Chapter 3
Florence felt uncomfortable sitting across from Venice. Even today, those wars had made Venice bitter and Florence had a temper just like his uncle, he found it even easier to get mad at Venice, even if Venice had done nothing.
Italy looked downcast. He'd tried for years to get the two to forgive each other and make up. It hadn't worked yet. "Ve...Please guys? You can't hate each other forever..."
Venice grunted in that way that clearly said. "I can."
Florence felt his face heat up as he flushed. "What's wrong with you?"
Venice rolled his eyes. "You're talking."
Florence counted to ten, trying to keep his temper in check. He knew he was a city known for his temper when he was being insulted.
"We could have worked together." Venice spat. "But you took everything for yourself."
That was enough. Florence's short fuse blew. "I didn't want to work with you because you probably would've made my city a tiny town on the outskirts of your state! We would've been nothing if we teamed up with you! I would've been nothing!"
Florence stood and glared. "It is, is it?" His hands balled into fists.
Venice's eyes went into slits, waiting for Florence to try something.
"Wait! You two!" Florence and Venice turned to find Italy crying. "Please, you can't do this. Can't you just make up?"
Venice moved to hug their Father gently. "I'm sorry Dad. I just..."
"Just don't want to do you?" Florence finished. Venice had always been the one to comfort Italy, always been the one to keep his head in a crisis.
Venice glared. "Florence...please..."
"No." Florence stepped forward. "You want to know why I worked to be more successful than you? Why I let the Medici family take over despite some of the things they did rather than try to stop it? Because I wanted the same attention you got. You were always the one helping Dad out. I just wanted to do something for once! To be noticed!"
Florence's yelled speech resounded off the walls.
Italy looked up. "Ve~? You just wanted attention from me?"
Florence nodded numbly, swallowing hard. He'd kept those feelings pent up for so long, only showing them through his actions as a city-state.
Italy's smile was watery but it was still a smile and pulled away from Venice slightly. "Florence! Ve~! You should've said something, you know I love you."
Florence flushed. "I'm sorry."
"Florence." He looked up to see Venice reaching out a hand. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. During that time...I felt the same way...I know how you felt. I'm sorry."
Florence took his hand, clasping it. "I shouldn't have made you feel like that. Now I know why you fought me..."
Venice nodded and the two city's embraced. They'd been fighting over the same things for so long. It really shouldn't have ever happened.
Italy joined the hug. "I'm sorry too; I should've paid more attention to you both. Ve~! I'm so glad you made up!"
"We know Dad." Venice and Florence grinned. Sometimes they were more mature than their own Dad. Other times...not so much.
"Ve~!" I love you both you know that?"
"Love you too Dad."
A/N: Here's some info for anyone who's reading this. During the Renaissance Florence became a very powerful city-state in Italy with all of their trading, art and architecture. When the Medici family came into power, taking over the city-state in every way but name, the prosperity of the city grew. Venice was one of their main rivals and there were many wars between the two cities for power over the regions trading. I can see the two of them being very bitter about it. And of course Italy would really want to get them together. Anyways, just an idea. For some reason it seems like that power struggle could've been for attention of some sort.
Anyways, same deal, I only own Venice and Florence. If anyone's got any ideas, I'd love to hear them!
Chow!
~CCL
