Climb Every Mountain, With You (Shubman Gill x Ishan Kishan)

Missed every inch of you

Shubman could bring himself to speak after several long minutes, and only because Ishan sounded far too much like a zombie.

"Ishu? You...."

"Can I come to see you?" Ishan asked, in a small voice, but still like a zombie.

"I am not the one who waits for you to ask permission before coming," said Shubman, and immediately felt terrible. "No! No-I didn't mean-I would be honoured if you come..." That sounded too sarcastic, so next Shubman simply went with, "Yes, please!" 

"Straight to that relative's place?" Ishan sounded a little less like a zombie now. 

"Okay, um..."

"I wish I didn't have to see anyone on the way." Then Ishan might have added under his breath, "I love you," but Shubman wasn't sure.

Before he could say, "I love you, too," the call was dead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ishan was feeling removed from reality by the time his flight landed. He pretty much had no idea what he was doing with his life. He just wanted to see Shubman.

Shubman made that part easier by showing up at the airport.

"Hello," Ishan said, wondering if he sounded as scared as he felt.

Shubman's eyes were soft and normal now, and certainly not lifeless like in the TV, because they were filled with love. They were overflowing with love.

And love was the farthest thing from lifelessness. Love gave you life.

The realization that there was no reason to be scared brought a lump to Ishan's throat.

"Um, hello," said Shubman. "I don't remember saying hello to you much. We're not going to be all weird and formal, are we? Formal makes me nervous."

The realization that Shubman's behaviour hadn't changed a bit made that lump a bit more painful.

Ishan's voice was thick when he said, "No, of course not." 

They tried to offer each other a hand to hold at the exact same instant and froze. Normally they didn't offer, they simply took it. But this was okay too....it didn't take much effort or much long to close the distance when they knew the other wanted the same.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They reached a silent agreement not to talk much in the cab drive to Shubman's relative's house.

They kept their hands woven together tightly. Ishan felt like he was about to burst into tears any moment till Shubman gave him the first smile.

His smile was always so beautiful.

Ishan smiled back.

After that, they held hands and kept smiling at each other every so often till they reached their haven.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Instead of talking first, they chose the easy way again.

Ishan was glad Shubman allowed it. Or even initiated it.

His phone started ringing when they tumbled down on the bed, holding each other desperately and kissing still more desperately.

Ishan ignored it.

"Oh, Ishu," Shubman moaned. "Oh, Ishu, I-"

"I love you, Shubi." Ishan had never known how much he had craved to say that the past few weeks. "I love you, Shubi. I missed you so much. I love you."