is enjoying spring and sitting in his garden smelling the flowers.
spotted him as he was on his way to visit Norway, he paused and stared at him for a moment before deciding not to say anything and hoping
the other didn't see him.
felt his Finland senses tingle and looked up, his eyes narrowing as they darted around to find the familiar man.
kept walking, keeping his head down. He shoved his hands in his pockets. He wasn't in the mood to talk to him at the moment.
stands up and starts to walk after him with a pair of garden clippers in one hand. He quickly tried to dust himself off unsuccessfully.
didn't notice him following him, he closed his eyes for a moment as he walked.
reached out to touch the smaller man's shoulder, resting his large, dirty hand on it. "F'nland."
stopped at that, he frowned a bit as he looked over at him. "Ah... Sweden."
pulled his hand back and tried to dust the dirt off of his shoulder. "S'rry…"
blinked a bit at that before he put on a small smile and shook his head. "No... it's fine." He brushed his own should off.
nodded sheepishly and continued to watch him. Tino looked like he was getting thinner; he must not be eating enough.
has actually been focusing on a work lately. He watched him in return for a moment. "Did you want something?"
paused before shaking his head. "Nej… How're y'?"
shrugged a bit with that, "I'm good." He nodded, "how are you?"
shrugged. "Fine."
nodded a bit as he looked around a bit. "I was just going somewhere..."
watches him intently. "Where?" BI
raises a brow at that, "does it matter?"
shrugs. He was just curious.
frowns a bit. "I should be going then... you've been gardening?"
nods with a sigh. "It's spring…" He had hoped Tino would stay a bit longer.
paused and nodded. "Yeah... finally."
smiled slightly at him.
blinked a few times and shrugged. "Nice to see you again..."
nodded, his expression quickly turning back to an impartial mask. "Ja…"
didn't have much else to say to him at the moment. "It's been a while."
nodded. "H've y' been well? Eating 'nough?"
shrugged a bit at the question. "I've been well... You?"
leant forward with a frown as he felt his forehead, then began prodding at his sides to feel his ribs. "F'ne."
frowned at this and tried to brush the hands off him. "I'm fine... I've been eating." Every now and then.
frowns as he pinches his side. He felt skinnier. "How m'ch?" Maybe he should visit the other man more often and bring him food.
flustered at that and pushed the hand away. "Enough."
stood up as his frown darkened.
returned the frown with that.
"Y' sh'ld eat m're."
sighed a bit and nodded. "I will keep that in mind..."
watched him darkly. That was not the response he wanted…
had gotten pretty used to that look when he had been living with the other man. He put on a smile again, "I will make sure I consider paying
more attention to my food consumption."
sighed and nodded, not wanting to press the subject too much… at this time… He would plan a secret attack on his house with baked goods_
for later to ensure that he was eating.
wasn't sure he would appreciate that. He watched him for a moment. "Thank you for worrying Berwald."
nodded. He always worried about Tino.
shifted a bit uncomfortably now, he had forgotten where he was going.
thinks that he should be visiting Sweden~! And since he is already there he didn't need to go any further!
hasn't been asked to stay... he turned to head back home with that.
"Do y' wan' t' stay f'r d'nner?" He offered.
paused and looked over at him, "umm... sure." He wasn't going to turn down an offer of food.
nodded happily and started walking back towards the house. He would stuff Tino full of food and then send him home with leftovers.
sighed a bit and followed him, he glanced around a bit, "I should... bring Hana around sometime I guess."
"Freyja would like a playmate." He said with a small smile.
nods a bit, "I didn't know you had a dog."
nodded. "Got 'er for Astr'd."
blinks a bit but nods. "Ah makes sense then."
"Wha'd'y' want for dinn'r?"
shrugged a bit, "I don't know."
nods and stops by the shed to put his tools away quickly.
watched him as he waited a bit awkwardly.
locked the shed and led Tino back in to the house. "I need t' ch'nge… Make y'rself 't home…"
nodded a bit as he looked around. He felt a bit weird being here after so long. He hesitantly took a seat on the couch.
tried to clean up as quickly as he could, not wanting to leave the other man alone for too long in the house. He came back down a few_
minutes later in clean clothes, his nails now void of any dirt that had crept beneath them. "S'rry."
shook his head a bit, "don't be..." not about that anyway... he smiled softly. "Do you need help cooking?"
shook his head. "Y' don't have to."
frowned a bit at that, he felt bad not helping... "okay... "
stared at him for a minute. He didn't want to make Tino help… But he also didn't want to offend the other man and make him leave… "Y' wan't'
help w'th dessert?"
brightened a bit at that and nodded. "Oh sure."
smiled at him, relieved to see his mood brightening. "What d' y' want?"
blinks a bit, "I was thinking... honey bread maybe...."
nods. "If that's what y' want…" He led him in to the kitchen and began pulling out supplies for it.
nodded and smiled and as he followed him.
"Do y' wan' t' make it while I'm starting dinner?"
looks to the ingredients and nods, "sure." He moved over to the counter and gathered everything. "Berwald... I'm sorry I haven't been
keeping in touch."
ruffled Tino's hair with a soft smile before pulling out mixing bowls and a pan for him to cook it in. "It's f'ne."
gave him a look at that. He fixed his hair a bit before he took the mixing bowl and pan.
smiled to himself as he went about preparing dinner. He couldn't help but steal occasional glances at Tino, happy that he would be staying_
for dinner.
is doing his best to ignore him. He focused on making the honey bread.
was doing his best to give him space. The last thing he wanted was to chase him out. He cut up potatoes and put them in to a pot to boil.
paused for a moment as he looked over at him before he went back to what he was doing. He actually didn't mind Berwald.
cleaned up the counters so that he could prepare the meat. He enjoyed having Tino around…
focused completely on what he was doing, he added in a few extra things as well.
hopes for the best… He gets himself a glass of coffee and takes a break while waiting for the potatoes. He didn't want to rush the rest of_
the food and have it overdone later.
finished it and looked over at him with a small smile.
looked at him and smiled when he saw that he was being watched. "Done?"
nodded as he handed it over to him. "Yes."
set his cup down before taking it and sliding it in to the oven. "Looks good."
nods again as he watched him for a moment before he shifted his gaze away. "Em hmm..."
checks on the potatoes and decides to start preparing the meat.
has become very interested in the floor.
prepared the fish, but realized he had forgotten to grab salt. "Can y' bring me th' salt?" He asked, pointing with a greasy finger to where
the salt was. He could have gotten it himself, but he wanted Tino to feel helpful…
looked up quickly and nodded a bit, "ah... sure." He smiled with that as he grabbed the salt and handed it to him.
took it with a smile and sprinkled it over it. "Th'nks."
looked away again, "you're welcome."
wonders why he keeps looking away, but won't press the subject. He set the salt down and finished preparing the fish. He placed it in a
dish and set it in the fridge as he started the butter in a pan on the stove to cook it in.
just felt a bit awkward at that moment, it would pass.
doesn't think he should be awkward… He strained the potatoes and put them in to a pan, then covered them with melted butter and fresh dill._
He slid the pan in to the oven and then brought the fish back out to cook on the stove.
was actually pretty interested in watching him cook now.
didn't mind being watched when it was Tino doing the watching. "How's work?"
looked up from the stove at the question. "It's fine... work." He had taken to slacking recently, but Sweden didn't need to know that. "You?
"
"Hectic." He admitted honestly. He wished he could have slacked off recently, his boss had been piling on extra work.
really shouldn't have been. He nodded a bit, Berwald had always been the type to be dedicated to his work.
prided himself on his reputation… "How's Hana?"
leaned back against the counter, "ah she's good... getting a little fat though... I think I either feed her to much or don't walk her enough
though lately she hasn't been interested... she's happy though."
nodded. "You should bring her over to play with Freyda…" That would be good exercise for her, and help wear out the puppy.
blinked a bit, that would mean he would have to come as well. "I... yeah I could do that I guess."
smiles; He would much prefer Finland to Hanatamago, so having them both visit would be nice!
watches him for a long moment, "have you met the other Finland? I was told about her, a bit."
nods. "Briefly. She was nice." But he liked his Finland better.
nodded a bit, "ah... do you know anything about her?" He wanted to keep the focus on her for a bit....
shook his head. "Not really."
frowned a bit but nodded and looked away again. "Ah..."
"I think you'd like her." It would be cute to have the two Finland's together.
looked over at him again and nodded, gladly innocent to Berwald's thoughts.
is already fantasizing about how cute the two Finland's would be dressed up like Santa together with their little Hana's…
didn't like the look on his face, he moved to leave the kitchen.
snaps out of it and finishes the fish. "It'll be done soon…"
nods a bit and smiles as he paused in the door. "Alright."
grabs a pair of ovenmits and pulls out the potatoes that were now a light golden color.
had stopped to watch him again curiously, he couldn't help it.
felt his eyes on him and looked up curiously as he pilfered through the pantry for dishes. "Hm?"
quickly shook his head, "nothing." He looked away just as quickly with that.
frowned and nodded. He served up the dishes for them and set them on the table.
was pretty intent on looking at a painting on the wall as he waited.
"When should y' take out the bread?" He asked curiously as he set the table.
looked over at the oven for a moment. "Um... A few more minutes."
nodded and opened the fridge to get something to drink. "What do y' want t' drink?"
shifted his attention to him again, "ah... water is fine... thank you."
got himself some milk, and water for Tino. He should have just given him milk, the man could use the nutrients…
thanked him quietly for the water. He hadn't have the time to go out and buy milk lately.
will send him home with some, then. "Hm." He hummed in acknowledgment and set the drinks down on the table.
moved over to the table quietly, he wouldn't take anything home with him. "So the other Sweden... is she like you?"
nods with a small smile. "Astr'd's nice."
nods a bit. "Yeah."
sits down and cuts up the fish on his plate. Have y' met the other count'r parts?"
took his seat quietly and started on his fish. "Not yet."
"Ah…" He nodded and ate silently.
looked down at his food and quietly picked at it, not eating much. He wasn't that hungry.
frowned deeply when he noticed that Tino wasn't eating. Had he made it poorly? "Is it bad?" He could make something different!
blinked up at him and quickly shook his head smiling. "No, it's really good. You've always been a good cook... I miss your cooking..." he
actually missed having someone cook for him.
would cook three meals for him every day if he asked! He didn't mind! Maybe he should start sending food to Tino to make sure he ate well._
"Ah… I'm glad."
nodded and smiled again. "Yeah... sorry." He took another small bite of his food.
begins planning meals that he will have delivered to Tino throughout the week to make sure he is eating well.
looks up at him for a moment before he shrugged a bit.
turned his attention to the oven. "Think it's done?"
looked over at the oven and jumped up quickly. "Ah yeah..."
smiled slightly and watched him.
went over to the oven and pulled it out a little to quickly burning his hand in the process.
jumped with a look of concerned worry on his face. "Are y' okay?"
flushed a bit and looked up at him shaking his head. "No."
frowned as he approached Tino. He took his hands and lifted them to his face. "Y' need t' be more caref'l."
frowned a bit at that, "I um..." he tried to pull his hands away. "I'm fine..."
stares at him, then the angry red marks that were already visible on his hand.
was trying to ignore the pain. He looked away from him quickly.
"I'll get th' first aid kit." He said and disappeared to the bathroom.
frowned a bit quickly feeling bad. He moved to the sink put his hand under cold water.
returned less than a minute later with some burn cream. He didn't mean to be overly worrisome towards Tino, but he couldn't help it.
looked over at him for a moment. "It's really okay Berwald."
held the cream to him, expecting that he would use it. It was better safe than blistered and gaping later.
took it quietly and dried his hand off, he was pretty decent with pain. He put the cream on before handing it back. "Thank you."
nodded as he took it back and set it on the counter. "Vars'god."
nodded a bit in return. "I'll get the bread..."
"Are y' sure? I can get it…" He didn't want Tino to hurt his hand any more than it was already.
nods, "it's fine. I've got it." He smiled with that as he pulled it out of the over and set it on the counter carefully.
watched him with a serious expression, prepared to jump if so much as a finger was to become injured.
looked over at him curiously. "It's done."
lets out a quiet breath he had been holding and nodded in relief. "Smells good."
nodded a bit as he grabbed a knife to start cutting it.
fetched a plate for him to put the slices on.
thanked him as he arranged them on the plate.
smiled with a nod.
finished and looked up at him, "I... um... this has been nice but I should go."
wanted to ask him to stay, but instead he nodded mutely, hiding his disappointment. He hoped that they would get together again soon.
watched him for a moment before he looked away again. "Sorry..."
shook his head. "It's fine… 'M glad y' came over."
hesitated for a moment before he handed him the plate of honey bread. "Here you go..."
took it with a small smile. "Thanks… Y' should come over for dinner again…"
nods a bit, "if you wouldn't mind."
shook his head again. "I'd like it…"
looks down for a moment, "alright."
smiles to himself, happy with that answer. He hoped that they could have a good friendship, but after everything that had happened in the_
past he was trepidatious to push for it.
doesn't think a good friendship is in the cards. He shifted a bit before he moved to head for the door.
frowned. "Y' should take some with y'…"
paused at that and looked over at him. "I can't..."
frowned. "Why not?" Was it that horrible?
blinked a bit, "that would just be impolite."
"How?" He didn't quite follow this.
shrugs a bit, "I don't know..."
nodded and sighed. He wouldn't press the issue… this time. "Okay…"
smiled a bit at that. "Thank you for having me in."
smiled back, more than happy to see him looking friendly. "Any time."
nodded a bit, "I'll keep that in mind."
hoped he would come by more often, though even if he didn't Berwald would visit him more often with food.
probably wouldn't mind him bringing him food every now and then. He idly ran a hand through his hair, not sure what to do now.
"Do y' need a ride home?"
quickly shook his head. "No, I'm good... I can walk."
"Okay." He nodded slowly.
smiled a bit, "have a good night then..."
"You too."
nodded a bit. "Em hm..." with that he excused himself and headed for the door.
followed behind him slowly.
paused at the door to put his shoes on.
watched him carefully, trying to keep from showing too much of his emotions. He felt both excited and disappointed with their visit.
wasn't really paying attention to him at the moment. He got his shoes on before he looked up at Berwald, he was maybe a little tempted to
hug him.
would have welcomed the embrace, but he wasn't expecting it. He watched Tino curiously, wishing he was able to understand what he was_
thinking.
shook the thought off quickly as he looked away from him and turned to the door. "See you then."
"Walk safe."
gave him a quick hug, making sure not to linger too long on it.
froze at this, he didn't quite hug him back.
didn't expect the hug to be returned. He pulled back and stuffed his hands in to his pockets.
paused for a moment before he nodded and stepped outside.
waited for him to disappear out of the yard before shutting the door.
took his time to walk home.