Two Birds On A Wire

ch 52

Julian yawned in all the air around him as he stood up from his spot and popped some bones. He glanced at the couch and saw Ivan who mirrored his expression of exhaustion.

"Do you wanna go back to class?" Julian asked, ready to refuse to go back even if Ivan said yes. Fortunately , Ivan shook his head no.

"Come, sit here" Ivan patted the spot beside him and Julian plopped down on the couch. He nearly jumped out of the couch when Ivan slid his arms around him and nuzzled his face in the crook of his neck.

"Stop being so jumpy, Jules" Ivan mumbled out and his hot breaths that fell on Julian's skin made him chilly all over.

"That tickles" Julian complained, but he didn't expect Ivan to move away nevertheless.

"Where were you all these years?" Ivan thought he was starting to lose it, he desperately wanted to shrink Julian and carry him around in his pocket. Despite Julian's struggles, he lifted him up and shifted him to his lap, rocking him to and fro.

"Ivan, what are you doing!?" It embarrassed Julian to realise how small he felt in Ivan's arms.

Ivan just gazed deep into Julian's eyes and smiled like a goofball. Julian felt flushed under his gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're adorable. I wanna eat you up" Ivan went back at nuzzling into Julian, burying his face in the crook of his neck and shoving his face under the boy's shirt. While he was at it, he sneakily threw his mouth open and bit into Julian's shoulder.

"Ah!" Julian quickly put a hand over his mouth, embarrassed at the sound he just made. He pulled at Ivan's hair, only to see him stare back at him.

"Stop it, Ivan" he hated how the heat burned his cheeks. "I'm starting to sound less like myself the more you keep at it"

Ivan grinned and loosened his grip on him, letting the boy slide back on to the couch. He liked to see all those faces Julian made, knowing he was the reason behind it. He liked the idea of only him being able to see that face. As much as he would like to keep teasing him, he knew that would only heat things up. They had all the time they could get infront of them, and Ivan had no intention on rushing things. He would gladly welcome the wait.

"You are such a prick" Julian mumbled out and Ivan crashed his head down on Julian's lap.

"You know you love me" he snuggled closer to Julian, embracing his warmth as he let his eyes rest.

Julian couldn't help his smile as he ran his hand through the other boy's hair.

•••

Julian squirmed in his spot, feeling uncomfortable with the weight on top of him. He lazily squinted his eyes open and looked down to see Ivan lying on top of him, his body curled up as he hugged him close with his head resting on his chest. He vaguely wondered when they got into that sleeping position.

Julian smiled at how Ivan's head rose and fell with every breath he took. With much effort, he pushed himself up, balancing his weight on his elbows. He reached out to tousle Ivan's hair but he caught sight of something in the corner of his eye and his head jerked to his side in alert.

•••

Ivan was having the most comfortable nap he had had in a long time. That was until when he heard Julian shriek and he jolted up awake. The fact that his ear was pressed against Julian's body only amplified his already loud voice and it almost gave Ivan a heart attack.

He impulsively pulled Julian closer to him first thing. "Wha--" he briskly let go of Julian and moved away when he saw Johann watching the both of them from his spot by the table.

"Barry, what the hell are you doing!?" Ivan sounded annoyed as he rubbed his temple with his fingers.

"Enjoying the rom-com that was presented before me" Johann shrugged and flipped the papers that was infront of him. The report, Ivan assumed and he was right.

"I should have guessed you wouldn't even finish writing an entire page. Atleast pretend to care, you" Johann shook his head and set the papers aside. He pulled up the sleeve of his jacket and propped his elbow upon the table, giving his head a nice place to rest.

Ivan hated how Johann just sat there and  looked at the both of them, not even caring to blink once.

"What?" Ivan finally asked when he thought he was done being stared at.

Johann shrugged. "What?"

"Why do you keep staring?"

Johann shrugged again. "Just wondering if you are planning to keep leaving me to assume stuff or if you're gonna tell me what's going on"

Ivan turned his head to look at Julian and saw him sitting there all uncomfortable.

"Barry, it's--"

"Fine, let's just all go home. It's been ages since the last bell rang. You were both out like a light and I was beginning to wonder if you took some sleeping pills or something" Johann got up clapping his knees and swung his backpack on his shoulder and started walking towards the door.

Ivan couldn't help but wonder if he should actually tell him. But then again, he had a feeling than Johann knew already and was just waiting for him to tell him himself. The thought made him feel kinda bad. He was pulled out of his head when Julian nudged at the side of his arm.

Julian scooted closer to Ivan and lowered his voice to a whisper, just high enough for him to hear. "We could just tell him"

"We could. But--"

"You know what?" Johann turned around briskly and Julian almost scoffed at the duck face he had on. "Just tell me already, I'm your best friend ,for Christ's sakes!" He sounded so desperate and It took Ivan a moment to realise that Johann was whining.

"Well..." Ivan chuckled.

"You two are going out , aren't you?" Johann asked, pointing his fingers at them.

"Yeah?"

"I knew it" a proud expression creeped up Johann's face.

"Were we being that obvious?" Julian spoke after what felt like an eternity and Johann gave him the most unimpressed face he could do.

"Ivan literally shouted out that you were--" He made quotation marks in the air with his fingers "boyfriends, on top of the fucking rooftop"

"Oh, so you heard"

"Of course I did, I am not deaf!" Johann heaved a sigh and gestured outside the door. The three of them walked out into the hallways and he started locking the doors. "If you are still tryna stay low, atleast pretend to be secretive about it"

He checked the locks one last time and walked in between the other two boys, throwing his arms over their shoulders, leaning completely on top of them. "Can I be your adoptive son?"

"Jeez, get off me, Barry. You're heavy" Ivan muttered out, but never really tried pushing him away.

"Come on, we'll be one happy little family!"

Johann's voice rang throughout the halls and all three of them laughed and chatted, leaving their footsteps to get lost in the echo.