Why is this so hard to write? Well, it isn't that so much as I had other things to do. And I'm starting to panic because I'm not even close to finishing my hetalia big bang story. I love this story though, and honestly find it so funny how with most of my fics I'm like 'wow this is sadder and more horrible than people imagine mwahaha' and with this I'm like 'this is cuter and fluffier than people imagine hehe'. It's a nice change. I feel like I fuck this ship over so much I owe them a non-angsty fic, though the same could be said for pretty much anything I ship.

Good on his promise, Berwald delivered a fresh, warm pie the next afternoon.

It was a sight Tino would call perfect, all things considered. There he was on his doorstep, now looking oh so incredibly classy in a black turtleneck and jacket, smelling of sweet apples and cinnamon, and with a small smile on his face. Despite how they were merely in a new, tentative friendship, Tino had to note how tender and domestic the whole scene was, like he could easily get used to seeing Berwald step into his flat and take off his shoes and jacket and hand him home made food.

He decided not to mention that though, because Berwald was only in the hallway and could just as easily run back out again.

"Oh wow, this looks delicious," he practically hoovered up the pie in his attempt to inhale its scent, but managed to restrain himself from licking it. It was perfect, though: the kind of pie you'd see on a professional cooking show and never be able to recreate yourself, with a little pastry apple decoration, a neat row of air holes and the most glorious aroma from inside. "Oh, I bought some cream to go with it too, if that's alright with you."

"Mm," Berwald spared him a warm glance before taking in the flat Tino had thoroughly cleaned for the first time in a year, right down to polishing ornaments that weren't his CD collection and finally putting all the vodka bottles and energy drinks cans in the recycling, as opposed to their original home on the floor around his computer desk. The salmiakki boxes, tuna cans and cakes packets, too, had disappeared from the floorboards he could now finally see clearly, along with a few things he wasn't sure how he lived without: controllers, USB sticks and spare keys. He'd even found a cheque his grandma had sent him for his last birthday and, boy, was he going to eat well this week. To be honest, Tino preferred his flat like this, and made a note to keep on top of his cleaning.

"So, make yourself at home." Berwald didn't seem too keen on taking that advice though, standing awkwardly in the main room of Tino's flat like he was scared to touch and break anything. There was a hint of wonder too, Tino noted, and he almost swore he heard Berwald mutter something along the lines of 'believe I'm in Tino's house'. Okay then, he had to have misheard that one because they barely acknowledged each other as kids. Or maybe Vidar had also let slip the general state of Tino's flat - not that he was an untidy person compared to a lot of people, but like his cooking it just didn't happen to be the best. Sometimes, he'd spend the whole day forcing himself to work, only to produce little in the way of writing and not eaten or looked after himself at all.

Just as he wondered if he should ask what he meant, Berwald was momentarily distracted by a certain little dog bounding in to see who this stranger was.

Kukkamuna only needed a moment to get used to the fact that someone who wasn't her owner - or one of said owner's usual weird friends - was in her home before she was jumping up at him. Berwald just smiled as he bent down, offering the back of his hand for her to lick. "S'cute." He stroked her gently, chuckling as the little dog jumped up, even succeeding in catching his nose with her tongue and he picked her up to let her lick his face.

"That's a good sign," Tino noted as he set the pie on the kitchen worktop, pulling out the crackers and chicken pâté he'd bought specially for whenever his handsome singer came over. "Hey you're not a vegetarian, are you?"

"Nn, and what'ya mean?"

"Well," Tino set the tray of food down on the coffee table, "if Kukkamuna likes you, then I gotta like you. A dog being able to trust a person is usually a good sign that they're sensitive and caring, you know? It doesn't matter if it's friendship or romance, but you have to pass the Kukkamuna test with me." He decided to mention both romantic and platonic possibilities, since he still had no idea which of the two (or some combination of both) summed up his relationship with Berwald. He joined Berwald on the sofa, Kukkamuna still in the man's arms and loving his doting attention, and even sharing a conversation consisting of barks and yaps. Yes, Tino definitely liked Berwald more than before, and he'd not known that was possible.

"Mm."

"Oh," and Tino was up on his feet again; "I didn't make you a coffee! My, how rude of me."

"Um-"

"Milk? Sugar?"

Berwald nodded. "Uh, both."

"Sure thing," and he was back in the kitchenette, whipping out a pair of mugs, both of which were emblazoned with 'a yawn is a silent scream for coffee'. He was just a sucker for corny, Facebook-esque humour. Most of his mugs had minions on them, but he didn't know if he was ready to admit that to Berwald yet. The mugs he was using were actually the mugs he saved whenever he hung out with Vidar or Eduard, but he was willing to branch out here - after all, he didn't exactly have the social life he aspired to at times. He was happy with his close knit group of weirdos, but sometimes he wondered what it would be like to be popular, as popular as he was on his blog at least.

But whatever. Right now, all he needed were Berwald and Kukkamuna, and there they were. He glanced back to smile warmly at the two as the coffee machine dripped out that glorious, dark liquid. Kukkamuna was in Berwald's arms, licking his neck and jaw like he was made of chorizo and chicken and the sight warmed his heart so much he had to turn away and discretely clutch his chest. After that, the coffee machine just took too long to finish for him, but eventually he was back on the sofa with what looked like the two new best friends.

"So..." he began, "got any concerts coming up?"

"A few. 'Bout the city. Small things."

"Ah, you'll be doing big tours soon."

"Mm."

"A lot of people read my article about you," Tino tried, "I'm not trying to brag, I just hope it helps in some way." He'd wondered what the band had to say on the article, and if Berwald thought it was professional enough, and nice and flattering. Not that that was the reason Tino wrote it, of course. He also hoped Berwald hadn't minded that postscript he put, largely as a joke.

"'Preciate it."

"Got any other plans?"

Berwald seemed to perk up at that. "The band is doin' a tough mudder. Around October t'me."

And Tino perked up at that. "Oh really?"

"Want to raise money for our old youth club," a veil of melancholy seemed to wash over him at that, "used to practice there. Had a deal with the people who ran it. Got to use th'space whenever we wanted, 'f we volunteered with th'kids."

"Oh, is it closing down?"

Berwald's eyebrows creased together, mouth pulled into a deeper frown than normal. "Not 'f I can help it."

"Hey good for you, I mean it." Tino scratched his chin as he wondered what else he could say here. Well, there was something he really wanted to ask but wasn't sure if it was imposing or not. "So are you collecting donations or something? Cause I don't mind don-"

"Was gon ask if y'd want t'join."

"Like? Actually compete?" Well that was almost a dream come true for Tino. A day outside with Berwald and the rest of the Screaming Pagans? Completing one of the coolest obstacle courses that wasn't Takeshi's Castle? Getting nice and muddy and down in the dirt? Well, he was sold.

"If ya want."

"Would that be okay?" He just wanted to make sure; coming across as a fool in front of Berwald wasn't something he was certain he could take. "I- I mean I'd love to and all, but would that be okay with the band? It's not a personal thing for just you five, right?"

Berwald shook his head. "Vidar's doing it too. 'Nd his girlfriend."

Oh right, Natalya. It'd be fun to see the cool, composed ice couple themselves tripping and stumbling through mud and freezing water. "Okay, I'll ask Eduard to come cheer us on. Probably won't ask him to sign up though." Berwald nodded in understanding. Eduard had barely survived moshing, a tough mudder might actually kill him. Maybe his other cousin would be interested though. As Tino was about to suggest it, he noticed something about Berwald's head that caused more questions than he needed right now. These questions would need to be voiced, though.

"Ber," he began, "why is there pâté behind your ear?"

Berwald froze. He froze some more. And then a bit more for the hell of it. It was a full minute before his brain seemed to tell him he needed to speak. "I, um-"

"You know what? Never mind." Tino just waved him off. "We all do weird shit." Did Berwald have a thing for being covered in meat paste? Would he want to do that with Tino? He'd be down to licking pâté off Berwald, of having it licked off his own body. Probably.

"'Kay."

"Yeah, though, it'll be fun, getting all muddy and sweaty with you." Tino glanced up again, trying to ignore the chicken pâté and his wonderment at how Berwald could possibly be that messy an eater, and just focusing on those eyes, warm and bordered with crow's feet, thin lips, so soft and inviting. He supposed at a glance, Berwald looked somewhat scary, but, between the lines, that face was earnest, protective, mature and solid, like he would be there for a friend or loved and until the end. Handsome too, especially up close. Berwald noticed his staring, giving an awkward smile that just drew him closer - too close, Tino noted with a jolt.

He jumped back before their lips could touch, finding himself quite unable to breathe or look back up. He'd not known what that was all about, but, boy, was he glad he'd caught wind when he did. How the hell would such behaviour seem to Berwald?

"Um-" He glanced back up to find Berwald slightly red; oh no! He'd embarrassed him!

"Look," he tried again hurriedly, "want some pie now?"

A hurried nod from Berwald sent him scrambling back into the kitchen.

I actually originally wrote this with Tino using a kettle to make instant coffee before realising he would probably never do such a thing unless he was desperate. My bad. I don't even drink coffee unless we've ran out of tea bags and I never drink proper coffee unless my mum buys it by accident, and have no idea how to use a coffee machine.

I'm not sure if Takeshi's castle was ever broadcast in Sweden, but it was in Finland and actually called Hullut japanilaiset ("The Crazy Japanese"). Rude, Finland. But man I used to watch it all the time as a kid.

My dad did a tough mudder a few years ago… thought he was gonna die from it to be honest, but he is fifty… I'm referring to it as a 'tough mudder' here because I'm not too sure what they're called in Sweden. For those unfamiliar, it's a big muddy obstacle course.