Chapter Text
Nick likes to think that he’s a damn good friend, especially in moments like this. His favourite show has released the newest episode and he has a mountain of assignments due on Monday, and yet here he is standing in front of his mirror questioning for the nth time whether he owns anything that could pass for “bar attire.” He doubts that seriously but he just hears Sand huff behind him.
“Wear the black jeans you keep shoved in the back of your closet.” Nick turns around with nothing short of a judgmental look.
“They’re torn. I haven’t gotten around to fixing them.” He knows that his friend hangs out at this bar a lot, but surely he isn’t suggesting that Nick wear broken pants to meet his boyfriend.
“They’re ripped,” Sand corrects with an eye roll. “And it’s at your knee, its not like your dick is gonna be out.” He walks over and starts rifling through Nick’s closet. “Plus, they make your ass look great.” Nick puffs out his cheeks in embarrassment but still takes the jeans from Sand’s hands.
“Why would it matter if my ass looks good, I’m meeting your boyfriend.” The jeans are excruciatingly tight and it takes several jumps and a tragically unattractive wiggle to finally pull them all the way up. Sand lets out a small chuckle as he circles him with a scrutinising gaze, looking way too much like a shark to put Nick at ease.
“Ray isn’t the only one at the bar tonight. Maybe you should let someone pick you up,” he suggests after finally nodding in approval at Nick’s outfit. And look, he understands Sand’s concern. Since they’d finally moved in together, he’s done nothing but try to get Nick to come to the bar with him. It’s not that Nick doesn’t want to hang out in some dingy bar with dozens of drunk idiots getting handsy, he’s just a homebody. He likes staying inside.
The only reason, and he means the only reason, Nick says yes today is because Sand wants him to finally meet his boyfriend. In the time he’s known him, he’s never known Sand to be serious with anyone, but hearing the way he gushes about Ray fills Nick with a longing he’s never felt before. Regardless, Nick has no intention to let someone pick him up. Even the idea that anyone would find him worth the effort of little more than an overused pick-up line is doubtful.
Nick knows Sand well enough at this point, that if he says anything vaguely self-deprecating, it’ll lead to a lengthy lecture that neither of them have the time for, so he just rolls his eyes. “Let’s just go,” he says as he grabs his wallet. It’s a relatively quick drive to the bar, which is a blessing since Nick hates Sand’s bike with a passion. Sometimes he thinks that Sand drives recklessly just to make fun of Nick’s death-grip around his waist. When they park in front of the bar, Nick is sufficiently motion-sick but at least his anxiety hasn’t fully caught up.
“C’mon,” Sand calls while he’s still trying to regain his equilibrium. “Everyone is already here ‘cause you took to long getting ready.”
“‘Everybody?’ I thought I was just meeting Ray?” Nick did not sign up for this. He should have just told Sand to just bring Ray around for dinner. His friend at least has the decency to look sheepish.
“Oh, did I not tell you?” Nick gives him a deadpan stare. “Ray brought his friends, too.” Nick sighs and starts to argue but Sand cuts him off. “Please, just for a bit, okay? Say a quick hi, get one drink and then we can go home. Promise,” he begs. With an annoyed huff, Nick stomps past Sand towards the entrance of the bar. He hears a satisfied chuckle as his friend follows after him but he ignores him as they enter the bar. It’s a lot less crowded than Nick was expecting so that immediately makes him feel better.
They're barely in the doorway before Nick feels more than sees a body come flying towards them. Sand has half of a second to react before he's catching someone in a tight hug. Nick can only assume that this is the aforementioned boyfriend. Either that or this bar is way friendlier than he's ever experienced.
"You're late!" When Ray finally pulls away, Nick notes that he's about a head shorter than Sand.
"Blame this guy for not knowing how to dress himself," Sand supplies while pointing at Nick accusingly.
"Hey!" A laugh rings out and then suddenly there's a new face directly in front of him. And, yeah. Nick gets it now why Sand suddenly decided to try out monogamy. He's pretty in the way that Nick knows he's cocky about it. So pretty it kind of annoys him.
"Oh, you're cute!" Ray turns to glare at his boyfriend. "You didn't tell me he was cute!"
"Because I know what you'll say." Nick looks between them, confused.
"I'm just saying, if he's open, I'm open," Ray huffs out.
"Open to what?" Nick hears Sand groan in annoyance as his boyfriend beams.
"A threesome." Sand reaches out and yanks his boyfriend away.
"He's joking. Mostly," he quips.
"It's not a joke if he says yes." As he says that, Ray smirks at Nick. His mind is reeling so much from this absolutely unhinged introduction that his anxiety doesn't even have a chance to appear.
"Can we actually go inside now or are we going to meet your friends right here in the entrance?" Sand cuts in and, yep, there's the anxiety. Nick had momentarily forgotten that he is meeting Ray's whole friend group as well.
"Yeah, yeah." Ray rolls his eyes and he motions for them to follow. They weave through the small crowd until they make it to a table. Ray stops and looks around the seated group. "Where's Ton?" A woman with long, brown hair scoffs and rolls her eyes.
"He said he was just going to the bathroom, but you know him," she explains and Ray just sighs and turns back to Nick and Sand.
"Well, whatever," Ray says with a smile. "Probably best not to let Boston near this one." He gestures to Nick and he just scrunches his brows in confusion. Sand laughs with a nod. "Well, Nicky, these are my friends: Namchueam—" He points to the brunette woman before moving to the girl beside her. "—and her girlfriend, April." They both wave at them but Nick is too busy cataloguing their names and faces to wave back. Ray moves to a guy wearing glasses and says, "This is Mew and his boyfriend, Top. Aaand that's it!"
"Christ, am I a third wheel?" Nick spits out before his brain-to-mouth filter can catch up. There's a moment of silence, not too long but just long enough for him to feel heat rising to his cheeks. Sand breaks the silence with a laugh.
"Technically, you're a seventh wheel," he supplies and Nick glares at him. He knows damn well that it doesn't make him feel any better.
"Well, I mean there is Boston but…" Ray trails off and Nick sees the group grimace. Nick doesn't have a lot of friends, but surely that's a strange reaction, right?
"Who's Boston?" Nick asks almost hesitantly. This time, Glasses—Mew—answers.
"Boston is…Boston." Which is entirely unhelpful. "You seem nice, Nick. You should probably stay away from Ton." Again, weird, right? It doesn't really seem like anyone here cares much for this Boston guy. Before Nick can ruminate too much on the strange dynamics in this friend group, Sand is ushering him over to the table. He tries to protest—quietly, as to not be rude—but Ray grabs his other arm and helps sit him down.
He's immediately overwhelmed. It's hard to tell whether they are all like this usually or if they had done a bit of drinking before he and Sand had gotten there. Either way, they are so loud—all talking at the same time about different topics—that it makes Nick want to crawl out of his skin. He can feel the anxiety whirring his chest and he knows that he needs to get out of there before he fully loses it. When he stands up abruptly, Sand looks up at him with thinly-veiled concern.
"Where are you going?" he questions and Nick just grimaces.
"Getting that one drink I was promised," he explains. Sand glances at the table where they had ordered shots that Nick didn't bother touching. When he looks back, Nick tries to show his plea in his eyes. He seems to finally understand Nick's need to get away as he nods.
"Lemme know if you need me to take you home." Nick nods as he all but runs away from the table. He knows immediately that the bar will be worse, so he bypasses it entirely and moves to where he suspects the bathrooms to be. When he finally does see the signs for the bathrooms, he starts to breath out a sigh of relief but it quickly gets stuck in his throat at the sight in front of him.
He finds himself nearly face-to-face with maybe the hottest guy he's ever seen in his entire life, and that in itself is probably enough to send him into a panic. It's made so, so much worse by another guy on his knees in front of him. And look, Nick is a virgin but not an idiot. He knows immediately that the guy is getting a blowjob in front of the very public bathroom. They couldn't even have the decency to make it into the bathroom before getting down to business.
The hot-guy throws his head back and Nick deludes himself into thinking that he could hear the moan over the bass-heavy music. When he tilts his head back down—presumably to look down at the guy blowing him—he locks eyes with Nick, causing him to jerk in surprise. He should leave. This hallway, the bar, and most definitely Thailand as a whole, but he feels rooted in place. Hot-guy smirks at him as he threads his fingers through the other guy's hair. He doesn't take his eyes off of Nick even as he start to thrust into the other's mouth.
Heat flashes through Nick's body at the look in Hot-guy's eyes. He absolutely needs to leave, but also he can't take his eyes off of him. Something in the gaze is urging, commanding, him to stay put. To see this to the end. And, god, does Nick want to see it to the end. Something inside of him knows that he would never been able to sleep peacefully ever again unless he sees the face this man makes when he cums.
Thankfully, he didn't have to wait too long as he sees Hot-guy's hands grip the other's hair. The tops of his cheeks are flushes as his mouth pops open. Nick fucking salivates as the need to hear what sounds he makes fills him. He keeps his eyes on Nick as long as possible before they're closing in bliss. Nick shudders at the view of this man cumming like he hadn't had relief in days. He can feel his own cock twitching in approbation, but it feels like ice-water is doused on him when Hot-guy's eyes finally flutter open.
Nick jolts and feels his cheeks flush and his feet are once again running away. He all but slams into the bar and orders the first thing that comes to mind. He forces his body to relax as the liquor burns his throat. He squints down at the alcohol in the glass but can't for the life of him remember what the hell he'd even ordered. The glass hits the bar counter with a sharp tap and he's about to order another one when arms cage him in. He feels a warm body mere centimetres away from his back and breath in his ear as they speak.
"Another of whatever he ordered on my tab." Nick glances to the side jolts at the sight of Hot-guy. He's grinning down at him as he presses him against the bar. The bartender runs off to make the drink and Hot-guy smirks. "Enjoy the show?" Nick shudders as he struggles to form a response.
"I, uhm—"
"Nick! There you are!" He jumps at the sudden call of his name and he looks up to see Sand and Ray walking up to him. He sees the slight falter in Ray's steps as he looks towards Hot-guy, his gaze hardening just enough that Nick notices. "I see you've met Boston."
Fuck, this is Boston?
Hot-guy—Boston—clicks his tongue is annoyance pulls away from Nick just a touch. "Didn't realise you staked a claim on the cutie, Ray." The venom is so prevalent in his voice that it makes Nick want to sink into the ground but Ray seems to take it in stride as he rolls his eyes.
"Didn't stake a claim, but he's off-limits, Ton." His tone is playful, but the expression on his face betrays how serious he is. Boston just laughs as he pulls away further.
"Whatever you say," he grins before looking back at Nick with a wink. "I'm here every week. See you around, cutie." Nick watches him swagger off into the crowd for a while before someone clears their throat. He turns back to see Sand and Ray staring at him in varying degrees of concern.
"Was he bothering you, Nicky? You can always just tell him to piss off. He usually listens," Ray says with a grimace. Nick stands there in growing confusion.
"Why is everyone so weird about him?" he asks finally.
Sand winces. "Boston has a bit of a reputation for sleeping around."
"And you seem like the type to want to be wined and dined," Ray finishes for him. "It's better to just not get involved with someone like him. I'd hate to see you get heartbroken, especially over Boston." The contrarian in him immediately sparks up. He glances off into the crowd where Boston disappeared too, but he can't see him now.
"I'm here every week."
Curiosity killed the cat, or whatever.
Sand must have realised something was up with him after they'd finally went home that day because he kept trying to get Nick to spill what he and Boston had talked about. He'd said 'nothing,' because its true. They didn't really speak much at all. He absolutely isn't about to tell Sand that he watched some stranger get blown and now he's trying to figure out if he's crazy enough to try and meet him again.
The last thing he needs is Sand trying to Mother-Hen him. He gets it, really. Boston is the type of guy that only does one-night-stands. He's not stupid enough to go looking for a relationship with a guy like that. Call him morbidly curious, though. It's not like he needs to lose his virginity in some grand, romantic gesture. The whole idea of virginity as a whole is woefully archaic. Maybe he's just had enough watching his life pass from the sidelines.
He realises very quickly, though, that it's difficult as hell to get to the bar when Sand and Ray aren't there. With his bar-singing gig, Sand is there most nights and he knows that Ray is usually there to watch him. Part of him knows that he should feel guilty for attempting to sneak around, but he just wants to avoid any and all potential lecturing.
The prime moment finally presents itself a few weeks later when Ray comes to their apartment to pick Sand up for a date. Nick is quick to dodge Ray's hug as he comes in, seeing as he tends to get a bit handsy. Ray just laughs it off and moves to kiss Sand. Nick tries not to watch them with too much envy.
"So," he starts, trying to sound casual. "Where are you two headed?" Ray grins at him and bounces on his toes excitedly.
"We're going to see our favourite band, it's supposed to be a pretty big thing." Nick nods and does the math in his head. They should be out for at least several hours, then.
"Well, have fun, I guess," he replies with a wave. Nick watches them walk out hand-in-hand before all but sprinting back to his room. Perhaps in the time leading up to this he should have made an effort to go buy more clothes but as it stands, he finds himself jump-wiggle-shimmying back into the same ripped jeans he'd worn before. He grabs a simple button-up and sneaks into Sand's room to grab some of his jewellery.
Does he feel like a child playing dress up? Absolutely. But when he stands in front of a mirror he realises that he doesn't look half-bad. He fiddles with his hair for a moment before he just gives up. Even after all of the relaxers, he still manages to find a few stray curls and he's long since given up trying to do anything about it.
Deeming himself as ready as he'll ever be, he heads out of the apartment. He contemplates calling for a ride but ultimately decides that the walk will be good for clearing his head. He's not entirely sure what he plans to do once he's at the bar. Worst case scenario, Boston isn't even there.
And if he is, what then? There's no guarantee that he meant anything by mentioning that he's there every week. What if he sees him there and approaches him, but Boston wants nothing to do with him? Nick isn't sure he would be able to bare the humiliation that would entail. Just when he's debating whether or not to turn around and go back home, he finds himself in front of the bar.
"Fuck it," he whispers and walks—hopefully confidently—to the entrance. He realises immediately just how much he'd used Sand's presence as a crutch the last time. He can't tell if the crowd is bigger this time or if his anxiety is just getting the better of him, but he knows that he's not going to be able to handle this sober and heads straight for the bar.
He's about to flag down the bartender when he feels someone slide into the seat next to him. He turns, half-expecting Boston, but is shocked to see a complete stranger. The man smirks at him waves for the bartender.
"What'll you'll have, cutie?"
"Oh, uhm…" Nick mumbles out his drink over and the guy orders it for him along with a drink for himself. When they get their drinks, Nick fiddles with the glass.
"So, are you here by yourself?" the guy asks and Nick's mouth pops open in surprise.
"Uhm, I—" Familiar arms cage him against the bar.
"He's with me tonight." Nick shivers and doesn't have to turn around to know that it's Boston. The stranger glances between them with a raised brow.
"Boston? Since when were you dating?" Boston scoffs, his breath tickling Nick's ear.
"Never said I was. I just said that he's mine for tonight." Butterflies burn in his gut at the possessive claim. "Get lost." The man rolls his eyes but gets up and walks away. Finally, Nick turns to look at Boston. "You should be more careful, cutie. That loser likes to record people without their consent."
"I—How do you—" Nick bites his lip before he asks a stupid question. "Thank you," he finally mumbles out. Boston smirks and reaches over to grab Nick's drink. He leans over the bar to pour it out into the sink on the other side. He's about to protest but Boston cuts him off.
"I don't trust that the fucker didn't spike your drink and I like my partners to be fully conscious." The butterflies increase their pyrotechnics in his stomach as he nods slowly. Boston quickly calls for the bartender and reorders his drink. He doesn't touch the glass as it's slid across the bar and it makes his heart flutter. It's stupid to get excited over something so small, but Nick can't help think that its to make him feel safer.
They sit and drink together for a while, idly chatting about mundane things. Nick finds himself drawn to Boston's fingers as they grip his glass. He notices the stare as he turns with a smirk.
"So what brings you back here? I was half-expecting you to flake out." Nick grimaces.
"I would have come sooner but…things kinda got in the way," he explains vaguely, but Boston nods in understanding.
"Ray and Sand up your ass?" he laughs and Nick just stares at him in shock for a second before biting his lip.
"What's their issue with you anyways?" Boston gazes at him him amusement.
"I'm not sure it's so much that they have an issue with me, it's just that they're weirdly protective over you." Nick looks at him with confusion. "After you'd left, I had gotten several warnings to stay away from you. Cute of your boyfriends to be so defensive over you." He really didn't understand why everyone thought that he needed some kind of protecting from Boston.
"They're not my boyfriends. I can talk to whoever I want." A smirk grows on Boston's face.
"Yeah? Come home with me tonight then." Nick finds himself saying yes before he even register what he's agreeing to.
Boston's mouth is on him before they even fully make it into his bedroom. Nick has been kissed before, but never like this. Boston kisses like he's trying to devour him whole and it leaves his head spinning. Teeth tear at his bottom lip and Nick squeaks in surprise. Before he can fully get his bearings, Boston shoves him back onto the bed.
When he stops bouncing on the bed, Nick sits up on his elbows. Boston is staring down at him with a smirk as he starts undressing. Nick shudders at the sight of his bare chest. He pauses as he goes to undo his pants and tilts his head at Nick.
"You're not a virgin are you?" A jolt shoots through his body. He knows immediately by the tone that if he says yes, Boston will ask him to leave.
"No," he lies, trying to keep his voice from trembling. Boston breathes out a sigh.
"Thank god." He starts to unbutton his pants. "No offence to virgins. They just get too clingy and I'm in no mood to coddle you." Boston kicks his pants off and climbs onto the bed over Nick. He places a hand on his throat, not squeezing but just resting it there. Nick feels his pulse flutter under his fingers. "I will not treat you tenderly, I will not cuddle you. You're here for one thing and one thing only. I will not love you. It's simply not in my nature."
When Nick nods with a stuttering breath, Boston's fingers tighten ever so slightly. His clothes are all but ripped off in a flash and the first touch of Boston's hands on his body leaves him aching. Nick has pictured his first time many times, but this is more fire and teeth than he had imagined. The skin under Boston's fingers ache as he presses bruises into his thighs. When Boston slips wet fingers inside of him, he feels almost consumed.
He feels like he's dying, in the most delicious way possible, the flames of desire nearly swallowing him whole. Boston doesn't bother with much foreplay as he makes quick work of stretching him. He pulls his fingers out and rip open a condom. The hand returns to his neck as he lines his cock up. No words are exchanged as Boston presses inside.
The stretch burns, more than Nick was expecting and it brings tears to his eyes. When he looks up at Boston, his eyes are shut in pleasure.
"I will not treat you tenderly."
True to his word, Boston quickly speeds up until he's practically fucking the bed into the wall. It takes a moment, but finally the burn eases and each thrust sends a zap through him. His own cock throbs as it twitches against his stomach. Boston makes no move to touch him, so Nick wraps his hand around it. He moans as he times his strokes with Boston's hips.
He stares up at Boston, partially glad that his eyes are still closed. He looks so beautiful dripping in sweat that it makes Nick feel like he can't breathe. His lungs fill with butterflies and he worries that they'll fly up his throat if he speaks. He can almost feel the soft wings tickling his trachea.
Boston groans and his face tenses up as his thrusts falter in their rhythm. Nick's breath hitches and he pumps his dick faster. He's desperate. A big, fragile part of him wants to cum at the same time as Boston. He craves that level of intimacy even if he doesn't deserve it. Even if it's empty. Boston's hips still as he cums in the condom but it takes several more stroke to push Nick over the edge.
His cock is still pulsing when Boston pulls out and walks out of the room. Nick hears the shower start and slowly pulls himself up. A twinge of pain runs through him and he winces. He takes a big breath before slowly getting up. He's still fighting with his jeans when Boston returns and flops down into the bed.
"You know the way out," he mumbles before closing his eyes.
"I will not cuddle you."
He looks down at Boston, asleep and sated, and suddenly his heart is in his throat and he has to choke down the urge to cough it up.
"I will not love you."
Nick needs to leave. Now. He quickly gathers his things and moves as fast as his aching back will let him.
"It's simply not in my nature."
He's fucking screwed.