[ america was persistent as ever, not that italy ever expected anything different from the blond nation, but he certainly did try to discourage. the heat in his face rising, he brings his hands up to cover it up as best he could while still looking to anywhere else but the other nation. ]

B-because... I didn't want you to see me like this... And you'll just continue to tease me for being stupid and weak.

[ oh, there it was, the other part of that honesty. but even as he said that, he could see the other man griping the bars. this wasn't the time to think about how america looked in this moment, such strength and coolness. it also wasn't the time to be stubborn either.

moving in a little closer, he brings his hands over america's to finally look up at the other with golden eyes ]

... You're really too stubborn.

[ he says so much, but he's too weak to put any real feeling of annoyance into it. instead he begins to pull away again, remembering what got him in this situation again. A moment of weakness, but he'd seen someone familiar and instead of trusting his instinct he followed along. ]

You could be focusing this energy on so many others.