Chapter Text
It was already well past lunchtime when Bård finally thought of going home after all. Vegard had also called before, suggesting they could do something and Calle was welcome to join them as well. He hadn’t said anything about it though, feeling nicely content in this new position; they had been just playing some games and watching TV in the middle of regularly scheduled cuddling and if the younger guy was honest, it could just go on like this forever.
He still figured paying a visit home was a worthy idea, after some time. He hadn’t seen his parents for a couple of days and even though it wasn’t a big deal, he was used to seeing them basically all the time. “Send me there?” he suggested after explaining what was on his mind.
“Why? We said we don’t have to go anywhere today,” Calle said in reply, fake whiny tone in his voice and Bård shook his head, crawling towards him on the couch again, abandoning his TV game controller. The game had finished anyway, he being the loser for the umpteenth time.
“What’s wrong? Are you nervous?” The younger guy looked up to Calle suddenly, eyes narrowed, as the other slowly shook his head, not turning away from the TV.
“Nope,” Calle said after a minute with a little sigh, and as to reassure Bård, set his arm lazily around his shoulders and pulled him a little closer.
Bård struggled a bit but stilled eventually. He opened his mouth for a few times, but no words came out. Finally he took a deep breath and nudged the other’s side, so he was finally forced to pay him more attention and fix his glance on him. “Your heart is beating as if you are, though,” he said then, pleased with himself.
Calle rolled his eyes with mock exasperation. Understanding, however, that the younger guy wouldn’t just let it be, he leaned back on the couch, resting his cheek on Bård’s head as his was set on his shoulder. “It’s always like this, when you are… here,” he said finally, end of his sentence almost too quiet to be heard. He looked more embarrassed than Bård had ever seen him, turning to look away again and almost trying to get some space between them, even though he didn’t remove his hand.
Swallowing back the comments on his tongue, Bård just shook his head and made himself more comfortable. They had literally done nothing and it had felt so nice. Even if they didn’t speak and just sat there in silence, it felt kind of perfect for this moment.
“So, do you want to go home?” Calle finally inquired, shutting off the TV and checking the time. It was already seven in the evening and they hadn’t even bothered with eating.
The younger guy rubbed his eyes sleepily and shrugged. “I have a feeling it is cold outside and this here is so nice,” he sighed and Calle let out a short laugh.
“Won’t your brother worry, though?” he wanted to know.
“He was your friend first, would he worry?” Bård shot back, rising a questioning eyebrow. Calle gave him a gentle push.
“As if you don’t know he is a bit overprotective over you. He probably thinks I have been trying to get you to f-… slave for me by now, clean my flat and cook for me and everything.”
Bård chuckled, but didn’t bother to correct him by saying that he can barely cook and cleaning wasn’t his favourite past-time hobby as well. Besides, the apartment was rather tidy and he liked the way everything was, it was so suitable for the other, it just seemed to scream his name.
“Okay, let’s go then,” he just said and Calle nodded before standing up and looking around to give Bård one of his jumpers. He really hated lending his clothes to others, but this time it felt different and he was even secretly pleased having the other wear something of his.
-o-
“Calle?”
Calle looked at Bård, worry covering his features at the sight of uncertainty and question on the other’s face. “What’s up?” he asked, tugging on the younger guy’s sleeve, until he took his hand out from his pocket, so he could interlace their fingers.
Bård sighed and gave a gentle squeeze, appreciating the action, but not commenting. It suddenly meant so much to him, he was still in awe of how things had worked out, not to mention it wasn’t very fathomable, the fact he could touch the other when he wanted to, he could run his hands through his hair, he could even probably just kiss him if he felt like it…
“Do you think I could do it? The college here, I mean. Acting and… all this stuff?”
Even if it wasn’t the topic Calle really wanted to discuss, having the issues with his parents over his chosen path anyway, nothing betrayed he felt like this. Instead he just nodded slowly. “Do you want to? If you want to, then you can,” he said, simple as that.
Bård smiled, looking straight ahead. “I think I do. I’m not sure, but I think that,” he said after a minute or two, feeling a bit lightheaded. He hadn’t shared this little hope with anyone, not even with Vegard.
Vegard was so much better with what he was doing – he was great with every instrument thrown on his way, he could start singing about anything; making rhymes or tunes wasn’t any trouble for him. Bård was maybe better with improvising and physical gags, but that was all. Vegard was genius in this area, he was a mere imitator.
He didn’t even know he actually wanted to share it or do it, to be honest, but voicing your thoughts out loud seemed to work wonders. It was no surprise people kept saying how important talking and communicating were.
“Then you are going to be great,” Calle said, stopping on his tracks and turning to look at the other. “You can always tell me when something like this is bothering you, okay? I’d rather you tell me things constantly, not feel so insecure suddenly and make me all worried.”
The other laughed it off and waved his hand. “It’s not that big of a deal,” he said as they reached his house. Bjarte was standing in the corridor as they entered.
“Hey,” Bård said to him, taking his shoes off.
The younger brother just looked at them and Bård only now figured he probably hadn’t seen Calle. Well, he hadn’t, not before Vegard took him along with him on that one night. He seemed to have heard about him, though, since his next words were directed at them. “So this is your… boyfriend.”
Bård rolled his eyes and took a small intuitive step towards Calle, who suddenly felt weirdly giddy. It was so unlike him, but it wasn’t… bad. “I’m going to kill Vegard,” Bård muttered, as the other just patted his back gently.
“I hope not,” he said and Bård let out some of the air he had kept in and started breathing again. “I can’t let you do that, who would tell your parents where you are when you want to stay at my place, then?” he added, smirking at the look on other’s face.
“Calle, maybe…” Bård started, but they were interrupted by Vegard, coming to hurry them in. The older guy leaned a bit closer, wanting to know what Bård was about to say, but he just shook his head sharply, not knowing exactly how to act in front of Vegard. This day seemed to have lasted forever.
“The movie is about to start,” Vegard interrupted them, eyes moving from one to the other, small smile on the corner of his mouth. “Drop your stuff off to Bård’s room and come back down,” he suggested and the others hurried upstairs.
“Should we go back to my place later? I’m still not happy of having to get out,” Calle asked, tickling Bård’s neck in the process with his breath as soon as they had entered the younger guy’s room. “And there are lot of things we could do there, as well,” he added soon after, one of his hands gently grasping Bård’s hip while the other found its way on his waist.
“If you say so,” Bård replied, seemingly bored, but feeling pretty damn excited at the sensation Calle’s thumb that was circling on the skin near his hipbone brought him. “How’s your heart doing?” he asked, stepping closer. Calle rolled his eyes.
-o-
Vegard sighed, not commenting on anything. He was pretty sure where this was going, but right now he was just trying to be happy for them. And not to think of all the images his mind was trying to come up with.
They were sitting on the living room, feasting on snacks he had prepared earlier, eyes glued at the newest comedy-thriller. He couldn’t help but to notice his brother and his best friend checking if the other was laughing. It was awkward at best, embarrassing more likely.
However, even though the future seemed to become pretty strange at his point, it wasn’t the time to think of it. He only coughed a bit, making Bjarte’s presence known as well and noticing how the others got some distance between them, before Bård smiled happily to him; genuinely, for what felt like the first time in weeks.