The sun pours in through the slits in the window and Benji stirs. His eyelids flutter but don't open as he pats the spot in front of him, surrounded by a strange emptiness despite the weighted blanket engulfing him.

A repetitive click clack click clack swirls through the air and Benji groans as he rolls over, slitting his eyes open as he peers ahead. He sighs and gently presses up himself into a sitting position, resting his weight on his bare arm as he yawns, covering his mouth in the back of his hand as the soft blanket tumbles off him, the gentle shff of the beads inside coming with it.

"G'morning, babe," Benji mumbles, smiling lazily as he rubs his eye with his knuckle and takes a deep breath.

The click clacking stops. "Morning."

Victor turns his sullen bespectacled face to him and Benji gasps quietly to himself. The dark circles under his eyes and his sallow cheeks and blood-shot eyes make Benji's expression wash away as quickly as it had appeared.

"What time is it?" Benji asks, feeling blindly behind him on the nightstand and pulling his phone away from the charger. He peers down at the screen. 7:13. "7 am? Shit, man…"

"I couldn't sleep." Victor slides his glasses off his nose and rubs the bridge.

"Babe…" Benji slips out from under the blanket and pulls on his rolled-up pair of jeans from the floor. "I know it's finals week but you need to sleep."

Shrugging, Victor sets his glasses down next to his laptop and pushes his chair out from beneath the desk, the loud scraping grating at Benji's eardrums. "It's fine. I'm fine. I took some Adderall, I'll drink some coffee, and I'll be fine."

Benji rolls his eyes as he patters over to Victor, dropping gently onto his lap and draping his arm across his shoulders. He grits his teeth. "You used the word 'fine' too many times for me to believe you but I'll take your word for it."

"Thank you." Victor smiles weakly as he pushes some of Benji's fringe from his forehead before he cups his cheek and pulls him gently down for a kiss. When they pull away, his mouth tugs to the side. "I love you."

When Benji's heart flutters like dandelion seeds in the wind, he can't stop himself from smiling, as well, a mirror of Victor's expression as the words roll from his tongue with ease. "I love you, too."

They sit like that for a moment, gazing at each other as if the mountain of responsibilities that had piled up on both their backs doesn't exist. Benji wraps his other arm around Victor, enveloping his back as he kisses the top of his head and smooths down his hair.

"I should probably work out before we head to the library," Victor says, voice muffled by Benji's neck, breath tickling.

Benji unfurls his arms from around Victor, leaning away as he strokes his chin, a mischievous grin glued to his lips. "And I know I should make us breakfast, but… I kinda wanna draw you…"

"Don't you have to go develop those photos before you start your shift, though?"

"Hmm… yeah, you're right." Benji slides off Victor's lap and holds his hand out to help him up. "I think I should be fine, though. It doesn't take that long."

"All right, all right," Victor says as he takes Benji's hand and rises, stretching before he closes his laptop and slides it into the bag sitting beside his desk on the floor.

Victor then takes his phone off the nightstand and puts some music on shuffle, the rich snare of "Worst Behavior" by Drake filling the air and making Benji giggle and shake his head at Victor's taste.

Pressing his lips together into a line, Benji takes his own bag from beside the nightstand and, with his eyes glued to Victor's sweatpant-clad form, he pulls out his sketchbook and pencils from within. He can't help but swallow thickly as his eyes rake down the front of Victor's grey pants.

With each step, Victor's bulge becomes more apparent, and Benji watches with rapt attention as he spreads his legs with both feet on the floor and and takes a deep breath before he stretches with his arms over his head, his shirt riding up just enough to show off the little trail of hair leading down the middle of his belly, and he smirks as he catches Benji's eye and pulls his shirt over his head, depositing it on the bed.

Victor hums to himself as he leans over and pulls a pair of dumbbells from beside the wall, setting one leg in front of the other and lunging right in front of Benji, lip curling up as Benji's eyes wander from his lean, muscled chest to his crotch again, going wide as Victor's dick bounces around inside, making Benji's mouth parched.

Clearing his throat, Benji turns his attention to his drawing, the gentle scratch of pencil on paper drowned out by the music and the metronomic beating of his heart in his ears as his body warms with each of Victor's movements.

When Victor sets his dumbbells off to the side, he squats down before plopping down on the floor face-first and stretching some more, arching his back and peering up at Benji as a bead of sweat rolls down his neck before he straightens his back and starts pressing himself up and down on his arms. Benji squirms in his seat, opening his legs unconsciously before he forces himself to return to his work.

"I kinda feel like challenging myself today," Victor says after a few minutes of comfortable silence between them. He pats the back of his own shoulder, balancing on one arm. "Sit on me."

Benji's lip twitches. He looks up from where he's hunched over the drawing on his lap, as he finishes shading in a figure—one depicting Victor mid-pushup. "You're just tryna show off. I'll crush you."

"Nah, I'll be fine. Just hop on."

"You know I love it when you're all sweaty and… strong."

Victor gives Benji a sly look from the side of his eye. "Oh, I know."

Cheeks warm, Benji grumbles to himself and rolls his eyes as steps over to where Victor is lying on the floor. He carefully sets himself in the middle of Victor's back, shoulder blades digging into his flesh as he pulls his feet to him and crosses his legs. "Don't blame me if you die."

Victor chuckles as he takes a deep breath, before he presses himself up from the floor again, shaking slightly, and something primal and animalistic jolts within Benji as Victor's muscles flex and ripple beneath him. Benji gasps as Victor pushes himself back down to the floor before he repeats the motion again, making the tightness in his jeans even more unbearable.

"Y'know, I can actually walk on my hands," Benji says quickly as he slides off Victor's back and returns to the floor.

"Really?" Victor says as he rolls over and sits back up, crossing his legs in front of him and grinning slyly as he twists to each side and stretches out his back, before he loops one arm around the other and stretches out his shoulder. "Let's see, then."

"All right, professor," Benji teases, ruffling Victor's hair playfully.

Victor chuckles as Benji puts both hands flat on the floor and puts one leg in front of the other before pushing forward with his back leg, using the momentum to invert himself as he brings both legs over his head, arms wobbling slightly as he straightens himself out in the air.

"See?"

"I see you doing a handstand but you said you can walk," Victor muses, tilting his head to the side until it's almost upside down, too, as he peers at Benji, corners of his eyes crinkling.

"True…" Benji says, wobbling a bit as he picks up one of his arms and sets it back down a few inches in front of him.

"Okay, Mr. Gymnast, I see you! Whoooo!" Victor cheers.

Benji giggles, panting as he repeats the action, then walks from one end of the room to the other.

"Wait, lemme try something," Benji says, balancing carefully and making his way to where Victor sits on the floor. Something about the way Victor is radiating heat and sweat makes Benji almost lose his balance. "Let's do the Spider-Man kiss."

"Oh my god… Sure, why not. What could possibly go wrong?" Victor says, sarcasm dripping from his voice as he cups Benji's upside down cheek.

Victor snickers as he leans down a bit to press his lips against Benji's again, this time sloppy, mouth twisting awkwardly and nose brushing against chin as he does this. Benji also struggles, arms vibrating from exertion as he gets more of Victor's nose than anything else but smiles broadly into the kiss nonetheless. They pull away with a chorus of giggles.

"It definitely looks sexier in movies than it is," Benji snorts, before taking a few strides back and letting his feet drop slowly back to the ground in front of Victor.

Victor shakes his head, good-natured, as he wipes his mouth in his arm. "Your chin tastes like sweat."

"No one told you to make out with my chin, weirdo," Benji teases as he stands up and twirls back around, extending both hands out to the sides. "Anyways… Ta-dah!"

"Wow, that's so cool!" Victor says, clapping enthusiastically and throwing his head back, barking with laughter. "I wish I could do that."

With a proud smile, Benji bows dramatically. "Thank you, thank you."

Victor peers up at Benji through his eyelashes, before he smacks a sweaty hand on Benji's stomach, plastering it there as he giggles to himself.

Benji recoils slightly, but smiles as he takes Victor by the wrist, peeling his hand off him and instead interlacing their fingers for a moment, swinging their joined hands back and forth.

"This is really gay," Victor whispers after a moment.

Biting his lip and letting their hands drop apart, Benji rolls his eyes and snorts. "I know, right… bro?"

Victor chuckles again. "Did you seriously just call me bro?"

"Yeah, my… sports bro boyfriend," Benji says, gently punching Victor in the shoulder. "Okay, yeah, I regretted that as soon as I said it."

Shuddering with laughter, Victor swipes his arm across his forehead. "You're ridiculous… But now lemme get back to this, okay?"

Victor rises from the floor as Benji crawls back on top of the bed, breathing heavily, and takes his sketchbook in his hands again to return to his drawing. With a sigh, Victor picks up the dumbbells again and sits down on the bench next to the window, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees as he curls one of them to his shoulder while observing Benji through his dark eyes.

It's becoming more difficult for Benji to focus on his drawing as Victor's bicep flexes. He shivers as his eyes trail down further and he remembers what Victor's hands can do—the way they trail up Benji's sides and make him shiver, the way they hold him close but also press him down, the way they wrap around his throat and leave behind a red print on his skin when they're making love, the way they open him up—

Benji's breath hitches in his throat and he bites his lip, eyelids fluttering dangerously as he exhales sharply and presses his pencil into the paper so hard, the tip snaps. "Fuck."

With a wicked grin, Victor lies back on the bench, staring up at the ceiling as his arms dangle at his sides. "Everything okay?"

"Well… I would say yes, but…" Benji breathes, swallowing thickly again as he eyes the ridge that's formed in Victor's sweatpants. He licks his lips and tosses his tools aside onto the bed again before he rises. "I'm really turned on."

"Cool."

Benji's lip twitches as Victor follows him with his eyes. Something inside him spurns him on, compelling him to sink to his knees between Victor's legs. "Can I suck you off… please?"

"You mean make yourself useful? Of course," Victor teases as he picks up the dumbbells again.

Chuckling to himself, Benji kneads at the bulge growing in Victor's sweatpants needily, swallowing the lump in his throat as he watches the way the outline etches itself against the fabric, a beautiful and generous seven plus inches.

He grabs at the waistband and peels it down, eyes growing as Victor's half-hard cock springs out as if it were alive, throbbing and pulsating in Benji's hand.

The floor is hard beneath Benji's knees but he ignores the way the solidity shoots into his bones. He sighs as he holds Victor's engorged dick in his palms, mouth watering, before he brings it against his face, groaning softly as his eyelids flutter closed.

"Mmm…" Benji hums, Victor's cock growing harder against his cheek.

Victor pants above him, his breaths coming closer to Benji's ear. "You look so cute like that, baby."

"Thanks," Benji says, his entire body sparking with heat as he peers up at Victor with wide eyes and strokes him a few times, smearing a bit of precum along the shaft before he smacks himself gently in the face with Victor's cock.

"Jesus…" Victor breathes, biting his lip as Benji takes his balls into his mouth, sucking on them greedily.

Benji giggles, the vibrations making Victor tense under his ministrations even as he tries his best to continue exercising, shutting his eyes tightly as he brings the weights slowly back down to his chest.

With a devilish grin, Benji drags his tongue up Victor's shaft, stroking it languidly, before he puts the tip in his mouth.

Victor pauses, letting his weights drop beside him on the floor as he watches Benji slide him all the way into the back of his throat with ease, and Benji can't stop the pang of triumph that blooms in his chest as Victor's head drops back and he moans softly in pleasure.

Shivering as the scent of sweat and earthy cologne overcomes him, Benji bobs his head as he takes Victor's almost painfully hard cock in and out of his mouth as his hand travels down to the front of his own jeans.

He strokes himself through his pants, fingers dancing over the rough fabric for a moment before he unzips himself and shimmies out of his jeans, depositing them on the floor without further thought and leaving him clad in his jockstrap alone. After he'd seen the way Victor's eyes light up when he sees Benji in a jock, as if he wants nothing more than to devour him, he'd done everything in his power to ensure he sees that look as frequently as he can.

His own cock throbbing with want, Benji almost whines around Victor's dick before he lets it fall out of his mouth as he pulls away and he almost gags with how badly he wants Victor inside him.

Eyebrows knitted together, Benji swallows as he glances around the room hurriedly, desperate. "I-I really need to sit on your dick right now."

"You know where the lube is," Victor says, feigning nonchalance as he does another rep, exhaling loudly through his nose.

Benji doesn't say anything as he rises to his feet, winking over his shoulder as he catches Victor's eye and smacks his bare ass right in front of him.

He crosses the room to the nightstand, opening it quickly and fishing out the lube, frowning as he searches around in the drawer, the soft clicking and shuffling of items rustling against each other making Benji's pulse race.

"This is such a mess. Didn't we just clean it, like, a few days ago?"

Victor grins cheekily. "Roast me, why don't you… Sorry."

Rolling his eyes with a soft smile, Benji finally finds the bottle of lube he was looking for, pulling it out and popping the drawer closed with his hips, shrugging. "I mean, I know you can't really help it… But it's okay, it's not the end of the world. Just a little mess."

He returns to the bench, where Victor is lying and peering up at him with his lips pressed together tightly. Benji hums as he uncaps the bottle of lube and drizzles it generously over Victor's cock and strokes him, coating the surface thoroughly, before he slots himself between Victor's legs facing away from him and positions himself atop Victor's dick.

Squeezing his legs together so tightly he knows he'll bruise, Benji peeks at Victor over his shoulder as he lowers himself and rubs himself against Victor's cock, teasing him as he lets him slide between his cheeks and giving Victor a wide grin, canines glinting, before he takes Victor's cock in his hand and slowly presses it against his hole.

Benji sighs and his sigh transforms into a low, wanton moan as Victor fills him up and he reaches out to steady himself on the tops of Victor's thighs, nails digging into flesh and fabric as he takes another deep breath, relaxing himself around Victor.

For a moment, he stays still, leaning forward but still watching Victor over his shoulder as he grits his teeth and lets his weights drop again with loud thuds. But just then, Benji begins to move, grinding down and swirling his hips around Victor's cock as his lips fall open.

Victor moans softly as Benji bounces up and down on his cock, the little noises dropping from his lips making Victor buck up into Benji, and Benji can't help but cry out as he rubs against that spot inside him that almost makes him see white. Benji cards his hand through his hair, unlatching it from his sticky forehead as he keeps his pupils trained on Victor, who is lying with his eyes screwed closed, heaving.

But soon, Victor sits up as Benji rolls himself down onto his cock, gasping quietly to himself, and Victor sighs as he presses himself up against Benji's back, their flesh slipping against each other. Victor grips at Benji's hips with one hand, breath hot against his neck, before he reaches up with the other, wrapping it around Benji's throat for a moment.

"You're really distracting, you know that, babe?" Victor whispers.

Benji giggles, thrusting down against Victor's dick and groaning again as even more heat courses through his insides. "That was… mmm… the goal."

"I'll never get anything done if you keep being such a slut," Victor scolds, voice low.

"W-well, I can think of one thing…"

Victor sighs, clicking his tongue as he trails his hand in between Benji's legs and wrenches them apart. But Benji doesn't resist, instead letting his head fall back against Victor's shoulder as he thrusts up into him, just as Victor releases his hold on Benji's neck and shoves his fingers down his throat instead.

Eyes rolling back in his head, Benji gags but moans around Victor's digits as he fucks himself on Victor's cock, his entire being shuddering and spasming vigorously as Victor spills his seed inside him and all he can do is try to hold himself up.

His thighs scream as his arms buckle and the floor looks more comfortable than the burning in his muscles as sweat pours from him, but Victor wraps his arms around him to hold him steady, kissing the back of his neck and holding himself inside Benji as his cock goes soft.

They're both still shaking as Benji raises a limp arm and brings Victor's face to him, kissing him lifelessly before he sloughs away, crawling back onto the bed and collapsing in a sticky heap, spreading his limbs out across the entirety of the bed like a starfish.

"Jesus Christ…" Victor breathes, tucking himself back into his sweatpants before he joins Benji on the bed. He curls Benji's limbs away before he lies down beside him, draping an arm over his back.

Benji doesn't open his eyes but grins, scooting closer to Victor to their faces are only an inch apart. "That was a bad idea."

"It wasn't my bad idea…"

Smacking his arm, Benji giggles. "Next time I'll go to leg day with you because my thighs are killing me. I need to build up my stamina."

Victor shakes his head, rolling his eyes before he kisses Benji gently on the cheek. "All right, but you'll have to keep up."

They stay like this for a moment longer, until Victor spots the time on his phone, cursing and chasing them to clean up. Benji insists on making breakfast, cooking up pancakes for the both of them and arranging them prettily in a stack on a plate with some cut-up strawberries on top. He smiles when he sets them on the table and calls Victor to join him.

"Look, I made your favorite," Benji says, patting the spot beside him on the bench. "I figured you'd need energy for that gigantic brain of yours since you have finals and studying and whatnot going on."

With a grimace, Victor eyes the pancakes wearily. "I'm, uh… not that hungry."

"Oh." Benji folds down the corner of the napkin next to his plate and frowns, chewing on his lip. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Now can we drop it, please?" Victor says sharply.

Benji presses his eyebrows together in concern, Adam's apple bobbing as he shifts in his seat. His voice is soft as he mumbles more to himself than to Victor. "Yeah, yeah. We can drop it. That's fine… No worries…"

Victor sighs and sits down beside Benji, hesitating before taking his hand in his own and kissing the back of it gently. "Hey, I'm sorry. I shouldn't snap at you like that."

"It's okay. I know you have a lot on your mind lately." Benji relaxes some, but is still tense as Victor holds his hand, his normally welcome presence a molten rock against his skin; he wonders if it will burn if he moves too much.

"No. There's no excuse," Victor says, tone solemn as he shakes his head. He tucks a lock of hair behind Benji's ear with a soft smile, and Benji smiles weakly in return before he goes back to picking at his breakfast.

Victor slides off the bench and crosses the kitchen to the cabinet, opening the corner cupboard and digging around for a moment before pulling out a little tupperware container. "I'll just eat them later while I'm studying or something. Thank you."

Once they've cleaned up the kitchen and packed their bags, the pair finally leave Victor's dorm just before nine to a campus abuzz with students milling about and on their way to the library, too.

They walk hand in hand for most of the way until they reach the path that separates into several smaller routes.

"Come see me on my break, okay?" Benji says, before he rises on his toes to meet Victor's cheek and presses a kiss there. "Love you, babe."

Nodding as his lips curl up ever so slightly, as if the sunshine itself is lifting them for him, Victor squeezes Benji's hand before letting it go. "I will. Love you, too."

—-

Victor's head is pounding and his vision is cloudy from exhaustion; he craves an energy drink, aching for it even though he knows he shouldn't. After all, he'd promised Benji he would try to avoid them in favor of coffee, but on days like these, the pull is almost too much.

He sighs, taking the stairs two at a time and ignoring the incessant buzzing of students, until the noise thins the higher he goes.

Once he's on the top floor, he makes his way to the usual table in the corner by the huge windows past a sea of bookshelves, holding his hand up in greeting as Mia, Lake and Fee peer up from their computers and wave.

"What's up, guys?" Victor says, sliding his backpack off his shoulders and dropping it gently beside the empty chair next to Fee.

"Hey, buddy." Fee stretches their arms over their head as they pull their headphones down from their ears to rest on their shoulders. "You're—" they glance down at their computer before looking back up, "seven minutes late."

Victor chuckles apologetically before plopping down in the chair.

Lake squints, leaning across the table and wrinkling her nose. "Vic, you look like shit."

Mia smacks her on the arm. "Don't say that!"

"Thank you so much, I had no idea," Victor says sarcastically, waving his hands beside his head dramatically, before he reaches into his bag and pulls out his laptop.

"Please don't listen to her, you look great," Mia says quickly.

"I'm gonna have to agree with Lake on this one, no offense, bestie," Fee says, stroking their chin as they lean back in their chair. "Were you and Benji up late… boinking?"

"I swear to god… We don't boink…" Victor mutters, burying his face in his hands and groaning.

Lake and Mia burst into laughter, just as a group of other students walk past shushing them and they quiet immediately.

Mia lowers herself to the table along with her voice. "Hey, where is Benji, anyway? I thought he didn't have work til a little later?"

"He has to develop the photos we took for his final project and then he works til ten," Victor explains.

"Oooo that's so exciting," Lake squeals, drumming her freshly manicured teal acrylics on the surface of the table. "The concept sounds so avant-garde."

"Wow, you actually used the right word this time," Mia teases.

Lake scoffs, feigning offense. "Hey, my French is getting better!"

Victor's cheeks go from warm to scalding almost instantly as he turns his attention to his computer and his chemistry notes in particular. He does a dramatic hair-flip as he turns to the side so he can peek at them over his shoulder. "Yeah, you guys are gonna see how hot I look in drag."

"Oh, shit, for real? Coolio. I can see it now… 'Victor Salazar finally embraces his feminine side'," Fee says, holding his hand up as if reading off a billboard. He bumps Victor on the shoulder gently. "I'm proud of you, man."

"Thanks," Victor says, scratching the back of his head sheepishly.

"Yesss we stan trying new things!" Lake says, almost vibrating with excitement. "Wait, did you wear heels, too? Oh my god. That sounds so hot. Why am I so turned on right now?"

The three of them stare at Lake, blinking.

"Did I say that out loud?" she says with a nervous chuckle.

"Lake, you can't just say that, not sure if you noticed that Victor and Benji are not looking for a third," Fee says.

Mia licks at her teeth as she smirks. "Don't forget you have a whole girlfriend who's sitting right here."

"Give it a rest, Fee, I have eyes," Lake groans. "And yes, I love you very much," she adds, kissing Mia on the cheek.

Mia rolls her eyes, leaning down and taking a bag of cookies out of her bag. "Anyway…" she turns her attention back to Victor. "Obviously you wore heels, right? It's not drag without them."

Victor chuckles, shaking his head and sighing, leg tapping against the floor, the sensation of being chased coursing through his veins. "Uh, yeah… You guys'll just have to see what the final photos look like yourself… at the exhibition in a few days."

"That's right, I have some sculptures I submitted for that, too."

Nodding politely, Victor slides his glasses up his nose as his eyes flit to his dark computer screen and he drags his finger across the track pad, watching it come to life again.

They continue chattering for a bit longer but Victor tunes them out. His heart hammers in his chest as he taps his foot against the carpeted floor in conjunction with his fingers on the surface of the table and he chews on his lip as he reads over his notes. But his eyes glaze over when he realizes he doesn't remember the previous lines he'd just read.

He doesn't know how much time passes after he blinks, still-parched pupils staring straight ahead at the letters that become blurred blobs even as he blinks again, ignoring the faint roiling in his middle, the pressure of exhaustion an hourglass resting on him that slowly continues to gather sand until he knows he'll collapse. But for now he allows it. Even if the couches across from him seem inviting, he can't lose momentum by unlatching his gaze from the screen.

Victor's attention wanes and he sighs, shifting in his seat again before he pushes his chair back and rises, leaning back and stretching before he pats his pocket and moves his gaze to his friends, waving to garner their attention.

"Hey, I'm gonna go down to the cafe. Y'all want anything?" He glances down at his phone absently before moving back up.

The three of them shake their heads, not even looking up from their computers, before Victor shrugs and turns on his heels, shoving his hands into his pockets. He jogs down the stairs, bobbing his head as the heavy trap bass of "Dior" by Pop Smoke plays in his mind as it has for the past… he doesn't remember how long it's been.

When Victor reaches the lower level, he purses his lips and sighs as he stands at the end of the sparse queue that cuts down the middle of the small space with a few tables arranged on each side.

He peers off to the side at the front of the queue, where Benji smiles gregariously at a customer as he passes a little paper bag filled with pastries across the counter.

Victor can't stop himself from smiling, lip curling to the side of his face as he simply watches him for a moment. Benji pauses. He catches his eye and returns his smile, and Victor raises his hand in greeting as the queue marches forward.

Humming, Victor pulls out his phone again. Behind him there's a soft pitter patter of footsteps but they're lost on him, attention elsewhere as his brain buzzes with stress even while more people join the queue.

"—Victor? Iced coconut dirty chai for Victor?" Benji calls, bringing Victor back to the cafe.

Glancing up, Victor points to himself as Benji nods, chuckling to himself as he slides the coffee across the counter, peering up at Victor slyly.

He bites his lip and shuffles over, taking the cool plastic cup with a little black heart drawn on the side with a market with his name sitting within it. It smells of cinnamon and cloves and nutmeg. "Thanks. How much do I owe you?"

"It's on me, babe. I'll be done in a few."

Nodding, Victor warms as he brings the straw to his lips, the ice cubes jingling inside the cup as he takes a sip, the cold, spicy but sweet liquid a welcome sensation against his tongue. He stands off to the side by the pick-up counter, sighing, as he watches Benji chatting with another customer. Pausing mid-sip, he gasps.

Another customer approaches the till, his mousy brown hair, though ordinary, enough to throw Victor into a rage. He freezes as he looks up from his phone, almost dropping it on the floor.

"Hi, welcome to The Library Cafe. What can I get you?" Benji says, smiling coolly as he leans forward onto the counter, listening patiently.

Connor swallows, Adam's apple bobbing as he takes an unconscious step back and catches his phone again before pocketing it. "U-uh… Hi. Can I get—hmm."

"Take your time. There's not a line behind you or anything." Benji's lip twitches up but his face remains pale and placid as he peers at Connor with a glint in his eye.

Victor sips at the coffee and leans against the wall as he observes Connor, red-faced, fidgeting with the card in his hand as he gazes up at the board behind Benji, squinting for a moment before he turns his attention back to Benji.

"J-just a… uhh… Java chip frappuccino w-with extra whip," Connor stutters.

Almost choking on his coffee, Victor claps a hand over his mouth.

Benji snorts, biting his lip in the way Victor knows he does when he's trying to hold back a laugh. "This isn't Starbucks. We have… iced coffee or a cappuccino if you'd prefer that."

Connor grumbles something to himself before he takes a deep breath and a roll of his eyes. "Fine. Just g-get me a double shot of espresso."

"Okay… Anything else?" Benji asks, raising an eyebrow as he taps around on the screen in front of him.

"Nope. I'm watching my carbs," Connor says, turning his nose up as his eyes rake over the muffins and pastries behind the glass.

"Sure." Benji forces a smile as he takes a cup from the stack and turns around to set it on the counter beside the coffee machine, rolling his eyes when his back is turned to Connor. He twirls back around. "That'll be $2.25."

"I could make ten of my own for that much…"

"Then why don't you?" Benji says with a terrifying smile.

Connor doesn't respond as he pays for his coffee and almost runs to the pick-up counter, only to jump as soon as he arrives. "Jesus Christ, I can't get away from you people."

Victor smirks, sunny, as he sips his coffee and shoves himself off the wall, standing almost eye to eye with Connor, whose face and hair are drenched with sweat. "Hey, Connor. How are you? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Glaring at Victor, Connor opens his mouth to respond.

"Hey, guys," Benji says from behind Connor, still clad in his blue apron with the name tag affixed. "Did you want any food, babe?"

Victor's gaze softens as he leans down to kiss Benji gently on the cheek. "Hey, B. No thanks, I'm good."

"Oh, it's you, Campbell. I didn't recognize you without Victor's dick in your ass," Connor drawls.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, you think I'm a whore and it's funny because I enjoy having sex with my boyfriend. Do you have any other jokes?" Benji replies, bored, eyelids hanging heavy on his face as he rests a hand on Victor's arm. "Why are you so obsessed with me?"

Connor doesn't respond again and Victor giggles as Benji twists around to grab the little cup of espresso from the counter and hands the steaming cup to him with a quiet groan. "Here. And no, I didn't poison it or spit in it. Although… maybe I should have."

"Gee, thanks for doing your job." Connor snatches the coffee from Benji's hand and pours it down his own throat before he crushes the cup and tosses it in the bin as Victor looks on, disturbed.

Benji's eyes widen but then he rolls them again as he sidles up closer to Victor, taking Victor's free arm and draping it over his shoulders before he snakes one of his own arms around Victor's waist. He gives Victor his best puppy eyes. "Can I have a sip, babe?"

"Sure, babe," Victor says with a soft smile as he holds his cup out to Benji, who puts the straw between his lips and takes a long draw as he eyes Connor, grinning mischievously.

"Mmm, that's good," Benji says, wrapping his other arm around Victor's middle and pressing the side of his head against his chest. "I love you so much."

Connor watches them with a sour look, as if he'd rather be anywhere but there, but his feet remain rooted to the floor.

"Well, I love you more," Victor coos, letting his hand trail down Benji's back to his ass and giving it a squeeze as he takes another sip of his coffee and stares Connor directly in the eyes.

"Oh, God, Victor, you're so naughty. We're gonna give Connor an eyeful again," Benji says, roguish, as sets one of his hands on top of Victor's. "Keep doing that, though, it's nice."

Victor does as Benji asks, kneading his fingers into Benji's ass right in front of Connor, just before he tips Benji's chin up with his knuckle and brings their lips together. A soft puff of air erupts from Benji's nose as he pops one foot up behind him.

They giggle into the kiss, both of their tongues tasting of coffee and spice, before pulling away, letting their mouths linger for a moment until they finally separate, and they giggle again, the sound of only each other's voices bringing levity to their backs.

"I literally love you so goddamn much, mi amor," Victor all but whispers, rubbing his nose against Benji's.

Benji bites his lip as he squeezes his arm around Victor's middle. "I love you so much I'm gonna be sick."

"I'm gonna be sick," Connor snaps, stomping his foot childishly against the wooden floor. "You two are fucking gross."

Victor takes a loud, long sip of his coffee and Benji's face contorts as he watches him from the corner of his eye. He finally finishes and tosses the cup into the bin off to the side. "And? Jealous much?"

Connor frowns, a deep, unpleasant thing that makes him look like an ugly bird, and Victor wonders why on earth he'd ever been compelled to try and sleep with him, especially when compared to the radiant beauty curled around him.

"I'm not jealous. You're just... embarrassing and pathetic," Connor huffs.

"So… I'm pathetic," Benji says, pointing to himself, "and you're embarrassing, right?" he asks, pointing in turn to Victor, a smile tinging his voice.

"No, I think he meant I'm pathetic. You're obviously embarrassing," Victor says sarcastically with a vigorous nod.

Benji shakes his head, clicking his tongue as he smacks himself gently in the forehead as his face splits into a grin. "Oh, of course, how silly of me. I should have known."

"Keep up, B. This is important shit."

Victor and Benji erupt into a fit of mirthful giggles, gripping at each other for support, their peals of laughter echoing off the walls in the short corridor like the cawing of crows.

"Urgh, this isn't even fun anymore!" Connor cries, face red with humiliation as he throws his hands in the air. A few people in the queue tilt their heads in confusion at his outburst. "You're literally too lame to drag!"

"Cool." Benji shrugs.

Victor scratches his head. "Was it ever fun?"

Connor pauses, chewing on his lip, deep in thought.

"I mean, obviously fucking not," Benji says, unraveling himself from Victor. "What's the point of all this?"

"If you're trying to get some vulnerability out of me then you're barking up the wrong tree, bitch."

"Isn't it exhausting to be so fucking annoying?"

"Not really."

"You know you might actually get your first boyfriend one day if you stop being such a dickhead."

Connor shrugs with a wicked smirk. "That's exactly what my therapist said."

"Fine. Then let me speak to you in a language you'll understand, because clearly logic and reason aren't your strong suit," Benji says, taking a deep breath as he steps forward, nose to nose with Connor, who barely manages a half step before his back collides with the counter behind him.

"Oooohhhhh!" Victor cheers quietly to himself, cupping his hand around his mouth. "Nice one, B."

"Thanks, babe," Benji says, smirking as he holds his hand out and Victor high-fives him.

Connor swallows thickly, gritting his teeth and covering his mouth. "Ugh, stop, I'm gonna throw up."

Benji rolls his eyes before he turns his attention back to Connor and smirks. "It's really easy. There's one step so even you can accomplish it. Just leave me alone. Or else it's on sight."

Pondering for a moment with wide eyes, Connor taps his finger against his chin as he stares up at the ceiling.

"Truce?" Benji asks, holding out his hand.

Connor groans and grumbles as he takes Benji's hand in his own and shakes it. "Fine. Truce. I will leave you two to your little doomed—er, I mean. Your little relationship."

"Uhh… thanks?" Victor says awkwardly.

Shaking his head, Connor wrinkles his nose. "I am so glad I didn't sleep with you. You're really not that hot."

"What did you just say?" Benji snarls, lunging at Connor as Victor holds him back by the shoulders.

"No offense," Connors says quickly.

Victor wraps his arms around Benji and pulls him toward him as if he were swaddling him in a blanket. "Babe, it's okay, I don't care."

"Do you need a fucking eye exam?" Benji snaps, struggling fruitlessly against Victor's hold.

"Babe, seriously, it's fine," Victor pleads, dragging Benji's cursing form away to the door across from them. "Have a nice life, Connor. Now, please, go away before I let this rabid midget free."

Without a further word, Connor darts out of their sight for the last time, just as Benji stops struggling. Victor pushes the door to the break room open and pulls them both inside, locking the door behind them.

"'Midget'? Really? You're only two inches taller than me," Benji says, frustration creeping into his voice as he swats at Victor's arm and presses his back against the door.

"Sorry, mi amor…" Victor says with a crooked smile, setting his palm against the wooden door as he leans over Benji. "Although, I will say it's cute as hell when you go completely fucking feral to defend my honor."

Benji rolls his eyes and bites back a grin as he stares at the wall behind Victor. "I wasn't expecting him to show up."

"I wouldn't have thought that because you played it so cool. Well, for the most part." Victor presses closer to Benji, resting their foreheads against each other.

"He seriously needs to get his eyes checked, that's all I'm saying," Benji chuckles, shoving Victor gently away from him. "Speaking of…"

Victor twirls around in the small space before he steps out of the way and lets Benji out from under him. Benji shuffles over to one of the lockers in the corner, pulling out a key from the pocket of his apron and unlocking it. He searches through its contents for a moment before he produces a thick envelope.

"I wanted you to have a look at the photos so you can decide which ones you like and which ones you don't like so much and also so you can let me know if there's anything you don't want me to share at the exhibition," Benji closes the locker before turning to Victor and slipping the envelope into his hand. "I made copies just for us for… personal use, by the way." He winks.

"Very interesting…" Victor opens the envelope and cards through the photos.

Benji pulls out one of the hard chairs at the tiny table and plops down on it with a soft thump, letting his limbs dangle over the armrests like dead branches before they dry and snap off to join the debris.

Humming, Victor paces around the room. He examines one of the photos of him sitting in the tree with his head lolling against the tough bark, the sun reflecting off his sweat, and he gasps quietly. "These are all honestly amazing. I don't know which ones to pick."

"All of them?"

"Mhm. Ooo wait." Victor picks up one and holds it in front of Benji. It's a zoomed-in photo of Victor's face as he stares directly into the camera, irises warm and sparkling. "I was definitely looking at you here."

He peers at it for a moment, taking it from between Victor's fingers, and simply examines it. His lip curls slightly and he bites it back. "I don't think I would be able to share that one with anyone who isn't you."

Victor nods. "I get it. It's… really intimate."

"To be fair, the whole shoot was… intimate…" Benji says, voice low and drifting off.

"Not what I mean." Victor sighs with a whisper of a chuckle, slipping the photos back into the envelope. He closes it and hands it back to Benji. "I can't help it that my face just does that when I look at you. You know what I mean because you do it, too. The really… soft one."

Benji tips his head to the side as he leans across the table and rests his head on his hand. He scoffs. "No, I don't."

"Yeah. You do."

"Hmm…" Benji ponders, staring up at the tiled ceiling. "Okay. I believe you."

Shaking his head, Victor chuckles and leans down to kiss Benji's forehead.

"So basically I can use any of the photos except that one." Benji sits up straight, pulling his hands off the table.

Victor eyes the chair beside Benji wearily before he sinks down into it. "Yep… I should probably go back to the library soon, though…"

Benji checks the clock over the doorway. "I have a few minutes left of my break but I don't mind if you go back to studying. I won't die of loneliness."

"Nah, I'll stay…"

Chuckling, Victor leans across the table, eyeing Benji's apron curiously. Benji watches him for a moment as he reaches out and untucks a part of the grey t-shirt from Benji's jeans, where it peeks out from the side of his apron, before slipping his hand into the newly-formed pocket, cool fingers shocking against warm flesh.

"Do you wanna have sex?" Benji asks, his own hand creeping up Victor's arm and inside his sleeve.

Victor pauses. He withdraws his hand and tips his head to the side, gaze raking up Benji as Benji does the same to him, peering through him.

"How about… you take all of that off," Victor says slowly, dragging his finger through the air as he motions at Benji, "but leave the apron. Just the apron."

Benji glances at the door. He rises from his seat and crosses the room, jiggling the doorknob when he reaches the door and exhaling when it doesn't open. "Okay."

With a grin, Victor puts his elbows on the table and steeples his fingers as Benji peels off his pants and drapes them over the chair before he pulls off his t-shirt and sets it there, too, so he's standing in only his underwear and the apron, shivering as the air bombards him like a blizzard. He strides over to the table, leaning against the edge.

Jutting his chin and glancing down at Benji's lower half, Victor clicks his tongue. "Those, too."

"Fine…" Benji pouts, toying with the waistband of his boxer briefs. "This may be a health code violation, though, now that I think about it… Eh, fuck it."

Victor snorts as Benji shimmies his underwear off him and deposits them atop his neat pile of clothes as he peers down at Victor through his eyelashes.

"I'm actually surprised you wore regular underwear today," Victor teases as he stands up from his chair again, grabbing Benji by the arm and twirling him around.

"Somehow all my sexy underwear went missing… And I don't know why," Benji says suggestively, reaching behind himself and cupping Victor's face before he brings their faces together.

Chuckling into their kiss, Victor drags his hands along Benji's sides and down his legs as he presses him against the table, the wood quickly wetting with sweat and providing almost no friction.

Benji grinds back against Victor, rubbing himself against his crotch as he takes Victor's hands and brings them inside his apron to feel all over the expanse of his chest and play with his nipples.

Benji moans into the kiss and bites Victor's lip, sucking on it as Victor folds him in half over the table.

"Holy shit…" Victor mutters, trailing his fingers along Benji's spine from his neck to his tailbone and tracing the ridges carefully as he admires him.

He sighs as he leans down to press kisses to each of Benji's vertebrae, chortling in pleasure when Benji moans quietly and squirms and shivers at his touch.

Humming, Benji picks his head up and turns it to face the other side of the room, eyelids fluttering open right in front of the clock.

5:07.

"Wait…" Benji murmurs almost in a daze before he tenses under Victor's hands. "Fuck. I'm late!"

Benji shoves Victor away from him and springs upright. He grabs his clothes, hopping into his underwear, before he does the same with his jeans. He tangles his arms through his shirt, putting it on backward, before he runs over to the sink to wash his hands.

"Love you, babe. See ya later!" Benji calls over his shoulder as he runs out of the room. The door slams shut behind him.

Victor waves at the already closed door weakly. Exhaustion engulfs him again as his adrenaline wanes. "Love you. Bye."

—

"Hey, guys," Benji says, raising his hand in greeting. He's holding a paper bag filled with still-warm food. "I brought you guys some stuff because I figured you could use it."

"Oh, yeah, shit, I'm starving," Lake says, reaching out and opening and closing her hands like a crab. "Gimme."

"Don't mind if I do…" Andrew says, humming as he snatches the bag from Benji's hand and sets it down in the middle of the table.

"Victor, babe, I got you the panini you like," Benji says gently, pulling out a smaller paper bag and walking around Fee to where Victor is still staring at his screen, headphones in as he bobs his head along to the music blaring in his ears to block out the sounds around him. "Hey."

"He's been like that for a while but we figured it was better not to bother him…" Mia says, pointing at him with the back of her pen as she grabs a muffin from the bag.

"How long is 'a while'?"

Andrew holds his hands up in surrender. "I don't know anything, I just got here."

"Okay, well, it's ten o'clock at night and I'm pretty sure he didn't actually consume anything aside from coffee today, so… Yeah, no."

Without pulling his gaze away from his computer, Victor frowns, knitting his eyebrows together as he leans forward on the table and threads both hands through his hair, tugging at the roots, distressed. He mutters to himself. "What the fuck…? I don't understand..."

"Hey, babe…" Benji says, gently shaking Victor's shoulder.

Victor tenses, pulling out one of his headphones. His expression is crinkled and dour and his voice cuts like a sword. "What?"

Benji's lip twitches but he smiles gently anyway, brushing Victor's fringe aside. "You should take a break and eat something since you haven't eaten all day. I brought you some food."

Victor grits his teeth, nostrils flaring.

"Just stop it, okay? Stop!" Victor roars, bolting upright, and for the first time in all the time they've known each other, Benji flinches. "You're not my mom! I don't need you to keep micromanaging me!"

A few onlookers scattered around a few tables away glance at them before shrugging and returning to their work.

"Victor, calm down," Mia says sternly, dangerous.

Benji swallows, eyes wavering. "Victor—"

"What did I just say? Leave me the fuck alone!"

Pressing his lips into a tight line, Benji nods, shaking, as he averts his gaze, clutching his hand to his chest. He blinks several times before he turns away, running down the stairs without another word.

Victor heaves, fists balled at his sides as his insides flare and dance with a fire he didn't know he had before the flames subside a moment later.

"Oh my god… Benji—wait!" He goes toward the stairs but a pair of small arms hold him back like painful, thorny vines.

Mia's voice is hollow. "No, Victor. Let him go."

"I can't, I need to—"

"No. You just fucking yelled at him. He's not gonna wanna talk to you when you're like that. That was fucked up, man."

Fee's eyes are wide and they look shaken. "Buddy, damn… Hoo boy, that was scary."

"Well, this relationship lasted… surprisingly longer than I expected it to," Lake says, examining her nails in the evening light.

The realization descends upon Victor's shoulders and the anger that had been there is wiped out completely and all that courses through his veins is pain and fire.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Salazar?" Andrew hisses, grabbing Victor by the front of his shirt. "You know who's gonna have to comfort his crying ass now?" He jabs his finger at himself. "Me! Thanks a lot."

Victor takes a deep breath, holds it, then exhales loudly after a few counts. He raises his eyes to Andrew, glaring at him so forcefully it's as if his stare can move mountains on its own. "Get your hands off me."

"Whoa… okay, okay. Sorry. Relax, man. It's not a problem for me, I'm just saying..." Andrew says, holding his hands up defensively as he backs away slowly before disappearing down the stairs, too.

As soon as Andrew is gone, Victor crumples back down to his chair in a defeated heap, clutching at his hair again as the corners of his eyes sting painfully and his vision smudges into patches of light and color overlapping each other in a chaotic medley. He buries his head in his arms.

"I'm such an idiot."