Gerita Week Day 7 - Buon San Valentino
And here’s the second part of the two-shot for @gerita-week! I’m so glad I took part on it! I’d like to thank now everyone who liked or reblogged my submissions, you all made me incredibly happy! I hope you enjoy this last one, too, and that we might all meet again some other time!
“Germany, Germany! Can you hear me?”
“Oh, thank goodness! You had spaced out completely, I was afraid you’d never come back!”
“Sorry, Italy. Let’s leave already”
Germany took his gifts and paid –the waiter shot him a dirty glare– and the pair left the restaurant. It was already night time. Germany decided to walk Italy home, and once they arrived, they stood in front of his door in uncomfortable silence, both of them searching for the right words to say.
Awkward silence as they tried to decide who should talk first. In the end, it was Italy who took the initiative.
“Sorry about today,” he said, “I didn’t want you to get mad at me”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well… the way you’ve been acting today, I thought I’d done something wrong, but I couldn’t figure out what… sorry”
“I wasn’t mad at you,” Germany said, shocked at his friend’s confession, “I was just trying to do things right, but I guess I’m not good at… expressing feelings”
“So you did want to marry me? You were serious when you asked me in front of all those people?”
“Do you really think I’d joke about something like that?”
Italy let out a small happy cry and launched himself onto the now confused man, circling his ample torso with his thin arms.
“So you did love me! Germany, I’ve never felt so happy in my entire life!”
“Ah, it’s amazing how you can say things like that so easily,” the blond sighed, delicately embracing the one he loved with his strong arms, “but I feel exactly the same. I love you, Italy”
That was how it all got started.
Of course, they didn’t actually get married. None of their houses allowed it, and they still had a duty as countries. They couldn’t just join into one on a whim. However, that didn’t mean they couldn’t be happy together.
Happiness… even if Germany refused to show his feelings most of the time, the time they spent together was definitely the happiest in Italy’s life. They did all sorts of things and went through all sorts of strange situations –it had mainly been his fault–, but at the end of the day Italy always knew that Germany was the last person he wanted to see before closing his eyes, and the first he’d see when he’d open them the next day.
What was going to happen, then? Anticipation and nervousness played a dangerous game in the man’s head, making it hard for him to focus on anything other than his… date? Was it even a date?
So there he stood, in front of the crowded gothic cathedral, waiting (im)patiently. Hope was mixed up with dread and they tugged at his heart so much that it was hard for him to breathe, but he could do nothing but wait. And hope for the best. And if the best were not to arrive, he’d get ready to beg.
Then, he finally appeared. He wasn’t hard to miss, even in a place like that he’d spot him in a heartbeat. It wasn’t only his tall figure, his muscular built that he found so attractive, his deliciously pale skin. It wasn’t his perfectly groomed blond hair or his piercing blue eyes. No, there were tons of other details that made him unique. The determined way he walked, his focused gaze, his formal clothes, his deep voice, his big warm hands…
At that exact moment when they could very well fall apart, Italy loved Germany more than ever.
The taller man finally reached the spot where they had agreed to meet. He was blushing lightly and averting his boyfriend’s amber gaze desperately seeking for his. He was hiding something behind his back.
“I’m sorry I made you wait,” he finally said, “I had to make a quick stop to buy… well… this”
He then showed what he had been hiding. A bouquet of heliotropes. Just like in San Valentino, decades ago. Just like the blissful day they became a couple.
“Thanks” Italy said, taking the flowers.
Upon looking around, Italy saw that Germany’s gesture had caught a lot of people’s attention. He was probably feeling uncomfortable, perhaps they should leave…
“Before you say anything, it’s not my intention to buy your forgiveness with flowers,” Germany said, “this is my way of vowing that I will try my best to properly show affection to you”
Italy felt tears threatening to fall.
“Germany, you didn’t need to… it’s me who should apologize, I didn’t even think about how difficult it’s for you to express yourself…”
The shorter man’s apology was cut off by his lover dropping down to one knee.
“I know this is just symbolic, and that we can’t actually make it official” Germany said, locking eyes with Italy “but I love you, Italy. And I want to be with you forever”
He then took out a box from his pocket and opened it, revealing a gold ring. This time, there wasn’t a tomato jewel on it, or any other ornament. It was simple, like the ones married people wore.
Right then, there were lots of people looking at them. But for the first time, Germany didn’t care.
“My answer is yes, of course!” Italy cried out, kneeling on the floor to kiss his lover.
This time, Germany didn’t shove him away. They both ignore the many eyes fixated on their figures as they kissed passionately. Then, Italy parted the kiss.
“Thank you, Germany. Thank you so much,” he whispered, caressing the man’s cheek, “but hey, there’s no need for you to be embarrassed any further. Let’s go home”
The couple rose from the floor and walked home hand in hand. A couple decades meant little in a nation’s life, and they had a really long road ahead, but little by little they learned from their past mistakes. Hand in hand, they learned to truly be together. And hand in hand they kept walking, a whole eternity filled with love and happiness awaiting them.
Ah, I’m practising dialogue punctuation. I hope I understood correctly how it’s done.
It was my initial idea to make something longer and… deeper, less sappy, more similar to my day 5 entry. But to be honest my day had just got started and I already had a lot of shit going on, so I had to keep it short. However, I’m satisfied with the ending. It’s what I was aiming this tiny story to. I may be the Angst Inquisition, but I love me some happy endings!
By the way, Germany and Italy met at the Milan Cathedral. I just love cathedrals and historical buildings, I’m a sucker for History of art.