Mathias knocked on the door around 5 minutes after Tino finished washing the dishes from breakfast.

"Come in, Mathias." Tino said, bustling about in the kitchen.

The man walked in, and walked straight up to Tino, hugging him from behind. He dropped a bag of meat onto the counter.

"Brought you a little something, Tino." He said, flashing the other male a gentle smile, that could melt any girl's heart. "Fresh game. Caught it this morning. Figured you'd gave Kata some breakfast, before you even ate."

Tino smiled back, and noticed Mathias' cheeks go a little red. "Thank you so much, Mathias. We were running out." He reached into his pocket for a few coins, and pressed them in the other blonde's hands.

"Tino, how many times do I have to say it. You don't have to pay me." Mathias said, and shoved the coins back onto the counter. "I do this out of pure good of my poor heart." He pounded his chest once, and Tino laughed.

"Yeah, like getting a whip in the back because I messed up on something. That's pure good of poor heart." Tino laughed. Mathias was Tino's non-family best friend. Someone he could rely on, and tell all his secrets to.

"Hey, I told them it was my fault, and I wasn't lying." He said back, flashing another smile. "And didn't I buy you a bowl of soup so that you would shut up about that?"

Tino nodded. "That promise expired months ago. I'm raising the stakes, so it's obviously something you can't get."

"Oh? And what might this 'something I can't get' be?" Mathias said, cockily. "Because Tino, I have my way with the law."

Tino shuddered. "I'll tell you while we walk." He motioned for the door, and called Kata downstairs.

Kata bounded down the stairs, and ran full speed to Mathias.

"Mafias!" She squealed, and jumped into his open arms.

Tino snickered, and ushered the two out the door, remembering how Kata told him that she had a crush on Mathias.

The three walked to the plaza in the small town, and took their seats at the back. Kata ran off to sit with her school friends, and left Mathias and Tino by themselves.

"So," Mathias whispered. "What's this 'something'?"

Tino sighed, and pulled out a letter from his shirt pocket. It was from The Government.

Mathias opened it, and read out loud. "Tino Väinämöinen, you have exceeded your time as a single male…" he paused "What the fuck? Marriage? To who?"

"I have to get married to a stationworker in the next 6 months." He sighed. "And there is so many stationworkers here, and most already married."

Mathias grinned behind his sleeve. "I'm a stationworker."

Tino smiled. "Yeah. I know."

Mathias' heart soared.

Tino's eyes froze on a man in the crowd that he never remembered seeing before.

"Look." He pushed Mathias, and nudged him in the direction of the man.

Tall, blonde, and flour running up his muscular forearms. He wore glasses, and he had a stoic, expressionless face. He was wearing a shirt with a red stain on the front. Another, younger boy followed behind him. Tino guessed it was his brother.

Mathias glared. "I know him. He's a stationworker. His little brother, too. Berwald and Tuomas Oxenstierna." He watched Tino's eyes follow the man, a look of interest on his round face. "He barely talks."

Tino kept watching him, nodding when Mathias was talking. "Is he married?"

Mathias grumbled. "No. He's planning on marrying into royalty though."

Tino's eyes shifted back to Mathias. "Ew. A gold digger, is what you're saying he is."

Mathias nodded, and shifted closer to Tino, a small enough movement that he didn't notice.

Mathias noticed Berwald, and another stationworker, Alfred F Jones, shift their gaze towards him and Tino. Mostly to Tino, though. As they all knew he had to be married. Berwald cocked a brow, and Alfred grinned madly.

'Cute'. Alfred mouthed to Mathias, and he grimaced.

'Not a chance for you, Al.' Mathias mouthed back, and Alfred chuckled.

'Who knows?' He mouthed again, before turning back around.

Berwald just took a look to Mathias, and turned back again, making Mathias snarl.

Tino's shoulder brushed up against Mathias', and their arms were touching. Mathias looked down, seeing Tino's small and pale hand, resting on his own thigh. In a perfect world, Mathias would willingly grab it, and the two would have been married already, and starting a family.

"What does Berwald do?" Tino whispered, and put his head on Mathias' shoulder.

Mathias sucked in a breath. "H-He bakes. Yeah. He bakes bread and s-shit."

Tino grinned, oblivious to Mathias' stutter, and overall fidgeting. The Branding began.