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Brandon and Nikolai have been friends for years. Same high school, same University just different majors.
Brandon was an art student, a very respected and talented artist.
Nikolai was studying business. A mafia prince set to take over a powerful position after graduation.
Introverted, Kind and always ready to help Brandon.
Loud, deadly, Chaotic Nikolai.
If you saw them together, nobody could even guess they were in the same cirlcle, let alone be best friends but friendship has no rules, it blooms in unexpected places.
They've known each other all their lives. Just by each other's side. Sometimes calling each other out for their stupidity, sometimes holding each other up. They were inseparable.
They even live together in the same house.
But lately there's been a change.
Both of them never had a serious relationship. Majority of the time people mistook them for a couple because they were always glued together.
Brandon had been trying to ignore the ache in his chest, everytime he sees Nikolai hanging out with women or men on his arms.
He tried to ignore it, he really did but he just couldn't shake the feeling off. But since he was really good at suppressing his emotions nobody really found out.
Nikolai on the other hand wore his heart on his sleeves and he was extremely tired of pretending that it didn't hurt everytime some guy laughed with Brandon. Tired of seeing Ava leaning against his shoulder like she had every right to. Tired of watching Clara trying to win his attention.
God, he was tired.
How do you tell your best friend/ roommate that you fell in love with him out of nowhere?
He had no idea how it happened, he just knows it did.
So what he did, the most logical thing, he started hanging around different men and women everyday. Partly to distract himself and partly to get a reaction out of Brandon. Needless to say, he was failing spectacularly.
He was restless and had no idea how to handle this situation.
One night, when he came home from the fighting ring, Brandon was nowhere to be seen. He texted him.
"Where are you? Do you need a ride home?"
He paced the room waiting for a reply.
Brandon replied a few minutes later.
"I'm painting right now. I'll be home in an hour. I have my car. Go to sleep, don't wait for me"
Nikolai couldn't.
He sighed out his bag down and left once again.
He went to a bar downtown. Didn't talk to anyone, just ordered a drink and sat at a corner table thinking about everything.
He wouldn't go home until Brandon was there. He needed to see him so he could sleep.
By the time he looked at his watch it was already 12:30 AM. Brandon would be home by now. He also had a 8 AM class tomorrow.
But when he reached their building the scene in front of him was horrifying. It was crowded everywhere and he watched their house erupting in flames. He let his bike fall and ran.
"Brandon"
He called out. Brandon wasn't standing outside like he was supposed to.
He called him, the bell rang but he didn't pick up.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck."
"Please pick up the phone, baby. Please be safe"
He ran towards the building but a few firefighters held him back.
"Sir, you can't go inside"
"My roommate is still inside. I need to get him out"
"We have evacuated everyone"
"Then why isn't he here?"
He yells at the man.
"Sir please calm down"
The guy pushes him back and gets back to work. Nikolai spots a familiar face in the crowd.
"Remington"
"Yeah?"
"Where's Bran?"
His face pales.
"I don't know, man. Nobody saw him"
He almost howls in pain.
"No this isn't happening"
He tries to run back inside but a few students hold him back.
"I need to see him. I have so much to tell him. Please, please"
He sobs.
And as if the Universe wanted to erase his worries a gentle hand touches his arm.
"Niko?"
He turns around fast and as soon as he spots Brandon, he clutches his face in his hands and pulls him forward.
"Where were you?"
"I.."
"I thought I lost you"
His voice cracked.
"I thought I'd never get to see you again"
He drops his forehead against his roommate's.
"I thought I was going to die too"
Brandon feels his heart severing in half as he hears Nikolai's voice.
"I'm sorry, so sorry. But everything's fine. I'm safe. Breathe for me"
Brandon hugs him with one hand and rubs the nape of his neck with the other hand to calm him down. Tremor wrecks through Nikolai's body. His heart rate refusing to slow down after the scary incident.
Brandon had never seen Nikolai so shaken before. He has watched this man grinning while he was bleeding, this is something he is not used to and it's heartbreaking. He continues whispering gentle words into his ears then gently pushes him down on a bench and takes out a bottle of water from his bag and hands it to Niko who quietly takes a few sips then he hugs Brandon again burying his face in Bran's stomach. Bran falters but manages to hug him back.
"Niko, let's get out of here, okay?"
Nikolai simply nods but refuses to leave him.
"Let's walk to the car."
He gently tells Niko who gets up but intertwines their fingers together. Brandon helps him into the car and drives silently. He parks outside a hotel. His cousin's hotel, where they can spend a night. A room is always reserved for him there. He nods at the receptionist and drags Nikolai to the elevator. It seems forever before it dings and they step out onto a private floor, reserved for family.
He enters the password and unlocks the door pulling Niko with him. He makes Niko sit on the bed and checks him for any visible injuries, there are none but he is unusually quiet. He decides to check the bathroom for all the necessities when Niko clutches his wrist.
"We are in a safe space now. Everything is ok"
He is still trying to reassure his best friend.
"I love you"
Nikolai blurts out and Brandon blinks before his eyes widen in surprise.
"Are you...."
"I'm in love with you"
He repeats himself.
"I don't know how that happened and I didn't say anything before because I didn't want to lose you as a friend. But after what I experienced a while ago, I want to come clean. I don't want to lose you, I can't but I've never been more scared In my life. So... I love you. I've been in love for a while now and I can't live without you"
Brandon watches Nikolai blurt out everything that his own heart has been screaming at him.
The only reason he was restraining himself was because he didn't want to lose his friendship as well.
But now...
Brandon doesn't answer with words. He leans down and presses his lips against Nikolai's.
The sun filters through the curtains. When Brandon opens his eyes, Nikolai is already looking at him.
He ducks his head shyly and hides himself in Nikolai's chest. Nikolai doesn't tease him like he usually does, he simply kisses the top of his head.
"Good morning baby"
Brandon nuzzles his nose in Niko's chest and whispers back.
"Good morning boyfriend"
Nikolai pulls him even closer.
"I could get used to this"
"Me too"
A few moments of silence follows.
"When did you fell in love with me?"
Nikolai asks curiously.
"I think I've always liked you a little more than a friend. What about you?"
"I don't know. Maybe when you started covering me with a blanket after movie nights, maybe when you patch me up while scolding after my fights, maybe when you make me breakfast no matter how tired you are or maybe when you tell me I'm doing good even when everyone tells me I'm way behind on something."
Brandon finally looks up to meet his eyes.
"I love you"
Nikolai smiles and drops a kiss to his forehead.
"I love you too"
"True love is finding your soulmate in your best friend" - Faye Hall