Tino sighed, pinching his nose with his thumb and index.
"Ivan, I said no." Ivan pouted and crouched behind Peter.
"But look at the little one. It will just be a short while." Tino groaned.
"You said that last time as well, and you know how long I watched her? A whole year. You know my job doesn't pay me much and besides, it starts back up next week. How am I going to watch him them" Ivan stood back up and shrugged.
"I could get you a new job easily." Tino frowned.
"I like my job. Some people may not like it, but that's their own opinion. I'm just saying that I can only take him for a short time." Ivan visibly perked up.
"So you will take him." Tino looked over the boy who was in turn eyeing him. He finally groaned, throwing up his hands.
"Fine. What's his backstory?" At this point, Peter piped up.
"My dad never pays me any attention, so this is-" Ivan quickly covered the boy's mouth and laughed nervously.
"This is just until they find a new nanny for him, that's all." Tino looked at him suspiciously, wondering what the child was going to say before Ivan had interrupted him. He sighed again.
"Alright, I'll take him." He looked at the boy.
"But don't call me dad. Call me Tino." Ivan grinned and, walking over to him, gave him a huge hug.
"Thank you, my tiny friend, thank you" Tino muttered a 'you're welcome'. This is how it always happens, he thought. Ivan would find a child with some kind of problem and try to fix it, even if it meant that Tino had to watch the child for a while because Tino, as Ivan put it, was the 'perfect mother'. He had known Ivan since high school, when he had transferred in junior year. He had been scared of Ivan like almost everyone else, but after he once saw him playing with children, he soon began to lose his fear and play with the children alongside him. As Ivan leaned back, he looked as if a thought had suddenly come upon him.
"Oh, I had forgotten about it until now, but who's truck is out there?" Tino blushed a little.
"That's Berwald's. He came by to help with the logs and sink." Ivan pouted.
"You can just call me for stuff like that." Tino snorted.
"Please. the last time you touched my axe, I had a log through my window and the axe almost hit me." Ivan humphed and looked away, crossing his arms.
"It was an accident. I forget about my strength. And besides, no one was hurt, da?" Tino looked up skyward, pleading for help on how to deal with the man in front of him..
"Don't you have to get back to your boyfriend or something?" Ivan brightened.
"Yes, actually. We have a date tonight." He gave Tino one last hug before leaving. Tino walked over to the couch and plopped down on it, groaning. He looked over to Peter who was still in the same spot. Tino tried to think of what to say.
"So what do you want for dinner?" Peter shrugged.
"Anything is fine." Tino thought about it.
"How about macaroni and cheese?" Peter tilted his head in question.
"What's that?" Tino's eyes widened.
"You've never had it?" Peter shook his head.
"Dad said I was never to eat commoner food and that I should eat only the highest quality of foods." Must have been a rich kid, Tino thought. He rolled up his sleeves as he got back up.
"Well, I'm going to cook you some. Just wait here and I'll call you when it's done." Peter nodded and went back to the rug, sitting in front of the television before turning it on. Tino went to the kitchen and began to cook, trying to make it the best he had ever made. When it was done and cooling on the table, he called Peter who walked over. Once they had washed their hands and sat down, Peter took a small bite, his eyes widening.
"This is delicious!" He took another bite, this time a huge one. He began to gobble it down so fast that he began to choke and Tino had to pound his back. After that, he ate a little slower. He smiled at Tino when he was done.
"That was really good! Can we have that again sometime?" Tino smiled back and nodded. After cleaning the dishes, he took Peter to the guest room. He showed where his new clothes were.
"They've all been worn by others, but they're still good." He took out a pair of pajamas and helped him dress and brush his teeth. As he tucked him into bed, Peter whispered,
"Are you going to be this nice all the time?" Tino nodded.
"Of course I am, unless you do something bad, then I'll have to teach you how to do what you did another way." Peter looked like he was thinking about before finally nodding.
"Goodnight, Tino." Tino smiled softly.
"Goodnight, Peter." He then pulled up the blanket and left the room, cracking the door and leaving the hall light on in case he was scared of the dark. As he walked down the hallway to the stairs so he could go to sleep, he thought about the evening. I can't believe I actually asked him out, or that I kissed him back. Maybe I'll ask him out tomorrow. He then stopped, frowning. I never got his number. How am I supposed to ask him out if I only know his name? Then, as he walked by the small table in the hallway, he noticed a small piece of paper. When he picked it up he saw that it had a phone number and the name Berwald scribbled on it. Tino smiled and laughed at the perfect timing. I'll call him tomorrow, he thought before placing it back down and continuing to his room and getting ready for bed. He fell asleep as soon as he closed his eyes.