The Tale of the Tomato Ring

Today was one of their quieter evenings. They just intended to have a nice dinner – pasta cooked by Italy – and watch a movie or maybe two if they weren't sleepy enough by the end of the first one. Most likely, he'll have to carry Italy up to the bedroom as the other had the tendency to fall asleep somewhere during their movie nights. So, nothing out of the ordinary.

After their meal, Germany immediately went to the sink, determined to clean the dishes right away while Italy stayed seated at the dinner table and talked about everything that came to his mind. Germany enjoyed the constant blabbering while he was working, occasionally making a few confirming noises to show that he was listening. Until suddenly, Italy said something that made him freeze on the spot.

"Remember when you first proposed to me?"

He turned his head around slowly and noticed that the other's gaze was fixed on his left hand. Or more exactly, at the silver band that adorned his ring finger which probably brought this, on his part very unwanted, topic on.

"Please don't remind me." Of course he remembered. Even if he wanted to, how could he ever forget one of his most embarrassing days so far?

Italy looked up from his hand with a quizzical expression. "But why? It was a bit scary at first but now I can laugh about it. You should laugh about it too."

"No thanks." Germany really didn't see what was so amusing about it when this particular memory was everything but funny. And he really wanted to stop talking about it. Every time he thought back on that day - mainly because Prussia liked to mention it to tease him - he immediately tried to divert his thoughts to something more pleasant, which meant basically everything else. But knowing his boyfriend, Italy won't give up when it came to such topics. He sighed. Better to get it over with quickly. "Why are you bringing it up?"

"I was just wondering: why was the gem formed like a tomato?"

"You won't stop bothering me about it until I tell you, will you?"

Italy just grinned at him, a look full of expectation on his face. The blonde sighed, knowing there was no way around it. And this time Italy didn't even need to use his puppy eyes to convince him. "Well…"

The book said it would be even better to get something unique, something especially made for your partner, something that held a special meaning. The two were pretty similar, so Germany figured he could visit the older Italian brother and get a few ideas on how to ask what he planned to ask.

"Romano," he called out once he was close enough to the other.

The Italian turned around, his facial expression changing into an annoyed scowl the moment he saw Germany. "What do you want potato bastard?"

Normally he would just ask straight out but this time he needed to make sure that his intentions weren't too clear. If Romano would realize what Germany planned, he would tell Veneziano and his surprise wouldn't be a surprise anymore. And there would probably be some other kinds of reactions from Romano, mostly some colorful insults and further tries to attack him. "What would you like as a present?"

Romano started to blush. "W-what? I-I don't want any presents from a macho potato like you!"

"N-no, I don't want to give you a present." Ugh, things were getting awkward rather quickly. He probably shouldn't have expected things to go smoothly when it came to the bad-tempered Italian. One wrong word always seemed enough to set him off.

"Oh? So I'm not good enough to get presents?" Yeah, just like now.

"What? That's not –"

"Well, maybe I should be the one giving you a present then!" Romano pulled a basket full of tomatoes from seemingly out of nowhere, took one tomato in his hand and raised his arm, looking like he'll throw it any second. "You better leave right now or you will get some delicious tomato juice splashed right into your ugly potato face."

The moment he finished talking, Romano already threw the first tomato, aimed straight at his face. Germany dodged it with ease and slowly started to make a tactical retreat under more tomato bombardment, knowing he couldn't get the desired information out of Romano anymore. He must have made a mistake somewhere in his initial approach. But coming to think of it, Romano really loved tomatoes, didn't he? Hmm…

Italy was laughing his heart out, his face buried in the nook of Germany's neck. After Germany had started his retelling of the events and was done with the dishes, they had moved to the couch in the living room and the smaller one instantly cuddled up to him.

Once he wasn't shaking with laughter anymore, Italy moved his head up from his resting place, looking straight at him, their faces really close together. "You really asked my brother?"

"I know by now that it wasn't a good idea."

The redhead shook his head. "No, it wasn't. But this story really reminded me how cute you were back then."

Germany turned his head away, too embarrassed with the whole situation. He only hoped that Italy's curiosity would be satisfied now and this topic could be laid to rest, never to be talked about again. He felt soft lips against his cheek, before Italy sprung up from his position next to him and threw his hands in the air. "Okay, I'll choose the movie today!"

While the other rummaged around the shelves with all their movies, Germany couldn't help but move his hand to the chain around his neck, enclosing the ring that hung on it. A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched Italy move around. However embarrassing that first proposal may have been, at least he got the second one right.