Chapter Text
“C’mon, man,” Maki whines, tugging at Nicholas’ arm. “I promised Rua you'd do it. Help a bro out.”
“You promised I would do it?” Nicholas groans as he tries to mentally glue himself to the railing of the balcony. Damn it, all he wanted was to have one cigarette in peace. “What gave you the impression I'd be interested in your boyfriend’s fortune telling business?”
Nicholas has learned not to question the why of things. As cocky as it sounds, he doubts Maki’s eccentric twink of a boyfriend can tell him anything he doesn't know already.
“He's not my boyfriend. Not yet,” Maki insists, and for whatever reason, he takes it as a sign that Nicholas is down. He flicks the burned-down cigarette butt out of Nicholas’ hand and grabs him by the arms to steer him inside. “That's why I need your help.”
“I don't see how tormenting me will get you laid,” Nicholas mutters as they enter the house again, the party at full swing. He wishes Yuma and Maki were more concerned with their own lives for once, instead of dragging him to a house party.
Nicholas has nothing against parties in general. He can hold his own when it comes to drinking, and he is not shy to take to the dance floor either. However, being the only one of his friends who isn't in a relationship – or whatever Maki and Harua have going on –, he is stuck with looking for temporary fun.
It gets a little exhausting, after a while.
“Harua! I got him,” Maki announces as they make it to a tiny bathroom, lit purple by a shabbily put up LED strip along the ceiling. Nicholas huffs.
“You can let go of me now. I won't run,” he promises Maki, and turns to Harua. The blond boy is sitting cross-legged under the window, his tarot cards spread on the soft bathroom rug by his feet. “Hi, Rua.”
“Hey! Thanks for volunteering.” Harua smiles at him, and Nicholas contemplates if he wants to tell him this is much more of a hostage situation than volunteering. He decides against it.
“I'll leave you to it.” Maki grins, nodding at Nicholas gratefully, and he leaves, closing the door behind himself. Nicholas sighs and takes a seat on the closed lid of the toilet.
“Alright. Tell me how this goes,” Nicholas says. The sooner they get this over with, the better.
Harua hums with his eyes closed, concentrating on the shuffling of his deck for a second. Nicholas wonders if it really does anything or if it's just for show.
“Ask the cards a question,” Harua says then, looking up at Nicholas.
“Sure. Am I gonna get rich?”
“Uh… an open-ended one,” Harua says with an apologetic smile. “They can't give you a definite yes or no.”
“Ah, I see,” Nicholas hums. Of course. “So… when will I get rich?”
Harua's cheeks turn a little pink. “Maybe we should go with something more… vague?” he mumbles. “Think more of a… concept, I'd say.”
Nicholas blinks, willing his face to stay blank.
“How about I give you a general reading?” Harua offers quickly, his shuffling picking up as well. Nicholas just nods. He starts writing a list in his head of the things he could redeem Maki’s IOU for.
Harua shuffles the deck for about another minute, his eyebrows knitting together more and more.
“It's weird, it usually gives me a reading by now,” he mumbles to himself.
“You haven't drawn a card yet,” Nicholas points out unhelpfully.
“Ah, no, so usually the deck should–” Harua starts, but as soon as he glances up at Nicholas, he drops a few cards from his hands. Nicholas is ready to pretend nothing happened, but Harua's eyes light up, “do exactly that!”
Nicholas bites his tongue to stop himself from saying anything, and instead he watches as Harua organises the three cards in a neat row.
“Okay, here comes the fun part!” Harua says enthusiastically, and flips the first card.
Death.
“Awesome,” Nicholas deadpans.
“No-no, it's not as bad as it sounds!” Harua says quickly. “The Death card means transition and change. Big, unexpected change,” he adds, glancing up at Nicholas. “You might have some unhealthy attachments you should let go.”
“I’m not really the most attached person.” Nicholas chuckles, because it feels a little dumb. Though Harua probably doesn’t know all that. Nicholas suspects Maki talks less about him to Rua than the other way around.
“Well… only you can know what the card means to you,” Harua says wisely, if a little unsure. He goes on to flip the next card. It looks just as bad as the previous one, some kind of burning building with people jumping from its windows.
Harua gulps.
“The, uhm… the Tower,” he gets it out nonetheless, eyes glued to the card. “It’s a symbol of change… through chaos,” he explains. “It might mean you will experience loss, or a big revelation of something you have been trying hard to ignore,” he goes on and it almost feels like he is trying to come up with something positive to add to the mix. “B-but you will emerge stronger afterwards!”
“Alright.” Nicholas nods, subconsciously crossing his arms on his chest. It’s been all fun and games, but it’s starting to freak him out a little bit.
Harua seems to sense it, too, because he quickly reveals the last card, and it makes Nicholas huff in relief.
“Wheel of Fortune,” he reads the card easily. Unlike the other two, this one is facing him, away from Harua. “Finally a good one, right?”
Harua's face is anything but comforting.
“Well, usually it would be…”
“... but?”
“It's reversed,” Harua says carefully. “Your luck is about to change for the worse.”
“Are you kidding me?” Nicholas huffs, but seeing a pout instantly forming on Harua’s face, he quickly adds. “Sorry, it's– nothing against you.”
“I don't know what's happening,” Harua says with a shake of his head. “It's almost like… your luck is just trying to escape you…” he mutters, before his eyes grow wide, like he just realised something. He quickly collects his cards as if not seeing them anymore could undo the whole reading. “You should go now.”
“What?” Nicholas blurts out a chuckle. “Are you not giving me advice? What am I supposed to do now?” he asks as Harua ushers him to his feet and towards the door.
“I have to consult the cards alone,” Harua says, very seriously. Thank god Nicholas doesn't believe in the whole thing to begin with, because he would be extremely freaked out now.
“I need confirmation that I’m not gonna die, though!” he tells Harua as he is being pushed out the door. “Or I’ll need my money back!”
“You didn’t pay me anything!” Harua says hastily, and the door closes behind Nicholas.
Great.
Nicholas stands in front of the bathroom for another minute, listening to anything that would indicate Harua was just kidding, but the door stays stubbornly closed. With a huff, he decides to make his way downstairs instead.
He has no concerns about his luck. A haphazard magic reading won't change that.
Ever since Nicholas was a little boy, he has been exceptionally lucky. Things just tend to… work out for him. For as long as he remembers, luck has been on his side. When he wished to travel and see the world as a kid, his dad got a promotion in Japan. When he applied for high schools last minute, there was a vacancy at the one he wanted to get in the most. Whenever he had a crush on someone, they always magically seemed to like him back.
Well, almost always.
As he walks through the living room that functions as a dance floor at the moment, someone almost trips over him.
“Shi–”
“Careful there,” Nicholas says and steadies the boy before he could fall. It doesn't stop him from splashing his entire drink on himself, though. “Hey, Juju.”
“Ah, hi.” Euijoo smiles at him apologetically, though not a single drop of whatever concoction he was drinking landed on Nicholas. “Are you alright?”
“Was about to ask the same.” Nicholas chuckles, taking in the boy’s face. “You got a little…” he motions at his chest when Euijoo stands on his own feet again. That white shirt is soaked.
“Uh… yeah ” Euijoo mumbles. “I was– actually, I was just looking for you but I think that, uh, I should go and try to clean this up before it starts getting sticky.”
“You were looking for me?” Nicholas asks with a smile, one that Euijoo doesn't see as he is trying to assess the damage to his clothes. “I can come along. Help you clean up.”
“Really?” Euijoo asks, those huge, beautiful eyes on Nicholas now. Nicholas just nods and he takes Euijoo by the wrist to lead him to a bathroom, specifically downstairs.
Nicholas has known Euijoo for what feels like forever. They have always sort of just been in each other's orbit. Having so many mutual friends, living in the same neighbourhood, going to the same university… Nicholas would like to think it's fate.
Except for their persistent, comically awful timing.
Nicholas has known him forever and has had a crush on him for almost just as long. But somehow, life always found a way to deter them from exploring that further. Even though Nicholas is convinced there is something there, in those beautiful boba eyes, whenever he catches Euijoo watching him for a second too long.
“There you go.” Nicholas finds the bathroom on the first try.
“Wow, you know your way around here.” Euijoo chuckles and he walks in where Nicholas holds the door for him.
“Lucky guess.” Nicholas shrugs with a smile, watching Euijoo run some tap water and try to rinse the front of his shirt. It's a white material, most probably cotton, based on the way it soaked all of the radioactive-red booze right up.
Euijoo puts a finger under the water, and immediately pulls it back with a hiss.
“Try cold,” Nicholas says and steps to him, turning the faucet. “Can I check something?” he asks, reaching for the neckline of Euijoo’s shirt. The taller boy goes stiff under his fingers, but lets him check the label. “Yup. A hundred percent cotton. Water won't do much,” he says with a sigh.
“Ah… so I'll have to throw it away?” Euijoo pouts at him, and it gives Nicholas’ heart a twist.
“Nah, just–” he quickly goes through his mental catalogue of materials before he clears his throat. “You should take it off.”
“I– huh?” Euijoo asks, with those adorable, round eyes of his.
“Here.” Nicholas slips out of his denim jacket, holding it out for Euijoo. “We need to rinse it quickly, before it settles completely. Wear this instead.”
Euijoo blinks at him for a second, contemplating if Nicholas is just teasing him, but he seems to decide to trust him. He pulls his shirt off, and Nicholas looks away to give him a little privacy. The jacket is taken from his hands, and Euijoo hands him the shirt instead.
Nicholas quickly soaks it under the water, some of the red washing out instantly. That's a relief. He hopes Euijoo won't think he is just using the situation to see him shirtless.
After rummaging around a little to find some liquid detergent, Nicholas treats the shirt and prays that it works.
“How do you know how to do this?” Euijoo asks as Nicholas wipes his hands.
“I’m a fashion designer, did you forget?” Nicholas smiles at him confidently, though it will be a small miracle if the shirt comes out of this unscathed. “The detergent needs to soak for like ten minutes now. I hope you're not cold,” he says, eyes only flicking down on Euijoo's exposed front for a second.
“No… your jacket is nice and warm.” Euijoo smiles back. “I'm sorry for always making a scene. I'm not doing it on purpose, I swear.”
“It's okay, Juju,” Nicholas says softly. “It happens.”
“To me more often than to others, I guess,” Euijoo mumbles, hands in the jacket pockets now.
“What do you mean?” Nicholas asks as he means back against the sink.
“I just… okay, this might sound paranoid.” Euijoo huffs out a chuckle. “But things just… never work out. You might have noticed,” he adds gently. “I must be the most unlucky person in the world.”
“Aww, don't say that.” Nicholas tuts. “Luck is overrated. You're so hardworking, I remember how you were at college. Top of the class and all.”
“Yeah, but that was against the odds, too.” Euijoo shakes his head. “What good is a diploma if no one will hire me?”
“You have a job, though.” Nicholas frowns, because he remembers Euijoo mentioning he was going to be late, the last time they met.
“At a cafe.” Euijoo pouts. Nicholas would coo at how adorable he is, were the situation more lighthearted. “I wanna do band management… but I'm not even good at managing my own band.”
“Ah… still no luck with booking gigs?” Nicholas asks softly.
“No. Something always comes up.” Euijoo sighs. “They find someone more well-known, or they can't sell any tickets, even though we would play for free!” he says, his frustration bubbling up. “Don't they make enough money on the bar already? And if it's not that, then something else happens. They mix up our dates, the owner rents out the equipment for the night we're supposed to play… or my favourite– we had a place call us off because there was a fire at the bar the night before!”
“Holy shit.” Nicholas watches Euijoo with wide eyes. “That sounds insane. Are you sure all this is a coincidence? It sounds like someone is actually messing with you.”
“It's not a coincidence. It's me and my stupid misfortune,” Euijoo grumbles. “So yeah, Mismatch is probably going to go on a hiatus in a few weeks. Not that anyone is going to notice,” he says with huff, and a pout is forming on his lips.
“Oh, Juju…” Nicholas says softly. “I'm so sorry…”
“How do you do it?” Euijoo asks, turning his wide eyes on Nicholas. “Everything always works out for you. Do you have a– dunno, ritual or something? Magic amulet to fend off bad luck?” he asks, and he looks extremely serious about it.
“Ah… I'm sorry.” Nicholas smiles apologetically. “I can't really say I believe in any of those.”
“Then what is it?” Euijoo asks, pout intensifying. “You always get your way with everything and everyone.”
“Not everyone,” Nicholas mumbles as he averts his eyes. Does Euijoo really not know?
“C’mon now. You could literally have anyone you wanted.” Euijoo watches him with an indescribable look. “And here I am, unable to get a single date. Not even a kiss.”
Nicholas blurts out a chuckle at that. “Okay, that I don't believe.”
“What?”
“Euijoo, you are the most stunning person I've ever seen,” Nicholas says. Maybe this is not the best time to shoot his shot, but it doesn't mean he cannot tell Juju he's beautiful. “Seriously, any guy would be lucky if you even just looked their way,” he says, but to Euijoo's confused expression, he adds. “Uh, or… well, guy or girl.”
“No, uhm– yeah. Guy. Definitely a guy– is what I'd look at, I mean,” Euijoo stutters. Nicholas bites back a giggle at the last second.
“Are you… blushing, Juju?”
Euijoo clears his throat. “It must be the alcohol.”
“Mm, whatever you say.”
“I'm telling you,” Euijoo insists, pulling Nicholas’ jacket tighter around himself. After a beat of silence, he adds. “And I'm gonna blame this one on the drinks as well, but… you are absolutely gorgeous, too. Just so you know.”
Nicholas is caught off-guard by the compliment. Sure, it's not the first time someone called him that, not even the most articulate way he's ever been flirted with… but he feels his own cheeks warm up now as well.
He's not someone who backs down that easily, though.
“Careful with words like that, someone might end up catching feelings,” he mumbles, and his gaze drops on Euijoo's lips. Said lips part a little, Euijoo's tongue darting out to wet them, and Nicholas might be going a little crazy over it.
“Someone should do something about it, then,” Euijoo whispers. He's leaning closer. Nicholas is not strong enough for this.
He closes the gap between them, kissing Euijoo on the lips.
God, finally. It feels like he has been waiting an entire lifetime for this. Nicholas is not shy, his hands slide onto Euijoo's incredibly slim waist, the skin to skin contact making them both shiver. Euijoo gasps in the kiss but holds Nicholas by the cheeks, and slips his tongue in Nicholas’ mouth. It makes him moan, the confidence Euijoo kisses him with.
And Euijoo is a damn good kisser. Nicholas is pressed against the sink, head tilted back for a better angle, and he lets Euijoo lead. There's something toe-curlingly delicious about Euijoo's eagerness. Like he's been wanting to do this as much as Nicholas has.
But all good things have to come to an end, and this one does when Euijoo's phone goes off. Euijoo grunts in Nicholas’ mouth and Nicholas pulls back with a giggle.
“Go ahead.”
Euijoo has the most adorable frown on his face as he clumsily gets his phone from his back pocket and picks it up.
“Yeah?”
Damn, so that just happened. Nicholas kissed Euijoo. He concentrates on regulating his heartbeat for a second, but the look on Euijoo's face turns alarming.
“Wait– slow down, Taki– the sink did what?!”
Uh oh.
“No, I'm pretty sure it shouldn't do that– no, don't go in there! Call Fuma, he'll get there faster than– yeah, I’m on my way.”
“That… didn't sound good.” Nicholas frowns as Euijoo hangs up.
“My roommate. It's a plumbing emergency,” Euijoo huffs in frustration, then gives Nicholas an apologetic look. “I'm sorry… of course it has to happen right now. Just my luck.”
“Hey, don't worry about it.” Nicholas smiles at him. “I wish I could give you some of my luck,” he chuckles, and turns to the sink, wringing out the shirt before he hands it to Euijoo.
“Ah, your jacket, though…” Euijoo says and he's just about to take it off before Nicholas stops him.
“Keep it. You can return it next time,” Nicholas says with a smirk. “I'm not done with you.”
Euijoo swallows, those pretty doe eyes on Nicholas for a second longer, and he nods.
“Go. Your roommate needs you.”
Nicholas watches as Euijoo leaves the bathroom in a hurry, shirt dripping in his hand, and heads straight to the stairs. Nicholas cannot say he’s not a little disappointed at this turn of event, but hey. They did manage to have their first kiss tonight. Little by little, he will break Euijoo’s bad luck.