Long ago, it was known that in a certain glade in a certain wood, the ground itself had power. If you were holding one of the white stones that could be found atop the earth, it was said, you could see the way someone truly felt about you. Before long, though, the knowledge became a myth, a fairytale, and most people forgot the truth except as a story they were told as children.
It was merely by coincidence that Italy had walked into the glade mentioned in the legend. Yet another training session had ended in disaster, with Germany shouting at them whenever he made mistakes. Each time, the anger broke Italy's heart - surely he wouldn't shout like that if he loved Italy.
"Why can't he see the way I feel about him?" Italy wondered aloud. He wished he was brave enough to tell Germany that he loved him, but it was so hard to tell how the other nation felt and he didn't want to spoil their friendship. He sat down under a tree, picking up a white stone and listlessly fiddling with it. Exhausted by training and made sleepy by the heat, Italy soon fell asleep.
"Italy?"
He was woken by Germany calling for him. He stood up slowly, still holding the stone, and turned to see the other nation coming towards him. As he got closer, Italy suddenly realised that he could see the emotions in the other's eyes. There was exasperation and relief, but the one that struck Italy most was love - he was surprised he hadn't noticed how much Germany was in love with him before.
On an impulse as Germany reached him, Italy grabbed the taller nation's shoulders, pulling him down so their faces were level and kissing him. For a moment nothing happened and he was worried he had misread Germany's feelings, but then Germany responded, kissing back. When they eventually broke for air, Germany was lying on the forest floor with Italy on top of him. The countries gazed into each other's eyes for a moment, seeing the desire that had been growing since WW1, before beginning the desparate race to remove the clothes that were the last remaining barrier to their expression of love for each other.
"How... how did you realise how I felt?" Germany asked afterwards as they lay on the ground hand-in-hand. Italy's thoughts drifted to the stone he had picked up, and to a story Grandpa Rome had once told him, of a glade where the stones could show you feelings.
"I had help, I think," he said. As they left the clearing, Germany saw him reach down to pick up one of the white stones that lay on the earth and slip it into a pocket before the smaller nation took Germany's hand again.
A/N: So this was the first fanfiction I ever wrote... Please review!