Don't Go

Centuries Together

"Holy Rome!" Italy called out, running to him as he stopped in his path, shocked that Italy was choosing to approach him. He was running towards him with closed eyes and a clueless disposition. Holy Rome decided to smile back at him, feeling his cheeks redden as Italy stopped in front of him.

"Italy," he said quietly. "What are you doing here?" It was not that Holy Rome was displeased to see Italy, but he was more surprised, because it had always been him chasing after him... had Italy finally noticed he was here? Both of them were living under Austria and Hungary, although separately, but Italy never seemed fond of him. This... this was the start of many centuries that they were going to spend together.

Italy blinked, tilting his head at a slight angle. "Huh?" he asked, his small hands still carrying his push-broom (and Holy Rome figured that if Austria found out Italy was talking to him instead of cleaning, Italy would be in trouble).

"I mean," Holy Rome replied quickly and shyly, "Aren't you meant to be cleaning?" Holy Rome's golden retriever barked behind them and Italy stared at the dog, surprised, but not scared.

Ignoring Holy Rome unintentionally, Italy crept up to his dog, stroking him gently on the head. Holy Rome watched, taken aback, as the dog whimpered, seeming to like Italy. Smiling at that, Holy Rome sighed, stroking his dog as well as Italy looked up at him, no longer stroking the dog.

The golden retriever barked at that, and Italy jumped away, Holy Rome's eyes widening as he pulled the dog back to stop him from pestering Italy. "Hold it!" Holy Rome called out, struggling to keep the dog at bay, but finally managed to as Italy laughed.

"It's okay," Italy replied, smiling again. "What's his name?"

"Aster," Holy Rome answered. "Do you have any pets?"

Italy looked a little sad. "I'm not allowed any, but... I like cats."

"Maybe I could get a cat for you," Holy Rome answered, but then Aster growled and he laughed. "Maybe it isn't a good idea!"

Italy smiled again, noticing that in his other hand was a book. "Do you like reading?" Italy asked and Holy Rome beamed.

"I love reading," he said, grinning, but noticed that Italy did not seem as excited as him about it. "Do you like reading? I could read this book to you..." He lifted up the book in his hand, showing the dusty black cover, and the book seemed to be about history, religion and law.

"Not really..." Italy replied quietly and Holy Rome's smile faded a little. "But I wouldn't mind reading if you were reading to me!" Italy grinned and Holy Rome smiled back, relieved. "Well,Grandpa taught me how to draw when I was really little... and I like drawing! Probably as much as you like reading!"

"Maybe..." Holy Rome gulped slowly, his hands fidgeting as he looked at the ground, ignoring Italy's eyes that were staring at him. "Maybe we could try together?"

Italy grinned even wider, his teeth shining. "Veee...!"

Aster barked whilst Holy Rome turned back, watching his dog run far away, over the hills and shrinking in his perspective. "Wait!" He shouted out and Italy laughed. He blushed, giving Italy one quick glance before chasing after him. "Come back!!!"

***

"Holy Rome!" Italy squealed, unable to contain his excitement as he danced over to Holy Rome, spinning and twirling in a dress. The dress was black with white sleeves and the colours faded down the skirt from black to indigo, then to green, then to red and then to white on the laced edge. Underneath the dress, Italy was wearing garnet pink stockings. In his hair were big pink flowers and a black bucket hat with a yellow strip across it. "Look! Look!"