Around The World ( Hetalia X Reader)

Under The Fingernails ~ S. Italy X Child!Reader

"Roma!" You called, delighted to see your best friend.

Romano rolled his eyes. "Don't call me that." He peered down at you with a scowl on his lips. He glares down at you but your unwavering smile softens him and he ends up smiling himself.

He crouches down to your height and smooths your hair back. "Would you like a treat?" He asks softly.

You hopped up and down excitedly. "Yes please!" Your eyes shone hopefully.

"Ok." Roma dug into his pocket. "Close your eyes and open your mouth." He says. You do as you're told

You feel something small in your mouth and as soon as Roma's slender fingers are out, you bite down. A disgusting taste fills your mouth and your (e/c) eyes shoot open im shock. "Was that a tomato?!"

Roman grins smugly. "Delicious, isn't it?"

"No!" You spit out the red pulp and run away.

Romano can't help but smile. His best memories are of you when you were a bambin(o/a). His pen tapped on the hard wooden table in front of him as he stared off into space. The world meeting was getting boring.

Romano tracked you down. Maybe he shouldn't have given you a tomato... he knew you didn't like them. But who doesn't play little tricks on children? He found you squatting in the corn field, drawing things in the dirt with your fingers.

"Bambin(o/a)," He got on his knees beside you and watched your (s/c) fingers drawn patterns in the dirt. "I'm sorry for tricking you."

You didn't look up. He was, as you'd heard him say many times to other people, a jerk. You look up at him with a frown on your face. "You jerk."

Roma looks at you for a moment, shocked. A proud air spread over his face and he ruffled your (h/l) (h/c) hair. "That's my (girl/boy)."

He smiled a little now, remembering how he taught you your colourful vocabulary. His hazel eyes flicked up towards the clock. Fifteen minutes left in the meeting.

"I know you don't like them," Romano said cautiously, sitting back on his heels. "But would you consider helping me harvest the remainder of the tomatoes?"

You stay quiet for a moment, finishing your drawing in the dirt; the final product was a stick figure representation of you and Roma holding hands. Under Roma's free arm was a bushel of tomatoes. "Ok..." You grumble uncertainly.

You stand up and walk past Romano, back in the direction of the tomato garden. Roma, however, stays a moment longer staring at the drawing in the dirt.

He pushed himself up off his knees and follows you back.

Five more minues. Then he can see his (Y/n) again.

Romano held the basket as your delicate little hands picked the red fruits off the plants and placed them in the hand woven basket.

He noticed little black lines of dirt under your fingers nails from drawing. A smile quirked at his lips as he watched your little (h/c) head bob in and out of the green plants.

Germany called the meeting off. Romano shot to his feet and rushed out the door. He speed walked to his car and sped (and I mean sped) to the senior's home.

He didn't stop by the front desk. He already knew the room. The nurses thought he was a grandson. They never asked if it was actually the case.

It wasn't.

Roma pushed into your room without knocking. He caught sight of you, laying in your bed, staring out the window at the colourful garden bellow.

Your (e/c) eyes turned towards him and a smile immediately spread across your face. "Nonno."

"Nonno." Romano was pulled from his daze when your tugged at his shirt. "I can't reach the basket." You were standing on your tippy toes.

"I brought you fresh tomatoes." He said.

You listed your head. "I still don't like them."

He smiled sadly. "I also drew you something." He pulled a folded peice of paper from his pocket, unfolded it and spread it across your knees.

You reached towards it with trembling hands. The picture was almost identical to the picture you had drawn in the dirt so many years ago, only your grandfather added a few more details.

Romano watched you as you contemplated the picture. He couldn't decide if he waa relieved he didn't age like humans or if he was saddened that he could never die along with the humans he loves.

He reached out and touched your hand. "Bambin(o/a)..." His voice wavered.

Your eyes immediately went to his nails. There was a little bit of dirt underneath them. You put your aged hand on top of his. "Nonno..." You smiled. "Always remember to wash under your fingernails."

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(For @AquaStar2)
I love writing the reader as a mortal child even if it always ends up turning out sad :')