A/N: Thank you everyone for such kind reviews! I went for something a little gentler. Please tell me what you think and I will keep that in mind when writing in the future.
Hanschen walked into the vineyard, feeling a quick rush of satisfaction as he noticed Ernst staring at him as he sat down beside the boy. He propped his elbows on his knees and rested his chin on his palms, smiling mischievously up at Ernst. There was a pause while they looked at each other, Ernst looking nervous, his breathing irregular and Hanschen apparently much more comfortable. Ernst was such a peculiar boy. His hair was messy, his large eyes a muddy brown. Hanschen knew that he could have acquired someone far more typically handsome but something drew him to Ernst. Perhaps it was the ease with which he could be manipulated to do Hanschen's bidding – a cruel touch of sadism. Perhaps it was how the trivial actions that Hanschen made could have such a massive impact on the poor boy. Or perhaps it was their differences which intrigued him – the idea that two boys with entirely different thoughts and aspirations could ultimately be together. Hanschen looked at Ernst who stared nervously back at him. Hanschen smirked. Ernst was so easy to read. He expressed his emotions so easily. He was so transparent and innocent, everything Hanschen would never be. He remembered the time when they first truly talked. Ernst said he loved him and he couldn't reply. Something inside of him forced him to simply brush away the comment with a smile. His mind was too conflicted with emotions to think about love. Hanschen knew the reason for his original seeking of Ernst to be a matter of lust but now that he was sitting beside him, he didn't know. Ernst was so simplistic and pure. He never laughed at the misfortune of others, never had bad thoughts, never lied. The difference astonished Hanschen. Hanschen was only a year older but sometimes it felt like twenty. It made him feel like a cruel vulture preying on some poor innocent creature. A small sense of guilt rushed through him as he thought about it.
"Fluency."
"What?" Ernst said immediately, taken aback.
"The fluency and fluidity of your words within your speech and writing. That is one of the first things we need to work on. That is, assuming you would still like my help. Without fluency, your words become disjointed and meaningless."
"Uh…um…ok."
"Exactly."
"What?"
"Never mind."
Hanschen looked at Ernst who was now looking around in more nervously. Hanschen paused and waited until Ernst could no longer wait and blurted, "Aren't we going to talk?"
Hanschen smiled and sighed.
"About what?" Hanschen knew it was cruel to ask but couldn't help it. Ernst stuttered and stammered until Hanschen finally put him out of his misery. "I am here to help you as you requested. You said that you would like assistance with your writing every Tuesday at four. That, Herr Robel, is what I intend to do." Hanschen saw a quick flash of disappointment in Ernst's eyes before nodding and asking what he should do. Hanschen provided him with various exercises, teaching him vocabulary, grammar and sentence construction. Ernst was fairly quick at learning and they eventually they graduated to similes.
"You probably use them already," Hanschen said, sitting cross legged on the grass, leaning back on his hands. " You see, they're used for description by comparing two apparently unalike items for emphasis, for example, "The teachers are cruel like dragons." " Ernst laughed, running a hand through his messy hair.
"The school food is green and mould-like," Ernst tried. Hanschen smiled and leaned forwards.
"Not quite. That would be "The school food is green like mould. Try again."
"The sky is blue like water." Hanschen clapped, kindly ignoring the inaccuracy.
"And another?"
"The grass is soft…" Ernst paused and looked up at Hanschen. He face was serious and his mouth moved as he went through the phrase in his mind, "Like a pussycat." Hanschen was speechless. He looked at the floor and nodded, giving a slight smile. Ernst leant in, brushing his hand against Hanschen's shoulder but he pulled away. He smirked at Ernst. He hadn't expected to remember that phrase, himself, let alone Ernst remembering it. Yet, Hanschen too could recite everything that had been said, every movement made, every slight inflection of tone.
"I think that's enough for today," he said, and stood up to leave. As he turned away, Ernst took a hold of his hand and pulled him back, kissing him softly. The kiss was gentle and tender. When they parted, Hanschen traced his fingers along the surprisingly strong jaw line of Ernst.
"Take care, Ernst," he said before walking away. As he walked he took long, deep breaths. He hadn't realised quite how easily Ernst could affect him in that way. Perhaps they could both be affected by such small, trivial actions.