Chapter Text
Kevin was flying again. Boarding passes, baggage drop, passport control – all of it had become second nature, almost comforting in its monotony. This was going to be a long one: nine hours in the air. He had the window seat, so he sat there, elbow on the armrest, chin resting on his fist, staring out with that quiet, distant look, waiting for pushback.
He wasn’t sad to leave the city. Quite the opposite – he was heading home to see his parents, and the thought actually made him glad. Still, there was this heavy, unnamed pressure sitting right behind his sternum that refused to let him fully relax.
The two empty seats next to him were quickly claimed by a couple about his age. The guy stowed his backpack and the girl’s bag in the overhead bins, then murmured something to her. Kevin didn’t understand the language, but the soft tone and the way she smiled told him it was something sweet. When they gave each other a quick, light kiss, Kevin turned back to the window.
The pressure in his chest tightened with every second he spent next to them.
Outside, tiny ground vehicles zipped back and forth guiding the pilots, luggage carts rolled, other planes taxied out. Then the rain started tapping against the glass. Mid october, after all.
"Who’s waiting for you in that city, really? No one. Not a single person. You don’t even have friends there anymore, let alone anyone romantic. The only real friends you had are back in your hometown — the one you left. Even the one person you ever felt anything close to being in love with stayed behind. You still haven’t got a cat or a dog. Always postponing. Are you actually happy?"
Fuck.
Kevin squeezed his eyes shut and gave his head a small, sharp shake, trying to dislodge the thoughts. He knew he was lonely. He just didn’t want the feeling to swallow him whole right now.
Beside him the couple kept talking quietly. The girl said something; they went silent for a moment. Then the guy replied and both of them laughed under their breath.
Kevin reached for his wired earbuds, plugged them in, and opened his instrumental playlist. That usually helped quiet the noise in his head. The plane rolled onto the runway. He closed his eyes. As the acceleration pressed him back into the seat, he gripped the armrest. He hated the ear-popping, the way his whole body felt squashed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the couple lace their fingers together. He shut his eyes again. Just sleep. As much as anyone can really sleep on a plane.
The landing gear slammed onto the runway harder than ideal — rain + turbulence = not the gentlest touchdown. Still, they were down. Phones came out instantly; people started texting loved ones “I’m alive.”
Kevin picked up his phone and froze when he saw the notification:
Jacob
Hey, how you holding up? Still remember me? ;) Coming to Vörå soon?
Kevin stared at the message, genuinely surprised. He’d been sure his old friends would forget him long before he forgot them. Seeing Jacob’s name pulled him out of the fog and dropped him right back into reality at the same time. He blinked, tapped the message, and typed fast:
“Hey. How could I forget you lol. Yeah, heading to see my parents right now. Why?”
He didn’t even notice the small, involuntary smile that had appeared on his face. Jacob’s messages always hit differently. Always had. Back when Kevin still lived in Vörå they’d spent more time together than with anyone else. And Jacob just… looked the way he looked. That impossibly soft hair Kevin always wanted to run his fingers through. That body. Those arms, that chest, that face, that nose, those eyes…
“Excuse me, sir, time to deplane.”
The flight attendant’s voice snapped him back.
“Oh… right. Yeah. Sorry.” Kevin scrambled out of the seat, grabbed his one small bag, and headed for the exit.
He only realized he’d forgotten to text his parents when he was already halfway to their house in the taxi and saw his mom’s message:
“Son, you okay? Why no message after landing? Everything alright?”
20 minutes ago. Shit.
He called her immediately.
Ring. Ring. Ring. Finally she picked up.
“Kevin?”
“Yeah, mom, it’s me. All good, we landed fine. Just… almost lost my carry-on for a second and got distracted. Sorry.”
“Oh honey, as long as you’re safe. See you soon then.”
He let out a long breath after she hung up. The excuse worked. She bought it.
He still couldn’t admit – even to himself – how badly Jacob scrambled his brain. How every time Jacob touched his shoulder or back, or pulled him into one of those casual hugs, Kevin would hold his breath like he was afraid to break the moment. How Jacob’s laugh or smile turned something inside him upside down. He knew it wasn’t just friendly affection anymore. He’d known for a long time. But thinking about it too hard felt dangerous. Telling his mom? Absolutely not.
A few minutes later he checked his phone again. One new message.
Jacob
I wanna see you :). When are you here?
Kevin’s eyes lit up. Jacob was the one saying he wanted to hang out. For Kevin that felt like winning the lottery. He replied instantly:
“Just landed. Going to my parents now, then I’m free. Staying a few days. Park like usual, or should we grab food somewhere?”
He hit send right as the taxi stopped. The driver announced the fare. Kevin paid in cash, stepped out — and the rain hit him mercilessly. Yellow, red, and brown leaves were plastered everywhere, turning roads and paths into wet mush. His pant legs were instantly soaked and muddy from a puddle he hadn’t seen.
“Shit!”
“What, is the village that bad already?”
That voice.
Kevin looked up. Jacob Norrgård in person. Standing right there in a slightly ridiculous rain poncho and rubber boots, grinning like a kid, all thirty-two teeth on display.
Kevin froze, mouth slightly open in shock.
“Hey, buddy,” Jacob said, splashing through the mud to pull him into a quick hello hug.
Kevin, still reeling from just seeing him, completely short-circuited at the contact. His breath hitched. His arms automatically wrapped around Jacob in return.
“Hey,” he managed. Words had never been his strong suit. “You good? Healthy?”
He pulled back just enough to speak properly, but couldn’t stop staring straight into Jacob’s eyes.
“Same old, same old. The real question is you. Moving away isn’t exactly easy. How’s the weather treating you? Miss home at all?”
“I’m fine. How could I not be fine? You know me.” A small pause. “Weather’s… matching my mood, I guess.” A dry huff of a laugh. “Miss it? Sometimes I just… sink into memories. All the way under.”
He almost said “But I miss you constantly,” but caught himself. No need to freak Jacob out.
Jacob nodded. Then tilted his head, silently inviting Kevin to walk with him. Kevin followed without thinking. They moved so close their elbows kept brushing.
“Yeah, I get it,” Jacob said. He took a deep breath; the smile faded. “It’s… empty here without you. Dark. And cold. Even when the streets are full of people, lights everywhere, and I’m wearing three layers. I don’t know how to explain it properly…” Another long breath. “I hope you get what I mean. You always do. You always understand when I try to talk about feelings.”
He said it so casually, like he was commenting on yesterdays lunch instead of something that nearly made Kevins knees give out. His eyebrows shot up, panic and joy fighting in his eyes, one thought looping: Did he just describe exactly how I feel?
“I… yeah,” Kevin swallowed. “I think I do. I think I get it.”
They walked the rest of the way in comfortable quiet. Jacob started smiling again. He knew he could tell Kevin anything. Kevin would listen. Maybe not always find the right words to reply, but he would understand. And accept. Also — those eyes. You could drown in them forever. That smile that made even the dumbest joke worth telling. Those hugs, even if Kevin never quite knew how to hug back properly. And the way he noticed tiny things — Jacob’s favorite color, favorite flower, favorite…
“We’re here,” Kevin said, looking at his parents front door. “My parents place.”
Jacob startled. He’d been so lost in his own head he hadn’t even realized they’d arrived.
“Did I scare you?” Kevin asked, suddenly worried.
“No, no, not at all…” Jacob looked back into his eyes. “So… see you tomorrow then. Or tonight at my place, if you feel like it…” His gaze dropped. The words had slipped out faster than he could weigh them. A faint blush crept up his cheeks.
Kevin felt electricity shoot through him. Yes. Of course yes. He hadn’t even dared fantasize about it, and now Jacob was the one asking.
“Yeah. Tonight. Sounds good. See you.”
And then before he could overthink it Kevin pulled Jacob into a sudden, tight hug. Just for a second. A rough, impulsive squeeze. Then he let go just as fast and practically ran inside his parents house, leaving Jacob standing there processing what just happened.
Kevin – the guy who almost never initiated touch, who kept everything locked down – had just grabbed him. Held him. Even if only for a heartbeat.
Jacob’s face went full tomato-red. He stood frozen in front of the door for another solid ten minutes before his legs remembered how to move. Then he hurried home. Kevin was coming over tonight. The apartment had to be perfect.