She clamped her eyes shut, bracing for impact. She felt it hit her, sending her flying to the side. She hit the ground and realized something was off.

It didn't hurt.

Her eyes few open and she realized she was tucked into a familiar broad chest. Germany had an arm around her shoulders and the other around her knees, effectively keeping her off of the ground.

He sat her on the ground beside him slowly, meeting her gaze with his. He had wide, panicked eyes.

"Are you hurt? Turn your head, now move this way-"

"I'm ok! I'm just fine because of you. You saved me."

Her eyes finally trailed to his arm and she gasped, her hands shooting out to seize it gently and inspect it. He had a sheet of scratches of varying depths running from his shoulders down to his elbow from using it to absorb their impact. They weren't nearly as bad as they should have been, but they were still bleeding enough to be alarming.

"You're hurt! We need to…"

She trailed off when he placed something in her hands. She looked down at her purse in disbelief, then up at Germany.

"How…There was no way you had enough time to do both…"

He simply shrugged and stood, Italy and Japan now standing beside them. After a short time with the authorities and the wait for someone to clean and bandage Germany's arm they decided this would be a good time to head back to the hotel. It had been enough excitement for one day.

Belle spent a few hours in her room before heading across the hall to Germany's. She tapped on the door lightly and he opened it, confused to see her there.

"I came to change your bandage."

She blurted, holding the little box of things the nurse had handed her.

"It is fine, I can redress it myself."

She blushed sheepishly, mentally chastising herself for being so weird about the whole thing. The man had saved her life; she should be showing him gratitude and not nervous gestures. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he looked at her.

"B-But a little help would be nice."

Belle closed the door and turned around to see Germany sitting in a chair shirtless. She should have fully expected it, but she suddenly felt like someone had punched her in the gut. He seemed to become embarrassed as she looked at him, averting his eyes as his face heated up. Why did she make him so damn nervous?

She stood next to him, carefully peeling off the bandages and cleaning the wound. He didn't flinch or protest in the slightest as she rewrapped his arm. She wasn't a professional by any means, and until then she had never needed to treat anything more than burns and minor hand cuts.

"Here, wrap it like this."

Germany placed his large hand over hers, showing her the proper motion.

"You've never had to bandage someone before, have you?"

"Well no…I mean, I have to an extent but those were mostly burns."

He looked at her a bit surprised.

"Burns?"

"Yeah…I know this is going to sound extremely cliché, but my family owns a restaurant. It's called De Leo's Italian Cuisine."

Germany laughed and Belle lightly punched his good shoulder.

"Oh come on, it isn't THAT stereotypical."

He turned to her with a grin and caught her eyes. He felt a sudden wash of emotion blanket him.

He'd almost lost her.

And he didn't know why that made him so upset.

"I am ashamed."

"What? Why?!"

Belle gazed at him incredulously as he looked away, his smile completely gone.

"I was standing right there. That entire incident should never have happened."

"You aren't psychic…you didn't know I would be the victim of a cutpurse."

He was beating himself up. What a load of good all his military training had done for him, he should have been more vigilant. He should have paid more attention and she never would have been in danger.

He let out a startled breath when suddenly her arms were around his neck, her cheek pressed against the side of his head.

She was hugging him.

"Thank you for saving me. Please don't feel bad, ok?"

He felt his heart surge up into his throat, making it hard to breath.

"I promise I won't let my guard down again. I will truly protect you during your travels from now on."

"I know you will."

She left him there after that, retreating to her room. As his door clicked shut behind her he wondered what had come over him and why it always happened around her.