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Sion’s housemate, a friend that he’s lived with for over a year, ghosts him. He takes his belongings, puts a note on the table, and leaves Sion to desperately look for a new housemate.
He asks friends, friends of friends, posts about it on their university social media pages, and… nothing. Nobody needs a place to live after the academic year has already started. And so, Sion swallows his pride and spends an entire evening typing up the perfect ad to post on an online marketplace. An ad that won’t attract any weirds. Hopefully.
After that Sion gets some time wasting trolls messaging him. Then there’s a middle aged man that’s a complete oversharer, telling Sion he’d been kicked out of his parents’ house after he got into a heated argument with them over still not being married. The next message that rolls in is from a businessman that needs a place to stay during the week when he’s at work. It sounds like the better option, and Sion almost considers it—the man will be at work all week, is willing to pay more than necessary, and he’ll go back home to his family in the countryside during the weekends. It’ll be like living with a ghost. That pays rent. And is less creepy.
One messenger catches his attention, though: a private profile with only a couple of followers.
Kuri2806
Hello, are you still looking for a roommate?
I’m a foreign university student that got scammed by a fake letting agency ㅠㅠ I need somewhere to stay as soon as possible
Feeling bad for the person behind the Kuromi icon, Sion replies quickly with Yes, I am
Kuri2806
Could we meet in person?
And so here he is.
Seoul is blanketed in grey clouds, his hands are shaking from the cold, and Sion is walking into a cafe to meet a stranger from the internet. He has no idea what this person looks like—not even entirely sure if he’s meeting up with a man or a woman. Kuri2806 has messaged him a few minutes ago telling Sion that they’re in the corner wearing a black Adidas t-shirt so he scans the cafe for a moment before his eyes land on perhaps the prettiest man he’s ever had the pleasure of seeing.
The boy—Kuri?—isn’t a strange old man that wants to kidnap him. Sion should be relieved, but somehow this is worse.
He has pretty features, his long hair is delicately pushed out of the way of his eyes, and the warm cafe lights shine down onto him, bestowing him with a ring of gold on his head. He’s an angel, Sion thinks. His potential housemate is an angel.
Sion walks over to him. They make eye contact and the boy stands up, the illusion of the halo vanishing as he moves.
“Hi. I’m Oh Sion. You’re Kuri, right?”
The boy stares at him for a moment then takes a hasty bow. “Yes, my name’s Maeda Riku. Thank you so much for meeting me!”
“Have you ordered yet?” Sion asks. Riku straightens his back and shakes his head with a pretty flush on his cheeks. Sion wonders if he looks the same; it’s much warmer inside the cafe, the opposite of the crisp chill of the air outside. “What do you like? I’ll order.”
There’s a weird tension between them. They don’t know each other, they both seem to be introverts, and Riku won’t look at him. Sion attempts to ease the awkward energy with some small talk. “So, you’re in university, too?”
“Yes,” Riku says. Then he seems to realise Sion wants to know more judging by the look on his face. Riku’s head snaps back down to stare at his lap before continuing and Sion’s not sure if it’s a sign of respect, or if he’s just shy. Either way he’s cute. “I’m in my third year. Sports science.”
“Oh, I’m your sunbae! I’m in my fourth year.”
They sit in silence once again. Sion tries his coffee, scrunching his nose up. Too much sugar.
Riku’s been fidgeting the entire time, not even taking a bite from the pastry Sion bought him. Sion opens his mouth to speak, but Riku beats him to it. “Actually,” he starts, “there’s something I need to say.”
“Oh, go ahead.”
“I’m so sorry, but I’m still trying to get my money back from the fake agency so I don’t have enough money to make up my half of the first month's rent right now.” He rushes out. “But! I have a part time job, and I’m searching for a second one too! So I should be able to give you the full amount next month. And I can give you extra to make up for the trouble I may have caused. I know it doesn’t sound ideal but I’m really really desperate for a place to stay so I’d be grateful—”
“Excuse me,” the barista that served them interrupts. His short stature oozes confidence from head to toe—Sion thinks he’s slimy, kind of gross. The man places a napkin in front of Riku. “You forgot this at the counter.”
Riku furrows his eyebrows at the napkin and looks up to the barista.
“This isn’t mine," he says with a shake of his head.
“I’m almost certain it is. See here?” He taps the number scrawled onto the paper. “It’s got my number on it. For you.”
“I’m flattered but I’m not interested. Sorry.” Riku pushes the napkin towards the barista as he speaks; his voice unwavering, but Sion picks up on the sharpness laced within it—the frustration, as if it’s something Riku’s had to say a thousand times.
With a frown, the barista grips the back of Riku’s chair. His other hand lays flat on the table. “I haven’t even introduced myself properly and you’re already rejecting me?” He asks, leaning in closer. Riku slowly leans back so far that the only reason his chair doesn’t tip back is because of the firm hand on it, holding it still. “Let me take you on one date and I can change your mind. Come on.”
God. It must be so annoying dealing with guys like that. With a pretty face and shy personality like Riku’s he must get it a lot; he’s been sitting here, all desperate to be Sion’s housemate—a lot of guys would take advantage of the position he’s in. The barista must have heard him, thought about how easy it must be to get with him. Fuck, it pisses Sion off.
“He said he isn’t interested,” Sion says, fed up. The barista looks at him and Sion lets out a fake laugh. “I don’t think begging someone is the way to go about it. It’s embarrassing.”
He leaves with a puff.
Riku is back to staring down at his hands in his lap, unmoving. The more Sion watches him, the more he’s confused—he can’t figure out what Riku’s thinking. Is he embarrassed? Upset? Maybe Sion misjudged the situation and caused a scene when Riku already had it under control.
Sion strokes down the sides of his own hair to calm his nerves. “Sorry, I was a bit much.”
Riku lips move but Sion can’t quite hear what he’s saying. Sion tilts his head to the side.
“Hm?”
“Nothing. It was nothing.” Riku waves his hands in front of his face. Then he finally relaxes, taking a sip from his juice. “Ah, about living together. I promise I’m a good roommate. I don’t drink much, I won’t be loud, and if I get this second part time job then I’ll be out of your way most evenings, too, so—”
“Don’t bother getting the second job. You should be focussing on studying, not stressing out over money.”
“But… I won’t have enough money for the first month’s rent without it?”
Sion shrugs. “I’ll cover it. You’ll be doing me a favour by paying any amount. When can you move in?”
“Riku!” Sion jogs over to him, taking the tall stack of boxes from his arms. “Let me help out.”
“Oh, thank you.”
They’re heavy, teetering in his hold. He adjusts the grip and the box on top starts sliding off. Riku grabs it and hugs it to his chest. Sion lets them into their building and presses the button to the elevator with his elbow, being careful not to drop anything. “Where did you say you’re from again?” He asks. The doors open and he signals for Riku to head in first.
“Fukui.” Riku taps the button to their floor. The doors slide shut and the elevator starts going up. Riku leans against the mirror. “It’s a town in the countryside, next to the sea.”
“Oh, me too!” Sion says excitedly. “I grew up on a cow farm in Mokpo. It’s close to the sea as well. My sister and I used to beg our parents to take us to the beach every weekend.”
“Wah, a cow farm? So you saw all the babies grow up? That’s so cool, sunbae!”
Sion throws his head back in laughter. “It’s cool?” He asks. No one has ever seemed so excited to learn about Sion’s life on the farm. People have referred to it as unexpected , and sometimes interesting , only out of politeness, but never cool. Sion noticed it during their first meeting, though, that Riku seems different to most people. He’s… novel. Refreshing. And so he suggests something he hasn’t even said to his closest friends. “Next spring maybe you can come visit with me. There’ll be lots of babies for you to meet.” Then he adds, “Oh, and you can just call me hyung.”
“Okay, let’s go together.” The doors slide back open. Riku steps out first with his eyes slightly closed, beaming at Sion. “Hyung.”
And, oh. Riku’s voice is light, a little more high pitched than most peoples. It’s cute, and Sion imagines if a hamster could speak, they’d sound like Riku. But when the honorific leaves his mouth it’s more like a plea. Or a whine. Sion doesn’t want to acknowledge where all his blood starts flowing.
Together, the two of them manage to get all of Riku’s bags and boxes of stuff into his room before the sun sets. They order some food and sit down together.
Sion swallows the spoonful of rice in his mouth. “Do you have many friends in the city, Riku?”
“Only a couple from my course.”
“Then let’s do something together soon.” Sion decides, putting his spoon down. “We can go out for coffee, or study, or… whatever else you want to do. Since we’re living together we should become friends, right?”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to bother you, hyung.”
“I’m the one offering. Why would it be a bother?”
“I don’t know.” Riku stares at his plate. He pushes around his food with his chopsticks before picking up the largest piece of meat left. “I can imagine that there’s lots of people lining up to hang out with hyung.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?” Sion laughs. “Don’t worry, hyung’s not close to many people either.”
Riku smiles to himself. “I don’t believe that," he says, then pops the meat into his mouth.
🌷🤍🫧💗🎐
It’s happening again.
From where he stands, Sion can just about make out the slope of Riku’s nose and his pursed lips. A man is towering over him. He’s handsome; his sharp, angular features combined with the soft perm on his head make him look like he’s come here straight from a magazine shoot. He chews on his bottom lip, his shoulders droop under the weight of his nerves, and his hands tremble when he hands a bouquet of flowers to Riku.
In the short amount of time they’ve known each other Sion has witnessed this exact situation twice, and he’s heard from their mutual friends that there have been three other times Riku has been confessed to during that time period. This makes it the sixth time that he’s aware of in two months. Sion didn’t even think it was possible to be confessed to so many times until now.
Sion would think it’s strange; afterall, Riku’s shy, he rarely leaves the house, and yet he’s all anyone ever sees. Men that didn’t even know they were queer have looked at Riku only a single time and had a gay awakening. But Sion has to admit he understands Riku’s charm on other people. He really does, he’s been a victim to it first hand—upon seeing those sparkly eyes and that cute personality in person, Sion had taken down the housemate ad and rejected everyone else that messaged him. He couldn’t say no.
Not much has changed in their relationship since then. Sure, they’re friends, and they hang out together in their apartment a lot, but they rarely go out and do something together. Then there’s the whole issue of Riku not being able to look at Sion in the eye most days, which is a work in progress.
What they have is nice, though. Sion’s patient; he’s sure they’ll become the best of friends as soon as he slowly chips his way through Riku’s wall of reservation.
This situation isn’t helping, Sion thinks as he observes the two. The very few times he and Riku get out of their apartment to hang out, something like this occurs—a disturbance.
This stupid model-looking man is an interruption to he and Riku’s evening plans, and Sion needs to watch him to make sure he doesn’t get the wrong idea. To make sure he doesn’t step too close to Riku, just in case Sion needs to step in and help. Not that Riku is someone that needs help; he stands up for himself and knows his own worth. But Riku is from a similar background to Sion, and Sion is, most importantly, Riku’s hyung. His only hyung. It’s Sion’s responsibility to protect him from these potential weirdos.
But, oh. This is different from usual.
The guy leans over and kisses Riku on the cheek. It’s hesitant—short, shy. Sion almost storms over to intervene if it wasn’t for Riku looking back at Sion and his lips turning up. He’s smiling.
None of the previous interruptors have gotten this far and, for some reason, Sion’s heart feels like it’s been dropped into something unfamiliar—something acidic that he’s never felt bubbling inside of him before.
Riku returns to his side a few seconds later.
“Are you two…” Sion trails off, not exactly sure what he wants to know. What he can stomach.
“No,” Riku replies. He readjusts his hold on the bouquet, which looks comically large in his hold. “He’s sweet, but a bit pushy so I said yes to one date. It’s not gonna go anywhere.”
Sion frowns. He should’ve followed his instincts—walked up to the two and dragged Riku away. “You should’ve sent me a signal. Hyung would’ve made him go away.”
“It’s fine,” Riku says with a cute pout.
Sion wants to argue but it’s better not to. Dealing with so many pushing their feelings onto him must be so exhausting. If Sion were in their place, he wouldn’t tell Riku, he doesn’t think. He would accept that it’s his problem, and his problem alone. Riku doesn’t need that sort of extra stress in his life.
Sion takes the bouquet from Riku and wraps his other arm around him. “Should we go eat now?”
Riku nods. “As long as I get to choose where.”
Sometimes, Sion wonders what Riku’s ideal type is like. Does Riku like someone older? Stronger? Maybe he’s into short guys? Nerdy guys?
It’s a thought that usually leaves Sion’s mind as soon as it enters because it doesn’t really matter, anyway; Riku rejects any man that shows feelings towards him. He rarely sees them after the first confession, and never meets them again if they manage to score a first date. Sion assumes he’s too focussed on his studies to date right now. Or perhaps his ideal type is so specific that not a single person has met his specifications yet. Either way, it has nothing to do with Sion.
But something has changed. Riku’s in his room with a boy. More specifically, the guy that Riku went on a date with. The one he said wouldn’t go anywhere.
Riku had briefly introduced the two but the whole situation was weirdly uncomfortable and Sion would have preferred to hide under his bed than experience the strange stare that guy had given to him.
Tall, curly hair, sharp features—is that Riku’s ideal type? If it is, then why had Riku been so sure that the first date would also be their last? It could be that Riku’s more focused on personality over looks. Of course he is, he’s too much of a sweetheart to care about the way somebody looks. But hadn’t Riku said he was pushy? That doesn’t seem like the type of guy Riku likes. But what… what if Riku’s into that sort of thing?
No . No, that’s far too weird for Sion to start thinking about right now. Not with the situation at hand, at least.
Their walls are so thin and cheap that they can hear basically anything from the other end of their apartment, and Sion has been dreading the day that Riku brings home a boy. Hearing the grunts, the bed rocking, Riku’s breathy moans—fuck, Sion would have no other reasonable option than to open his bedroom window and attempt to climb down the pipes.
Luckily for Sion’s own safety, the two of them are just talking. Riku’s cute giggles have had Sion’s stomach curling in on itself and that weird feeling from the other day returns, spreading like a wildfire from his heart, up to his lungs and throat. It burns so badly that he convinces himself that he can’t breathe properly and messages his friend in the nursing course about it. They text him back with: “Aren’t you just jealous, Sionie? ㅋㅋ”
Annoyed, Sion tosses his phone back down onto his bed. It bounces off the mattress and onto the floor with a thud.
To be clear, his friend is wrong—Sion’s not jealous. He’s not the jealous type; never has been, never will be, because there’s nothing for Sion to be jealous about. Riku isn’t his boyfriend, Sion doesn’t have romantic feelings for Riku, and therefore Sion is not jealous. It’s simple.
It’s… it’s this guy’s fault (Sion didn’t bother remembering his name, obviously). He’s barged his way into Sion’s apartment, started joking around with his roommate so loudly Sion’s certain that the whole apartment complex can hear them, and Sion lost his headphones on the subway so he can’t even drown them out with Frank Ocean. He’s not jealous. He’s pissed off.
The guy says something and Riku laughs again, louder than Sion’s ever heard him.
Water. Maybe water and some painkillers will help. Sion storms off into the kitchen and looks through all their cupboards, getting more and more frustrated because why the fuck do they only own two glasses and why are they never put back in the same place—
Riku’s friend, or boyfriend, or whatever the hell he is to Riku, walks past Sion with a strained smile.
Sion settles on filling up a mug with water as Riku leads him to the door and all he says is a “bye, hyung,” to Riku before he leaves. Sion has gulped down the drink by the time Riku closes the door. It helps, just a little.
Good. Sion’s glad he’s gone. If he couldn’t even sincerely smile to Sion, imagine how he would treat Riku? Riku was probably politely laughing along with him the entire time. He’s too kind.
Riku shuffles into the kitchen. His hair’s messy and there’s a bead of sweat travelling from his neck down to his collarbone, right where his t-shirt has been obviously tugged down. His skin is hickey free, Sion notes, and for some reason he almost sighs in relief.
“Are you okay?” Riku asks. He tilts his head back and dabs at the sweat with a tissue and the thought of Riku baring his neck to Sion—which he isn’t but that’s a crazy thought—sends a shiver down his spine. Had that guy thought the same? Did he get a taste of Riku’s skin? Did he trail kisses down his neck?
“I’m fine,” Sion interrupts his own thoughts. That feeling in his stomach turns from a fire waiting to spread into the feeling of a blown out match. See? All he needed was some cold water. It was probably heartburn. “Hyung’s fine. Just couldn’t find the glasses.”
“Ah, okay.” Riku nods awkwardly. “I was thinking, maybe we could get some ice cream? Together?”
The walk back from the convenience store is filled with the buzzing of cicadas and the low rumbles of the cars slowly going past. Sion takes the last bite of his ice cream. It’s mint choco—a flavour he and Riku had bonded over liking only a few days into knowing each other. Next to him, Riku lets out a content sigh.
It’s nice, but there’s one thing bothering him.
“You and Woochan, hm?” Sion decides to ask. They’re friends, there’s nothing wrong with asking about him.
“Woojin.”
“Woojin. Right.” Sion nods. “Are you two dating, or something?”
The summer evening has Riku’s ice cream melting faster than he can eat it. A bead of it dribbles down the cone and onto his hand.
“Why?” He asks, tongue flicking out and licking his finger, all kittenish. Then he drags his tongue up the cone, following the drip. Sion’s eyes widen at the action. He has to tear his gaze away. “Do you not like him, hyung?”
“It doesn’t matter what I think. I was just wondering because you said you didn’t think it was going to go anywhere.”
“I’m testing something out, that’s all.” Riku takes Sion’s wrist, slides his hand down to interlace their hands, and offers his cone to Sion. “Do you want some?”
There’s an indent in the ice cream from where Riku’s tongue had just been licking away. Sion bites into it.
🌷🤍🫧💗🎐
Okay, fine. Sion admits that maybe—just maybe—there’s something wrong with him.
Sion searches for a familiar face in the crowd. Yushi had told him that he, Daeyoung, and Riku would be at this bar for a mixer with some of the other students in their course. Sion shouldn’t be here. He’s not in their course, he isn’t even somebody’s plus one, but his mind has been plagued with thoughts of Woojin—who, luckily for Sion, hasn’t showed his face again—or any other man with Riku. He can’t be alone with his thoughts for even a minute without spiralling over it, so here he is.
Sitting at a booth in the corner is where Sion spots him. His three friends are sitting together on one side, whilst some other students sit across from them. One of them downs a shot and the table erupts into cheers and laughter; they must be doing some type of drinking game.
Sion pushes through the crowd to reach them and sits himself next to Riku. It’s a tight squeeze, nowhere near enough room for four adult men, but Sion doesn’t mind as he presses his thigh against Riku’s. He leans in and greets them as he rests his arm on the back of their seat, unsure if he should place his arm on Riku’s shoulder. “Hi.”
Riku jumps at the warm breath tickling his ear. “Hyung!”
His shock dissolves into a grin soon after, and he continues speaking but the group laughs again, drowning him out.
Riku glances over to Daeyoung; his shot glass is still full, but is face is flushed and he’s got that sad look on his face, like a wet dog. Whatever he said must’ve been embarrassing and usually Sion would want to join in on everyone’s teasing. He finds himself not really caring this time.
“What?” Sion mouths once Riku’s attention is back on him.
Riku leans over, cupping his hand around Sion’s ear. “I didn’t know you would be here!” He says, his presence lingering in Sion’s bubble for a moment too long before backing away.
“My friends dragged me alon,” Sion lies.
How would Riku react if Sion admitted the truth? That he came here because he knew Riku would be here, and that there’s a fucked up part of him that can only see Riku flirting with other men when he closes his eyes? That these situations he puts Riku into—these made up scenarios that only a madman would create—make Sion want to rip his hair out?
It’s been four months since Riku moved in with Sion, and he doesn’t quite remember wanting to sink his teeth into him back then. Not like he does now. And that’s odd, right? Thinking about devouring his roommate at any given moment?
He’s tried to reassure himself that liking Riku is normal. Everyone likes Riku; he’s charming in a way Sion’s never seen before, wrapping Sion around his finger in a record breaking amount of time.
But… liking someone is light touches and warm cheeks. Then there’s love—more intense, full of sincerity and loyalty. It’s looking at someone and thinking this is where I belong.
All of the above are true for Sion, but there’s more than that. Whatever feelings Sion has for Riku borders on unhealthy. He wants to spiral around Riku like a vine, intertwining their lives, their bodies, so they never separate. He wants an IV of Riku going straight into his veins so that Riku’s always a part of him. Maybe that’s why he accepted Riku as his housemate over everyone else. So that he could see Riku come home safe everyday. He just didn’t quite know it yet.
It’s twisted, utterly abnormal, and if those feelings ever see the light of day then Riku would leave him. And so, Sion watches. Riku can flirt, he can bring his boyfriends over to their place, and Sion will let him, even if it destroys him.
The laughter dies down. Everyone stares at Riku.
“Riku,” one of the men sitting across from them asks. Sion recognises him from one of his classes. Seojoon, maybe? “Who’s your ideal type?”
Riku opens his mouth, but he doesn’t answer right away. He thinks for a moment before finally saying, “Someone that laughs a lot.”
Ah. It makes sense. Woojin had laughed an unnecessary amount. Sion’s been told he laughs too much, too, but recently he hasn’t been finding everything as funny. A lot of things are pissing him off, in fact. Especially Riku related things.
“You need to say a name!” One of the others says.
Riku’s fingers take the shot glass in front of him. He hesitates. Sion’s gaze travels from Riku’s hands, up his arm, then to his eyes. Riku is already turned to him and they’re so close that the tips of their noses nearly brush against each other.
“Say a name or drink!”
Riku tears his eyes away and drinks. They move on. Sion’s next, and the question they ask him gets ignored. He chugs his shot without a thought and focuses his attention on Riku as the others complain about him being no fun. Sion laughs it off and lets his arm drop onto Riku’s shoulder. He lightly traces the seam of Riku’s shirt with his thumb.
A couple of rounds later, Seojoon gets asked something about favourite positions. Sion rolls his eyes; the longer the game has continued, the more obvious it is what the purpose of the game is. Seojoon wants to get in Riku’s pants and his friends are his wingmen. From the pointed looks Sion keeps sharing with Yushi and Daeyoung, they’ve picked up on it too, but Riku carries on playing the game despite it all.
“Isn’t that a bit crude?” Seojoon pushes his friend’s shoulder halfheartedly. They both badger him on and he gives in, pretending this wasn’t part of their big plan. “Okay, okay, I’ll say it. Only to our Riku though.”
Seojoon peels himself off the leather seat and struggles over to their side of the table. He stops for a second, only now realising he has to lean over Sion to whisper his answer into Riku’s ear. That doesn’t stop him for long, though. He mumbles an “excuse me” to Sion as he leans in. He stinks of a cheap, musky body spray that Sion’s pretty sure his own grandmother, who has lost her sense of smell, bought for him when he was a teenager.
Maybe it’s the overwhelming smell, or the alcohol, or maybe it’s that Sion is fed up of all these men that think they can get all up into Riku’s face—of the men that think they’re worthy of Riku’s attention—that Sion’s hand ends up on Seojoon’s chest. He doesn’t push him, but his hand is firm against him, stopping Seojoon from coming any closer. “If you’re not gonna say it out loud then shouldn’t you drink? That’s the rules, right?”
Seojoon looks at Sion as if nobody has ever stopped him from doing whatever he wants before. When he realises Sion isn’t joking he blinks, then lets out a laugh and stands up straight. “You’re right. Sorry, man, my bad.”
He drinks his shot, his friends pat him on the back, and Sion’s hand goes right back where it was before—on Riku’s shoulder. Sion swears Riku leans back into his touch, but he must be imagining things because during the next round Riku refuses to spare him a glance.
Did Sion fuck up again? It’s been happening more and more lately—a man approaching Riku, and Sion somehow getting himself involved despite promising to himself that he wouldn’t.
He just wants to protect Riku. Is that so wrong?
They circle back to Riku quickly. Seojoon’s friend is refilling all the empty shot glasses when he asks, “Riku, what’s your biggest turn on?”
From the corner of his eye, Sion spots Seojoon glancing at him. “Dude, knock it off.” He nudges his friend with his elbow, which makes his friend drop the glass as he passes it to Riku. The drink splashes all over him and Riku jumps up with a yelp.
They end up in the bar’s tiny bathroom together. The music is muffled. That, combined with the soju in Sion’s gut (and Riku being so close to him) have Sion feeling like his head is submerged underwater.
The hand drier doesn’t work. Sion sits Riku down on the counter and pats the wet patch on his jeans with a tissue.
“Is it uncomfortable?” He asks, only to fill the silence between them. Riku looks down at him without a word and blinks at him slowly like a cat. He’s so cute that Sion can’t stop the laugh from escaping him. “Are you drunk?” He coos. “Our Riku’s a lightweight, hm? It’s a good job hyung’s here to take care of you.”
“I‘m not drunk,” Riku murmurs. He places his hand on Sion’s hair and pats him. His touch is so soft that Sion barely feels it. “Sionie hyung… you’re usually so handsome that I can’t breathe properly, but now hyung looks cute. Like a baby.”
“A baby? Me?”
“Mhm.” Riku nods, then a mischievous grin makes its way onto his face. “Now it’s my turn. Hyung should compliment me too.”
“You’re pretty,” is what Sion decides on after much thought.
Riku reddens. He follows it up with a dramatic sigh. “Of course you think that. Everyone thinks I’m pretty.” His hand settles down onto Sion’s shoulder. “More.”
“More?”
“Say more,” Riku demands, lightly shaking him.
Honestly, there’s a thousand different ways that Sion can compliment Riku. Sion’s been watching him, picking up on his little habits that most people wouldn’t notice, for months now. But it’s hard to put into words what perfection is. Fuck, it’s hot in here. Sion scrunches up the tissue into a ball and throws it into the bin next to them, trying to act normal as he stammers out, “You have a charm I don’t usually see in younger guys.”
“Really? You really think that?” Riku’s body jolts forward in excitement. Sion has to hold him by the hips to keep him from slipping off the counter. “But what does that mean?”
“I don’t know, I just… I want to protect you more than my other dongsaengs, I guess.” Sion says. Riku looks a little bit confused and Sion’s still tipsy so he continues. “Most younger guys are like puppies. They’re cute and clumsy and they need my help, so I give it to them. Meanwhile, I see you as a baby hamster. Or something like that.”
“I don’t get it.” Riku tilts his head to one side.
“Hamsters are solitary, right? They don’t need someone constantly checking up on them, guiding them. But people still want to hold them in the palm of their hands, or carry them around in their pockets.” Sion’s certain he’s making less and less sense the more he rambles on. “They’re different. They don’t need us, but we want them anyway because they’re so cute. If that makes sense.”
He decides to stop there and he hopes that Riku’s so drunk that he won’t remember any of his stupid Riku-hamster speech the next morning.
Riku becomes lost in thought, then whispers, “I think I get it now."
Sion steps back and walks towards the door. “Let’s go, Riku-ya.”
“Wait!” Riku calls out. Sion stops. “Um. Did you want to hear my answer?”
“Answer to what?”
“To the question that guy asked me before dropping the soju all over me.” Riku slides off the counter and interlaces their fingers. “Only hyung gets to hear this, okay? So don’t tell anyone.”
Riku steps even closer. The lightswitch starts digging into Sion’s back, and he makes the mistake of looking down. Riku’s tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip and, despite how clammy and gross their palms are, Riku squeezes Sion’s hand. Sion swallows how nerves and dumbly says, “I won’t tell.”
“I like it when a guy is all worked up and jealous over me.”
Sion blinks. Then blinks again, and Riku slips out of the bathroom.
What the fuck?
It could mean nothing; Riku can be impulsive. He doesn’t think about doing something a thousand times before actually going through with it like Sion does. But Riku is also kind. He’s impulsive yet thoughtful, he doesn’t do things or say things that he knows will possibly upset other people. So, that means it does mean something—Riku had seen through Sion’s false composure. He had noticed Sion spiralling over Riku talking to other men, listened and understood Sion’s thoughts about him.
Riku had silently opened his door to Sion and walked inside, hoping Sion would follow him. And God, Sion will follow him to the end of the earth.
When he leaves the bathroom, finding Riku is easy. He’s chatting with Seojoon and his friends by the bar. Sion puts on his best smile and walks over to them. He places a hand on the back of Riku’s neck, holding him there. “You’re saying your goodbyes, right, Riku?” Sion squeezes. Riku jolts. “Hyung’s taking you home now.”
Riku sees the look on Sion’s face and his lips curl into a smile. He waves goodbye.
The journey home is silent. Sion’s leg bounces up and down in the taxi. There’s a hundred things he wants to say to Riku, but most importantly: how long as Riku been toying with him? Wanting to see Sion jealous?
Riku turns on the lights when they enter their apartment. Sion swings the door shut and doesn’t even take off his shoes before grabbing Riku by the waist and pressing their lips together with a newfound urgency. Riku sighs into it, like he’s been waiting for this, and Sion shuffles them backwards, pushing him against the wall.
Sion tilts his head and slides his tongue over Riku’s bottom lip. Riku’s jaw goes slack. He lets Sion bully his way into his mouth with a moan and grabs onto Sion’s shirt, trying to pull him impossibly closer. He works his way down Riku’s neck, scraping his teeth against his skin and breathes in, wrapping himself up in the fresh scent like the sea, smelling so undeniably of Riku.
“What’s got you acting up like this, hm? Has hyung not given you enough attention?” Sion asks, shoving his thigh between Riku’s legs. Riku arches, grinding himself against him with breathy whines that Sion wants to eat up. “Did you want me to drag you away as if you’re some type of damsel in distress? Or did you just like seeing me pissed off?”
Riku doesn’t reply with words—he throws his head back, chasing the pleasure. Sion runs his hands under Riku’s shirt. He wants to— needs to—map out every inch of Riku, discover all his sensitive spots. The places that get him squirming. Sion’ll be so good for Riku that Riku will never need to look at anyone else again, but first he wants to have some fun. Mess around with him, just like he did to Sion.
Sion releases him and steps back. Riku’s eyes flutter open. “Hyung? Why?”
“Why?” Sion copies him all innocently. He cups Riku’s cheek in his hand, thumb stroking the pout on Riku’s lips. “Haven’t you been playing around with hyung all evening? Can’t I mess with you, too?”
He pushes his thumb past Riku’s lips. Riku stares up at him without a complaint. Shit. Sion doesn’t want this night to end.
Only a few minutes later Sion’s sitting on his bed with Riku’s face between his legs, mouthing at his erection through his boxers. Sion fists the fabric of his duvet to stop himself from rolling his hips and he can’t decide if he wants to push Riku away to take off his boxers or let Riku make him cum like this. Like a virgin.
Riku makes the decision for him, sliding them off and quickly diving back in, tongue tracing a vein on his cock. He reaches the tip and licks at the precum dribbling out of him, then makes sure to look up and make eye contact with Sion as he takes the tip into his mouth, suckling at it. The unexpected warmth makes Sion jerk violently, accidentally shoving his cock further into Riku’s mouth. Riku doesn’t seem to mind—he happily hums, the vibrations sending shivers through Sion’s body, then takes him even deeper.
Riku pulls back with a string of spit attaching the two together and there has got to be something wrong with Sion for finding the concept of being bonded together by something so small as romantic .
A hand wraps around Sion’s wrist and guides him to the back of Riku’s head. “You can use me, hyung.”
He grabs a tuft of hair between his fingers—firmly, but not enough to hurt. “Fuck. Okay.” He says, his voice straining at the idea of Riku wanting to suck him off.
He guides Riku back onto his cock, starting to thrust shallowly into his mouth. Sion’s already feeling dizzy, intoxicated by Riku, and they’ve only just started.
It’s when Riku bobs his head in time with Sion, swallowing around him, that Sion has to pull him off, scared that he’ll get addicted to the feeling of Riku’s throat constricting around him. He tugs Riku onto the bed and locks their lips back together. This time, Riku’s tongue tastes bitter. Salty. Riku hates bitter things, so Sion tries to lap up the flavour until he can’t taste it anymore.
Making Riku feel good is simple, Sion realises. A squeeze to the soft skin of his waist, his teeth tugging Riku’s ear—it’s all enough to get him moaning. He’s so sensitive that getting him all pliant and needy is an easy task. He’s responsive to every one of Sion’s touches, hole convulsing around him as Sion pumps two fingers into him. The squelch of the lube and the broken noises coming out of Riku’s mouth have him finger fucking him faster, curling his fingers in a way that get Riku burying his face into his pillow, coating it with drool.
Sion trails kisses along Riku’s back, making his way up his shoulders, and takes a bite. Riku whines out a “Hyung.”
“Do you like that, Riku? When I leave marks?” Sion asks, pulling his fingers out slowly then pistoning them back in. “Tell me.”
Riku writhes, murmuring against the pillow, “I like it.”
Sion smiles at Riku’s answer and he sucks at a different spot, swirling his tongue around it once he’s finished. Satisfied, he moves away.
The lewd sound that’s made when Sion pulls his fingers out of Riku has his cock twitching, and so he gets Riku back onto his hands and knees. He drags the head of his cock against Riku’s entrance a few times, becoming mesmerised with the way his hole contracts each time, begging Sion to push his way inside. “Do you want hyung now?”
“So, so bad.” Riku says, trying to push his hips back. Sion brings his thumb to Riku’s hole, stretching it open and slowly sinking his cock inside. Once his tip is nestled in, he stops. “Hyung, please.”
“You want more?” Sion breathes out, ignoring how Riku’s all warm and slicked up with lube around him. Like the lack of stimulation isn’t fucking with his head, too. “You’re lucky that hyung’s feeling generous.”
He slides the rest in until his hips meet Riku’s ass and waits, watching Riku’s body start trembling at the intrusion. When Riku’s breathing evens out, Sion slowly drags himself out, grips onto Riku’s hips, then thrusts back in, fast. Riku chokes out a broken sob.
The pace picks up and it’s not even Sion’s choice—his body moving on it’s own, greedy to fill Riku up again and again and again. One particular thrust has Riku’s arms giving out on him, crying out, “There—right there, hyung.”
“Fuck. You can’t even keep yourself up,” Sion pulls Riku towards his cock, burying himself deeper. Riku nods against the pillow and Sion wants to see him. Needs to see him. He pulls out with a nasty squelch and manhandles Riku onto his back, diving straight back in.
Riku’s flushed from his cheeks down to his neck, and his parted lips let out stammered breaths in time with Sion’s thrusts. God, Sion wishes Riku could see himself like this. Wishes Woojin, Seojoon, any of those unworthy men see Riku like this, all fucked out underneath Sion. They’d never get Riku this way—no one else ever will, except Sion.
A change of angle has Riku arching, neck stretched out. Sion’s mind takes him back to that day Woojin came over, when Sion wondered what Riku’s skin would taste like. This time, he plasters himself to Riku’s throat, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses as he says, “Hyung will do all the work for you. I’ll make sure you’ll keep coming back to me. Only me.”
A hand makes its way around Sion’s body. Riku attaches himself to Sion’s back, his nails threatening to pierce his skin. “Only hyung.”
Those two words are the last thing Sion needs to hear before finally letting the pleasure consume him, burning throughout his body. Sion’s lips meet Riku’s, then he lifts up Riku’s hips and fucks into him with purpose. He’s Riku’s hyung, his only hyung, so this has to be unforgettable—he needs Riku to wake up tomorrow aching of Sion.
Sion circles his free hand around Riku’s cock, fisting it slow and tender, a stark contrast to the treatment he gives to Riku’s hole. It only takes a couple of thrusts for Riku to start convulsing under him, repeating Sion’s name like a mantra. Ropes of cum spurt out of him, making a mess on both of their stomachs, and Riku’s nails scratch down his back. The sting gets Sion on the edge. “Where—where do you want it?”
“In,” Riku pants, dripping with sweat. “Come in me, hyung. Make me yours.”
His thrusts start stuttering, Riku clenches around him, and with one more grunt Sion reaches his peak, stuffing Riku full. He stays buried inside of him and the room is filled with only the sound of their uneven breathing.
“Riku-ya,” Sion whispers, voice hoarse as he pulls out of Riku. Sion’s cum spills out of him. He can’t help but feel a little sad about it. “I love you. You know that, right?”
Riku stares up at the ceiling, breathing still laboured. He goes to answer but is interrupted by his own laughter as Sion presses a kiss to the corner of Riku’s mouth, peppers them onto his cheeks, then finally kisses the tip of Riku’s nose before sitting up. “Come on. Let’s get cleaned up.”
“Wait,” Riku whines. He sits up, too, grabbing onto Sion’s hand. His hairs damp, slightly matted on his forehead, and there’s red marks all over his neck—he looks beautiful. “You didn’t let me answer. I love you, too.”
Riku is still awake when Sion opens his eyes. He’s sat up against the headboard, quickly typing on his phone, and, by the looks of it, he’s rummaged through Sion’s closet and pulled on a vest and sweatpants. Sion rests his head on Riku’s lap, nuzzling his thigh. “Who are you texting?” he murmurs.
“Seojunnie.”
Sion raises his eyebrows. “Riku…”
“Kidding,” the corner of Riku’s lips curl up at his own joke. “I have his Kakao ID blocked, anyway. See?” He shows Sion his phone, and Sion raises his head, squinting to read the screen. Seojoon is, in fact, blocked, and Sion feels a sense of satisfaction running through him. Ha, he thinks as Riku places his phone beside him, I win. “Don’t worry, I was just telling Yushi I got home safe. That got you feeling wide awake, right, hyung?”
Sion sits up and hums in agreement, listening to Riku’s cute giggles. Close up like this, Riku’s a blur without his contact lenses in, which just won’t do, so Sion feels around on his bedside table for his glasses and puts them on. It takes that long for his brain to realise something. “Wait, wait, wait. So, you had him blocked the entire time you were talking to him tonight?” Riku nods. “Wow, Riku. You really like seeing me pissed off.”
“Mm. I like it.” Riku says simply, a coy smile on his face. “It’s not my fault hyung looks so hot when he’s mad at me.”
“It’s not you I’m mad at. It’s them.” Sion mumbles, leaning his head on Riku’s shoulder. “They shouldn’t be looking at you like that.”
“But you can?”
“Of course I can. I’m different. All other men are evil, so only look at me.”
Riku lets out a laugh. “Okay, I’ll only look at hyung.”