"Ren, we're going to be late if you don't hurry up!" Tokiya shouts over his shoulder as he adjusts his tie for the hundredth time in the hallway mirror.

Ren comes up behind him, settling his hands along Tokiya's waist as he grins into the mirror behind him. "We wouldn't be rushing if someone hadn't decided to look as enticing as they had this morning."

Tokiya huffs at the comment, cheeks dusting pink as he settles back into the ginger's touch. "Are you blaming me for simply waking up?" There's an ever-present grin on his face replacing the superficial scowl from before. It's hard to be upset as Ren begins peppering gentle kisses along Tokiya's neck.

When Ren's piercing blue eyes shift upwards to meet the oceans of Tokiya's own, his breath catches in his throat along with the possibility of any more scolding. "Are you genuinely upset over our morning activities?" There's a challenging tone to his words that even Tokiya knows he can't refute.

Of course he can't possibly be upset, especially not when Ren looks at him like this. Tokiya sighs through his smile, spinning in Ren's touch to get in a quick kiss and pulling away before Ren can turn it into anything more than such. "Later. We don't have time right now. You know how the others get if we keep them waiting for so long."

Ren pouts dramatically as he settles on simply holding Tokiya's hand in his own, reaching for his keys with his other free hand. "I suppose we'll have to go then." He grins mischieviously as he leans forward to press his lips against the shell of Tokiya's ear. "I do hope you plan on keeping to your word when we return this evening."

Tokiya sucks in a shaky breath as he barely manages to breathe out a response. "And I hope you know how truly ridiculous you are."

Ren pulls back with a wink and a breathtaking smile as he tugs on their hands to lead them towards their front door. "Always, my dear Icchi. Let's not keep our friends waiting for much longer."

For a second, Tokiya gets lost in nostalgia as he hears the words he used to think he'd never hear from Ren with that same familiar seductive lilt his voice has always held, only this time it's different as there's genuine care laced in his words now. Tokiya shakes himself out of the reverie as he lets himself get pulled outside and down into the passenger seat of Ren's car.

The drive is long enough for the firm pressure of Ren's hand on his thigh to send electric waves down his spine but not quite long enough where he can imagine where it'll take them. He waits until Ren parks the car before getting out of the vehicle, Ren now hovering behind his shoulder as they make their entrance into the restaurant. A waiter leads them down one of the corridors to a room settled in the back, where chaos has already erupted before they even make an entrance.

"Tokiya! Ren! You've made it!" Otoya runs over to them just to drag them over to the long table where everyone from Shining Agency has gathered, splitting the two of them up as he ushers Tokiya over to his seat.

Despite none of them having been a part of the agency for a while now, everyone had decided on keeping in touch every now and then as a group. From left to right, there's an empty seat where Ren is expected to sit beside Masato and then Ranmaru. Next to Ranmaru is Ai, who is seated beside Syo and Natsuki respectively. Across the table from Ren's empty seat is another empty that Tokiya is meant to occupy. Beside that empty seat is Reiji and then Otoya, who is next to Cecil and Camus. Naturally, they had all fallen into their senior and junior pairings even after all this time.

From what Tokiya gathers of the two seconds of conversation, it seems someone had started an argument about which group was the best during their time with Syo being the forerunner of the argument against it being Quartet Night. Reiji breaks from the argument to wiggle his eyebrows at the two newcomers.

"Fashionably late... or was it because of a distraction?"

Tokiya huffs in response, but Ren is laughing as he props his chin on the back of his hands. "Icchi can be quite distracting." The flirt sends a wink in Tokiya's direction, who responds in kind with an eye roll.

But he isn't one to back away from the challenge of matching wits. "I suppose I'll have to get dressed up more often then." Complimenting his words with a wink of his own, Ren responds with a dramatically dreamy sigh.

Reiji sighs even more dramatically, draping himself over Otoya as he pretends to cry into his shoulder. "RanRaaaaan, why can't we be like that?"

Tokiya watches how Ren laughs in response and begins poking fun at Ranmaru, how his eyes light up brighter than the morning sky in the presence of great company and banter. The jokes only continue as the night does, drinks now settled in their systems adding to their mirth.

He can't help himself from staring at Ren the entire night even as he counters all his teasing comments and quips, but there's a bit of sadness that lingers in his gaze. Maybe jealousy is really what it is though as he catches the glimpses of passersby gazing longingly at their table. Every now and then - like the very flirt he is -Ren catches their eyes, sending a wink and a wave in their direction. It's all practiced from years of working the spotlight, in which each and every blink of your eyes matters. Tokiya doesn't know what to do about it or if he even can do anything.

So instead he plays a drinking game with himself. Whether anyone catches on or not, he's not actually aware. However, he is aware of his alcohol consumption after the waiter comes around to him for the fourth time, though he doesn't let up even then. Ren's smile only pushes him down the path harder, and before he knows it the world is shifting with each turn of his head.

Tokiya doesn't even realize they're walking in the parking lot until Ren leans him against the car to open the passenger door for him.

"Alright, Icchi, let's get you home. If I remember correctly, you've got a promise to upkeep." Ren laughs as he pushes himself away from the frame of the car.

Or at least he tries to until Tokiya reaches to pull Ren down by his tie, claiming his lips in a messy drunken kiss. It's all heat and passion as Tokiya tries to deepen it, but Ren's sanity has him pulling back with that same mischievious smirk from before back on his lips. Tokiya mocks Ren's own expression before bursting into unadulterated laughter that brings a smile to Ren's face.

His thoughts are a mess as Ren leans forward to kiss his forehead before walking over to the driver's seat. "Why are you so handsome?" The question comes from the stupor his alcohol has left him in, eyes hazy as he leans back into the passenger seat with a sigh.

Ren laughs once more, reaching over to settle a hand on Tokiya's thigh. "I should be asking you that, though I think the word is endearing right now. You should drink more often."

Tokiya laughs as well as he takes Ren's hand into his own, entwining their fingers together. "No, I can't. I have to be healthy."

Ren's laughter now is about as unadulterated as Tokiya's was before they left the parking lot, shaking his head at the absurdity of his words. The time passes quickly like this - Ren trying to pry honest answers from Tokiya while Tokiya settles on complimenting Ren in order to avoid answering. Even drunk he can't let himself go too much. Like a lock with a missing key, Tokiya keeps himself guarded even when he's at his most vulnerable.

Though the burning desire for Ren lingers in the front of his mind, Tokiya doesn't pull anything for the rest of the night.

Ren has to be the one leading them up the front steps of their apartment together, slinging an arm around Tokiya's waist to help keep him standing. With how hard he sways as he walks, Tokiya can't even find it in himself to refuse the help. It isn't until they're situated back in the apartment - suit jackets thrown on their sofa along with their ties while their shoes are slipped off immediately at the entrance - before Tokiya slips up, the lock coming undone from years of holding back.

"Everyone was staring at you tonight." It's only the start of his rushing thoughts.

Ren drops his car keys into the metal tray on their kitchen island before he spins around to settle his hands back on Tokiya's waist. "Oh? Are you sure you don't mean yourself? Ikki couldn't seem to take his eyes off you."

Tokiya shakes his head, regretting the action immediately as it only makes himself dizzier. "No... T-the girls... and then the others... It was frustrating." His words are slurrying all over each other as he tries to piece together his annoyance from earlier, scowling as he remembers his drinking game. "I think..." he closes his eyes in concentration as he begins counting on his fingers, "maybe five times...? Six, seven... No, wait. Seven? I think..." a hiccup escapes him, "seven... yeah. Seven."

Ren's chuckling only fuels his frustration from earlier. "Are you counting how many people passed our table or how many drinks you've had? Maybe you shouldn't have had so many." He shakes his head as he begins shuffling the both of them into their bedroom.

"Yes." It's Tokiya's only response because it's the correct answer for both. Clearly Ren hadn't caught on. Was he even paying attention?

Another laugh escapes Ren followed by another shake of his head. "Alright, Icchi, let's get you ready for sleep. C'mon..." Ren sits him down at the end of their bed before shuffling off to their bureau, grabbing a pair of sweats and a loose-fitting shirt. "Arms up."

With a few laughs and messy kisses here and there, it doesn't take much longer before they're both settled in for the night.

...

..

.

..

...

It's not the sun but rather the annoying pinging of his phone going off that wakes Tokiya up first. With a groan, he lifts his head off of his pillow and scrambles to find the device and hopefully turn it off forever. The text messages he receives have him sitting upright in a hurry despite the crushing migraine that's settled in from all the alcohol he had consumed the night before.

Morning, Tokiya! Wanted to make sure you got home alright!

Did you get back okay?

Tokiya? Are you still mad at me?

And those ones are only from Otoya. The other wave of messages come from his senior, clearly having talked to Otoya about whatever occurred last night.

Tokki? Otoyan is freaking out. Can you text him back?

Also... WHOA WHY DIDNT YOU TELL US SOONER? I COULDVE BEEN YOUR WINGMAN

Okay seriously whatd you do to Otoyan? whY WONT HE STOP CRYING

Nevermind

Seriously though this is HILARIOUS Im totally writing the ff for you two

HOW DID I NEVER SEE THIS AS YOUR SENIOR ｡：ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ･｡

Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous...

The messages are about as absurd as they usually are... but their context is what confuses him the most. As he tries to recall the events of the night, he's left in blinding pain brought on by his terrible decisions from the time. Unfortunately for him, it means he'll have to call Reiji to find out what happened. He doesn't want to just yet, but the longer he rereads all the messages the higher his heart rate goes up. Surely there's a more innocent meaning to his senior's words... right?

Tokiya groans in defeat as he lays back into his empty bed and dials Reiji's number, unable to wait any longer. It only rings once before the other line picks up.

"Tooooookki, you know I hate the mornings after we all hang out like that... BUT you called, so how can I just ignore it?" Quick to dramatics again.

"Reiji, what was with all your texts last night?"

There's a pause on the other one. Tokiya can imagine the smirk now spreading across the other's lips.

"Oh? Do you not remember? You were a few drinks in by then, so I guess I understand." There's a fake gasp on the other end. "Is that the only reason you professed your undying love for Ren to us?"

Now the pause is on Tokiya's end. For once, his body reacts faster than his mind can as he shoots up in bed. "I'm sorry... what did you say?" His heartbeat is now double what it was earlier.

"Oooohhh, that was supposed to be a secret. Oops! Better idea! I'll be over in fifteen, and you can spill ALL the details on it for me. Sound good?"

Tokiya wants to say no, to tell the other to stop playing games... but he needs to know what happened last night, lest he never show his face to the Agency crowd ever again. "Fifteen. No earlier. I don't have all day either."

Quickly, he hangs up the phone and settles for getting ready for the day. It's hardly what he wants to do at all, especially to see company no less, but the situation calls for it desperately.

Tokiya had noticed later on in their idol days his crush on the casanova of their group, finding it to be foolish and unnecessary anyway. They weren't supposed to fall in love as idols, so it was pointless to even bother lingering on such emotions. Well... it was that and the knowledge of Ren's flirtatious habits with just about everyone and anyone, moreso with Nanami than anyone else. How would it even be possible to be with anyone who acted as such?

With such a question constantly lingering in his mind, Tokiya pretended it was just an infatuation that time would no doubt heal.

And then like tea left out overnight, the heat that his mind was once consumed with disappeared as they ended their careers for silent lives all on their own.

But that didn't mean he didn't think about it.

As soon as he enters the living room, the doorbell rang as if on cue. Tokiya shuffles to the front door, exhaustion pulling at him for each corner of his frame as he opens the door.

Reiji whistles once the door is opened, leaning forward to study the mess that Tokiya must appear to be. "No wonder you don't usually drink."

Tokiya rolls his eyes as turns his back to the door, ready to shut it on his company before they can even enter.

"Wait, Tokki! I'm sorry! I brought you the eighth wonder of the world, also known as the healer for hangovers: coffee!" Reiji holds up a to-go cup of coffee, practically shoving it in Tokiya's direction before the door can shut fully.

Tokiya sighs as he takes the cup, wordlessly moving to the side to allow Reiji entrance into his apartment. One sip of the coffee serves as a well enough reminder as to why he would even need it. He's never drinking that much ever again.

He trails behind Reiji, shutting the door once he's entered and seats himself at the other end of his couch as he takes a few more sips of his coffee.

"Really, you don't look great at all. I'm proud of you for keeping up with us, though!" Reiji pretends to wipe tears away from his eyes as he settles onto the sofa with his own cup of coffee.

Tokiya can't find it in himself to play along with his antics, too focused on the reality of their situation at hand. "To the point, Reiji."

Reiji pouts in response, sighing dramatically as he leans back all the way into the cushions. "No fun. Oh!" He's leaning towards Tokiya quicker than he can process. "I guess not all the time, though. Why didn't you tell me and Otoyan you had a crush on RenRen sooner? Why'd we have to wait until you got yourself completely smashed before finding that out? When did it start? How long ago?"

Tokiya brings a hand to his forehead, rubbing circles into one of his temples at Reiji's incessant questioning. "What happened last night, Reiji? I can't seem to recall anything like that happening to begin with."

Reiji snorts as he takes another sip of his coffee. "With how much you drank, I'm not surprised. I don't know how it got that bad, anyway. You kept staring at Ren and scowling whenever he spoke, so I couldn't help myself and asked you why. You then went on this rant about how Ren was too handsome for his own good and blah blah blah... Oh! But then you said you'd never go out with him when I asked why you didn't just ask him out, and you kept going on and on about how you didn't like being a flustered mess all the time. You didn't like having to share him with anyone, which I couldn't stop laughing at. You got real offended and-"

"Reiji." Tokiya's forehead is now entirely in the palm of his hand, appalled at his own behavior and words from last night. The more Reiji speaks on the matter, the quicker the memories come flooding back to him. He barely remembers any of it, his mind practically teleporting him through all the different parts of this conversation.

It was one of their annual dinners, one in which they all agreed to hang out as a group of eleven once more to keep up with one another. It kept them all in the loop, despite the fact that they all hung out in parties of two or three in their free time anyway. Like every year before, Tokiya tried to ensure he wasn't too early where he was the first to arrive but always managed to come towards the middle of the gathering. Unlike all those times before, Tokiya had so happened to show up at the exact moment Ren had.

Like clockwork, his mind fixated itself on what it would be like if they had actually shown up together, what getting ready in the same apartment would be like should he have followed his heart rather his mind like he always has. It happened every single time he saw Ren, much to his own frustration. Ren was off doing modelling work to keep in the spotlight, though now at his own pace rather than whatever and wherever Shining wanted them. Articles with his photos always appeared in convenience store stands and online... only adding to Tokiya's frustration further.

And so he always found himself wondering, in his quiet life running a library meant for everyone's interest and holding vocal lessons for those considering careers in music, what would it look like should Ren be at his side? It was always stupid, but the infatuation always got the better of him.

Clearly, last night had been the worst of it all.

"You don't need to worry, Tokki! Ren was at the complete other end of the table, and waaaay too absorbed in his conversation with Hijirin! I made sure he wouldn't hear you. After all, I needed to know everything, so I wasn't going to let that chance get away from me!"

Tokiya doesn't know whether to cry or scream. How could he have let himself get that far? What was wrong with him? "A proper thank you is in order then, Reiji. Thank you for saving me from utter humiliation." Not that he isn't humiliated enough already.

Reiji gives him a thumbs up before patting him on the shoulder. "Anytime, Tokki! So as I was saying, you got offended and then-"

Tokiya lifts a hand to stop him from continuing any further. "Please spare me any more details. It's an infatuation that should've died long ago, is all. I'm not sure what came over me last night, but I can assure you it will never happen again."

Reiji almost looks... upset. "Really? That's it?"

So not even Reiji is convinced. Tokiya wants to laugh at himself. No wonder he went off as he did last night then. Instead, Tokiya strains for a false smile as he nods his head, worrying his fingers on the coffee cup's lid. "Yes, that's it. I can't dare to dream of any of that anymore. We all live separate lives now. As I said before, it's an infatuation that should've seen itself out long ago. I don't like a gold rush, and surely that's what would become of it."

Now Reiji really looks defeated, sinking back into the cushions again. "If you say so, Tokki... but I think you two would've looked great together. Oh well, I guess... Oh hey, I forgot to tell you how my story ended with the bird last-"

So do I. It's the last comment Tokiya allows himself to think on the entire situation, letting it float away like the folklore their love is as he takes another sip of his coffee and pretends to listen to whatever story Reiji is telling him.

It will soon all fade away...