A/N: Finally managed to get around the annoying error that has been plaguing me all week. Thanks to Erandir!
Aaah... when I first started planning this story out, this was the chapter I couldn't wait to write. It's gotten some tweaks and additions, but for the most part it's what I outlined six months ago. I'm glad I finally got to it. It was as fun as I hoped.
Also, before this gets in to the silly and the cute, I'd like to take a serious moment to express my sympathies and support to all those effected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Such a horrible thing to happen. If you haven't donated to Red Cross already, please do if you can. Even ten dollars will help!
Disclaimer and warning: I don't own Hetalia. Swearing, as usual, and this chapter is made of cheesy cotton candy.
…. eeew.
oooooo
"Jeez, Tino, could you get anymore white-bread? You're going to be married with kids in two weeks at this rate."
After driving aimlessly along dirt roads for the good part of an hour, they had finally managed to make their way back to civilisation. The condo they stood in front of was a nice little house: yellow, white shuttered, with leafless rose bushes twining up the window frames. A cobbled walkway led to a short flight of steps with iron railings, ending at a white-washed door under a quaint Victorian-styled awning. All pastels and flowers and scrolling stucco. In a word, charming.
Tino laughed nervously at Alfred's proclamation, turning to the car to hide his startled blush. He couldn't help but notice how Berwald seemed to do the same, coughing quietly into his hand and becoming infinitely interested in the condo's crooked mail box.
"M-maybe someday. I don't think I'm exactly husband material at the moment."
Alfred's grin grew wider. "Husband? You'd totally be the wife, dude."
Tino's blush deepened, as did Berwald's. "A-anyway..." His eyes wandered, seeking anything other than the stare he could feel trained on his back. They alighted on another face, smiling and approaching them across the lawn that separated Tino's house from the others. "Eduard! Hey!" He waved at his friend, who jogged over.
"Hey Tino! Welcome to the neighborhood! I'm glad you got here safely."
Tino's face fell slightly as he remembered their sinister encounter. "Well, for the most part anyway. Ivan followed us."
Eduard looked horrified. "Are you serious?"
Tino nodded. "Completely. Alfred got rid of him though, by driving like a maniac." Behind him the American grinned and flashed a thumbs up before going to help Berwald unload a couch from the truck bed.
"So there's no danger, then?"
"I... I hope so. We'll just have to be careful to avoid him on our next trip." Tino sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
Eduard smiled sympathetically. "Well, what ever happens, I have just the thing to cheer you up!" At this juncture, he handed him a very heavy paper bag. Curious, Tino peaked inside and grinned.
"You didn't..."
"Oh yes I did."
"How did you get it?" Tino asked in disbelief.
His friend shrugged dismissively. "Online."
"Eduard, are you a magical unicorn?"
"Maybe. Anyway, I came over because I thought you'd like to meet our landlord here and sign the last of your papers. You'll need your key too."
Tino could have smacked himself on the forehead for forgetting. "Of course! I should have done that as soon as we got here..." Before his friend could reply, Tino ran back to the car to stow his gift away in the passenger-side footwell and tell Alfred where he was going. He was just turning to follow Eduard down the road when a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see Berwald standing there.
"Uh..."
"Was thinkin' a'comin' with ya. Want t'ask 'bout yer mailbox. S'broken."
"O-oh. Sure. Of course, you're welcome to. I'm going to be signing a lot of boring documents, though, so you probably won't have much to do."
Berwald shrugged and they started of down the sidewalk together with Eduard. Behind them Alfred arched an eyebrow and smiled as he started to unload the first boxes.
oooooo
With the exception the brass number nailed to the frame, the door Eduard left them at was identical to Tino's. He knocked. For a moment there was no sound from inside the house, and he wondered if Eduard had led them to the wrong address. Then, suddenly, there was a muffled yawn and the sound of dozens of skittering feet. Tino glanced up at the Swede standing behind him, confused at the bizarre sound. Berwald looked as completely perplexed as he did.
Footsteps and a sleepy "It's not time for food yet..." sounded from behind the door before it was opened. Tino turned his attention back to the small man standing in front of him.
"Ah! You must be Väinämöinen-san! I'm Kiku Honda. Come in, come in. I'm sorry you find me in such a state. I was taking my afternoon nap."
Tino smiled at the mispronunciation of his name a he stepped through the door. "Completely all right. There's no need for such formality, Mr. Honda. You can just call me Tino... ah!" He trailed off as he felt something rubbing against his leg. Startled, he looked down, then laughed. At least ten cats were weaving around their legs and mewling, looking up at them with expectant, hungry eyes. He bent over and scratched a sleek black one under the chin.
"Would you like some tea? I just started a pot."
"Yes please! Oh, and this is my friend, Berwald. He's helping me move in."
Kiku smiled at Berwald, who was squatting on the floor and petting the cats. "You are very welcome here, Berwald-san."
The other man didn't reply, too preoccupied with rubbing the belly of a small calico to hear him. Then the shrill whistle of a teapot drew Kiku into the kitchen. A moment later reemerged with a tray of delicate, steaming cups which he set down on a low table in the living room.
"If you'll give me a moment, Tino-san, I'll get he paperwork."
Tino nodded. "Yes, of course! Thank you for the tea!"
Kiku bowed his way out, and when he was gone Tino chuckled and knelt down beside Berwald on the living room floor, scratching the euphoric cat behind the ears. "I didn't know you were a cat person."
"Mm. Can't have one 't m'house 'cause 'f t'instr'ments."
"That's a shame. A cat would give you some company. I really don't know how you do it, living out there all by yourself. You must get so lonely sometimes."
Berwald could have very easily asked the same question. He had no idea how he had managed to get through the past couple of months without going insane. Before he had met Tino, he had never been lonely. Solitude was just his way. But ever since he had started visiting the city, that had changed, and life in the isolated cabin had become almost unbearable.
Feeling uncharacteristically brave, he was about to express this sentiment to Tino when they were interrupted by the reemergence of Kiku, accompanied by a tall, dark haired man.
"This is my partner, Heracles." He said, gesturing to his companion. "Well, Tino-san, if you'd like to sit on the couch we can start going over your insurance information." He turned to the man standing behind them. "This won't take very long."
In a way that greatly reminded Tino of Berwald, the man called Heracles only nodded in response and quietly moved into the kitchen to feed the dozens of cats.
oooooo
As predicted, Berwald had very little to occupy himself with while Tino signed innumerable, boring documents. He felt awkward, sitting on the floor of a stranger's house, but the distraction offered by the cats purring against his legs was at least sufficient to pass the time.
Tino and his landlord were just starting on the last round of papers when he was unexpectedly joined by Kiku's partner. He didn't say anything as he knelt down next to Berwald on the floor, and the Swede decided that this man was someone he could get along with. After a minute or two in which they both attended to the cats in separate silence, Heracles finally spoke.
"Will you... need any help... moving in?" He had a slow, ponderous way of talking, as if every word had equal importance and weight to him.
"Nh. Should b'fine. Isn't t'much stuff."
"Alright." Heracles paused to pick up one of the cats. It perched happily on his shoulder, brushing its tail against his curly hair. "They are... wonderful creatures."
"Mm."
"Nothing... like dogs."
Berwald nodded. Not that he didn't like dogs, but cats were so much more quiet and graceful. But now that Heracles said it, he was reminded of something...
Berwald turned to his new acquaintance, "Actually... could use s'me help. C'n I ask ya a fav'r?"
oooooo
Tino sighed and lay back against the cushions of Kiku's couch, every paper finally signed and all business squared away. The keys were in his possession, and the house was legally his. An overwhelming sense of relief flooded him, though he had many things that still needed doing. He was free of the city, free of confusing insurance transactions, and free of Ivan, and any potential difficulty with unpacking or organizing were trivial to him in comparison to the hardship he had left behind.
Content, he sipped his lukewarm tea and looked at Kiku across the low coffee table. His new landlord was smiling fondly at Heracles, who had been sitting to the side while they conducted their business, talking quietly with Berwald. The two men seemed to converse very easily. This was a surprising development. Considering what he knew of Berwald's disposition and what he assumed of Kiku's partner's, Tino had imagined awkward silence, but instead they seemed to be carrying on quite nicely, albeit with the usual mumbling on Berwald's part and a great deal of yawning on Heracles's.
"It's so nice to see Heracles talking to someone," Kiku mused, snapping Tino's attention away from Berwald's concentrated brow and intelligent eyes. "He's usually so quiet around guests."
Tino smiled and nodded. "Berwald is the same way... I wonder what they're talking about."
At that moment Berwald glanced up, and, noticing Tino looking over, smiled a private little smile before returning to the many cats pawing at his knees. Adrenaline thrummed through Tino's body at the eye contact, and if he had not been positive that his face was incapable of making such an expression, Tino would have said that smile, so captivating on Berwald's thin, pale face, looked... mischievous.
He turned back to Kiku, unsuccessfully trying to hide his reddened cheeks. "S-so, is that all, Mr. Honda?"
"Yes, Tino-san. Welcome to the neighborhood!" He stood and Tino followed suit. "If you have any problems feel free to call on us, and if you and your friends would like to stop by for dinner sometime, you'd be most welcome."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Honda." Tino said, shaking Kiku's hand.
"Do you need any help moving in?"
"Oh no, I should be fine. I have a veritable army of manly men to help me lift things." Tino laughed and turned to Berwald, who had observed their exchange and was now standing and saying goodbye to Heracles in anticipation of leaving.
Tino smiled up over his shoulder at the Swede. "Ready to go?"
"Mm."
Waving their last goodbyes to Kiku and Heracles, they started off down the road towards Tino's new home.
oooooo
By the time all of Tino's possessions had been transported from the city and carried into the condo, the autumn sun was sinking and the air had become very chilly. Tino waved goodbye to Alfred as he drove away in his behemoth of a car before turning to Berwald, who was standing under the awning.
"Shall we go in? It's getting cold."
Berwald nodded and they entered the house together. Tino turned on the lights and looked around the front landing, sighing at the piles of boxes yet to be unpacked. Then his eyes lighted on the gift Eduard had handed him earlier.
"Hey Berwald, how about a little house-warming toast? Eduard brought me some salmiakki koskenkorva!" He chirped, clapping his hands together in his enthusiasm.
Berwald raised an eyebrow. He didn't know much Finnish, but he knew what salmiak was, and he wasn't too keen on ingesting it any time soon. All the same he grunted in affirmation, unable to resist the hopeful look Tino was giving him, and followed him into the kitchen.
After rummaging around in a box for the bottle opener and some glasses, Tino plunked himself down on one of the high stools next to the kitchen island. He uncorked the bottle of black liquid and smelled it, rolling his eyes back in bliss.
"Aaah... of all the things I miss about Finland, this is what I miss the most." He poured out a generous shot for himself, but paused before doing the same for Berwald. "It's... an acquired taste. You don't have to have any if you don't want to."
Berwald shook his head, gesturing for him to continue filling the glass. He was feeling brave enough to try a little, if only to please the other man, but the smell the koskenkorva was giving off as Tino shrugged and poured him a shot was not promising.
Tino's eyes twinkled as he raised the glass. "Skål." He said, before throwing it back with ease. Berwald lifted his own glass to his lips, eyeing the black liquid warily. His nose protested against the unfamiliar licorice smell, but Tino was now looking up at him expectantly, waiting for him to drink it. Screwing his eyes shut and forcing his stomach to stop churning, he poured the koskenkorva into his mouth.
Almost immediately, however, he was coughing and spluttering. The alcohol burned his throat as it went down, but it was the salty licorice taste that had him choking. It was disgusting. Eyes running, he looked at Tino, expecting to see disappointment. It was therefore a surprise when he saw he was instead almost helpless with laughter, gripping the edge of the kitchen island in order to stay upright in his chair.
"Oh God, Berwald, I'm so sorry for laughing but... your face when you..." Tino managed to gasp before lapsing into another fit of hysterical laughter. Berwald blushed as the other man continued to laugh at him.
Tino managed to recover after several moments, though it was obvious it was costing him a great effort to restrain his mirth. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve before taking Berwald's half-drunk glass of koskenkorva from the counter and walking over to the sink.
"Obviously not to your liking." He chuckled, as he poured the drink down the drain. "Here..." He returned a moment later with a glass of water. Berwald took it and gulped it down, attempting to eradicate all remnants of the harsh licorice taste from his mouth.
"Well, would you like something else? This wouldn't be much of a housewarming party without lots of drinking." Tino said, pouring himself some more of the koskenkorva. Berwald shook his head. Tino's talk about housewarming parties had reminded him of his evil plan.
"F'rgot t'tell ya. Got ya somethin'. Fer t'house."
Tino raised his eyes from his glass, his brows quirked in curiosity. "Really? You didn't have to do that, Berwald..."
"Nh. Gotta g'get it."
"O-okay. Should I close my eyes?"
"Mm." Tino's lids fell shut, an expectant smile curling at the corners of his mouth. Berwald stared for a moment, gulping at the unintentionally inviting expression. Then he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and silently walked to the door.
Tino heard the outside door shut with great confusion
He... he didn't just leave... did he?
Opening his eyes a crack, he peered around his new kitchen and strained his ears. No, Berwald was definitely no longer in the house. What could he possibly be retrieving that required him to go outside? Tino hoped it wasn't something extravagant, like a car. He wouldn't put it past Berwald to buy such things for his friends.
On his last visit they had gone to a very expensive restaurant, and Berwald had insisted on paying the bill. No matter how much Tino had objected, he could not be stopped, and to top it off he had refused to accept any sort of thanks... Tino smiled fondly. Berwald's stubbornness was certainly frustrating sometimes, but it was part of what made him so uniquely Berwald, and Tino liked that much more than he wanted to admit out loud.
His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of familiar clunking footsteps on the stairs outside, and he closed his eyes again to wait. He heard Berwald come in and shuck his boots before his footsteps approached the kitchen. They stopped right outside the partially closed door, and the low rumble of the Swede's voice came from the spot.
"Yer eyes still closed?"
"Yes!"
There was no reply, but Tino heard him come into the room. His footsteps stopped in front of the stool, and he jumped when he felt rough, cold hands pick up his own from his lap and gently maneuver them around something. A warm, soft, wriggling something.
Tino's eyes snapped open, and he gasped. In his hands he was holding a tiny white puppy. She squirmed in his grasp, yapping squeakily and trying to lick his face.
"Oh my god, Berwald..." His voice was hoarse trembling as he carefully set the little dog down on the counter. For a moment Berwald worried that he had upset his friend, but then he almost fell over as Tino flung his arms around his neck. Choking, he glanced down at the blond head brushing against his chin.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much!"
Still gasping for air and blushing furiously, Berwald awkwardly patted Tino's back. He had not been expecting such an enthusiastic reaction. "Mm. Said y'wanted one."
Tino laughed merrily into his chest. "I cannot believe that you remember that... that was at least six months ago!"
More like ten, but Berwald wouldn't correct him. After a second, Tino pulled away as if suddenly realizing what he was doing, and turned back to the little puppy, who was still sitting expectantly on the table. She barked and licked Tino's fingers when he scratched her behind the ears, and he laughed.
"She's adorable... does she have a name?"
Berwald shook his head. "Sh'didn't have one at t'shelter."
Tino pursed his lips in thought. "Hmmm... how about 'Cheesecastle'?..." Berwald flinched at the proposed name. Tino's hidden eccentricities would never fail to surprise him, and he had not yet encountered this one.
Noticing Berwald's expression, Tino frowned. "No? What about 'Sardine Picnic'? That's a cute name!"
Berwald cringed again. What was with the bizarre names? He decided to intervene. "Yer landlord w's callin' her H'nat'mago."
Tino's frown disappeared instantly. "Aaah, so that's where you were hiding her..." He stroked the puppy's head. "Hanatamago... I like it! It's cute! Hanatamago it is!"
The newly christened Hanatamago yipped happily as Tino petted her, and skittered around the countertop. Tino laughed again. "She's such a bundle of energy! Maybe we should take her for a walk. If we don't tire her out, I'll never get to sleep tonight..." Still giggling, Tino picked the tiny dog up and set her on the floor before searching through a box and extracting a length of twine, which he tied loosely around her neck as a makeshift leash.
"There! Would you like to come with, Berwald? Maybe we could pick up a hot chocolate somewhere, since it's so chilly."
" 'Kay."
The smile Tino gave him was dazzling as he picked up Hanatamago and headed to the foyer. No matter how many times he graced him with that smile, Berwald knew he would never grow tired of it. He went to the foyer to find the Finn wrapping himself in warm layers. Tino looked up from winding a blue scarf around his neck.
"Oh... you probably don't have any warm things. Would you like to borrow a hat or something?"
Berwald picked up his coat from where he had draped it over a chair. "M'fine."
But Tino was not going down without a fight. "No, really, Berwald. It's only twenty degrees outside! I'd feel horrible if you caught a chill... here..."
Berwald tried to protest, but before he could get a single syllable out, Tino dove headfirst into a box full of linens and clothes and effectively cut off any further objections. After a moment of digging there was a muffled "hah!" and he reemerged with a pair of earmuffs. Pink, fluffy earmuffs. Berwald grimaced.
"They're from Feliks... I know they're kind of ridiculous, but it's all I can find. Please?"
Again, he tried to protest, but he found, as he had many times before, that it was impossible for him to say "no" to Tino when he gave him that look. He took the hideous earmuffs and fit them over his head.
Tino repressed a laugh at how silly strong, scary, stoic Berwald looked wearing the girlish headgear and stepped out into the wintry night, dog running ahead and friend following behind.
oooooo
Winter had come early that year, and a thin crust of snow and frost crunched under their feet as they walked down the quiet streets. There was very little conversation. Tino examined the roads as they walked along them, acquainting himself with his new neighborhood. However, his attention was often diverted by the energetic puppy walking ahead of them, who continually poked her tiny nose into everything that seemed interesting. More than once Tino had to gently tug the length of twine she was attached to in order to prevent her from becoming too curious about a cat or piece of garbage. What with the distracting dog, Berwald doubted that Tino saw much of the houses and shops about them at all.
Berwald himself was equally as distracted, but not by Hanatamago, who leapt up and down in excitement as they left the lamp-lit streets and turned into the little park at the corner of the block. It didn't seem to matter how long he looked at Tino, he just couldn't stop. The moon was dim, only a crescent in the sky, but the light still glinted on Tino's hair and eyes. It reminded him of the time, so many months ago, that he had happened upon Tino in his living room. He had been bathed in moonlight then too, and though it had been much brighter and more striking then, Berwald was no less transfixed now.
Tino laughed at Hanatamago's antics as she sniffed curiously around a park bench, and Berwald idly wondered what it would be like to kiss those lips, to feel that smile pressed against his own mouth. Maybe Tino still tasted like the salmiakki koskenkorva. He hadn't liked it himself, but he was sure that it would be wonderful if he had it from Tino's tongue.
Shivering, he averted his eyes. As much as he wanted that, as much as he had ached for months to take the little Finn up in his arms and show him how he felt, he knew he couldn't do it.
It wasn't so much that he was shy, though that was certainly part of it, it was just... the last months had been so wonderful, and the friendship between them had become so strong. Did he really want to ruin that by doing something as stupid and invasive as kissing him?
And then, of course, Tino had his own problems to deal with. Moving was a big transition, even without a distracting relationship. Ivan was also a constant threat. Tino had said that, apart from the sunflowers, he had not been bothering him, but judging from his dramatic reappearance and the ensuing car chase that afternoon, Berwald knew Ivan had not given up on winning Tino's affections. In such a situation, he was positive that Tino would not want any sort of romantic attentions from him, or from anyone else.
He didn't even know if Tino felt anything more than friendship for him. The Finn had always been so kind to him, so sweet and understanding, but then again he was kind to everyone. And hadn't he said just that morning that he "wasn't husband material"? No... Berwald couldn't see how anything could ever happen between them. There were just too many things in the way.
So wrapped up in his thoughts, Berwald did not notice Tino return to his side. He jumped when the other man spoke.
"She really is the most wonderful present I've ever gotten." He nodded over at Hanatamago, "I... really don't know how to thank you."
Berwald grunted and looked at his feet, nervously adjusting his glasses. "Don't have t'thank me."
Tino laughed quietly at that, breath rising from his mouth in swirling clouds, but he said nothing, staring fixedly at the frolicking puppy. Berwald followed his gaze, unwilling to break the silence that had settled. He was just starting to feel awkward when, suddenly, he felt hesitant fingers brush his. He could not stop his startled intake of breath, nor could he suppress the heat rising in his face, as Tino intertwined their hands, thin cotton gloves wonderfully soft and warm against his bare skin.
He glanced over at Tino. His face was turned away, but not so far as to hide the bright blush on his cheeks or the shy smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. Shaking slightly from the rush of adrenaline produced by the contact, Berwald tentatively curled his own fingers around Tino's and gently pressed their palms together.
He couldn't see Tino's expression, but he felt the tremor run through the slender fingers as he tightened his grip. The most wonderful hope burned in his chest, and he was about to pull Tino closer to his side when he felt a sharp tug in the opposite direction, and Tino's laugh, perhaps slightly higher and more nervous than usual, sounded from his left.
"She's off again!" Tino chuckled, as the inquisitive little puppy pulled insistently on the make-shift leash, heading for the road. Berwald had no choice but to be dragged along after, Tino's fingers still tightly wrapped around his own.
oooooo
Tino didn't loosen his grasp on Berwald's hand until they reached the door of the condo, where he finally let go to remove his gloves. He retrieved the key from a pocket and unlocked the door, but stopped before opening it. Standing several steps back on the walk, Berwald saw Tino's shoulders twitch before he turned, face shadowed by the light from the windows, eyes dark with intent.
"Y-you can take those off now, Berwald..." he said, gesturing to the fuzzy pink earmuffs as he moved closer. "I know you felt silly..."
Berwald didn't move a muscle as Tino halted in front of him and looked up at him, smiling nervously, before reaching up and plucking the offending earmuffs from his head. As he pulled away the tips of his fingers lightly grazed Berwald's jaw.
Time froze. Tino, scared that he had crossed some forbidden barrier but too transfixed to retract his hands, stood motionless. Berwald, likewise, couldn't move. Even Hanatamago settled, and for a moment everything was silent and still in the little bubble of illumination provided by Tino's porch light.
Berwald knew instantly what was about to happen, and Tino seemed to also. His eyes were wide with fear and anticipation as Berwald hesitantly, almost reverently, raised his hand and brushed his fingers over the smooth flesh on the back of Tino's petite, perfect hand. He heard the Finn's breath quicken at the contact, felt the trail of goosebumps left in the wake of his touch.
Tino was having trouble breathing. The expression in Berwald's eyes was the same as the one he had worn nearly four months ago at the Midsummer party. It was no less irresistible now as it had been then, and he felt himself growing dizzy, drowning in the depths of those flickering cerulean irises.
Perhaps it was because of the intensity of the expression, or maybe it was the sudden apprehension that seized him as Berwald began to inch closer to him that made him step back. As he did there was an organic crunching noise that most definitely was not made by the thin coating of ice on the walk behind him, and just like that, the tension shattered. Face twisted in confusion, Tino turned and looked down.
There, partially crushed into the snow on Tino's doorstep, lay a single sunflower.
oooooo
A/N: I so enjoy ruining moments.
Also, I don't know about anyone else, but I've always thought that Berwald and Heracles would be total BFFs, character-wise. Weird headcanon is weird.
Notes, as usual.:
1.) Berwald's earmuff wearing was inspired by a beautiful painting by Sayuri1314 on Deviantart. I know we can't post links, but here's one anyway.: http: / / sayuri1314 . deviant art . com / gallery /#/ d32zo2s Just take out the spaces and you should be fine. I highly recommend looking through her gallery. Everything she does is incredible.
2.) Random question... I don't want to burst anybody's bubble, but in accordance with the pronunciation of Franz Berwald's (the classical composer dear Su-san is probably named for) name, wouldn't "Berwald" sound like "Bervald"? Same with Ludwig. Just asking.
3.) Having never tried it before, I cannot completely commit to my statement in this that salmiakki is disgusting. Though generally I hate licorice, I have ordered a box of Finnish salmiakki just to make sure. I am scared.
4.) Drawings. I finally have some for you! :D Here they are!:
http : / / deepwoodwayfinder . deviant art . com / art / APH-Let-Me-In-Illustration-201718012 (remove spaces)
http: / / deepwoodwayfinder . deviant art . com / art / APH-Let-Me-In-Illustration-2-201755275 (ditto)
There will be more, but they are slow in coming. It's hard to finish a chapter and drawings when I also have mounds of History of Agriculture homework to get through. Thank you for your patience and I hope you like them! :)