Disclaimer: If Axis Powers Hetalia were mine, I wouldn't need to write fanfics. If any of these songs were mine, I wouldn't be writing fanfics.

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Minimal fluff 09!

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As If the Year Wasn't Hard Enough!

It really wasn't a secret Feliciano kept under wraps. Everyone knew about it. How the first year had been indecisive about which language he wanted to take until he saw Germany in the hallway and overheard how he was becoming a German peer tutor to earn service hours. Half the school had heard when Feliciano stormed up to the school office and shouted, "Sign me up for German on the double!"

Like his brother, Feliciano was well versed in Italian and English but he was hopeless in German. This may have been a result that he really wasn't paying attention in class in the first place. Being a likeable first year, he had easily struck up conversation with anyone close enough to hear him. Mostly, his conversations revolved around a third year he barely knew, but knew enough about to like: Germany. The listener of most of these gushings happened to be Romano.

"I don't give a shit about that guy!" So Feliciano was on the lookout for someone who did.

Halfway through the first quarter of the school year, after his fifth F on the vocabulary tests, Feliciano decided to take things in his own hands and approached his German teacher. "Um, German-teacher-I-don't-really-know-your-name, do you think I need a tutor?"

"Actually, I think if you paid attention and took notes, you would do fine…"

"Um, excuse me, I just got an F, I think I need a tutor! Yeah?" Feliciano flourished his test proudly. "Where do I request a tutor?"

There had been a sheet for requests and the additional comments box was filled with the same name written a thousand times over. Germany, Germany, Germany, Germany, Germany~

And someone had the nerve to pair him up with someone who wasn't Germany. Feliciano didn't take the liberty of learning his name before storming back to the peer tutor teacher and explaining, in full detail, the reason why he had specified Germany on his request form. It had taken two hours, minus the half hour spent on discussing pasta types, to explain himself.

When Germany finally found him in the hallway to say, Hi, I'm Germany, I'm your German tutor, Feliciano nearly squealed his vocal cords raw.

On their first tutoring session, Feliciano found Germany's tutoring techniques to be less than adequate.

"School."

"Um…schule?"

"Correct." Feliciano waited patiently for some sort of praise but Germany merely looked further down on the vocabulary list. "Teacher."

"No! No! Wrong!" Feliciano leaned forward earnestly. "When I get something right, I should get a reward!"

Germany stared at him. "Exactly how old are you?"

"Sixteen! Old enough!" Feliciano nodded. "And I won't continue if you don't reward me for being right!"

Germany sighed, having dealt with Feliciano at the first session ("Oh my goodness, Germany, what do you want to know about me? I'll tell you everything! I was born…") to know when the boy had something in his head, he wouldn't let it go for the world until he let it out. "What did you have in mind?" he asked, with the patience one has toward a stubborn animal.

"I don't know…" Feliciano said slyly. They were in the far back of the school library after school, where it was deserted. "Maybe…you could kiss me?"

Germany took a deep breath. He'd experienced enough of Feliciano in the first weeks of school to know this was no ordinary first year. "That is hardly appropriate, seeing as we know each other only through your German tutoring. I am also a third year and two years older than you. And this is hardly the setting for such displays of affection."

"It doesn't have to be on the mouth!" Feliciano insisted. "You could kiss me on the cheek! Please? I'll do the rest of the vocab perfectly if you do!"

It was just a first year. Germany figured he could have easily talked some sense into Feliciano, being the authoritative third year, but things got by quicker if you succumbed to the twin's whims. Closing his eyes in exasperation, Germany leaned forward and pecked Feliciano on the cheek, faster than a blink.

Feliciano squealed anyway. His face blossomed red and he held it, murmuring strange 'vee~' sounds for five minutes as Germany waited for him to recover. If this happened every time Feliciano got something right, the tutoring sessions would finish before they covered anything. What a strange first year, wanting something so odd whenever he got something right.

"Why did you request me for a tutor?" Germany asked one time after a particularly useless session, where Feliciano squealed for fifteen minutes straight after Germany asked for the translation of 'love'. Feliciano had caused such a fuss that half the school knew about his pickiness about tutors and how he had to have Germany for a tutor. It was unusual, considering he hadn't known about the twin until the tutoring business occurred.

"Because," Feliciano said mysteriously, collecting his books.

"Because?"

Feliciano swept up all his belongings in his arms before turning and straightening up to face Germany. "Because I really, really, really, really like you, that's why!" With a squeak, he scampered away, leaving the third year in the wake of the confession. Germany, being Germany, stored that in his memory as 'miscellaneous' and pretended nothing had happened.

"I really hate you, you stupid kraut."

Germany was not used to being confronted with angry first years in the hallway between classes, but he was one who adapted. Stepping around Feliciano's twin brother, Germany decided the best route was to accept this verbal abuse, at least until he got to his classroom. Romano persisted, following the blonde.

"Do you know how long Feliciano talks about you? Too long, really. He comes home and it's always 'Germany this' and 'Germany that'. I have a hard time believing you don't know about his stupid crush on you. It's annoying having him talk all the time about that. So either do something about it or back off. I would like to talk about something else than you every night."

Germany reached the history classroom and turned to face his tormentor. Romano gave him a nasty look.

"What do you suggest I do then?"

"I don't know! Tell him how you really feel? I hope he backs off then. I couldn't imagine you liking him back. He's such a nuisance. And I don't like you in the first place. You're a jerk. So if you do like him, I hate you. Am I making myself clear?"

No, but Germany knew when to talk and when to keep silent. Especially since Spain had spotted Romano in the lair of the third years and had run up to administer his daily doses of affection on the first year. Germany turned and went into the classroom, leaving Romano to scream curses in his direction whilst being cuddled by Spain in the middle of the hallway.

That afternoon, Germany decided to cut to the chase. "Do you like me?" he asked, as Feliciano started taking his books out. The brown eyes widened and Feliciano nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Yes, I like you very much, Germany!"

That was fine. Germany was unfolding the syllabus for Feliciano's class when the twin spoke up again. "So…if you ask me that…um…do you like me back?"

Germany took a deep breath, as he usually did at Feliciano's antics. The first year swallowed nervously and stared up at him. "…I guess I might."

Feliciano was a very physical being but Germany had not been expecting to be tackled and fervently kissed on the mouth while floundering around on the floor. But Feliciano, despite being smaller and unsuspecting, kept him pinned on the floor while letting his tongue run free and wild. Germany realized, as he held Feliciano against him on the floor, he liked how Feliciano kissed him.

Prussia, his annoyance of a brother, was thrilled to find out.

"Oh my, little bro," Prussia sneered as Germany came home, shirt unruffled. "Has the little first year been running loose? Cute. Let me at him when you're done."

Prussia wasn't the brightest crayon in the box. After all, he had been held back one year, after skipping one year completely.

Romano's reaction to the pairing had been drastically different.

"Ew, go wash your mouth out before you say anything else!" Romano shouted, shoving Feliciano out of the room toward the bathroom. "To think you're speaking from a mouth that touched that potato bastard's!"

"Eh? Why would you call Germany that?"

"Um, haven't you noticed? It's only the main thing he eats during lunch! Yuck, that guy grosses me out."

"Hmm, I think I did taste something like that when I kissed him today."

"Eww!"

"But Romano," Feliciano protested, between being silenced by Romano brushing his teeth for him, "don't you and Spain do this sort of stuff too? You made me promise not to tell mom why you couldn't walk for a few days! I don't think she believed me when I said you fell from the school roof into the fountain."

"Shut up!" Romano's face flushed red and he jammed the toothbrush into his twin's mouth hard, causing Feliciano to whimper. "What Spain and I do is my business!"

"Anyway," Feliciano said dreamily as Romano took the rest of his anger out on the sink, "now that Germany likes me, I can spend more time with him during school! Ooh! Romano, where do you think we should go on our first date?" Feliciano squealed, a sound that had become white noise to Romano.

Romano snorted, turning off the faucet with a rude twist. "I think it's a crazy thing; you and Germany are nothing alike. I bet he doesn't even like you. He just said it so you would stop bothering him. I feel sorry for him. It backfired."

"He wouldn't say anything like that!" Feliciano insisted, suddenly looking panic-stricken.

"I don't know. I wouldn't put it past him."

Germany lived on the western side of the town, where Prussia occasionally appeared if he wasn't lurking around the east side or staying at Spain or France's house. He had just finished taking his dogs in when Feliciano appeared out of nowhere, sobbing about something mean Romano had said and blubbering like crazy.

"You really like me, don't you? You're not just saying it just to keep me quiet, are you? Germany, I really, really, really like you! I mean it! Do you hate me? Do I bother you? I really, really, really like you!"

After thoroughly scolding Feliciano for running across town in bare feet just to ask him such a stupid question, Germany assured that yes, he liked Feliciano, now would he go home now? Somehow, running across town to Germany's house was no problem but now Feliciano cried about how cold his feet were and how tired he was. So Germany drove him home.

They made a little pit stop at the side of a deserted road for fifteen minutes, resulting in a noticeably happier Feliciano when he came back home. Granted, this meant Romano dragged his younger brother back to the bathroom for another mouth washing, but it was worth it.

So Feliciano was a happy camper, showering his Germany tutor with daily affection in any form. There was a sort of cradle-robber quality to the strange relationship – Feliciano seemed so baby-faced and young that he seemed almost too young to a rather mature looking Germany, but Feliciano was so cute and sincere that most anyone was willing to look the other way.

Or Hungary threatened them, determined to keep the sacredness of the couple. There were many a time she intercepted Romano from ruining a picture perfect moment.

Feliciano was happy.

At least, he was, at the beginning. It didn't take him long to notice there was a difference in the way Germany treated him and how Germany treated his friends. Toward Feliciano, Germany was usually responsible and caring, reminding the first year of certain dates and deadlines. There seemed to be a platonic aspect, although Germany wouldn't say no if Feliciano initiated a make out session.

But that was the problem. Feliciano was always the one to initiate.

Germany seemed friendlier toward his friends, Feliciano noted, watching (but not stalking) Germany in the hallway as he spoke to his friends. Sure, Germany hung out with a strange pack, looking like they were into cults and piercings and heavy metal bands, but Feliciano wouldn't comment. Did Germany like his friends more than he liked him? Say no more!

Feliciano evaluated; Germany's friends were dark and mysterious and hardcore, just like the third year himself. Feliciano was a bubbly, happy, light-hearted first year. Germany's friends did (supposedly) sketchy things on the weekends. Feliciano usually spent his Saturdays and Sundays sleeping in and cooking. There were rumors of alcohol and drugs. Feliciano never considered doing either.

Was he too different for Germany to really like him?

"Germany," Feliciano said, one afternoon during tutoring, "what are you doing this weekend?"

It was a question he'd never asked before; usually, Feliciano would gush about things they should do together, like fairs or pop concerts, to which Germany would disagree and they usually spent the weekends apart. Germany blinked, shuffling the vocabulary notecards.

"My friends and I were going to see a concert and crash at my house," Germany said slowly, wondering where this was going.

"Oh! Okay! Can I come too?" Feliciano was shameless, but not shameless enough to invite himself somewhere.

Germany stared at him. "I don't know if you'd like what we'd do…" he said, sounding unsure.

That was it! He really was too different! "No!" Feliciano insisted, pounding the table. "If Germany's there, I'll like it! All I need is you to be happy!" Feliciano giggled, leaning forward to tease Germany with a kiss. "I'm a simple-minded kind of kid, Germany."

Germany still looked uncertain. "If you're sure about it."

What the weekend was about, Feliciano realized, was a bunch of third years he didn't even know coming over to Germany's house, leering at him at first, before conversing among themselves about topics Feliciano had no idea about. The only other familiar face was Prussia, who was the only other friendly teen toward him. The concert happened to be one for a band he'd never heard about, some band called the Natzis that was an intense German screamo band. Feeling utterly lost in his own body, Feliciano tried to find a niche to squeeze in and fell short. But Germany was different here; he was in the midst of things he was passionate about. There was no mistaking the excited flush in Germany's cheeks after the concert, and Feliciano found himself staring at the third year on the ride home.

A third year in the front seat turned, glancing at Feliciano, before asking something in rough German to Germany, who grunted something in reply. Prussia leaned next to Feliciano to translate.

"Munic just asked Germany if you were his girlfriend," Prussia whispered, a smirk on his face.

Feliciano flushed in spite of himself. "What did he say?" he whispered back.

Prussia smiled mysteriously. Back at Germany's house, a couple packs of beer appeared and Feliciano found a bottle being thrust in his hand in the midst of the numerous bodies packed in the basement as the stereo blared more screamo music. The twin cringed as the liquid traveled down his throat.

Romano was, as expected, extremely angry to find Feliciano in his current state when Germany dropped him back home.

"I'm telling you," his older brother scolded, helping him up the stairs, "Germany is not a good influence on you. I don't think you should go play with his weird friends anymore. You reek of beer. You don't even like beer! And you're not supposed to drink."

"Eh?" Feliciano asked, his ears fuzzy from all the loud music.

"You're an idiot!" Romano shouted.

The hangover was bearable, although it made everyone seem out of focus and Germany look more concerned than usual.

"Listen, Feliciano, about last weekend…"

"Oh! It was fun!" Feliciano giggled although it made his head hurt. "Are you doing it again this weekend? Great! I'll come!"

It took some time, but Feliciano learned to get used to beer and wurst and loud, screaming music. Or at least tried too. At least he could fake a badly executed head bang and down a can or two without retching.

"For Germany, I'll do anything," Feliciano murmured, curling up with a headache from the music in Germany's bed one night, abandoning the apparent party downstairs for more quieter atmospheres. He didn't notice when Prussia closed the room door for him.

The next day, Germany put his foot down. "Feliciano, I'm not letting you come with us this time."

"What?! Why not?" Feliciano's eyes widened as he gripped the table, trying not to panic. He thought he was getting closer to Germany and now he was being pushed away. "Am I annoying? Do your friends not like me? Are you getting bored of me?"

"No! You're not a problem, although some of them do like you more than they should." Germany shook the thought from his mind and stared steadily at the first year. "I just don't think you coming is a good idea. You don't…necessarily fit in. It's like a fish out of water."

Feliciano was quiet for a moment before bursting into tears.

"Don't cry," Germany said, sounding a bit startled. "It's not that I don't want to spend time with you…but I don't really spend time with you with everyone else around. And you don't seem to like what we do in the first place. It doesn't fit you."

"Do you still like me?"

Germany sighed exasperatedly. "Why do you always ask me that? I don't hate you. Everything you do seems to revolve around that."

Feliciano sniffed. "Kiss me, then."

Germany sighed again, leaning forward to perform the polite double cheeked kiss before focusing once more on the tutoring session on hand. Feliciano wiped his tears away, finding it still hard to stay in the educational state of mind.

He hadn't been very good at fitting into Germany's sphere.

He wasn't going to give up!

So on Friday night, when the German pack was collapsing in the living room for another intoxicated night, Feliciano showed up at the front door anyway. Prussia let him in, looking amused.

Germany had come from the kitchen, bearing another pack of beer, and saw Feliciano sitting in the middle of a drunk pack of third years, being questioned and poked at, the first year oblivious to this attention. Setting down the beers, Germany took a deep breath. "Feliciano? Can I talk to you privately?"

The group howled and Feliciano leapt to his feet, looking a little nervous as if his hand had been caught in the cookie jar. "Germany…Germany! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come, but I wanted to see you…" Germany didn't answer him, taking his wrist and guiding him into the hallway.

"Why are you here."

Feliciano smiled bravely. "I wanted to see you! And hang out with everyone!"

Germany shook his head, the questioning going nowhere. "Why are you doing this, Feliciano?"

"W-what?"

"Why do you always insist on coming with us? I don't think you enjoy it as much as you say you do. So why are you doing this?" Germany's steely blue eyes bore into Feliciano's golden brown ones, demanding the truth. Feliciano fidgeted.

"I…I do like it…"

"Tell me the truth." Reaching out, Germany grabbed the immaculate curl jutting out from the rest of the brown locks, the piece Feliciano prided himself on. The first year jumped, confessing immediately.

"Because!" Germany let go as Feliciano blabbered. "Because! Germany's a third year and I'm a first year and we're nothing alike! I thought…I thought if I were more like you and the people you like, you would like me more. Because I'm not like you." Feliciano looked down at the floor sheepishly. "I guess…I guess it doesn't really matter. I can't be like you."

"Look at me, Feliciano." When the first year didn't react, Germany bent over to meet eyes. "This is why you're a stupid first year, Feliciano. I like you because you're different. If I wanted a relationship with someone who drank with me and listened to the same things I listen to, I wouldn't be with you, would I? Don't cry." Rubbing the struggling brunette's eyes with a thumb, Germany closed his eyes. "I do…like you, Feliciano. You don't have to try and make me like you more."

Feliciano gulped, butterflies being born in his stomach. "Do you mean that?"

It wasn't in Germany's nature to be so open. "Yes."

Feliciano's squeal was so loud it was heard over the stereo.

Owari

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Note: You can slap me in the face and tell me my writing has taken a downward slope. I've been so busy I haven't been writing for weeks. I mean, thankfully I've prewritten some chapters, but…it's not the same. Anyway, I hope you liked this Gertalia! I tried my best on this one! The next one will be a Hungary-based fic! Because I know everyone wants to know what sort of things go on in that girl's head! Review, please!