Chapter Text
Naturally, the next time Simon saw Ayub and Rosh had to be at their monthly family dinners, and naturally they both had numerous questions about his night spent over at Wilhelm’s—something neither Sara nor their mother had any knowledge of as Simon had told Linda he was staying the night at Ayub’s to avoid any suspicions from rising. Despite being twenty, he felt the need to hide certain things from his mother due to still living under her roof, so when Rosh and Ayub walked into their house loudly calling for Simon, he immediately hushed the two of them and gestured towards his room. Both looked baffled by his shushing of their excitement, but his shutthefuckupandfollowme eyes seemed to get through to them.
Pushing them both past his mother, who looked just as confused, Simon promised they’d be out shortly. Once they were in his room and the door was shut behind them, his two confused friends sat on his bed and waited for him to spill.
“Mamá and Sara don’t know,” Simon explained, “they think I stayed with Ayub the other night.”
“Bro,” Ayub threw his hands up, “you’re a grown ass man, why are we lying to Linda?”
“Because,” Simon defended, “he comes over here all the time and she thinks we just watch movies. Which we do, but I don’t need her thinking it’s become something else because then she’ll get invasive and weird like she did with Marcus.”
Rosh crossed her arms and raised her brows at him before asking, “Has it become something else?”
Simon had told himself before they got there that he wouldn’t tell the truth. Sure, it was another unnecessary lie in their eyes, but to him it was to protect Wilhelm. Wilhelm was not only inexperienced, but he wasn’t out as anything other than a straight man. No one knew their relationship had advanced to anything past friendship except for the two of them, and he wanted to keep it that way as long as possible.
Unfortunately, Rosh and Ayub had a way of breaking down whatever walls he set up in his mind and getting whatever information they wanted out of him. They did this mostly to be protective, but sometimes it was out of pure nosiness and gossip.
“Nej, it hasn’t,” Simon crossed his arms as well, “we’re just friends. We just watched movies and played video games.”
Immediately not believing him, Rosh pointed at his sweatshirt and looked to Ayub asking, “Do you recognize that sweatshirt? I don’t recognize that sweatshirt. It’s a bit too big on him, isn’t it?”
Shit, Simon thought, glancing down at his clothes. He had completely forgotten to change out of Wilhelm’s sweatshirt before they had gotten there. The past few nights he had worn it to bed just as Wilhelm had suggested he do, but with it being his day off he hadn’t even bothered to remove it.
Ayub looked Simon up and down. A grin spread across his face as he said, “Nah man, that’s definitely not his sweatshirt. Our boy doesn’t even watch sports.”
“That’s a lie,” Simon gestured to Rosh, “I go to her matches all the time.”
“I don’t count,” Rosh brushed him off, “because if I wasn’t such a fotboll star, you wouldn’t be in attendance. And you never wear sports gear regardless.”
“It’s just a sweatshirt,” Simon insisted, “we all share clothes all the time.”
Laughing, Rosh said, “Simme, we’ve all known each other since grade school. Wilhelm is just some pretty rich boy you met a month ago. Those two things are completely different.”
Starting to feel himself crack, Simon covered his face with his hands and groaned, only to hear Ayub say, “Oh, they definitely fucked.”
“NEJ!” Simon laughed, hushing Ayub again. Blush turned his cheeks red as he slowly added, “We didn’t. At least… not fully.”
“Mother fucker,” Rosh groaned and handed Ayub a note from her pocket.
With his jaw dropping, Simon gasped, “You took bets on that? Are you kidding?”
“Come on man,” Ayub laughed, “as soon as you told me on the phone the other day that you stayed the night alone at his house, we knew something was bound to happen. He was so obvious with it.”
“What do you mean ‘obvious’? Obvious with what?” It was Simon’s turn to be confused.
Gesturing to all of Simon, Ayub said, “The way he’d look at you, dude. He had lovesick puppy eyes. And he is always right in your bubble. It’s like the man doesn’t know personal space when it comes to you.”
Groaning again, Simon plopped at the end of his bed and fell back onto the mattress, feeling completely embarrassed and clueless to it all. He and Ayub had spoken about Wilhelm’s closeness to him before, but Simon had spent so long brushing it off as Wilhelm just being comfortably friendly that he didn’t think Ayub genuinely thought Wilhelm liked him. That, or he just fed into Simon’s delusions to make him temporarily happy and satisfied so he’d shut up about it.
Rosh and Ayub twisted around to look at him, both of their faces expressively amused by his misery.
“So what did happen?” Rosh asked with a teasing poke at Simon’s side.
Shaking his head, Simon protectively said, “I can’t say.”
“What do you mean you can’t say?” Ayub asked. “With Marcus you’d share every single detail—even the shit we didn’t ask for. Why is Wilhelm a mystery?”
“Was he bad?” Rosh assumed, giving Simon a look.
Covering his face with his hands again, Simon mumbled, “Please stop.”
“He was definitely bad,” he heard Ayub say with a laugh, “he looks like he would be.”
Behind his hands, Simon defended Wilhelm and mumbled, “He was actually very good, he just hasn’t ever been with a man before.”
Peeling his hands away from his face, Rosh looked Simon in the eyes and asked, “What? Like, never?”
“Never,” Simon confirmed, “which means neither of you can ever speak of this conversation ever. He isn’t out. No one else knows what happened except for us and it needs to stay that way.”
“Simme,” Rosh sounded disappointed, “you’re hooking up with a closeted rich boy? In secret? How stereotypical could you be?”
“It’s not like that,” Simon sat up, “he obviously doesn’t mind being affectionate towards me out in public or even mind being seen with me in general. He was the one who made the first move too, so that has to mean something.”
Ayub and Rosh exchanged looks. Simon sat expectantly waiting for them to scold him or remind him of past men from similar situations, but he was fully ready to defend Wilhelm relentlessly against their judgement. Instead, when they both turned back to him, they looked satisfied with themselves.
“You should invite him to dinner tonight,” Rosh said, “that could be the real test.”
“Test?” Simon scrunched his eyebrows. “Test for what?”
“Test to see if he really is that comfortable with you,” Rosh continued, “and to see if anything has changed after your little intimate exchange the other night. Also, I haven’t gotten to meet him yet, and I know I look intimidating as shit, so that’ll be the real call of judgement.”
Rosh was right. She did look intimidating. She was your typical fit protective lesbian, serious brows and all. Sometimes the way she’d look at Simon made him feel more disciplined than when his own mother would scold him. Out of the three of them, she was definitely the one who would be the first to beat the shit out of anyone who had crossed the line with any of them—especially when it came to Simon. She had always been like a bonus sister to him, only instead of her needing protection like Sara had growing up, Rosh was the one doing the protecting.
Simon looked between the two of them, half hoping either of them would change their mind about the whole idea, but Ayub seemed dead set on it as well much to Simon’s disappointment.
“This is a family night though,” Simon tried to argue, but Ayub interjected with, “We aren’t actually family, bro. Call him.”
Sighing, Simon accepted defeat. On their way out of his room, he turned to them and said, “We have to ask Mamá first. She might not have made enough food.”
Unfortunately for Simon, she had. Not only had she made more than enough food, but she also excitedly agreed Wilhelm should come.
“I want to get to know him a bit more,” Linda nudged Simon with her elbow, “you two stay locked in that room every time you’re over. It would be nice to actually get to meet him.”
Glaring at Rosh and Ayub as he dialed up Wilhelm’s phone, he prayed he would not answer to save the both of them from whatever would transpire that night.
Naturally, the phone was picked up almost immediately.
“This is Kristina.”
Simon’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t Wilhelm who had answered, but from the name alone he knew it was his mother.
“Uh-um-hello,” Simon stuttered out, “this is Simon. I’m-uh-Wilhelm’s friend. Is he there?”
“Simon?” Kristina repeated slowly, as if Simon’s name was utterly foreign to her. “Simon… Simon… hmm. I don’t believe we have met before, Simon.”
“No, ma’am, we haven’t,” Simon said. When he glanced over, Ayub, Rosh and his mother all stared at him hopefully, urging him to continue. Waving them off, he addressed Kristina again, “Wilhelm and I have just recently gotten closer, so I’m sure we will meet soon.”
Laughing on the other end of the line, Kristina said,“Doubtful. Wilhelm seems to keep to himself mostly these days. One moment. I’ll call for him.”
“Tack, ma’am,” Simon thanked her. Covering the speaker with his hand, he whispered across the room to everyone, “His mamma answered.”
Rosh and Ayub made a face of concern. Linda looked confused as to why that was an issue.
Simon heard Kristina call for Wilhelm over the phone, letting the other man know that his friend was on the line asking for him. Even through the phone Simon could hear Wilhelm’s excited energy run towards her before taking the phone.
“Simon?”
The immediate effect Wilhelm’s voice had on him could’ve been studied by scientists. An indescribable warmth spread across his skin and instantly a smile spread across his face.
“Hej, Wilhelm,” Simon greeted, “hur mår du?”
“Bättre nu,” Wilhelm flirted, “what’s up? Did you need something?”
“Nej,” Simon twirled the cord around his finger as he always did when Wilhelm called, “I was just going to ask—if you’re not busy—if you would possibly want to come to the family game night tonight?”
“Family game night?”
“Yeah, family game night. It’s just my Mamá, sister and then my friends Rosh and Ayub,” Simon explained, “we basically just eat dinner and play games. Sometimes we watch a movie. Just depends. We just wanted to extend an invitation. Help you get to know everyone a little better.”
“Oh so this wasn’t your idea then?” Wilhelm teased.
“My idea was to shield you from the competitiveness of my mother during card games forever,” Simon joked, glancing at his mother humorously, “but I think she needs a new challenger to test her skills.”
Laughing, Wilhelm responded, “I suck so hard at card games, so she’ll definitely beat my ass. But yeah, I’ll come. Do I need to bring anything?”
“Just yourself,” Simon said, “and maybe an overnight bag just to be safe. It tends to run late so if you get too tired to drive, you can just stay here.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Simon could hear Wilhelm’s smile through the phone, “I’ll go grab my bag and then head there shortly. See you in a bit.”
“Okej, vi ses, Wille,” Simon said before hanging up the phone.
His eyes widened when he realized he just used a pet name he had never used before for Wilhelm, and when he turned to everyone waiting for the results of the phone call, Ayub laughed and repeated, “Wille?”
“Håll käften,” Simon hushed him.
“So? Is he coming?” Linda asked, her tone hopeful.
Simon nodded, “He’s coming.”
Ayub and Rosh excitedly smacked each other, and Linda clapped joyfully. The only person who didn’t know was Sara, who Simon assumed was still holed up in her room.
“How exciting! Simon, go grab the spare chair on the washroom,” his mother shooed him, “Ayub, Rosh, help set the table. I’ll go grab Sara. This is so exciting!”
“Mamá, please, be normal,” Simon pleaded.
“I’m being normal,” Linda crossed her arms in the most motherly way possible, “I am simply just looking forward to getting to know your new… friend a little more.”
Rosh and Ayub both looked to Simon, each clocking how she had said the word friend the same way Simon had. Deciding to ignore it for his own sanity, he went to grab the chair as he was told, his heart beating fast in his chest for the night that was about to come.
Wilhelm must have sped the entire way to Simon’s house because he got there alarming fast. When Simon opened the door to let him in, he stood there with a bag over his shoulder and the most nervous look on his face that Simon had ever seen.
“Hej,” Wilhelm shakily greeted.
“Hej,” Simon grinned, “you got here fast.”
“I didn’t want to be the reason you started late,” Wilhelm admitted shyly, “I’m surprised I didn’t get pulled over, to be completely honest with you.”
With a laugh, Simon ushered Wilhelm inside. Everyone else had already taken their place at the dinner table in wait for his arrival, but as soon as they entered the room, Rosh immediately stood to greet Wilhelm with a firm handshake.
“It’s nice to finally meet you,” she grinned, genuine kindness in her voice, “I’m Rosh. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Wilhelm,” Wilhelm nervously smiled, “I’ve heard a lot about you too. I had hoped to catch you at the shop when I visited but I feel like we kept missing each other.”
“Busy gal,” Rosh shrugged coolly, “always on the run these days.”
Simon rolled his eyes at her cool-guy attitude, especially after remembering her intimidation strategy from earlier, but let her do her thing regardless. Motioning to Ayub and his mother, he said, “You’ve obviously met Ayub and Mamá.”
“Yes, hi, it’s good to see you both,” Wilhelm greeted them both with a smile.
The person Simon dreaded finally came. Before Wilhelm had arrived, she left her room at their mother’s beckoning, but even still had not fully addressed Simon as she did Ayub and Rosh. This left an awkward air in the room that no one could fully ignore.
Gesturing to his sister, he said, “This is Sara. My sister.”
Extending a hand to her despite already knowing the history between the two, Wilhelm confidently smiled regardless and introduced himself. Shockingly, Sara smiled and shook his hand. Whether it was out of politeness or because she knew their mother would scold her like a child, Simon didn’t know, but he was grateful for her at least humoring Wilhelm.
“We’re glad you’re here, Wilhelm,” Linda grinned. Getting up to start putting the food on the table, she said, “You can put your bag in Simon’s room. I’m assuming that’s where you’ll stay, anyways.”
It was said so innocently, but Simon’s cheeks blushed over regardless. Tugging Wilhelm’s sleeve, he said, “Come on,” and led him back to the room he had been to several times before already. He heard Ayub behind them suggestively mention how Wilhelm definitely could’ve found the room himself, quickly followed by a loud smack that definitely came from Rosh.
Simon needed a count for the amount of times he would be rolling his eyes that night.
Upon entering his room, Wilhelm tossed his bag to the ground and sighed in relief at their brief moment of being alone. Running hand through his hair, he looked at Simon and breathily laughed. Simon grinned back at him, butterflies filling his belly as they always did when he was alone with Wilhelm. The dull lighting from Simon’s lava lamp illuminated Wilhelm’s face beautifully, basking him in a hue of red.
“Thank you for coming,” Simon whispered sweetly, “especially so last minute.”
“Of course,” Wilhelm beamed, “I was dying to get out of the house and was thinking about calling you anyways.”
For a beat, they stood apart, eying at each other in a way that could only be described as longing, but their separation did not last long. Mindlessly, they closed the gap between them, fitting together like the universe's perfect puzzle before locking their lips together. Simon’s hands snaked their way around the back of Wilhelm’s neck while Wilhelm’s gripped Simon's sides to pull him close. With it only having been a couple of days since they had last seen each other, Simon felt it was almost laughable how desperately each kiss seemed to come. There was a hunger behind them, one that he wished they could delve further into but one that he acknowledged was unable to be fulfilled with everyone just a few rooms over waiting for their return.
Breaking apart, they giggled breathily, noses rubbing against the other.
“I’ve wanted to do that for days,” Wilhelm admitted quietly, biting his bottom lip as he looked into Simon’s eyes admirably.
Simon hummed in agreement, kissing Wilhelm one last time before stepping back from him and straightening up his clothes. Checking himself quickly in the mirror, Simon turned back to Wilhelm and teasingly said, “We should probably get back to everyone else before they start gossiping.”
Wilhelm nodded in understanding, asking, “Does my hair still look okay? You were all up in it for a second there,” before then laughing at Simon’s immediate look of embarrassment.
With skillful fingers, Simon fixed up Wilhelm’s hair nearly better than it looked before he had gotten there. Admiring his work, he nodded in approval before ushering Wilhelm towards the door, his heart pounding in his chest as he prayed no one would notice their out of breath demeanor or flushed cheeks.