Chapter Text
The shower head spluttered, it's last few drops of icy water falling before it came to it's inevitable demise.
Connor sighed. He knew this time would come. He stepped out and grabbed his towel to wrap around his mostly still dry body.
As he walked out of the bathroom to the small apartments living room/dining room/kitchen, he threw his dirty shirt at the couch his best friend and roommate was laying on. Oliver simply replied with a lazy middle finger in Connor's general direction.
Connor entered the adjacent bedroom and tugged on a pair of worn tracksuit bottoms - probably Oliver's - and a loose shirt. He shivered. They really needed to get their heating fixed, especially considering the weather had been getting colder and colder recently. Spotting the hoodie flung over the back of Oliver's couch, he walked in and grabbed it, plodding down next to his friend.
Oliver opened his eyes and attempted to glare at his roommate, but the sleepy daze capturing his face made it hard to find him intimidating.
"Do you ever wear your own clothes?" Oliver groaned, sitting up. He'd been studying - and later napping - before Connor had burst through their creaky door at 11pm, with the sudden urge to shower.
Connor grinned, wrapping the slightly too large hoodie tighter around him. "I do, but yours are much comfier. Besides, is that not my shirt you have on?"
"Shut up, I had no clean ones left," Oliver scowled, still failing to appear gloomy. His half-lidded eyes made his aggressive expression somehow soft. Adorable, thought Connor. Then he caught himself. That's not what friends think of other friends.
Oliver looked at him after a pause, as if hesitant about what he wanted to say next.
"How was your date with, uh... What was it, Mark? Matt? Mike?" Oliver asked unenthusiastically, eyes focused on his clasped hands.
"Michael? Not too great. He wasn't really... My type. All he talked about the entire night was his football scholarship. It's great and everything, but some of us are still working though uni without being handed it on a silver platter, you know?" Oliver glanced at him and smiled, almost shyly. They both knew that Connor wasn't kindly referring to his own uni struggles - it was Oliver that had issues with his education. Oliver was incredibly smart, but he'd only transferred to Connor's university a year ago - much later than every one else - and spent almost all of his time and energy catching up.
Oliver caught his lip in his teeth and chewed slightly. He ignored the warm feeling swelling in his chest at Connor's sweet appreciation of his hard work.
Connor sat back and stretched his torso inelegantly. He caught Oliver's eye and gave another audacious grin.
"You know the showers finally broken," Connor said.
"You put it out of its misery?"
"It did that itself, don't worry. Not sure what we're doing for hot water. Or tv. Or heating. Or beds. The whole taking turns on the bed and couch arrangement is working fine, but I think my neck is permanently cramped. Our apartment's kind of a mess right now, isn't it?"
Oliver laughed. "You could say that." Another pause. "Maybe I could ask my parents for some more money.."
Connor's reply came sharply. "No way. They've already done us enough favours, and I haven't even met them yet. You're working a weekend job for gods sake, you've done your part plenty. Maybe I should get a job."
"You don't have to do that, exams are coming up and your course is harder than mine, you're gonna be more stressed than ever. You don't need that," Oliver gave him a sympathetic smile and placed a gentle hand to his friends shoulder.
Connor's grin was replaced with a timid smile.
Oliver rubbed his shoulder quietly. "We'll sort it out. We always do."
Connor perked up. "Hey, you want the bed tonight? I'm fine with the couch. Pretty sure it's your turn anyway."
"Nope, you're the one who's been out all afternoon, you've gotta be more tired. You take the bed," Oliver said, shaking his head.
"Well we sure as hell cant share it. It won't be big enough."
Oliver rolled his eyes, still with a warm smile on his face. He shook his head again but got up and walked to the bedroom - but only after bringing Connor two blankets for the cold couch.