I didn't read them as being gay and I'm actually not all that bad at figuring out subtext most of the time if I'm in the mood. Of course, as an Asexual, I have no trouble imagining two adult men living together and really just being friends... Certainly I wouldn't have had any trouble imagining that when I was twelve or whatever age I was at when I read the first book in the series.

*Would actually like it if there were more books with no sex in them at all because sex scenes are booooring, but knows that's not bloody likely to happen.*