There was a time when life was good. When life was easy and smooth for Berwald. he lived alone in a big city, and in the city lie a future of opportunity for the Swedish man. He had many things in his life that gave him happiness and hope; on the top of that list was his beautiful partner, Tino Väinämöinen.

Berwald was a Simple man. he was a bit bigger than the average 24-year-old, and it didn't help that he always kept perfect posture. The Swedish man worked a uneventful office job. It wasn't the job he had always dreamed of, no, but it payed the bills and kept him and Tino well fed and happy. When he was in high school, Berwald had always wanted to be a tried to work hard in his classes... but he had always been easily distracted by things and often found himself staring out a window instead of the chalkboard, or sketching pictures of his crush instead of taking notes. needless to say, he wasn't the best at focusing in school, and because of it his life didn't end up in the exact way he wanted. but he wasn't one to complain, after all their were many others that had it worse than him.

In fact, before Tino Väinämöinen had met Berwald, his life wasn't going very well. He had had a troubled childhood, a horrible tragedy when he was only seven years old haunted him through his teenage years and into adulthood (but, that was a story for another day.) He had much built up hate and rage, causing him to rebel from his aunt (who was his guardian at the time.)

Tino didn't end up completing high school, and after the passing of his aunt he was left homeless in the city. He searched for work at only seventeen years old... and got a measly job at a bus boy at a fast food restaurant. though, it was better than nothing. He didn't have a home.. and spent many nights on the street or a homeless shelter. He often contemplated suicide... and wouldn't be alive anymore if it wasn't for Berwald.

Mr. Oxenstierna had been walking home from work one evening. it was dusk and near the middle of a bad winter. he shivered as walked down the street, dressed in two light jackets and a pair of nice jeans. he pulled the hood of his outer jacket over his head, trying to keep his ears warm.

The tall blond man heard small sobs coming from between two big, brick buildings. he peeked his head around the shadowy alley, but it was too dark. slowly and carefully, the Swedish man made his way down the alley; the sobs continued to get louder.

"Hello?" he called down the alley. no response.

"'re you ok'y?" he called down the alley, the Sobs sounding very, very close.

"go! go away! please..." a hitched voice called back.

"wh'ts wrong?" Berwald took another step forward, hearing the crunch of garbage under his feet. he reached into his pocket and puled out his glasses, putting them over his eyes. he saw a small figure standing in the darkness... holding something metal and reflective. he held it to his head.

"I'm... done..." the small voice called back yet again

"wh't do you h've there?" Berwald said back, eyes focused on what the small man was holding. then it hit him. it was a gun.

"leave me alone!" the stranger cried "i... cant... i can't do it anymore. its to hard."

"put the gun down.. you don't h've to do this"Berwald said. he couldn't let him do this. he couldn't yet someone kill themselves. not when he was standing right in front of them.. not when he could stop them.

"i do... i can't bare it anymore... life. everything i do just brings me more misery... i cant afford a house... food... damn its the middle of winter and i don't even have a jacket!" Tino yelled; Berwald took another step, seeing the stranger more clearly. it was a man.. a small man with light hair and eyes. he was shorter than Berwald, but most people were. he looked young, about 20 or 21 years old... just a bit younger than Berwald himself. Berwald took off his jacket, he was just about four feet away from Tino now. The large man offered his jacket to the suicidal man in front of him.

"here t'ke this. come with me... i h've food at my 'p'rtment... give me the gun." Berwald said firmly. Tino stood still, completely shell shocked as he looked at Berwald. he completely broke down. the small man fell to his knees; Berwald took that opportunity to grab the gun from the man and take out the bullets, shoving it into his pocket. The Swede put his coat on Tinos shoulders and kneeled next to him "tell me your n'me... mines Berw'ld" he said softly as he helped the small man stand.

"T-Tino" The Finnish man forced out through tears. and that night, the night they met, Berwald saved Tino from himself. After a lot of thinking Berwald invited Tino to stay with him as long as he needed, and a few months later they were dating. it was now almost two years later, Tino was 22 years old and Berwald was 24. They lived together, and didn't talk much about the day they met. in fact, no one but them knew that story.

Up until recent times Tino and Berwalds life had been on schedule. their lives together had been nice and full of loving exchanges... until the day Tino was assaulted on the street.

Berwald held Tinos hand in his own as they walked down the street, talking and laughing and just enjoying each other's company as they took their evening walk. out of the corner of his eye berwald could see a large figure walking behind them, and walking fast. Berwald dismissed it. without realizing it, the man walking fast behind them had been following him. the stranger ran up behind the, grabbing Tino from behind and putting his hands around the Finnish mans neck. Tino tried to cry out, but the man was crushing his wind pipe and slowly suffocating him.

Berwald wasn't one for violence. he was big and looked like he could take down a train... but he had no training. he went to the gym when he could, but he didn't know how to fight. he didn't know what to do. The large Swede Reached for the man strangling Tino, and shoved him brutally against a concrete wall. Berwald took a deep, flustered breath before punching the man, hard and right in the head. the Stranger fell limp against the sidewalk.

the Stranger stopped breathing and Blood slowly poured over the sidewalk.

Berwald had killed him.