~Chapter 10~

~Forced Niceties.~

A few days later and the Finn found himself sat next to the rather imposing Russian. Berwald was nowhere to be seen. Indeed, it truly felt like it was only the two of them in the room.

Alone.

Tino gulped inwardly and tried his best to answer the enrichment questions about drugs and alcohol. Frankly, he couldn't give a damn. Regardless, he focused his whole being on one question: The dangers of alcohol.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Snap.

The snapping of a pencil shattered the silence in the classroom. The Finn vaguely registered someone making a sound of pain, vaguely registered a bit of blood. His eyes could see, but he couldn't see. So focused was he that paying attention to his surroundings was unimportant.

A rustle of clothes and a heavy sigh from next to him roused him out of his stupor. Violet eyes widened slightly as he quickly dragged his gaze upwards, levelling gazing at his working classmates.

Why had he…?

A small nudge in his side reminded him of the presence next to him.

"Tino. That's your name, da?" A slightly slurred voice questioned.

"J-Joo. I'm Tino!" He laughed rather nervously, his brows creased slightly. Internally, he was panicking. Externally… well, he merely looked slightly concerned.

"Ah. I don't care after all." The Russian stated, a low laugh resounding throughout the classroom. A crazy gaze met a worrisome one as the smaller dragged his gaze up to the taller's.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Ivan tapped his pencil against the table. The force at which he tapped seemed to grow with each tap, until the end of his pencil pinged off noisily. Another laugh slipped past chapped lips, an unsettling smile settling on a childlike face.

"Oh dear! I broke my pencil!" Ivan chortled, in a falsetto. "Come with me!~"

The forced merriment was almost infectious as the Finn had to catch a smile. Hearing anyone speak at such a pitch was indeed amusing, and more so because it was the Russian.

Ivan's hand swung around and clenched the young Finnish boy's hand tightly, strong enough to bruise muscles. A wince wiped the smile straight off his face. Tino cast his head downwards, not daring to meet the gaze of Ivan.

Why do I always have to be such a victim? Can't I stand up for myself?

Ivan dragged the youth through the door and refused to release him; rather, he didn't relinquish his hold.

Heavy footsteps melded with quick, lighter ones. It was a feat for the Finn to keep up with the imposing Russian, especially as he was desperately trying to think complimentary thoughts about the other.

Click. Click… stop.

Ivan stopped suddenly, causing Tino's arm to jolt in his socket. A short cry of pain fell from his lips as the Russian unhelpfully yanked him backwards, taking delight in his pain. Tino stood up straight and pressed his lips into a tight line, staring straight into the eyes of what was surely to be his demise.

"You need my help." The Russian's statement offered no argument. "You need to talk to my sister, da? Well, you need me."

With his penultimate word, he took a step forward. So careless was the Finn; he merely stood his ground. Tino craned his neck slightly more, in order to accommodate for the daunting Russian's height. He truly was no match for one with so much… Strength?

"I will help you. Da?" He murmured softly, his eyes taking on a slightly tenderer look.

Yet it was this look that scared the Finnish youth the most. Tino was so convinced that he was unable to feel emotions, so this flicker of emotion was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Or in Tino's case, the aspect which broke his resolve.

As the Finn felt the fight ebb from his body, he allowed himself to smile shakily at the tall youth. Perhaps he had misjudged him?

"P-Please. Kiitos?" Tino asked, stuttering slightly. A small smile later and the Finn didn't feel so scared of this boy. Yes, he had demonstrated immense power. Perhaps he didn't know his own strength?

Yes, his voice was eerie, spine-chilling, downright creepy; but he can't control it.

A much more sinister smile graced Ivan's lips for a second, the facial twitch eviscerated before the Finnish boy could begin to analyse it.

"Excellent. Meet me here at the end of this period."

~~00~~

At the end of the lesson, Tino stretched and yawned. Was it possible to have an even more boring day? He surely didn't think so.

Tino enthusiastically walked up to the Russian, who just so happened to be scaring the students in this rather prestigious school. Of course, this just filled the Finn to the brim with confidence.

After being reduced to a quaking mess of bones and a shaky smile, he hesitantly tapped the taller man on the shoulder.

"I-Ivan?" His voice came out as a pathetic scream, his whole stance uncertain. He clutched his books to his chest in a paralinguistic implication of uncertainty. Ivan relaxed a tad more and sighed, his eyes wild.

"Da. That was fun." A small smile slid across his face, as if he were trying to be decent to the young man. If Tino wasn't already confident, this would have helped boost his confidence levels.

The Russian stood up to his full height and produced a dwarf sunflower from behind his back, presenting it to the other boy. A breath caught in his throat as he shook his head, his voice sounding choked.

"Ivan? Don't do this!" Tino choked out, his eyes shining with unshed tears; he simply couldn't cope.

"I will have you. I will." He whispered quietly, his eyes darting to and fro, as if he had revealed a particularly heinous secret. However, fists were clenched when the flower still wasn't accepted.

"I-I have Berwald!" With his last words, he turned tail and ran.

Left behind was a disgruntled Russian, his angry fists crushing the stem of his flower. He was determined; He was unstoppable.

~~0~~

"Berwald, I don't know what to do!" The small Finn cried, his eyes closing tightly. His arms were wrapped tightly around the tall Swede's middle.

Day one of their newfound relationship and a storm was already brewing. A soft sigh escaped Berwald's lips as he carefully wrapped his arms around his beloved.

"D'n't fret." He awkwardly kissed the top of his head, his voice conveying his sweet intentions through soft undertones. "Tis okay."

A soft hiccup slipped past the smaller's lips as he clung tightly, after having recounted the tale to his lover. Guilt coursed through Tino's veins as he clung to Berwald, a small tear slipping from underneath his eyelids.

"B-Berwald?" He muttered, cheeks stained by one glowing tear. A hopeful gaze met a fretful one as he snuggled into his much taller lover. Another hiccup slipped past lush, pink lips.

"Ja?" He asked quietly, blushing a tad.

"Will you come meet me for breakfast tomorrow morning? Outside my room?" Tino asked tentatively.

"Ja." He replied stoically, holding him carefully.

"Is it… Is it alright to love a man?" Tino asked uncertainly. This one question had truly been bothering him. It was always pestering him, keeping him awake, bothering him.

"Ja. Because I love you." The Swede answered instantly, much to the little Finn's surprise. A small smile spread across his previously panic-stricken face as he leans up, placing his lips on the much taller Swede's.

The peck on the lips lasted under a second, their lips only briefly sliding across each other, yet it caused the butterflies in Tino's stomach to flutter around. A slightly larger smile and a blush later, and the Finn realised he could answer the Swede.

"I-If… If this is what love feels like… Then…" Tino cleared his throat, causing worry to crease in the Swede's brow. In that millisecond before he replied, his brain began to analyse all of the things that he did like about the hulking man. Berwald's eyes, clear like the ocean and as strong as the God that controlled them. His muscles, cared for and developed over many years. His silence, his heart, his love.

Him.

And with that realisation, the Finn felt he could continue what he believed to be true in his heart of hearts.

"Then I think I love you."

Aaaaand I made it to chapter 10, huzzah!

So, allow me to complain (yet again). I've finished most of my mock exams, but my real GCSE's will occur in May: Early May. I'm rather scared, actually. Although, I believe I am set for Spanish as I got 60 UMS on both my listening and reading papers (mocks), dropped 11 marks overall and got two A*'s! I'm pretty happy, as I do wish to do a double language degree in Spanish and Russian. However, I have Sixth Form to go yet! I've already done my GCSE controlled assessments and got A/A*'s, so I hope I can come out with an A* in the end!

Anyways, enough about school! How are you all enjoying this story? I'm sad to say there can only be a few more chapters in it, now! I was going to try for 20, but I doubt i'll make it to 15! Is there anything you all want to see in this story?

And lastly, the most important point. I, once again, have been struck by a plot bunny; i'm unsure as to whether it's a good idea. So, I make yet another request: Is there anyone out there who would allow me to bounce idea's off of? I believe this is important, as it will allow me to write much better stories than this one! So, PM me or review if you'd be willing to do that! I have a plot bunny that promises to be a firecracker, I hope!

Thanks to the Reviewers: The Little Chibi and Mattaya Anne!~

~Thank's to CelesteFitzgerald, who really helped brighten my day and make me feel appreciated!~