====...======
Berwald was in the bathroom getting ready for their big date as Tino reread Arthur's email on the bed. Gazing at the text over and over again he tried to form a good way to bring up the topic.
When during the date would even be the right time? Before dinner there's not much to talk about but you don't want to start eating on a sad note. Then there's not much appetite. In the middle is just kind of sudden. But waiting until the end could make it seem like he's been hiding it from Berwald, couldn't it?
The Finnish man let out a heated breath as he face-palmed at his frustration. He heard the bathroom door opening and quickly slammed his laptop shut, catching his lover's attention.
"Err . . . 'verything okay T'no?"
"Yes."
Both kept staring at the other, one pulling his strongest poker face and the other one trying to break it. Those sea-green eyes bore deeply into Tino's, something the man never enjoyed if it wasn't in a positive light, and made him flinch and distract Berwald from his suspicious behavior.
"I'll just change and we can head out."
"'lright. Do you mind 'f I check my email?"
"Sur-No! Don't use my computer!"
"Why not?"
"Because . . . I need to click out of something really quick."
"T'no, you looking at porn r'ght before our date?"
"No!" Tino rushed back to the computer just as Berwald was opening it up. He pushed the back of the electronic screen, slapping it shut and receiving a wide-eyed look from his boyfriend.
"What 's it that you don't want m' to see?"
"Um . . ."
Tino was having an internal struggle that he needed to conquer fast. Berwald was waiting and he didn't seem happy.
"I saw that 't was from Arthur."
"Yes . . . He was telling me about something. I was going to tell you later tonight." Hopefully.
"Why not show m' now since we're already talking about 't."
"But I-I wanted to . . . I'm not sure if-. . . Fine. . ." Tino re-opened the laptop and got comfortable next to Berwald.
"He sent me this after I told him about Ivan. I guess him and Alfred dated before Arthur they hooked up."
"Hm."
Berwald continued reading in silence and Tino could feel the tension in the air slowly growing with each sentence read. He never liked waiting and could feel his own nerves rising until Berwald shifted off the bed and walked a few steps away.
"What do you think?"
"I don't want P'ter to go. He can still 'ttend school here, I'll just keep close watch 'n him. . . . 'f that's okay with you."
"That sounds good to me but . . . I don't want you distracted while at work. You've already been so busy lately, adding this to your plate might not be such a good idea."
"I'll be fine." Berwald said sternly.
Without meaning to, Tino's voice raised. He himself doesn't want Peter to go- Peter is hischild, but he needs to put his feelings aside for Peter's own interests. He also doesn't like this new busy schedule Berwald was keeping and thought he waited long enough for some answers.
"This isn't something we can just brush off! You obviously haven't been yourself lately and these additional hours of work has really made me wonder if this will be a common occurrence, and if so I'm not doing it. I want to be in a relationship; not waiting for one to come home. Not again."
His amethyst eyes were glued to the floor as he spilled out the small things that piled up over the weeks and launched out of his mouth and into the still air. Slowly he dared his eyes to look up at the taller man only to see two ocean-colored eyes of hurt. After their brief eye contact he looked away and tried to swallow but his mouth was already so dry.
"I'm sorry T'no . . . I didn't mean t' do that to ya."
"It's okay. I should have said something earlier but I didn't want to come off too clingy."
There was an awkward pause and the only noise was the TV downstairs and the wood creaking underneath Tino's shifting feet.
"I'd still love ya 'f you were."
Tino let out a little laugh. At least that relieved some of the tension hanging in the room.
"Could make you a key chain. B' my good luck charm." Berwald could see Tino's cheeks blush a soft pink and a smile playing on those smooth lips and knew not all was lost. The Finnish man chuckled a bit, telling him he was ridiculous and walked over to give him a light punch to the arm and a hug, sinking them both into the bed.
"Let's just think this over a little bit and talk about it later, hm?"
"Sounds great. We still 'n for our date?"
"Yeah! Yeah, I forgot I need to change real quick."
With that Tino got up and opened his closet and pulled out a pair of dark-wash jeans and a simple long sleeve shirt. Berwald poked his head up to watch his future spouse and secretly wished he left the bathroom door open for a show.
===...=====
Tino and his brother departed an hour ago, leaving him to care for a hyper child that tried his hardest to get Emil's attention away from his science textbook. The blonde tike decided to march around the table singing the Spongebob Squarepants theme song at the top of his lungs.
Emil was good at ignoring unnecessary things; a pro actually, but today he couldn't help but feel like his sense of hearing was a little more heightened than usual. Not finding the material sinking in because of the miniscule distraction, he slammed his heavy textbook shut and got Peter's undivided attention.
"Alright Peter! What can I do to make you stop?"
"I want soda!"
"No. You're hyper enough as it is."
"Then I guess I'll just sing more-"
"No! No, please, I'm trying to study to catch up."
"Then give me some soda."
"What happened to the cute kid I met before? Will soda bring him back?"
"Yes!"
"Will it also make him quiet?"
"Yes" Peter whispered to convince the teen further.
"Fine- But don't tell them I gave you some. It's our secret."
"Yay!"
Not even 20 minutes later was the small child passed out from a sugar rush and crashed out on the floor. The Icelander had to laugh a bit at the backwards effect the sweet drink had on him. He took out his phone and snapped a picture of Peter sleeping when his phone started vibrating with a call. He didn't recognize the number and was apprehensive to answer it but decided to anyway.
"Hello?"
"Hello Emil." The voice sounded familiar but he doesn't remember giving his number out to anyone but Yuto.
"Xiao?"
"Yes. How are you?"
"Good but kind of confused. How did you get my number?"
"You told me it. By the bike rack, remember?"
"But your phone wasn't even out-"
"I'm good at memorizing numbers. I am Asian after all." Emil tried to stifle the small snicker at that. It's okay to make fun of your own race and stereotypes, right?
"So what are you up to this fine evening? Going to that party?"
Typically he'd just quickly end the conversation and hang up but with Xiao there was coolness to his voice that made Emil want to open up, even though he was not accustomed to that sort of thing.
"No, babysitting… and trying to catch up with some work."
"Want me to come over and help?"
"No that's okay- I'm fine."
"Whenever I do homework I usually have some snacks to help me focus. Want me to bring some over? I can make those wantons you like."
With that offer Emil found it very hard to refuse. He'd say that Tino wouldn't want people over but Tino gave him permission to invite a guest or two. Peter's also passed out and having someone to help him explain some of the material with notes would be nice.
"O-Okay, sure."
"Cool. Text me the address and I'll be right over." After that he heard a click and looked for an envelope on the counter so he could type the address into the cell. After that he scooped up Peter and carried him upstairs and tucked him into bed. It was only 7:30 but hopefully he'll stay asleep.
He removed more books from his messenger bag when his phone rang again. Picking it up he saw it was his brother and answered it.
"Hello."
"Hi Emil, how are you?"
"I'm doing well, and yourself?"
"Making breakfast for the beast. How's school going?"
"Good. Studying right now."
"Glad to hear. Mathias says 'Hi' and 'Use protection'"
"Alright, tell him 'No promises'"
" . . . I'm hoping that's just a joke and going to take it as one."
"Please do."
"Anything new? How are Tino and Berwald?"
"Nothing too new. They're out on a date right now so I'm watching Peter."
"How is the little guy?"
"Sleeping. He misses you."
"Heh, that's sweet." Emil could tell the other was smiling which was causing him to as well.
"Well I'll let you get back to your studying. Have fun and be good."
"Thanks brother and you too."
"Miss you."
"Miss you too."
They both hung up and Emil found it hard to concentrate again. Now he was suddenly struck with homesickness. He flipped through his books only glancing at the pictures, drifting in and out memories and where he was. He was about to get started again when he heard the doorbell ring.
Peeking through the window he saw Xiao and let him in.
"Wow, you live not far from me. Here, I brought the goods." The pale teen took the container and could smell the delicious aroma of the crispy wantons. Xiao took off his shoes and jacket and made himself at home.
"So what subject would you like to conquer first?"
"Math please."
===...====
Emil doesn't know how they did it but within an hour he's caught up in all his main classes thanks to Xiao and his few notes. But what he does know is where all the wantons went; in his now satisfied stomach!
"Thank you for your help Xiao."
"It's my pleasure Emil."
For some reason the Nordic liked hearing Xiao say his name. It sounded so smooth and sincere. For the first time since arriving Emil looked at Xiao and really sunk in the view. The brunette had one a long-sleeved t-shirt that went far over his hands but had holes for his thumbs, adding a sort of fashion that Emil felt he lacked. His hair also looked more feathery then usual and wore several necklaces.
"So Emil, I thought you were babysitting?"
"I am, he fell asleep. I should probably go check on him."
"You don't mind if I follow you do you?"
" . . No . ."
With that they walked up the stairs, Xiao behind Emil, secretly enjoying the view, and looked into Peter's room. He was fast asleep and curled up under the blankets.
"So where is your room?"
"I'm up in the attic. There's only two bedrooms in the house but I don't mind it up there. It's quite nice actually."
"Mind if I check it out?"
"Um, no I guess."
They walked down the hall and Emil reached up and pulled a string, gently unfolding the stairs to the higher level. Emil nodded him to go first but Xiao insisted for him to go ahead, happy to watch the quiet teen ascend upwards in those loose jeans. He enjoyed seeing the folds move up against and fall around the small frame. When he climbed inside the room it was a lot more spacious then he previously expected.
"This is nice."
"Yeah."
"You get a lot more privacy up here huh?"
"Yeah. It helps cancel out a lot of noise too."
"That's cool. Hey Emil, have you ever had a blow job?"
===...====
I FINALLY did it Kuro! XD
I've gotten some questions in reviews recently and I'd like to answer some. I've not thought about putting too much DenNor in the story. I have on the other hand been thinking of doing the USUK side of this as another story if people want me to. In this though yeah I think I'm going to make HongIce a permanent pairing.
I got great news~ My work is keeping me so I'm no longer just seasonal =D
Also I went to Ikea for the first time ever and was SO INSPIRED. I was thinking of all the other wonderful SuFin fanfics I've read that've taken place in IKEAs and everything in there itself was amazing too. I bought my first lantern which means a lot to me because my mom collects them so I thought I'd start my own collection since I find them beautiful as well.
Sorry I kept y'all waiting long. I've got my super-cool best friend MCRvampette editing this for me so hopefully it'll get better =) I'm horrible at editing and she loves it so it works out perfectly. She also has some great Spirited Away fanfiction. She is the France to my group of friends and I am her Prussia 3
Please review if you're interested in the USUK version of this. Hope you all had a great Christmas and a Happy new year. I think 2012 will be way better then 2011 :D