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It’s not like Nicholas is particularly bothered by it — but it would be strange to just ignore it completely, he figures. So the third time he finds Euijoo’s boxers neatly displayed on the shower rail, he takes a picture and sends it to their chat, already waiting for what comes next: rushed footsteps in the hallway, the bathroom door swinging open, and an exasperated Euijoo swooping in with a dozen apologies and polite bows, promising he’ll be more careful next time.
Apparently, next time never comes.
He keeps forgetting them over and over again, sometimes hanging from the towel hook on the wall, sometimes looped over the inside doorknob, sometimes draped over the glass shower panel. The pattern repeats: a good week, maybe two, and then there they are again, abandoned for Nicholas to find and complain about. Not because he’s truly annoyed; honestly, he finds it adorable how flustered Euijoo gets every time. If you asked him, he’d say it’s become their own particular thing.
Nicholas and Euijoo have been living together for two years now. Their previous roommates started dating and decided to move in together, introducing the two of them so neither would have to live alone or shoulder the rent by themselves. At first, it was meant to be a trial — a cautious arrangement between near-strangers, both unsure whether their habits would clash or their personalities would wear thin. Living with someone you barely know can be nerve-wracking.
Instead, it turned out better than either of them expected.
When Harua told Nicholas that Euijoo was a lot like him, he was skeptical. Then again, anyone who managed to survive living with messy, loud, endlessly energetic Maki probably qualified as a saint. He learned quickly that it was true. Euijoo was shy at first, quiet, organized, unfailingly polite, and impressively clean. Easily one of the best roommates Nicholas had ever had. Even Harua could be a little troublesome sometimes.
And Euijoo, having endured Maki’s chaos, handled Nicholas’s talkative, playful nature without any trouble at all. They fit together surprisingly well.
Maybe too well.
In fact, they got along so perfectly that Nicholas sometimes worried he’d blur the lines and catch real feelings. Euijoo was kind, handsome, entirely his type. They’d never crossed paths at university — psychology and liberal arts lived on opposite ends of campus — but Nicholas is sure that if he had seen him back then, he would’ve fallen headfirst and tried to flirt without hesitation. It’s different now. Living together means boundaries. No crossed lines. No risks that could make things awkward or fragile between them.
Unfortunately, a crush doesn’t disappear just because you decide it should.
He just makes sure not to feed it.
But he has to admit, it’s getting harder as time passes.
The more Nicholas gets to know Euijoo, the more he notices how genuinely sweet he is. How loved he is by his family. How quietly hardworking. Living with him means being on the receiving end of that kindness in small, intimate ways, the kind that are easy to overlook but impossible to forget.
Like a cup of coffee already waiting on the counter because Euijoo knows Nicholas hates mornings, sleeps until the very last minute, and would absolutely skip breakfast if left on his own. Like finding his clothes neatly folded on top of the bed because he forgot to bring them in from the laundry basket. Like the glass of water and a painkiller placed beside him while he studies, when Euijoo passes by, notices him rubbing his temples, and understands immediately.
Nicholas tries not to read too much into any of it. He tells himself this is simply who Euijoo is, naturally attentive, naturally caring. It has to be. After all, he’s never seen Euijoo dating anyone, never heard about a crush or a relationship. He doesn’t seem to be looking for one either.
He’s just a good, kind friend.
And Nicholas is determined to accept that, even if it means burying his own feelings deep enough that they can’t cause damage.
He was doing well, really well. Until he wasn't anymore.
It’s a Tuesday night, the day they both get home the latest. Euijoo arrives a few minutes before Nicholas, which gives him enough time to shower first, as usual. Nicholas follows about twenty minutes later.
He’s exhausted tonight, shoulders aching after hours bent over library tables, buried in books and notes for an assignment due next week. All he wants is to stand under hot water and let it pour down his back, ease the tension in his muscles, rinse away the day, eat something quick, and collapse into bed.
When he steps inside the apartment, he notices the bathroom door open and steam drifting into the hallway, Euijoo must have just finished. Perfect timing. Nicholas heads straight to his room, grabs clean clothes and a towel, and makes his way back, half-asleep on his feet.
He pushes open the shower stall door and instantly forgets how tired he is.
Hanging from the shower handle is a delicate red lace panty, freshly washed and dripping slightly onto the tile.
Nicholas just stares at it, trying to connect the dots.
Was Euijoo with a girl? Did he bring someone home? Did she take a shower here?
He reaches out and takes it in his hand, examining the fabric. It’s small, unmistakably feminine. Definitely not Euijoo’s usual forgotten laundry.
Before he can think any further, hurried footsteps echo down the hallway. The bathroom door swings open without a knock.
Euijoo stands there wide-eyed and breathless, hair still damp, wearing a tank top and shorts, a towel hanging crookedly over his shoulders. His gaze drops straight to Nicholas’s hand.
To the lace.
He looks like he might actually pass out.
“Nicholas—”
“I didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” Nicholas says, cutting him off.
“I don’t, I—”
Euijoo pauses like he’s just realized something. His cheeks grow redder, and Nicholas’s eyes widen too as realization dawns on him. He extends the fabric toward him.
“Oh. Oh!”
When Euijoo makes no move to take it, Nicholas pulls his hand slightly, then places it into his palm and steps away. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to assume things.”
“Oh my God, it would be better if I let you believe it was a girlfriend, right?” Euijoo is so red now he looks like a tomato.
Nicholas should be laughing, but his mind is stuck on the fact that the panties belong to Euijoo, and suddenly this isn’t funny at all. He gulps, trying to regain his composure, but ends up looking anywhere except Euijoo’s face, feeling hot all over, fighting the intrusive thoughts that insist on imagining Euijoo in such sensual lingerie. Is it possible to have a heart attack just from picturing your hot roommate in underwear?
“No, no — you shouldn’t have to lie. I’m just… surprised. Nothing bad! Just surprised.”
Euijoo looks like he wants to dig a hole in the ground and bury himself. “I’m sorry for leaving it behind again. I was going to take it later. I thought you’d come home later today.”
“It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize.”
“I’ll let you shower now.” Euijoo steps outside and pulls the door closed behind him. “Sorry again!”
“No problem!”
Nicholas is left alone and breathes out hard, only then realizing he’d been holding his breath.
The panties were Euijoo’s.
Euijoo owns a pair of red lace panties.
Euijoo wears feminine panties.
Euijoo. Panties. Euijoo bare with only panties on.
Nicholas shakes his head and massages his temples, holding back a scream, cursing his horny demons and telling them to go away, to stop making him picture how good Euijoo must look wearing that. He can’t think about it. He definitely can’t let his mind wander to what it would be like to have Euijoo on all fours in that lace, pushing the fabric aside and watching the way his body moves with every thrust, the material clinging to his waist while his slim frame shudders with pleasure. He can’t give in to his hand drifting lower, stroking himself under the shower spray, eyes closed and lip caught between his teeth, seeing behind his eyelids Euijoo’s perfect ass hugged by lace like it was made just for him. He can’t come to the thought of Euijoo taking him with short breaths and broken moans, opening wider in complete surrender while taking him in.
He can’t.
He does anyway.
The next morning, things continue exactly the same. Nicholas heads to the kitchen and his coffee is already waiting for him, but Euijoo is nowhere to be seen. There’s a note beside the cup, Euijoo says he left early to study at the library before his first class.
Nicholas couldn’t be more thankful for the quiet and the solitude to think in peace about what happened last night.
When he stepped out of the shower, he felt guilty, but even more hungry. Euijoo’s bedroom door was closed and the apartment lights were off, a clear sign he had already gone to bed. Nicholas ate whatever he found in the fridge, washed the dishes, and headed to his room too, calling it a day.
He’s embarrassed for touching himself to thoughts of Euijoo, but probably not more embarrassed than Euijoo himself must be. What must be going through his head right now? Quiet, shy, composed Euijoo, suddenly exposed in such an unexpected way. His mind must be torturing him.
Still, Nicholas can’t stop thinking about it either.
Does Euijoo own more pairs? Other colors? Other styles? Is it a habit? A preference? A comfort thing? Some kind of private ritual for luck?
He has a lot of questions, and absolutely no idea how to get the answers.
He shouldn’t even want them.
The week seems to drag. Classes are boring, the days feel longer, assignments get harder. Nicholas comes home late three nights in a row, feeling the weight of it all like a burden pressing down on his shoulders. Despite everything, all he wants is to have some drinks and fried chicken while sitting on the living room floor, lounging lazily with Euijoo and talking about nothing in particular, the way they do when exhaustion takes over.
He texts Euijoo about the plan, and Euijoo agrees easily, saying he’ll buy the chicken while Nicholas stops by the nearest convenience store on his way home to get the drinks.
When he arrives, he’s welcomed by the smell of fried chicken and Euijoo’s bright smile, telling him to shower quickly so they can eat. Nicholas drops the bottles on the counter for Euijoo to put in the fridge and heads to the bathroom, craving hot water to loosen his aching muscles.
He takes his time under the spray, breathing deeply, mind drifting from one responsibility to another, next week’s tasks, the laundry he can’t skip this weekend, the grocery shopping he’s been avoiding but will have to do before Monday. And, of course, he thinks about Euijoo. No underwear forgotten in the bathroom since the red lace incident. They never mentioned it again, and the awkwardness faded almost immediately.
They’ve been friends for years, after all.
Back in his room, Nicholas changes into a black shirt and gray cotton shorts, perfect for a night in. Euijoo is waiting with everything set on the living room table, the TV already playing their favorite show and the lights dimmed into a cozy glow.
Nicholas couldn’t ask for a more comforting kind of familiarity.
Five bottles of beer later, both men are already feeling lightheaded, nothing to worry about since they’re home and safe. They could even push it a little further if they wanted to. But being lightheaded also means less control over their tongues, and sooner or later someone is going to say something they shouldn’t. Or ask.
“Man,” Nicholas starts. “I know we sort of silently agreed not to mention it, but—” he smiles. “What was that whole red lace panty thing about? Do you really wear that on a daily basis?”
Euijoo chokes on his sip but immediately starts laughing, feeling more talkative than usual. His shy side always loosens when he’s tipsy. “Yah! Why would you ask that?”
“Sorry, I can’t help being curious. There’s nothing wrong with it, and of course I’m not judging you. I just got really, really curious,” Nicholas shrugs.
Euijoo narrows his eyes at him, soft brown bangs falling over his forehead, giving him an even more boyish look. “If I tell you, you won’t believe it.”
“Try me.”
Euijoo takes a deep breath and another sip before sacrificing his dignity. “I lost a bet to Harua.”
“What?!”
Nicholas bursts out laughing, and Euijoo rolls his eyes at how dramatic he’s being.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m stupid, I wear panties, haha.”
“No, no, wait—” Nicholas tries to stop laughing but fails. “Why didn’t you just say that when I found them in the shower?”
“It was part of the bet. I’m not allowed to explain if someone finds out. Like, if I bent over and they showed above my pants and someone pointed it out, I couldn’t explain either.”
Nicholas watches him closely now, curiosity sharpening under his teasing smile. “What was the bet about?”
“If he got a better grade than me on one of the assignments, I had to wear them. That’s it.”
“What the hell? Where did the panties even come from?”
“I don’t know! He’s crazy.”
Even tipsy, Nicholas can tell Euijoo is still holding something back, something he doesn’t want to explain yet. Nicholas decides not to push for now, but he fully intends to get answers to the other questions circling his mind.
“Okay… are they comfortable?” he asks, shifting to face Euijoo more directly, elbow propped on the couch, head resting on his hand, watching him with open interest. “How did you feel?”
Euijoo laughs at his enthusiasm, turning toward him too and setting his bottle on the table. The TV is long forgotten now.
“Why are you so curious? Do you want to try them on too?”
Nicholas shrugs like it’s nothing. “Maybe. But answer me!”
It’s a completely weird conversation to be having on a Friday night with your roommate and friend of two years, but Euijoo figures they’re past that so he throws away the last of his shyness and decides to satisfy Nicholas’s curiosity.
“I wouldn’t say comfortable, but it’s not as bad as it sounds either. The fabric is very nice and soft against the skin.”
“You wore it the whole day? At uni?”
Euijoo nods. “That’s what the bet was about.”
Nicholas makes another shocked face, like he still can’t believe Euijoo actually went along with Harua’s stupid idea.
“You really thought I brought a girl home and she left her panties in the shower?”
“What else was I supposed to think?”
Euijoo looks away and reaches for his bottle of beer again, taking a sip. “I’ve never brought anyone home. I wouldn’t do that without telling you first.”
“But you could’ve. It’s not a big deal.”
“You’ve never brought anyone either.”
Nicholas takes another drink too, shrugging as he leans forward to grab his beer from the table. “Never wanted to.”
“You’re not seeing anyone, then?”
He looks at Euijoo and finds him already staring back with genuine curiosity — eyes wide, cheeks flushed from the alcohol, lips slightly swollen and shiny from the drinks and the spicy chicken. He looks unfairly tempting. Nicholas wishes he could see himself right now, just to understand what kind of effect he must be showing in return.
“I’m not. Not exactly interested.” Euijoo goes quiet for a moment, gaze dropping to his lap, so Nicholas returns the question. “You?”
He shakes his head. “Not seeing anyone either.”
“Don’t you want to? Some stress relief? College’s been tough, judging by how you pout every day during dinner.”
Euijoo laughs at that. “You watch me a lot.”
“How could I not?”
Something shifts in the air as their gazes linger, watching, waiting, searching each other’s expressions for answers they don’t quite know how to ask for. Euijoo breaks eye contact first, shrugging and circling back to the question.
“Let’s just say maybe yes, the stress relief would be great… but I don’t see anyone as a potential partner right now.”
“Oh, come on. I’m sure there are a thousand girls lining up for a chance with you, you’re just oblivious.” Nicholas gives him a playful shove, and Euijoo’s smile widens. Nicholas pushes a little further. “Or maybe boys.”
Euijoo doesn’t seem weirded out by the idea. “Or maybe I’m just not anyone’s type.”
Nicholas rolls his eyes. “You’re just fishing for compliments now, be fucking for real.”
“I don’t know…”
He looks genuinely unsure of himself, but Nicholas knows an easy way to make him feel better.
“Okay.” Nicholas straightens his posture like he’s just had a brilliant idea. “Let’s go clubbing this weekend.”
“What?!”
“Seriously! Let’s dance, drink, have fun. We’ll put on nice makeup, nice clothes, try to find someone to hook up with. You don’t even have to get laid if you don’t want to, but let’s at least try to kiss someone. It’ll boost your confidence. I mean it.”
Euijoo makes a strange face, and Nicholas can tell he’s not very into the idea. He’s definitely not the type who enjoys crowds and loud places, he usually ditches parties whenever Nicholas goes out. But maybe that’s exactly what he’s been missing. Maybe he should at least try once.
“I don’t really like parties.”
“That’s why I’ll be there with you. And the moment you get tired or decide you’ve had enough, we come home immediately. I’ll invite Maki and Harua too.”
Euijoo still looks unsure, but when he sees the excitement on Nicholas’s face, he gives in. It shouldn’t be a big deal.
“Okay.”
“Yes!” Nicholas celebrates. “I’ll help you find the perfect outfit.”
He jumps to his feet and sprints toward Euijoo’s bedroom without any further warning, Euijoo following behind with small protests and breathy laughs.
🎇
After rummaging endlessly through Euijoo’s wardrobe and finding nothing that really fits the occasion, Nicholas decides to lend him some of his own clothes instead. But now the sight of Euijoo wearing his shirt, his accessories, his makeup makes Nicholas’s stomach twist as he stares at the absolute beauty in front of him.
Euijoo is wearing a fitted black crop top with a subtle sparkle, a studded pattern that adds texture and shine. Over it, a cropped black leather jacket with color-block details, yellow and red panels along the shoulders and sleeves, giving it a sporty, motorcycle edge. He wears it open, loose, made for movement and emphasis. High-waisted black pants with a visible front zipper and a sleek, tailored fit shape his frame, paired with a black belt with a round statement buckle and rings for extra attitude.
Nicholas takes a slow breath, looking him up and down.
The makeup traces all his best features, highlighting his big round eyes, defining their shape, and drawing attention to his plump mouth, shining with gloss. Nicholas gulps, completely at a loss for words.
“You’re staring,” Euijoo calls his attention.
Nicholas blinks and focuses back on his face, very deliberately not reacting to Euijoo’s exposed waist. “You’re… gorgeous!”
Euijoo looks down at himself, then walks over to where Nicholas is waiting, leaning on the counter that separates the kitchen from the living room. “You don’t think it’s too much?”
“I think you look dangerous. Everyone at the party better brace themselves.”
With a playful shove to his shoulder, Euijoo smiles shyly, suddenly a little too aware of how the outfit highlights his curves and sharp edges. They head out right after, texting Maki and Harua, who keep rushing them to hurry up or they’ll lose the best booth at the club since they are already there.
The party is in full swing when they arrive. Loud music pounding through the walls, lights low, colored LEDs flickering everywhere, bodies moving across the dance floor to the driving beat, a DJ at the far end of the room working his equipment and hyping the crowd. It’s not exactly Euijoo’s kind of place. Definitely not. But he breathes out slowly and tries to adjust to the noise as Nicholas points toward the booth where Harua and Maki are, waving at them.
Thankfully, they chose a table a little farther from the center, where the music is slightly lower, though they still have to lean close to each other’s ears to be heard when they speak.
“I’m gonna go get us some beers,” Nicholas shouts to him before he even sits down, letting Euijoo settle in while he heads toward the drink counter on the other side. Euijoo quickly loses sight of him in the crowd.
He greets Harua with a side hug and Maki with a handshake. Harua immediately comments on how beautiful he looks and teases that no one will stand a chance once he steps onto the dance floor. Euijoo grows shy under the sudden wave of compliments.
Of course he knows he looks good — he takes care of his body and appearance — but he’s never thought of himself as especially attention-grabbing. People rarely look his way anyway, so he settled into being quiet and focusing on his studies. He’s kissed and slept around before, but nothing meaningful came from it. He just doesn’t see himself as particularly mesmerizing or desirable. It’s something he’s learned to accept.
He could use a new boost, eyes lingering a little too long, interested stares scanning him and liking what they see. Maybe that’s exactly what he needs for the next semester: a little hormonal chaos and physical release to clear his mind and satisfy his body. He could at least give it a try.
When Nicholas comes back with the beers, Euijoo takes long gulps in one go, hoping the alcohol will loosen the last tight strings still holding him back. He notices the looks his friends give him, but no one comments on it. They chat for a minute or so before Harua suddenly jumps up and invites Euijoo to the dance floor to warm up, rushing the taller boy to move before they miss the perfect song playing right now.
They push into the center of the crowd hand in hand, Harua bouncing and shaking Euijoo’s arm excitedly, trying to wake his stiff body to the rhythm. It doesn’t take long for Euijoo to adjust, finding the beat, letting his hips and shoulders follow the music, letting go little by little.
The sensation is good, moving with the flow, feeling sweat begin to gather at the back of his neck, hearing people shout with excitement around him and feeling the urge to shout too, every sensation amplified by sound and motion.
It feels good to dance like nothing else in the world matters.
Maybe he could get used to partying once in a while.
After two more songs, Euijoo goes back to their seat panting, chest heaving. He drops onto the booth next to Nicholas, their bodies colliding, and immediately reaches for his beer. He drinks the rest at once, tipping the bottle to get every last drop.
“Do you want me to get you another one?” Nicholas leans closer to ask against his ear.
Euijoo nods eagerly, and Nicholas follows his wish, hopping over him to get out of the booth and head for the counter. Euijoo follows his movements and catches some girls watching Nico attentively as he passes, scanning him and whispering to each other, probably planning to try to get his number. He looks away and catches Harua staring at him.
“You know,” he shouts, “there was a guy devouring you over there.” He points toward the dance floor with his head.
Euijoo smiles but shakes his head in denial.
“Seriously! You were so caught up dancing that you didn’t notice, but he was. If you sit right here, I can show you.”
Euijoo follows his instructions and circles the table to sit next to Harua, looking in the same direction. Much to his surprise, he really does find a guy staring their way, beer in hand, wearing a very unsubtle smirk. From this distance, Euijoo can barely see his features, but he can tell he looks nice. He isn’t that tall, his blonde hair is a little long, and he’s wearing a button-up tucked into his jeans, seated in a booth similar to Euijoo’s, with friends surrounding him.
When he catches Euijoo looking, he raises his beer in greeting. Euijoo shies away, turning to Harua with wide eyes and an amused smile.
“I told you!!”
“What did you tell him?” Nicholas comes back with more alcohol, which Euijoo happily takes and drinks again.
Nicholas watches him down the drink with such eagerness that it’s slightly worrying, but also strangely pleasing to see him loosening up.
“There’s a guy already flirting with him! He has to go back to the dance floor.”
If anyone notices the way Nicholas gulps before sitting down across from Euijoo in the booth, eyes never leaving him, no one comments. “Really? Who?”
Harua points with his head, and it doesn’t take long for Nicholas to figure out who he means, the guy being very explicit with his stare. Something acidic burns in his throat; he pretends it’s the alcohol, even though he barely drank a sip.
“C’mon, let’s go again!”
Before Nicholas can say anything, Harua is already pushing Euijoo back to the dance floor, giving him only a second to strip off his jacket. Nicholas is left behind, jealousy curling tight in his chest, watching their steps fade into the crowd. He decides the only way to act normal about all of this is to drown it out with liquor, enough to force his mind to focus on anything else. Maki gives him a light tap on the shoulder like an understanding friend, and that alone is sign enough that he’ll need a few more drinks if he’s going to endure the night.
The way Euijoo moves on the dance floor is almost like he was born for it. Nicholas can’t help but watch him like it’s his favorite show. He’s having the time of his life, jumping with Harua, dancing close, singing to each other, feeling the music like it’s playing just for him. His smile is wide, his round cheeks flushed from heat and beer, his shirt riding up every time he moves, and then a very familiar fabric peeks above his jeans.
Nicholas nearly chokes on his drink when he spots the red lace of the goddamn panties.
He blinks a few times, just to make sure he isn’t imagining it. He’s not. It’s right there on Euijoo’s exposed hips, snug against his skin, unmistakably visible. The sight hits him all at once.
Nicholas feels like he might faint. It only gets worse when Euijoo looks straight at him and starts heading back his way. He reaches the table, grabs his beer, and takes a few long gulps before setting the bottle down. Then he leans in, hovering close enough to shout into Nicholas’s ear.
“Did you seriously bring me all the way here just to stare instead of dancing with me? What’s the fun in that?”
He doesn’t give him time to answer. Euijoo takes his hand and pulls Nicholas onto the dance floor. They don’t go far. Euijoo does the same thing Harua did earlier, shaking Nicholas’s arms, coaxing his body into motion, urging him to follow the beat and let the music run through him.
Nicholas can’t help but smile at how happy Euijoo looks. The flickering lights shine over his damp skin, tracing a soft glow along his grin and the joy bright in his eyes. As Nicholas takes him in, everything else seems to slow, the crowd and the noise fading into the background.
He knows, with dangerous certainty, that he’s completely gone for him.
They dance through a couple more songs, Nicholas careful not to give in to his real desires and grab Euijoo by the exposed waist he keeps showing. It’s getting harder to contain himself. It almost feels impossible in the middle of such a crowded dance floor, yet Nicholas can still smell Euijoo’s perfume. The mix of that scent with his glistening skin and the strands of hair stuck to his forehead slowly makes Nicholas’s throat go dry with want.
He has to excuse himself and head back to the table for another drink, leaving behind a pouty Euijoo. The pout barely lasts a minute before the next song starts and he’s jumping on his feet again. Maki and Harua are still dancing nearby, so they quickly pull Euijoo in with them while Nicholas takes a moment to breathe.
From the table, he watches the three of them with a soft smile, affection washing over him for these people he loves so dearly. The moment is warm and almost peaceful.
It doesn’t last long.
A fourth figure comes into view, stepping far too close to Euijoo. Nicholas doesn’t need to look twice to recognize him as the guy who had been eyeing Euijoo from across the dance floor earlier.
Nicholas downs the last of his beer and rises to his feet immediately, leaving behind whatever control he had managed to hold onto until now.
The guy is dancing right in front of Euijoo. They don’t seem to have exchanged any words yet, and when Nicholas approaches, instinct takes over. The first thing he does is wrap an arm around Euijoo’s waist and pull him in, flipping him smoothly until they’re chest to chest. It’s a clear message to the man standing there watching.
Nicholas doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t need to. He just holds the guy’s gaze. After a second, the man lifts his hands in surrender and turns away, disappearing back into the crowd to find someone else.
When Nicholas looks back at Euijoo, he’s still holding him close, their bodies pressed together. Euijoo is already staring up at him with curious eyes, his hands resting flat against Nicholas’s sides.
“What was that?” he shouts over the music.
Nicholas swallows but doesn’t loosen his grip. “That guy was trying to hit on you.”
Euijoo raises an eyebrow. “Wasn’t that the whole point? Finding someone to hook up with?”
“You already did.” Nicholas’s fingers tighten on his waist, sliding slightly until they brush against the lace. It’s obvious he noticed the panties.
Euijoo’s lips curve into a slow smile. He finally lifts his hands to Nicholas’s shoulders and leans in to speak into his ear. “I’m too much for you to handle.”
When he pulls back, he finds Nicholas’s eyes dark under the flickering lights, his mouth slightly parted. Nicholas’s gaze drops to his lips, not subtle at all.
“I’d like to take my chances.”
“Yeah?” Euijoo murmurs, eyes flicking down to Nicholas’s mouth too. “Show me then.”
Nicholas decides to blame the sudden burst of courage on the beer. He can think about his actions later, because right now the only thing on his mind is Euijoo this close, Euijoo staring at his mouth, Euijoo licking his own lips, Euijoo wrapping his arms around his neck, Euijoo clearly waiting for him to take the initiative, Euijoo making it clear he won’t protest or pull away.
Still, Nicholas gathers what little control he has left and, instead of diving straight for Euijoo’s lips, he lowers his mouth to his neck. He presses his lips where neck meets shoulder, breathing in the mix of perfume, lotion, and sweat. He places a slow, tender kiss against the warm, sticky skin, a touch that barely matches the ache burning through him.
He feels Euijoo shiver under his mouth, but instead of retreating, he presses their bodies even closer. He trembles beneath Nicholas’s fingers, his breath catching in his throat.
The music keeps pounding through the speakers. Bodies continue to move and grind around them. The crowd shouts and jumps. But it all fades into nothing. It feels like they’re standing still while the world spins elsewhere, like this is a line neither of them has crossed before and now there’s no stepping back.
Nicholas trails his kisses upward, finding Euijoo’s jaw, grazing his teeth lightly over the skin as if he has all the patience in the world. Just when Euijoo thinks he’ll finally claim his lips, Nicholas shifts and dives to the other side of his neck instead, deliberately teasing him.
Euijoo squirms this time, more sensitive on that side, his eyes falling closed as he gives in to the sensation. Nicholas takes his time there too, breathing him in, licking, biting gently, mapping the curve of his neck like he’s memorizing it. Euijoo’s fingers tighten at Nicholas’s shirt. He’s getting impatient, and what finally breaks him is when Nicholas moves up to the shell of his ear and takes his earlobe into his mouth, catching the small earring between his lips as he sucks softly.
Euijoo shoves lightly at his chest, enough to make Nicholas pull back. He shoots him a glare that says more than words ever could. Enough.
Then Euijoo grabs Nicholas by the hand and pulls him off the dance floor. They weave through the crowd, passing their booth and moving away from the noise and strangers, deeper into a darker corner. They stop near a stretch of black wall, half-hidden, close to what looks like an employees-only hallway.
Euijoo doesn’t hesitate. He pushes Nicholas back against the wall and crashes their mouths together, no teasing this time, no patience left.
Their tongues meet in a brutal, desperate kiss, and Nicholas feels the air leave his lungs within seconds. His brain still can’t fully process what’s happening. It feels unreal, like something he imagined too many times and is only now allowed to touch. Euijoo moves hungrily against his mouth, his impatient hands gripping Nicholas’s face to tilt him exactly how he wants.
Nicholas answers with equal intensity, his fingers digging into Euijoo’s waist as if he wants to leave marks there, to stain the exposed skin red with proof that he’s his, that no one else gets to mistake it. Euijoo clearly likes that, judging by the way he moans into Nicholas’s mouth, the sound swallowed between them, the way he pants every time they break apart just to gasp for air.
It could have been minutes or hours. Neither of them knows how much time passes before they’re standing with their foreheads pressed together, breathing hard. Nicholas scatters small kisses across Euijoo’s cheeks and the corner of his mouth, unwilling to let him go, keeping him close. Their bodies are still flush together, desire obvious in the way they fit, in the tension that hasn’t gone anywhere.
“Wanna go home?” Nicholas asks against his lips before stealing another kiss, dizzy from the alcohol and the intoxicating taste of Euijoo still lingering on his tongue.
Euijoo just nods.
Nicholas laces their fingers together and leads the way. He stops briefly at their booth to grab Euijoo’s jacket, then glances toward the dance floor. It’s easy to spot Maki and Harua, both smirking as they nod knowingly at them. They clearly understand that their friends are calling it a night and exactly where they’re headed next.
The ride home in the cab is quiet, contained, but Euijoo remains close to Nicholas the entire time, glued to his body like a koala. He hugs his arm, rests his head on Nicholas’s shoulder, very blatantly sniffing him, and even slides a bold hand over Nicholas’s thigh just to keep him… entertained.
Nicholas breathes hard under his breath, trying to contain himself, trying to control a heartbeat that feels like it’s carving a hole through his chest, ready to jump out of it. Thankfully, the club is less than ten minutes away from home, and soon enough they’re stepping out of the car and heading inside their building, still hand in hand. Euijoo’s arm stays wrapped around Nicholas’s, his body pressed firmly against his side.
The elevator ride is short too. They behave because of the cameras, keeping just enough distance to look decent, but the tension between them is thick. As soon as they step into the hallway leading to their apartment door, Euijoo is barely holding himself together. He starts pressing kisses along Nicholas’s neck, breathing him in like he’s his favorite fragrance, gripping the muscle of his arm like the touch is the only thing keeping him upright.
Nicholas is sure he has never typed a password this fast in his life. He unlocks the door quickly and pulls them both inside in one motion.
The second the door closes, Euijoo is on him again. He wastes no time wrapping his arms around Nicholas’s neck like he did at the club, forcing Nicholas to drop everything to the floor just to use his hands to steady them before they both almost collapse. The jacket is left behind somewhere as they stumble blindly through the apartment, Euijoo pushing Nicholas deeper inside without giving him a second to breathe.
Nicholas still feels like he’s dreaming. Isn’t he the one who was obsessed? Why is Euijoo devouring him like this, like he’s been waiting his whole life? There’s no time for answers now.
They reach Euijoo’s bedroom and head straight for the bed. Nicholas swiftly turns them around and drops Euijoo onto the mattress, his back hitting the sheets. Nicholas pulls his own shirt off before climbing over him and returning to his neck.
“You smell so good,” he murmurs against the heat of Euijoo’s skin. “So, so good. I feel like I’m drunk on you, not even the alcohol.”
Euijoo laughs and moans at the same time, pleased with the praise and attention. He pulls Nicholas down to crash their mouths together again, never getting enough of the man on top of him. Their tongues meet messily, teeth clashing, hands roaming everywhere, hips rolling against each other for friction. It’s wet and sloppy and intense, but it feels so good that both of them hum against each other, eyes rolling at the sensation.
“You absolutely sure you want this?” Nicholas asks, needing to hear it before he loses what little control he has left.
The answer comes in the form of Euijoo grabbing his ass and forcing their hips together again in a heated grind, their desire obvious even through their clothes. “What do you think?”
Nicholas smiles against his mouth as he kisses him again, his hands finding the waist that tempted him all evening. His fingers slide lower, brushing the lace, playing with it while Euijoo trails small nibbles along his jaw and parts his legs wider to make space for him.
“I can’t believe you’re wearing the panties.”
“Do you like it?”
Nicholas exhales a disbelieving laugh. “You’re driving me insane, Byun Euijoo. You have no idea.”
“Prove it to me.”
Nicholas doesn’t know what got into Euijoo to make him this bold tonight, but he figures he can find out later. Right now, nothing feels more important than the desperate, pretty man beneath him, squirming and craving his touch.
Euijoo lifts his body slightly, and it’s enough for Nicholas to pull his shirt off. Now their bare chests press together, warm skin against warm skin. Nicholas pauses for a second to look at the man beneath him, staring like he’s the most beautiful painting in a museum. His mouth is parted as he pants, cheeks flushed, hair messy, broad chest and shoulders inviting. Nicholas is definitely losing his mind tonight.
He gives in to his desires and lowers his mouth to him. His kisses begin at Euijoo’s collarbones, leaving a trail of small bites and slow sucks, mapping him out like he has only one chance to memorize the path. His warm breath against Euijoo’s skin makes the younger squirm and whine, loving every second but still craving more.
When Nicholas takes one of his pecs into his mouth, Euijoo threads his fingers through Nicholas’s hair, holding him there, making it clear how sensitive he is and how much he likes it. Nicholas circles one nipple with his tongue, bites until it’s hard and aching, then moves to the other, giving it the same attention.
Euijoo grinds restlessly beneath him, searching for friction, moaning that he needs more, that Nicholas feels so good. Nicholas can feel his own arousal straining against his clothes. He sits up just long enough to push off his jeans and underwear, helping Euijoo do the same.
But he leaves the panties on. The panties aren’t going anywhere tonight.
He takes a long moment to look at Euijoo stretched out on the bed, chest rising and falling, skin flushed, red lace hugging his hips, desire evident beneath the fabric. He looks sinful and angelic at the same time. Nicholas feels like he might actually pass out.
He slides back on top of him and rolls their hips together, the sensation sharper now with barely anything between them. The friction draws a low sound from both of them. Euijoo pulls him down for another kiss, clinging to him like he needs it to breathe, and Nicholas understands they’re past teasing now.
They need more.
“There’s lube and condoms in the drawer by the bed,” Euijoo tells him.
They shift higher on the mattress until they’re near the pillows and within easy reach of the bedside table. Nicholas follows the direction and opens the drawer, pulling out what they need.
But his fingers brush against something else too. Smooth plastic. Cylindrical. He doesn’t even need to look to know what it is.
Still, he takes it out and lifts it slightly, raising his eyebrows at Euijoo with a curious smirk.
“What? Just because I don’t usually go to parties or date around, you thought I didn’t know how to have fun?”
Nicholas huffs a laugh through his nose. “So this is what you do when the door is locked? And here I was thinking you were just focused on studying.”
“Shut up.”
Euijoo snatches the dildo back and throws it somewhere across the room, not caring where it lands, then pulls Nicholas down on top of him again. He bites down on Nicholas’s bottom lip, trapping it between his teeth and tugging, stretching the skin until a deep groan spills out of Nicholas, his eyes rolling back.
“Turn around,” Nicholas orders, voice rough.
Euijoo doesn’t hesitate. He rolls onto his stomach, anticipation clear in the way his body moves. He shamelessly wiggles his ass, biting his lip when Nicholas spreads his legs and guides him up onto his knees, lifting his hips higher, leaving himself fully exposed in the most vulnerable way possible.
Warm hands spread over his cheeks, groping and squeezing, massaging before teeth graze over the skin. Euijoo’s eyes squeeze shut as pleasure starts to take over.
“Please,” he breathes.
Nicholas doesn’t deny him. He pushes the red lace aside, exposing him to the cool air, and his mouth practically waters at the sight. He doesn’t give any warning before diving in, hungry and unapologetic.
“Fuck.” Euijoo buries his face into the pillow, mouth falling open, drool dampening the fabric as he feels the first broad lick of Nicholas’s tongue against him.
It’s warm, wet, and insistent. Flat and deliberate, pressing in with clear intention. The slick sounds fill the room as Nicholas eats him out shamelessly, licking him with no restraint, no hesitation. Soon his tongue pushes inside, thrusting in and out without resistance. Euijoo isn’t unfamiliar with penetration, and his body welcomes it easily.
Nicholas hums against him while he works, the vibration sending shocks through Euijoo’s spine. His hands grip and spread, holding him open as he continues.
Euijoo feels drunk, and it has nothing to do with the beer.
He can’t remember the last time someone took him like this, this crude, this eager. The few partners he’s had were never this hungry, never this shameless. It’s new. Overwhelming. So fucking good.
He grips the sheets until his knuckles turn white, moaning openly, barely holding himself together.
It doesn’t take long before a finger presses in, stretching him open with slight resistance at first, but sliding inside more easily thanks to all the saliva. Nicholas thrusts it a few times before adding a second, scissoring him open while his mouth moves lower, giving attention to his balls and the cock he had been neglecting.
He sets a steady rhythm with his fingers, working in and out of Euijoo while his other hand wraps around his shaft. He guides the tip to his mouth, sucking on it, circling it with his tongue, tasting the precum that keeps gathering there.
Euijoo doesn’t have a single coherent thought left. The only thing he’s capable of feeling is Nicholas’s fingers stretching him and his warm mouth wrapped around him. How can he be so good at this?
When Nicholas decides to slide in a third finger, he reaches for the lube first, squeezing a generous amount over Euijoo’s entrance and coating his own fingers carefully, making sure it won’t hurt him. The stretch still aches a little, but Euijoo stays still and takes it, forcing himself to relax, moaning when all three fingers are finally inside him.
He lets Nicholas take his time. He accepts the invasion, breathing through it, adjusting to the fullness. He wants to reach back, to touch Nicholas, to make him feel just as good, to give something in return. But before he can even say anything, Nicholas is already tearing open the condom wrapper and rolling it down his cock, preparing himself.
For the brief moment Nicholas leaves him empty, Euijoo turns his head to look at him, watching every movement with hungry anticipation, admiring the strong lines of his naked body as he positions himself to fill him again.
He wishes they had more time without this fog of desire clouding their minds. He hopes this won’t end tonight, that there will be other chances, calmer ones, where he can take his time worshipping Nicholas the way he deserves.
Nicholas slides his dick along Euijoo’s cleft as a warning, and Euijoo presses his face against the pillow again, bracing himself for the stretch he knows is coming. The next second, Nicholas’s tip is pushing inside, and Euijoo realizes he’s thicker than he expected.
He moans out loud when the head is fully in, the stretch sharp and almost painful but so good at the same time. Nicholas pushes deeper slowly, giving him time to adjust, letting his body accommodate his length as much as it can. Even with all the prep, it’s tight. Nicholas squeezes his eyes shut, focusing on not losing control right then and there. It’s been a while for him too. His body feels overly sensitive, every sensation heightened.
Euijoo clenches around him, the heat wrapping him so perfectly that Nicholas has to take a few steady breaths, staying still while Euijoo gets used to the fullness. When he feels the younger shift slightly beneath him, he understands he can move.
He grips tighter on Euijoo’s hips, hands resting over the lace, one finger hooking the panties aside, and thrusts forward for the first time.
They both moan loudly, the sound spilling out of them without restraint. Nicholas forces his eyes open so he can watch the way he slides in and out of Euijoo’s ass, the red lace still hugging his hips, stark against his flushed skin. There’s something unbearably hot about fucking him while the panties are still on, and it nearly pushes Nicholas over the edge.
“Fuck, Nichol,” Euijoo breathes, voice breaking into a moan. “You feel amazing.”
“You take me so well, baby,” Nicholas answers, leaning down to press kisses over Euijoo’s shoulder blades as his hips move again, burying himself deeper with the motion. “Like you were made for it.”
Euijoo lifts himself just enough to turn his face to the side, searching for Nicholas’s lips in a messy, uncoordinated kiss. He sucks on Nicholas’s tongue with all the need inside him, trying to tell him through touch and heat that this is the best he’s felt in a very long time.
Maybe his entire life.
Nicholas apparently understands, because the next moment he fucks into him again and again, starting to set a pace, a sensual roll of his hips while tearing Euijoo open and making a home for himself inside him. Euijoo drops onto the bed again, gripping the sheets to keep himself grounded, to feel everything and take every sensation to the fullest, moaning Nicholas’s name to the bedroom walls, making it known that being taken like this feels amazing and excruciatingly good.
Within minutes Nicholas is fucking him rougher, thrusting with eagerness, moaning too, the slap of skin against skin filling the room along with the wet sounds of lube.
“I can’t believe someone else could’ve seen you like this today,” Nicholas pants between breaths, already tired, sweat prickling his skin. Euijoo is shining too. “Wearing these fucking panties, ass in the air, begging for cock. I’d bury myself alive if it wasn’t me.”
Euijoo moans, unable to form an answer. He’s so drunk on the feeling that all he can think about is being full to the brim. “Harder.”
Nicholas knows he’s getting close. He won’t last long with how good it feels when Euijoo clenches and moans his name, combined with the sight of his hole stretched around Nicholas, opening when he bottoms out and swallowing him again in a strong thrust, fluttering each time Nicholas pulls back just enough to watch the pink rim spread and call him in again.
Euijoo isn’t far behind. He trembles, reaching a hand to his own cock in search of relief, heat coiling low in his stomach and shivers racing down his spine each time a thrust brushes his prostate and sends pleasure vibrating through his whole body.
“I’m so close, Nico,” he warns, breathless. “So close.”
Nicholas grips harder at his waist, leaning down to press kisses to the sweaty skin of his back before murmuring into his ear, “Come for me, Juju. Come full of my cock.”
Euijoo squeezes his eyes shut and lets the climax take him, spilling over his hand and the sheets moments later, trembling and shaking, body contorting with the force of it. His arms give out and he collapses against the mattress while Nicholas keeps fucking into him relentlessly, chasing his own peak. Euijoo is so sensitive he keeps moaning along with him until Nicholas grows erratic, gripping him tighter, groaning louder before collapsing on top of him, coming inside the condom with strong, deep thrusts and overwhelming pleasure.
Nicholas pushes a few more times, riding out the high, breathing hard against Euijoo’s nape, his full weight pressing him into the mattress. It feels good, being fully embraced and captured by another body, pinned beneath him, naked and surrendered.
They stay like that for minutes, evening out their breaths, panting softly. Nicholas presses lazy kisses to Euijoo’s shoulder, murmuring how good he was. Eventually he lifts himself enough to pull out, strip off the condom, tie it, and toss it into the trash beside the bed. He immediately settles back down, shifting to the other side and pulling Euijoo onto his own side so he can spoon him tightly, an embrace that says far more than words could.
Euijoo just laughs and lets Nicholas manhandle him, accepting the affection with a soft smile, not caring about the sweat or the scent of sex lingering thick in the room. There’s something deeply romantic about cuddling right after sex— judge him if you want.
One of Nicholas’s arms is wrapped under Euijoo, hugging his chest and pressing his back firmly against his torso, keeping him close. The other rests on Euijoo’s waist, but not for long. Nico searches for his left hand and intertwines their fingers, fiddling with them playfully, touching Euijoo with a tenderness that contrasts completely with the rough sex they just had.
They stay quiet for a while, hands still linked, Nicholas’s soft breathing warm against Euijoo’s shoulder, holding him like he might disappear at any second. It’s almost as if Euijoo can hear the gears turning in his head, trying to find the right words for something he’s hesitating to say.
Finally, his hoarse voice breaks the silence just as Euijoo is about to ask what’s on his mind.
“Juju, there’s something you need to know,” he says softly.
“Hm?”
“I…” He pauses again, still searching for the best way to put it. Then, with a long exhale, Nicholas drops his guard and decides to be completely honest. There’s no reason to run now. “This isn’t a one-time thing for me. I really like you. I’ve had feelings for you for quite some time, actually.”
Euijoo stays quiet, but he doesn’t tense up or pull away. Instead, he keeps playing with their intertwined fingers, as if trying to make the moment lighter, encouraging Nicholas to continue.
“I didn’t say anything before because, you know… things could get complicated. The whole roommate situation. So I tried to keep it to myself. I even trained my mind to see you as just a friend. And it was working… Well, not exactly. The crush was always there. But I was managing. I really was. Until…” He exhales again, bracing himself for what feels like his biggest confession.
“When?” Euijoo asks softly.
Nicholas huffs a quiet laugh against his shoulder. “Until the panties.”
Euijoo tries, really tries, not to break the moment, but Nicholas feels the small vibrations of his suppressed laughter against his chest.
“Don’t laugh at me!” Nicholas protests, tickling Euijoo’s side playfully. Euijoo lets out brighter laughs, squirming and turning in his arms until they’re face to face, still tangled together. “You broke me that day. I started malfunctioning. I couldn’t think about anything except that fucking red lace and how good you must look in it.”
Euijoo smiles warmly, resting his hands on Nicholas’s chest, Nico’s arm now settled around his waist.
“I know this might be too much,” Nicholas continues, suddenly serious again. “And maybe you don’t want anything with me. But I had to tell you. It wouldn’t be fair to hide how I feel after… everything. I’ll understand if you need time to think, and—”
Euijoo cuts him off with a small peck, followed by a soft, sweet laugh and a dazzling smile. “Stop overthinking. I like you too, dummy.”
Nicholas’s grin spreads instantly, joy threatening to burst right out of him as he pulls Euijoo even closer. “You do?”
“I do.” Euijoo kisses him again, this time with tongue, but slow, romantic, smooth. “I’ve liked you since the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
Nicholas deepens the kiss, hands roaming tenderly along Euijoo’s back, fingers tracing gentle lines over his skin, breathing him in like something precious. They’re both smiling against each other’s mouths, so happy they’re certain their cheeks will ache.
“Let’s go on a date tomorrow,” Nicholas murmurs.
“I’d love that.”
They kiss a little more, noses brushing, soft laughter between them, until sleep begins to claim them. Nicholas refuses to let go, settling on his back and pulling Euijoo onto his chest, holding him tightly. Euijoo doesn’t fight it. It takes less than five minutes for both of them to drift off.
The next morning, Euijoo wakes first, bladder insisting. He carefully slips out of bed despite Nico’s sleepy protests and hurries to the bathroom, his head heavier than it should be. They hadn’t drunk that much, but the leftover effects still linger, and he knows the first hours of the day won’t be kind.
Before heading back, he stops by the kitchen, grabs painkillers and a bottle of water, and places them on the bedside table for when Nico wakes up. He pauses for a moment, standing beside the bed, simply watching him sleep, memorizing the lines of his face, the rise and fall of his chest, the quiet beauty of having him there. He lets himself daydream about seeing this sight every morning.
He hopes that everything works out for them.
Before climbing back into bed, he rummages through his pants discarded on the floor and retrieves his phone from the back pocket, noticing the battery is almost dead. With a faint smile, he opens a familiar chat and types:
Euijoo: thank you. the panties really worked wonders
The reply comes almost immediately.
Harua: i told you he was crazy about you. just needed a little push
Euijoo smiles softly, sets the phone on the bedside table, and plugs it in to charge. Who would’ve imagined that a pair of red lace panties would be responsible for the gorgeous man asleep in his bed, confessing his feelings and asking him out on a date?
He slips back under the covers and curls into Nicholas again, wrapping his arms around him like he plans to stay right there.