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Vezalius loves midnight. Something about the moon being so high in the sky, casting the light that it borrowed from the sun towards the earth, seeping in through the windows in his and his lover's apartment. If he had been better with arranging words, he would call it poetic.
Vezalius has always been a little bit of an insomniac, choosing to stay up later instead of sleeping soundly. And being a med student didn't help either, mountains of assignments and study materials are constantly waiting, and there's simply not enough time in a day, so more often than not, Vezalius would stay up, making sure he's ahead of everything in terms of study.
Wilson calls it a bad habit.
Vezalius argues that he gets 8 hours of sleep anyway.
Wilson would roll his eyes.
Tonight, though, Wilson had succeeded in pulling Vezalius away from his studies, pointing out that tomorrow is a Saturday and they both had worked hard enough for the week to warrant a glass of wine to unwind. Now Wilson is sitting on the kitchen counter with Vezalius standing between his legs, hands stroking Wilson's waist softly, sharing stories and kisses and touch that lingers, the glass of wine off to the side of them long forgotten.
Zali had told Wilson all about his research, using what Wilson calls 'big boy words'. Wilson still pays attention closely, even if he doesn't understand half of it. In turn, Wilson talked about his day, his work, and a new regular at the cafe he worked at. A certain man with bleach blonde hair named Vanta. Zali had heard him in Wilson stories more than once, had heard about the guy's toned muscles and his tendency to talk too fast.
"Careful there, I might start thinking you have a crush on him," Zali teased before leaning in to capture Wilson's mouth in a kiss.
Much to Zali dismay, the kiss was cut short as Wilson pushed him away by the shoulder, eyes wide.
"I do not have a crush on him, do I?"
"Do you?" Zali raised his brows.
Sensing the panic creeping up on Wilson, Zali took his hand into his and squeezed them gently, "it's alright, darling."
"How," Wilson exhales, "how can you be so calm?"
"I have just come to the realization that I have a crush on another man when I have you right here," says Wilson, "you're perfect, more than I could ever ask for. And I have the audacity to have my eyes caught on another?"
Vezalius took Wilson's face in his hands, wiping the tears that had fallen from his lover's eyes, "you still love me the same, yeah?"
"More than ever."
"Then that's enough," Zali smiles, "you always have too much love to give. As long as you're happy, and you still love me, I don't mind sharing."
"Maybe you should introduce us sometimes, hm?"
—
When Vanta agreed to try and give this three way relationship a try, Vezalius didn't expect much to happen. Vanta still stays at his dorm room, even though Vezalius and Wilson had offered him to move in, he does sleep over often, though.
Vezalius and Wilson's love is a lot of give and take, spending the little free time they have with each other. Coffee brewed to perfection left on the kitchen counter for Vezalius when Wilson had to leave early, and lingering touches from Vezalius when Wilson was too alert to fall asleep.
Vanta and Wilson, however, are loud in their expression of love. And not only because of their uncontrollable volume. Between Vanta who threw around 'I love you' recklessly, and Wilson who held the person he loves close—literally, it's hard not to miss the spark between them.
But Vezalius and Vanta are still trying to find their footing with each other. Vezalius notices Vanta's eyes on him sometimes when he thinks he isn't paying attention. Vezalius pretends not to know.
It's a few weeks after their initial get together that Vezalius and Vanta were alone together. The three had just gone home from a party hosted by Rosemi—Zali's senior—Zali had once again been the responsible one out of the three and refrained from drinking. Not that Wilson and Vanta get blackout drunk or anything, but once they arrive at their apartment, Wilson beeline to the bathroom to get ready for bed. Vanta hesitated at the doorstep until Zali invited him in to eat and maybe watch a movie.
The two move in silence, Zali going to the kitchen to reheat the leftover takeout from earlier that day while Vanta goes to turn on the TV. It's when Vanta goes to the kitchen to take some soft drinks from the refrigerator that he finally breaks the silence.
"Hey, uh, why did you introduce me like that earlier?"
Zali utters a questioning hum, mind going back to file through his memory of the party.
Right, the three of them had met Zali's friend, and Zali had introduced them as, in his exact words, 'my boyfriend, and my boyfriend's boyfriend'
"Ah, I said it as a joke," Zali turns to face Vanta, "does it not sit right with you?"
Vanta averts his gaze, hand going up to rub at his neck. A nervous habit.
"Well," Vanta paused, opening then closing his lips as if unsure what to say, "I'm your boyfriend too, aren't I?"
Zali took the now warm takeout containers into his hands, then walked over to Vanta to kiss his forehead, muttering a small, "that, you are," before going to the sofa.
"Zali!" Vanta sputters, "unfair, man." He quickly went after him, two cans of soda in hand.
Vanta set the cans down on the table, taking the container that Zali offered him, then sat down next to him, shoulder to shoulder. Talking about nothing and everything in between bites of their takeout food, smiles never leaving their faces.
The clock had hit midnight now. Vanta had moved from sitting shoulder to shoulder with Zali to laying his head on his lap, Zali's fingers carding softly through his hair. The TV is playing some cheesy rom-com, taking Vanta's full attention, while Zali places his focus on staring at Vanta's face instead.
"If you keep staring, I might start thinking you like me," Vanta teased, eyes not leaving the TV.
"Mhm, I do like you."
Vanta looked up, "yeah?"
Zali smiles, then leans down to place a kiss on Vanta's forehead, "was that okay?"
Vanta holds Zali's face in his hands, smiling from ear to ear, "a bit late to ask, don't you think?"
"Then is this one okay?" Zali's eyes darted to his lips, then back to Vanta's eyes again.
Vanta pulled himself up, sitting next to Zali, tilting his head, then with eyes filled with fake innocence, asked, "What is okay, exactly?"
Zali leans in, until their foreheads are pressed against each other, "may I kiss you?"
Vanta answers it wordlessly.
—
When Wilson wakes up, he immediately realizes a few things. One, his throat is very dry. Two, it's midday already, the sun is peeking through the blinds in the bedroom. Three, speaking of the bedroom, he's alone in this bedroom, and the apartment is quiet.
Once he gathered all his conscience, Wilson took the water bottle on the bedside table, drinking half of its contents before he made his way outside.
The TV is still on, playing at a low volume, and Wilson could see Zali's head leaning back on the sofa, obviously still asleep. Vanta is nowhere to be seen, though. Wilson walked towards the sofa, and now that he's here, he could see a heap of bleach blonde hair on Zali's lap.
Wilson smiles, placing a kiss on Zali's head, muttering a good morning.
Zali blinks awake.
"Didn't think I left those there," Wilson's eyes the blooming marks behind Zali's unbuttoned shirt.
Zali hummed, patting the empty spot at the sofa next to him. An invitation.
Well, Wilson could use a little more sleep.