Second Best

Ch. 3

Romano grumbled under his breath. It was damp and getting dark and cold. He knew that, legally and politically, he was supposed to stay with Spain. He was a nation first and foremost.

But right now he started feeling his humanity. He'd been walking for hours and was very thoroughly lost.

And he was starting to hear things. Trees and bushes rustled in the distance, and closer. The squirrels (they probably know the damn one that wet his bed!) and birds were watching him.

He didn't even know where he was going to.

Romano felt tears start to prickle at his eyes and, with a huff, sat down on a raised root that was not comfortable on his rear.

He would notthink about the tomato bastard. If he didn't want him, he wouldn't hang around. He cursed to himself and scrubbed uselessly at his eyes. Tears began to trickle down anyway.

Feliciano. Everyone loved Feliciano. Austria, Hungary, even Rome preferred his younger brother. It wasn't his fault if there was nothing he could do, damn it!

Yes there is. You could be more like Feliciano.

No! That's Feli! Not Lovi…

But then Antonio…

Tomato bastard!

...would like you more

No, no he would like Feli. I would just be trying to be like Feli.

But…

"NO!" He yelled and slammed a hand onto the root. He cried out when he discovered that a briar bush had twined there. "Stupid, stupid thorns!" He held his hand gingerly as he got up from the root, warm tears gliding down his cheek.

He was wandering aimlessly, plucking tenderly at some thorns still stuck in his hand. Toniprobablyhasn'tevenrealisedI'mgone.

Suddenly he stopped moving and held still. He could have sworn he heard something…

"Lovi!"

It was distant and faint but it was there. For a moment or two, Romano's pride kept him from running.

"Lovi!"

… But then his hand throbbed again and he was tired and hungry.

But he was still mad at the toma...

"Lovi can you hear me?"

He was running as fast as he could through the underbrush towards the Spaniard's voice.

"Lovi please come out!"

The voice was nearby. But through the trees he couldn't find the direction of his voice…

"Lovi please!"

Damn it, now it sounded behind him! Romano turned around and paused a moment, weighing his pride versus his situation.

"Antonio! You idiot, where are you?"

"Lovi?" His voice seemed to pick up a note of hope, "Lovi keep talking, I'm coming to get you!"

Romano didn't know what to say but just stood still for a few minutes. "Lovi?" His voice sounded panicked again.

"I'm over here you idiot!"

There was quiet for a moment then, in another direction, "Marco!~"

What the hell? Romano stammered, "P-Polo?"

"Marco!~"

Romano reddened. The bastard was an idiot, "Polo, you bastard!"

Suddenly, a dark shape, distant among the tree, made itself visible to Romano's view. For a moment he panicked, "Toni!"

The figure's head swung round to him and, with a tremendous sense of relief, Romano recognised the silhouette and started running forward.

The figure too bolted to the young Italian, "Lovi!" The small boy was immediately scooped into a rib bruising hug. But Romano didn't notice, he was too busy clinging to Spain.

Then he remembered he was mad at him, and promptly attempted to head-butt the bastard.

But Spain pulled back, putting him out of distance. He then crouched down and placed Romano on his feet in front of him. Romano was surprised but kept his gaze as angry as possible. Which wasn't easy with tears still flowing. "Lovino, what were you thinking?"

Romano didn't say anything. Spain prepared to reprimand the boy but he saw he was cradling his one hand. His irked expression turned worried, "Lovi, did you hurt your hand?" Romano pulled the appendage in tighter, "Let me see it."

Quietly, he held out his hand. Spain examined it gently and plucked out a few of the stray thorns. "What about Feliciano?"

Spain looked up with soft quizzical green eyes, "Que? What was that Lovi…?"

"What about Feliciano?" Romano spoke louder but kept his gaze on his hand, which was till in Spain's. "You like Feli better too? What are you going to do?"

Spain blinked twice before laughing and pulling Romano into a hug, careful of his hand, "Oh Lovi~ I do like Feli, and I'd love to have him at my house too, but no one could take the place of my Lovi~ You're too special!"

Romano went red and all he managed to say was, "I—I'm not yours you bastard!"

"I know Lovi~ Now let's go back to fix your hand then we can go home and eat some tomatoes, si?"

Romano nodded and tried to cover it but Spain saw the small smile, "Aww, Lovi~ You're so cute!" then he laughed as he scooped up the irate Italian and headed out of the woods.

END

Well, that's it for Second Best! Hope you enjoyed it!

Disclaimers:
-I don't own Hetalia
-My spelling/grammar sucks
-Slight cursing
-I don't know where the special little "i" key is on the keyboard
-The romours about me and that dragon are totally not true