"Thank you, Austria," Hungary rolled her eyes. "But I think I have it from here, okay?" Austria turned on his heel and left the kitchen.
"I guess I should've had a piano put in, huh?" Veneziano asked his mentor.
"As bad as his attitude may be, he's right. We aren't really supposed to help you after you get out on your own. It's not against the rules, but it's understood that you're meant to survive on your own. We might not be able to come and help you if something happens. You have to..." she stopped and sighed. "Do you understand where I'm coming from?"
From the other room, Austria was speaking loudly into his cell phone. "Just because I leave the country doesn't mean that my whole military has to shut down. This is why there are different ranks and titles. Someone is in charge no matter where I am... No... No... Look. I'm going to be gone for a few more weeks so someone..."
Hungary turned to Veneziano and smiled. "That's what we can do! We'll show Austria around your military! Once he sees how well off it is, his mood will improve."
The younger nation paled noticeably and his mouth went dry. He had a very strong feeling that Austria's mood wasn't going to improve.
"What is this?" Austria asked through clenched teeth about the empty barracks Veneziano had taken them to tour.
Veneziano laughed nervously. "Well, I just thought... They looked so tired... So I gave them a couple months off. Italians can't get anything if they aren't well rested."
"Why don't we just save everyone else the trouble and take him over ourselves, Hungary!"
"I don't think..."
"Austria, just because his military isn't in there barracks...A rather bad decision, Italy," she said, touching his cheek, "that doesn't mean they won't come to him the second he needs them. I'm sure they all understand that their...vacation...is circumstantial."
"Well, actually..."
"See, Austria? Everything is fine! He'll be safe in case of an emergency. He can take care of himself. However, if you still aren't convinced, I'm sure Italy won't mind going back to your place to live with you a while..."
"I don't think so, Hungary," Austria said.
"Fine! Then it's settled. We'll stay here until you are satisfied. We'll call him military back and train them ourselves if we have to. I'm glad we could all reach an agreement. Come on, Italy. Show me how to reach everyone."
"Go on, Italy," Hungary urged. "Show us a few things."
"Right! Jumping jacks!" Veneziano yelled to the small group of soldiers in front of him. "Ready, go! 1...2...And done!"
Austria startled slightly from a few meters away. "They can't possibly be done," he called to Hungary.
"I'm sure it's fine," she laughed nervously. Looking at Veneziano she suggested, "Why don't you show us how fast your boys can scale that wall over there?"
"We use that wall to sit against at lunch. So there's no strain on our back," he explained to her. "And sometimes we'll use it for shade during our siestas," he smiled.
"Is there anything else you can show us?"
"Not really," Veneziano admitted, rubbing his neck. "We usually do our jumping jacks and then eat."
"Well... You should..."
"What did he just say," Austria asked as he approached.
Hungary glanced at him long enough to notice his jaw was clenched tightly and his eyes were shut. He seemed to be trying to keep his composure.
"Let's go," he said quietly, walking away from them.
Veneziano sat on his couch and sighed deeply. Austria and Hungary had disappeared into his meeting room a long time ago. Every now and again he would hear their voices rise and catch a few words slipping through the closed door, but eventually someone would shush the other and they would go back to talking quietly.
Curiosity finally got the best of him after around two hours and he tip toed down the hallway, pressing his ear against the doorway.
"He's going to be attacked and there's nothing we can do about it," Austria was telling Hungary.
"I'm going to be attacked?"
"And who do you suppose is going to attack him?"
"I hear Turkey is getting a little restless," Austria muttered.
"Turkey's going to attack me?" Veneziano stepped away from the door and frantically looked around himself. He's going to have to get away from here. If he leaves he won't get attacked and his home will be safe. The young nation ran to his room and threw some clothes into a suitcase, grabbing money from him table and shoving it into his pockets.
"Where is this information coming from?" Hungary demanded from inside the meeting room after a long silence.
"It's not like Turkey is on his way here now. I'm just saying that he may start moving at any moment."
"Turkey isn't going to come here. He probably just needs a vacation."
"That doesn't make the threat fictional," Austria argued, half heartedly. "All I'm saying is..." He was cut off by a loud thud coming from the front of the house. "See? That can be an attack right now," Austria said as he jumped up.
Suddenly, music started playing from Veneziano's computer and the nation nearly fell out of his chair. "Romano!" he screamed in a panic.
"What's going on?" Romano asked in a bored tone.
"I just... I don't know where the music is coming from! And the document closed! I'm not sure if I hit save!"
The older Italy rolled his eyes. "Your computer saves automatically every few minutes. You'll be fine. And you probably clicked on an ad by accident. Just hit backspace."
Veneziano clawed at his mouse frantically until the music stopped. "Thanks Romano!" he smiled, sighing happily. "Now can you show me where the document saved?"
"Italy probably just left. Come on, we should make him something to eat so he'll have something when he gets back."
