Germany was much less than a social butterfly. If anything he was more of a social beetle, acknowledged, not ecstatic, and downright unfit to be among the butterflies. Until a butterfly set down by him and never left his side. He was always around, jabbering away, singing, loving everything and everyone he saw regardless. The hugs, the kisses, the showing up in Germany's bed in the morning, it was so alien, so new, yet not unpleasant. It was almost a relief, someone new and sweet, if a bit strange
He'd spent so long fighting everybody: France, England, Denmark, Prussia, France again, Russia, and America. It was simply ingrained. War was what Germany knew, what he did best, and there was no love in war, no affection, no laughter, no warmth. Germany was raised with war and everything that came with it.
He couldn't respond to something like this unconditional love; love on its own was something he'd never had. As America would say, Italy came straight out of left field. Germany didn't show affection to his own kin, and here was a stranger snuggling against him, wanting to please him and making him want to please. He didn't feel this way about anyone else; he wanted to make Italy happy. Italy made him question everything Germany had been so sure of for so long. Maybe, he thought, everyone wasn't an enemy.
But no, he couldn't simply let everything go like Italy did. No, there was an image, a reputation to uphold, an honor to maintain. These things wouldn't go away. Quite the opposite, his name would become dirt. It was one thing to be weak all the time, it was another to lose strength. Germany would have as much commanding power as Canada in no time. England and that idiot France would have a field day for sure. He couldn't come straight out and say how he felt; no one would understand. Except the one who loved him no matter what and wanted him to be happy.
Maybe he was just cynical. He was a stubborn beetle stuck in the mud as the butterfly tried to lift him to the heavens. Germany didn't know if he could ever change what he thought about others, but he did know that Italy would help him try.