A proposal of sorts

Chapter Seven: Nothing comes easy


Nikola is going insane. Laurenţiu is constantly getting in the way and makes it impossible for Dimitrie and Nikola to be alone. All he wants is to talk to Dimitrie and finally confess!

"N-Nikola! Calm down there, buddy!" Romulus gasps, grabbing the man's hand.

"Huh?" Nikola looks at him confused before staring down at the cadaver on their embalming table with a far too deep incision in his thigh. "Ah! Oh god I'm so sorry!"

Romulus laughs a little and pats him on the back. "It's alright Nikola, something's been bothering you for the past few weeks hasn't it? Perhaps you should take the rest of class off and try to fix it?" He offers and Nikola looks at him, his eyes almost shining with admiration.

"Thank you Mr. Vargas! I'll be sure not to mess anything up next time!" Nikola promises before leaving the class and going to the change room. Quickly heading home he runs to the shower before anything to get the smell of the embalming room off. As soon as he enters he notices something is off. First of all, the shower is already on, second of all, there are clothes already lined up, and quite possibly most important is the completely naked Laurenţiu standing in front of him. "Oh my god you're a girl!" He gasps and Laurenţiu raises a brow. "Why didn't you just say so? Damnit you're killing me!"

Laurenţiu laughs a little. "Would a girl have the name Laurenţiu?"

"Are boys growing boobs now?" Nikola counters.

"When they cannot afford to get rid of them yet." Laurenţiu explains. "I was born in the wrong gender and corrective surgery is expensive."

Nikola goes silent for a moment before tossing Laurenţiu his shirt. "If you are a boy you can't just tell people?"

Laurenţiu smiles at him and puts the shirt on. "Tell me, how much did it drive you crazy not knowing my gender?"

"It's been a pretty constant annoyance, I admit."

"I like to annoy people with the not knowing." Laurenţiu explains as he finishes getting dressed.

"I bet." Nikola says, staring at the wall on the other side of the room. "…This is part of the reason you like Dimitrie isn't it? Because gender means nothing to him."

Laurenţiu smiles at him once fully dressed. "All these years we have been friends. All these years I have worn clothes that would elude to different genders to get him to ask. We both know he doesn't keep his curiosities quiet to be polite, he honestly doesn't care." He explains. "Once I realized this I fell in love with him."

"Yeah…he's a pretty impressive guy…" Nikola admits. "But…he's not the only person like that in the world."

"He's right in front of me, how can I not reach out to grab him?" Laurenţiu asks and Nikola frowns.

"Yes…but…"

"He loves you, I know." He pats Nikola on the shoulder. "I know it's a losing battle, but I also know that at least making you work harder for it will make you cherish him more."

Nikola sighs before pulling Laurenţiu into a hug.

"Nikola…?" Laurenţiu mumbles into his shoulder, feeling a small heat rise to his face.

"I'm really sorry." Nikola admits. "I don't know what life must be like for you, but I'm truly sorry I'm taking him from you. You're beautiful no matter what your gender is and you're a great person."

Laurenţiu smiles and hugs him back. "You're a strange guy." He laughs a little before the door suddenly opens, revealing an almost angry Dimitrie.

"Nikola…Laurenţiu…what are you doing?" He asks in a dark tone, walking up and yanking Nikola out of Laurenţiu's arms.

"It's really not what you're thinking." Laurenţiu says and Nikola nods.

"Really, it definitely isn't."

Dimitrie looks at Nikola sadly. "You called him beautiful. Just what are you taking from him?"

Laurenţiu rolls his eyes and slips between them and the doorway. "This will be easily remedied, so I'll go." He says, heading to the living room.

Nikola begins to feel awkward and laughs a little. "Th-this isn't how I was gonna…" His face heats up. "I-I mean I would like to shower…since I was in the embalming..."

"What are you talking about?" Dimitrie asks, genuinely confused.

"I-I smell like formaldehyde and cadaver and-!"

"You always do on Thursdays…"

Nikola glares at him. "You are just not helping." He clears his throat awkwardly. "Wh-what I got from…Laurenţiu…was…him-promising-to-stop-going-aft er-you-so-I-can-have-you-only-if-you-want-of-cours e!" His voice is shaky and fast and he's not entirely sure Dimitrie heard all of it but he can't say it any better.

"You…um…Laurenţiu was into me? That wasn't teasing?" Dimitrie asks and Nikola rolls his eyes.

"No, you idiot, it wasn't."

Dimitrie grins. "So you like me and got rid of the competition, huh? I have underestimated you."

"Shut up." Nikola groans and Dimitrie's grin suddenly gets cocky.

"Make me." He challenges.

"Not with Laurenţiu here." Nikola says, pushing him out of the bathroom. "Now let me shower."

"B-but! You just confessed! Now is the time we share a passionate kiss and-!" Dimitrie's whining is cut off by Nikola slamming the door shut. "Awww man!"

After the shower Nikola comes out and sees Dimitrie helping Laurenţiu pack. "…Um…what…?"

"I'm just gonna be in the way here." Laurenţiu explains. "I've got stuff to do anyways now that I'm done messing with you." He says, grinning at him.

"Ah…um…" Nikola pats him on the back. "I'll see you later."

Laurenţiu scoffs. "I'm only going to the wedding if I'm with someone."

Nikola blushes and Dimitrie pouts. "W-wedding? I never said-!"

"But Laurenţiu! You have to see us get married!" Dimitrie whines.

"Both of you need to cut it out!" Nikola orders, making Laurenţiu laugh.

"Whatever Nikola." He grabs his stuff and heads to the door. "My cab is waiting so I'll see you later."

"You packed and got the cab already? I wasn't in the shower THAT long!" Nikola says and Dimitrie laughs.

"You were in there for half an hour, Nikola."

"W-well I was really dirty."

Dimitrie smiles at him and wraps an arm around his waist. "So…can we kiss now?"

Nikola blushes and looks away. "It's not like it'll be our first kiss, I don't see why you are being so pushy…"

"No kisses? But…" Dimitrie pouts.

Nikola laughs a little. "I didn't say no." He says, wrapping his arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. Immediately he feels Dimitrie's arms wrap around his waist and pull him closer. Before he can react Dimitrie deepens the kiss, burying his fingers into his hair.

Soon Dimitrie has him up against the wall, his hands now roaming Nikola's body and memorizing it. Until someone knocks at the door. Dimitrie tries to ignore it, placing kisses down his neck until Nikola pries him off.

"The door, Dimitrie, ignoring it is rude." Nikola reminds him, leaving a dejected Dimitrie standing in front of the wall.

"Nikola you're sooo mean!" Dimitrie whines as Nikola opens the door, revealing Roderich.

"Um…what are you doing here?" Nikola asks and Roderich rolls his eyes.

"It's nice to see you too. One of your classmates informed me you left early, then Elizaveta called me saying Laurenţiu left because of an emergency and wanted me to check on you to see if you were okay." Roderich explains.

Daaaammmmmmn heeerrrrrrrrr!" Dimitrie groans. "That sneaky little bi-!" His mouth is quickly covered by Nikola, who smiles at Roderich.

"Come on in, is Vash coming?" He asks and Roderich shrugs.

"Is it not an emergency?"

"Nah it's just dinner." Nikola says.

"Then I supposed Vash is coming." Roderich says, pulling out his phone and going to the other room.

"God damn Elizaveta." Dimitrie groans.

"Oh yes, I'm sure Laurenţiu was completely innocent." Nikola scoffs and Dimitrie looks at him.

"Touché."

"Indeed."


A/N: Probably only two chapters left to this one, honestly. Two or three.