Chapter Text
He’d given in to all those suppressed feelings he’d kept hidden for a long time and finally kissed Pat on that rooftop. It had been earth shattering for a brief shining moment, before the reality of how impossible they were, bled through and he was left even more dejected then when Pat had admitted to liking Ink.
Pat kissed him first, but it was him that ran with it, not that Pat hadn’t kissed him back but. did he still like Ink also, was he confused or was this just a product of a drunk Pat acting out. He had no idea how to translate what had just happened.
Was it all his doing, had he imagined Pat’s confession as no more than an illusion cooked up in his lonely brain to give him permission to do something he’d only ever dreamed of doing in the past.
Or was he just over thinking all of it?
It was just a kiss for goodness sake!
Wasn’t it?
He’d run away not knowing how to begin to understand what it all meant, but knowing he’d smashed through that invisible line between friends that should never be crossed. Lying on his bed he found his mind wandered over every detail of their kiss in all its multifaceted glory.
He touched his lips, he felt so light and airy and flustered at the same time. It made everything so much more complicated.
Then there was the knocking
A lot of knocking and there was only one person it could be.
He couldn’t let him in, not now, not yet.
If he had, they would have tumbled onto his bed and there would be no going back to whatever it was they were before.
Damn it though he wanted so much more.
He ignored the call, the siren call in lieu of protecting his heart.
Hours turned into days and he still avoided any contact with Pat. Not addressing it meant he could remain suspended in a time when nothing had changed. The only problem with pretending things didn’t happen, the other party involved also had to play along and well, Pat was not about to comply with his silent demands.
He knew full well he was being the stubborn childish one refusing to face Pat. Not sure if he just wanted to pretend nothing had happened between them because he didn’t want to confront what came next or if he was scared of Pat telling him it was all a mistake and he looking like a fool for falling for it.
At least not knowing either way meant he could make believe that nothing had changed whatsoever. Except it had.
He even gave his guitar to Wai to look after. Not because of the reasons he gave his best friend, that his mother would be displeased if she found out he still possessed it. No, it was purely an extension of Pat and a reminder to what he was throwing away by not talking it out with him.
Out of sight, out of mind, or so he hoped.
Was he waiting till Pat gave up and asked out Ink or for the memories of what happened on the rooftop to fade into the background.
As if that could ever eventuate.
Pran felt he was just someone balanced on the peripheral, always forced to look but never getting to touch what he really desired. Like a child with its nose pressed to the window of a sweet shop, forever tempted but the barriers were cool and unfeeling like a sheet of glass and just as impervious. Unless you had the right tools, Pran owned none.
Pat fortunately was not so easily dismissed.
Because he’d avoided Pat at school and at home, the boy invited himself to the Architectural Camp much to Pran’s absolute horror. At every opportunity he managed to squeeze himself between him and the rest of his friends. It was only because he demanded Pran’s attention that he showed up at all, to taunt and make sure he never got the opportunity to forget.
He was to blame.
He wanted to shove him away, but also desperately to tug him closer.
Infuriating and exhilarating…
There was something about being chased that caused his pulse to quicken.
Pat was a force of nature, not many could ignore for long. He had this way of burrowing under your skin and making himself at home.
Fate had seen fit to pair them together in a team building exercise where he had to stand on a piece of newspaper that got folded steadily smaller as the game progressed.
Pran was not going to fall into Pat's trap, so he placed both feet on the tiny square leaving no room for his partner.
Pat would be forced to concede.
He should have known Pat wouldn’t be fazed by his attitude.
Pran had to be reminded that competition was in both their blood from infancy, they had grown up together.
Pat snuck his foot in between his and basically rose up to claim his spot, aligning his body with Pran’s.
Heartbeat going berserk as Pat made his presence known, far too close.
Pran was unprepared for this shameless move and he lost his balance. Pat grabbed him, making sure he wasn’t hurt while falling and ended up on top of him in the warm sand.
Pran was sure his heart stopped in that moment with Pat hovered above him, no mistaking the look in his eye. If there hadn’t been people about, he was sure he’d have been kissed.
Wai, his self opposed bodyguard came charging forward, hauled Pat away from him and from there on out it only got worse as Pat kept up the innocent charade by courting violence from Pran’s friends. Till Pat had manoeuvred him into a position where he had no choice but to speak with him.
Clever bastard won on a technicality because Pat knew he cared about him and wouldn’t put him purposely in harm's way.
He begged Pat to leave it alone but he wasn’t going to allow Pran to crawl back into his cubbyhole and hide. He kept at him till he ended up showing his soft underbelly.
Messing around with him in the sea as they took turns dunking each other into the waves and later when they were exhausted but content, talking as they sat together on the beach. Pran still refused to talk about that night but past grievances were aired and there was peace of a sort between them. Peace and a whole lotta sexual tension held barely at bay by the thinest of excuses.
He should just let Pat get beaten up by his friends, it’s not like he hadn’t practically serenaded disaster the way he’d mocked Wai constantly throughout the two days.
But he couldn’t do it, so he made up some sob story about being rejected and like the true friends they were he got them to drink with him in his fake misery until they all passed out. He soberly found Pat on the beach late that night, or maybe it was Pat that found him. He was safe, protected not realising how close he’d been to going home with a black eye and several bruised ribs if not worse.
Things got heated between them as the kiss was brought up and what should have been a rational adult conversation descended into one of their adolescent games of tug-of-war where they made a bet ‘the first to fall in love was the loser’.
In all honesty if that was the case he was already at a disadvantage, but Pat didn’t need to know that. In bed that night with a snoring Louis snuggled up beside him he wondered for the umpteenth time why he was going along with all this.
What would this competition achieve, it would end in heartbreak either way. Surely it wasn’t worth all the grief that was to come if they continued to seek out the impossible.
Their friends hated each other.
Their faculties were bitter rivals
Their families loathed each other.
To be together they’d have to walk away from them all.
Everything that should drive them away from one another, enticed them closer because they were so hopelessly attracted to each other..
Let the games begin…
Pat’s first attempt was with food, it didn’t work. Such a weak opening. His was so much more effective a response and he hadn’t even planned it out, it just transpired as a reaction to Pat denying him a single bite. So he took out his revenge by tasting what Pat was offering directly from the source. Was so deeply invested in the moment, thrilled at the shock and lust in Pat’s eyes as he sucked on that salty finger, not knowing the embers he’d stoked with that action.
One point for the Pranster.
Was it okay to indulge in the forbidden if it was wrapped in a game. A safer option for the both of them that would never have a clear winner. Neither of them would ever back down so this gratification could go on indefinitely and never be resolved.
The new year started and now they are both sophomores. Pa started university and she had set herself up in Pat’s room. Pat had stepped up his flirting also, texting numerous times and sending him pictures daily to bait him. Most just made him embarrassed, but he had to admit it was a thrill to receive them, like they were carrying on this illicit affair under the noses of everyone.
He even attempted Pat’s trick of luring him with food. Stupid fool was too stubborn to fall for his ruse and rejected his advances at the very last second. He almost had him though or maybe he just imagined it. The entertainment of just trying was endlessly amusing considering just how rousing it was becoming. Out doing the other was getting quite inventive, he never knew when Pat might strike. Just the thought of what he might do next to coax him was exciting and had him on edge in the most scrumptious way.
Could you die from repressed emotions, it felt like it was very possible at times, like he might combust from holding them in, the act made him tremble from head to toe like a delicious shiver that had his toes curling and the feeling that he might just float away on the breeze with the euphoria of it all.
They got bolder also, teasing out in the open where anyone could discover them, not just through their phones or in each other's dorms where they could play without fear of discovery.
Pat stepping up his game almost melted Pran’s resolve. He came to Pat’s room while Pa was out studying. Pat had asked for his doll back that he left in the architect's dorm. He pretended to be sick knowing this would bring out Pran’s nurturing side.
Unfortunately it didn’t take long for him to see right through Pat’s pretence and make a move on him as retaliation.
Only thing was the banter was full of so much sexual tension it wasn’t difficult for both of them to get swept up in the struggle to remain impartial, especially with the boy in question spreadout before him, chest glistening from the icy remains of a drink bottle creating a tempting wee path down his torso that Pran’s tongue was dying to lick. His knee was nestled in between two powerful thighs, there was an anticipation so primal in the very air around them, a crackle that made everything ten times more potent. The strain was so intense the only thing that came to mind to diffuse the situation was to tickle him senseless.
He squirmed under his hands, fingers that were merciless as they danced across all those sensitive patches of warm skin. His laughter was like sunshine that even after he relented, once Pat had surrendered his expression remained hopelessly fond, he couldn’t even wipe that adoration from his face to preserve his heart.
“Do you still want us to be friends?” Pran breathed, his eyes flitted from his blown pupils to his lips and back again.
It was an echo of that night.
The spark was being ignited but the moment ruined by Pa coming into the room lurching them apart. Pran escaped to the safety of his room as quickly as he could without looking back at a smug Pat.
That had been close, too close.
Pran discovered something interesting when he got a call from Wai to meet him at rugby practice. He couldn’t believe he had failed to see it earlier, Pat was jealous of his friendship with the boy. This was so obvious when Pat kicked a ball towards them when Wai got amorous with him. It hadn’t meant anything but the green eyed monster raised its ugly head.
Pran sneakily chose this barb to twist Pat into possessive knots as he draped himself all over his unwitting friend just to make Pat’s blood boil.
He grinned, dimples on display at a Pat that had been tweaked to the edge of sanity.
At this rate Pat would be his by the end of the week.
Pat was nowhere near finished playing with him and he shouldn’t have been surprised when he showed up at auditions for the architecture-led play, wanting an excuse to be in Pran’s orbit even more than he already was. Pran told him after that he persuaded Toto to go with another actor, when in truth he’d rooted for Pat but was out voted by the others.
Ink took Pat out to dinner to commiserate his failed attempt at becoming an actor. Pat had told him at the beach trip that he no longer felt the same about her but it still made him twinge with jealousy when they took off together, arms around each other.
Pran purposely took Wai to the same noodle shop that he knew Pat had taken Ink, to keep an eye on him but also to see him sizzle in envy. Pat would not win this round, plus he could witness for himself how he reacted with Ink and her with him.
He was so ecstatic when he saw Pat fail at making him jealous with Ink, especially when she reacted so aggressively to his flirting. Pran knew then he had nothing to worry about between them; they were indeed just friends. Pat also had nothing to worry about with Wai but he didn’t need to know that just yet, he wanted to keep him dangling a little bit longer. His overwrought jealousy did wonders for his self esteem.
He’d promised to help out with Wai’s part in the production but dealing with a diva main actor was putting a damper on his mood. The guy was an arse, never showing up and when he did, he wasn’t prepared or got distracted by his phone etc. Why hadn't they just gone with his suggestion, Pat would never have been this arrogant or rude and he would have shown up like clockwork he would have made sure of it.
Another such evening dealing with the jerk and he was not in the mood for anything, even his school work was a bust as he couldn’t concentrate he was that annoyed.
A knock at his door turned out to be Pat. He regrettably has no inclination to deal with a playful Pat tonight.
The boy let himself inside even so, citing that he was not up to anything devious, he just wanted Pran to clean his face until he saw he was upset and decided to clean Pran’s instead.
It was the weakest of excuses to continue to woo him but Pran allowed it, Pat was the distraction he needed from his headache of a day. Their light banter was a balm to his senses and he was enjoying himself until Wai came knocking.
Pat smelled a set up even though Pran told him Wai coming over wasn’t planned and for him to hide. Pat hid behind the sofa and listened as the arsehole blackmailed and wheedled his way out of his responsibilities with the play because Pran caved and told him he’d take over his position. Then he explained how he brought Pran’s guitar back and how he’d looked after it.
Pran could practically feel Pat seething behind the couch at the audacity. Pran quickly made excuses to go out and get dinner together before Pat forgot he was supposed to be hiding and jumped on Wai in his fury.
At the elevator he made excuses about forgetting his wallet and told him he’d meet up downstairs with Wai. He pelted back towards the dorm, arriving just as Pat was exiting his room. He ignored Pran and went straight back to his own room across the hall.
Pat was angry with him and he deserved all of it, every heaping helping. Pat looked after his guitar for years and he’d callously left it with Wai like it meant nothing which of course wasn’t the case. He’d screwed up big time. Pat was hurt by his actions.
Pran had a helluva night, he couldn’t sleep. Pat wasn’t exactly ignoring him but his texts were abrupt and there was no sign of his usual easy teasing manner. He’d fucked up and he missed him. Play rehearsal was doing nothing to quell his anxiety the next day.
It all culminated in him telling the dickhead actor Chase to quit after he walked out in the middle of practice, again! The guy challenged him in the worst way and he just snapped. That evening he got Pat to meet him up on the rooftop and ask him if he wanted the position, the acting role was his. He was willing to relinquish his part in the competition and make Pat the winner. He would confess.
Pat made a rookie mistake in getting too cocky with the parameters of the confession. If Pran was indeed going to admit to liking him then he wanted the architect to tell the whole school by placing his declaration on the projector in the middle of class for everyone to see. He had to be joking right? That was taking it a step too far and Pran recoiled at the thought informing Pat he’d find another actor better than him. Pat just laughed, fine.
Naturally that didn’t happen and Toto and the rest of the faculty blamed him for ruining the play as all the tickets had been sold and they had no lead actor after he promised them he’d be able to get Pat. Was his pride worth more than the disappointment of the entire department, fortunately he never had to test that as Pat gave in and showed up to everyone's relief.
Pran couldn’t help grinning knowing Pat had made the sacrifice in his stead, not wanting to let him down. How could he deny him either, meeting him halfway.
“If my victory puts my boyfriend in trouble, I’d rather lose. When I have a lover, I always let my lover win.”
That’s why Pran took the spoon from his hands and fed Pat because he was finally admitting that he liked him too. The kisses after that were just a bonus, a way of sealing the deal. No clear losers for now, just being in the moment together and whatever came next, whatever hills they had to climb, well hopefully they would as one… defeat them.