Chapter Text
The conference wrapped up, as conferences do. The first day was the only one containing too much drama. They went back home.
Alekos knocked on Mohamed’s door the evening after they returned. He’d left Theo in the care of Uncle Heracles and Uncle Kiku so he could do what might’ve been the most nerve-wracking thing he’d ever had to do, and that included when he had to tell his mother that he was pregnant at not even nineteen.
Mohamed opened the door, looking as he always did- his dark hair had not a strand out of place, his glittering green eyes lined in kohl that his mother brought back for him from Egypt. Gold earrings decorated both his ears, matching the golden rings and bangles on his hands and wrists.
“Oh, hi, Alekos. What’re you doing here?” he greeted, leaning against his door frame.
Alekos knew how to converse in a normal manner, like a normal human man.
“I’m in love with you,” just so happened to tumble out of his mouth before he could stop it.
Mohamed froze. “What?”
“I’m in love with you, and I’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you because you’re, like, one of my only close friends and I didn’t want to make things weird, and-”
Alekos’ nervous rambling was cut off by the press of soft lips to his own chapped ones.
“I love you too, idiot. What, did you think I was calling you habibi because we’re homies?” Mohamed asked, cradling Alekos’ face in his hands.
“Oh, thank fucking God. ”
Alekos dove back for another kiss, causing Mohamed to stumble, and they both fell back into the apartment together.
✩✩✩
It took a week for Francis to fully confess to Alasdair what had happened at the conference. Alasdair had been furious, ready to destroy his brother and everything he stood for because his actions were unacceptable.
Alasdair always kind of knew the reason Francis pursued him, but he also knew that Francis wasn’t vindictive or spiteful enough to drag an innocent party into relationship spats. He may have sought out Alasdair to get back at Arthur, but their thing continued because Francis actually cared for him, and Alasdair cared for him back.
It was a lazy Saturday morning, too early to require either of them to be up, when Alasdair asked if Francis wanted to be in a relationship with him.
They were curled together in bed, legs tangled under the bedsheets and hands clasped together on top. Francis said yes.
It was a scary thing for the Frenchman. It was terrifying to subject himself to the fear and uncertainty of a romantic endeavor, a relationship with rules and boundaries that existed beyond sex. He was used to being a cheap fuck, but didn’t know how to handle the fact that Alasdair wanted to call him his boyfriend and wake up next to him in the mornings and cook him food and watch his favorite trash TV with him.
After the disaster that was the conference, Francis figured that nothing could get worse. He didn’t want to run the risk of heartbreak, but he didn’t want to lose Alasdair, so he decided to trust.
Hopefully it would pay off.
✩✩✩
Matthew ended up not getting in trouble. Arthur didn’t press charges, and Gilbert and Antonio pleaded his case with the administration. Thank God that President Vargas was a pushover when it came to his grandkids, including his future in-laws, and Provost Beilschmidt was willing to hear his son out.
Neither of them took too kindly to Arthur’s actions, and while they didn’t particularly support what Matthew had done in response, they understood why.
However, Matthew’s good fortune ran out soon after, as he got food poisoning again.
He should really sue the dining hall.
At least he had Andries to take care of him this time around.
✩✩✩
Heracles got closer to Kiku as he continued to live with him and Alekos. The Japanese man was everything he could dream of and more. He learned that he was an early childhood ed major, that he liked video games and art and cats. In turn, Heracles informed him that he was a philosophy major, and that he liked ancient history and cats and weird arthouse films.
Heracles became a sort of live-in babysitter for Theodosios. It was a better existence than living with Sadık ever was. He didn’t live constantly on edge, didn’t spend each day anticipating some sort of altercation. He started to be able to look at Theodosios and see his nephew as his nephew and not as a remnant of Sadık’s indiscretions towards his brother.
It was a rainy day, and he and Kiku were watching Theodosios while Alekos went out with Mohamed when Kiku took his hand and nervously professed that he had feelings for him.
“Fuck, I… I feel the same way,” Heracles said. “But I think it’s too soon after my relationship with Sadık. I don’t want you to be a rebound.”
Kiku nodded. “I understand.”
“I’m not rejecting you, Kiku. I’m just asking for you to wait for me. Once enough time has passed, and I’m in a better place, I promise we can try this out.”
Kiku smiled, and gave his word.
They continued to watch Theodosios shove toy blocks in his mouth.
✩✩✩
The little playdates with the kids of the club continued. Aurel got better at speaking, but he still didn’t speak any English, speaking only in fragmented sentences of mixed Bulgarian and Romanian. Ebbe and Emil could piece together a bit more coherent combination of Norwegian and Danish. Surprisingly, though, the kids seemed to be able to somewhat understand each other.
It didn’t surprise the others at all when Alekos began showing up to their playdates with Mohamed and reintroduced him as his boyfriend.
In fact, Matthias had laughed and clapped Alekos on the shoulder, welcoming Theodosios to the two parents club. The Cypriot had sputtered out half-words in reply while Mohamed turned bright red.
✩✩✩
Life went on at Saint Gabriel, as life went on everywhere. The students pursued their interests, both academic and romantic, and came out the better for it. It was a true testament to the integrity of the institution.
If only they could fix whatever was going on with the goddamn dining hall.