I think I saw this AU somewhere but university students Eragon and Murtagh where Eragon's studying art (idk what Murtagh's studying, maybe IT or something sports related?) and during one art class an almost naked Murtagh is the model. Eragon, who has an extreme crush on him, pushes through it and is extremely flustered around Murtagh because he thinks he has zero chances with him while Murtagh's actually hitting on him. Their friends (Nasuada, Arya and human Saphira and Thorn) are so done with them. Also I think you mentioned Eragon absentmindedly draws Murtagh... it's like 90% of all of his sketchbooks, no doubt, and it's also the reason why he never shows his sketches to anyone lol
I think a similar fic existed somewhere already but so many of the older ones are gone now and I don't remember the title :((
University AU: Eragon is a first year majoring in Art. The whole gang decided to go to the newest university: Argnor University. Because his social skills are in the negatives, Eragon's a bit of a loner, with his best friends being the dragon shifter Saphira and Murtagh. He's has a bit of a crush on Murtagh for years, but Eragon's a Certified Wimp and so never even thinks about confessing. Murtagh, meanwhile, has been pulling out all of the stops to woo Eragon. No matter how much he romances, however, it always fails to hit as Eragon does crazy mental gymnastics to interpret his advances as platonic. Cue loud groans from the rest of the gang.
Thorn suggests doing something super drastic, that way Murtagh will get a reaction out of the younger man. So he decides to volunteer to be the model in Eragon's figure drawing class, relishing in the man blushing like a tomato and shaking in his seat. Eragon is super nervous the whole time, and is paranoid that others can see he's super into the model and make fun of him. He practically sprints out of that classroom as soon as it's over. The whole gang, including Murtagh, decide that the two literally have to make out before their relationship can progress.
And yes, Eragon is a major Murtagh doodler. He would rather burn a sketchbook he bound and decorated himself than show another living soul.
