anonymous asked: number 14 for your prompt list??
...i guess u guys got me, huh. (just so weâre clear, though. iâve written three roommates fics already. this is probably entirely self plagiarism, but hereâs a new (i hope) one. i somehow made it to 1.5k, so itâs on ao3 too.)
14: Weâre roommates but weâre falling for each otherÂ
It probably started that first time Even showed him the roof of their apartment building. Started really small, back then, just a little voice in the back of his head that said âheâs-â and then he shut it the fuck up, because he and Even live together, and he didnât want to make it uncomfortable.
It was easy to just push it away, though. Heâs pretty good at deflecting, and the view from the rooftop could easily explain away the fact that his breath had vanished. A few minutes later, it was even easier to explain it away, because as Even told him, there was no smoke alarms up there, and they could light up that joint that Even had.
Isak spends a lot of evenings up there now, with or without Even. Watching the sunset is a way of reminding himself that if the world is going to sleep, he should too, and maybe it doesnât actually help him fall asleep, but at least heâs trying something.
Itâs, actually, more difficult when Even joins him. Not in a bad way, itâs just that they tend to talk for hours, way past when either of them should be awake. Even will bring a blanket because somehow he predicts it, and they shield themselves from the cold night by sitting closer than normal people do.
Isak still tries to push his feelings onto the view over Oslo, the streaks of pink and orange in the sky, the streetlights flickering through the trees, the stars, when they come out.
It works, until Even looks at him like that.
It probably started when Magnus first introduced him to Isak, the guy whoâd agreed to house/cat/plant-sit for Even while he was away.
It was actually kind of a weird situation. Magnus was going to house sit for him, but then something came up and he asked if Even would mind if he asked a friend to do it instead - and despite just about everything about Magnus, Even does trust his judgement at the end of it all, so he agreed.
(He found out when he returned from his holiday that Isak had just finished his first year at uni, so he had to move out of his accommodation, and he would âdo anything to avoid having to move back in with his parents.â Magnus had helped him avoid it for a week longer - and then Even helped him avoid it even more, because heâs been looking for someone to take the spare room anyway, and Isak managed not to burn the place down, and likes his cat, Pippa, too. Isakâs as good a flatmate as heâs ever going to get.)
Yeah, it probably started when he saw the expression on Isakâs face when he first met Pippa, how he crouched down to her where she was rubbing around his legs and extended his hand towards her, waiting for her to push her nose against it.
But he kind of forgot that it might be an issue if theyâre going to live with each other. Oops.
Heâs not very good at not acting on feelings, but as he gets to know Isak, he finds that heâs one of the most oblivious and stubborn people that Even has ever met. Even acts on his feelings in subtle ways, makes Isak breakfast, leans his head on him when they watch movies, things like that, and Isak doesnât notice a thing.
It works, until they share a blanket on the rooftop.
Isak tries to rationalise it. This is Even, here. Heâd probably look at a fly like that if it managed to find a window and get back outside. Just from sheer pride that the fly was so fucking smart.
But itâs getting dark, and thoughts are never rational at this time. Sometimes he even lets himself describe the sunset as beautiful when itâs this late.
(Sometimes, he might describe Even like that, too.)
Itâs summer, but it isnât warm. Even brought the blanket out for them to share again, and Isakâs shoulder presses against him while he does everything in his power to stop himself turning to look at Even, stop himself seeing what damn expression he has on his face.
Living with him for the last ten months - itâs actually been great. And they both agreed that theyâd be happy with it for another year, too. Sure, there are things that frustrate both of them, but they get on so easily that they forgive easily too.
Isak also falls pretty easily. Heâs a really clumsy fucking person, and Even is just in the way.
Even has never thought of it as rational, but he has thought of it. A lot.
Isak, warm against his side, sighing contentedly when Evenâs arm wraps around him with the blanket and staring pointedly forward at the darkening sky. Relaxing in infintesimal amounts, slowly, slowly, torturously slowly. Leaning against Even with a barely-there smile, his hair teased by the wind, his eyes half shut.
Isakâs not looking at him anyway, so Even just lets himself watch. Like he said, heâs not good at not acting on his feelings. Hes not good at being subtle, really, but Isak still doesnât seem to notice.
They make light conversation, and itâs just like it always is. Just as simple, just as easy, just as sweet.
Just like the way Even fell in love with him.
Itâs different, though, this time. Maybe itâs because of the late hour, the light evenings of summer, the early sunrise. Theyâre still talking when it creeps up behind them, and Isak glances back to see the sky already waking.
Itâs not going to be a good night to fall asleep. And, as he turns back to facing forward, his eyes pass over Even.
Heâs still looking at Isak like that. And Isakâs tired. He canât help it.
Itâs different this time.
âWhat time is it?â Even asks after he flicks his eyes to the side, to catch a glimpse of the sunrise. His voice is low, rough, tired.
âLate,â he shrugs, wishing that he had a better answer, but knowing that he wonât be able to look away long enough to get one. âOr early. I donât know.â
Isak likes Evenâs smile, too. Itâs beautiful, especially up close like this.
âDonât you usually watch the sunset to help you sleep?â
Isak nods. âNothing like a sunrise to help you wake up, though.â
He wouldnât really describe this as waking up. With the proximity to Even, the arm still round his shoulders that he leans his head on, he feels more like heâs dreaming.
âDo you have work tomorrow?â Even asks, and thereâs tired concern drifting through to his voice
Isak shakes his head. âDo you?â
Even shakes his head too.Â
âWe can sleep in, then.â
âYeah,â Even says softly. âNot yet, though. I donât want to go inside just yet.â
âNo?â Isak doesnât rationalise his hopefulness.
âNo. Itâs nice out here. With you.â
âIt is nice,â Isak agrees. âWith you, too.â
Evenâs smile grows, and Isakâs love grows with it.
His urge to say something grows with it, too, because itâs late, or itâs early, and heâs past rational thought. Past trying to persuade himself that Even looks at everyone like that.
Itâs been long enough now that Isak knows he doesnât, not even the best friends he met, the ones that have known Even since he was the smallest kid in first grade.
This is the look Even gives to Isak, and only Isak. Itâs probably similar to the one Isak gives Even when he forgets to guard it.
They live together. Maybe it could cause problems, but Isak is building himself up enough now that he knows they can work it out. He knows Even, sometimes it feels like heâs known Even longer than those best friends have.
He doesnât really know what to say, but he reaches out, under the tangle of the blanket, shifts his body and frees his hand so that he can place it at the top of Evenâs chest, the bottom of his neck. He can feel Evenâs heartbeat, steady and wild all at once, and feels him swallow under his fingers.
He doesnât press down in the slightest, but Evenâs breath hitches anyway.
âIsak,â he says, loud against the quiet night but almost silent against the noise of Isakâs own heartbeat and all his thoughts.
âHi,â Isak says with a gentle smile. âI - I, uh.â
He loses, then, all the thoughts, all the words, all the courage. They drop away from him, but Even picks them up.
His arm around Isakâs shoulders tightens, moves a little so he can pull Isak in close, and Isak does nothing to fight it, but accepts his defeat with a kiss.
He falls into Even, and Even catches him.