After Italy's grandmother died, she went to live with Austria. Needless to say, they weren't off to a great start.

"Okay," Austria sighed, clutching a book to her hip. "All you have to do is obey me and do what I say. I'll take care of your countries politics and land." She squinted at Italy's hair through her glasses. "Your hair is too long."

"Eh?" Italy grabbed a handful of her auburn hair with a fist. "But it's only down to my shoulders! Nonna said I'd look pretty with it grown out-"

"Quiet." Austria walked over to Hungary, a man who lived with her. "Do something about his hair. It's much too long for a boy."

"A boy?" Hungary repeated, glancing at the child who was just out of earshot. "Well, it you say so." He stepped forward, offering a hand. "Come on, Italy, I'll cut it for you."

The younger whimpered but reluctantly took his hand. She shuffled along into Hungary's room and sat cross-legged on the bed. She cringed when Hungary took a pair of scissors out of the drawer.

"Um," he stuttered. "Don't you think your clothes are a bit...masculine?"

"No," Italy huffed. All she was wearing was a long shirt and black pants. She felt it was a lot more comfortable to move around in than a dress.

"Well, here we go." Hungary started clipping her away. Italy watched in horror as her locks fell to the sheets.

"I promised I would grow it out, though," she muttered. Once her haircut was done, she studied her new style in the mirror: it was a little shorter than her chin, making it seem wavier than it really was.

"I'll get you another pair of clothes too," Hungary offered.

"No need for it." Austria strode in normally. "I've already prepared work clothes for him."

Before Italy knew it, she was in brown pants, a white shirt, a black vest, and a navy jacket. It was too...boyish for her taste. At least with her normal attire and hair, you could tell her gender.

"Your first job is to clean the floor in the kitchen," Austria snapped, shoving a broom into her hands. "It's filthy."

Italy grunted and trudged into the kitchen, starting to do as she was told. She felt someone staring at her from the door. She slowly turned around and let out a short scream when she saw who it was.

It was a young girl around her age clad in a black cloak. (She apparently liked to wear boy clothes too.) Her long wavy blond hair was pulled back out of her face. When Italy saw her, she flinched and her black hat shifted and became lopsided atop her head.

"Eh? Oh, Holy Rome," Italy realized. "Hi."

Holy Rome adjusted her hat and righted herself. "Um, hi. ….What are you doing here?"

"I'm living here," Italy explained. "Austria put me under her control, and...well, my sister's with Spain."

"Ah…" Holy Rome took a step back. "So you're living here now?"

Italy blinked in confusion. "That's what I said, wasn't it?"

"Just making sure. Um, I have to go take care of something." Holy Rome walked backwards out of the room and broke into a sprint once out of sight.

Later

"Get this, get that, do this, do that…" Italy grumbled as she lugged a pail of water along. "I'm real tiny and this is heavy. Hungary should be doing this, not me."

She halted when she saw several guards gathered in the courtyard, Holy Rome among them. She set the pail down and fixed her jacket as it slipped off her shoulder.

"Holy Rome!" she called, running to him. "Hey! What's going on?"

Holy Rome flinched at her sudden appearance and absentmindedly twirled her braided hair. "What're you doing here?"

"Hm? Nothing, just getting something for Austria," Italy shrugged. She glanced at the soldiers. "Something wrong?"

"Oh...It's complicated…" Holy Rome tapped her foot impatiently. "You see, I'm going away for a while."

"For how long?" Italy asked obliviously.

"Maybe a long time…"

"Huh?" Italy frowned. "Why? Do you have to?"

"Yeah, I have to." Holy Rome took a step towards her. "Before I go, there's something I wanted to tell you."

Italy cocked her head in confusion. "..."

"I…"

Holy Rome leaned forward and kissed her.

When they stepped back, Holy Rome sighed in agitation. "I love you. And I always will."

"But…Ah! Hold on!" Italy ran inside and came back out with a broom. She shoved it towards her friend. "Take this. To remember me by when you're gone."

Holy Rome took it and studied it. "Thanks."

"And...we'll see each other again!" Italy called as she began to leave. "We will! I promise!"

Holy Rome paused before she exited and turned her head, giving one last weak wave, smiling with her eyes cast down to the ground.

"...Yeah," she muttered. "We will."

*To be continued! I've had an obsession with Fem!Holy Rome (too cuuuute!) so this is that story and a continuation of what they were doing afterwards. Next: Ita-chan's part! (And sorry for the kiss scene. We've seen it so many times so I didn't make it that special…)