p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"emwhat is this feeling...? I just want to show Italy more appreciation that he's here but... it doesn't feel like appreciation. different somehow. why am I acting so weird and why am I worrying about him so much? when I'm around him I become so vulnerable, weak. he's just my ally, that's all./em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I silently debate with myself while bobbing the tea bags in our mugs. I crane my neck to look at him, watching as he struggles to remove the sticky pasta goop from the pot. he has his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his face Is red with the effort of scraping the paste from the sides./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"the corners of my mouth twitch when I turn back to the tea, trying to fight the oncoming smile./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Germany?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""is it okay if I wash the rest of the dishes before dinner? I know Japan usually does it but he's not here right now."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"emOh why does he keep talking about Japan?/em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""s-sure." I stutter, nodding my head. my voice filled to the brim with sadness./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"as I watch the tea, my mind wanders off to this morning. maybe I was working them a bit too hard... Italy obviously doesn't like it but he stayed. why? has Japan felt like this the entire time he was part of the Axis Powers?/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"strong"Germany, I'm leaving. your training is too difficult for me to handle and I hate watching Italy try so hard to keep up but you're never satisfied. Consider me no part of the Axis, I am sorry."/strong his voice rings in my head. my blood begins to boil in frustration just at the thought of him leaving. I know I still have Italy but his troops are a bunch of cowards. Japan was my strongest ally, he didn't like my training, but he had techniques of his own./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"emwhat a stupid reason to lea-/em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I'm broken out of my thoughts by Italy's scream./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""GERMANY GERMANY! HELP ME IT HUURRRTSSSSS OW OW!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I spin around quickly to see Italy holding a knife in his red hand, a small cut along his palm./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""HELP ME I'M GOING TO DIE I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE I'M STILL A VIRGIN-" he shrieks, shaking uncontrollably before I interrupt./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy is just a cut, you aren't going to die, let's go wrap it." I sigh taking the knife from his grasp and laying it on the counter./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I drag him and his sniffles to the bathroom and lift him onto the sink. he begins to cry again as I hold his hand under the running faucet. I gently wash of his wound, watching the blood drip down the drain./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy calm down, I'm just making it better.." I coo, running my left hand through his silky hair./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"his expression falls to a relaxed but still hurting look. I know it's just a little scratch, but it hurts me to see him like this. what if he really does get shot while running through Switzerland? How would me cry then? I shudder at the thought and Italy notices./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""G-Germany," he sputters in between hicks. "what I-is the matter?" his tear-filled orbs lock onto mine. I guess he really does pay me a lot of attention. enough to know when I'm bothered while he's hurt. usually I would think he should be worrying about himself when in reality he puts everyone before /he uses his right hand to touch my face, fingers skimming my cheek. he gazes into my eyes for what seems like an eternity, his expression calm./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy.." I mutter, locked in his stare. his already pink cheeks flare with a deep blush, looking over to the side. his hand drops in his lap./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I blink, snapped out of my trance. I remove his cut from the running water, accidentally keeping it under longer than intended./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sorry." he whispers, gripping his hand to his chest./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""d-don't be, you didn't do anything wrong." I assure him, moving to the medicine cabinet. I rummage through the bottles and boxes, my fingers searching for the gauze and wrap. upon finding I pull them out and place them on the counter./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No. you aren't feeling well and I was supposed to help you today. but you're the only one that's done any helping." he explains. the entire time, he's been trying to do things for me but I've stolen his spotlight.. his face expresses a look of apology./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"the corners of my mouth twitch as I reach for his hand. once again, putting others first./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""honestly Italy," I whisper, placing a square piece of gauze on the cut. "You don't need to worry so much about me. I'm a grown man."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I just wanted to repay you for all that you've done for me, even if it was the smallest task. I would probably be alone right now if you hadn't opened the box and I thank you for that..." Italy says, a tear slipping down his flushed cheeks. he winces as I spin the wrap around his palm, pulling it tight./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""there, now you won't die. don't worry about repaying me so much okay? I like doing things for you." I reassure him, helping him off the sink./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""ve~ thank you Germany!" he exclaims, that retarded look back on his face. he stands up on his toes, extending his neck to kiss my cheek. he giggles and runs off to the living room, leaving me alone. i see myself in the mirror, face tinted a light pink. my slicked back hair left a few strands dangling in my eyes. I brush them back and walk into my room. might as well put a shirt on at least./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I open my dresser and search for my white tank top, slipping it over my head. emwhat are we going to do now? Japan's gone, and I need to get him back. but I have no idea where he even is! he's probably gone back to his country. maybe I should just leave him alone, but we wouldn't be the Axis without him... I'm sure he'll come to his senses and return. /em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I silently debate with myself while bobbing the tea bags in our mugs. I crane my neck to look at him, watching as he struggles to remove the sticky pasta goop from the pot. he has his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his face Is red with the effort of scraping the paste from the sides./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"the corners of my mouth twitch when I turn back to the tea, trying to fight the oncoming smile./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Germany?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Yes?"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""is it okay if I wash the rest of the dishes before dinner? I know Japan usually does it but he's not here right now."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"emOh why does he keep talking about Japan?/em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""s-sure." I stutter, nodding my head. my voice filled to the brim with sadness./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"as I watch the tea, my mind wanders off to this morning. maybe I was working them a bit too hard... Italy obviously doesn't like it but he stayed. why? has Japan felt like this the entire time he was part of the Axis Powers?/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"strong"Germany, I'm leaving. your training is too difficult for me to handle and I hate watching Italy try so hard to keep up but you're never satisfied. Consider me no part of the Axis, I am sorry."/strong his voice rings in my head. my blood begins to boil in frustration just at the thought of him leaving. I know I still have Italy but his troops are a bunch of cowards. Japan was my strongest ally, he didn't like my training, but he had techniques of his own./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"emwhat a stupid reason to lea-/em/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I'm broken out of my thoughts by Italy's scream./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""GERMANY GERMANY! HELP ME IT HUURRRTSSSSS OW OW!"/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I spin around quickly to see Italy holding a knife in his red hand, a small cut along his palm./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""HELP ME I'M GOING TO DIE I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE I'M STILL A VIRGIN-" he shrieks, shaking uncontrollably before I interrupt./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy is just a cut, you aren't going to die, let's go wrap it." I sigh taking the knife from his grasp and laying it on the counter./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I drag him and his sniffles to the bathroom and lift him onto the sink. he begins to cry again as I hold his hand under the running faucet. I gently wash of his wound, watching the blood drip down the drain./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy calm down, I'm just making it better.." I coo, running my left hand through his silky hair./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"his expression falls to a relaxed but still hurting look. I know it's just a little scratch, but it hurts me to see him like this. what if he really does get shot while running through Switzerland? How would me cry then? I shudder at the thought and Italy notices./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""G-Germany," he sputters in between hicks. "what I-is the matter?" his tear-filled orbs lock onto mine. I guess he really does pay me a lot of attention. enough to know when I'm bothered while he's hurt. usually I would think he should be worrying about himself when in reality he puts everyone before /he uses his right hand to touch my face, fingers skimming my cheek. he gazes into my eyes for what seems like an eternity, his expression calm./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Italy.." I mutter, locked in his stare. his already pink cheeks flare with a deep blush, looking over to the side. his hand drops in his lap./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I blink, snapped out of my trance. I remove his cut from the running water, accidentally keeping it under longer than intended./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""Sorry." he whispers, gripping his hand to his chest./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""d-don't be, you didn't do anything wrong." I assure him, moving to the medicine cabinet. I rummage through the bottles and boxes, my fingers searching for the gauze and wrap. upon finding I pull them out and place them on the counter./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""No. you aren't feeling well and I was supposed to help you today. but you're the only one that's done any helping." he explains. the entire time, he's been trying to do things for me but I've stolen his spotlight.. his face expresses a look of apology./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"the corners of my mouth twitch as I reach for his hand. once again, putting others first./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""honestly Italy," I whisper, placing a square piece of gauze on the cut. "You don't need to worry so much about me. I'm a grown man."/p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""I just wanted to repay you for all that you've done for me, even if it was the smallest task. I would probably be alone right now if you hadn't opened the box and I thank you for that..." Italy says, a tear slipping down his flushed cheeks. he winces as I spin the wrap around his palm, pulling it tight./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""there, now you won't die. don't worry about repaying me so much okay? I like doing things for you." I reassure him, helping him off the sink./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;""ve~ thank you Germany!" he exclaims, that retarded look back on his face. he stands up on his toes, extending his neck to kiss my cheek. he giggles and runs off to the living room, leaving me alone. i see myself in the mirror, face tinted a light pink. my slicked back hair left a few strands dangling in my eyes. I brush them back and walk into my room. might as well put a shirt on at least./p
p style="margin: 20px 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; text-align: justify;"I open my dresser and search for my white tank top, slipping it over my head. emwhat are we going to do now? Japan's gone, and I need to get him back. but I have no idea where he even is! he's probably gone back to his country. maybe I should just leave him alone, but we wouldn't be the Axis without him... I'm sure he'll come to his senses and return. /em/p