The world meeting arrived far too soon, but both Germany and Veneziano were too caught up in their work to spend much time together, so at least Germany had time to figure out what he was going to say.
Not that he actually did figure out what he was going to say, because the advice books were not a big help, and running anything by Prussia would just make him laugh and call Germany a dork, and suddenly Germany was on a train to Brussels with lots of notes and no idea how he was going to talk to Veneziano.
Especially since they turned out to be sharing a room- which happened a lot anyway, but it made the whole I-am-going-to-ask-him-on-a-date thing even more awkward.
And then the third day arrived, and he was surprised after the last meeting by America pulling him into a side room.
"All right," she hissed. "You got a plan?"
"What."
"For asking Vene! Do. You. Have. A plan."
"I— let go of me."
America did, and Germany straightened up and looked around the room. There were the usual suspects- Belgium, Seychelles, Spain, Taiwan, Ukraine- and Liechtenstein looking very determined, and Hungary looking gleeful.
"I asked him to be coming this way, he'll be here soon," said Liechtenstein. "You really should have some sort of plan, Germany."
"I was just going to— to ask him if he wanted to get coffee," mumbled Germany.
"That is a plan, sort of," said Seychelles, shrugging.
"What do you mean sort of? Was I supposed to do something else?" Germany hissed. Oh dear God, what if he was?
Taiwan turned from her post by the door. "Sst! He's coming!"
And then Spain and Belgium pushed him out the door and Hungary leaned out and whispered "Good luck!" and there was Veneziano walking down the corridor.
He perked up when he saw Germany, and hurried towards him. "Hello! Liechtenstein said you'd be here and you wanted to talk to me, what is it?"
Oh God.
Germany couldn't do this.
He heard, somewhere out of sight, America whispering just say it, just say it, oh my freaking God just say it already and could almost see the go on hand motions Hungary would be making, and Veneziano said "You look kind of red, are you okay?"
"'M fine."
"Good! So what did you want to say?"
Germany took a very deep breath and, eyes fixed on the floor, hands behind his back, said "Willyougooutwithmeforcoffeeasadate."
"Uh?"
Oh no, he hadn't wanted to, oh God what was Germany supposed to do now-
"That was kind of fast, could you say it again?"
-oh. "Will— ah— will you go out with me. For coffee. As a— a— date." Germany cleared his throat and toed the carpet and tried to ignore the dull red flush that was no doubt all over his face.
"Hm." And Veneziano smiled, he smiled, and said "Of course, Germany! Where are we going- what's that noise?" and there were cheers coming from inside the side room.
Veneziano poked his head in. "Oh! Hi, Miss Hungary! And Miss Liechtenstein and Miss Seychelles and Miss Ukraine and Miss Taiwan and—" And then America ushered him out the door with a "Hey, Vene, now go on a date," and Veneziano took Germany's hand- held his hand!- and said "Let's go, then!"
They did, and the coffee was very good indeed.
When Romano found out, he made some loud noise halfway between what the fuck and goddamn finally.
When Prussia found out, he made some loud noise that was mostly hell yes are you going to get laid yet.
When the plotters (as Germany had thought of them) found out, he became the center of a quite alarming group hug.
When the rest of the world found out, most of them said something along the lines of wait, they weren't already?
Veneziano thought the whole thing rather funny, and so did Germany, although he thought 'funny' more in terms of 'odd'.
And two years later, Veneziano said uh, do you want to, you know, um… make ravioli and it took fifteen minutes and the removal of half his clothes for Germany to figure out that actual ravioli was not the subject on hand here, but he didn't mind that much.
And the dates were a little less awkward now.
