You and Me: Chapter 3

It was 7:30 in the evening, now, and the trio had just finished off a fairly large dinner, cooked by the skilled Swede. Lars leaned back in his chair and let out a loud belch, causing Tino to cringe slightly. Berwald disregarded it and continued to rinse off his plate in the sink.

"I'm done," Lars exclaimed. He patted his stomach with a toothy grin (Tino believed that this made him look hungry, rather than full), "What about you?"

Tino shifted awkwardly, "Um, yes. I'm full", he glanced briefly down at his plate, that had very little food left on it, "It was delicious, Berwald."

Tino looked to Berwald, who had his back to them as he fumbled around in the sink. He acknowledged the small man with a grunt. Lars was still grinning as he got up from his chair, grabbed a cold beer from the fridge and casually sauntered into the living room without a word. After a few moments, Tino stood and picked up his plate (and then Lars') before Berwald had a chance to. He joined him before the sink.

"Here… I can wash these ones," he offered.

"S'ok."

"No really, I don't mind," Tino smiled up at him, "You did cook it. So I'll do the rest of the dishes."

Berwald's eyes smiled at him as they did before, and he moved away to allow Tino to wash the plates, while Berwald began to clear the rest of the table.

"Does Lars ever do any chores?" Tino spoke carefully, cautious that Lars was in the other room, but having to project his voice over the gushing sound of water running from the tap. He thought Berwald didn't hear him, as it took him a few seconds to answer.

"No."

"Oh…" Tino could believe that, "Well, if you ever need help with cleaning or the washing, just let me know."

Berwald grunted again. They were both silent, but it felt much more welcomed than it did earlier that morning. Tino glanced over his shoulder briefly to flash Berwald a smile, but Berwald had his back to him and he didn't see. Tino merely resumed his task.

He jumped at the sudden brush of an arm against his shoulder. Berwald was behind him, placing some drinking glasses, knives and forks into the sink. Tino could feel the lofty man leaning over him, and it brought a pretty pink tint to his cheeks. He kept his head down and lifted one of the glasses as he began to lather it with a sponge.

"Need help?"

"Ah… no thanks. I-", Tino was cut off as Berwald's large paws took the glass and sponge from him. Tino blushed, almost surprised at how gentle the Swede was with his actions, and at how soft his hands had felt as they brushed Tino's.

With no other sponge in sight, Tino picked up a dry dish cloth and began to dry one of the plates he had washed. He glanced up at the blonde man, who was standing beside him, realising just how close they were; it was a small sink, after all. Tino could easily tilt his head to lean against Berwald, who noticed the small man's staring and returned the look.

Tino blushed again, "S-sorry…" he muttered as he pulled his eyes off of the other man's and picked up another plate to dry.

"Bring me a beer! I'm all out", Lars called from his sanctuary that was the couch.

Tino glanced at Berwald's soaking wet hands, and then looked into his eyes, "I will," he confirmed, and made his way swiftly to the fridge. Berwald, still concentrating on the dishes in the sink, smiled to himself for a moment. He just couldn't tell whether that smile had reached the surface or not.