In Want of a Wife [part 16]
Psssh I wrote this awhile ago. Many apologies for being so slow at getting it on LJ and on being so slow at writing!
-&-&-
Chapter Sixteen: "Never gonna give you up!" Rick Astley
Berwald found himself with free time-he had thought about studying, but that was just too boring. He needed to do something besides study. Tino was studying and Berwald just didn't think he'd be able to focus.
He opened his drawer and pulled out his well-worn magazine. He'd folded the magazine over so that The List was always on top; it was convenient for when he needed to reference the article.
He found himself sitting on his bed, back against the wall as he curled around his magazine and simply daydreamed.
So far, he had completed five of the twenty-one necessary steps… just five, and actually really only four if he acknowledged the fact he had not obtained Tino's picture and it was not in his wallet.
Berwald sighed. He hadn't wanted to be insistent, especially when Tino showed signs of obvious grief, but he really wanted to complete his list. The sooner he finished, the quicker he and Tino would get married.
They were dating, finally, which did expand his options.
He scanned his list, trying to find one he could do with his immediate free time, and froze.
There was so much he could do. It seemed that once you were dating, the key was to keep your boyfriend on his toes. Surprise him. Berwald was good at surprises.
He rooted through his desk in a search for the stationary his mother had given him in an attempt to encourage communication. He preferred to text his parents, but that didn't mean he couldn't find use for the stationary.
It was nice. Thick, crème-colored paper that had the visible grains and it felt real between Berwald's large fingers. Berwald thought it conveyed his feelings rather well-he was serious about Tino, and the formal stationary just emphasized his feelings.
Berwald plucked of the end of a pen and pursed his lips in thought. He glared down at the small card, trying to find the right words to express himself. Expressing himself was rather difficult.
He ended up laying the stationary to the side and scribbling on scratch paper instead.
Dear Tino,
I think that you're
I kind of
would you maybe
I love you
Berwald grit his teeth in frustration. It was not time for love confessions regardless of how true they might be. Tino was actually dating him. It would be best not to scare him away.
Berwald crunched the scratch paper into a little ball and tossed it into the trash. It would probably be best to just write something honest.
He dragged the open card back to the center of his desk and rolled his shoulders back in preparation.
Dear Tino,
Thanks for having breakfast with me. It was fun. You have the most beautiful smile in the entire world and I want to see it for the rest of my life.
Sincerely,
Berwald
Berwald liked his letter so far, but it didn't facilitate an opening for other activities.
He hummed and leaned his head forward to rest it on his hands. Maybe that was for the best; he and Tino were going back to the gelato festival in the evening. A simple card to express his affectionate thanks was more than enough.
Decision made, Berwald folded his card and placed it in the waiting envelope. He licked it shut and wrote "Tino" on the front in the best handwriting he could manage.
He clasped his hands and peered at the letter. Best way to deliver it?
He could slide it underneath Tino's door, but Berwald wanted a more personal touch.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number he'd honestly never thought he'd need.
"Hello, Arthur. Is Alfred still doing those singing telegrams?"
The knock on the door was a relief, if Tino was honest with himself. Feliks had gotten back from wherever it was Feliks had gone-surprisingly, he was in a cheerful mood. Tino did not want to bring up Toris, but Feliks kept talking about him. It was difficult to concentrate on differential equations and also listen to his roommate whine. Feliks would simply not let the subject drop. Apparently pancakes had been involved in some sort of fashion, but Tino honestly did not care. He was just trying to focus and he really wondered if he should have taken Berwald's offer to go to the library. At least Berwald was quiet!
Tino put his pencil down and got up from his seat because Feliks was drowning in his pity party and simply could not move. Tino opened the door and was surprised to see a bouncy young man standing in front of him.
"Hello! Are you Tino?"
"Um, yes." Tino replied.
"Fantastic! My name's Al, and have I got a treat for you!"
Tino shifted his weight, brows furrowing. "Okay?"
"One quick sec." Al grinned bending down over a boom box and hovering over the play button. "Ready?"
Tino was curious. "Sure."
A… really cheesy love song started playing. Tino blinked, and then realized he was dating Berwald. Oh. Dear. God.
"We're no strangers to looove. You know the rules and so do I. A full commitments what I'm thinking of. You wouldn't get this from any other guy! I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling, gotta make you understand!
"Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down! Never gonna run around and desert you! Never gonna make you cry! Never gonna say goodbye! Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you!"
Alfred finished his short rendition with a particularly dramatic "you." Tino stood slightly shell-shocked in his doorway.
Alfred laughed. "That good, huh? Speechless?"
Tino nodded.
"I got a letter for you to-hang on." Alfred dug around through his bag. "Ah, here!"
Tino was handed a slightly crumpled note, but he note the paper was very nice. And Berwald's handwriting was on it. Unsurprisingly.
"Thanks." Tino sighed, rather heavily.
"No prob!" Alfred grinned widely. "Cya round!"
"Mm." Tino hummed more to himself than Al as he dragged his index finger under the envelope's seal.
He read and note and shook his head fondly.
"Really?" He wondered aloud. "Really?"
"Did you man do something totes romantic again?" Feliks whined from his bedroom. "I don't want to hear it. I might pass out from jealousy."
"He didn't do anything." Tino replied, reentering their room and letting the door fall shut. "Just send me a singing upperclassman and a note."
"Shut up! That's totally romantic. You are an unappreciative bastard." Feliks whined petulantly. "Why can't Toris send me a note?"
"You said he texted you?"
"Yeah! But not like, anything good!" Feliks huffed. "Just boring stuff."
"Like?"
"Like, 'you want me to forgive you' and I said 'no' because Ti, I did nothing."
"Mmhmm."
"Can't you hear his grammar? 'You want me to forgive you' my ass. Like, for real. He is such a Debbie downer."
Tino hummed again. "I might go to the library, Feliks. I need to check something in the textbook."
"Fine! Leave me here to die of heartbreak! Some friend you are!" Feliks whined. "I hate my life!"
"I could get Berwald to come down here and listen to you?"
Feliks didn't even say anything, he just made a pathetic keening noise.
"You are pathetic." Tino said.
"I am so not!" Feliks cried. "I am just misunderstood! Can't you see I am seriously troubled?"
Tino sighed softly. "Why don't you watch some TV? Criticizing people's outfits always makes you feel better."
Feliks sniffed. "True."
"I'll even stay-I'll just Google my question, okay? You can bitch about clothing and I'll just sit here doing math until Berwald and I go out for gelato."
"I am so jealous of your love!" Feliks exclaimed as he collapsed onto the couch. "Like, it's so unfair. Berwald is such a hunk and he's totally into you, too! How did you do it?"
"I think I just stood there, to be honest."
Feliks sighed dramatically. "You must teach me how to stand so I too can stop a gorgeous hunk in his tracks and make him fall madly in love with me!"
"We're not in love. We're just dating." Tino clarified.
"Bullshit! I know love when I see it, and I am beyond jealous." Feliks laid out on the couch, flicking through channels idly. "Why can't you see that you belong with meee?"
"…Are you singing Taylor Swift?"
"Yes! My poor heart has fallen into the pits of Taylor Swift longing! It's an absolute disaster, Tino." Feliks explained dramatically, tossing an arm across his forehead. "All I can do to fix my world is have dramatic break ups to fuel my artistic mind!"
"You're a nut." Tino replied. "Just watch TV."
"Ooh, what not to wear is on~!"
"Go for it."
Berwald waited patiently as Tino tried to make up his gelato-loving mind.
"There are so many flavors." Tino complained. "It's an absolute shame that we're restricted to so few."
"You can have some of my scoops."
"You're sweet, Berwald, but what I really want is my own gelato store."
"…"
".."
"...I'll buy you a-"
"NO. I was exaggerating." Tino sighed. "I forget about you."
Berwald frowned. "What about me?"
"That you're so…devoted." Tino said, for lack of a better word. "It's fine. I just wanted to complain about the flavors. I probably can't eat more than three scoops at a time."
"Mm."
The couple ended up sitting in the same place in front of the Duomo, watching people stroll by.
"It's more pleasant in the evenings." Tino said quietly. "Fewer tourists. It's less crowded."
Berwald agreed with a nod, too focused on his lemon to really care one way or another.
"We've got class most of the day." Berwald said. "Crowds are normally gone by the evening."
"Yeah." Tino said softly. "I am looking forward for our trip to Rome."
Berwald smiled, taking one of Tino's hands in his own and squeezing it.
"It'll be fun."
"There's so much I want to see." Tino's eyes glowed. "I can't believe I've got four years here. Berwald, I'll run out of money before I see everything I want too!"
Berwald squeezed his hand again, realizing that without any attempt on his part they were crossing off number nineteen. "On Valentine's day I wanna take you to Venice."
"Berwald!" Tino blushed.
"What? You don't want to?"
"No, I do." Tino replied quickly. "It's just, I mean, you're thinking way ahead!"
"Yep." Berwald replied. "'Cause I love you."
Tino froze.
Berwald wasn't sure exactly how this sort of thing was supposed to go, but he decided to wing it.
"…Feels right just to let you know." Berwald elaborated. "So you never have to wonder why again. It's cause I love you."
The couple sat in silence. Berwald's attention went back to his lemon gelato as he patiently waited for Tino to respond.
Berwald finished his gelato maybe three minutes later, and he glanced to look at Tino's face. Tino didn't seem horrified, just frozen.
"Hey." Berwald jostled Tino from his thoughts. The smaller boy was alarmed, and seemed at a loss for words. "Wasn't looking for a response. I just wanted you to know, okay?"
"Okay." Tino responded quietly.
"Also wanna take you down to Capri." Berwald continued with another squeeze of Tino's. "Wanna take you everywhere. You got to tell me if you want anywhere specific, okay?"
Tino smiled a bit. "Yeah."
"Sorrento is famous for lemons." Berwald continued. "I love lemons."
Tino burst into laughter, surprising Berwald.
"Oh, Ber." He chuckled. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Marry me?"
Tino pursed his lips. "Maybe, Ber. Maybe."
Berwald grinned.
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:00 AM]
i love you. i love you i love you i love you
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:01 AM]
I just had to let it out cuz u drive me totes crazy
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:03 AM]
i wish u'd text me 2 hang out
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:05 AM]
y r we making this so hard
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:10 AM]
its driving me totes crazy
[Sent: Mon Aug 24 1:15 AM]
y r u straight?
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:15 AM]
oh shit oh shit
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:16 AM]
I am a stupid bitch
-&-&-
Chapter Sixteen: "Never gonna give you up!" Rick Astley
Berwald found himself with free time-he had thought about studying, but that was just too boring. He needed to do something besides study. Tino was studying and Berwald just didn't think he'd be able to focus.
He opened his drawer and pulled out his well-worn magazine. He'd folded the magazine over so that The List was always on top; it was convenient for when he needed to reference the article.
He found himself sitting on his bed, back against the wall as he curled around his magazine and simply daydreamed.
So far, he had completed five of the twenty-one necessary steps… just five, and actually really only four if he acknowledged the fact he had not obtained Tino's picture and it was not in his wallet.
Berwald sighed. He hadn't wanted to be insistent, especially when Tino showed signs of obvious grief, but he really wanted to complete his list. The sooner he finished, the quicker he and Tino would get married.
They were dating, finally, which did expand his options.
He scanned his list, trying to find one he could do with his immediate free time, and froze.
There was so much he could do. It seemed that once you were dating, the key was to keep your boyfriend on his toes. Surprise him. Berwald was good at surprises.
He rooted through his desk in a search for the stationary his mother had given him in an attempt to encourage communication. He preferred to text his parents, but that didn't mean he couldn't find use for the stationary.
It was nice. Thick, crème-colored paper that had the visible grains and it felt real between Berwald's large fingers. Berwald thought it conveyed his feelings rather well-he was serious about Tino, and the formal stationary just emphasized his feelings.
Berwald plucked of the end of a pen and pursed his lips in thought. He glared down at the small card, trying to find the right words to express himself. Expressing himself was rather difficult.
He ended up laying the stationary to the side and scribbling on scratch paper instead.
Dear Tino,
I think that you're
I kind of
would you maybe
I love you
Berwald grit his teeth in frustration. It was not time for love confessions regardless of how true they might be. Tino was actually dating him. It would be best not to scare him away.
Berwald crunched the scratch paper into a little ball and tossed it into the trash. It would probably be best to just write something honest.
He dragged the open card back to the center of his desk and rolled his shoulders back in preparation.
Dear Tino,
Thanks for having breakfast with me. It was fun. You have the most beautiful smile in the entire world and I want to see it for the rest of my life.
Sincerely,
Berwald
Berwald liked his letter so far, but it didn't facilitate an opening for other activities.
He hummed and leaned his head forward to rest it on his hands. Maybe that was for the best; he and Tino were going back to the gelato festival in the evening. A simple card to express his affectionate thanks was more than enough.
Decision made, Berwald folded his card and placed it in the waiting envelope. He licked it shut and wrote "Tino" on the front in the best handwriting he could manage.
He clasped his hands and peered at the letter. Best way to deliver it?
He could slide it underneath Tino's door, but Berwald wanted a more personal touch.
He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number he'd honestly never thought he'd need.
"Hello, Arthur. Is Alfred still doing those singing telegrams?"
The knock on the door was a relief, if Tino was honest with himself. Feliks had gotten back from wherever it was Feliks had gone-surprisingly, he was in a cheerful mood. Tino did not want to bring up Toris, but Feliks kept talking about him. It was difficult to concentrate on differential equations and also listen to his roommate whine. Feliks would simply not let the subject drop. Apparently pancakes had been involved in some sort of fashion, but Tino honestly did not care. He was just trying to focus and he really wondered if he should have taken Berwald's offer to go to the library. At least Berwald was quiet!
Tino put his pencil down and got up from his seat because Feliks was drowning in his pity party and simply could not move. Tino opened the door and was surprised to see a bouncy young man standing in front of him.
"Hello! Are you Tino?"
"Um, yes." Tino replied.
"Fantastic! My name's Al, and have I got a treat for you!"
Tino shifted his weight, brows furrowing. "Okay?"
"One quick sec." Al grinned bending down over a boom box and hovering over the play button. "Ready?"
Tino was curious. "Sure."
A… really cheesy love song started playing. Tino blinked, and then realized he was dating Berwald. Oh. Dear. God.
"We're no strangers to looove. You know the rules and so do I. A full commitments what I'm thinking of. You wouldn't get this from any other guy! I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling, gotta make you understand!
"Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down! Never gonna run around and desert you! Never gonna make you cry! Never gonna say goodbye! Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you!"
Alfred finished his short rendition with a particularly dramatic "you." Tino stood slightly shell-shocked in his doorway.
Alfred laughed. "That good, huh? Speechless?"
Tino nodded.
"I got a letter for you to-hang on." Alfred dug around through his bag. "Ah, here!"
Tino was handed a slightly crumpled note, but he note the paper was very nice. And Berwald's handwriting was on it. Unsurprisingly.
"Thanks." Tino sighed, rather heavily.
"No prob!" Alfred grinned widely. "Cya round!"
"Mm." Tino hummed more to himself than Al as he dragged his index finger under the envelope's seal.
He read and note and shook his head fondly.
"Really?" He wondered aloud. "Really?"
"Did you man do something totes romantic again?" Feliks whined from his bedroom. "I don't want to hear it. I might pass out from jealousy."
"He didn't do anything." Tino replied, reentering their room and letting the door fall shut. "Just send me a singing upperclassman and a note."
"Shut up! That's totally romantic. You are an unappreciative bastard." Feliks whined petulantly. "Why can't Toris send me a note?"
"You said he texted you?"
"Yeah! But not like, anything good!" Feliks huffed. "Just boring stuff."
"Like?"
"Like, 'you want me to forgive you' and I said 'no' because Ti, I did nothing."
"Mmhmm."
"Can't you hear his grammar? 'You want me to forgive you' my ass. Like, for real. He is such a Debbie downer."
Tino hummed again. "I might go to the library, Feliks. I need to check something in the textbook."
"Fine! Leave me here to die of heartbreak! Some friend you are!" Feliks whined. "I hate my life!"
"I could get Berwald to come down here and listen to you?"
Feliks didn't even say anything, he just made a pathetic keening noise.
"You are pathetic." Tino said.
"I am so not!" Feliks cried. "I am just misunderstood! Can't you see I am seriously troubled?"
Tino sighed softly. "Why don't you watch some TV? Criticizing people's outfits always makes you feel better."
Feliks sniffed. "True."
"I'll even stay-I'll just Google my question, okay? You can bitch about clothing and I'll just sit here doing math until Berwald and I go out for gelato."
"I am so jealous of your love!" Feliks exclaimed as he collapsed onto the couch. "Like, it's so unfair. Berwald is such a hunk and he's totally into you, too! How did you do it?"
"I think I just stood there, to be honest."
Feliks sighed dramatically. "You must teach me how to stand so I too can stop a gorgeous hunk in his tracks and make him fall madly in love with me!"
"We're not in love. We're just dating." Tino clarified.
"Bullshit! I know love when I see it, and I am beyond jealous." Feliks laid out on the couch, flicking through channels idly. "Why can't you see that you belong with meee?"
"…Are you singing Taylor Swift?"
"Yes! My poor heart has fallen into the pits of Taylor Swift longing! It's an absolute disaster, Tino." Feliks explained dramatically, tossing an arm across his forehead. "All I can do to fix my world is have dramatic break ups to fuel my artistic mind!"
"You're a nut." Tino replied. "Just watch TV."
"Ooh, what not to wear is on~!"
"Go for it."
Berwald waited patiently as Tino tried to make up his gelato-loving mind.
"There are so many flavors." Tino complained. "It's an absolute shame that we're restricted to so few."
"You can have some of my scoops."
"You're sweet, Berwald, but what I really want is my own gelato store."
"…"
".."
"...I'll buy you a-"
"NO. I was exaggerating." Tino sighed. "I forget about you."
Berwald frowned. "What about me?"
"That you're so…devoted." Tino said, for lack of a better word. "It's fine. I just wanted to complain about the flavors. I probably can't eat more than three scoops at a time."
"Mm."
The couple ended up sitting in the same place in front of the Duomo, watching people stroll by.
"It's more pleasant in the evenings." Tino said quietly. "Fewer tourists. It's less crowded."
Berwald agreed with a nod, too focused on his lemon to really care one way or another.
"We've got class most of the day." Berwald said. "Crowds are normally gone by the evening."
"Yeah." Tino said softly. "I am looking forward for our trip to Rome."
Berwald smiled, taking one of Tino's hands in his own and squeezing it.
"It'll be fun."
"There's so much I want to see." Tino's eyes glowed. "I can't believe I've got four years here. Berwald, I'll run out of money before I see everything I want too!"
Berwald squeezed his hand again, realizing that without any attempt on his part they were crossing off number nineteen. "On Valentine's day I wanna take you to Venice."
"Berwald!" Tino blushed.
"What? You don't want to?"
"No, I do." Tino replied quickly. "It's just, I mean, you're thinking way ahead!"
"Yep." Berwald replied. "'Cause I love you."
Tino froze.
Berwald wasn't sure exactly how this sort of thing was supposed to go, but he decided to wing it.
"…Feels right just to let you know." Berwald elaborated. "So you never have to wonder why again. It's cause I love you."
The couple sat in silence. Berwald's attention went back to his lemon gelato as he patiently waited for Tino to respond.
Berwald finished his gelato maybe three minutes later, and he glanced to look at Tino's face. Tino didn't seem horrified, just frozen.
"Hey." Berwald jostled Tino from his thoughts. The smaller boy was alarmed, and seemed at a loss for words. "Wasn't looking for a response. I just wanted you to know, okay?"
"Okay." Tino responded quietly.
"Also wanna take you down to Capri." Berwald continued with another squeeze of Tino's. "Wanna take you everywhere. You got to tell me if you want anywhere specific, okay?"
Tino smiled a bit. "Yeah."
"Sorrento is famous for lemons." Berwald continued. "I love lemons."
Tino burst into laughter, surprising Berwald.
"Oh, Ber." He chuckled. "What am I going to do with you?"
"Marry me?"
Tino pursed his lips. "Maybe, Ber. Maybe."
Berwald grinned.
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:00 AM]
i love you. i love you i love you i love you
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:01 AM]
I just had to let it out cuz u drive me totes crazy
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:03 AM]
i wish u'd text me 2 hang out
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:05 AM]
y r we making this so hard
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:10 AM]
its driving me totes crazy
[Sent: Mon Aug 24 1:15 AM]
y r u straight?
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:15 AM]
oh shit oh shit
[Unsent Draft: Mon Aug 24 1:16 AM]
I am a stupid bitch