Chapter Text
“Bischi, come on now,” Aleks whines as he tries to wake his friend up.
Said friend turns away from Aleks's voice. “Fuck off,” he mutters, burying his face deeper into the pillow. Aleks tries not to get distracted by his friend's lithe profile as he turns away from him.
Tom is wearing nothing but his black boxers after they went a little crazy last night, assuming training had been postponed. Aleks had received a notification from Jamal informing him that it was back on the schedule.
“Bischi,” Aleks tries again, his hand trailing over his friend's backside. Tom arches into his touch like a touch-starved cat. Aleks has seen enough to know where this is going, so he gives Tom's ass a quick slap, earning a yelp.
“We are not fucking, Bischi. Training is back on,” Aleks says, trying to sound stern.
Tom groans, shuffling out from under the blanket before pinning Aleks with a vindictive stare. “You promised no training when you rail—”
“Hushhh.” Aleks laughs, covering his friend's mouth. “They changed it back because of the weather.”
Tom grumbles as he leaves the bed and shuffles towards the bathroom. Aleks waits until he hears the shower running before raising his voice.
“If you get ready in ten minutes, I might give you the rematch at Uno you've been begging for.”
Tom scrambles around in the bathroom, and Aleks smiles to himself.
They always arrive at training separately. They rarely spend the night at each other's apartments, either. Both of them actively try not to let their arrangement change their dynamic. They are friends first, and neither wants to risk complicating things by expecting more than they've agreed to give. They have a good thing going, and Aleks is a hundred percent satisfied with how things are.
At least, that's what he tells himself.
He spots the reason those rules exist in the first place when he reaches the pitch and sees Michael and Jamal practising passing patterns. Mike is talking animatedly as he passes the ball to an amused Jamal, who barely seems to be paying attention to the drill anymore.
It's not crazy to say that Jamal and Michael are the exact prototype of what NOT to do when you have a friends-with-benefits arrangement, especially when you're supposedly just having sex without attachments. Well, besides being close friends.
Michael and Jamal don't just spend time together. They gravitate towards each other like magnets. Once you notice the pattern, it's impossible not to see it. They can go from bickering over something ridiculous to looking at each other like the rest of the world has ceased to exist.
What they have is deeply emotional, with absolutely no benefits to speak of. Just misery. Especially after Aleks discovered that Jamal was in love with Michael and that the feelings were unrequited?!?!
They are Aleks's personal hell.
Speaking of the devil, he spots Jamal and Mike sitting at a separate table in the lounge, both deeply engrossed in something on a phone. Aleks hates his luck. No one else has arrived yet, which means he's about to third-wheel with these two idiots.
He sighs as he sits beside Jamal, who greets him with an easy smile. Mike gives him a nod before they both return their attention to the phone.
“What are you guys even watching?” Aleks asks. No one could pay him enough to look at that screen. Who knows what those weirdos are up to?
Jamal looks up and starts explaining. “So basically... I don't know how to explain it without sounding insane.”
“You don't really have to,” Aleks supplies.
“No, I'm looking for the right words.” Jamal glances around, deep in thought.
“Don't bother. I only asked to be nice.”
“It's a soap opera,” Mike says calmly, making both of them turn towards him.
Jamal groans and covers his face. “You make us sound cringe, Mike.”
Mike blinks, entirely unbothered. “There is no us in this scenario. You're the one who made me watch it.”
Aleks might shoot himself in the face if somebody doesn't save him from these people.
Jamal gasps, offended. “But you're the one who wanted to know what would happen to the twin!”
“Because I'm pretty sure the twin is dead. It's more about proving a point than-”
“Oh my God, Mike. Just admit you enjoy the plot.”
“Gun to my face, and the answer will still be a resounding no.”
Aleks sighs in relief when Tom finally makes his way towards them. He schools his features, hoping he doesn't look as desperate for company as he feels. If Tom senses that Aleks is distressed, there's a good chance he'll leave him to suffer alone just for the entertainment.
Aleks tries not to let his evil grin take over as Tom falls for the trap and sits beside him. The other two are still bickering, so Tom gives Aleks a questioning look.
“Don't even ask,” Aleks mouths.
Tom nods after giving them one final look.
“So, are you coming over today?” Aleks asks. They don't usually spend consecutive days together, but yesterday had been fun, and Aleks wouldn't mind a repeat.
Jamal finally decides to pay attention to their conversation, which, naturally, makes his other half feign interest too.
Tom chuckles and shakes his head. “Nope. I've got a date, unlike you losers.”
Aleks keeps his expression carefully neutral. Tom warned him about this date three days ago, but he'd been hoping his friend would change his mind. He isn't sure why the thought of Tom spending the evening with someone else suddenly makes his stomach feel heavy. It's not as though they agreed to be exclusive. They haven't even agreed to be anything more than what they are.
Still, he picks at the edge of his napkin and makes himself look busy.
Jamal and Mike pretend to focus on their phone.
Tom, apparently oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, continues, “She has a friend too. Totally your type, Mike.”
Aleks has to bite back a smile as Jamal glares at Tom. Mike, meanwhile, gives Tom an alarmed look.
“Um, pass, man,” Mike mutters, tapping the screen.
Jamal rolls his eyes. “Why not, Mike? Everyone and their mama in this city already knows your type.”
Aleks looks at Jamal properly. He's bickering, rolling his eyes, and behaving like his usual self. Not the quiet, visibly miserable version of Jamal who used to look as though he'd given up on getting what he wanted. Something has changed.
Mike gives Jamal a small smile. “I'm happy where I am.”
Aleks freezes. Then he gasps and points at them. “You... guys are weird.”
They both stare at him without blinking.
Tom shrugs. “I mean, they're always weird. What's new?”
Aleks shakes his head. “No. Trust me, Tom. They're pulling some shit.”
His friend rolls his eyes and rises from his seat. “So, double date?”
Aleks swallows. For a second, he looks at Jamal, who is giving him a pleading look, as if Aleks might suddenly develop some enlightenment about feelings and know how to handle this situation for him.
Unfortunately, Aleks has his own problems.
“You're paying,” he says, dapping Tom up.
He wonders when this heaviness will stop.
Eze stares at the incoming video call from Mike.
He scrambles to pick up, even more surprised when the screen reveals Mike and Jamal sitting together in Mike's apartment. Eze tries not to look alarmed. What are these idiots up to?
“Hi, Ebs.” Jamal gives him a wave, while his supposedly best friend offers nothing more than a grunt.
“Jamal? My G, what's up?” Eze asks with a smile. He's always enjoyed talking to Jamal, no matter how brief their conversations are. It's easy to tell that he's a solid guy, unlike someone who is currently glaring at Eze through the screen as though he has personally wronged him.
“All good, man. Mike wants to say something.” Jamal smiles menacingly.
Mike sighs and rolls his eyes.
“You have five minutes to ask questions. I'll hang up as soon as the time is up,” he warns.
“Oh, this better be good.” Eze grins as Jamal nods along with a matching smile.
“Me and Jamal are dating, and your five minutes start now. Be wise. You can call me an idiot throughout the whole year, but I won't be answering questions after today.”
Eze tries to process what he's just heard. He never thought these two idiots would figure it out in his lifetime. So naturally, his first response is to laugh in their faces.
“You fucking idiots!” He points at the screen, trying to stop laughing.
“See? I told you it could've been a text,” Mike says to Jamal.
Jamal shakes his head. “He's your best friend, Mike. You can't text people such a big update.”
“Can you be my best friend instead of him?”
“Cute, but my hands are full with boyfriend duties.”
Eze tries to collect himself, knowing he's already wasted a full minute.
“Wait, wait. So who asked who?”
Mike thinks for a moment, but Jamal answers first. “It was a back-and-forth cycle of asking and rejection.”
“Please tell me Mike cried his eyes out.” Eze grins.
“No fucking comment,” Mike says, glaring at him.
Jamal gives Eze a tiny nod.
“What's the point of those five minutes if I'm not getting an honest and detailed answer?” Eze whines, trying to hide the fact that Jamal has already given him the answer he wanted.
“You are getting an answer,” Mike bites out. “If it were up to me, you'd have heard through a text, and I'd probably have blocked you temporarily when you started asking stupid shit.”
Eze grins and bats his eyelashes mockingly. “Mikey is now a tamed man.”
“Ebs,” Mike warns.
Jamal is dying of laughter in the background.
Eze feels like a proud parent. Mike did it. He got his soulmate, and they're calling him together to let him know. He's grateful he gets to see his friend happy. But that doesn't mean he won't ask a few stupid questions just to make Mike lose his mind.
“So...” Eze makes sure to catch their attention. “Jamal tops, right?”
Mike hangs up immediately.
Eze laughs as he stares at the call log. These idiots deserve all the joy in the world.
“So, another hypothetical situation,” Jamal begins.
They're both lying on Jamal's bed, staring at the ceiling. Michael groans. He always gets these situations wrong.
“What if I'd said no the night you came over to my apartment?” Jamal turns to give him a menacing look.
“Can we not?” Michael tries to reason with him. “Especially when we're waiting for our six-month anniversary dinner reservation?”
“I feel like staying in,” Jamal says.
“You don't have to do that for me,” Michael mutters.
He would love nothing more than to stay in this bed all night and talk to Jamal, but he can't shake the feeling that he's holding his partner back. Jamal deserves to go out, have fun, and do all the things Michael sometimes finds exhausting. Michael doesn't want Jamal to give those things up just because he's happy staying in.
Jamal turns to face him properly. “I will do anything for you.”
Michael's heart soars. He reaches for Jamal's hand, intertwining their fingers before bringing them to his lips.
“Ew. Cringe,” he mutters, pressing a soft kiss to his boyfriend's lips.
Jamal laughs against his mouth, and Michael smiles.
For once, he doesn't wonder whether Jamal is bored of him or whether he should give him space. He simply stays where he is, holding Jamal's hand, letting himself believe that being wanted doesn't have to be something he earns by making himself scarce.
“Still want to stay in?” Jamal asks.
Michael kisses him again.
“Obviously.”