Chapter Text
Isak is waiting at Gate 21 at the Frankfurt airport and tapping his foot nervously. Every few seconds, he’s looking up from his phone, glancing around and hoping to finally see Even, but no such luck. Isak knows for a fact that Even’s flight from Zurich has landed already and that there is no reason for Even to run so late. Isak swallows a sigh.
He’d have loved to travel with Even, but apart from it being risky, Even had had to take on a job in Zurich lasting the whole past week. “They need a forger, like, right now. Their last one apparently dropped out. Something about being hunted by the Swiss police? I don’t even know.” Even had shrugged and smiled brilliantly at Isak, so Isak naturally researched why the last forger dropped out to ensure that this job was safe and not run by absolute idiots.
“Aww, you care,” Even had said, standing behind Isak, wrapped only in a bedsheet and distracting Isak from his laptop, where he’d started calling in a few favours.
“I already booked our flights to Oslo. I’m not rebooking them just because you get shot or something,” Isak had grumbled. Even had just pulled him into a kiss, until it was time for him to leave because it turned out that the last forger really was just shit at not leaving obvious clues for the Swiss police. Amateur.
Now, however, Even seems to be intent on missing their connecting flight nonetheless. And that even though he’s at the airport. Isak stabs the screen on his phone a touch too violently. The woman standing next to him sends him a curious look, so Isak forces his shoulders to relax. It doesn’t do to attract stares right now.
When he lifts his head again, he sees Even, who is casually walking towards Isak, never mind that boarding starts in three minutes. Everybody else would at least walk faster because of this. Then again, Even’s strides are probably four times longer than other people’s so maybe this counts as running. Isak allows himself to sigh a little this time.
“There was a dog,” Even says, when he comes to a halt in front of Isak and smiles at the woman that he nearly hit with his trolley.
“What?”
“A tiny, little dachshund that was howling because his owner had to go to the bathroom and left him with some other passengers and honestly, what was I supposed to do?” Even widens his eyes dramatically.
Isak knows that he is doing a very bad job of keeping a scowl on his face but he tries. “What did you do?”
Even lights up. “Obviously, I entertained the dog. He was tiny did I mention?” Even holds his hands apart as if to show how small the dog was and Isak rolls his eyes. Is he supposed to believe that the dog was the size of a guinea pig?
“So, that’s why you’re late.”
“Yes, but I told the dog all about you. No need to be jealous,” Even winks and at this Isak gives up trying to look displeased. He grins helplessly at Even. He’d love to kiss him – it turns out a week apart is way too long -, but here is not the right place.
“You’re so stupid,” Isak mumbles, when Even steps around him to walk towards where boarding has started.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you correctly. Did you say that I am the best person ever?” Even throws over his shoulder but Isak just nudges him forward. He holds his ticket that is valid for a certain Adrian Eksett – the alias that Isak likes to use when flying to Oslo because usually nobody looks twice at a landsman – onto the scanner and catches up with Even.
“How was Prague?” Even asks when they’re waiting on the bridge and Isak raises his eyebrows. Talking about a job amongst a multitude of other people is the perfect recipe for disaster. Even just grins at him, “I meant the weather. Of course.”
“Of course,” Isak repeats. “Well, the weather was shit.”
Even nods seriously as if that’s an interesting topic of conversation. Isak loves him so much his heart is threatening to burst from it. Suddenly, he needs to touch Even somehow, so when Even moves forward, grabbing for his trolley, Isak’s fingers are there, folding seemingly on accident over Even’s and holding onto the trolley with him.
Even smiles at him, slowly, like it’s a secret, and Isak bites his lip. The contact is fleetingly at best, before Isak pulls his hand back, taking his own trolley again. “Oops,” he says, “must’ve confused which one is mine.”
“Must’ve,” Even says and then, ducking his head so that no one but Isak hears, “I can’t wait to have you to myself finally.”
Isak nearly chokes on air. The only thing that saves him is that he has experience not showing his actual feelings readily; comes with the job. Even, though, can read him like a book Isak has figured out sometime between their last job and that impromptu holiday they took afterwards. So, Even just smiles, steps back again and says, “Can’t wait to meet Eskild properly.”
Isak groans. There is nothing like Eskild to ruin the mood.
When they’re finally up in the air, Isak sitting in the window seat because Even deserves having the middle seat for being late, Isak starts fidgeting. Even notices, but apart from looking at Isak questioningly he doesn’t say anything, instead browsing through the inflight magazine. Isak takes a deep breath.
This is the first Christmas in three years that he’s going to spend home. The last two were spent on some job or other and the one before that, the whole thing between Jonas and Eva had just gone down, meaning that Isak had chosen to keep Jonas company.
And now, Isak is on a plane to Oslo, to Eskild and Linn, Even next to him. Isak remembers Eskild calling a few weeks ago and asking once again if he would come home. Isak was lounging on a sunbed somewhere on an island where nobody would ever come looking for them and watching as Even was walking towards the water.
“Yeah,” he said, “I think I can make it.”
Eskild’s answering screech was loud enough that Isak had to hold his phone away from his ear. “Isak, there are Christmas miracles still!”
Isak rolled his eyes, focusing on Even again afterwards. Even, who was now standing in the shallow water and gesturing at Isak to come join him. “Eskild,” Isak started, “I might bring somebody with me.”
“Oh my God.” Eskild’s voice sounded a bit breathless. “Please tell me that it’s Even. Did you finally get your shit together and tell him that you want him to –“
“Eskild! Just,” Isak pinched the bridge of his nose, “I don’t know yet. I need to ask him.”
“You do that. I’ll tell Linn. I need to put together a Christmas meal.”
Isak frowned. “It’s still like four weeks until Christmas, you do know that, right?”
“Isak, you might be very good at your job, but you know nothing of cooking. I honestly don’t know how you even survive out there all alone.”
“I’m not alone,” Isak grumbled.
“No,” Eskild said, soft, “I guess not. I’m happy for you, you know that, don’t you?”
“Yeah,” Isak breathed, getting up from his chair. Even was still gesturing widely to Isak to get into the water too. “I think I’m needed now, though.”
Isak still remembers Eskild’s comment of “That doesn’t sound like work for once” but at this point he had hung up.
There’s a difference, though, between wanting to go home and taking Even with him – who was ecstatic when Isak asked him if he wanted to come – and aligning that with the fear that Isak is bringing his job dangerously close to his family.
“Stop worrying,” Even says, laying the magazine on the table in front of him.
“I’m not worrying,” Isak retorts instantly.
“How often do I have to tell you that you’re a shit liar for you to stop doing it?” Even asks. His smile is kind. Isak sighs. “I’m not doing it on purpose,” he scowls more at himself than at Even.
“I know. What are you worrying about?”
Isak looks around, until he finds that the woman sitting next to Even is fast asleep and that in the row in front of them are only children. Isak relaxes slightly. “What if it’s too dangerous?” he asks quietly.
Even doesn’t ask what he means, instead he simply says, “Did you double check every ticket, every passport and made sure that you left nothing behind?”
Isak looks at him incredulously. “Yes! Of course. What do I look like? A beginner? I triple-checked. Also, no one knows where I’m going. Eva and Jonas only know that I’ll be spending Christmas somewhere else this year. I mean they can probably guess where I am, but they don’t know.”
Even’s smile widens. “So, basically no one could tell anyone where exactly you are?”
Isak snorts. “I’m not stupid. I put out a few false trails, too.”
Even starts laughing as quietly as possible. “What? Why are you laughing?” Isak nudges his shoulder a little too hard.
“Did you just listen to yourself?” Even asks once he’s recovered. “You can stop worrying. No one is going to follow you to Eskild. You’re too paranoid for that.”
“I’m not paranoid” is on the tip of Isak’s tongue, but he decides against saying that. Instead he says, “It’s what makes me the best.”
“Truly. But you don’t need to worry quite as much. Plus, you’ve forgotten something.”
“What?” Isak asks and it doesn’t sound slightly panicky, not at all.
Even rolls his eyes, which, now that Isak thinks about it, he’s been doing more often lately. Isak congratulates himself on being such a good influence. “If somebody were to come after you – which I very, very much doubt – you’ve got back up.” Even points towards himself and Isak shakes his head, smiling.
“And what will you do? Blind them with your smiles?”
“Aww, do you think my smiles are blinding?”
“Ugh. Why are like this?”
“I can’t hear you over my ‘blinding smiles’.”
Isak makes himself comfortable in his seat, watching Even beneath half-closed eyes, and grins. He can’t wait to be home, actually.
“Isak!” Eskild shouts, giving Isak’s name four more syllables than necessary, as he wraps his arms around him.
“I can’t breathe,” Isak says from where he’s pressed against Eskild’s shoulder and hugging him back with a little less of a death grip. When Eskild lets go, it’s just to hold Isak at arm’s length and look him over. “Have you grown taller?”
“Eskild, I’m not 17 any longer. I don’t grow anymore.”
“You’ve definitely grown taller.”
Isak puts his head in his neck. “Okay, sure. Where’s Linn?”
“She’s running a bit late. But, Isak, you haven’t introduced me yet.” Eskild throws a meaningful glance towards Even, who is standing behind Isak and following the conversation with a grin on his lips.
“You’ve already met,” Isak feels the need to point out.
Eskild gives him a look. “When I was high on pain killers. That counts for nothing, that whole day is a bit of a blur.”
“But you remember Even?” Isak frowns.
“Even is way too pretty to be forgotten,” Eskild says matter of fact.
At this, Even finally says, “Eskild, I already like you a lot.”
“Hey, stop flirting with my boyfriend,” Isak says and Eskild, who has grinned at Even so far, turns to face Isak. Isak instantly knows that he has made a mistake. He is ready for whatever Eskild wants to do – coo at him or tease him, it’s one of two options -, but Eskild just smiles at him. “I would never. Now, we need to move this into the kitchen or the food is going to burn. Even, can you cook?”
Isak lets Eskild and Even lead the way, chatting about the best way to cook something – Isak has no idea what -, when Even looks over his shoulder, back at Isak. He doesn’t say anything, just smiles that private smile, the one that seems to be reserved for Isak and Isak smiles back instinctively. When Even turns back around to continue talking with Eskild, the warm feeling inside Isak’s chest stays.
Isak and Linn are both banned from helping in the kitchen: Linn because she simply refuses to do anything when she could also do the much less strenuous activity of putting the gifts underneath the small Christmas tree in the living room; Isak because Eskild accused him first, of trying to burn down the flat and second, of distracting Even. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Isak had said, jumping off the counter where he had been sitting and eating whatever Even had held in front of his mouth.
This means that Isak is wandering around the flat because it’s been ages since he’s visited. It’s not the same flat that he, Linn and Eskild shared years ago when Eskild basically scooped Isak up from the streets. Still, there’s an extra room that’s full of little trinkets, but also holds a bed. When Eskild first bought the place a couple years ago, Isak had asked him what he needed a guest room for and Eskild had just looked at him as if he was being particularly stupid. In hindsight, Isak probably was.
For the next few days, this guest room is Isak’s and Even’s room and Isak likes the thought of that. The thought of being under the same roof as Eskild once again, even if Linn is going home in the evening (“You’re too loud and when Eskild’s new boyfriend comes tomorrow, it’ll be even worse.”).
“What are you doing?” Even suddenly shakes Isak from his thoughts.
Isak leans against the doorframe, shrugging slightly. He’s not entirely sure. He’s not particularly nostalgic for his old life, he likes having something to do more than being in the comfort of his home, but sometimes it hits him how little he sees Eskild and Linn.
Even doesn’t ask anything else, just steps close to him, his hands on Isak’s hips and whispers, “I still haven’t gotten you all to myself.”
Isak smiles. “You probably only have two minutes until Eskild notices that you’re missing.”
“Better make the most of it,” Even breathes against Isak’s lips, before pulling him close and kissing him. Isak’s hands wander into Even’s hair of their own account and he lets Even press him against the doorframe. It’s languid and slow, although they haven’t seen each other in a week. Something about the Christmas spirit calms Isak down, lets him simply relax into Even’s hold and press little kisses all over Even’s face. Even has to duck his head, so that Isak can reach his forehead and in the end, Isak settles for brushing his nose against Even’s, kissing him softly at the same time.
They break apart when they hear Eskild’s voice yelling for Even. Isak chuckles, “I feel like he’s adopted you more quickly than me.”
“Nah, he still loves you best. It’s just that I can cook,” Even grins, kissing the tip of Isak’s nose and stepping out of his personal space. Isak stares after him, putting his hands over his own hips where he can still feel the phantom touch of Even.
Dinner is loud and much too much food for four people. When Isak mentions that, Eskild just sighs. “Isak, you need to have more faith in me. Obviously, this is all microwavable and did you think that I wouldn’t give some stuff to Nils as well?”
Isak rolls his eyes. “Do you just use your boyfriend to load off food on him?”
Eskild gives him a too-wide smile. “Just because you’re the one in your relationship who inhales all the food –“
“Hey!”
Eskild ignores him, turning towards Even. “Does he still eat food like he’s starving?”
Even nods, that traitor. “Oh yes, if he doesn’t forget to eat because of work then he does.”
Isak punches him in the shoulder. “You can sleep on the floor,” he declares.
Linn simply states, “I remember why I thought it’s enough if I turn up for dinner. God, the thought of you two and Eskild and Nils together is exhausting.”
Isak makes an affronted face, which he knows Eskild matches, while Even just asks, “Linn, what exactly is it that you do, actually?”
The conversation shifts naturally after that, Even engaging Linn in a talk, which makes it possible for Eskild to interrogate Isak some more. He thinks he’s subtle, but he really, really isn’t.
“So, Isak,” he says slowly. Isak puts a forkful of potato in his mouth. If he can’t talk, he has more time to answer. “What have you and Even been up to?”
Isak shrugs, chewing thoughtfully and enjoying how Eskild looks more and more annoyed. “Not much,” he finally settles on.
“Isak, that’s not true, everyone knows that.”
“What is it with everyone saying I lie all the time?”
Eskild just cocks his head. “Please, when I called you to invite you for Christmas it sounded like you were on a beach or something.”
“It’s creepy how much attention you pay, you know?”
“Was it a beach?”
“Yes. We were on a beach.”
Eskild makes an “aww” sound. Isak is tempted to put himself under just to escape the noise. “Was it a romantic getaway? Where to?” Eskild puts his chin in his hand and Isak laughs despite himself. He looks so invested, even though, Isak has barely said more than four sentences.
Still, he rolls his eyes a bit. He doesn’t have to support Eskild in this. “It wasn’t a romantic getaway, it was just a getaway.”
“Isak, are you belittling our romantic holiday?” Even buts in, because of course he does when he hears the word romantic.
“I’m not belittling it. It wasn’t that romantic when you nearly choked on an oyster.” Isak looks at Even, unimpressed.
“If I can just remind you, you were the one who refused to even try them.”
“Oysters clarify water to get to the stuff they eat, which means they’re basically the defecator of the sea. Why would I ever want to eat them?” Isak pulls a face.
Even just looks delighted. “You know, sometimes I wonder why you didn’t study biology.”
Isak rolls his eyes. “I wanted to study something where I didn’t know everything already,” he says haughtily.
Eskild and Linn groan, but Even just says, “You are so smart, baby.”
Isak lets Even kiss his cheek, ignores Eskild’s talk of being a proud father (what the fuck, no) and smiles. This is why he came home.
After dinner and presents (“Swarovski diamonds and your presence Isak, you really know how to buy my love!”), they’re lounging on couches in the living room: Isak with his back to Even’s chest, between his legs and nearly dozing off. The past week starts catching up to him, the little favours he had done for other people to stock up on favours to call in for his own next job. Even’s fingers absentmindedly stroking Isak’s sides aren’t helping in keeping him awake, nor is the hushed conversation Even and Eskild are holding over his head. Linn has already headed home a while ago, so it’s only the three of them.
“How is he?” he can make out Eskild’s voice.
Isak wants to say that he’s right here, but it seems like too much of an effort. Even will probably know what to answer anyway. “He’s good,” Even answers, tightening his arms around Isak a little.
“I guess I don’t have to give you a speech about how you cannot hurt him, right?”
Even’s laugh rumbles against Isak’s back. Isak snuggles further into his embrace, refusing to be embarrassed of that. “No, no you really don’t. I’d never do something to hurt him. Also, he’d probably ensure that I never work anywhere ever again if I hurt him.”
“Good,” Eskild says and Isak can hear the smile in his voice.
Then, Isak’s phone starts ringing. He shoots up, rubbing his hands over his eyes and fumbling for it in his jeans pockets. Even watches him, steadying him when Isak nearly topples over in his haste to get up.
Isak’s heart only stops beating erratically when he hears Sana’s voice on the other end. “Hi,” she says, “I have a job offer.”
Isak yawns, shaking off the rest of his tiredness and keeps standing in the middle of the living room. He should move, definitely. But he could also just, not do that. He sinks back into the couch, against Even, who watches him amusedly. Isak will just have to not let any important information slip for Eskild’s sake.
“Now?” he asks.
“Yes, now. I wouldn’t call otherwise.”
“I thought maybe you’d missed me.”
“No.”
Isak rolls his eyes, ignoring how Eskild is staring at him with idle curiosity. “Okay, then, what is it?”
“It’s a huge job. It needs two teams. This is why we need two people on point.”
“You’ll also be on point?”
“Maybe. I could double as extractor as well.”
“Right.” Isak stores that information away for later. “But you want me on board?”
“Yes. I can send you the details. There’s a lot of money involved.”
“Yeah, well I hope so. It’s a two-team job.”
“It’s a double extraction,” Sana says and Isak widens his eyes. “Nice. When does it start?”
“Ten days from now.”
“Great. Send me the details.”
“I will. Also, we need a forger. Ask Even.”
“Who says that I know how to get in contact with Even?” Isak puts a hand over Even’s mouth, who is threatening to break out into laughter. He only pulls it away when Even licks his palm. Isak grimaces, but Even just smiles back. Eskild laughs quietly in the background.
“Please,” Sana says, “everyone with eyes knows about the two of you. You don’t want to know how much money exchanged hands when you got together.”
“People bet on us getting together?” Isak yells and this time, Eskild is the one who has to smother his laughter in a pillow. Isak frowns at him.
“Yes. Get back to me when the both of you know if you’ll take the job.”
“Will do, Sana,” Isak sighs and before she can hang up, “Happy holidays.”
Her voice softens the tiniest bit. “Happy holidays, Isak.”
Isak puts his phone away again, waiting for somebody to say something. Eskild is first. “Did I hear that correctly that your colleagues bet on when you would get together? How obvious were you?”
Isak just groans.
They’re lying in bed, nose to nose, and it’s quiet.
Tomorrow, they’ll discuss the job offer, meet Eskild’s boyfriend and probably continue eating their weight in food, but right now, it’s just them. Isak lays a hand on Even’s cheek, tracing a finger down his cheekbones, his nose, his lips.
At some point, Even catches his finger in his hand and presses a tiny kiss to it. Isak doesn’t fight the smile that’s lifting the corners of his lips. The smile that feels like it’s spilling over into his whole body, making him feel light and present and settled in a new way.
“Thanks for coming with me,” he whispers into the air between them.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Even replies just as quietly.
Isak only nods slightly. Of course, he invited Even.
Isak has been running for a long time. Running away from his parents’ house only to find Eskild and come to a stop for a while. But then he started running from himself and when he stopped doing that, he ran towards excitement and danger when boredom was too close to his heels, never once settling for too long.
It feels like maybe he doesn’t have to run so fast anymore. Like, maybe he has somebody to anchor him to the present. Not to one place, because Isak doesn’t know how to stay in one place for longer, doesn’t know how to combine this with his job, but Even – Even could be his anchor.
“What are you thinking about?” Even asks, putting an arm around Isak’s waist.
“You,” Isak answers and it’s the truth. “I’m going to steal you away from everyone else.”
“I thought you were a point man and not a thief?” Even whispers, his breath tickling Isak’s nose.
“I’ll only steal you.”
“You don’t have to steal me, though.”
“No?”
“No. Why steal something you already got?” Even grins and Isak topples him over to lie on his chest.
“You’re so sappy,” he says as if he didn’t just reminisce about calling Even his anchor.
“You love it,” Even smiles, softly, just for him.
“I love you,” Isak says. It’s a quiet admission, something that doesn’t scare Isak anymore.
Even’s eyes widen and there’s this look again. Isak remembers it from when he told Even that he knew about his bipolar: the awe in his eyes, the unguardedness and the small smile that is reflected in them.
Isak thinks that maybe this flat here isn’t his only home anymore. He thinks that maybe he’s holding home in his arms right now and it will accompany him to wherever he goes next.
He doesn’t say any of this out loud. He has a reputation to lose.
(He thinks Even knows anyways.)