Catch You, Catch Me (6f/7)
anonymous
January 29 2011, 04:29:17 UTC
Romano stared his boss down for a moment until his eyes began to fill with angry tears. Face flushing, Romano whirled around and stormed out of the office. He couldn’t stand to be in this damn building right now; he decided that he would drop in on his brother’s café and demand enough free sweets so that he could eat himself into oblivion. Normally alcohol would have been preferable, but free things were always better in Romano’s book, especially considering his modest salary. He had just grabbed his coat from his office when he ran headlong into someone.
“Ow, fuck! Watch where I’m going, asshole!” Romano snarled, sniffling and wiping his eyes hurriedly on his sleeve.
“Sorry.” Oh shit, it was that potato bastard. Of all the people he had to run into when he was crying, why did it have to be the one person to whom he was determined not to show any weakness? “Is… everything alright?”
“Mind your own damn business, ass-sniffing potato!” Romano shouted, shoving past him and stomping out the door.
Germany sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he watched the Italian’s retreating back. He must have been told the news. Germany wasn’t sure if he was surprised that Romano had taken it this way. Naturally, he’d expected him to be furious, but the tears were a bit unexpected. Even though he knew he’d done the least damage that he could have done while still kind of doing the right thing, Germany couldn’t help feeling guilty. He hoped Romano wouldn’t do anything stupid.
******
Italy looked up from the cake he was decorating when he heard bell over the door ring. To his surprise, his visitor turned out to be Romano. Italy glanced up at the clock.
“Brother! Welcome!” he greeted cheerfully. “I didn’t expect to see you so early! I thought your lunch break wasn’t until…”
He trailed off when he saw Romano wipe his eyes on his sleeve and heard him curse under his breath. Determined not to draw the attention of the other customers to himself in this pathetic state, Romano made his way quickly but quietly behind the counter, passing by Italy and stepping into the backroom. Italy set down his bag of icing and followed him.
“Brother? Are you ok?” Italy asked softly.
“They… they t-took me off the c-case…!” Romano choked, wiping his eyes alternately on either sleeve. “Th-those f-fucking bastards…! I know I s-screwed up… a lot of times, but…!”
“Romano…” Italy took Romano’s hand and tugged him gently closer. Romano allowed the hug, continuing to rub his eyes. Why wouldn’t the stupid tears just go away? “It’ll be ok.”
“The hell it will!” Romano barked, his voice cracking. “I… I don’t h-have any way to get ah-hold of that s-stupid thief! If I don’t show… what if… wh-what if he thinks I don’t…!”
At that point, Romano became unable to hide his tears anymore. He let his forehead fall onto Italy’s shoulder, hiding his face and biting his lip to muffle the sound as he sobbed. Italy rubbed his back comfortingly, letting him cry into his shirt.
As his most recent words echoed in his head, something suddenly occurred to Romano. How had he been planning to finish that last sentence? “If I don’t show, what if he thinks I don’t care about him?” Did he actually care about El Apasionado Caballero? Surely not, right?
I’m bawling like a fuckwad into Veneciano’s shirt at the thought of never seeing him again. I can tell myself it’s not true all I want, but in the end, I know it’s about more than just catching him. He promised to prove that he loved me and I’m waiting for that proof like a naïve dumbass, and it’s not because I just want to know that it’s possible for someone to actually love me.
Catch You, Catch Me (6g/7)
anonymous
January 29 2011, 04:31:26 UTC
But if he cared about El Apasionado Caballero, where did that leave Spain? Spain, who had never given up on him, even after Romano had ignored him and thrown away his gifts and slammed the door in his face a hundred times. Spain, who had dropped everything earlier in the week to come wait on Romano hand and foot while he had the flu. Spain, from whom he had, ok yeah, stolen kisses yesterday morning, and cuddled together with when they’d both not been feeling well. Spain, whom he had tried so long to force himself to forget but simply couldn’t.
If, by some unlikely chance, he and El Apasionado Caballero hooked up, what would happen to Spain? As much as it galled him to admit it, he abhorred the idea of leaving either one of them behind. Romano’s heart was in turmoil and it only made him sob harder.
“There, there… Don’t cry, Brother,” Italy murmured. “Things will work out somehow. If you two are in love, there’s a chance for a happy ending.”
If Romano hadn’t already been crying, he might have laughed doubtfully at Italy’s optimistic statement. His current situation was more complicated than his brother even knew. Romano’s troubles wouldn’t be fixed simply by a happy ending with El Apasionado Caballero. He wanted to confide in Italy about his uncertainties, but he looked pathetic enough already by crying on his baby brother’s shoulder. How much more pathetic would he look if he also had to ask him for advice? He was the older one, dammit. Italy should have been the one coming to him.
“Look, El Apasionado Caballero comes to your house all the time to leave his calling cards, right?” Italy continued. “So he obviously knows how to get in touch with you. If he’s deeply enough in love with you to be willing to work to prove it, I’m sure he’ll come to check on you when you don’t show up.”
Italy was probably right. That El Apasionado Caballero guy struck him as being almost as stubborn as Spain. He would probably get worried if Romano didn’t show and come looking for him. Then he could tell the thief what had happened and there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings. Hold on a second…Suddenly Romano stopped crying. Italy had said something very interesting just now. He pulled away, sniffling as he dried his eyes at last.
“Hold on… how the hell did you know he said he’d prove that?” he asked
“Eh?” Italy’s expression changed from comforting to “oops…” Something fishy was going on here. “Um, well…”
“You better not have been spying on us that time!” Romano warned. As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he realized how silly they were. What possible motive could Italy have for spying on them? And what would he even have been doing all the way out there by the art museum at night?
“No! No, I didn’t spy on you! I swear!” Italy said frantically.
“Then how did you know? Don’t tell me that damn thief comes and eats here, too?!” That had to be it. Romano could think of no other way Italy could know. After all, only he and El Apasionado Caballero had been there to witness that conversation, and Romano was certain he hadn’t mentioned it to Italy.
“I’m afraid to tell you,” Italy whimpered. “You might try to hit Germany.”
Romano’s eyes went wide as Italy clapped his hands over his mouth in horror.
“You’ve gotta be shitting me!” he yelped. “That potato bastard saw us?! That’s why I’m getting thrown off the fucking case?!”
“Please don’t be mad, Brother!” Italy begged. “Germany spent a long time worrying about how to deal with the situation because he didn’t want to hurt you! He knew that if he told your boss that you and El Apasionado Caballero were working together, you’d be fired and put in jail and your whole life would be ruined! That’s why he didn’t tell your boss about what he saw! He just asked if he could take over the case and to have you taken off of it so you wouldn’t be able to help steal anymore and he wouldn’t feel guilty about not doing anything to stop you! Whaaa, I’ll do anything so please don’t hit him!”
Catch You, Catch Me (6h/7)
anonymous
January 29 2011, 04:33:17 UTC
“Wait… he thinks we’re working together?”
“…Aren’t you?”
“Hell no! What kind of fucked up, corrupt detective do you think I am, anyway?! I never helped him plan it or escape or anything!”
“Oh, I’m so glad! I was afraid my big brother had turned into a thief! …Hey Romano… You’re not going to be mad at Germany, are you? He didn’t do it to be mean, honest!”
Romano sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Whatever shortcomings Italy had, Romano knew that his brother wasn’t a liar. If he said that Germany had been trying to protect him by doing things this way, as weird a thought as it was, Romano couldn’t help but believe him. “Whatever. That bastard can do what he wants. I don’t care.”
“That doesn’t mean I like him, though!” Romano insisted. “I still hate his fucking guts!”
“How mean!” Italy cried.
“Ah, shit… I better get back to work before that bastard England notices I’m gone,” Romano sighed. “Oi, Veneciano! Give me some free snacks to take with me!”
“Ok…”
Romano waited until Italy was busy putting some treats into a bag for him to take back with him before speaking again. “…Thanks…” for listening to me.
Italy straightened up and smiled at him as he offered him the bag of snacks. “Don’t mention it, Brother! You can come to me any time you have a problem and I’ll do whatever I can to help! That’s what brothers are for, right?”
“Hmph,” Romano grunted, his cheeks going a bit warm.
Italy continued to grin as Romano left the shop. The older brother had tried to hide it, but Italy was pretty sure he’d seen a little smile on his lips.
Re: Catch You, Catch Me (6h/7)
anonymous
February 24 2011, 01:43:16 UTC
Aww, where are all the reviews for this chapter? It's so cute and deserving of many comments! <3 All of it was great, and I can't wait for the last installment, author anon!
“Ow, fuck! Watch where I’m going, asshole!” Romano snarled, sniffling and wiping his eyes hurriedly on his sleeve.
“Sorry.” Oh shit, it was that potato bastard. Of all the people he had to run into when he was crying, why did it have to be the one person to whom he was determined not to show any weakness? “Is… everything alright?”
“Mind your own damn business, ass-sniffing potato!” Romano shouted, shoving past him and stomping out the door.
Germany sighed and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he watched the Italian’s retreating back. He must have been told the news. Germany wasn’t sure if he was surprised that Romano had taken it this way. Naturally, he’d expected him to be furious, but the tears were a bit unexpected. Even though he knew he’d done the least damage that he could have done while still kind of doing the right thing, Germany couldn’t help feeling guilty. He hoped Romano wouldn’t do anything stupid.
******
Italy looked up from the cake he was decorating when he heard bell over the door ring. To his surprise, his visitor turned out to be Romano. Italy glanced up at the clock.
“Brother! Welcome!” he greeted cheerfully. “I didn’t expect to see you so early! I thought your lunch break wasn’t until…”
He trailed off when he saw Romano wipe his eyes on his sleeve and heard him curse under his breath. Determined not to draw the attention of the other customers to himself in this pathetic state, Romano made his way quickly but quietly behind the counter, passing by Italy and stepping into the backroom. Italy set down his bag of icing and followed him.
“Brother? Are you ok?” Italy asked softly.
“They… they t-took me off the c-case…!” Romano choked, wiping his eyes alternately on either sleeve. “Th-those f-fucking bastards…! I know I s-screwed up… a lot of times, but…!”
“Romano…” Italy took Romano’s hand and tugged him gently closer. Romano allowed the hug, continuing to rub his eyes. Why wouldn’t the stupid tears just go away? “It’ll be ok.”
“The hell it will!” Romano barked, his voice cracking. “I… I don’t h-have any way to get ah-hold of that s-stupid thief! If I don’t show… what if… wh-what if he thinks I don’t…!”
At that point, Romano became unable to hide his tears anymore. He let his forehead fall onto Italy’s shoulder, hiding his face and biting his lip to muffle the sound as he sobbed. Italy rubbed his back comfortingly, letting him cry into his shirt.
As his most recent words echoed in his head, something suddenly occurred to Romano. How had he been planning to finish that last sentence? “If I don’t show, what if he thinks I don’t care about him?” Did he actually care about El Apasionado Caballero? Surely not, right?
I’m bawling like a fuckwad into Veneciano’s shirt at the thought of never seeing him again. I can tell myself it’s not true all I want, but in the end, I know it’s about more than just catching him. He promised to prove that he loved me and I’m waiting for that proof like a naïve dumbass, and it’s not because I just want to know that it’s possible for someone to actually love me.
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If, by some unlikely chance, he and El Apasionado Caballero hooked up, what would happen to Spain? As much as it galled him to admit it, he abhorred the idea of leaving either one of them behind. Romano’s heart was in turmoil and it only made him sob harder.
“There, there… Don’t cry, Brother,” Italy murmured. “Things will work out somehow. If you two are in love, there’s a chance for a happy ending.”
If Romano hadn’t already been crying, he might have laughed doubtfully at Italy’s optimistic statement. His current situation was more complicated than his brother even knew. Romano’s troubles wouldn’t be fixed simply by a happy ending with El Apasionado Caballero. He wanted to confide in Italy about his uncertainties, but he looked pathetic enough already by crying on his baby brother’s shoulder. How much more pathetic would he look if he also had to ask him for advice? He was the older one, dammit. Italy should have been the one coming to him.
“Look, El Apasionado Caballero comes to your house all the time to leave his calling cards, right?” Italy continued. “So he obviously knows how to get in touch with you. If he’s deeply enough in love with you to be willing to work to prove it, I’m sure he’ll come to check on you when you don’t show up.”
Italy was probably right. That El Apasionado Caballero guy struck him as being almost as stubborn as Spain. He would probably get worried if Romano didn’t show and come looking for him. Then he could tell the thief what had happened and there wouldn’t be any misunderstandings. Hold on a second…Suddenly Romano stopped crying. Italy had said something very interesting just now. He pulled away, sniffling as he dried his eyes at last.
“Hold on… how the hell did you know he said he’d prove that?” he asked
“Eh?” Italy’s expression changed from comforting to “oops…” Something fishy was going on here. “Um, well…”
“You better not have been spying on us that time!” Romano warned. As soon as those words came out of his mouth, he realized how silly they were. What possible motive could Italy have for spying on them? And what would he even have been doing all the way out there by the art museum at night?
“No! No, I didn’t spy on you! I swear!” Italy said frantically.
“Then how did you know? Don’t tell me that damn thief comes and eats here, too?!” That had to be it. Romano could think of no other way Italy could know. After all, only he and El Apasionado Caballero had been there to witness that conversation, and Romano was certain he hadn’t mentioned it to Italy.
“I’m afraid to tell you,” Italy whimpered. “You might try to hit Germany.”
Romano’s eyes went wide as Italy clapped his hands over his mouth in horror.
“You’ve gotta be shitting me!” he yelped. “That potato bastard saw us?! That’s why I’m getting thrown off the fucking case?!”
“Please don’t be mad, Brother!” Italy begged. “Germany spent a long time worrying about how to deal with the situation because he didn’t want to hurt you! He knew that if he told your boss that you and El Apasionado Caballero were working together, you’d be fired and put in jail and your whole life would be ruined! That’s why he didn’t tell your boss about what he saw! He just asked if he could take over the case and to have you taken off of it so you wouldn’t be able to help steal anymore and he wouldn’t feel guilty about not doing anything to stop you! Whaaa, I’ll do anything so please don’t hit him!”
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“…Aren’t you?”
“Hell no! What kind of fucked up, corrupt detective do you think I am, anyway?! I never helped him plan it or escape or anything!”
“Oh, I’m so glad! I was afraid my big brother had turned into a thief! …Hey Romano… You’re not going to be mad at Germany, are you? He didn’t do it to be mean, honest!”
Romano sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Whatever shortcomings Italy had, Romano knew that his brother wasn’t a liar. If he said that Germany had been trying to protect him by doing things this way, as weird a thought as it was, Romano couldn’t help but believe him. “Whatever. That bastard can do what he wants. I don’t care.”
“Thank you, Brother, thank you!” Italy cheered, hugging him.
“That doesn’t mean I like him, though!” Romano insisted. “I still hate his fucking guts!”
“How mean!” Italy cried.
“Ah, shit… I better get back to work before that bastard England notices I’m gone,” Romano sighed. “Oi, Veneciano! Give me some free snacks to take with me!”
“Ok…”
Romano waited until Italy was busy putting some treats into a bag for him to take back with him before speaking again. “…Thanks…” for listening to me.
Italy straightened up and smiled at him as he offered him the bag of snacks. “Don’t mention it, Brother! You can come to me any time you have a problem and I’ll do whatever I can to help! That’s what brothers are for, right?”
“Hmph,” Romano grunted, his cheeks going a bit warm.
Italy continued to grin as Romano left the shop. The older brother had tried to hide it, but Italy was pretty sure he’d seen a little smile on his lips.
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