Chapter Text
Isak 24 and a half, Even 25
The snowflakes are falling gently from the sky and coat the streets in a sound-dampening layer that makes the city go completely silent. Even is leaving deep footsteps in the snow on the pavement. It is snowing so much that the other footprints, beside his own, are already half filled with snow.
He loves when the city goes quiet like this and the only sound he can hear is the cracking of the snow, compressing under his feet. He put on his large snow boots tonight. The ones that any sensible Norwegian would own a pair of.
Well, most sensible Norwegians. Isak has never bothered to get a proper pair of boots. He is so vain, when it comes to shoes. It is quite hilarious. He is a total slob, always has been, when it comes to almost everything except his shoes. Always sneaks, and his caps, which he also wears in winter, when the snow is thick and the wind is howling.
Even sometimes rips that damn cap of his head and pulls the spare beanie, he always carries around, over his head. Isak loudly protests, but still lets Even pull it over his burning red ears, every time. The beanies accumulate in Isak’s apartment, but always find their way back to Even’s place, before he runs out.
Even rounds a familiar corner and kicks most of the snow off his boots, before he pushes the buzzer for Øverlie-Valtersen. Mikael’s voice greets him with a scratty “Yo”, before the door is opened, just like always. Even takes the steps two at a time, trying to get some warmth into his legs again. When he reaches the second floor, he is slightly out of breath, but has managed to get his muscles to produce a bit of heat, to warm him up.
The door is already open, left slightly ajar, as usual. Even can let himself in. He knocks three times and enters with a “halla!” shutting the door behind him. He puts his wet boots on an old newspaper lying on the floor, to not soak the floor, and hangs his thick parka, scarf and beanie.
“Hey old man.”, Mikael says from the doorway to the living room, where he is leaning against the wall. He has a kind smile on his face.
“Jeez, relax, you’re turning 25 too in what? Three weeks? You’re just as old as I am. Actually even more grown up, you’ve been married for how long, again?”
Mikael smiles at him and raises his hands in surrender, turning his back to Even and leads him into the living room.
“You have a point, you’re definitely the youngest of the two of us. The amount of shots you drank that night was very ‘just turned 18 and allowed to buy my own shots’”
That makes Even both laugh and cringe at the thought of himself that night, a few weeks ago. He had been so pissing drunk. He was so fucking exhausted, from having to pretend like he was totally okay with turning 25 and being so, sooo single, when all his friends were either married or in a relationship.
Isak had seemed to pick up on his misery as usual, and drank shots with him all night, like there was no tomorrow. “To misery!”, he had toasted each time and Even managed to slur out a; “wha’ the hell do YOU have to be mis’rable ‘bou?”, which Isak just answered with a drunk eye roll and ordered a tray of tequila shots for them.
Mikael makes his way to the couch and drops down onto the cushions, unceremoniously.
“We don’t have any tequila, but there is water and sodas in the fridge, if you want. You know your way around.”
“Thanks, I don’t think I will be having tequila for the rest of my life, after Isak forced half a bottle down my throat last time. Speaking of my drinking buddy, where is your hubby? I thought he was joining us tonight.”
Mikael smiles gently at him. Looking out the window.
“He’s getting sushi, he’ll be here in a little while.”
Even follows his line of sight. The snow is still plummeting down from the sky.
“You should have just told me to go get it. It’s on the way over here anyway. No reason to send him out into the cold. It’s freezing outside.”
“It’s sweet you’re concerned for him. But I think he can handle a little snow and wind. You got here safely didn’t you?”
“Sure… but I wore proper clothes for it...”
Mikael tilts his head and looks at Even with a knowing smile, which makes Even avert his eyes. He looks around the living room instead. It’s has a little bit of an empty feel too it, compared to what it is usually like. A lot of things are missing from the shelves, books and pictures. Through the open door to the guest room, he can see a lot of moving boxes stacked up against the wall.
“What’s with the boxes? Are you guys moving?”
Even looks at Mikael with a frown on his face.
“Isak found a pretty awesome apartment in Grünerløkka, so...yeah. Just wait ‘til Isak gets here and we will tell you.”
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Isak 16, Even 16 and a half
A small paper ball landed on the table in front of Even. He frowned and turned in his seat.
Isak was sitting right behind him, raising his eyebrows at him and nodded at the small piece of paper. Even still frowned and mouthed “what?” at Isak, who just rolled his eyes at him.
“Even, could you please pay attention! You won’t learn anything about meiosis from Isak.”
Their teacher was standing right in front of him, and he considered revealing that the most realistic way he would actually learn anything from this class, was from begging Isak to explain, what the hell it all was about to him after class. Biology was seriously boring and useless and he could not understand why Isak, or anybody for that matter found it interesting. Even bit his tongue and looked at her, with the most sincere expression he could muster.
“I’m sorry. I’ll pay attention now.”
The teacher turned on her heel and went up to the front of the class again, to continue explaining meio-whatever she was talking about. Just as she reached the front, another paper ball landed in front of Even.
He rolled his eyes and threw a quick glance over his shoulder to find a determined looking Isak, sitting with his arms crossed, giving Even a firm stare. He let out a sigh of surrender and cast a quick glance towards the teacher, before he unwinded the little paper ball.
It said: Read my damn message, you goodie two-shoes!
He looked over his shoulder and mouthed, “really??” at Isak, who just looked amused.
Even turned back and unfolded the first message Isak had sent him.
Is it just me or can you totally see her nipples through her shirt?
He had to hold a hand over his mouth to stop the snort, he was about to let out.
He looked up to see the teacher deeply engaged in discussion with some girl on the first row, Sana, her name was. She would always, at some point start up a discussion about the lesson’s topic and throw the teacher off her game. He smiled to himself. He kind of liked her, even though she was scary as hell and kept mostly to herself.
Even pulled out his notebook from his bag. Not the one containing multiple drawings of Isak in it. No, that one was at home, hidden in his nightstand drawer. He only pulled it out before he went to sleep, doodled some more in it or finished detailing the not-finished drawings in there. A small wrinkle at Isak’s eye or mouth that he hadn’t mapped before. Or drawing his curls. He loved drawing Isak’s curls. It put him to sleep every night, and he never wanted to think about, what that might mean.
He wrote: HAHA! why the hell are you looking at her boobs?? I thought the only thing that got you going was the topic of her lessons and not her? Do you have a crush on our biology teacher Isak? <3
With a quick look towards their teacher, that confirmed that she was still in deep conversation with Sana, he turned to Isak and dumped the note in front of him, which he grabbed immediately.
Not a minute later another note landed in front of Even, which he unfolded with a smile on his face.
I do NOT have a crush on her! WTF. Anybody can see that she isn’t wearing a bra. I’m just pointing it out. Does she have to be that obvious about it??
The notes went back and forth for the rest of the lesson.
It’s not that you notice it. But more that you have to point it out, Isak. Shouldn’t you focus on what she is saying rather than her boobs, so you can explain it all too me later <3
I don’t have to listen to her explain it. I read it yesterday and I understood it perfectly fine. Already did today’s homework.
Ooooh. You are such a nerd. Wanna do my homework too? <3
I am not a nerd, I’m just really smart, unlike you.
Ouch. You wound me! Luckily brains isn’t everything. The greatest thing you will ever learn… <3
Don’t make me finish that quote. It’s enough that you make me watch that movie every fucking weekend.
You owe me. You practically just called me stupid. I don’t know how I will ever recover from that. I thought you were my friend! <3
URGHGH! OKAY! The greatest thing you'll ever learn. Is just to love and be loved in return. There are you happy?
VERY happy! Wanna hang after school? You owe me a free lesson in miotis, since you distracted me in this one. <3
It’s called meiosis you dork. But, fine. Let’s go to your place. My dad is being an asshole again and I don’t wanna look at his stupid face anyway. And what’s with the hearts? It’s weird. You’re weird.
I’m weird for you, Nature Boy <3
Whatever, Even.
Oh come on, Isak!
URRRRRGGGHH!
<3
:-) <3