Ours 2
Ishan isn't particularly sure about the conversation.
Silence reigns for a while before Shubhman presses a kiss against Ishan's head and detangles himself. "We should go to sleep, it's getting late and we've got practice tomorrow."
Ishan nods understandingly, still in a daze about the random pecks from Shubhman that are now becoming the best thing about his existence. Shubhman takes the bathroom, like always. He always takes longer to change and get ready for bed. Ishan doesn't take as long relatively and he always dwaddles about with his phone so he never minds waiting on Shubhman.
He picks up his jacket from the floor and throws it on the bed, starting to change. He's just about to slip on his tshirt when Kamlesh calls him.
"Ishan?" He sounds terrified,"Is Shubhman alive?"
Ishan hums, unimpressed. "No, I drowned him in bath tub. What are you doing, calling me up at 2 to ask about Shubhman's life?"
"You seemed pissed at him." He says as an explanation and ishan can practically hear the shrug. "I'm sorry about that, by the way. I really didn't know she'd come. I know how much you despise her, bro. I'd never invite her."
Ishan sighs, the fight leaving him. He doesn't want to think about her— not now. "Don't worry, Kammo. I'm sorry to leave so abruptly anyway. You're back to the hotel?"
Kamlesh hums. "Yeah. I'll get Shreyas and Krishna to sleep and then go to sleep. You sleep, too, okay? I'll apologise to Shubhi tomorrow. He's really alive, na? You aren't making me an accomplice to murder, na?"
"No, Kammo, I killed him. I told you, didn't I? Oh, wait, look Surya bhaiya is calling—"
"Bye, Ishan!" Kamlesh yelps and hangs up before Ishan can reply. Ishan snorts at the guy's irrational fear of Surya Bhai.
Behind him, he hears Shubhman laugh. "Who does Kammo think you killed?"
"You," Ishan says with a gleeful laugh, not even turning, so focused on turning the inside out tshirt the right way.
And Shubhman is leaning into him from behind him. His hands come to rest at Ishan's bare hips and he rests his head on Shubhman's. The way Shubhman uses Ishan as a handrest or headrest isn't new but the intimacy is. Ishan freezes, the tshirt hanging from his hands.
"He's right, you know?" Shubhman says. "You've killed me." Ishan doesn't reply beyond a deep breath. Shubhman moves his head from Ishan's to his shoulder now. Ishan can feel his breath on his ear as Shubhman whispers,"Seeing you like this just killed me twice over, Ish. And I'd happily die again for such a death."
Shubhman has, of course, seen Ishan topless before. They usually hit the gym at the same time and they almost always share a room— Ishan hates summers, he always runs hot and hence never has a shirt on him at night— but this reaction? Ishan may just need a cold shower as soon as possible.
Ishan's bloody heart is beating too fast damn it. He suppresses a shiver and Shubhman's hands tighten on his hips. He can't form any coherent speech for a solid moment before he shrugs Shubhman off his shoulder like he's done a thousand times and gives the taller man a smile. "Cheesy, Shubh."
"You love it."
Ishan grins at him. Two can play at this game.
He turns in Shubhman's arms and grips the back of Shubhman's neck to bring him down. He looks at the wide eyed gaze Shubhman holds and rises on his tip toes to press a kiss on his chin.
"I really do." He whispers before standing normally and putting on his tshirt. Shubhman seems to get out of his trance just as Ishan brushes his hands off his hips to pull down the tshirt properly and shoots Ishan a pout.
Ishan grins at him.
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Shubhman doesn't even know what to think because: what the fuck. What the fuck.
In the past six months, he's realised that he's bi and the realisation is caused by his best friend and he's spent the months staring at his best friend's thighs as they work out toghether.
He's tried to detangle himself from Raveena for a while now— some four or five months. The woman is good looking and Shubhman now knows the mistake he's made when he recognised that at a party he was invited in.
In his defense, he was drunk and Ishan wasn't around him to reel him.
The small time model has been on his nerves since and Shubhman has hated himself for over a year now.
But the height of the resentment towards himself increased through the roof when he once dreamt about Ishan. Dreamt about holding his hand and kissing his knuckles and waking up beside him. Dream about kissing the tattoos Ishan has. The realisation that he accidentally objectified his best friend was enough to send him tumbling down his personal hell.
It's only tonight, that Shubhman has failed to control himself.
He saw the way Ishan was dancing— the skinny jeans and leather jacket only emphasized the smooth moment of his body rolls and Shubhman wanted to be the one holding him as he danced, to feel him so close— but then Raveena was beside him, stuck to him like some super glue and he's anything but rude, at least he prides himself on that.
Dealing with an angry Ishan is almost always easy, Ishan never holds onto anger too much. Today, however, is the angriest Shubhman has seen Ishan be. The anger may have led to far, far pleasant thing, but Shubhman can't fucking get over Ishan's smile.
It's something he's never seen before. So tender and yet so happy.
Now, Shubhman stares at Ishan. He's so beautiful, Shubhman thinks, a giddy feeling in his chest as he stares at Ishan, who's watching Veer Zaara. The book Shubhman wanted to read lies in his lap and he doesn't even care if he loses the page where he's at. The way Ishan mouths along the lines is too captivating, his happiness is too contagious.
"Stop staring at me, Shubh." Ishan says, not even glancing up from the screen but Shubhman can see his cheeks redden.
He puts the book away, dog earing the page to remember it and fully turns on his side to gaze at Ishan. "You're too good to not stare at, Ish."
Ishan side eyes him but there's a slight smile forming at his lips. "You're incorrigible." He mutters, shifting around to sit closer to Shubhman.
"You mean, irresistible?" Shubhman cocks his head, moving himself closer.
Ishan rolls his eyes and Shubhman grins, flopping around to rest his head on Ishan's arm. If he had been braver, he'd put his head in Ishan's lap. But he doesn't want to fuck up this new thing between them.
Ishan leans down to press a kiss on Shubhman's forehead. "Do not fall asleep on my arm again, Shubh, I swear."
"Won't." He promises, even though he knows that one touch from Ishan and he'd fall asleep in the most peaceful way possible.
Ishan doesn't say anything further but continues watching the movie.
Aisa Des hai Mera starts to play and Shubhman sits up, deciding to watch the movie. Ishan yawns softly and wiggles into place, slouching. Without thinking, Shubhman throws his arm around Ishan's shoulders, as is his habit. Only when he's comfortably settled does he realise that, oh. Ishan's not just his best friend anymore.
They watch the movie in silence for a while until Ishan breaks the silence. "You know, you've never taken me to celebrate Lohri."
"Come home with me and we'll go." Shubhman says without hesitation. He imagines Ishan in the yellow kurta he has, the one he hasn't worn in ages. He imagines Ishan sitting beside him in the festivities. He imagines Ishan making his parents laugh and imagines the look Shahneel would give him.
(She's known about Shubhman's crush on Ishan since the day it started. She's the one he called in a panic over a dream. She's the one who laughed and said it's about time he acknowledged the way he looks at Ishan. He'd hung up on her.)
Shubhman raises an eyebrow at the impromptu song. "That's such bullshit," he says,"people sing traditional folk songs, not...this."
Something in his face must have amused Ishan but the man laughs. Throws his head back, closes his eyes and laughs. Shubhman stares at him, completely mesmerized.
When Ishan has finished laughing, he still grins at Shubhman. "You're adorable."
"No, I'm not."
Ishan makes those cooing noises one would make over a child doing something cute and Shubhman narrows his eyes at him. But before he can retaliate with something he knows Ishan will despise, Ishan leans forward and kisses Shubhman.
It's like their first kiss, only an hour ago. It's awkward before they're sitting side by side but somehow Ishan makes it work. One of his hands snakes stays on Shubhman's shoulder whole the other goes around and grasps the back of his neck firmly. Ishan massages the back of Shubhman's neck as almost an instinct and embarrassingly enough, it makes Shubhman groan against Ishan's lips.
Ishan pulls away and puts the laptop on the nightstand, the movie mindlessly playing. He rises to his knees, taller than Shubhman on a rare occurrence and and leans down, the hand on his shoulder moving to cup his cheek.
They pant when they pull away finally. Shubhman can feel his ears heating.
Ishan grins. He squeezes Shubhman's nape and Shubhman arches over involuntarily. Ishan's grin is sharp as the hand on Shubhman's face spreads and cups his cheek as well puts his ears between the fingers. Shubhman knows he's blushing, his whole face is red.
"As I said," Ishan breathes heavily,"Adorable."
Shubhman doesn't have any answer but the shivers that are still going down his spine.
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