Romanada: Apology Coffee

idk i guess i wanted them to meet by mattie losing his cool and then they bond over stupid overshadowing brothers. also a bit of that headcanon that lovi mattie and gil ditch meetings. i have like 2 fics i should be writing so what to i do? i write another haha whoops
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The world meeting had gone, as usual, horribly off-topic. Unless, of course, one considered bickering for the sake of bickering a suitable reason to bring all the nations of the world together.

Romano had had enough, though he didn’t want to show it. He didn’t want to be likened to a certain potato bastard who was known to lose his cool for the sake of the meeting. Instead, Lovino Vargas, personification of South Italy, co-representing Italy itself, decided that as soon as he was certain nobody saw him, he would slip out the door because anything is better than listening to those bastards fighting over the same old things, dammit.

His stupid fratello was too busy bothering that german, so he didn’t have to worry about him. But a certain Spaniard, unless proven occupied, would most definitely be all too aware of the feisty italian. Amazingly enough, a certain albino saved him from scrutiny with his predictable loud declarations of his awesome shenanigans.

Romano tensed his legs in preparation, then, as slowly as he could, inched his way toward the door. He was about three fourths the way there when he bumped into something. Or, as he found upon facing to him properly, someone.

"Hey idiot, shouldn’t you be running around trying to be one of your crazy superheroes?"

The other nation looked shocked, then glared with a pout. Wait, that couldn’t be right, America wouldn’t be so—

“Excuse me, my brother is over there, if you need him, though I don’t see the bother. But watch where you’re going, next time, okay? You bumped into me and and —“

Oh no. Romano could feel his face heat up. Fucking fuck. He’d done it now.

"-and what would it take for you to remember my name?! I don’t understand, is it too difficult to learn to tell the difference between United States and Canada?! We’re like polar opposites, it’s like no one ever cares enough to pay attention to me." His usual whispering tone had raised tremendously throughout his tirade and whimpered as he ended with a frown, violet eyes drooping in the neglect he felt.

He, foul-mouthed, ill-tempered Romano, had rudely walked into, mis-recognized, and insulted the nation who has got to be the kindest, most polite, and most under-appreciated country there. The most he could say was “I’m so fucking sorry”

And to top it off, their little outburst did not go unnoticed, for his predicament worsened: the bad touch trio was looking at them. France started heading over, ready to jump to his little Mathieu’s aid, Spain following curious to see what Romano’s up to, and Prussia bringing up the rear aloof and bored. Romano frowned. There went his escape plans.

Or perhaps not? “If you bastards would so kindly excuse us we were on our way out.” The BTT were amused by this statement, at best, while a certain maple-loving canadian confusedly stared at him. Wait. Us? Why the ever fuck did he say us?

"Oh and wherever might you be headed, mon amie?" Oh no, did he really have to say that, staring him down with that smug grin of his?

"Anywhere that’s not this stupid meeting where we won’t even get a turn anyway, which by the way, you do and if you leave now you’ll lose your vote, which I’m sure your bosses would just love.”

An uneasy glance passed between frenchman and spaniard as the prussian let off his signature laugh. “Kesese, my supercompetent bruder no doubt would take care of that anyway. Besides I technically don’t have the vote, he does.”

"Whatever, bastard, just don’t get in our way. I couldn’t care less what you do with your day." The Italian was getting irritated, there were bellas out there who needed flirting and a Canadian in here who needed a better apology.

Romano grabbed Canada’s hand and dragged him out, leaving the bad touch trio to stare where the pair just stood. Prussia’s mouth shifted into a smirk. Oh he definitely knew what he was doing with his day. Whatever those two were doing, he’d find out soon enough.

Out on the street, Matthew managed to splutter out, “What are you doing?” while trying to keep up with the tight grip that pulled him toward the nearest cafe. Romano turned towards him as his gaze softened for a moment, then hardened again with a gruff reply “Because that was a shitty excuse for an apology and I want to make it up to you dammit. …. And it might be nice to get to know each other." That last part came out fairly rushed as Romano wouldn’t want to give the wrong impression or anything like that dammit this is hard.

But Canada picked it up nonetheless, partly due to his own voice being so quiet he was accustomed to softer tones. Truth be told, he didn’t know what to make of the hotheaded Italian, he seemed different than normal. Even though the mixup was an honest mistake and Canada really shouldn’t have projected his problems onto a nation who, having little contact with him, hardly deserved it, yet here he was, concerned enough to take him out to coffee. But he sensed something beyond that, something that stirred inside Romano the moment he realized his mistake.

Romano consistently insulted other males as a way of hiding his emotions he knew would make him look weak. However, the idea of another male nation who understood his problems and wouldn’t ridicule him for it interested him. Especially, if such a nation happened to be as cute as Canada could be when he was flustered or mad. Any other guy who would get angry at him and yell at him, he would yell right back because the damn bastard really pissed him off. But for Canada, he stopped right in his tracks dammit he was intrigued and this could be a great friendship and then maybe he wouldn’t be so lonely huh.

As the pair sat down at a table near an open window, Gilbert was using his awesome spy skills to watch the two with his trusty binoculars from a conveniently nearby tree and shush Gilbird now is not the time for that. He readied his camera, zoomed in, and made sure to turn off the flash because Toni and Francis would definitely want more than one pic. If those two were on a date, his friends would want to know all about it. And who better than the awesome Gil to fill them in.

"So, um, Canada, you said you’re always mistaken for America, that must be pretty hard considering you live next to him." Good God that was so awkward, way to go Romano.

"Uh yeah, and the worst of it is it’s never for something good because with an ego like his who in their right mind would want to endure praising him, oh no, when they see me they see the stupid jerk who pissed them off and they want to hit him, and so they hit me. Cuba does that but then he realizes it’s me and he makes it up. But then he does it again! It’s like a never-ending cycle”

That opened something. It may have been a something a little whiles off, but that hit close enough to home to open a door to his relationship with his brother. “Agh, tell me about it. Living with Feliciano has always been ‘hey fratello look at this painting that you could never do, it took me an hour’ and ‘fratello I’d rather hang with the anime bastard and potato bastard than you. have fun being all alone!’. And he’s an right idiota! He can’t fight or follow orders to save his life. He’s so pathetic and yet….and yet he’s a hell of a lot better than me. Don’t you dare ever say that though. I mean I love him to hell but.. God, it’s like I won’t get any the same love. Everyone calls him Italy, even though it’s both of us and he always gets the vote, I don’t even know why I bother coming to the meetings in the first place.”

Gilbert watched his subjects closely. So far nothing of interest happened, but the two were getting into whatever they were talking about. Wait, Romano was rambling and leaning in….. he stopped moving but kept talking. This was good. *click* One shot. Hopefully more to come.

He realized how much of a lifeless loser he was, hiding and watching other people. Maybe he’d ask to come with them next time. Of course how could they say no to the awesome him.

The waiter brought their coffee, and Canada’s gelatto. After a few sips and spoonfuls, the subject continued: “But at least you have Spain to care for you.”

"Yeah same goes for you with France. But when they’re together, especially with that albino, where does that leave us?" An idea. Oh he was on to something right here. "Maybe, I dunno, we could hang out then, like ‘Hey Matthew that damn trio’s up to something, let’s go avoid them and have a feast or something’ Gotta have food though, eating is a must"

And there it is. A smile, a bit of a laugh even. “And we’ll have an all-you-can-eat buffet of pancakes drowned in maple syrup!”

"Heh, and pizza with every topping known to pizza-kind!" A mouth accustomed to sour frowns tugged at a smile, it goes without saying the Italian made wide hand gestures.

"Like bacon?" Canada’s face lit up like one of Germany’s dogs playing catch.

They were laughing. If he didn’t capture the moment, Romano might never smile again. And the way Canada’s face was, mmm it was a must. *click* This he would definitely share, it was too awesome not to. However his desire to join them only grew. He wanted to smile with them, to be the center of attention he always was, he wanted to be the reason they were happy.

"Definitely bacon! And we could invite some bellas too. The trick is to maintain a one guy to three girls ratio, that way you’re surrounded by ladies all the time!" he ended with a wink, causing his companion to smile.

Maybe he could get used to this. Maybe they could drag each other out  of their shells and stop being so lonely, or be lonely together, with both understanding the others loneliness.
When he asked for the bill, he turned back to the blond and commented “Well, I can’t call you up to make any plans if I don’t have your number, eh?” It was a chance to actually use his phone.

"Oh of course just let me put it in… there" Canada handed the phone back.

"Coolio. I’ll shoot you off a text so you can save it." He began typing, the stupid number pad wasn’t fast enough for him. ‘hey its romano get ready 4 some fun times’

And fun times they did have.

and thus the great bromance begun.
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"Mi amigo, where were you?"

"kesese, I was keeping an eye on these two." Pictures were brought out, and shown with great pride.

"Is that my Lovi smiling?" "honhon, look how close their faces are in this one. Did they kiss? Did they? Oh that would be wonderful!"

"Nein, you really think I wouldn’t have a pic if they did kiss? That would be the most important shot!"