Chapter Text
Life had returned to a certain normalcy for Naib and Norton, at least as much as it could in their current, strange situation. Naib had a feeling he was probably the one making things complicated, because he was behaving like a teenager falling in love for the first time. He was increasingly suspecting that maybe it wasn't one-sided at all, and that was terrifying, but at the same time, thinking about it made his heart beat faster, and he couldn't help but smile to himself. It was a nightmare.
Norton had also become quite helpful around the house. He often cleaned, made dinner, and did laundry. He also didn't wear Subedar's clothes as often anymore, which was a bit disappointing for some reason. He was now wearing his gifts from Morton, though, which was irritating, but he looked so… fucking good in them that Naib couldn't complain. The earrings also added so much to his appearance that Naib's mind was constantly occupied with that handsome face of his.
It was nice to come home to a place where everything was taken care of. It was a bit like having a wife. Except that his wife still avoided him a little… or actually a lot. As if he had typhus or some other infectious disease. They talked, but their casual touch, or perhaps even the less casual touch, no longer featured in their lives, and Naib missed it so much.
Neither of them, however, were able to do anything about the situation they'd found themselves in, and perhaps Subedar, being the wiser one, should have changed it. Or was he? On this subject, he was as stupid and idiotic as fucking Campbell. He only wondered if Norton might suspect that the smaller man was indifferent to him in any way. Although perhaps Naib had overestimated his emotional abilities, or perhaps he himself was wrong about Norton, and none of this made any sense.
He was so incredibly stupid and like a child in a fog. Martha was right, he was crazy, and maybe it was because of that poor fucking guy.
He was sitting on the steps of the apartment building where he'd just delivered a shipment. He'd finished work, so he was smoking quietly. Lately, he'd been constantly distracted at work, and even now he couldn't concentrate because of that damn Campbell, there was no break.
Something, or rather someone, caught his eye. Ah, it was him. Naib had noticed him long before, a few days ago, but he had ignored his existence, because what was that idiot doing?
"You can get out," he said, tired of it all. Maybe it was finally time to talk? Actually, Naib had been thinking for a while that they should, but as usual, he had to sweep all his problems under the rug.
An owl flew out from behind the bushes, and then the figure of fucking Eli Clark emerged clumsily.
“How long have you been following me?” asked Naib indifferently, blowing out the stinking smoke of his disgusting Russian cigarette.
"Hi, Naib," Eli smiled shyly and went to the Subedar. "You noticed me," he added, scratching the back of his head. His owl was already perched on his shoulder, staring with wide eyes at Naib, who used to always give her something to eat. He guess she really missed him.
“You've been following me for a few days now and believe me, you lack discretion” Naib took another drag on his cigarette, which he smoked and then stamped out.
Eli sat down next to him and pulled out his damn Marlboro Red. Oh, how Nab missed the taste of them. He pulled one out and handed it to Naib. Then he lit one himself.
“Can we talk, Naib?” Eli asked pleadingly, and Subedar should probably stop punishing him.
He nodded. He was especially pleased with this Malborask now. Eli knew exactly what he was doing, Naib had to give him that.
"Aesop left," he began, his tone heavy, and Naib finally remembered his former roommate's name. "He said he was going back to his ex."
Subedar knew absolutely nothing about Carl, so he wasn't particularly interested in what Eli was saying, but he didn't interrupt him because he knew it was not just anything for Clark.
Then they were silent for a while, smoking, but Eli continued.
“Did you have any further contact with him after... you know?” he looked embarrassedly at Subedar, who frowned at this question.
"No," he replied curtly. "I already told you I didn't give a damn about him, and I don't give a damn about him, Eli."
"I know, but..." Eli started scratching his neck nervously again. "I wanted to make sure, even though I know Naib, I just..."
Naib sighed, because this was all leading back to their eternal conversation.
"Listen, I'm tired of constantly explaining myself and convincing you that I was, is, and always will be indifferent to this guy. We didn't talk, we weren't close, I didn't even remember his name."
“I know, but still…”
"But what?" Naib raised his voice, because he was really fed up with Clark and all of this. "You know I had no idea the guy was messing around with you, you know that, but you're still going to accuse me, over and over and over again. We were fucking, yeah, but it meant nothing, and as soon as I found out about you two, we fucking stopped, get it? You can't erase it, it's already happened, but stop accusing me forever."
Eli fell silent, and Naib pulled another cigarette from Clark's pack and lit it.
"I'm sorry, Naib, I really am," he began. "It's just all in my head... I know, I know, and I believe you, but I can't stop. He made me so stupid, Naib... but I really fell in love."
"I know," Naib said quickly, knowing a thing or two about how stupid someone could be. "But man, I'm seriously sick of feeling this fucking guilt because I didn't do anything to you, and I even hid your betrayals from Gerturde. Just erase my existence from these memories and stop being jealous all the time. Besides, that guy, as you say, doesn't even live here anymore."
Eli smiled bitterly, but Naib knew he needed that bucket of cold water. It would be better for him if Carl left for good, he thought.
"So we can finally talk." Clark lit a cigarette too. "Ah, fuck it, Naib, fuck it, I missed you so much."
Naib was still a little irritated by the earlier conversation, but he smiled in spite of himself.
“I missed your Marlboros,” he said, and Clark laughed.
"And yours? Your roommate, how's it going?" he changed the subject.
"Suddenly we're talking about me?" Naib blew smoke in his face. "It's been better." He frowned, because it really was better for them, and Subedar had no idea if things would ever be the same again.
“The last time I was at your place, I found him there.”
“When the fuck were you at my place?” Naib was surprised because Norton hadn't even said a word about Eli being at their house.
"Long time ago, old news, Naib," he laughed. "But it made me wonder. You know, when I walked by, I thought maybe it was your new boyfriend, or… you know." Naib was about to say something and get angry, but Eli cut him off. "But he told me no. Well, it made me wonder," he laughed. "Why does the guy say you're straight? Didn't you tell him you like guys?"
“Why the fuck should I say that”, Naib said.
He'd never actually told him, but there was no reason for him to. Even if the first thing Norton did after finding out that he actually likes guys was to tell Naib. Actually, maybe it was fair… but Subedar had a feeling that if he confessed to him that he liked men, it would be the final nail in the coffin, a decision Naib himself wasn't sure he was ready for now, or ever would be.
"I don't know," Eli shrugged. "Don't you like him?" He took a drag on his cigarette.
Niab grimaced. What if he even liked him?
"What difference does it make?" he mused, his chest tightening uncomfortably again. "Besides, why are you interfering so much, Clark?"
"I haven't seen you since yesterday, Naib, and I see you're... in a bad state. I know because I was in a similar situation myself, you know. But maybe you're right that it's better not to say anything since he... you know, he's not interested in guys. I guess."
“Who said he isn't Eli?” Naib said without thinking and immediately scolded himself for it in his head.
“Did he tell you that?”
Naib nodded, still angry with himself, but Clark seriously had a way with Naib and he always spilled all that nonsense out into the open.
"Damn, Naib, then you're cruel," he said, and Naib looked at him questioningly. "The guy's into you," Clark added.
Damn, even if he is, so what?
Naib just shrugged, suddenly feeling so tired of this conversation, of Clark, of him opening up, of Clark knowing and anticipating everything, and Subedar was getting fed up with him. But maybe he really wasn't being fair to Norton.