Alptraum

Chapter 2-Italy to the Rescue!

He should've expected nothing less. He would wake up to find Italy in his bed practically every morning. He immediately silenced his sniffles.
"Germany? Are you okay?" The soft voice piped up, slowly starting to scoot to the end of the bed where Germany had retreated to.
Germany didn't dare say a word. He feared his voice would crack, and then he would start crying again.
"Germany?" The eager yet tired man queried.
"I'm fine, Italy, please just go back to bed," the German spat with his usual flare of anger, making Italy recoil a bit. But, the slight discouragement would not make Italy give up, he was determined to find out what was bothering Germany.
"Did Germany have a nightmare?" Italy asked softly, catching a glimpse at Germany's tear-stained face.
"It's nothing, Italy, please just please go back to sleep," Germany huffed, not as uptight as before.
"It's okay, I have nightmares all the time," Italy admitted. "I can help."
"ITALIA! PLEASE! STOP ANNOYING ME AND GO BACK TO SLEEP ALREADY!" Germany barked, fed up with Italy trying to persuade the truth out of him.
Normally, after this kind of response, Italy would start crying and complain to Germany for yelling at him. Realizing this was not the appropriate time to react in such a manner, Italy instead decided to try and get Germany to admit he was scared.
Frail arms wrapped around Germany's well-built torso, and Germany's instant reaction was to push him him away.
"Italy, bitte verschwinde!" (Please get away) Germany huffed in annoyance, feeling the abhorrent urge to cry yet again.
Italy once again spurned to let Germany keep him away.
His arms returned to the position they were in before he was pushed away. Germany gave up, ashamed to accept comfort from the weaker Italian man.
"Germany can cry if he wants to," Italy murmured, chancing a glance at Germany's distressed countenance. "In fact, I want him to cry, It'll make him feel better," Italy smiled lightly, reaching up to smooth back a piece of Germany's messy hair.
Germany was about to crack. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold back the river of tears threatening to flow. He gritted his teeth, but it was no use.
Before he could control it, tears started to deluge down his flushed cheeks. He couldn't help it when a shaky sob or two escaped him.
Italy stayed silent, something that was normally hard for him to do. He only spoke once the distressed German that was locked in his embrace calmed himself down.
"What did Germany have a nightmare about?" Italy canvassed, wiping a stray tear away from Germany's cheek.
Germany blushed madly, only remembering a minute later that he had a question to answer.
"Nn, it was nothing really, just another World War Two dream," he admitted, his blushing dulling only slightly.
Italy, recalling other times when Germany had mentioned bad dreams of the Second World War, nodded.
"Was it one about the saluting?" Italy queried.
He didn't exactly understand what the salute meant, but he knew it was very, very bad. Once, during training, he saluted Germany in "the way," hoping to make Germany proud. Instead, he was brutally tackled to the ground, and told that if he ever saluted that way again, terrible punishment would pursue. So, he never did it again.
"J....ja, it was," Germany sighed, feeling the last of his tears escape his beryl orbs.
"Ve~. It's going to be alright Germany," Italy cooed, squeezing Germany tighter.
"I know. Danke Italy, danke very much," Germany allowed a ghost of a smile to play at his lips, returning the hug.
"Ve~! Now that Germany feels better, he must feel sleepy!" Italy explained, the bright smile that he usually bore returning to his face.
Exhaustion punched Germany in the stomach. He yawned and nodded in agreement.
Before he got too comfortable, Germany escaped to the bathroom where he splashed cold water on his face. The nauseating effects of the nightmare started to ware off, and Germany had to give the credit to Italy for making him feel better. He forced down the smile that was tugging at his lips. The smile resurfaced, though, as he realized that the eupeptic Italian could always cheer him up somehow.
He traveled back to bed, where Italy was anxiously waiting for him.
"Ve~! Germany returns!" he chuckled as Germany climbed under the covers.
"Gute Nacht, (good night) Italy," Germany muttered, focusing on trying to relax his tense muscles.
"Doesn't Germany want to cuddle up next to me?" Italy asked, hopefulness tinged in his voice.
"Why would I want to do that?" Germany grunted.
"Well, if you're scared-" Italy started, but was cut off by an angry protest.
"I'm not scared," Germany groaned.
That was a bit of a lie. He was slightly worried that another round of night demons would attack him during his slumber, but it's not like he was scared.
Not really.
Italy, deciding to take matters into his own hands yet again, scooted closer to Germany and gently but firmly guided Germany's head to lay on his chest.
"Italy-" An embarrassed Germany started to protest, but was shushed by Italy.
"Don't worry about it, Germany. Just try and go to sleep," Italy instructed, patting Germany's shoulder.
Surprisingly, Germany stayed where Italy had put him.
Italy could practically feel the tension radiating off of Germany, and he thought of ways he could help Germany relax.
Germany jumped when he felt a hand on his back.
"What are you doing?" Germany demanded.
"Just rubbing your back," Italy stated.
Germany froze. Nobody had voluntarily rubbed his back before, in fact, nobody had ever rubbed his back at all. It felt nice, and it was very relaxing.
He cursed himself for shivering when Italy ran his hand over a spot that felt more tingly than the others. Italy giggled.
"Germany's ticklish," Italy tittered.
"Don't accuse me of such things," Germany grumbled, shivering yet again as Italy's hand trailed down his side.
Italy continued to giggle as he ran his hand up and down Germany's broad back.
As Germany started to fully relax, he also felt himself start to grow extremely enervated. Before he was dragged into dreamland, he decided to pay his dues to Italy.
"Italy, danke, for everything," Germany murmured, sleep slurring his words.
"No problem, I'm happy I helped Germany for once! Buonanotte!" (Good night) Italy chirped.
"Gute Nacht," Germany muttered as sleep pulled him under.
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URGH! That was horrible! Anyway, hope you enjoyed!!!