Hetalia One shots (TAKING REQUESTS)

Romania x Reader: Goodbyes Are The Hardest

    The soft glow of the candles surrounded her in warmth, casting shadows of strange creatures on the stone wall. The stench of dying flowers and rain clouded the air as she sat, cross legged on the cold floor. Her head was down, hands toying with a small locket adorning her neck as she sat in thought, the words forming and crashing in her head like waves, coming and going but never sticking, never sounding quite right. Whatever came to mind didn't seem good enough, not for him. Finally, after minutes of sitting and contemplating, she finally spoke.
"I..I know it's been a while since I've seen you..since I've visited you but you've been on my mind for the longest time." She paused, searching for the right words," I wish it didn't have to end like this, there were so many things I wanted to experience with you..marriage, kids, everything there is to do in life..I wanted to do it with you and no one else. But given the circumstances..I'm sure now I have to." Pausing again, she looked up for a moment. The red candles burned away, their wax dripping down the candle and onto the stone, drying as it touched the surface. The windows streamed in moonlight, casting her in a faint glow with little comfort.
"Do you remember how we met? Back in August a two years ago? You were visiting New Jersey for a few weeks, you were so nervous but you played it off so well."

    The sun beat down onto the white sand, causing a painful glare to the eyes when stared at directly. The air was sticky and humid, the slight sea breeze brought little relief from the relenting hot weather. She sat on one of the benches on the boardwalk that overlooked the beach, the blue waves crashing against the shoreline, children screaming and laughing from the coolness of the salt water and the pull of the current. She had her hair in a bun to keep her cool, sunglasses over her eyes as she sat in her bathing suit, her small cooler and beach bag next to her on the wooden floor. She noticed him immediately, how could she not? He was wearing black swim shirts, a black t-shirt that was obviously sticking to him and black shoes. Red tinted sunglasses propped up on his reddish brown hair made him squinting against the harsh sun, his pale skin gleaming in the light. Obviously this man has never once stepped foot outside or he wasn't from here. She rolled her eyes at the man and went back to looking out at the sea. A few moments passed and she felt a presence next to her, she looked over and it was the man she spotted before. He gave her a small smile and gestured to the bench.
"Is this seat taken?" He said, a thick foreign accent laced his words. She contemplated it but nodded anyways. He sat down and let out a sigh.
"I'm Vladimir by the way." He said again and held out his hand to her. She looked at it and shook it.
"[your name]." She replied, he gave her a toothy grin.
"Thats a beautiful name." She smiled and pulled her hand away.
"You're not from here are you?" He shook his head.
"I'm visiting for a few weeks, I'm from Romania." Ah so that explains his accent, she thought.
"Well I don't know why you want to visit here, there's nothing but landfill, sand and farms." He looked at her oddly.
"Well that won't deter me from making this a great two weeks." She couldn't help but let out a small snort at his reasoning.
"You seem like a nice guy and all but be careful who you talk to, not everyone is friendly here."
"Well you are. Should I be wary of you?" She shook her head with laughter.
"This is New Jersey, be wary of everyone and don't take kindness for friendliness. Everyone has their own agenda." He looked at her with a still present smile, but his shoulders slowly slumped at her words. "But there are a lot of decent people here, not everyone is an asshole like they make us out to be." She turned away from him. He stayed silent for a while before catching her attention by pulling out a phone and holding it out to her, a small red flush spreading over his cheeks.
"Yes?" She said, looking at it.
"Well..just in case I get lost..you can help me." He gave a soft chuckle to which she rolled her eyes but put in her name and number.
"Alright, but don't be calling me at three am in trouble cause someone mistake your smile for a fight." He gave out a laugh and put his phone away.
"I won't, I promise." And that's how it started. A few days later, Vladimir had texted her, asking her if they could meet up somewhere and talk more. She had agreed and they had lunch together at a small local diner. Throughout the week, she showed the stranger around the small state. From Jersey City to Howell, Camden to Elizabeth. She explained the small quarry's of the state, the argument of pork roll and Taylor ham, the visibility of central Jersey. He listened to everything she said, asking her questions along the way as well as telling her about his home country.
    Two weeks went by and Vladimir was preparing to leave the U.S and head back home. Of course he was going to miss the state, from the legends of the Jersey Devil to the village of albinos, but he was especially going to miss [your name]. She offered to drive him to the airport and he took it up. The drive was quiet, neither of the two knew what to say, so much say but words couldn't be formed for how they felt.
    She parked in the timed parking lot, her shoulders slumped as he unbuckled his seatbelt. He looked over at her.
"Are you not coming?" He asked and she looked at him in question. "To see me off?" He continued. She smiled and nodded, getting out with him and helping carry his bags inside the airport. He had a look on his face, a scrunched up look.
"You good?" She asked him.
"The air..it stinks." She laughed and shook her head.
"That's Newark for you." She got to the terminal with him and handed him his bag and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
"Thank you..for everything, I appreciate it greatly." He smiled and rubbed her back.
"Of course, I had fun showing you around." She pulled away first and he just looked at her, quietly contemplating his next move. Slowly he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers in a soft and shy kiss. She was certainly surprised but didn't reject it and slowly moved her lips against his. Vladimir cupped her cheek and kept her close, savoring the kiss and feel of her lips. Slowly, he pulled away and smiled.
"I'll keep in touch, yes?" She smiled and hugged him again.
"I'll be waiting for a text." Pulling away they said their goodbyes and it was back to the same old life for the both of them.

    A relationship slowly formed between the two of them, long distance was never fun but they had Skype, face time, text and the occasional letter. It wasn't until five months into the relationship that [your name] visited Vladimir in Romania and stayed with him for a few weeks at his house. It was as if nothing had changed, the playful banter was ever present throughout the time she spent with him. As she departed for home, they shared another kiss and embrace for the last time until they could see each other again.

    The wait wasn't that long, another six months passed and their relationship was ever growing, talk of moving in together was mentioned almost daily, which soon became a reality. [Your name] packed everything and flew out to live with Vladimir in his home, he happily helped her unpack and helped her adjust to a life away from home.

    Another six months passed and tragedy struck. There had been a car accident, Vladimir was impaled by a fence post after swerving to avoid colliding with another vehicle. He died on impact. [Your name] was in shambles, she lost the love of her life in one day with no rhyme or reason. She lost everything, he was all she had. She planned a funeral with his parents, who were even worse off, their only son had been killed at such a young age. Many people showed up for the wake, friends and family filled the funeral home. Condolences were said between everyone. She watched as her love was brought into the family mausoleum, sealed away into the wall forever. She didn't visit him for months, until now.

    She reminisced through the good and bad times together, everything she wanted to experience with him was stripped away. Everything she ever loved was stripped away from a reckless driver who didn't even care that he caused someone to lose their life, someone to lose their son, someone to lose their lover. She pulled at her necklace, a small locket which held a picture of them together, the first time they met on that fateful day.
"I'm so sorry we didn't have more time to spend with each other..I wish we knew each other earlier in life..I wish you didn't have to leave." Tears pinpricked at the corner of her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry my love, for everything that happened." She sniffled and wiped at her eyes, slowly standing up on shaky legs.
"I will always love you." She placed her hand on the smooth, cold stone, tracing his name that was etched in the marble wall.
"I won't forget you." Pulling her hand away she slowly walked towards the door, glancing back to see the candles slowly melting away their red wax and dim light.
"Goodbye Vladimir.." she walked out the mausoleum door and closed it behind her. Pausing in the pale moonlight, she sighed and closed her eyes, walking away from the man she loved for a short time but wanted a lifetime with.