Tino so was busying tinkering with a new weapon that he didn't hear the knock on the door. He didn't notice the servant answering it or hear the heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.
"Hey. Tino," a deep voice mumbled, making the little man jump.
"Berwald! Don't sneak up on me like that!"
The Swede didn't say anything. He just came around to look at what Tino was doing.
"Wha' this?"
"It's a Russian weapon I found the other day. I'm modifying it for the use of my army," Tino explained.
Berwald didn't say anything. He inspected the Fin's work with a blank expression. His eyes trailed to the hastily drawn battle plans and rag-tag maps hung around the workspace.
"What's that?" Tino asked, noticing a crate in the corner. He was trying to draw the Swede's attention from his shabby battle plans.
"Guns," Berwad replied without looking. "Fr'm Germ'ny."
"From Ludwig? Really? Why would he send me these?" Tino got up to open the crate.
Berwald watched Tino inspect the weapons. The Fin held one up eagerly and examined it all over. "These are great!" he remarked.
Berwald didn't say anything. He watched the tiny Fin inspect the new weapons. There was something he wanted to say, but the words couldn't find a way to his mouth.
"H-hey, Berwald? Why are you staring at me like that?" Tino said in a somewhat shaky voice. He was still intimidated by the larger country.
"'m worried 'bout y' Tino," Berwald said slowly. "Y' be'n thro' so much."
"Yeah, well, I can take care of myself. You of all people should know that!" Tino said with a small laugh.
Berwald continued to stare at him stonily. Tino uneasily turned his back on him and began to unpack the German weapons. "Thanks again for bringing me these," he said, still not facing the other country.
Berwald made no reply. Instead he moved closer to help Tino unpack the crate.
"Gah!" Tino yelled in surprise at the sudden proximity. "Uh, sorry, you j-just startled me, that's all."
Berwald again said nothing as he continued to help unpack the crate.
"Uh, I guess I'll see you around," Tino said when they finished. He tried his best not to flinch when he looked up.
"No," Berwald said, his blue eyes staring down at the small blonde.
"No?" Tino asked in confusion.
"C'n't see y'," Berwald said sternly in his monotone voice.
Tino understood immediately. "Your boss doesn't want you to aid in war, right? I get it. It seems like the world is falling apart a second time. No one wants to get involved in that." Tino babbled. He was suddenly terrified. Sweden would not be there to back his country against Russia, there longtime mutual enemy. Actually, it was Sweden's enemy to begin with. It was funny to think that such a strong country like Berwald could have a boss that ruled his every move just like everyone else.
"Tino..." Berwald was at a loss of words. He could see the smaller country hyperventilating. He tried to put a comforting hand on the Fin's shoulder, but it was smacked away.
"You're just as bad as him, you know!" Tino shrieked. "You pretend to be so much better than him because you didn't try to obliterate me, but you still held me captive! Fine! I don't need your help! Why do you think I ran away from you in the first place!"
Berwald said nothing. He just frowned as Tino ranted and then he finally turned to leave.
Tino tried to force back the stinging tears in his eyes and picked up one of the German rifles. German rifles. The damn Swede couldn't even bring any of his own. Tino threw the rifle down in disgust. He suddenly felt as if no one cared about him. After all he had been through, there was no one to fight at his side.