.
"Heaven seems to be an odd place."
"Odd? How so?"
"For my people, the afterlife is not some glorious utopia filled with angels and pure happiness. We believe that when one dies, his or her energy goes to the world around us. For example, if I died, my energy—or soul, as you call it—might go to some seeds and become anything from a beautiful flower to a sturdy tree. Or it could become part of the river that waters our crops and sustains our lives. Everything is connected in a never-ending cycle. Our heaven is here, returning to our beloved Mother Earth when our bodies can no longer take our energy. It is a form of comfort to us, to know that the lives of our kinsmen did not simply disappear; that they live on in the world around us."
Rachel smiled at her. "That's a beautiful theory, Adela. I suppose Heaven would sound odd when all you know is that story. And your Latin has greatly improved."
Adala groaned at the compliment. "Do not remind me! I am not happy with that fact. Latin is a terrible language. Being able to speak it well is not a gift, it is a curse."
The mother smiled and giggled a bit at the younger girl's complaining. She decided not to point out that the young slave's language sounded far more barbaric and evil than Latin, to the point that it seemed that everyone who spoke it was angry. Adala must have caught some part of that thought, as she gave Rachel a sour look and picked up a pillow.
"My language is one of strength! What the Romans call barbaric and angry, my people know is solid and stable. Far better than the weakness of Latin!" Adala punctuated each statement by gently hitting Rachel with the pillow, causing the older woman to burst out laughing.
"Persia left us last night."
Rome looked over his shoulder to see Auait, a stubborn strength masking the obvious tiredness of her kohl-lined eyes. The Egyptian woman was leaning against the doorway into the stables, strands of short, impossibly straight black hair danced softly in the gentle breeze.
"I thought you hated her."
"I did, to a degree. You know well that hate among our kind is a rare thing. We live far too long to afford to hate each other. Dislike, yes, but rarely hate."
The empire smiled at her. "And in summary, you disliked her."
Auait looked over at some saddles, her dark brown eyes murky and distant. Not once throughout her captivity had Rome ever been able to decipher what went on behind those eyes. It was a point of pride Auait would take with her on her approaching journey to the afterlife.
"Her eldest left this morning, and he took his siblings with him."
Rome sighed. "You don't sound at all surprised."
"Why should I be? Sadiq is his mother's son. There's hardly a trace of you in him at all." Auait heaved a sigh as she tore her gaze from whatever it had focused on and returned it to her captor. "He will become strong one day. I fear it will be in his desire to take after you."
"You say that like it's a bad thing."
Auait fixed with him with a lightly scorching gaze. "In that boy, it is. I wish you well on your trip, Rome. I doubt Greece and I will be here upon your return."
For such a normally stoic woman, she was surprisingly sensitive. Timæus smirked against the soft skin of Adala's neck as he lightly nipped the creamy flesh. The redhead swallowed a gasp, tightening her grip on his shoulders. To cry out under a Roman's touches—to admit that he gave her pleasure—it would be the final indignity. He could touch every last bit of her body, take her until he collapsed from exhaustion, but she would refuse to voice any of it. Adala would not encourage his lust.
"Let me hear you, Adela. I want to hear every sound you make."
His hand tangled itself in the red locks, cupping the back of her head as he pulled her into another deep kiss. Adala's eyes narrowed, turning a dangerous dark green as she automatically fought for dominance in the display of affection. Her heart was slamming against her ribcage, almost trying to merge with the equally frantically beating heart of the Roman. Something deep within her was screaming at her to get closer to him, to eliminate any distance between them. The hand that wasn't currently tangled in her hair drifted down to her hips, and an image formed in her mind. An image of a couple of boys, one with her brilliant red locks and his golden eyes, the other with his dark curls and her green eyes. Adala shoved him away, staring at him with something akin to horror in her eyes.
He looked at her with shock and confusion in his golden eyes. "Adala…? What?"
The Germanic woman bolted away, unable to get rid of the image of two small boys…her sons…
His sons.
"Nonno, where are we going?"
Rome smiled down at his youngest grandsons. "We're going to go get your older brother."
Little Veneziano looked up at Rome, his eyes closed as always. Rome wondered how the child functioned without seeing…had something gone wrong in the ritual that had left the boy blind? A small frown etched its way onto the large Roman's man, and Veneziano shifted a little.
"Nonno, why are you frowning? Is something wrong?"
That question made Rome feel a little better; if Veneziano could see him frowning, then the child could not be blind. So, Rome quickly exchanged the frown for a smile and reassured his grandson that everything was fine. Veneziano accepted the man's assurance, but something deep inside him told him that something was indeed wrong. Rome just wouldn't say it.
Timæus didn't even know why he suggested it. Well, maybe that was the wrong wording. He had suggested running away because he wanted to spend the rest of his life with the fiery redhead even his father couldn't tame. Though, the only reason he had suggested it now was because of the information Adala had just given him: she was with child. His child. The thought of his beautiful Adala carrying a tiny new life that he helped create…it made him want to be with her even more.
"What? Run away? Timæus, have you lost your mind?"
Adala, unlike Timæus, was terrified out of her mind and full of self-loathing. She was never meant to be a mother—even the half-mad mystic back home told her she belonged on the battlefield instead of in the home. She had been terrified to let Timæus get so close for this very reason; but in a night full of short-sighted decisions, she had. And now she had to deal with the consequences.
"Adela," he said softly as he took her hand, looking into those beautiful green eyes, "I know it sounds crazy, but we both know what will happen if my father finds out. As a slave, you'll be made an example of. I can't stand to see you hurt for something I did. I know how reluctant you were to go so far, but I convinced you."
"Enough! Listen to me, you idiot. I may have been reluctant, but I still allowed that night to happen. You did the unforgivable: you saw me at my weakest. I should have killed you that morning, but something stopped me. I don't know how or why, but as a result of your incessant prodding, I've started to feel for you. I don't know if its what you'd call love, but—"
Before Adala could continue, Timæus cut her off with a kiss. So she truly did feel something for him. He didn't need it to be love—even if it hurt him, he could be happy so long as she felt something for him. He loved her so much, and was perfectly willing to give her all of the time and space she needed.
"Marry me, Adela."
Dark green eyes looked into golden brown. For the first time in her life, Adala found herself unable to say no.
It was uncomfortably warm, and it was getting harder to breathe. Romano groaned as he pulled himself into wakefulness. The sight that greeted his eyes was horrific. Flames were everywhere, and for a moment Romano was certain he had died and ended up in the Burning Inferno. Was he being punished because he hadn't been able to take care of his brothers? The more panicked he became, the harder it was to breathe. Romano forced himself to calm down, and got out of the bed he had been napping on.
Mere seconds after he had moved, a burning wooden beam crashed onto the bed. Romano shrieked and slammed against the wall. The fear had completely set in, every nerve ending in his body screaming at him to run, to get out of the flames as soon as possible. Romano couldn't tear his eyes away from the bed that could have very well have become his funeral pyre, even as his legs started inching towards the door. He had to find a way out. Rome and his brothers would arrive soon, and Romano had to at least see his brothers one last time.
The smoke was thick, curling around everything and choking Romano with each breath he took. At this rate, he would pass out before he found an exit. But he couldn't pass out; if he did, then he'd probably burn to death…it was ironic, really. Rome had snapped out of his Christian-hunting mindset and Romano was still going to perish in flames. The boy would have let out a bitter laugh if he had the wits about him to do so.
A sudden burst of cool air hit his face, and Romano froze for a moment. Then he blindly rushed towards, hardly registering the burns his exposed flesh was receiving as he ran through flames and stepped on cinders and ashes. Cool air meant a way out, and a way out meant a way to survive. So Romano didn't care when he felt himself falling. All that mattered was that he was out of the scorching heat of the fire and surrounded by the blessedly cool air of the outside world. He faintly registered raindrops as a storm was rolling in.
Romano had blacked out before his body smashed into the muddy earth.
...Yep. I just technically killed Romano. LUCKILY, he's a nation now and therefore headcanon says he'll be alright in a few hours. Personally, my headcanon kind of diverges here. Sometimes I'll write it so that Rome knowingly left Romano behind so he could train in order to better protect his brothers, and other times it will be like this.
Also...I've been dropping quite a few hints as to where the story is going to go in future chapters. I hope I've been sneaky about it, so that it's a surprise, but I apologize if that's not the case.
Once again, thank you to any and all of you who were patient. I'll plan to be more regular about updating, but I was a massive idiot (on par with Spain, to be frank) and took a full class schedule my first semester of college. Why? Because I'm a masochistic idiot who wants her freaking GenEds out of the way so she can get to the good stuff! I hate Math and Gym, damnit! (Thank God I only have to take one semester of each. As far as I know.)
Anyway, please read and review!