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„For the third time this week, I won’t go out with you, Ivan.“, he pauses then continues „Go play with someone else..“, Till finishes his sentence turning away from Ivan.
Ivan looks after him, sighing a bit, at yet another rejection.
It’s nothing new and he knows he probably should stop asking him out, but he just can’t help it. After all, something always gets his hopes up, that Till could possibly like him back.
He watches Till fade away into the distance and decides to just go home.
Ever since middle school he developed deep feelings for him and wishes nothing more than to cherish him.
He hasn’t really told anyone about this crush, because no one would take it seriously. Honestly he can’t blame them at first he thought Till was a bit weird too, but he was the first one to show him genuineness.
Till is just special…
A miracle would have to happen for them to get together..
„Watch out below..“, a voice suddenly calls out and he looks around in confusion, seeing no one near him.
As he looked up he got something straight into his face and he fell back with that thing onto the ground, trying to grasp it and feeling something soft?
Ivan carefully pulls the thing from his face and a bunny stares at him with a grumpy expression.
„Didn’t I say to watch out? How dumb are you?“, the bunny suddenly said and Ivan only blinked at that, his mouth slowly opening.
The bunny presses its paw against his mouth. „Let me go slow ok big guy?“, it demanded looking deep into his eyes.
Almost instinctively he stuffed the bunny into his bag and hurried home, with much protest from the weird talking bunny, moving around the bag and making people look weird at his moving bag.
At home he quickly stormed into his room and the bunny freed itself from his bag, looking at him more than annoyed. „Don’t you dare interrupt me again, you pathetic loser!“, it insulted him first and he holds a hand over its mouth, muffling the bunny.
„What are you? And why are you insulting me all the time?!“, Ivan now questioned the talking bunny, this situation clearly overstimulating him.
The bunny bites his hand, that is over its mouth and he quickly retracts his hand at that. „You listen to me now. No further interruptions, because I won’t explain it a second time.“, the bunny demanded and he nodded begrudgingly, sighing a bit.
„I was sent here to help you get together with the person you love and I will tell you now that I won’t let you waste time in our little project, because I just wanna see my love again.“, the annoying bunny explained and he in fact has now more questions, than answers.
„Just one question… Why do you want to help me, you clearly can’t stand me already.“, Ivan can’t help, but ask and it looks like the little bunny is ready to punch him.
„Honestly I could care less about you getting together with Till, but we are let’s say like Armor and it’s our job to get people together.“, it answered, and he can’t help, but giggle slightly
Has he upgraded to a Shojo manga protagonist? Till once recommended him some, because he begged him for his favourite Shojo manga to find out what he likes.
This situation could be out of one of them.
„This is no laughing matter! It just proves that you suck at love!“, the bunny interrupted his thoughts and he glares at it now too.
„Excuse me??“, Ivan wants to protest, but the bunny interrupts him, by holding a paw on his mouth.
„Let’s go over your pathetic strategy to ask Till out every week. I mean seriously? You are not even really trying to closer closer to him.“, it said a whiteboard appearing, behind it in the air, with information about his relationship with Till???
Wait, how does it even know he loves Till and where did it get this information from?? Did it stalk him before??
„Ok so your strategy is nonexistent nevermind. You two aren’t even close enough for you to ask him out! He currently thinks you aren’t serious about it, which isn’t good.“, the bunny states pointing to the whiteboard with it’s paw.
Is it seriously counting up everything that is wrong with his advances…?
„Well he won’t let me get closer to him… He has his four walls up 24/7“, he mumbled, trying to defend himself a bit.
„Because you overstimulate him everytime! If you wouldn’t suck so much, you would know that he enjoys just sitting together in silence too!“, the weird bunny explained and his mouth opened and closed.
„And why do you know all this stuff anyway?! I never told you I love Till!“, Ivan tried to change the topic, only to get a long sigh from the bunny.
„It’s my job and I do my job very well. Also I can see who you like, by the slightest contact I can look into memories, so gathering this was no problem.“, it replied, clearly above stalking for that matter.
„Still as if you know any better you‘re just a talking weird bunny.“, Ivan mumbled, loud enough for the bunny to hear.
„Listen to me. If you don’t act stupid for once and follow my advice, you will get together with Till and I can finally be together with my love again.“, it said clearly very annoyed and added „So do we have a deal?“
This whole situation is more than a fever dream and Ivan should know better, than to make deals with a mysterious bunny that just appeared out of thin air.
…
But he is really desperate, so he took its paw, slightly shaking it, to seal the deal.
The bunny only nodded and began to write things down onto the board.
~
„Ok let’s calm down.“, a grey bunny tried to calm down an aggregated Till, with a pan in his hands, breathing heavily.
„What do you want from me?! What are you?? An alien??“, he bombarded the bunny with questions, backing away a bit.
„I am something like Cupid and here to help you get together, with the one you love.“, it tried to explain and get Till to put the pan away.
„And why would you do that..?“, Till asked hesitantly, putting away the pan, with what, he chased the bunny around his house earlier.
„It’s just my job and that’s all you need to know. So let’s take a look at your relationship status ok?“, it recommended Till and he sighed in utter disbelief.
This just can’t be happening right now.. He must be high or something…
After he got home the bunny just crawled out of his bag and began to introduce itself as Tillbun to him and he grabbed a pan in panic, from the kitchen and began to chase it around.
Maybe that was a bit insensitive and he was overreacting, but how else are you supposed to even react to a situation like this???
„Ok so let me get this straight. You seriously expect me to just run along with this situation, to whatever plan you have, to get me together with my crush..?“, he tried to summarise the situation, to clear his head a bit and to calm down.
A whiteboard appears behind it, with information about him and Ivan?!
„Wait… I am not in love with Ivan!!“, Till immediately corrected the bunny, his mouth wide open at the amount of information on the whiteboard.
Tillbun only sighed looking at him with a somewhat knowing expression. „Look, I don’t have time for you to deny your crush on Ivan.“, Tillbun stated, as if he is just going to accept it.
„I don’t love him! You don’t know anything!“, Till denied his crush on Ivan further, shaking his head, the heat rising to his cheeks slowly.
„I can look into your memories and it’s pretty obvious that you do. So stop denying it, since i am not here for you to accept it, but for you to get together with him.“, it stated and Till grabbed Tilbun, opening a window and throwing him out.
That should do-
„Look I understand that it‘s hard to accept, but do me a favour and work with me.“, it suddenly tried to argue, after appearing out of thin air beside him in the air, causing Till to scream and back away immediately.
Tillbun only sighs and silences him, by holding its paws against his mouth.
„Stop screaming so much, my ears are very sensitive.“, it complained and he could only nod feeling a tiny bit sorry.
He took away its paws after a while and took a deep breath, to ground himself.
„I still don’t get how you think, that I am in love with Ivan out of all people…“, he mumbled, still in denial about his crush on Ivan.
Tillbun only shakes its head once again „You know my partner is very similar to yours and I can relate to you, so just trust me on this one ok?“, it explains to him.
Wow a bunny has a better dating life than he does.
Still there is no way he is in love with that jerk!
„Try all you want then, but I don’t love him.“, he says contradicting himself a bit, with his answer.
„Thank you then let’s start the operation for my sake and for yours.“, Tillbun answered with a slight smile underlining some points on its whiteboard.
~<3~
„Ok so to get this clear.“, Ivan started taking a breath before continuing his sentence with „My first step in this plan is to clear my schedule..?“, he asks, flabbergasted.
„Your schedule is way too packed for you to spend more time with him and you need to get rid of one thing at least.“, the bunny which introduced itself, as Ibanny meanwhile, explains.
It‘s a good point, sadly. Why didn’t he think of that sooner..?
„And once we have it cleared a bit, you will offer Till to help him with his worst subject, math.“, Ibanny declares, tapping on a collection of Tills bad grades as photos.
Another good point, if Till doesn’t get his grade up soon he has to do the year again and it would mean that they won’t have a chance to be in the same class again next year and Till‘s father will be mad at him.
„He will reject that idea though… Till hates getting help especially from me..“, Ivan sighs slightly, since it’s not like he has never offered to help him.
„Not if you seem nice about it and don’t tease him like usual.“, it countered and hit him lightly with a stick that it used to point at the whiteboard.
„As if that will work anyway..“, he tries to defend his hurt pride.
„It will work. Just trust the expert and shut your trap.“, it shuts him up, harsh as ever.
Just what did he agree to..? He looks towards a photo of him and Till on his pinwall and walks up to it, straightening it a bit and looking at it yearningly.
Did he really do everything wrong before..?
„Don’t waste my time with regretting things. I am here to change your nonexistent relationship status, so pay attention dumbass.“, Ibanny shakes him violently out of his thoughts and he can only sigh, as he sat down again before the bunny and took notes.
~
The next day he woke up with heavy eyebags, because the dumb bunny lectured him almost the whole night about how he should behave around Till.
Speaking of the devil, the bunny is munching on a carrot looking down on him from above.
One day he will exterminate the devil out of the poor bunny it took hold of.
With a sigh, he began to get ready and put on his school uniform after brushing his teeth and straightening his curly hair.
Ibanny watches him change and occasionally lets out something like a huff, clearly still mad at him or something.
They will probably never get along.
At least the little devil will hopefully help him get together with Till or he sold his soul to the devil for no reason.
„Let’s go then… I hope your dumb plan works.“, he mumbles, throwing his school bag over his shoulder.
Ibanny takes place, on his shoulder and they walk to school like that.
Other people apparently can’t see or hear the bunny and that makes things a lot easier, so they agreed on Ibanny accompanying him to school.
From a distance he can see leaving his house already, since they have the same way to school and he quickly walks up to him.
„Morning Till!“, he greets him, Ibanny thankfully staying quiet this time and he watches as Till turns to him and comically trips other his own shoelaces and falls onto the ground.
„Stop scaring me first thing in the morning you jerk!“, Till exclaimed and feels, Tillbun securing its seat on his shoulder again, as he gets up.
He didn’t expect him to sneak up on him.
„Seriously if you drop me, you owe me carrots.“, the bunny warns him and he sighs slightly, not being able to respond to that right before Ivan.
Ivan meanwhile smiles at him „Falling for me already?“, he teases, the bunny on his shoulder biting into it, causing him to bite his lip to repress a sound.
„What did i say about teasing you lowlife?“, Ibanny insulted him and he couldn’t help, but glare at it shortly, before returning his attention to Till.
Till could only sigh at the cringy pick up line and he saw Tillbun shaking its head out of the corner of his eye.
Nope he is definitely not in love with him, unlike a certain group.
And speak of the devil.
A bunch of girls are running to them and surrounding Ivan like every other morning.
He felt a sting in his heart, at that scene and sighed slightly.
„Jealous?“, Tillbun suddenly asked him and his cheeks flushed once again and he violently shook his head as an answer, quickly walking away.
„Not one bit.“, he whispered and kept his head down, as he continued to walk forward.
Ibanny looks after Till and then at Ivan „What are you waiting for, follow him idiot.“, it urged Ivan, who excused himself and rushed after Till.
Though he didn’t really manage to catch up and was hindered by cars and other people on their way to school.
„Why aren’t you moving?? Go already!“, Ibanny urged again and it really is testing his nerves.
„The traffic light is red. I am not allowed to walk.“, he explained and heard Ibanny groan on his shoulder.
And since he is in school uniform he can’t risk being seen, breaking any rules, it would look bad on his record, if anyone reports it.
So he eventually lost sight of Till and decided to try again, after their first lesson.
They are thankfully in the same class and as he arrived in the classroom, he spotted him in his seat, drawing something and humming his favourite song.
He takes place in the seat behind him and gets out his school stuff.
Till is lost in his thoughts, while continuing to draw some sketches of Tillbun, distracting himself from the absurdity of the situation.
„You know that you can’t run away forever right?“, Tillbun suddenly asked him and he only wrote down „I don’t know what you mean“, to which the bunny only sighed.
It’s true that Ivan manages to make him feel flustered, especially from his awful flirting advances and jokes.
But that’s only because it’s embarrassing nothing more…
He knows that Ivan is not seriously in love with him. It just wouldn’t make any sense.
And he isn’t in love with him either.
After the lesson Ivan and Till had to bring away books from their class that they borrowed from the school library and both boys had ten books in their arms, on their way to the library.
Till is struggling to carry his books and as Ivan saw that he stopped walking and looked at him.
„Offer to carry his books now.“, Ibanny urged him and he couldn’t even protest, because that seems like the right thing to do.
„Want me to carry your books?“,Ivan offered him and Till looked at him confused „You know that twenty books are difficult to carry alone..“, he murmured and Ivan only chuckled.
„Don’t worry I can manage.“, he smiles and Till, put the books on top of the other ones.
Ivan adjusted to the added weight quickly and Till walked beside him, opening doors for him.
„Show off..“, Till couldn’t help, but comment and smile a bit.
Ivan suddenly felt a force on his back, as Till walked ahead to open another door and it caused him to let the books go and fall onto Till, both landing on the ground with a groan.
Their lips smashed together and can feel Ivan’s snaggletooth leaving a mark under his underlip.
It took a moment for Till to be able to react to the situation and he carefully pushed Ivan a bit away from him, who seems, to be equally shocked.
„I told you so..“, Till just said and stood up, trying to put as much distance as possible between himself and Ivan.
He quickly gathered some books and decided to leave the rest to Ivan, as he walked off to the library alone to avoid further conversations once again.
„You know only those who are afraid, run.“, Tillbun commented, flying in the air beside him and Till only rolled his eyes at that.
„Yeah well how else are you supposed to react…?“, he only mumbled, but internally already decided to avoid Ivan for the rest of the day.
And definitely not because his heart is racing ever since the accident.
He brushes against the mark Ivan‘s snaggletooth left under his lips lightly with his fingers.
„Was this your doing?“, Ivan could only ask Ibanny which is watching him from above with a judging expression.
„We are wasting time, I was only trying to give it a push in the right direction.“, it justified its actions and Ivan can only sigh, as he gathered the rest of the books.
~
Till avoided him the rest of the school day after the incident and after Ivan arrived home, Ibanny immediately let the whiteboard pop up, with today‘s development.
„So we achieved almost nothing today, but a kiss.“, Ibanny stated, writing something onto the board, while Ivan is, putting on more casual clothes.
„That doesn’t count.“, he brushed the bunny off and sat down on his bed, groaning in frustration.
„It’s better than nothing, be glad i pushed you.“, it only said and clicked its tongue in annoyance.
Ivan only closed his eyes to block out the noise and pretends, that he fell asleep.
„Oh no you don’t.“, the bunny said and lands on his stomach with much strength, causing him to cough and quickly sit up, Ibanny looking satisfied.
„Just leave me alone, your expert advice isn’t working.“, he complained and the bunny shook its head.
„As if we, succeed on the first day. This is only the beginning.“, it stated, flying to the white board and circling things with a pen on it.
„I guess…“, he mumbled and looked at the board, not really convinced.
Ibanny once again explains things to him he must be cautious about and what is important to get Till to like him.
No teasing and dumb remarks. So the opposite of what he has been doing, but he just can’t help it with Till…
After Ibanny was done explaining he opened his coke can and took a sip, the bunny suddenly looking very curious.
„What‘s that?“, it asks, flying closer to him and inspecting the bottle and suddenly trying to get it out of his hand.
„Hey! That’s mine!“, he protested and both, tearing at the can, causing him to let it go and spill over Ibanny, which looks utterly disgusted at the stickiness of the substance, after it licked its fur.
So they ended, in the bathroom and Ivan gives it a bath in the sink.
„That’s right, wash my belly. It‘s the stickiest part right now.“, the bunny commented and Ivan couldn’t help, but grimace as he washed its belly.
Seriously this needs to work out or he lost his dignity for no reason just now.
~
On his way home after his painting club, Tillbun floats beside him and looks around a bit.
Till brushes over the mark with his finger, that Ivan left earlier and his cheeks still very warm, from the memory alone.
That doesn’t count right…?
„So how was your first kiss?“, the bunny asks him and he glares lightly at it „That does not count!“, he brushes it off walking ahead.
„Believe what you want. Your heart rate was 180 during it so you definitely felt something more than friendship.“, it stated and he groaned lightly at the accusation.
„I was shocked ok?!“, Till almost yells out, his mood definitely worse now than before.
„Ok then.“, the bunny replied calmly and he eventually stops, touching the mark.
„Honestly I am not even gay…“, he tried to argue about his supposedly crush on Ivan once again with the bunny.
Tillbun only raises an eyebrow at that „Where does this come from now? Keep denying it all you want i guess.“, it only replied clearly tired from his protests about his crush.
Since it doesn’t seem like Tillbun is buying it, he decided to do a quick Quiz on it then and show it just how heterosexual he truly is.
So he skims through the questions and answers them truthfully one by one.
After a while he presses on the „Show me my results“ button and waits.
„Bisexual“, stands proudly on the screen and he can feel his jaw drop a little.
„Well looks very straight to me.“, the bunny commented floating behind him and looking at the screen, so Till quickly turned his phone off.
„I am not into boy romances anyway. I have never read or seen one either.“, he tries to defend himself and Tillbun only grins.
He decides that he doesn’t like that expression and as he arrived at his house, he unlocked the door and walked into his room.
Tillbun follows him and takes place on his nightstand.
Till side eyes it, as he changes out of his uniform into his casual clothes.
That‘s then he spots an ominous book on his bed and he decides to see what it is, by approaching it curiously.
„For research.“, Tillbun stated, as he found out that it’s a freaking boys love manga and, picks it up.
„Seriously?“, he asks it not, convinced in the slightest by the title alone.
With a sigh he plops down on his bed and opens it. It begins with the protagonist and his childhood friend and from then on the story evolves into a slow build romance.
The protagonist thinks he is not good enough for his love interest and that hinders them from getting together.
The love interest notices that after a while and disproves all of his fears, by showing him how much he has helped him, in learning how to really live.
They also have many cute moments together and are often in ridiculous situations like couples in Shojo manga and in that they are not much different.
Honestly it’s not that bad and he can’t help, but compare himself to the protagonist a bit, especially in the topic self worth..
Their first kiss was also an accident and he can’t help, but touch his mark again at the scene.
Wait, did this weird bunny make this story up? He quickly googled the series and it seems to be pretty old.
So the bunny definitely didn’t just create it or it can mess with the time continuum, with its weird magic.
„I mean.. it’s not much different…“, he admitted his cheeks turning a bit pink, at his own confession and Tillbun only nods seemingly satisfied.
„That’s our first step then.“, the bunny stated the white board, appearing and it writes something new onto it.
„Operation Love“
„From now on you won’t run away from Ivan and if you do I will lose my patience and me losing my patience is something you don’t want to happen.“, the bunny explains slowly, looking at him expectantly.
Till only sighed looking at the board and the things the bunny is adding begrudgingly.
After a long discussion of him not being allowed to run away anymore from Ivan and face him like a normal person, same with conversations, he feeds the little bunny its carrots.
He has to admit that he doesn’t really know anything about it, besides that it’s apparently its job to get him and his crush together.
Tillbun is closing its eyes in bliss, as it is munching on the carrots in satisfaction, causing Till to smile a bit.
It‘s weird that they have a similar name too and look pretty similar too.
At least they get along somewhat when it doesn’t concern his feelings or how he likes to run away from everything.
When it got late he tucked himself into his bed and the bunny made itself comfortable on the nightstand.
He sighed, closing his eyes and drifting into a dreamless sleep.
Tillbun watches him idly and then moves the blanket a bit higher over Till, tucking him in completely and then laying down on top of him.
He may be stupid and naive, but who wasn’t at this age..? It closes its eyes and falls asleep too.
~
So the next day Till waited for Ivan to appear and as he did, he faced him this time, with determination.
„Morning…“, he greeted him shyly.
Ivan almost couldn’t believe it, his mouth opening and not being able to let out a single sound.
„M-morning…“, he greeted back finally, a smile making its way onto his face.
Till could feel his cheeks heat up „Let’s go?“, he asked in a quiet voice to which Ivan nodded almost violently, causing him to hide a smile.
They walked to school together and to Ivan it felt like a dream come true. Just what caused this sudden change of heart?
Till meanwhile tries to stay calm and keep his cool, his only goal surviving the way to school with Ivan by his side.
It can’t be that hard. In their childhood days they were inseparable and did everything together, though that was before puberty hit and they both evolved into different directions.
While Ivan does sport and honorary student work, Till listens to music and composes his own too.
So at some point they just stopped doing everything together.
He can feel Tillbun watching them from his shoulder and hears him munching on a carrot slowly.
„So I‘ve been thinking. You struggle with Math right?“, Ivan suddenly asked him and he couldn’t help, but feel annoyed already.
„Yes. So what?“, he mumbled, looking away, trying to not, seem mad about it.
„You know… I could help you with it.“, Ivan suddenly offered and he blinked, looking at him, multiple times in surprise.
„Really?“, he asked, to make sure he heard that right.
This is Ivan after all… He doesn’t even have time to breathe mostly, because of some kind of chore he has to do.
Ibanny punches Ivan’s shoulder lightly, for him to say something already, so Ivan gets it together, by clearing his throat.
He didn’t expect Till, agreeing to the offer at all and they didn’t practice this yesterday.
„Sure. I would miss being in the same class with you.“, he admitted, a bit too honest and he went to far ahead in the plan unconsciously.
Ibanny sighed and he can feel his cheeks heat up a little, smiling helplessly at Till, who turns away quickly.
„Whatever… Just write me when you have time then.“, Till replied, trying to calm down, by taking the deep breaths Tillbun demonstrates on his shoulder.
After a while they arrived at school and Till quickly went ahead, waving goodbye to Ivan, not being able, to hang out any longer with him.
In class Tillbun helps him with math a bit and it frustrates him how a magical bunny even seems to know math better than he does, but he keeps his mouth shut.
Ivan watches Ibanny ruin his math notes out of the corner of his eye, but he doesn’t care since Till‘s back is much more interesting to him.
Since Till agreed… He sits here without a further plan, shit…
Still it’s going so well suddenly and he can get closer to him through these after school lessons!
He won’t let this opportunity go to waste. No chance.
The lessons for the day ended and he watched as Till quickly gathered his things and walked home, Ibanny holding him back from following him immediately.
„Uh-uh you will, write him later and leave him alone for now.“, it stated, holding tightly onto his hem and he sighed in resignation.
So he went to baseball practice, without following Till and trained the rest of the afternoon with his teammates in the gym.
Ibanny sat on his schoolbag, which he left on the bench, watching him idly, while playing baseball.
Ivan can feel its judgmental glare the whole game and he misses some opportunities, because of it, since he feels rather distracted.
And then it happens a ball he threw lands on his schoolbag and directly on the bunnies face, thankfully it wasn‘t thrown with much force.
Ibanny comically falls back onto the ground and groans, while Ivan quickly rushes over looking after it, to see if it’s hurt.
Since they are in public he can’t do much about it and only whispered „Sorry…“, before returning to the game, feeling the wrath of the bunny the rest of the game, causing him to shiver.
~
Till sits at his math homework chewing on a pen in frustration, as Tillbun explains the problem to him step by step.
„This is pointless…“, he muttered, throwing his pen away, showing clear defeat.
„Only if you believe it is.“, it replied to him, licking its fur a bit.
Till groaned, leaning back in his chair and looking up at the ceiling.
„How do you even know such things? Aren’t you just a love angel or something?“, he asks the bunny, sceptical about its knowledge.
„Well some people actually need to impress their loved one, so I learned it for them.“, it explained to him and he sighed slightly, since it makes sense.
His phone vibrated and a message from Ivan popped up on the screen. „I have time tomorrow after school if that’s ok for you.“
Ever since this morning Ivan is acting weird.. Not in the normal weird way, in the Ivan weird way.
Normally the message would be much longer and have dumb emoji attached to it.
He has been very nice this morning and didn’t even flirt… Has he lost interest in him???
Did he do something for him to stop? Well he did reject him, he still acted normal yesterday though…
He also doesn’t know why it bugs him so much suddenly, maybe he got, used to Ivan flirting with him that it became just normal.
„Sure sounds good. Your house?“, he eventually answers with a sigh, he is clearly overthinking again.
„Ok, see you then.“, Ivan replied.
Tillbun looks, at the chat from his shoulder „Congrats, without any instructions this time.“, it congratulated him, as if he just achieved world peace.
Till just lays his head on the table and closes his eyes, trying to blend the bunny out of his room.
Meeting up with Ivan is just to improve his grades and not having to retake the school year… He doesn’t want to disappoint his mother after all.
~
Ivan is shaking, laying his phone onto the nightstand and cheering loudly, clearly irritating Ibanny, since it‘s glaring at him, from his bed.
„No time to cheer, we have to prepare notes and think about what else you two could do.“, it stated the whiteboard appearing in the air.
„Operation Love“, written onto it and the study session underneath it, connected to the headline.
„So you will try to get him to watch a movie with you after studying, his favourite movie too. That will increase his affection.“, it explained writing the points onto the board.
It seems like a good idea, but how will he convince Till to stay longer?
Surely Till will only come by to study and will want to leave right after…
„I will give you a little help since your Till is very stubborn I guess…“, the bunny suddenly added and he immediately dropped to his knees, as if, it has just become a god.
„You get extra carrots!“, he replies and the bunny smiles, seemingly satisfied from the offer.
„Alright calm down big guy. I know, I am awesome.“, it brushes him off and Ivan goes getting carrots for it.
The bunny munched on a carrot immediately, after Ivan brought him like three, emptying the carrot stock in his house.
Ivan got to work with the math notes right after and searched for examples to teach Till and what they need, to know for the next exam.
Ibanny stays quiet, munching its carrots and doesn’t seem to have anything to complain about right now.
He doesn’t know how it wants to help him, but he has to just trust it, on that and try his best to get closer to Till.
~
Till, arrived at Ivan’s house after school and rings the bell. They could have gone to his house together, but Till decided that he needed to change out of his uniform.
Everytime he goes by Ivan‘s house or visits him, he can’t help, but notice just how different their social classes are…
His house is twice the size of his own and properly twice the price too.
He stands there a while, waiting for someone to answer the door. „Ivan! Open the door already!“, he yells, knocking at the door and ringing the bell.
Ivan eventually opens the door, looking pretty exhausted, dressed in casual clothes too at least.
„Come in.“, Ivan just says, going ahead.
Till undresses his shoes and follows him up to his room.
Tillbun had explained the math problems a bit more last evening, so he won’t be too embarrassed and run away or snap at Ivan, hindering further conversations.
It embarrasses him how the bunny seems to know him, better than he does.
„Nice house.“, he just hears the bunny whistle and he sighs at that. Till should have left it home..
Ivan‘s room looks the same as always, very minimalistic with the basic things. On his table, the math notes are already opened and he takes, seat in one of the chairs beside Ivan, getting out his pencil.
They start with the questions and Ivan explains every problem, very detailed to him and points out the mistakes he keeps making and how to work on his weaknesses.
Honestly seeing Ivan all serious around him, is something he doesn’t experience often and it does weird things to his heart.
No Till he is just explaining math problems! Of course he doesn’t act childish like usual…
Tillbun watches them sitting across from the math book and is nodding now and then, it seems to find Ivan’s explanations good.
After a while of math problems, Till‘s head feels like it’s going to explode and he can feel his attention slipping away slowly.
Ivan noticed Till not paying attention anymore, after an hour into the lesson and he can’t blame him, he knows that things that frustrate you, can be draining very fast.
„I think that’s enough for today with math.“, he says, closing the book and the notes and hears Till letting out a breath of relief.
He looks at Ibanny, which, promised to help him, get Till to stay longer, to watch his favourite movie. It holds up its thumb (?) and turns to the window.
„I summon you, rain storm!“, it suddenly yells and he can’t help, but hold back a laugh, holding his mouth shut.
Till looks at him confused, about what has gotten over him and then spots the sudden heavy rain outside.
Great just what he needed…
Tillbun, also doesn’t look very fond of the rain and its ears drop.
Ivan quickly took his chance „You want to stay a bit longer? We could watch a movie.“, he offers and Till only nods.
Ibanny drops onto the table, its ears dropping in exhaustion and Ivan mouths out a quiet thank you in its direction and settling, down onto his bed with Till, putting his Laptop on it.
He chooses Till‘s favourite movie and sees him smile out the corner of his eye and a smile forming on his face too, through that.
The movie starts and they both settle together, the bunnies settling onto their shoulders, to watch the movie too.
He doesn’t really like Twillight, but seeing Till smile during it and pay close attention to everything, is really adorable to him.
Till probably knows this movie by heart, so seeing him still being so invested, into the plot, makes him so cute..
Ibanny nudges him to stop staring, so he returns his attention for the rest of the movie onto the screen, but soon doesn’t pay attention anymore and his vision getting, blurry.
Till suddenly feels a weight against him and he turns his head, to spot Ivan leaning against him, seemingly fallen asleep.
The bunny slightly pokes Ivan and he grabs it, so it stops poking him and holds his index finger before his lips, signaling it to not wake him up.
He seemed really tired earlier and he probably worked all night on the math notes, as he knows him and can’t help, but ruffle through his hair a bit.
Just why is he acting like this? He didn’t tease or flirt with him a single time today too… He just helped him and acted genuine.
It‘s so out of character for him… His heart is still racing and he takes deep breaths, to calm down.
Ivan is very warm and his hair, so soft.. Just what shampoo does he use..? It is also curly he discovers and messes it up a bit more.
Till sniffs at his hair a bit too and then backs away shaking his head violently.
This is just Ivan. Plain old Ivan, nothing more.
Tillbun is unusually quiet and doesn’t have a sassy remark or anything else to say to, this situation..
He turns off the laptop and puts it onto his desk safely, dropping a blanket over Ivan tucking him carefully, to not wake him up.
The rain has stopped too and he can now leave.
It feels a bit rude, but he needs to eat something and shower, so he can’t stay any longer…
So he leaves a note saying that he had to go and that he thanks him for the lesson and that they watched his favourite movie, stating that he had a good time.
As he exits the house, the bunny floats beside him „That went surprisingly well.“, it comments and Till only lets out a deep breath.
Define it went well…
It was extremely hard to stay calm, especially with Ivan so close beside him and being all serious and genuine…
Till‘s head hurts since it doesn’t make any sense to him, why he acts, that way suddenly…
Is he distancing himself from him? No that can’t be it, but why then?
He has to be hiding something, but what?
~
Ivan wakes up after a while and rubs his eyes, looking around confused.
„Finally awake sleepyhead?“, Ibanny teases him, munching on a carrot it, has saved from yesterday seemingly.
He finds the note from Till and reads it, sighing a bit, at his own carelessness.
Maybe he shouldn’t have stayed so long awake, then he wouldn’t have bothered him..
He goes to the bathroom and the mirror tells him everything he needs to know, about what happened after he left.
The big word „Loser“ is written onto his forehead and he begins to wash it off, frustrated that not everything went, by plan today…
They were supposed to have some conversation and the only times they really talked was when he, explained the math problems to him and that barely counts…
It seems like he isn’t making any progress at all.
Of course the oh so wise bunny isn’t that bothered and is just making new plans on the board, scribbling down many ideas.
They seem to be for dates? He doesn’t even remember the last time they went out together..
Just how is that supposed to work?
„I can hear your thoughts, you know? Stop being pessimistic and focus on the path ahead!“, it lectures him and he nods, sitting down on his bed.
„And just so you know your affection Till, meter increased slightly..“, it suddenly added and his jaw opens, wide.
„It worked?!“, he questions it, very excited, jumping up from his bed and shaking it, to get an answer faster somewhat.
The bunny bites into his hand and he lets it go with a little „Ouch…“
„Yes it did, stop shaking me you idiot or I won’t be nice anymore.“, it threatens him, so he shuts up immediately and sits back down.
~
Over the next week he continued teaching Till after school and the other got better and better and is now able to solve the math problems alone.
He has also been able to tease Till less and less, Ivanny even giving him a star on its weird board, since it brings their plan foward faster and apparently Till‘s affection meter rose.
And then Till invited him to play video games together at the arcade, just like they used to and he gladly accepted the offer, currently getting ready.
It came pretty much out of nowhere and even Ibanny is confused about it and checking the affection meter and telling him every now and then how it doesn’t make sense.
Ivan ignores it and puts on a nice outfit, not too overdressed, but also not too underdressed.
He straightens his hair in the bathroom and hums a happy melody, he heard on the radio sometime ago and is now stuck in his head.
Ibanny watches him a bit annoyed at his humming at looks at the board again, trying to figure out, what to do.
It‘s going a bit faster than it expected and seems a bit suspicious Till seems to be pushing himself to get closer to Ivan more, meaning it’s partner is doing a better job than it estimated.
After all, Till is a stubborn and easily embarrassed person, who seems to struggle accepting that Ivan genuinely wants to be together with him and doesn’t want to get hurt.
Of course it can’t tell Ivan that, because the number one rule they have is, that they only give directions and not answers.
They head to the arcade after some time and they are way too early, so Ivan looks around a bit, for games they could try out beforehand.
Till arrived a while later, clearly out of breath and waving a bit at him, from which he smiles and waves back a little.
„You’re early..“, Till remarks, causing him to chuckle lightly. „I was a little excited..“, he admits and watches Till‘s cheeks turn red a little.
Admittedly Till overslept a bit and had to get ready quickly, so his whole outfit is just random stuff, he found.
Tillbun complained about him running late the whole time, stressing him out even more, since he is the one that asked Ivan to meet up at the Arcade.
Now the bunny is sitting on his shoulder, munching on an apology carrot, Till gave to it and keeps quiet as an exchange.
„Soo… Do you want to start?“, Ivan asks him and he quickly nods, leading him to one of the games eager to try them out one after one.
The bunny recommended him choosing something he is always comfortable with, so he isn’t too nervous, when playing with Ivan and it actually works wonders.
It almost feels like they always meet up to play at the arcade and he can feel himself relaxing. Though Ivan still behaves weird and doesn’t even tease him, when he wins and instead comforts him, which to be honest frustrates him more.
Taking all his courage together he asks „Why are you behaving so weird..?“, mumbling a bit, so that only Ivan hears him.
Ivan stops in his tracks and looks at him confused „Weird?“, he asks, clearly confused, about where is coming from and Till feels his cheeks heat up.
„Nevermind..“, he quickly brushed him off again and, turning around to find some random game, to distract Ivan from thinking about it too hard.
He quickly points to a gripper machine, featuring cute plushies and his cheeks turn more red as he realised it too late.
Till could swear it wasn’t there before and he hears Tillbun whistling innocently on his shoulder and then hears Ivan chuckle.
„You, want a plushie from it?“, he asks him and walks up to the machine, looking at the plushies in amusement.
Ivan remembers how Till used to collect plushies like a maniac back when they were younger and he always had to win them for him, since he sucks at these games.
So he puts a coin into the machine and starts a game „Which one?“, he asks, smiling at Till, who comes closer looking over his shoulder.
„Uh.. the one who looks like you.“, escapes him, suddenly even though he meant to say the black bunny holding his mouth, he for sure said that!
He throws a look at Tillbun, which looks oddly satisfied with itself.
No carrots for, it noted.
Till looks away in embarrassment and doesn’t trust himself, to say another word, while Ivan clears his own throat with a cough.
Ibanny quietly murmured, „I feel insulted.“, as it looked at the plushies more closely and puts together what its partner is, up to.
„Alright then..“, Ivan mumbles, getting to work to get the plush that to him, looks very similar to Ibanny, but now that Till is saying it.
He and Ibanny do look alike somehow, even though he is more attractive of course.
With some presses of the buttons, he eventually grips the bunny and safely gets it out of the machine, giving it to Till.
„Happy?“, he asks to reassure himself and Till quietly nods as an answer.
„Thanks for today, I gotta go now!“, Till suddenly exclaimed and ran off with the plush in his arms, way too quickly for him to be able to react at all.
„Real mature.“, Tillbun commented, but Till decided to not react to it and just run home as fast as he can, out of embarrassment.
Ivan didn’t even tease him after all that and he certainly lost interest in him for sure, though he still got him the plush he secretly wanted…
Did he remember his, plush obsession back then?? No way. He was just being nice..
This is driving him slowly nuts and he doesn’t even know anymore what he feels about him at all..
Ivan left behind at the arcade quietly got himself the other plush that looks similar to Till and gives it a light squeeze.
„What was that about?“, he can’t help, but ask Ibanny, which only sighs.
„That I can’t answer.“, it replies and Ivan shrugged his shoulders, still not knowing if he should be happy or sad.
So he just went home for today, with a big smile plastered onto his face.
~
„Rise and shine sleepyhead.“, Tillbun decided to wake him with and Till only groaned turning around in bed „Five more minutes…“, he mumbles, his blanket being torn away at that.
Apparently he slept so long, that now he has only five minutes left, to run to school as fast as he can, so he does exactly that.
He runs past many people, who are on their way to work and bumps into many of them, not caring about it right now and then he sees Ivan?
Why is he late? He is never late. And why is he just standing there? Should he tell him how few time he has left?
As he gets closer, he spots a girl crying before Ivan and the other trying to comfort her.
„Ivan? School starts, soon.“, he tries to get himself into the conversation, holding beside Ivan and looking at the girl more closely.
She has a letter in her hand and is holding tightly onto it, while crying.
Ivan looks at her, concerned and eventually says „Look I don’t love you and I am very sorry, but I am sure you will find someone else who will make you happy…“, he tells her calmly and Till nods a bit in agreement, but the girl now looks up to them, with an angry expression.
„But we would fit so well together! You are practically my destined boyfriend so you have to say yes!“, she suddenly says and that gets his blood boiling.
Destined boyfriend? What a joke.
Tillbun also stretches its tongue out to her and Till can suddenly feel himself moving on his own.
„He is mine already, so back off.“, suddenly leaves his mouth, as he wraps his arms around Ivan’s waist, looking at her with an unyielding expression, feeling Ivan freeze in his arms.
The girl looks at them shocked and he quickly grabs Ivan‘s hand, dragging him after him and continuing his way to school with him.
„You‘re welcome… Now they should leave you alone for good..“, he adds, cursing himself internally for acting all possessive suddenly..
Ivan lightly shakes his head to process what just happened. Did Till really just claim him as his?
He probably just did it to get the girl to leave him alone, just like he said.
Ibanny is quiet right now and just observing Till a bit, not knowing what to say to this either.
„Thanks..“, Ivan only says, trying to take a look at Till, but the other avoids his looks, so he lets him be for now, his cheeks feeling warm.
At school Till let go of his hand and they both sat onto their seat, as if nothing happened.
~
Over the next days Tillbun and Ibanny, were oddly quiet and Till and Ivan, were on their own somewhat.
Till began to sketch Ivan in classes, especially his face and always scribbled onto the sketch, as soon as he realised that he did it again.
Ivan meanwhile continued to invite Till onto dates and watched as Ibanny protocolled them afterwards and told him what to do better, but nothing further weirdly.
So they met up in various places like the cinema, ice rink and to try out new things together, getting more comfortable with each other slowly.
Till also passed his math exam (barely), but he proudly called Ivan, telling him about it excitedly, since he didn’t have time in school to tell him.
Sure he is still acting weird, but hanging out with him is still nice.
They are playing a game of Fifa in Ivan‘s room and the atmosphere is light and playful.
„You- Hey! Are you cheating?“, he accuses Ivan, who is only laughing at that and falling back on the couch a little, holding his stomach.
„I don’t really need to cheat..“, he teases him a bit and he turns red at that „You-!“, Till wants to confront him swinging the controller at him with his right hand, Ivan easily catching his hand.
Till wants to get his hand out of Ivan‘s grip, but through Ivan‘s force he lands onto the ground looking up at him, slightly pouting, but then realises their position and his ears heat up too.
He watches as Ivan gets closer and closes his eyes bracing himself for what’s to come.
Why isn’t he saying anything…? He should push him away and brush him off, so why doesn’t he..?
Till can feel his heart beating faster every second and feels like he is going to explode soon.
Ivan looks down to Till’s lips, they are looking so nice in this lightening and can’t help, but wonder how, they would feel on his own..
Though does Till even like him enough for him to just kiss him…
His heart is beating so fast he can’t hear his own thoughts anymore and blinds out Ibanny who is trying to tell him something, only cupping Till‘s cheek.
It‘s very soft and feels so right in his hand..
Lost in thought he brushes his thumb over Till‘s lips getting more closer to him..
Everything in himself screams at him to just kiss him and judge from his reaction, if he loves him or not.
It‘s driving him crazy..
They kissed before sure, but that was just an accident and further looking at it, he can still see the mark, his snaggletooth left back then and lightly brushed over it too.
He can feel their breaths mixing, as he moves even closer, but then notices just how heavy Till is trembling and clearly afraid of whatever, he is planning to do, so he gets away from him, sitting up.
„Sorry..“, he muttered, turning away from Till, to leave him space.
Till quickly gets up and leaves his room without another word.
He really messed up didn’t he..?
A sneeze escapes him and he lightly rubs his nose, cleaning up the snacks they ate and turned off the console, the house suddenly feeling very empty without Till.
Though the weirdest thing is that Ibanny vanished without a trace and he couldn’t find it in any room, so that must mean he really messed up huh.
Till throws himself into his bed at home and tries to calm his racing heart down with deep breaths, just like Tillbun taught him.
Did Ivan just try to kiss him and why did he distance himself and apologise..?
And why is he so disappointed that he didn’t do it..? Tears leave his eyes in confusion and he looks around for Tillbun for comfort, but the bunny is nowhere to be seen.
Does that mean the mission is no more and he and Ivan aren’t getting together after all..?
Is it because he is still afraid and it won’t happen thanks to that..?
~
The next school day Ivan didn’t come to school and Till feels incredibly guilty, it must be his fault after all..
Ivan surely is avoiding him now..
To be honest he would too, after all he ran like a fool away from him once again and didn’t even listen to him at all…
The whole school day felt weird without Ivan behind him and no Tillbun to lecture him about something that he did wrong…
It also began to rain heavily after he got home and he can’t help, but think about what Ivan is doing right now..
Is he mad at him..? Disappointed or just sad?
Without thinking he threw over a jacket and rushed to Ivan’s place in the heavy rain, not caring about how wet he is getting and ringing his bell, a little out of breath.
But no one answered, which is weird, since he should be home…
Wait.. This is Ivan we are talking about.. This must mean that…
He turned around and ran back to his own house and spotting Ivan on the way to his house grabbing his hand.
Ivan turned around immediately, his cheeks very red and heavily breathing.
He is sick..
That’s why he wasn’t in school and yet here he is sick in heavy rain, walking to his home to apologise…
He can feel tears forming in his eyes, since that’s so much like Ivan. Careless as ever about himself…
„You idiot..“, he hiccups, throwing himself into his arms, not caring in the slightest about getting sick. „Why do you care so much..?“, he adds burying his head into Ivan’s shoulder.
Ivan takes deep breaths, to stay focused with his heavy cold and wraps his arms around Till to steady himself.
„Sorry..“, he can’t help, but apologise, and gently brushes Till‘s tears away, who is shaking his head, stopping him from doing so.
„Stop apologising and tease, me or flirt just like you always do…“, Till gets out looking up to him, equally out of breath like Ivan and both catching their breath.
„I thought you didn’t like it..“, Ivan gets out and hears Till hiccuping again and looking down a bit.
„I thought so too, but.. I never really minded.. I was just too afraid..“, he admits looking into his tired eyes again.
„Afraid of what..?“, Ivan asks and Till feels his cheeks warm up a bit.
„That you don’t mean it and I get hurt, but then you stopped and I missed it terribly without realising and… and.. realised I was just running.“, Till finally told him, closing his eyes, relief hitting him after getting it out.
He feels Ivan cup his cheek and he opens his eyes again, as Ivan leans his forehead against his own.
„We are both idiots aren’t we..?“, he asks, smiling at Till and Till can feel just how hot his forehead is, nodding a bit.
Then he leans in closer, pressing their lips tentatively together and after a while Ivan kisses them back, finding a comfortable rhythm together.
He holds onto Ivan‘s shirt and just concentrates on the feeling of Ivan’s and his lips together.
Ivan softly holds onto Till‘s head pressing it gently forward, to taste Till‘s lips fully and as they part, he feels his head spinning a bit from the cold, but still smiles warmly at Till.
Far away too little bunnies are watching them holding their paws.
„Good job.“,Tillbun praises Ibanny, looking at it with a gentle smile „Leaving them to decide what to do alone, was a good idea.“, it adds looking down to the scene.
Ibanny slowly nods and sighs a little „He probably, infected Till now though…“, it remarks and shakes its head a bit.
„Well just as romantic as a certain someone huh?“, Tillbun teases it and nudges slightly against it with its elbow, Ibanny grumbling a bit in response.
„Our job here is done, so stop comparing me to this idiot, we are nothing alike, not even in the slightest.“, Ibanny defends itself and turns it back to the young couple.
„Believe what you want sweetheart..“, Tillbun replies, chuckling and presses, a soft kiss onto its cheek, both snuggling up to each other, after not seeing the other for a long time.
Ibanny only grumbles a bit, but feels a bit better after the kiss and closes its eyes „Do you think they will be fine on their own?“, it asks, trying not to sound like it actually cares about them, but fails miserably..
„They will surely have their ups and downs, but I believe they will be just fine..“, it tells its partner, while taking another look at the young couple and a small smile making its way onto its face.
Their job here is done and they won’t meet again, but they will always remember them, when helping other people that’s for sure.
After all, sometimes people just need a little push, to get together or find each other and that makes their job very beautiful, even though they can’t see each other during these periods.
Or they need a little magic.
~