When morning came, Sindre was woken once again by his alarm. He didn't want to get up. Anything but that.

The whole night he had planned on spending in a bar, getting tipsy and maybe even drunk with Preben, had ended up being spent in the hospital with Eiríkur. His brother's arm was now in a cast and he had painkillers with him. That whole process had taken them five hours. So, naturally, Sindre was done with the world.

It didn't help that he had been thinking about how Preben had somewhat looked like a kicked puppy once the Norwegian had told him he needed to call of their drinking date. Of course, he had forgotten about keeping the man updated and he felt even worse now.

So, he got up and grabbed his phone, typed a text and settled onto the couch. Work could wait. Maybe he'd call his boss to explain that he needed to take care of Eiríkur. Not that the teen would let him help. Perhaps he could spend the day with Preben or something.

A little voice inside his head nagged him. 'Why do you want to spend it with him anyway? I thought you considered him annoying?' Sindre waved his hand around, as to kill the voice to stop it from making more embarrassing thoughts appear. Like that last time he had showered. Goodness, that had been so awkward. He felt his cheeks rise in temperature.

Luckily, his phone vibrated. His tiny smile dropped when he saw that it was a text from Eiríkur's dorm mate. The kid asked whether he knew how many times Eiríkur needed to take his medicine. Both of them could not decipher the handwriting of the doctor.

'What did you expect? That Preben would text you back right away? Yeah right.' That voice really was annoying. Yet Sindre couldn't help but let it nag him, gnaw on his self-esteem.

By the time he was ready to go to work, he still had not gotten a reply from the other. Slightly upset, he turned off the phone, in an attempt to play offended. But even before he actually arrived in the office, guilt was poking him and he turned it on as soon as he entered the building. Five seconds later, it whistled at him.

The smile he carried did not go unnoticed by his co-worker Louise and she raised her brow quizzically.

"Someone sending you flirty texts?", she asked and he tried to regain his composure.

"Not really", he responded and read the message again.

Preben had agreed to going out this night. He wanted to know what had happened to Eiríkur and had something to discuss as well. The lack of strange jokes worried Sindre a little, but he didn't say anything about it. If the other wanted to talk about it, he would start, the Norwegian presumed.

The day dreaded on and on, Louise throwing glances at him that spoke volumes. When lunch break arrived, she whisked him away before he could say "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

"So, tell me all about that secret admirer. And don't say there is no one, I have seen you staring at your phone for the past few weeks, so there really is something going on."

Sindre sighed. He supposed he could tell her a little. They had been acquaintances ever since he had started to work here. Okay, perhaps even friends. So, they went out for lunch together.

"There is no secret admirer", he started off after they had ordered their usual coffee. "Just someone I met after Heikki broke up with me and we've been going to the bar together every once in a while. His relationship is not that great."

Again, the woman raised an eyebrow at him while she adjusted her glasses.

"So there is nothing interesting going on?", she inquired, a little too eager on knowing what was going on between her co-worker and the mysterious person that had him smiling during office hours.

"I'm afraid not." With that, the topic was dropped and they ate, discussing their private lives and that one annoying client that kept losing all the paperwork they had done for him. Lunchbreak was over before they knew it.

Once back in the office, Sindre realised that he had not checked his phone at all. He quickly glanced around, but only found Louise smirking at him. He rolled his eyes at her.

Traitor.

When the end of the work day rushed around the corner, Sindre was stressed and ready to hit anyone annoying in the face with a chair. Part of him questioned whether he would survive Preben's always happy mood, but another part really wanted to feel the safety and security he felt whenever he was around the man.

He decided that he would quickly head home to take a shower and get out of his formal clothes. Not that they looked bad on him. They were just a bit too much for just a friendly night out together as friends. Had it been a date…

Sindre shook his head. It was not a date and would never be one, he reminded himself. Preben was together with Björn and that was that.

Then why did it take him over half an hour to decide on which shirt he was going to wear? What did it matter that it did not match his socks? Now he had to rush to be there on time. The Dane had insisted on making a reservation for the quiet little café. It must be something really important that Preben wanted to talk about.

If not, then everything felt even more like a date. Sindre had to restrain himself from slamming his head against the steering wheel.

See, this is why you are single now. Why all the others left you before. Why no one wants to stay with you, friends or lovers. You are so weird.

It was clear to himself now that he had a crush on the man he had literally run into a few weeks ago. Not something he was very proud of. Nor was he proud on developing these feelings. But, they were there.

When he arrived at last, he felt nervous and giddy. He parked, slammed the door shut and marched over to the restaurant, not paying attention to the flowers in front of him or anything around him. Inside, a cosy atmosphere enveloped him and he took a moment to catch his breath. A figure in the back waved at him and Sindre recognised Preben.

After straightening his hair and shirt, he walked over, the sound of footsteps drowning in the carpet and the murmur of talking people. He was so nervous.

"Hey", Preben greeted with his usual grin. The Norwegian felt his stomach shift.

"Hey", he said, sitting down.

"I already ordered my drink, I wasn't sure whether you wanted coffee or something else."

"I think I'll take water tonight", Sindre stated.

They did not start on the topic that Preben had wanted to discuss right away. First came the regular questions; "How was your day?" "Did anything happen at work?" "How's Eiríkur's arm" and so on. After Sindre had told his companion everything about what had been going on with his little brother, their food arrived and they fell into a silence.

Preben did not seem his usual cheerful self. He was less loud, less boisterous. No comments that were on the edge of being flirty, no boasting about his achievements. Nothing at all. Just talking about the weather and his work.

Halfway through his meal, the Dane dropped his fork and stopped eating. His eyes were trained on Sindre, who followed the example.

"So…", Preben started. Sindre raised an eyebrow.

"You see, the thing I wanted to talk about." He sighed and picked up his fork again, poking his food. The waiter drifted by and asked them whether everything was pleasant. Neither of them spoke, they just nodded.

"Björn cheated on me", Preben stated when the waiter left again. Sindre was surprised by the lack of anger or sadness in the other's voice and looked up, eyes wide.

"I caught him yesterday, after I went home. Another man was walking out of our house and after he said goodbye to Björn, he kissed him."

"Did he kiss back?", Sindre wanted to know.

"No. He just stood there. We didn't talk about it that much. After… After I cried, he came in and wanted to explain, but I was so fed up with him. First, he only fights with me, uses me for his own pleasure. He restricts my every move and controls me. And then he invites someone over who has the guts to kiss him out of nowhere!" Preben sighed in frustration and brought a hand through his hair.

"And now?" The Dane shot him a glare.

"Well, what do you think, Sindre? I'm crashing at a friend's place right now, but I'm not all that welcome there either. So I don't know." The last sentence made the man seem lost like a child. His gaze shifted to the table cloth and he started to poke his food again.

Sindre resisted the urge to gently take Preben's hand and instead decided to take another approach.

"If… If you want, you could stay with me. As a thank you for keeping me company all the time and helping with my move. I wouldn't mind." He was so nervous again. His hands curled into fists as he waited for the other to respond.

The Dane seemed completely baffled by the offer. He just stared at Sindre, his fork resting on the side of the plate, mouth slightly agape.

"Are- You- I mean… Seriously? You would let me?" The Norwegian nodded, jaw clenched. This was going to be a bad idea, Sindre thought. But part of him was just too happy that he could have his crush in his home, living right next to him, so he didn't care that much. He now remembered why he hated being in love.

Preben decided to go and grab a few things, like clothes and work related documents, before heading towards Sindre's home. In the meantime, the Norwegian readied the old bed that he kept for situations like these and wondered whether he should vacuum the house. He decided against it, he had just done that this morning before he left for work.

The doorbell tore him out of his musing and he hurried down the small hallway, opening the door.

"Welcome back", Sindre said and he felt himself blush slightly at the ring those words had to them. "You know the way."

Preben stepped into the little house and headed to the guestroom, placing his bag onto the bed and dropping his laptop onto the pillow.

"Thanks again for this, man. You really have no idea how much this means to me." For a minute, Preben looked as if he was going to hug Sindre, but something apparently kept him from doing that.

"Coffee?", the smaller male asked while turning to the kitchen. The other just followed him instead of giving an answer.

"I'm not very good at helping people or talking about problems with them", Sindre confessed while he poured the liquid into a blue mug. "So, if you want to talk about it, you'll kind of have to start." His guest nodded and took the mug.

Once seated on the sofa, they shared a slightly awkward silence. It being mostly awkward to Sindre, Preben didn't care that much.

"We really did a lot of work that day, huh", he suddenly mused, looking at the now painted walls.

"Hmh", Sindre responded, sipping his coffee. The silence returned.

Eventually, they decided to call it a day and just head to bed. Sindre's alarm told him that it was already past midnight. He was lucky that it would be Saturday tomorrow. It took him nearly three hours to fall asleep. In those three hours, imaginary Preben had run out on him, kissed him, found him showering naked, seen him cry and declare his undying love for him. Sindre felt as if his brain had been fried when he finally fell asleep.

The sound of plates and mugs being moved around and set onto surfaces, as well as music, finally woke him the next morning. At first, he couldn't find a reason why someone would be playing music in his house, until he remembered that he had taken Preben home yesterday. No, not as a one-night stand. Sadly.

He forced himself to get out of bed and be a good host. Unfortunately, or fortunately, his help was not needed at all. Preben had prepared a little breakfast and set the table, as well as brewed coffee. It was not bad to have that man as a guest, after all, Sindre decided.

The day would tell him otherwise.

Preben dropped his favourite mug. He scratched the floor when he jumped onto the couch, nearly planting his very sexy behind onto Sindre's laptop. He nagged about being bored and he didn't want to talk about what he was going to do about him and Björn. He made a mess in the bathroom by letting his towel and dirty clothes lie around, not drying the floor and being a chaotic person in general. Sindre felt very sorry for Björn after that day.

When evening fell, he was about to snap at Preben for again running around and nearly crashing into the table, when the hyperactive man sat down next to him and his mood changed completely.

"I'm sorry", he whispered, avoiding the glare the Norwegian had been keeping on all day. "I know I'm really annoying and wild today. I don't want to be. I just don't know what to do and I don't want you to worry."

Ouch, that stung.

"It's okay", the host replied, making the other look at him. "I can imagine it's difficult for you…" This was getting awkward again.

"Yeah…" They say in silence again, until Sindre's stomach started to beg for food.

"Well, someone's hungry", Preben joked and got up. "Let's make something to eat. Or order, whatever you feel like."

"Why don't you cook tonight, to make up for today?", Sindre asked with a hint of amusement in his voice. The other smirked.

"You'll love it, I promise. You'll be begging me for more." That sounded really wrong, Sindre thought as he felt his cheeks heat up.

"Sure you will", he sarcastically remarked as he got up to put the magazine he had been reading away. "I'll be going for a walk", he then announced. He really needed some alone time now.

Dinner was indeed quite delicious and much quieter than the rest of the day. After doing the dishes together (and brushing their hands together a few times, which made Sindre nearly drop a plate), Preben retired to his room to do some work. Finally; some time to read.

That night, Sindre dreamed of kissing his guest. Not a chaste, shy kiss. No, a full make-out session, on the sofa, losing clothes. He woke up with the most beautiful shade of red on his cheeks.

Sunday wasn't that different from Saturday. This time, no plates or mugs were killed on the battlefield that called itself Preben and the man was overall more relaxed. In the afternoon, the man insisted on going to the park together to feed the few ducks that were still there. It was alright. Sindre had to consciously keep himself from grabbing Preben's hand or calling it a date in his head. The happy smiles that the other sent him, really did not make things easier.

Two weeks flew by, each day easier than the one before. They slowly became a team. When the one of them was out at work, the other would take care of cleaning, doing the groceries and preparing dinner. Afterwards, the one who had been at work would do the dishes and sometimes take care of the laundry, as well as ironing the clothes. They became more domestic and Sindre had a hard time not showing his affections to the other.

Not that his affections were that easy to notice.

When he returned home on Friday the 11th of December, he found his new house mate drunk on the sofa, beer bottles decorating the floor and table.

"What happened here?", he asked after he had hung up his coat and cleared the path to the sofa. Preben was out cold.

"You are such an idiot…", the Norwegian mumbled as he put a blanket over the other.

A few hours later, in the middle of the night, he was woken by a loud bang and a string of curses that could only be Danish, judging by the strange sounds that came from the other's mouth. Sindre had never liked the sound of Danish, even though it was somewhat similar to his own language. The sounds were just lovelier in Norwegian than in Danish, he found.

When another loud bang came from the living room, Sindre decided to get up and check on the stupid Dane that he had left there before he went to bed.

The lights were still off and he saw Preben, or his silhouette, standing somewhere between the kitchen and the living room. The man flinched when Sindre turned on the lights and revealed quite the mess.

Preben had knocked over a couple of bottles, and he was now holding his knee that he had seemingly slammed into the dinner table.

"So you're up", the Norwegian remarked. His housemate nodded. "Care for a glass of water?" Another nod. Sindre moved away from the doorpost and walked into the kitchen fetching a glass and filling it. The other took it with a crooked smile.

"Are you going to give me an explanation?", he asked Preben while he leaned against his counter top. The Dane sat down the glass after emptying it and avoided Sindre's gaze before responding.

"I saw Björn today. Met him in town, at the supermarket." He sighed and looked up to the other.

"I just don't know what to do. I miss him so much that it hurts. Not that you're bad company or boring or anything", he hurried to say. "It's just…"

Preben fell silent after that, looking at the floor and seeming very disappointed. Sindre did not push him, just like always. His mouth remained shut and he waited for the other to talk.

"So I drank. Hoping that would give me an idea of what to do. Usually it does. But now… No such luck. I really would love to stay here, it's so much calmer and stress free now that I'm not dealing with fighting all day anymore. But it's just… Lonely? I miss those few nights where he used to hold me or when we would do stupid couple things together. I can't really ask you for that, can I?"

Sindre decided that it would be best to not give him his answer.

"I know I should not forgive him that easily. He cheated on me, he forgot about our anniversary again, he did not call once after I left his house. Well, I guess I did tell him not to do that. But after two weeks, you would expect him to call, wouldn't you?" He looked at his host with pleading eyes. Sindre made a non-committal sound in the back of his throat. Preben seemed to take that as a sign to continue talking.

"Of course you would, who wouldn't be worried about their boyfriend when they had not heard from them in two weeks?" Granted, Sindre thought, that was something that Björn should have asked about. If his boyfriend, or any friend, would disappear after a fight for two weeks, without updating him on their lives, he would get worried and at least send a text.

"But he didn't even ask where I was staying. He just nodded at me and then passed on to his lane. He didn't wait for me, didn't wave. Nothing. As if we were acquaintances or something." The Dane buried his head in his hands and Sindre felt the urge to reach out to him.

He surprised himself when he actually did and let his slim hand rest on Preben's broad shoulders. It felt nice.

The other did not flinch, only looked up. Then, he turned towards the Norwegian, burying his head against the other's shoulder.

"I am really that annoying? Does he hate me that much?", Preben mumbled while his shoulders shook. Sindre bit his lip.

"I don't think so. At least, you're not that annoying. Sure, you have your moments. But not enough to make me hate you." Was that suspicious? Would Preben catch onto his feelings now?

"Really?"

"Yes."

The arms that had been hanging loosely at Preben's side suddenly gripped Sindre's back and pulled him into a hug. Preben smelled nice, he noticed. Like… Like what, actually?

"Thank you", the Dane whispered, before letting go. "Uhh, I hope that wasn't… uncomfortable to you. Sorry about that." Sindre waved it off.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

They stayed in the kitchen for a while, before Sindre decided that it was time for bed again. This time, his guest did not head for the couch, but retreated to the guestroom instead.

The next morning, Sindre was up before Preben, which was a small miracle. It took the man until well over twelve o' clock to wake up and shuffle into the kitchen, where the master of the house was checking his social media on his phone. He had totally not been stalking Preben's facebook, and especially not the pictures from a beach holiday a few years ago. Man, did that guy look hot in swimming trunks.

"Morning", the Dane grumbled while he rubbed his eyes. Scratch the swimming trunks, he looked good in boxers with tousled hair and sleepy eyes as well. Maybe even better.

Sindre gave him a small nod and raised his eyebrow at the lack of proper clothes.

"Is it uncomfortable for you?", Preben asked, but Sindre shook his head. "Alright", he said with a yawn, before he sat down opposite from Sindre.

"So, did you think of a solution yet", the Norwegian asked when the silence became too much for him to bear. Something he never really expected to ever happen, he noted.

Now it was Preben's time to shake his head, sending bread crumbs flying.

"Perhaps you could talk to Björn today?", Sindre proposed. The other seemed to think about that for a while. "I was thinking about visiting Eiríkur today", he explained when Preben did not give a response.

"Maybe… I'll try. When will you be home? Should I make dinner for two, or…?" God, that sounded so domestic, Sindre thought. He had not thought that he would ever like those things again. After Heikki left him broken and scarred, he had not expected to fall in love that soon again. Or live together with someone, for that matter.

"I'll let you know if I'm eating together with Eiríkur. But knowing my brother, he probably won't want me to."

"Alright, dinner for the two of us it is, then." Preben's flashy smile was back again. "I'll see you tonight."

The only thing that missed, Sindre mused when he drove to Eiríkur's dorm, was a kiss whenever he would leave the house. Maybe that would come one day. Or was that wishful thinking?

I am late. Sorry. Life happened.

There's a lot of line breaks. I'm sorry about that, too.

I'm flying to Poland on Monday to visit a friend of mine, so either there will be an update and another one really soon after when I have the time, or I won't update at all. I'll be back on Easter Sunday.

Thank you for being patient and still reading this.

~Hana