they’re sleeping in isak’s bed, in isak’s room, under isak’s duvet. all things that even loves. (oh, don’t forget about how he loves isak.) in isak’s real, grown-up bed, and he prefers being here, because at home he still has a bunk bed, like he’s 10. isak never complained, because what his bed lacks, his room makes up for in lived-in-ness. the only plus about even’s room, is that his mattress is smaller, and they’re as close as can be. ❝ isak.❞ he whispers. (because he isn’t asleep, isak is, but he isn’t.) he’s doing fine, he’s not sure if he can’t sleep or he doesn’t want to sleep, because if he doesn’t sleep, he can just watch isak lay softly, quietly, and look calm as he sleeps. even in the dark, he has memorized how isak looks when he sleeps. ❝ thank you.❞ sometimes, he’s still so surprised that isak hasn’t run away. and he’s so thankful. ❝ i want to be with you forever.❞ shifts his arm around isak to pull him slightly closer. he’s no longer afraid he’s manic when he feels this much about isak. (that seed of doubt was short-lived. he loves isak. it’s real.) he’s barely afraid that he’s moving too fast, that they’re moving too fast. maybe they are, maybe he wants to move in with isak for real, maybe he wants everything with isak, forever. anyway, he’s planning on trying to move out after he graduates, and if isak needs somewhere to live... even will have space. he’ll always have space for isak. ❝ i hope you never leave.❞ saying it to the dark of isak’s room makes the fear real; it’s always been sitting there, in the back of his chest, and he never wants to not have isak in his life. ❝ i’m really afraid of that. i know it’s not rational, because you’ve already proven yourself to me, you came back for me, but i’m still afraid.❞ maybe he can sleep now, moves his arm so he can brush the hair off of isak’s forehead. leans to press a light kiss against isak’s forehead. ❝ i love you.❞