Berrybog Boys (BxB)

Chapter XII: The Pillows

Nils groaned when he opened the front door.

"If one more uninvited person comes over, I'm getting a guard dog."

"Love you too." Kat kissed his cheek and let herself into the house. Bernard gave him a courteous nod and a smile, waiting to be let in.

"I'm serious," Nils sighed, holding his hand out to invite the other man inside, "Why does everyone think they can just barge into my house?"

"Because you'd never invite anybody out of your own volition," Kat replied. Bernard smiled at her and Nils was reminded how disgustingly in love they were. "Plus, isn't it our house anyway?"

"My name on the deed would disagree."

"My bank account would agree."

"That's not how loans work!"

"Isn't it?"

They stared at each other for a few seconds, but since neither of them had any idea how loans do actually work, they looked at Bernard expectantly.

"I know you two suck at being adults, but shouldn't you have figured it out before one lent the other money for an entire property?" he answered, trying not to aggravate either side.

"...maybe," Kat huffed. "Doesn't matter. Nils has a house and I can come over and bother him whenever I want. It's a win-win situation."

"I feel like I'm on the losing end of things, but sure." Nils rolled his eyes.

The house tour didn't take long, considering there wasn't much to show. Three tables, two mattresses and one unfinished chair later they were sitting on the living room pillows, which by then became the designated couch area. Each of them had a mug of tea in their hands and Nils thought he's going to melt with how warm and cozy it felt. He might have acted annoyed, but he was delighted to see his childhood friend and her fiance.

"So," Kat started in a sing-songy voice, "how's my - Bernard, don't listen - favourite guy?"

"Um. Good?" Nils answered, tilting his head.

"Yeah? Nothing new and exciting going on?"

"I bought a house and moved abroad. I don't know if you've heard. That's a pretty new and exciting thing."

"Really? I had no idea," Kat answered, covering her mouth in a mockery of surprise. When they were younger, their families had a theory that they became best friends because no one else could stand the amount of sarcasm they produced. "On a completely unrelated note, where's Alexander?"

Nils narrowed his eyes, "Out. He went shopping."

"You didn't go with your boyfriend?" Bernard asked in a casual tone.

Nobody said anything for a few seconds.

Then, both Kat and Nils exploded.

"Come on, I wanted to drag it out!"

"How do you guys know about that?!"

"Not from you, that's for sure!"

Bernard kept sipping his tea, while the two people kept shouting at him and each other. Sometimes he envied the friendship they had. This was not one of these times.

***

The shouting subsided after a while, only to resume when Alexander entered the house. He stood in the doorway, stunned by the sudden onslaught of sounds and people. Bernard would feel sorry for him, if he didn't just have to deal with the same.

***

"Let me get this straight," Kat rubbed the bridge of her nose, "You said you have a boyfriend to piss off a homophobe? Were you trying to get your ass kicked?"