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A long time ago, there had been a country that stood at the top of the world, renowned by all, envied by most. There had been a country who had partnered even with the mysterious, and in some ways, even greater and in other's lacking, Egypt. A long time ago when the world was fighting and still growing, this country sat himself upon a seat of gold and thought he was the best.
A longer time ago, there had been two boys. A serious and stiff blonde, and a laid back and playful brunette. One child poor, but refusing to give up, one rich, and already already setting his eyes on taking over the horizon. A very long time ago, these two had played together, despite their similarities. Despite their differences.
There had been a time, when Rome would lay his head on the Germania's thigh, talking with shining eyes of a future where he'd make the world his own, while his friend listened patiently, too busy to make such a dream for himself.
"Will you take over me, one day, as well?"
A quiet question from the blond, no inflections, no fear or sorrow. An empty sort of question that made Rome freeze. A horrible thought. A future where he won, but still managed to lose. A world he never even imagined. Then, an awkward sort of snicker, a cocky response , not quite hiding the shaken expression the Brunnette was trying to mask.
"You? You're so poor, what would be the use of taking over you? You're not worth the time."
Germania's hands had frozen in his weaving of grasses together for baskets, even in his free time working to make a future for himself. His lands that Rome called "poor" were rich with fields of grains and crops, pastures of livestock, of fruits and even among his houses that were neither shabby nor great, children who darted through the streets, doing small errands to make money for them and their families. His country was a rich place where families grew and worked together.
But Rome had known that. He thought that Germania knew that he knew that too, because his close friend hadnt said anything. Rome had thought for a bit, then mused aloud.
"My dream is to be the greatest and richest country in the world!"
"Hmm." Germania hummed a response, having heard this many times before. Rome tilted his head back to look up at Germania's blank expression.
"Then what's yours?"
Germania's quick and calloused fingers had already resumed his braiding, and didn't falter, even under the heavy question his laid-back friend had dumped on him unexpectedly. Rome had half-expected Germania to respond he didn't have such a thing, but despite the confidence his ever-weaving fingers suggested, his face was showing a flustered expression that he was trying very hard to hide. For a moment, blue eyes met gold, with a shaken expression, and his lips moved like he wanted to say something he couldn't quite say.
Then Rome saw the shutters come me back down behind Germania's eyes, and Germania spoke cooly.
"I'd just like to be happy, I suppose."
And Rome had known that Germania wasn't lying, just as well as he knew that Germania hadn't said what he wanted to say.
But that was a long time ago, before Rome began to call himself an Empire, before he began to call Germania "Germania Libera" and "Germania Magna", before Germania seemed to just grown more distant with each step Rome took towards him, before Rome used stupid jealous ploys like hooking up with Egypt to make Germania jealous, before they'd fought, before they'd found themself "Grandchildren", and long, long before Germania's sword pierced his chest, and Rome saw tears spill from his friend's blue eyes for the first time.
Before Rome woke up in a place neither "Here" nor "There", and before he found Germania had followed after Rome in leaving the world, and had gone on ahead to a place Rome couldn't make himself go just yet.
It's was a long time ago when he watched over his grandchildren, when he sat by Romano's side as he cried in his sleep, unable to feel the ghostly hand on his hair. It was a long time before he saw Veniciano meet the Holy Roman Empire, a country both he and Germania had often argued over who's grandchild he was.
"But he's more like me, see? This vigour, desire to grow-I'm sure of it! He will be the next Roman Empire!"
"Don't talk nonsense. He looks exactly like me. How could he be your grandson?"
And Holy Rome really did look like Germania. Rome hadnt been able to take his eyes off him. And when The Holy Roman Empire fell in love with Italy, Rome had chucked, mirthlessly.
"He really is just like me." He'd said wistfully, watching Veniciano run in tears from the flustered and awkward Holy Rome. He'd said it again, when Holy Rome left Veniciano crying behind him and headed to war.
A long time ago, there had been an empire who claimed he was the greatest. Longer ago still, there'd been two boys who talked together under the sun. Maybe it was the sake of those two boys a long time ago, that Rome had stepped in when Holy Rome had fallen on the battlefield, why he'd given the boy a portion of his strength. Maybe it was for the sake of another blond with blue eyes who used to listen to Rome's ramblings. Maybe it was for the sake of another brown-haired, amber-eyed boy who had watched his loved one crying so many years ago.
Maybe it was for the sake of another brunette and Blonde that played together under the sun, not long ago at all.
Maybe it was for the sake of seeing a relationship he'd never been able to accomplish himself develop. Germany, hot in the sumer night, Twisted in his sleep to put distance between him and Italy's body, radiating heat in the summer's night, and Italy clung tighter to Germany in his sleep, and a half-conscious compromise was made where one sweaty palm met another and fingers twisted together, a blearly pair of blue eyes blinking fondly at the brunette next to him, before slipping closed again without opening again.
Maybe, somewhere in the future, there was a place with fields in the summer sun, where Rome and Germania could meet again, where Rome could finally say what he'd never quite been able to say. Maybe there was a place in heavenly fields, blue skies, and a heavy heat, where Germania might finally let himself say what he wanted to say. Maybe there'd be a place beyond where Rome might finally be the richest country in the world, and where Germania could be the happiest he could ever be.
Italy, shifted, in a half asleep state, and opened his own blearly eyes to trace his eyes down his arms to where his hand held Germany's hand. Italy smiled, curling closer into Germany, who frowned subconsciously because of the heat.
"Do you know, Germany?" Italy yawned, falling back asleep already, "My dream is to stay with you forever."
Maybe there was a future where Rome might finally hear those words, or speak them. But "maybe"s are scary, and the future is uncertain, so just for a little bit, Rome chose to linger near the family he loved so dearly, just a little bit longer.
For the sake of a certain brunette and a certain blond in the summer's heat......
For the Sake of someone he loved.