Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

Blimey, this is quite fluffy. Enjoy! :D Please do review too!

Spoils of the Sea

Spain strolled into the room, still clad in the clothes he had been wearing for the past week. He had been at sea for an entire month and the scent of sea spray and salt clung to his brown breeches and red overcoat. He fingered his gold necklace before pausing mid step, just inside the doorway of his bedroom and tipped his head slightly to the left at the familiar sight.

His little henchman was sprawled across his bed, snoring softly with his mouth hanging open. Spain recalled Romano had been sleeping just before he had left, and it seemed as though he had hardly been away. Spain smiled and then walked across the room, stopping beside his bed and leaning over the form of the smaller country so that the boy was in his shadow. "Hello Romano." He called loudly, disturbing the slumbering child.

Romano awoke, rubbing his eyes vigorously. "Spain?" He looked up and then his eyes flickered down to the bed before hastily scrambling off. "Spain, you back already then? I wondered whether you had been sunk by England and his great guns."

Spain chuckled a little, one hand resting on the golden hilt of his sword while the other patted Romano's head fondly, much to the little boy's disgust. "Don't touch me, bastard," he mumbled under his breath.

Spain ignored him, "Of course I'm back, as if England would manage to beat me. I sent that dog back to his damp little island."

"Really?" Romano's tone showed he wasn't interested in the slightest.

"Yes, we boarded his ship." Spain began to recount the events of his latest skirmish. "Swinging over on ropes and using planks to bridge the gap between our two ships. Swords gleaming from the sun reflected off the ocean."

He paused for dramatic effect and Romano blinked back at him. Spain merely grinned at the lack of reaction and relocated himself to his favourite chair; dropping down into it with a chorus of rattles and clinks from his gold and silver jewellery. The Spanish afternoon sun filtered in and glinted off the many jewels adorning his clothes. All of it was the spoils from his numerous battles with England, each trying their best to steal the other's wealth.

"Then, we began to fight! England raced towards me, his sword unsheathed and we danced around the deck of his ship. My men surged forwards to fight his paltry crew. I stepped forwards," Spain waved an imaginary sword and parried. Romano watched, his wide eyes drinking in the tale as he slowly forgot to pretend to be bored. "And, we began to duel."

"He retreated as we fought." He sliced his non-existent sword through the air, "We crossed swords on the helm. He laughed but then I struck out and he only managed to step back in time and I ended up striking the wheel, gouging out a long mark on the wood."

He paused as Romano stepped forwards and leaned against the side of the chair. Spain rested an arm on the arm rest of his chair, then his chin on his gloved fist. "What happened then?" Romano queried, intrigued. His expression was more open than it generally was, he was clearly listening attentively and it made Spain's heart warm a little with fondness.

"What happened then?" Spain repeated as he thought back to the sword fight, tapping his foot on the wooden floor. Suddenly he lunged forwards so that his nose was inches away from Romano's. "Then," he began in a low tone, "England stumbled back, like the mangy cat he is."

"Bastard." Romano agreed.

"So, I struck out again, and he matched me, move for move until we ended up on the deck once more. When I looked around, I could that my crew were fighting admirably. They were rounding up the English crew." He let out a little laugh. "Some of the English had even abandoned ship!" He whispered, as though divulging a great secret and Romano giggled back.

"I stepped up onto the side of the deck and then the ledge of the bow, blocking England's attempt to attack me, and then I jumped, knocking him backwards." Romano bounced on the balls of his feet excitedly and Spain leaned back in his chair as the little boy put his hands on the arm rest, riveted to the tale.

"I swept my sword across," Spain made a horizontal swish in the air. "But he jumped high. And then I twisted around, when all of a sudden he caught the sleeve of my coat." He waved his right sleeve in front of Romano's face, showing his little henchman the tear which cut through the rich red material exposing the white frills of his dress shirt underneath.

"He didn't cut you though?" Romano asked, frowning at the mess England had made.

"Oh no, of course not. Your boss Spain is too good." Romano nodded back. Whether it was in acknowledgment or agreement Spain couldn't tell, so he puffed out his chest a little. "Then, England laughed again, like he's playing a game and says to me, 'You'll have to sail back to Spain wishing there was a stronger southern wind, otherwise I might decide to give chase'." Spain attempted to imitate England's voice causing Romano to laugh.

"I laughed back at his silly words before sweeping my leg backwards and darting forwards. He was too slow! I knocked him to the deck, resting the tip of my sword against his neck." Spain held out his imaginary sword, pointing it downwards.

"You won?" Romano asked in awe. "What happened next?"

"By the time I won, so had the rest of my crew. They were liberating England's cargo of his treasures. I kicked England's sword away and he lay there, slumped on the floor defeated and scowling." Spain grimaced. "He wasn't quiet about it either, very annoying actually. I told him; 'I know how to silence you.' And I plucked off his green jewel from his neck." He dug into his pocket to produce the shiny green emerald. It sparkled and Romano's eyes widened even more. The reflection of the green shone in his paler green eyes.

"He kept his mouth shut after that and we left, walking back across the plank bridges to our ship." Spain finished his tale and shuffled down in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, flipping the emerald around.

"Didn't they try to fight back?"

"My crew pushed their cannons and guns into the waters. They couldn't have fought back even if they wanted to."

"It's beautiful." Romano commented after a moment, still staring at the emerald.

Spain pursed his lips in thought and then the right side of his mouth pulled up into a smile, "Have it." He held it out and Romano took the green stone, holding it carefully.

"I can keep it?" He asked in an awed whisper, never taking his eyes of the emerald.

Children and their fancies, they all love gems that glitter. Spain chuckled and removed his captain's hat from his head, placing it onto Romano's quickly. It slipped down onto the child's nose and he had to tip it back to see again. "Yes, you may keep it." He pinched his henchman's cheek. "Remember that when you are as big and strong as your boss, you will have to win golden chest full of jewels and treasures."

Romano clutched onto the emerald tightly and suddenly frowned, "Don't do that!" He pulled away from Spain's pinching and his new hat tipped forwards, obscuring his vision. However, it didn't stop him from hearing his boss laugh loudly at the amusing sight. "Spain, you bastard." Romano's frown had turned into a scowl and his eyes glared at the man.

"Ah," Spain pulled off some of his pearl necklaces and draped them over the top of the hat. They dangled down the side, the trailing ends rested on Romano's shoulder. "You will need to complete all your chores and earn your own ship one day, my little friend." Romano pushed back the hat so that he could see Spain once more and continued to glare at his smile.

"I think it's time for dinner now." Spain stood up.

Romano crossed his arms. "Are there going to be tomatoes, you jerk."

Spain quickly scooped up the stroppy boy and adjusted the hat, tipping it to the side so that it would fall over his eyes again. "What kind of a question is that to a victorious captain like me?"

Romano wriggled in his hold but Spain held him firmly while grinning with white teeth, so instead he resorted to firmly crossing his arms in defiance once more. "Are there going to be tomatoes?" Romano pouted, his tone sharp and demanding.

Spain smiled wider than before. "For you, my little henchman, always tomatoes."