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Chapter 23: The Blush Gave It Away (Rome X Germania)

Rome really couldn't understand the man sometimes. One moment Germania was sweet and compliant the next he was shoving him away and insulting him. He wondered if maybe Germania really hated him. The past wasn't the best but he thought they had become good friends since then. Hopefully there would be more one day. For now, he would keep at the friendly attitude and maybe soon Germania would let the past go and not hate him so much.

Some thought he was weird for being so clingy with Germania. That he was desperate to be such good friends with him. They saw Germania as rude, blank, and scary. Unless it came to his grandchildren that took to calling him their father instead. Germania allowed it and spoiled the grown men rotten like they were still children. He clearly secretly adored Prussia the most despite the hard time he gave him at times. He had always been a little harder on Prussia. That was probably because he was more vulnerable as a child than the other eldest. He wasn't around to see how frail Germany was but heard stories so he did get a little tough on him as well.

Rome knew the truth though. Germania could be hard on people but he also wore his heart on his sleeve. He loved cats and shirts with cats on them because he thought they were cute. He loved cute things in general though he would deny it in a heartbeat. Rome saw his cute side so many times and loved every minute of it. Though like a switch he would go blank and intimidating again. Therefore, Rome tried to bring out his cute side as much as possible.

"Hey old man," a voice cut off his mussing and a foot plowed into his side. "Move it I need to vacuum under the cushions," Germany said bluntly holding the hand held vacuum. "Go home you're bothersome."

"How rude of you to treat your father's guest like this," he gasped.

"Vati is out getting groceries he did not invite you. You just came here without his permission," Germany sassed back.

"Why can't you be sweet to me like Bavaria, Saxony, and Hesse," he whined.

"They all have brain damage. I'm not stupid like them."

"You're so rude," he exclaimed in amusement. "Come on bond with me. You're stuck with me forever. Might as well become my friend," he laughed pulling him into his lap making him screech in protest and try to hit him. "Come on little Germany bond with me! I don't like having any hostilities with my best friend's family," he laughed pinning his arms down.

"He doesn't see you as his best friend! His best friend is Celt," he sassed back as he struggled.

"You're a spitfire just like Germania," he chuckled.

He continued to tease Germany laughing at the sass he got back. Germany had given up on struggling and simply stuck to sassing and insulting. Rome took no offence Germany did that often with his brothers so he figured in a way Germany was starting to look at him like family.

"Do you really hate me that much," he hummed turning him to face him in his lap.

"I do," Germany sassed back but he wouldn't make eye contact with him.

"Are you sure," he teased.

"Ja," Germany said still avoiding eye contact and pouted slightly.

"Well I like you anyways cutie. You're adorable just like Germania," he laughed knowing Germany was lying.

He always avoided eye contact and blushed slightly when he lied when it was over simple stuff. If it was serious stuff, he wore a fake smile and his eyes weren't shinning anymore. He wondered how his brothers hadn't picked up on that yet. His real smile was bright and bubbly and his eyes always glowed along with it. Much like Germania's smile his fake one was really different. His fake smile was tense and his eyes looked almost sad. His real smile was gentle and sweet and his eyes sparkled ever so slightly. Rome loved his real smiles more than anything. Romano called him a creep for noticing Germany's change when it was a real smile or not and threatened to punch him if he got weird thoughts about Germany.

Rome simply clarified the difference of why he loved both their smiles. He loved Germany's because he thought of Germania's children like his own. Germany being the youngest he tended to worry about him more and found his real smile adorable and sweet like a child's. Germania's smile was just beautiful to him. It was the prettiest smile on the planet and he loved it. He knew he harbored romantic love for his friend but it wound never come true. He drifted out of his thoughts hearing Germany make a small throat clearing noise. He held the back of his hand over his mouth and his eyes were down casted to the side as a blush appeared.

"Vati will be upset if I hurt your feelings. I don't hate you," he mumbled making eye contact with him. "I just don't like you," he added and they drifted off again.

Rome slowly came out of his shock and squealed cuddling him.

"YOU'RE SO CUTE! SO ADORABLE! SAY IT AGAIN," he cheered.

"NO WAY YOU STUPID OLD MAN," he roared whacking him repeatedly as red covered his face.

"Awww don't be like that," he laughed then whined at the whack he got from a different hand.

"Let him go and stop bothering Germany," Germania deadpanned. "Also help me with the groceries and help make dinner," he ordered walking away.

"Yes dear," he laughed letting Germany go who stuck his tongue out at him and ran off leaving the vacuuming forgotten.

He retrieved the rest of the groceries and went to the kitchen and helped put them away. Germania had him cut vegetables while he cooked the meat. He paused when he heard Germania make a startled noise.

"What did you do dear," he teased walking over.

"Stop calling me dear," Germania said glaring. "I just burned my finger a little."

"That's no-good run it under water," he chided taking his wrist and dragged him to the sink.

"You're making too much of a fuss," Germania scolded wincing at the frigid cold-water making contact with the burn then it started soothing it instead.

"Well I don't like seeing you hurt," he said simply as he continued to hold his hand under the water before pulling it out and eyeing it. "Switch jobs. You finish cutting and I'll deal with cooking the meat. Just don't cut yourself," he said ushering him along then went to the stove.

Germania's mind was flustered from the attention Rome had just given him. He couldn't even heed his warning. Making a small noise of pain when his fingers were sliced. Rome was by his side in a flash. Snatching his hand, though gently and applying pressure to the cut.

"I SAID NOT TO CUT YOURSELF! WHY ARE YOU SO CLUMSY TODAY," he cried at him.

"SHUT UP! IT'S YOUR FAULT! YOU KEEP…..AND…I JUST…..," Germania cried flustered as his cheeks flamed. "I CAN'T FOCUS WITH YOU AROUND SOMETIMES! YOU KEEP INVADING MY THOUGHTS! SO, GET OUT! SO I'LL STOP ACCIDENTLY HURTING MYSELF WITH KITCHEN UTENSILS!"

"That," Rome said startled as he eyed the blush on Germania's face. "Sounded like a confession to me."

"IT'S NOT! STUPID! AS IF I WOULD CONFESS TO A PLAYER LIKE YOU! GO SCREW ANOTHER WOMAN OR MAN OR WHATEVER! I DON'T CARE! YOU KEEP ACTING FLIRTY WITH ME LATELY BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T HAD A ONE NIGHT STAND LATELY AND IT'S GETTING ANNOYING," he cried.

"Dear," Rome started.

"DON'T CALL ME DEAR! DON'T CALL ME YOUR WIFE OR HONEY OR SWEETHEART OR ANY OF THAT IT'S GETTING ANNOYING! I'M TIRED OF YOUR TEASING!"

"What if I really meant it when I called you those things," he challenged back.

"I'D…..I would hate it," he said eyes trailing away blush appearing again, and Rome's heart broke at the sad look in his eyes.

"Honey," he said cupping his face and making him look at him. "I mean it. So if you want me to stop and leave it at this shove me away," he said leaning in to kiss him.

Germania squeezed his eyes shut as his heart pounded rapidly. Melting when lips met his gently and cautiously. It was nice and sweet until a hand trailed to his butt. He whacked it immediately.

"Oh, you noticed," Rome grinned. "My bad my bad. I'll take it slower for you. My cute blushing beauty," he smiled tucking a lock of hair behind Germania's ear making his blush turn dark red.

"WHO'S BLUSHING?! IDIOT! SHUT UP! I'LL PUNCH YOU," he roared over Rome's laughter.

"You're so cute," he cheered back.

"I AM NOT! STUPID! STOP LAUGHING! I REALLY WILL PUNCH YOU! IDIOT!"

The rest of the day was filled with teasing and shouting but Rome wouldn't have it any other way. Now that he was finally in a relationship with his adorable wife. Though he would probably get hurt soon by the over protective sons in the house. It was worth it if he got to keep Germania in his life though.

*SSSSCCCCRRRRREEEEECCCCHHHHHHH* There. I announced my presence! I am back momentarily! As I said in the other stories I updated I'm hoping now that I'm developing a routine I can update more but it also could be long periods between updates still. We'll see. But know that no story will ever be abandoned it's just going to take a shit ton of time to complete them. Well I hope you liked the chapter! I love you lovelies!