"Dad!" Tino shouted as he pulled away from Berwald.

"I've been finding my old knives lying around and I thought I'd just forgotten to put them away, but now I see the culprit." Tino's father pointed a finger at Berwald.

"Sir," Yekaterina said, "please understand that he wasn't trying to be rude. He doesn't really get modern social norms."

"I know that," said Tino's father, "and I'm not angry."

"What?" Tino shouted. He'd been expecting his father to explode. Eduard turned to him and shrugged.

Tino's father moved a bit closer to Berwald, "I didn't know you enjoyed woodcarving." he said.

"Enjoyed it since was y'ng." the big man replied.

"The craftsmanship here is wonderful. I love the detail in that box. Look at those rings. Look how evenly shaped they are. Tino, did you know he was that good?" Tino's father had become excited.

"I had some idea." Tino replied, thinking back to his dreams of the past.

"Son, why didn't you tell me about this?" Tino's father asked.

"Well," said Tino with a groan, "You wouldn't talk to me for a while."

Tino's father bit his lip, "Fair enough."

XxXxXx

Berwald and Tino's father went to the backyard workshop together and stayed there until long after Yekaterina and Eduard had gone home. Tino eventually decided that while his boyfriend and his father bonded over wood carving, he would help out his mother with dinner. He wasn't much of a cook, but leaving her to do it all by herself made him feel bad. So Tino, propped his crutches against the wall, took a seat on a tall, wooden stool and began peeling potatoes.

"Berwald and your father have been in there for quite a long time." Tino's mother said as she brought a pot of water to a boil.

"Yeah, who would've thought that he'd suddenly accept Ber after he caught him messing with his tools?" said Tino

"Your father isn't a bad guy, you know. And hey, at least Berwald used the hand carving tools instead of the power tools." said Tino's mother.

"I doubt he would even know what the power tools were. And yeah, I know Dad isn't a bad guy, but why the hell did he lie to me and treat me like shit?"

"Tino, your father can do some foolish things, but he's your father. You have to go talk to him."

Tino groaned, "You're right, I guess."

XxXxXx

Tino began to sweat as he approached the old, red, wooden, shed. He could hear the high pitched wine of his father's buzz saw echoing inside. As he leaned on his crutches and pushed open the door, the sound grew louder. Tino's father looked on as Berwald used the saw to cut a thin board in half at the beaten up table in the center of the room. Berwald's large hands were shaking a bit, but he seemed to be in control of the device. Well, he would have to get the hang of using power tools at some point. Tino just didn't want to have to watch. It was too nerve wracking and dangerous looking.

"Dad," Tino said, trying to speak over the saw. Tino's father walked over to Berwald and showed him the off switch on the device. The buzzing stopped.

"What is it, son?" Tino's father asked.

"Is it okay if I talk to you for a bit? Alone?" Tino asked.

"Sure, that's fine." Tino's father said.

Tino then walked over to Berwald, "Ber, I'm gonna talk to my dad for a bit. Go inside and keep my mom company, I'll catch up later."

"Okay," Berwald said, kissing Tino's cheek, "I'll see ya later." He then left the shed, carefully shutting the door behind him.

Tino and his father were alone.

After clearing his throat, Tino's father was the first to speak. "I taught Berwald how to use that saw. He was really scared at first. It was kind of funny. Don't worry; I made sure he didn't get hurt."

"Yeah?" Tino replied, slightly frustrated at the awkward small talk.

"He seems to enjoy learning new things, though." Tino's father said, scratching his head.

"That's Berwald, alright." Tino replied.

"Now, what did you want to talk to me about?" Tino's father said, even though he probably already knew.

"Why didn't you tell me?" asked Tino.

"Tell you about what?" Tino's father backed up.

"College. Being outed. The whole fucking reason that you were a bastard about me seeing other men." Tino shouted, all at once.

"You are my son," said Tino's father, "don't you DARE talk to me that way."

"I know that," Tino said, gripping his crutches and inching forward, "but I want answers, wouldn't you?"

Tino's father was silent and his gaze was steely. For several minutes, the two men just stood facing one another. Finally, Tino's father spoke, "Looks like your mother told you the story. Son, I'm sorry. I was wrong."

Tino loosened his grip on the crutches, "Thank you, but I still want to know why you acted the way you did."

Tino's father sighed, "I didn't want you to get hurt. You remember the story, what happened to me. As a father, I couldn't bear to let that happen to you. Growing up anything but straight is hard, people treat you like shit. The kids in school used to tease you enough as it was. I can't tell you how many times you came home crying because some little punk made fun of your accent or called you a faggot. I hoped that you'd at least grow up into a normal man with a wife. Bullying is supposed to stop when you get older, but you know as well as I do that loving another man turns some grown adults into stupid fucking children again."

Tino couldn't believe it, his father had said more at that moment than he had for a long time. The old man's eyes were beginning to look wet, too!

Tino walked closer to his father, "Dad, if you support me, I can let go of my crutches and give you a hug."

For the first time in weeks, Tino's father smiled at him. He grabbed hold of Tino and pulled him close. The crutches clattered to the floor.

"I'll always hug you, son. Always."

XxXxXx

((A/N: Alternate Title: Tino Resolves His Daddy Issues

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