[fanfic] Birthday

[lonym82.livejournal.com]

 

Title: Birthday
Author: Rocky
Characters/Pairings: North Italy, Germany
Rating: K
Warnings: None
Summary: Another Holy Roman Empire reunion idea I have.

“Heehee.” Italy giggled while looking down at the bag he carried. “Germany’s going to love these.” He said with a smile on his face, and continued on his way to Germany’s house. Sure, he could have driven there, and saved some time, but how could he pass up an opportunity to enjoy such lovely weather? The sun shined gently on the land, a cool breeze blew over the country side, the flowers were in bloom: It was a picture perfect day.

 

“Ah…It’s so peaceful.” He murmured while listening to the twittering of the birds and the cocking of a rifle…wait. Rifle? Crap. “Ah!” He screamed and ran. He thought for sure he was on Austria’s side today. Italy didn’t stop running till he reached Germany’s house. Then Italy wondered why he ran. After all, Switzerland hadn’t shot at him for years. “Must be old habits.” He cheerfully exclaimed, and went to Germany’s door.

 

He didn’t even bother knocking. He hadn’t for the last seventy years, so why start now? “Germany! Germany! Are you home?” Another thing he hadn’t done for the last seventy years: Call ahead. It didn’t matter because most times he found Germany at home, and when he didn’t, he’d find something else to do until Germany got home. Sometimes he’d read through Germany’s book collection, sometimes he’d go through Germany’s music, sometimes he raided the fridge, sometimes he made long distance phone calls, sometimes he’d check out what weird kinky porn Germany was into now…: Italy had no sense of personal space.

 

Usually Germany came home within the hour. Though quite a few times Germany came home in the middle of the night to find a naked Italian sleeping in his bed, much to his chagrin.

 

Luckily for Italy, today Germany sat in his office; making business calls. “Yes, sir. I’ll look right into it, sir.” Germany said to other person on the line. Italy walked in, and waved. Germany held his forefinger up, telling him to wait. Then he pointed to the seat in front of his desk. Italy opted to stand with his usual cheerful, though one could take it as clueless, expression. “Really, Mr. Kohler... A 200th birthday celebration?” If I may say so, that is still a few years away… Hmm, they certainly are planning ahead…Oh, they know the year but not the date. Ah, I understand now…Yes, it should be the date the treaty was signed…Well, that is to say, umm, how about we just use that day for now?…Yes…Okay…Thank you, sir. Goodbye.”

 

Hanging up the phone, Germany faced his smiling guest. “Hello, Italy.” He smiled back.

 

“Germany!” Italy ran behind the desk, and hugged him.

 

He returned the hug. “It’s good to see you too, Italy.”

 

“Germany, just now, on the phone, were you talking your birthday?”

 

“Ah. Yes, I was.” Italy grinned, and started to chuckle. “What so funny?” Germany asked.

 

“Germany’s a baby.”

 

“E-excuse me?”

 

“I mean you’re not even two hundreds years old?” Italy reached, and pinched one of Germany’s cheek. “You’re just a little bambino…” Italy said in sing-song.

 

“S-stop that!” Germany swatted Italy’s hand away from his face. Italy did, but not his taunting.

 

“Hey. Hey. Germany, this means I’m your elder.” Italy puffed up his chest, and put his hands on his hips. “So you have to show me some respect, mister.”

 

Meanwhile, in his house, Japan felt a strange sudden urge to announce he was the eldest.

 

“Show you respect?” Germany, back at his house, got up and started poking the smaller nation. “You got a lot of nerve! A little pipsqueak like you demanding such a thing?”

 

Italy kept smiling. He enjoyed teasing his extremely serious friend. Yes, said friend was exasperated, but not really mad. Though sometimes this backfired on him. With violence.

 

“And, another thing,” Germany continued, “I’ll have you know, I’m over a millennium old!”

 

Italy laughed some more. “Germany isn’t that old.”

 

“Well…no.” Germany scratched his cheek. “It’s true the German Confederation was only established in 1814... But before then,” Germany cleared his throat, “I was the Holy Roman Empire.”

 

Time stopped.

 

There was no other explanation. Time broke all laws of physics, and stop. How else could Italy relive his life with Holy Roman Empire, all the tears, laughter, love and despair, in a single second?

 

“What did you just say?” Italy asked in a voice barely a whisper; unable to believe Germany just so casually announce he was Italy’s long lost first love.

 

“Oh,” Germany carried on with the same casual tone, not knowing the severity of his words, “apparently I was the Holy Roman Empire, so you’re not older than me”

 

“You’re not Holy Roman Empire. I knew Holy Roman Empire.”

 

Germany, still thinking they were discussing the petty matter of age, didn’t pick up on Italy’s serious tone. “Oh right, the Italian Wars…” He shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t remember anything before the Confederation.” He said dismissively. “I was still him though.”

 

“What do you mean you can’t remember?!” Italy’s shout finally made Germany realize his friend’s distress. “If you can’t remember then how do you know?”

 

“Italy…”

 

“You’re not Holy Roman Empire! He would have remembered me.” The tears started forming. “He would have remembered our promise.” The tears started falling. “Stop saying you’re him!” With that, Italy started sobbing. Germany, completely caught off guard, tried his best to calm Italy down but couldn’t find the words. Then he realized words weren’t needed right now. He wrapped his arms around Italy in a warm hug. He held him until Italy finally stopped crying.

 

“Italy.” Germany said softly; his head rested on top of Italy’s. “It’ll be okay.” He held Italy closer. “I’m sorry I don’t remember,” Italy tensed under his hold, “but maybe one day I will.” Germany gently released him. Italy kept his gaze averted which made Germany sigh.

 

Italy didn’t move as Germany pulled up a chair for him. He didn’t move till Germany lightly pushed down on his shoulder and he sat at his friend’s request. Germany sat back down in his own chair and continued.

 

“Why don’t you tell me about your time together. What’s this promise?” He asked. Italy whipped his head up to look at Germany; to examine him. The intense stare felt uncomfortable to Germany. “If you’d rather not talk about…”

 

“They told me he died.” Italy said quietly. “They told me his own emperor abolished him and that I should forget him.” Italy frowned at the memory. “I couldn’t forget him though.” He weakly smiled. “Germany?”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Are you sure you’re him?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Italy closed his eyes, and looked back down. “I believe you.” He wiped away another tear from his eyes. “I guess we did keep our promise together.” He looked back up at Germany, and, so he thought, he saw Holy Roman Empire’s face. “We did meet up again.” The two of them smiled at each other until Italy blinked, and, when he opened his eyes, he saw Germany’s smiling face. He felt strangely happy. “Oh!” Italy reached for the bag he brought over with him. How lucky he was to have brought them today! “I almost forgot. I made these for you.” He handed the box to Germany.

 

“For me?“ He opened the box and his face lit up at the present. “Torrone.” He picked up a piece of the Italian almond nugget. He nodded towards Italy. “Thank you for the sweets.”

 

“You’re welcome.“ Italy beamed.

 

I‘ll wait. I‘ll be waiting with lots of sweets.

.