Germany wiped his brow, and stood up.
"Geez, Bruder, you could stand to clean up after yourself sometimes…" he muttered to himself, not really meaning it. Much as he complained, there was something calming about cleaning.
Germany looked around, satisfied with his work, and turned to leave. Just then, his hand knocked against a desk, and a book fell to the ground. Germany chided himself, and bent down to pick up the book. It had fallen open to a random page, and Germany couldn't help but notice that there was something pressed in between the pages.
"A child's…underwear?" Germany said, picking up the small article of clothing, somewhat unnerved. "What the hell is Osten doing with panties?" He took a deep breath, then folded the panties neatly, deciding he didn't want to know. He couldn't help but glance at the book's contents. Some kind of diary?
Month x, Day x
I was cool today! Also, France is an idiot. In the battlefield, I saw this really weird guy. He seems really similar to us, so I picked him up and brought him home.
Month x, Day x
I was cool today. I'm going to beat up France in the near future. The guy we picked up seems similar to Rome. No choice. I'll make you my little brother. I'm so awesome!
Germany felt something stir, deep within him. Faint images tugged at the corner of his mind.
Month x, Day x
I was cool again today. The guy I picked up was so-so. I picked him up someplace west, so I named him "West". I have such good naming skills!
He began to remember snippets. Working for Austria…A black cape and hat…A pushbroom…Suddenly, he heard a voice. It was painfully familiar. He saw himself in a field, waving goodbye to someone…no, not just someone. A young girl in a green maid's dress and auburn hair, sobbing as she waved back, calling out to him.
"Holy Rome…Come back soon…I'll be waiting!"
He gasped involuntarily as everything came rushing back. He was Germany, but before that, he was a young, inexperienced empire. An empire by the name of Holy Rome. And the girl…
He leapt up, all thoughts of cleaning forgotten. He rushed out the door, flinging off his apron as he ran. He panted furiously as he raced towards his destination. Finally, he arrived. Italy looked up from watering the front garden at the sound of approaching footsteps. He smiled.
"Ah! Welcome back, Germa…" Before he could finish, he was swept off his feet and into a tight embrace. The hose clattered to the ground, forgotten.
"Germany?"
Germany didn't move for a minute. Then he let go and looked at Italy with tears in his eyes.
"I'm back."