Yuji woke up groggy, warm, and weirdly comfortable.
Too comfortable.
The pillow smelled expensive. The blanket was heavier than usual. The bed- oh no, this wasn't his bed.
His eyes flew open.
This was Nikolai's room.
Yuji sat up so fast he gave himself a head rush. "Oh hell no-"
He frantically patted his clothes. Still dressed. Okay, that was a win.
But why was he here?
Then he remembered: drinking with Jun, falling asleep… and-
His head whipped to the side.
Nikolai wasn't in the room.
Oh thank god.
Yuji swung his legs off the bed, tiptoeing toward the door like a cartoon burglar. Maybe he could sneak out before Nikolai saw him-
The bathroom door opened with a soft click.
Steam poured out.
And then came Nikolai.
Hair damp. Towel slung around his neck. Shirtless. Fully shirtless. His abs glistened slightly from the steam, like some villainous cologne commercial brought to life.
Yuji froze.
Nikolai froze.
They stared at each other.
Yuji's brain promptly short-circuited.
All he could think about was that one very specific dream. The one where he was on top of Nikolai. Naked. Moving.
His entire face went nuclear red.
"I-uh-this isn't-I mean-you were-!"
Nikolai raised an eyebrow, entirely too calm. "Morning."
Yuji wanted to crawl into a fridge and stay there forever.
"You-uh-you're not wearing-clothes," he managed to choke out.
"I just showered."
"Right. Yeah. Makes sense. Hygiene. Big fan."
There was a long silence.
Then, Yuji turned on his heel and bolted back into the bedroom.
He dove under the covers like they were holy protection.
"God, I'm never drinking again," he muttered into the pillow. "I'm gonna die. I'm actually going to die."
On the other side of the door, Nikolai smirked and toweled his hair casually.
He'd definitely caught that look.
And he wasn't going to forget it anytime soon.
___
Yuji threw himself face-first onto his own bed the moment he made it back to his room, dramatically groaning into the sheets like a tragic Victorian maiden.
"This is all Jun's fault," he mumbled into the pillow.
He wasn't sure how it was Jun's fault...but that was irrelevant. Facts were optional at this point.
"You and your dumb six-pack" he muttered. (He means the beers)
"Coming here with beer and concern and dragging me into friendship like a saboteur."
He rolled over and reached for his phone with the grace of someone who had absolutely no intention of facing reality. A notification blinked.
[1 Voice Message from Jun]
Yuji sighed and hit play.
Jun's Voice:
"Yo. I left early, work sucks and clients are sucks too. Thanks for letting me crash, even if your fridge is smarter than both of us combined.
Also, if your sugar daddy murders me in my sleep, I hope you at least name your baby after me. Okay byeeee."
Yuji stared at the screen. "He knew I was gonna blame him."
He flopped back onto the bed dramatically, tossing the phone aside.
"Ugh. Jun, I hate you. But also maybe I love you. But mostly hate right now."
Fin beeped politely from the kitchen, likely docked and recharging after trailing Yuji around all day like the world's most judgmental pet appliance.
Then, in her usual calm tone, the AI voice spoke:
Fin (AI Fridge):
"You are 42% more emotionally unstable after alcohol consumption. Perhaps consider hydration or professional help."
Yuji groaned and buried his face into the pillow.
"Hah… Now you choose to talk?" he muttered, muffled. "After all this time watching me spiral in stoic silence, this is when you decide to voice your concerns? Incredible. You're worse than Nikolai…"
He rolled over dramatically. "Traitor."
Fin hummed in response. Probably judging him.
A knock came from the hallway.
Yuji froze.
Please let it be Fin falling over. Please let it be-
"Breakfast is ready," came Nikolai's voice, smooth and infuriating.
Yuji sat up in horror.
He wants me to eat with him? After showing me his nipples?? It's not like Yuji had never seen a man's chest before or freaked out over it. He was obviously straight. Before all this.
...Okay, he's officially acting like an omega. AHHHH.
"I'm fasting," Yuji called back.
"You had four beers last night. You're not fasting. You're hungover."
"Semantics!"
There was a pause.
"…You dreamed about me, didn't you?"
Yuji choked. "WHAT?"
"Your blush this morning," Nikolai added. "It was very… telling."
Yuji grabbed the nearest pillow and screamed into it.
Damn it, how does he know?!
Yuji was crying inside.
"Jun, you absolute menace," he muttered. "This really is your fault."
Meanwhile, at his workplace, Jun sneezed loudly into his elbow.
"Huh? Who's talking shit about me now?"
___
Yuji shuffled into the dining room like a guilty cat who knocked over a vase but still wanted snacks.
The table was already set. Croissants, eggs, a bowl of fruit he absolutely wasn't going to touch, and a tall glass of something suspiciously green.
Nikolai sat there in a clean, pressed shirt, buttons all done up this time, thankfully...reading something on a sleek tablet like this was just a normal morning and not the aftermath of Yuji's accidental sleepover in Bossman's bed.
Well, of course Nikolai would never admit that he was the one who carried Yuji into his room out of pure jealousy. No. He would never admit he was jealous.
Yuji pulled out a chair and sat without a word.
Fin chimed immediately.
Fin:
"Subject Yuji's blood sugar is low. Dehydration level: 61%. Emotional distress: above average."
Yuji dropped his forehead onto the table.
"Fin, can you not right now?"
Fin:
"Would you prefer a summary report, or shall I notify your handler-"
"Don't call him my handler!"
Nikolai didn't even look up. "I prefer 'provider of stability.'"
Yuji groaned and reached for a croissant.
"You didn't have to cook, you know," he mumbled.
"I didn't. The kitchen staff did. I simply approved the menu."
"Of course you did."
Nikolai slid the green drink toward him.
Yuji looked at it suspiciously. "Is this made of kelp and hell?"
"It's an electrolyte blend. You'll thank me later."
"I'd rather die," Yuji muttered, but he took a sip anyway and made a face like someone just kicked a puppy.
"See?" Nikolai said, unbothered. "Alive and hydrated."
Yuji was halfway into mentally composing Jun's murder letter when Nikolai finally looked up from his tablet.
"I reviewed the footage from last night."
Yuji froze mid-chew. "…And?"
"You drooled on your editor."
Yuji almost choked.
"I did not-!"
"I have evidence."
"DELETE IT."
Nikolai sipped his own drink, face infuriatingly neutral. "That depends. Are you going to sneak guests in again without informing me?"
Yuji narrowed his eyes. "It's not like I invited a parade. He's my friend. And you will know it anyway"
"And you fell asleep in his arms."
Yuji turned bright red.
"IT'S CALLED PLATONIC TRAUMA CUDDLING."
Nikolai shrugged annoyingly. "Mm. Must be nice."
Yuji blinked.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing," Nikolai said too smoothly. "Enjoy your breakfast."
Yuji stabbed his croissant with unnecessary force.