The flustered Tino gasped for air as the Strangers hands were ripped from his throat. he bent over, feeling like he was on the verge of passing out. he heard the sudden sound of skin hitting skin... the sound of a fallen man. and then silence. Tino didn't take so long to catch his breath before turning around to see the horrific sight.
A man laid dead on the sidewalk in front of Berwald. And the large swede looked down at his hands. his hands scraped and bloody; it wasn't even his blood.
"i... didn't mean to-" Berwald gasped. Tino took quick steps to the dead stranger, falling to his knees and bringing his ear close to the mans mouth; no breathing. Tino put two fingers over the mans wrist; no pulse.
"Su-san... he's dead"
"n-no..." The large man stuttered. he didn't know his own strength. Tino stood, quickly grabbing Berwalds arm, and tugging at his coat
"We've got to go... We've got to go now!" he yelled at his boyfriend, seeing the fear in the mans eyes.
Berwald didn't question Tino. berwald just ran beside him. they ran as fast as they could... no one would believe that what Berwald did was an accident. Berwald was a huge, intimidating man. no one would believe anyone would try to mug them. no one would believe it would be that easy to kill someone.
Berwald didn't even think it was possible.
They ran out of town. not even going back to their apartment. The Swede had twenty dollars in his pocket; Tino had seven. Tino gasped for air, they reached the sign the signified the end of the towns borders. he hadn't even realized he had been holding onto berwald arm the entire time that they had been running.
"t-this should be far enough... i- i can't run anymore Su-San..." The small fin spoke between raspy breaths. Berwald himself had exhausted all of his energy miles ago... but mindlessly kept running. no matter the circumstances, he would never admit that His small partner could outrun him.
"Ja..."
"lets just walk... we'll find somewhere to go. we can't go back" Tino whispered, his breath catching up to him.
"i didn't mean to-" Berwald stuttered, cut off by his boyfriend.
"i know. Berwald... you helped me when i was in deep shit. and i'm going to help you. you defended me back there when i was caught off guard... and if i could i would do the same for you. because i love you."
"I love you." The blond Swede reciprocated, taking Tinos smaller- yet fiercer- hand into his own as they slowly began their trek down the dirt road that led them out of town...
and into a journey that neither of them knew would end in anguish.