Memento Mori [Timo & Mathias]

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

“Well, ya’ve been doin’ a wond’rf’l job s’ far,” Berwald said in a quiet voice as a tiny, affectionate smile curled his lips subtly. Just staying by Timo’s side helped ease some of the pain in his heart but somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that things were only going to get worse – so much worse. In two days’ time at the very most, his father would leave this world forever. The mere thought of it instilled so much fear in him. He was afraid that everything would become so difficult that he wouldn’t even be able to cope anymore. But at that awful thought, he met his friend’s gaze and felt hope spark in his heart. If there was someone who was meant to soothe all the hurt he’d inevitably have to go through, it was Timo.

The tall blond felt his stomach drop as the younger man looked back at him with a helpless look on his face. He shouldn’t have expected a different reaction from his mother. She had been like this for days after all. With a heavy heart, he realized that it didn’t matter who tried to reach out to her. She just wanted to deal with everything herself. He silently watched Timo try to reason with her a little more. He knew that his friend’s words were in vain but he was touched all the same by his kindness and concern. “Yes, I’m sure, dear. Thank you,” Atalie said rather mechanically. She didn’t sound very grateful at all but she somehow managed to smile very, very softly at the young blond when she spoke up again. “He should eat more anyway, don’t you think?”

A strong surge of relief filled Berwald as soon as he felt Timo entwine their fingers. He gently squeezed his friend’s smaller hand, taking what comfort he could from the simple, caring gesture. “It’s alright. Please don’t worry, both of you. I’ll just have a quick bite in the cafeteria and then I’ll come straight back here,” she promised quietly. The tall blond didn’t say anything back; he just nodded softly, despite being perfectly aware that she wasn’t even facing him. He then turned to look at Timo, who was now standing very close to him, and resisted the urge to envelop him in a tight hug. The resulting warmth from the other man’s proximity was remarkably uplifting. At the small blond’s parting words, Atalie couldn’t help looking back at them. She didn’t smile in return but Berwald noticed a certain twinkle in her eyes that made her appear happier than she’d been all week. She waved lightly at them before leaving the tent at last.

Now that they were essentially alone again, the bespectacled man couldn’t stop himself from wrapping his arms around his friend’s smaller frame. “Yer amazin’. Tha’ was the happiest ‘ve seen ‘er in days,” he whispered, sounding both grateful and awestruck. He continued embracing the small blond for a few more moments before finally pulling away just very slightly and intertwining their fingers once more.

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo felt a little stab of relief when Atalie gave him a smile, even such a small one, and another one when she showed her concern for Berwald. At least she still cared for her son; at least she wouldn’t do what Timo knew but didn’t want to admit his father had done to him. He smiled in return and nodded. “But you should too.” He pointed out, but he relaxed a little. He’d make sure that she’d eaten something later, and if not see if he could get her some soup, something easier to eat. If he’d been going home he might have made something himself, but he guessed that he’d be staying here for a while with Berwald now. Not that he minded. He’d promised the older man that he’d stay with him, and he meant it.

Sighing softly, he nodded his head, accepting that. He couldn’t keep her on a leash and smother her after all. He had to let her deal with things in her own time. All he could do was offer his support. He was surprised when Berwald turned to face him, and looking up at him completely missed Atalie’s look, too busy with giving Berwald a smile of his own, reassuring and loving. They’d get through this, somehow.

It was therefore a surprise when Berwald pulled him in like that, but Timo didn’t complain. He wrapped his arms around Berwald’s waist in turn, finding a place to rest his hands against the small of his back. It was a bit of a pain that the size difference between them was so noticeable like this, and Timo thought with a flush of all the times that they’d lain so close in bed where at least he could more or less be level with Berwald. “Really? Are you sure it was me?” He asked, chuckling, but he squeezed Berwald in. It was a little nice to hear him like that, he had to admit.

He was sad to be released, but he squeezed Berwald’s hand again, and led him back to their chairs, before holding out the plate that he’d just offered to Atalie. “You heard your mum.” He said, chuckling. “This is yours now, and I expect you to eat it.” In a way, he was glad he had an excuse to make sure that Berwald ate more. He didn’t want to see his friend wasting away. Maybe if Berwald ate it, Timo would go and get them more coffees later when he checked that Atalie had eaten something, he thought.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

As Berwald felt Timo wrap his arms comfortably around his waist, he relaxed even further, softly breathing in the familiar flowery scent of the younger man’s hair. “Mm, was def’nitely you,” he murmured truthfully. He berated himself for momentarily believing that the small blond wasn’t capable of getting anything through to his mother. “Couldn’t’ve done tha’ m’self, y’know… Moth’r’s been grievin’ s’ much but… she won’t let me try ta make ‘er feel bett’r,” he whispered, trying to ignore the way his eyes were suddenly stinging. The distance his mother had put between the two of them had been causing him a lot of distress. Not being able to relieve her pain made him feel worthless and not being able to share his pain with anyone else worsened his own suffering. Ever since she’d become like this, he might have been subconsciously resenting her for forcing him to bottle up all of his emotions. “She’s ev’n been avoidin’ me at home… ‘ve tried forcin’ m’self ta accept tha’ she doesn’t want me ta help her but… s’hard,” he mumbled, sounding pained. He took a deep, shuddering breath, determined not cry, as he embraced his friend a little tighter. “Thank ya… fer bein’ here, Timo. Ya did more fer Moth’r in jus’ a few minutes than I was able ta do fer her in an ‘ntire week.”

As Timo led them back to their chairs, the tall blond’s gaze automatically shifted to his father’s sleeping form. Seeing his father, the strongest person he knew and the one he admired most, so weak and sick caused his stomach to turn and his chest to ache. He worried his lip and quickly turned away, unconsciously tightening his grip on his friend’s hand. There weren’t enough words to describe how grateful he was that he had Timo by his side. Just hearing the small blond laugh immediately lessened the sharp pain in his heart. Berwald merely nodded his head once in reply to the younger man but there was a tiny, sincere smile on his face as he accepted the proffered plate. He then glanced at his nearly finished sandwich and his almost empty cup of coffee on the table. His tuna sandwich was no more than two or three bites away from being finished but he couldn’t help wondering if Timo would let him ignore the rest of it. Probably not, he thought affectionately.

“’ll finish m’sandw’ch in a bit,” Berwald promised before taking a bite of his flapjack. He still had virtually no appetite but it was nice to be eating something sweet. With a significant amount of reluctance, he let go of the younger man’s hand so that he could reach out for his cup. Coffee usually tasted great with any kind of dessert food but, after taking a small sip of the dark liquid, the bespectacled blond found that it was already growing cold. He had wanted to savor the rest of his drink while eating his flapjack but he rather disliked cold coffee so he decided to finish the rest of it off right then. He placed his empty cup back on the table before promptly taking Timo’s hand in his larger one and lacing their fingers once more.

The older blond was in the middle of finishing his sandwich when his phone suddenly sounded in his pocket. He took his time chewing and swallowing his last bite before finally taking the device out to check the message which was most likely from Mathias. Berwald couldn’t help raising his eyebrows in mild surprise as he read the woodcutter’s text. “S’Mathias. He’s here. Says he’s waitin’ at the ‘ntrance… Tha’ was too fast, though. Ev’n fer him. He was prob’bly on his way ‘lready,” he reasoned out, thinking it plausible that Mathias had initially intended to start volunteering today. “I should… go an’ get ‘im,” he said, his tone noticeably uncertain. He couldn’t deny that he was reluctant about leaving his father but… there was no reason for him to worry, right? After all, Timo would be here to watch him. That thought alone was reassurance enough. “Watch ov’r Fath’r fer me, please. ‘ll be right back,” Berwald said softly, giving the small blond’s hand a gentle squeeze before moving to stand up.

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo squeezed Berwald in tighter as he listened, trying to hold him protectively against him. He wished that he could take all this away, save Berwald from going through it, but there was so little he could do aside from be here for him when he needed him. Although as he listened a small frown formed, and he resolved to speak to Atalie and do his best to remind her that she needed to take care of her son as well. Even if it was just a small bit of affection every day, Timo was sure that would help them both. “I’ll talk to her.” He promised. “She still loves you, I know that. And you’ll need each other.” He was pretty sure that it wasn’t true that he had done more for her, though. Berwald probably just didn’t notice because he was so used to being around her.

As long as Berwald finished the sandwich, Timo didn’t mind if he took hours. Besides, at least he’d eaten something now. He smiled and nodded. “Of course, take your time.” He reassured him happily, as he finished his coffee as well. Putting his cup down he curled into Berwald’s side a little, enjoying the other man’s company, even if it was in silence. Normally he wasn’t very good at keeping quiet but he’d found here before that the somewhat solemn peace in the stage three part of the camp was hard to break. It felt disrespectful to make too much noise. Still, a small one escaped as Berwald too his hand, and Timo flushed, glancing at his companion, and then squeezing his hand softly and settling into him again, resting his head on Berwald’s shoulders.

Hearing the phone go, Timo guessed that it was from Mathias so didn’t push Berwald to answer him. He couldn’t help but glance over Berwald’s shoulder, though, taking it in, and then chuckling. “Probably.” He agreed. He wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or not, but he guessed that they’d find out soon enough. A little surprised by the request, Timo rose too. “Are you sure?” He asked, tilting his head a little. “I don’t mind going if you’d rather stay here.” He offered. After all, no doubt Berwald didn’t want to leave Emil in case he woke up. Timo wouldn’t blame him if that was the case, but it was still surprising. “I mean, if that’s what you’d rather of course I don’t mind and I’ll look after him, but I can go and fetch Mathias.” Might stop the pair from fighting in the middle of the camp as well. Timo adored Berwald, but he knew that Mathias annoyed him, and this was not the right place for a fight.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Squeezing in a little closer against the small blond, Berwald could do nothing more than lightly nod at his words of comfort. The thought of Timo talking to his mother about all of this both relieved and frightened him. Part of him hoped that speaking with his friend would make her see how she had been… neglecting him. He didn’t want to seem like a child but he had to admit to himself that he needed her comfort, even just a little of it. He had a bad feeling that one talk would not solve everything, though. His mother was hardheaded and had the tendency to be selfish under stress so he couldn’t really picture her reacting positively to anything Timo might have to say. Still, he couldn’t be completely sure of anything she might do, considering the current state she was in. He had always believed that he knew her very well but he still couldn’t quite swallow the now apparent fact that she dealt with grief like… this.

The tall blond hummed softly as Timo curled in against his side slightly. If his hands hadn’t been full, he would have wrapped an arm around the younger man’s waist. It was a little strange, how they were so comfortable about being this physically intimate. Berwald wasn’t sure why but being close to his friend like this just felt… right. It felt like they had always shared this kind of intimacy, even though he knew they hadn’t been this way as teenagers. He couldn’t deny the slight oddness of his feelings but he decided to stop pondering on that for now. He just wanted to enjoy the warm, comforting weight of Timo’s head on his shoulder.

“S’okay, ‘m sure. Thanks, Timo,” Berwald mumbled appreciatively, making sure to meet the other blond’s gaze. He didn’t want to leave his father but he felt that he had to fetch Mathias himself. Maybe it was due to the uncharacteristic curtness of the older man’s text but, for one reason or another, he could tell that the woodcutter had something to say to him. He honestly hoped that things wouldn’t escalate into a fight. He knew Timo wouldn’t be very happy with him if they did. The bespectacled man glanced at his sleeping father before fixing his gaze on his friend once more. “’ll be right back, then,” he said softly as he turned to leave the tent.

As Berwald made his way to the entrance of the flu camp, he considered passing by the cafeteria to check up on his mother but, in the end, he thought better of it. She most likely wanted to be left alone to her thoughts of her husband for a little while. He himself had an overabundance of thoughts and memories regarding his father going through his mind so he couldn’t even begin to imagine how much was going through hers. After all, the two of them had been married for nearly forty years now… Just that thought forced him to recall a particular memory he had of his parents excitedly talking about their golden anniversary. He felt a harsh stab of pain in his chest and tried to expel the memory from his mind, unwilling to sadden himself any further.

It didn’t take very long for him to reach the entrance… or it didn’t feel like very long at least; he’d been quite distracted by his own musings the entire way. He spotted the older man quickly enough and it immediately became apparent when he’d been spotted in return. The woodcutter’s face twisted into a furious expression the very second their gazes met. Right at that moment, Berwald couldn’t help apologizing to Timo in his head.

[Mathias Køhler]

Mathias still didn't know how he had gotten sick in the first place. When the news came out that zombie plague or whatever it's called broke out, and all businesses were ordered to close, Mathias holed himself up in his house that was conveniently located away from the city. The poor guy was sure he was safe from catching a possibly life-threatening disease but went and got sick anyway.

After a few days of coughs and colds, and when Mathias finally realized what was happening to him he, in the lightest sense of the phrase, flipped the fuck out. He sent text message after text message asking Berwald and other assorted friends what to do. And just as soon as he had gotten wind of a flu camp that treated affected people, his illness went away. So, being the awesome kindhearted soul he was, Mathias decided to use his early immunity the best way he could and decided to volunteer at the flu camp after he had gotten himself sorted out.

Earlier that morning, Mathias had locked his door and began the reasonably long trek to the tents where the sick of the Lowlands were being housed. The walk through town was a bit unsettling. All the shops were closed, the occasional passerby was scarce and the streets were completely empty. It really only just occurred to Mathias just how serious the situation on the island was. Mathias wasn't so good at being depressed. It's not a nice feeling and he tries to avoid feeling it. To try and take his mind off the state of the city, the woodcutter tried to think about what would he be doing at the flu camp. Would he, maybe, be serving soup to all the bedridden? Maybe he'd be in charge of finding new people beds and stuff. He'd definitely want and be in charge of cheering people up, that'd be the most obvious thing for him to do.

As the tall blond was walking down another deserted street, his phone buzzed. Now that he had thought about it, he had neglected to ask how Berwald and his family were doing. It never crossed his mind, really, the Oxenstiernas were strong. They were, your'e welcome for the pun, as strong as Oxen. Oh man, what if it was Timo who was really sick? Mathias cringed at the thought. Timo needed to eat more, he always looked hungry every time Mathias saw him. He quickly pulled out his phone and checked the message, sure enough it was from Berwald, he opened the message, expecting the worst for his little buddy.

His heart sank as soon as he understood what was displayed on his phone. Mathias stopped walking and started running. He didn't know what he was feeling but his head decided it was rage. Emil was, well, Emil was probably the closest thing Mathias had to a father. After his parents died, and Emil and Atalie took him in within a heartbeat, he never stopped being grateful to them. Mathias wasn't so good at being depressed. It's not a nice feeling and he tries to avoid feeling it but when he can't avoid it, he'd always mistake the emotion for angry instead. He had been running, sprinting for almost half a mile. His breath was shallow and his legs ached in protest but he had to get to the tent now. He had to be there when it happened, he had to be there for Atalie. He had to punch someone in the face.

As soon as he saw the tip of the tent he texted Berwald, "oustide now". He left out his signature ";D" out of the text to let that big useless piece of garbage know that he meant business. He got to the entrance, started turning his head and scanning the people around. The instant he finally saw Berwald, Mathias' anger broke point. He threw his bag and his phone to the ground. The furious woodcutter summoned another burst of speed and ran straight to Berwald, not even caring HOW scary he looked. Mathias, without any hesitation, tackled Berwald to the floor and punched him square in the jaw.

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Smiling softly, Timo nodded, accepting Berwald’s decision. “Try not to fight.” He said, standing as well and following Berwald to the mouth of the tent. He watched him leave, chewing on his lip worriedly. Had he really done the right thing? Maybe he should have gone to pick up Mathias. Some how Timo felt that they were almost certain to fight, and this really wasn’t the right place for that. But it was too late now, and he sighed, deeply and tiredly, glancing back at Emil. Now that he was alone, Timo realised how much he’d been relying on looking after Berwald to keep his emotions at bay. The older man looked so drawn and ill, so much unlike the strong man in Timo’s memories, and he found himself drifting towards his bedside, taking up Atalie’s position at his bedside.

“I’m scared.” He murmured, aloud. “What if the same thing that happens to my family happens to yours? I don’t want Berwald to lose Atalie too.” He knew that Emil was asleep, and to be honest, if he hadn’t have been Timo probably wouldn’t have spoken. These were things that he’d barely admitted to himself, let alone to anyone else. “And Mathias too, if he fights with him too much he’ll push him away, and then he’ll only have me.” Berwald would never lose Timo’s support, but once the epidemic was over and this month caught up with Timo’s finances, what would happen then? Would Timo have much support to give? If Timo had his own way once this was over he’d lead Berwald away from this and hold him until Berwald was ready to face the world again, but there were so many things that could get in the way of that.

Besides, quite aside from anything else, like everyone else that had met Emil, Timo adored him. In those brief years between Timo’s mother dying and him moving, Emil and Atalie had somewhat replaced his parents, looking out for him. Once they had even caught him crying, something that Timo hadn’t told Berwald, and had begged them not to tell him as well, but they had looked after him then. Taking Emil’s hand now, he stroked the back of it as he thought back on that and other times that they’d shared. “In heaven, look for mum and grandpa. Sofia and Aleksi. They’ll be there, they’ll look after you.” He said, smiling. “Tell them I miss them, and that I still love them.” Falling quiet, he rested his head on the bed, breathing out, trying to ignore the ache in his chest.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Berwald braced himself for a powerful strike the very second he saw Mathias running towards him. He wasn’t expecting anything more than a punch, though, so when the older man tackled him, he instantly lost his footing and fell to the ground, unwillingly letting out a grunt of pain. Unable to recover from his disorientation quickly enough, the tall blond couldn’t defend himself against the woodcutter’s first punch. The force of Mathias’s blow caused him to bite the inside of his cheek and the coppery taste of blood immediately hit his tongue. With pain exploding in his mouth and jaw, and sudden rage making his blood boil, he shot the other blond the fiercest glare he could muster. He turned his head and spat the blood out of his mouth before grabbing Mathias by his shoulders and shoving him off harshly. Without the woodcutter’s weight on top of him to hinder his movement, he hurriedly got to his feet.

The rational part of his mind told him to stop, told him not to fight, but all that he could really process right now was anger; the sheer amount of it killed any chance he had of thinking straight. Before the older blond could get up as well, Berwald grasped the front of his shirt, roughly heaved him up, and aimed a punch for his nose. A split second before his strike landed, the woodcutter abruptly turned away and ended up getting the side of his face clobbered instead. The tall blond released his hold on the other man and watched him stagger backwards, an almost cruel sense of satisfaction curling in his gut. He could still taste blood in his mouth and his jaw hurt like hell so it was difficult to feel remorse at the sight of Mathias in pain. They glared hard at each other, neither of them saying a word. Berwald gingerly grazed a finger against where the older man had punched him. He winced, noting to himself that it was definitely going to bruise very badly.

Having been so blinded by his first burst of anger, the bespectacled man only noticed now that there was a small group of onlookers around them. They all looked scared and apprehensive, as if they didn’t want to get involved and would only interfere if things got too out of hand. He briefly considered stopping this nonsense but when he looked back at Mathias, he felt his anger flare up intensely again. And it was not just anger at the woodcutter’s stupidity bubbling inside him. All the anger that he’d been subconsciously bottling up was now relentlessly rushing out. Like how Timo’s comfort had helped him express his sorrow, Mathias’s misdirected rage helped him express his resentment. It was all… so unfair. How could his father be dying? He had been perfectly healthy less than two weeks ago but now… but now… Berwald clenched his teeth and moved forward swiftly to take more of his frustrations out on the older blond who probably wanted to do the exact same thing.

Back in the tent, not everything that Timo had said had gone unheard. Emil had woken up just in time to hear the young blond talk about his mother and his grandfather. When his son’s dearest friend lapsed into an uneasy silence, he weakly squeezed back on his hand. “S’good ta see ya, m’boy,” Emil murmured happily, slowly bringing his other hand to the top of Timo’s head to lightly ruffle his hair. Before saying anything more, he glanced around the tent sluggishly, hoping to see his wife and his son. Upon realizing that both of them weren’t around, though, he looked back at the small blond, smiling softly. “Lemme guess… You got landed with watchin’ ov’r me?” he joked, his smile widening into a grin.

[Mathias Køhler]

God DAMN did Mathias feel better after landing that punch. The woodcutter felt even better after seeing he had drawn blood. After very shortly reveling in his handiwork, Mathias felt his anger subside and a smidgen of reason returned to him. Mathias initially didn't think it would escalate from there. He was just sort of hoping Berwald wouldn't retaliate and Mathias could go and hurry to Emil's deathbed. Yu'know? Apologize to Berwald later, maybe let him have a free hit, too. So when the younger blond shoved him off and, with strength he forget he had, hoisted him up by the shirt, Mathias braced himself and turned his head to avoid his nose from getting broken.

Mathias staggered backwards, the taste of iron filling his mouth as well. Rather than letting that bastard see him bleed, the woodcutter swallowed the blood seeping into his mouth, the taste not all that unfamiliar. The older man quickly shook of his grogginess and set a death gaze upon the younger one. He didn't have to look around to know people were looking and a few were probably scared. Mathias didn't know whether or not security would be arriving soon but he absolutely adored the thought of going another round with Berwald.

But he decided against it. He had someone more important to see. Mathias saw Berwald start to advance on him and the woodcutter briefly reasoned with himself whether or not he wanted to engage. Mathias broke his stare on Berwald and quickly walked passed him. He left the blond standing there as he began looking for someone who could tell him where Emil was. He looked for the nearest nurse-looking person and asked them about Emil Oxenstierna. They graciously pointed him to Emil's location, also graciously ignoring Mathias's swelling cheek. Mathias ran towards the area but then he started having second thoughts about going, his run degenerating into a halt.

What was he going to do once he saw his second father lying in bed, dying? God, this is what was wrong with him. Mathias reprimanded himself for never thinking things through. He saw Berwald for three seconds and his first instinct was to punch him. Was Emil even awake? What was he going to say? How do you even have a talk with someone who's dying, anyway? Mathias walked towards a shitty wash area and cleaned his exterior wounds. The last thing he wanted to let Emil know before he died was that he punched his son in the face and then got punched back.

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo jumped as Emil squeezed his hand, jumping up, eyes wide with shock, and his cheeks bright red. He hadn’t expected anyone to actually hear it, especially not Emil, and flustered and embarrassed he didn’t really know what to do. The hair ruffling helped him to relax a little, at least, and Timo bowed his head into the familiar motion. Still, guilt filled him as Emil so obviously looked for the rest of his family, and Timo couldn’t meet his eyes as he guessed. “I’m sorry.” He said, quickly. “Atalie went to get something to eat and Berwald went to find Mathias.” It was close enough to the truth that Timo didn’t feel too bad saying it, but somehow saying that about Atalie seemed too close to a lie, even if it was to protect Emil.

“I can go and find them for you if you want.” After all, they should spend what time they had left together. As he spoke, Timo pulled away and stood, as though intent on doing so no matter what Emil wanted, but then he reconsidered, falling still. What if Emil didn’t want to be alone? Timo could understand that, and finally something of his normal smile reappeared and he sat down on the side of the bed, taking Emil’s hand again. “Although Berwald shouldn’t be much longer anyway. It shouldn’t be too hard to find Mathias and Mathias said that he was here already in his text, so if you’d rather when they arrive I’ll go and find Atalie and leave you with them.” That was, of course, assuming that the pair weren’t fighting.

“Do you feel a bit better now that you’ve had some more sleep?” Timo asked, trying to hide the concern in his voice, trying to act like Emil just had an ordinary cold. It would be so much nicer if that was the case. At any rate, Timo didn’t want him to suffer; he didn’t want anyone to suffer, but Emil least of all. “Can I get you anything? If you’re cold I can get you a spare blanket, or something to eat, or some coffee…” It probably seemed like he was eager to escape from Emil, Timo realised, and perhaps in a way he was. He had spent the last ten years trying to keep his grief hidden, trying to make sure that no one worried about him, and now, finally, he had slipped up.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Berwald bit fiercely on his lip, trying to contain the shout of indignation that was threatening to burst out of his mouth. He clenched his fists even tighter, his knuckles turning white. He didn’t bother turning his head to watch the older blond walk away; he knew the sight would just make him want to chase after him… Would anyone really blame him if he did, though? Mathias was the one who started the fight! The asshole didn't even have the decency to explain himself before he left. The tall blond usually had a good hold of his temper but the woodcutter knew exactly what to do to piss him off. He let out a heavy sigh, barely noticing that the people who’d been looking in on their fight were slowly dispersing. He absently ran a finger over the bruise on his jaw, wincing slightly. His mind drifted to Timo and then he suddenly felt extremely guilty. The anger that had been clouding his mind finally began to disappear.

Another deep sigh left his lips as he thought about what to do next. He figured that he should at least try to clean his wounds before heading back to his father’s tent but… after that unpleasant encounter with Mathias, all he really wanted now was to see Timo. The small blond always made him feel better and, well, he honestly felt really terrible at the moment. His wounds only served to make him feel worse. He’d have to ask the younger man if they had anything around the camp that could help lessen the pain he was in; even just some cloth with ice in it would do. He’d definitely have to apologize first, though… Berwald swallowed anxiously at the thought of upsetting Timo, ignoring the way the cut in his mouth stung harshly. He’d done exactly what his friend had advised him not to do. Patting the dirt off his clothes, he made his way back to the tent, guilt practically gnawing at his insides. He really shouldn’t have lost his temper like that…

Back in the tent, Emil chuckled softly at Timo’s quick apology. “S’not yer fault they’re not here,” he said good-naturedly. When the young blond stood up and pulled away, though, a look of fear briefly crossed the old man’s face. His first impulse was to ask Timo to stay – he really didn’t want to be left alone – but the young man suddenly fell quiet again, looking like he was reconsidering. To Emil’s immense relief, the young blond returned to his side once more. “Mathias, huh…? Those two’re probably havin’ a scuffle right now. Mathias ain’t so good at dealin’ with grief,” he said, smiling sadly as he thought back to when he used to comfort the woodcutter about the deaths of his parents. “An’ don’t worry ‘bout that. Atalie’ll come back on her own real soon, I’m sure.”

Emil gave the young blond a sad, sort of understanding look as he squeezed gently on his hand. “I’m still feelin’ pretty tired but that’s not so surprisin’, I figure,” he murmured, grinning. “Actually, I’d prefer it if ya jus’ stayed here with me… S’tha’ okay? This is probably gonna sound silly but… it’s always been one a’ m’biggest fears. Dyin’ alone, I mean,” he said, chuckling softly. He paused for a moment, shifting his gaze away from the young man. “In a way, I’m kind ‘f glad ta be goin’ like this. Gives me a chance ta say goodbye ta the people who matt’r, ta be with ‘em when it’s finally time… I… I’d be lyin’ if I said I wasn’t scared, though,” he whispered. “I-I’m sorry fer dumpin’ all this on ya. But there’s somethin’ I have ta tell ya… somethin’ I have ta ask of ya. S’jus’ that… I know Atalie will be fine. Eventually. Ber’ll make sure of that. He’s goin’ ta take care ‘f her. But… but…” Emil paused, looking like he might start crying.

The old man pressed on after a few short moments, his grip on Timo’s hand tightening slightly as he fought back tears. “This is… man-ta-man, alright? Take… take care ‘f Berwald fer me, Timo. Please. I know yer the only one who can. Yer the only one he’ll let,” Emil murmured, finally meeting the young blond’s gaze. “He cares about ya so much, y’know… Don’t ev’r forget that. When ya feel sad or lonely, jus’ let him know. Give him a call, send him a text. I swear ta you, he’ll drop ev’rythin’ an’ come runnin’,” he said quietly, offering his son’s friend a small smile. As much as Emil wanted to be there for Timo himself, like how he’d been there for Mathias, he knew he couldn’t. This was all he could do for the young blond but, somehow, he felt that things were supposed to be this way.

[Mathias Køhler]

After letting a bit of water from the faucet pool in his palms, he splashed it onto his wounded face. Berwald's punch had cut his cheek a little, so as soon as the water hit the wound it stung. The woodcutter cringed, his eyes narrowed and he drew a quick breath as the painful sensation persisted. Mathias cupped his hands again, gathering more water in his palms while he ran his tongue over the wound in his mouth and tasted iron once more. God, did that guy have one hell of a punch. He brought the liquid to his mouth, gargled and spat in the sink, the water was heavily tinted with his blood as it flowed down the drain.

Mathias finally had a moment to think but the more he thought, the more he became lost about what to do. He was never really the think things through type. It had already dawned on him that he would never see Emil again but it really just dawned on him that he would never see Emil again. A part of him wished he was the one who was sick, maybe his younger and stronger body could have defended off the virus better. He wished he could give Emil his immunity.

Furtherer distancing himself from happiness, Mathias decided to stop thinking. Then, Mathias noticed a very conveniently placed sign hanging from a pole that said: "Cafeteria --->" and, meh, he was kinda hungry. He had skipped lunch that afternoon, mostly because he didn't feel like spending much money today, but after all that's happened and what's going to happen, he figured his budget could suck his axe handle. He's Mathias, after all. Plus, he could use the change of scenery.

Mathias made his way to the cafeteria tent but the atmosphere wasn't much better. Many people were eating with grim faces and a few were visibly crying. The fact that they were in a dark and gloomy tent didn't help either but Mathias took a bit of comfort in knowing he wasn't alone in his sadness. Maybe if he had gone to the tents to volunteer, like he had initially planned, he would have gotten all these people together and would have had them share their pain, help them cry it out with each other, maybe sing Kumbaya, too.

In the corner of his eye, though, Mathias had spotted someone he really didn't expect to see. He was almost certain Atalie would have been beside Emil until he had passed away. Maybe Emil wasn't in as bad condition as he thought, then. Maybe he still had a few days left in him. Emil did, after all, lift an entire tree once, if Mathias recalled correctly. Mathias approached his second mother who looked like she had just finished sobbing up a storm. She didn't notice him as he approached, he really didn't expect her to. She probably had way too many things in her head to pay attention to what was happening. Still, Mathias put his hand on her shoulder, startling her out of her state. He put on the best comforting smile he could and said, "Hey, Atalie. Ya' doin' okay?"

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo saw that look of fear and felt awful. There was no way he’d leave Emil, not after seeing that. Scooting closer, he squeezed his hand and tried to smile reassuringly. At least his weight on the bed was slight. “I hope not. I told Berwald not to fight.” He said with a fond smile. He trusted Berwald to listen to him, and he’d be sorely disappointed if he found out that he had been fighting in this place that was meant to be restful and peaceful. Mind you, he’d blame Mathias as much as his friend; they’d both be in Timo’s bad books for a while.

“I’ll stay.” He reassured him, smiling. “Promise. And there’ll always be one of us here, I’ll make sure of that. We’re allowed to stay with you over night, so you’re not going to be alone.” It was hard to keep his emotions in check as Emil spoke like that, though, and Timo looked down at his own lap, trying to blink tears out of his eyes. He didn’t want Emil to see that. It was the last thing he needed. “And it’s not silly, so don’t worry about that. I won’t tell the others, though, not if you don’t want me to. I’ll just make sure that we’re always here with you.”

Unable to hold back tears now, Timo used his free hand to brush them away, fustrated with himself. He nodded, smiling a little. “You didn’t need to ask me that. Of course I’ll look after him. He’s my best friend; I wouldn’t leave him for the world.” He squeezed Emil’s hand again, glancing at him reassuringly. “And… I know he’d be there for me if I asked him, but he has so many other things to worry about, I don’t want to trouble him with my worries too.” Especially not now. “And he can’t just leave work for me, while he has you and Emil to look after.”

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Atalie couldn’t stop herself from letting out a startled squeak when Mathias laid a hand on her shoulder. She’d been so wrapped up in her thoughts that she even had to question where she was for a split second. Quickly coming back to her senses, she regarded the young blond’s smiling face for a short moment before forcing herself to look away. “Not at all, I’m afraid, dear,” she replied quietly. She absently played with her hands, wondering if she was better off not commenting on the young man’s face wound. “Sit with me, please?” she requested gently, her voice barely louder than a whisper. When the young blond took a seat next to her, she met his gaze again and found that she couldn’t ignore his awful bruise any longer. “You’re hurt,” she stated simply, lifting a hand to the woodcutter’s cheek. She was careful not to touch the slightly split part of his skin. “We should head for Emil’s tent. Timo’s there and he’s a volunteer here. He might be able to get you something for this,” she murmured, pulling her hand away.

“Ber got you pretty good. Is he alright?” she asked. The old woman didn’t have to interrogate Mathias to know that it was her son who had given him that bruise. She used to get upset about them fighting so much but, a year or two ago, she had just come to accept that relatively light physical violence was a major component of their strange friendship. “Oh, were you intending to buy something to eat, dear? We should leave right away so just bring your food to the tent and eat there, alright? You need medical attention and I need to…” Atalie couldn’t finish her sentence. She looked away from Mathias once more, feeling tears of frustration and pain pricking her eyes. There was a sorrowful expression on her face as she silently stared down at her hands on her lap. She distractedly stroked the old wedding band around her left ring finger.

---

Emil laughed lightly, a grateful look on his face. He deeply appreciated that Timo had asked such a thing of Berwald. He understood perfectly that behind the small blond’s request was genuine concern. After all, he’d asked the same thing of both his son and Mathias dozens upon dozens of times. Well, truth be told, he had stopped trying to get them to ease off each other years ago. But before he had given up, he’d been really insistent – even more than his wife had been! “Well, since it was you that told ‘im not ta fight, I can at least assure ya that he wouldn’t’ve thrown the first punch,” the old man said confidently, smiling widely. “Ber’s the most patient man I’ve ev’r known but Mathias is jus’ naturally talented at gettin’ und’r his skin. If he comes back with a few scrapes an’ bruises here an’ there, please don’t be too hard on ‘im,” he requested, chuckling softly. It was extremely likely that his son really had gotten into a fight with Mathias so, logically, it was even likelier that he would end up wallowing in guilt. Not because he had inflicted pain on the woodcutter or anything like that but because he had directly gone against what Timo had asked of him.

“Really? I was worried ‘bout spendin’ anoth’r night alone so I’m pretty damn relieved ta hear that,” the old man said happily, laughing a little. “I don’t think anyone’s told Atalie and Ber ‘bout that yet, though… You should tell ‘em when they get back,” he suggested gently. “I don’t like the idea ‘f Atalie sleepin’ here but… I want ta be with her. S’a bit selfish a’ me, I know…” he said in a quiet voice, smiling softly as he shrugged his shoulders a little. “Thanks. Atalie knows already, though, o’course. Ber an’ Mathias don’t… an’ I suppose I don’t want ‘em to,” he said.

“Thank you. I’m so happy ta hear that… Ber’s r-really lucky ta have ya,” Emil said honestly, shedding a tear before hastily brushing it away. He smiled brightly at the comforting way Timo squeezed his hand. As he listened to what the young blond said next, however, his smile gradually faded. “Ya say all those things like ya don’t think yer worth the trouble, Timo…” he murmured sadly. “Take it from me, you are. Ber may have oth’r things ta worry ‘bout, perhaps now more than ev’r ‘cause ‘f me, but he will always have time fer you. Honestly, I think he’d prefer it if ya trouble ‘im with yer problems. Wheth’r or not ya tell ‘im anythin’, he’ll still worry ‘cause he cares about’cha so much,” he said truthfully. “Ya said you wouldn’t leave ‘im fer the world, right? Well, Ber wouldn’t leave you fer the world eith’r,” he murmured quietly, finally putting an end to his lengthy spiel.

((whoops, ber didn’t even show up in this post, LOL. sorry! ;;; there wasn’t much i could’ve had him do anyway… he’s just walking to his dad’s tent. i’ll have him get there on my next turn, though. promise!))

[Mathias Køhler]

Mathias didn't expect Atalie to say anything otherwise. It was a dumb question, of course she's not okay. Really, no one would be. The woodcutter was soon at a loss for words, unable to keep his usual blithe composure. He felt like he could do nothing for her, Mathias was always, always telling Atalie and Emil he'd repay them back for their kindness one day and now with Emil on his deathbed and Mathias unable to even comfort Atalie, he felt like he'd failed miserably in his promise.

Mathias nodded immediately to her simple request and took a seat next to her. Once Mathias had gotten a closer look at her it was clear to him that she shouldn't be up and about, her eyes were tired and her face was pale. "Are ya' sick, too? Ya' look like ya' shouldn't be moving around too much." he told her. As soon as Atalie brought her hand near his face, Mathias immediately backed away and covered his wound with his hand. "S'not that bad." he lied. "S'just a scratch, it can wait." Mathias said.

The woodcutter knew the question was coming from miles away. Mathias knew her well enough to know that she knew what gave him that kind of injury. "I'think so. I got him pretty good but he's taken harder from me. I left him in the middle of the fight so he's probably more pissed than hurtin'. ...Are ya' mad?" Mathias asked her. She should be, if she wasn't. She had every right to be. It was hardly the place or the time to have a fight. Mathias recalled all the times Atalie had scolded both him and Berwald for their incessant fighting. She sorta eventually got used to it, in a way. That was thanks to Emil. He used to be really against it, too, but he eventually started thinking it was best to just let them slug it out, saying that he'd just patch the two of them up later and nope nope nope Mathias was just making himself sad so he brought his attention back to Atalie.

"Yeah, I'll just buy something I can bring and we can get going." the younger man told her, not intending to question the end of her sentence. He knew what she was going to say. He didn't want to leave her, not with her looking that sad, but they needed to get going and he needed food. Mathias got up from the table and walked briskly over to a stall. He quickly purchased six cereal bars and a tetra pack of milk. He stuffed five of the cereal bars into his pants and walked back over to Atalie. "Alright we can go now."

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo chuckled softly. “I’ll tell both of them off.” He said, but at least he seemed a little more relaxed about it. “Really, they need to learn to get along.” It wasn’t very likely, but he could do his best to make sure that they learnt. They’d have to eventually. Of course, he’d patch them both up at the same time. He just wanted them to get along, was it too much to ask? It hadn’t occurred to him that Berwald might be feeling guilty, but Timo just wanted him back here so that he could make sure that he was all right.

“Sorry, the nurses should have told you. You’ve been sleeping a lot, though. Atalie and Ber hadn’t been told either, but I told them when I got here.” There wasn’t a lot that they could do to make relatives comfortable, unfortunately; there were barely enough beds to go around as it was, but there’d be blankets, and something to eat for Berwald and Atalie at least. “I’ll make sure she gets some sleep.” He promised, with a smile. It would probably be… once they left the camp, but he didn’t want to say that out loud. Emil could probably figure it out for himself. It was bad enough having to think it himself. He didn’t want there to be a future without Emil, a future where they’d have to leave the camp without him, but it was inevitable.

Opening his mouth to say that he wasn’t worth it, Timo stopped himself at the last moment, frowning faintly instead. Part of what Emil said was true of course. He knew that Berwald would worry. He didn’t like it though. Maybe he’d just out and out tell him not to worry. That he was fine. He could manage. Besides, there was always that nagging doubt that if he told him everything about what was happening Berwald might decide that it was too much to deal with and leave him. “We’ll look after each other.” He said, quietly, not promising to tell Berwald, because he couldn’t. Not yet. He was still dealing with it.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Atalie let out a quiet, humorless laugh at Mathias’s comment. “I suppose I do look rather terrible, huh? The past few days have been very, very tiring and sleep has sort of become a rare thing for me so…” she trailed off, shrugging her shoulders lightly. She was a little hurt by the way the young blond cringed away from her touch but she figured he was just feeling guilty for fighting with her son at a time like this. “It looks pretty bad to me, dear. When we get to the tent, ask Timo for a cold compress, okay? He’ll be cross with you for fighting with Ber so make sure to apologize first,” she said in a motherly tone.

“Not really, I guess. It’s just that you and Ber fight so often, you know? Anyone who hangs around either of you is bound to get a little desensitized. Part of me still wants you two to get along better, of course, but I’ve already come to accept that this is just how your friendship works… You both know better than to fight in a place like this, though,” she chided gently, a faint frown on her face. “Honestly, Mathias, I’m not mad. I’m just… experiencing mild exasperation at how silly the two of you can be sometimes,” she explained patiently, shaking her head a little.

Without looking up from her lap, Atalie simply nodded in response to the young man before he turned and left to buy his food. When she was sure he was out of earshot, she let out a tired sigh. She still couldn’t act like her normal self around others, not completely at least, but it was definitely easier to pretend around anyone that wasn’t Berwald. She felt guilt curl in the pit of her stomach at the thought of her son and how much additional stress she was probably forcing on him. What she was doing, or rather what she wasn’t doing, was wrong and she knew it but… she needed to deal with her grief alone. It was obvious to her that Mathias had no idea what to do to comfort her and she was actually grateful to him for it. She just couldn’t stop herself from clamming up around anyone who tried to offer her too much help or comfort. And as much as she hated herself for it, it was the reason why she started avoiding her own son.

When Mathias returned to where Atalie was seated, the old woman looked up at him and nodded lightly. “I’ll lead the way. It’s not too far,” she said in a quiet voice as she slowly got to her feet.

---

“They get along jus’ fine if they’re both drunk ‘nuff!” Emil said brightly. “You should join ‘em sometime. Mathias gets ev’n rowdier than he normally is but he’s really ent’rtainin’ ta watch. Now when Ber’s had too many, he gets talkative. If ya bring up somethin’ he’s got an opinion on, s’hard ta shut ‘im up. The cue ta stop givin’ ‘im drinks is when he starts singin’. Give ‘im just one more aft’r that an’ he’ll fall asleep!” he said, laughing more heartily than was probably advisable. As his laughter started to die down, the grin on his face softened to a wistful smile. He stayed silent for a few moments, a sad sort of look in his eyes.

The old man nodded in response to Timo’s reassuring promise, smiling lightly. He knew how stubborn his wife could be about not accepting help during difficult times but he also knew Berwald, Timo and Mathias would take care of her, whether she liked it or not. “Thank you,” he murmured gratefully. The strangest and also perhaps the saddest feeling filled him as he thought of his family, his friends, all the people he’d be leaving behind very soon. He was scared and worried about what might become of them after he passed on but as he took in the young blond’s smile, he could feel so much hope well up inside of him and, somehow, he knew that they’d all be okay. And for the dying man, that was enough.

“I know you two will,” Emil said confidently. “Honestly, I’ve known since the day Ber first brought ya ta our home,” he added in a fond tone, smiling softly. He opened his mouth to say more but his words died in his throat the second he spotted his son entering the tent. Berwald stood frozen at the entrance, his eyes fixed on his father. “F-Fath’r,” he spluttered shakily before hurriedly walking over to him and Timo. He knelt at his bedside, his usually stoic face somehow expressing concern, fright and relief all at once. “Oh, that’s an awf’l bruise ya’ve got there, son,” Emil said, sounding a little amused. The tall blond’s eyes widened in realization and his gaze automatically snapped to meet his friend’s. “T-Timo… ‘m so sorry. Didn’t mean fer a fight ta start but… Mathias… he… he jus’… ‘m sorry,” he mumbled guiltily as he moved a hand to cover his wound, feeling ashamed of it. “Wow, Ber, ya’ve got this kicked puppy expression on yer face an’ ev’rythin’! Well, it’s the scariest kicked puppy face I’ve ev’r seen but still!” Emil said, laughing. Berwald blushed darkly but he didn’t look away from the younger man. “Really am sorry, Timo…” he said quietly, silently hoping that the small blond wouldn’t be too upset with him.

[Mathias Køhler]

It made Mathias feel a little better, seeing Atalie laugh, and a bit of his usual grin returned to his face. "Haha, ya' don't look half as bad as the time I almost chopped yer head off with ma' ax that one time!" Mathias laughed, a small smirk now set on his face. Back when Mathias was staying with the Oxenstiernas, Mathias got very bored one day and began playing around with his ax in the house. After a few silly swings and a few close calls with some furniture, the ax slipped away and flew towards Atalie, missing her neck by a few inches. Berwald beat the crap out of Mathias and Atalie graciously forgave the woodcutter but at the cost of a "No axes in the house." rule being strictly implemented.

Mathias's smile faded a little. He completely forgot about Timo. The woodcutter didn't want to upset him. Dammit, he's real close with the Oxenstiernas, too. This was probably the last thing he wanted to hear. "Alright, I'll do that." he said bleakly. "I really didn't want to make Timo mad. Aw man, I hope he ain't too mad at me." the blond said, mostly to himself. Then again, Mathias figured it was best to clear his conscience before he went to Emil. "I know. M'sorry for all this. If it helps, we both only landed one punch each." Mathias chuckled, a toothy grin on his face to help sell his point better.

"'Kay. Is'it far?" Mathias asked as Atalie stood from the table. Mathias opened one of his cereal bars and chomped off half of it one bite. Barely chewing properly, he ripped open his milk and took a big gulp to help wash it down. The younger man held up the other half to Atalie in silent offering.

The pair were walking in silence when Mathias asked, "So, uhh, how exactly is Emil doin'?". Yuknow, other than, like, dying. Mathias knew Emil was dying, he wasn't exactly over it, too, but now he was concerned whether or not he was in pain?

[Timo Väinämöinen]

Timo chuckled at the idea of Berwald being talkative, entertaining the idea for a moment, but then he shook his head lightly. No. He couldn’t afford to go out drinking. He’d love to see that one day, but he couldn’t see it happening any time soon. Not unless his rent suddenly decreased, but he couldn’t see that happening. “I’ll remember that for when I do take them out.” He promised, though, smiling brightly for Emil’s sake. He wished that he’d be able to promise that Emil could come too, but he knew that wasn’t an option, and it broke his heart.

Glancing up when Emil’s attention went to the door, Timo frowned as he took in Berwald’s state, then stood, giving the pair of them space. He was itching to tell him off, to smack him for not listening to him, to drag him down so he could patch him up, to kiss him better and hold him close, but all of that could wait. Still, he laughed when Berwald apologised, looking at Emil. The old man had been right, of course. Stepping in again, he tucked his fingers under Berwald’s chin, gently pulling his face into the light so he could get a better look. “What am I going to do with you?” He asked, affectionately, finally letting him go. “I told you not to fight.” He was still annoyed that Berwald hadn’t listened to him, but… well, it’d bruise, but he didn’t look too hurt.

“Is Matthias just as bad?” He asked as he pulled away again, moving to tuck Emil in a little better. “Where is he? I’ll go and get you both ice packs.” He was a little weary about leaving Berwald though, in case Mathias came back alone and they started fighting in front of Emil. “Do you want anything?” He asked Emil as he finished fussing for now, returning to Berwald’s side and putting a hand on his shoulder. He was angry, but, well. There were other things to worry about. It had happened. There wasn’t much he could do about that then patch Berwald up and tell him not to do it again.

[Berwald Oxenstierna]

Atalie allowed a tiny grin to curve her lips, unable to help herself. “Right back at you, dear. I’m sure you remember how furious Ber was about your little axe stunt. That bruise on your face is practically nothing compared to the wounds you had after he was through with you,” she said, laughing softly as she shook her head a little. “Seriously, though, both of you get way too violent around each other. You guys really should get along better… Kind of like how Ber is with Timo, you know? Oh, but to a much lesser extent, of course,” she said, smiling a little. She was perfectly aware that expecting her son to get along with Mathias as well as he got along with Timo was, to put it simply, completely over-the-top.

The old woman eyed the woodcutter curiously as he mumbled to himself. If Timo could guilt trip both Berwald and Mathias enough, then there might still be hope of them not fighting anymore! She filed away that particular idea to bring up around the bubbly blond at a much later date. Under normal circumstances, she definitely would’ve talked about it with him as soon as she saw him again. But with the current state of things, she wasn’t even feeling up to exchanging pleasant small talk with the sweet young man. “Don’t worry, dear. When have I ever not forgiven you for these scrapes you get into?” she asked affectionately, a kind smile on her face. “Just… try not to fight with Ber for the next few days, okay?”

Atalie politely declined Mathias’s cereal bar offering before rolling her eyes at his lack of manners. “Chewing your food properly won’t hurt you, Mathias,” she chided gently. “And it’s at the back of the camp so it’s a tiny bit of a walk,” she finally answered. A comfortable silence fell over them as they continued walking at a relatively slow pace. The old woman knew Mathias couldn’t keep quiet for very long but when he spoke up at last, his direct question surprised her a little. Though, as she gave the woodcutter a sideways glance, she figured she should’ve expected that he’d ask sooner or later. “Well, he’s… tired, of course. Weak. I wouldn’t say he’s in pain… physical pain at least. He told me that his discomfort feels a lot like having a regular flu but amplified,” she explained.

It didn’t take much longer for the pair to reach their destination. “Well, here we are,” Atalie stated as they neared the entrance of her husband’s tent. She unconsciously worried her lip. The strong sense of dread that hardly left her consciousness was now coming at her full force.

---

Berwald felt a huge wave of relief wash over him when he heard Timo laugh. It wasn’t very likely that his friend had completely forgiven him yet but at least he didn’t appear to be too upset. He blushed faintly when the small blond touched his face but he didn’t fight against his gentle maneuvering, silently allowing him to examine his wound. The older man felt his blush deepen at Timo’s affectionate question. He knew that he wasn’t really supposed to answer but he felt very flustered anyway. Even after the younger blond had pulled away, the skin his fingers had touched continued to tingle pleasantly. “S-sorry,” the bespectacled man stuttered out again, looking embarrassed.

“I think so… Jus’ got ‘im once, ‘round here,” he replied, gesturing vaguely to the upper part of his own cheek. “Dunno where he is. He left in the middle’f the fight,” he said, sounding a little irritable. “Thanks, Timo,” he added in a quiet, grateful mumble. “Nah, ‘m alright. Thanks,” Emil said, smiling brightly. Berwald covered the small hand on his shoulder with one of his larger ones. With an apologetic look on his face, he used a calloused thumb to stroke Timo’s hand affectionately. He gave it a gentle squeeze before letting his own hand fall back to his side. Somehow, he could tell that his friend was still pretty upset with him… And, to be honest, he had every right to be. But Berwald really didn’t want him to be angry for very long, especially if he was the one on the receiving end of his anger.

“I won’t fight with Mathias fer the next two months. Promise,” he said with a determined look in his eyes. “Wow, that’d be quite an accomplishment fer ya, wouldn’t it, Ber? A true test ‘f how well ya can control yer temp’r ‘round Mathias!” his father commented unhelpfully, a grin on his face. Berwald shot him a withering look and the old man just laughed in reply.