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"You're pretty."
Prussia was snapped out of his thoughts, blinking confusedly as he turned to the source of the voice. Romano was leaning against the doorway leading to the balcony where Prussia stood, an unreadable expression on his face. He was never easy to read, really, somehow managing to look pissed at all times no matter the situation. And yep, there it was, his eyes narrowing in a glower in response to Prussia's silence.
Oh yeah, Romano had said something, Prussia thought, far too late. The other nation was already opening his mouth to speak again.
"What's with the look? Did I interrupt your time dramatically brooding at the night sky?"
Prussia snorted and turned around fully, leaning back against the balcony rails. He grinned. "And what if you did? Can't an awesome knight such as myself spend some time with the stars?"
Romano rolled his eyes, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like a pointed insult under his breath. Prussia let out a short, humorous huff, glancing back up at the sky.
It was a clear night with no clouds in sight, allowing for a wonderful view of the constellations made up of stars so far away. It always calmed Prussia, bringing a sort of comfort, because in all the time he had lived, the stars never left.
When Prussia looked back at Romano after a quiet moment, the Southern nation was staring at him, head tilted slightly as he seemed to study every detail of Prussia's face.
"When you actually drop that stupid, perpetual smirk, you really do make a pretty sight," Romano said, his voice strangely calm, flicking his gaze to the floor beneath him as he spoke. Prussia felt his face warm the slightest bit, and he gave a small, awkward laugh.
"Haha… I'm… uh, not too sure why you're telling me this…"
Romano stared, his expression slowly changing to one of growing impatience. "So it seems your ears are working just fine. How long is it going to take for your brain to catch up?"
"What? I mean, thanks, I guess. But I know I'm handsome, you don't have to tell me another time," Prussia responded, looking away and shrugging in a way he hoped looked casual.
"Prussia," Romano growled in irritation, and Prussia reluctantly looked back at him, "I'm telling you you're fucking pretty. Accept the goddamn compliment, bastard."
Prussia blinked, causing Romano's scowl to deepen. "Yeah… I don't- uhm. Okay," he practically mumbled, unsure what to do with himself. For some reason, Romano's words brought on an unfamiliar feeling that he couldn't tell was good or bad.
There was a beat of silence, Romano glaring and Prussia averting his eyes with an awkward, shaky grin.
Prussia turned his gaze back to the doorway, only to find Romano was no longer there, and he let out a small huff. He began to turn back around to his original position at the railing and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Romano standing right next to him with his eyes narrowed.
"'Okay'? That's it? I'm surprised, I thought you would have more to say. You usually do," Romano said with a huff. Up close, Prussia could see a strange glint in his oddly soft eyes. They appeared almost black in the moonlight, if not for the flashes of amber within them when the light hit them just right… the silver-haired nation tore his gaze away before he got lost in those eyes.
Prussia opened his mouth to speak, but closed it after realizing he still didn't know what to say. How does one even respond to being called 'pretty'? It wasn't a thing Prussia had ever been told, that's for sure. Did it normally come with a weird, almost squeezing feeling in his chest?
He glanced back at Romano, sure that the other nation would snap at him any second now for staying unusually silent. But Romano's expression urged him to speak, no longer looking like a glare up close.
"I dunno…" Prussia muttered softly, then awkwardly cleared his throat. He resumed speaking, this time while looking away to trace the stars with his eyes. "I— I just don't get called pretty? I've been called handsome countless times. I mean, obviously." When he glanced back at Romano for a split second, the other nation's eyes were boring into him. "I don't see what's 'pretty' about me, haha. I'm not a woman, you know."
"Idiot. I'm not calling you a woman," Romano retorted, "I'm calling you pretty in the way you're pretty, not in the way women are pretty." A short, indecisive second passed, before Romano sighed in exasperation. He suddenly grabbed Prussia's face with his hands and brought it close. Prussia's breath hitched. Very close. Romano looked just barely smug as he traced the details of Prussia's face with his hands. Though, even in the dark, Romano's face was clearly reddening. "Yep. Pretty," he murmured.
God, he had got to stop saying that. Prussia was so close to just melting on the spot. His face heated up even more, but he reasoned that it was because of Romano's warm, rough-but-not-too-rough hands that seemed to fit Prussia's face oh-so perfectly. "W-well then, you're pretty too, Romano!" Prussia blurted out before he could think. Once his own words processed, however, he broke out in a nervous grin.
Romano's face turned ten times redder, and in a flash his hands were back at his sides, clenching his fists. Prussia (who instantly missed the warmth of Romano's hands cupping his face) almost laughed at the other nation's expression, it was just so cute!
"Jerk," Romano growled. "You're fucking stupid, you know that?"
Uh oh. Was he about to get beat up? Prussia laughed nervously. "Oh. I, uh. Romano, I didn't really mean to s—"
Romano's hands were back on Prussia's face, bringing it close again. But this time, it didn't stop. Romano practically dragged Prussia to his level and kissed him.
Prussia's eyes blew wide open, his face set aflame as Romano pressed their lips together. He suddenly became hyper-aware of his heartbeat, echoing through his head faster and faster. His hands hovered awkwardly beside him, and Romano slid a hand down to hold one of them, warmth pulsing through Prussia's veins. Everywhere Romano touched felt like fire blooming under his skin, and Prussia swore he could see stars without having to look at the night sky.
Just as Prussia fully processed what was happening, Romano was already pulling away. The kiss was so incredibly brief, but to Prussia it felt like the best forever he could've ever dreamt of.
He blinked out of his daze and just stared in pure awe at Romano, who suddenly looked so adorably nervous. In fact, the Southern nation looked seconds away from panicking like crazy and fleeing, his eyes going wide as if realizing what he just did. He began to turn away to make his escape, but Prussia held firmly onto his hand.
"Romano," he said, and said nothing more. They stared at each other, a smile on Prussia's face and a flustered look on Romano's, hands tethering them together. Romano looked away and took a deep breath as if to soothe himself, and soon turned back with a considerably less horrified expression. Seeing that, Prussia let his grip relax. This was something he did not want to pretend never happened, and he didn't want Romano to, either. It definitely showed on his face, with how Romano's gaze softened.
Great. Now Prussia was starting to feel a little self-conscious of his facial expressions. Not that he would admit that to anyone, though.
Romano gazed up at the sky for a long moment, soon meeting Prussia's eyes again. "The stars are pretty too, I guess," he said, a small, almost relieved smile playing on his lips. He squeezed Prussia's hand one last time before slipping away.
When he reached the doorway, he turned one more time, actually letting out a small laugh at the sight of Prussia's amazement before disappearing inside. The silver-haired nation felt himself melt all over again.