The brightness of the smartphone was blinding, almost painful, as Will squinted at it, trying to maneuver between screens to find a rideshare app. The text and shapes on his phone had started to lose their focus, clear cut edges becoming blurry and paired as the liquor finally seized his ability to function. After three of Will's failed attempts to spell in the search bar, the bright pink icon finally revealed itself. So he opened the app, clicked the box to add the destination…

Will couldn't even remember his own address, let alone try to type it in.

Somewhere… Surely there was somewhere he had it saved… but where? Will dragged his hand down his face, trying to think, and after a few moments of contemplation, concluded that it was probably in his email, from receiving his copy of the lease agreement. Exiting the app, he fumbled through his inbox one email at a time, trying to focus on looking for what he needed. He paused for a moment, his mind blank, and by some stroke of luck, the extent of his idiocy finally registered.

Squeezing the bridge of his nose, Will minimized his email inbox…. His apartment address had been saved in Maps for the last few months. Obviously.

Since when was existing as a human this hard?

Successfully copy/pasting the address, Will sighed as the app confirmed their ride and driver. His head spinning, Will placed his phone flat on the table, leaning back and resting his head against the booth seat.

"You okay…?" The quiet, concerned voice from across the table asks, and Will snapped his head up to see Nico's blurry figure, but unable to make out the other man's exact expression.

"Um… yeah," Will said, hyper-focused on not slurring his words as he spoke. He had already embarrassed himself enough tonight. Even through his intoxicated haze, his self-consciousness still managed to persistently remind him all of the different ways he had already fucked up.

"I just called a Lyft. It should be here in…" Will squinted at his phone screen again, trying but failing to make out a number, and sighed, sliding the phone across the table to Nico.

"You can probably still read right now," he finished, propping his elbow up on the booth table, very aware of the heat blooming across his face.

"It says six minutes," Nico teased, cocking his head to the side.

The way that shade of coffee brown watched Will through those long, dark lashes sent a chill down Will's spine… For the first time in his life, Will felt truly trapped under someone else's gaze—like he wasn't being seen as a person anymore, like he was some exotic animal locked away in a tiny enclosure— and finally worked up the courage to look back at the man across the table.

As if Will's face quickly turning darker shades of pink wasn't bad enough… his already racing heart fluttered at the mere sight of Nico looking back up at him with that mischievous smile.

"Think you can make it that long… or are you gonna pass out on me?"

If Will pressed his palms against his flushed cheeks, wouldn't that just draw more attention to the fact he was absolutely trashed?

At the very least, he couldn't just keep struggling with basic social interactions like a bumbling idiot.

Will's brow furrowed in concentration as he made an effort to gather what little attention span he had left. trying to get a hold of his basic psychomotor functions and latching onto the sound of Nico's lilting voice. The discomfort of his apartment key digging into his thigh causes him to grimace, and he shifts, the faux leather crinkling stickily with the readjustment.

"I'm… I'm not going to pass out, I swear," Will blurted out, face flushing an even deeper shade of red as he rakes his eyes over Nico's blurry form, swallowing dryly with need as he pulled down the crotch of his pants, trying to create more space for his arousal.

A small, amused smile creeped up Nico's slightly pink-tinged cheeks, as he lets out a small laugh that escaped his otherwise calm, confident demeanor.

"Gods, you're cute…" Nico murmured, gently patting Will's disheveled, dirty blond locks, amusement at Will's current state blatant in his expression. There was something else mixed in with his amusement… Anticipation? Desire? Whatever it was, Will knew he was too far gone to read expressions as well as he usually did…

Still smiling, Nico leaned in even closer, his warm breath sending tingles down Will's neck.

"I can't wait to see how you look when we're all by ourselves…" Nico whispered into Will's ear, who was unable to hold back a groan, as his imagination ran rampant with everything he wanted to do to Nico once they were back at his apartment.

"You're thinking about it too, aren't you, love?" Nico mumbled with a smirk as he pulls back from Will again, his gaze wandering to Will's flushed cheeks, his swollen lips, and the need in his eyes… Will knew very well how much of a mess he must have looked like now, but the worry about how others saw him had long since been overtaken by his fixation on every one of Nico's movements.

"You're practically falling apart at the sight of me," Nico continued, his hand gently caressing Will's cheek as Will let out a small sigh, Nico's proximity only acting as a catalyst to Will's possessive need for the other man.

"And we're not even alone yet…"

Finally, Nico stood up from where he was tormenting Will, and gestured for Will to follow, immediately setting off towards the exit.

Disoriented, Will scrambles to get up and follow Nico, the latter's paces much faster than he expected. He nearly tripped out of the booth in his frantic state, almost stumbling over his own feet, but quickly regained his balance, holding on to the table for a few moments. Hastily, Will rushed to catch up with Nico, not wanting to lose him in the crowd again.

As Nico walked up to the bar, Pollux greets him with a smirk, and sizing up Will from over Nico's shoulder, the blond just a few paces behind.

"So… leaving already?" Pollux asked, polishing glasses absentmindedly, his attention much more focused on the pair in front of him. His eyebrows lift as his gaze stops on the deep bite mark on Nico's shoulder, his amused smirk now tinged with just a hint of concern.

"Yeah, we're heading to his place," Nico confirmed with a nod, quickly tugging his jacket collar over his neck as he realized where Pollux was staring. He rolled his eyes and sighed, leaning up against the counter.

Ugh, he's gonna be poking at it every time he sees me now…

Maybe I should just stay with Will… at least for the morning.

Over the years, especially following the previous incident with his tampered drink, the two had developed a good system: As Nico leaves the club with someone, he stops by the bar, giving Pollux a rough rundown of his plan for the night, and most of the time, he would take the spare key from Pollux, not one to overstay his welcome into the early morning, especially in a complete stranger's home. If Pollux felt something was off, he would then intervene, but thankfully, he hadn't had to resort to doing so yet.

Otherwise, in the rare occasion that Nico didn't plan to leave with someone for the night, he would help Pollux close up the bar, and they would head home together. The one time Nico went back to Pollux's apartment in the early morning without the key, after realizing that he had no way to get inside, he fell asleep leaning against the door frame. The shock of being hungover and suddenly woken up—as his head hit the floor from Pollux suddenly opening the door—was not something he ever wanted to feel again.

"I most likely won't need to the spare key tonight; I'll probably head back later in the morning," Nico says as Pollux hands him the spare key, tucking it into his pocket with his phone.

"Oh?" Pollux teased, poking at the bite mark on Nico's neck. "Planning for a long night?"

"So nosy," Nico chuckled in response, swatting away Pollux's hand, finally putting an end to the intrusive prodding.

Nico turned back to look at Will, who stood awkwardly to the side, swaying slightly. Despite his proximity, he still seemed to be unsure of whether to approach the two or wait for permission.

Is he really okay?

Maybe I shouldn't have let him finish that second drink…

Six shots for someone who doesn't really drink might have been too much.

Nico pursed his lips, opting to grab Will by the arm and heading out into the biting cold.

Maybe this'll wake him up.

The bitter November cold was only accentuated by the frigid air at this time of night, a freezing gust of wind blasting Will in the face, successfully rousing him from his near-stupor. But despite the wintery weather, the warmth from the liquor throughout his body made the cold tolerable, even comfortable, despite only wearing a t-shirt and a thin flannel.

In front of him, Nico had zipped his leather jacket shut, standing hunched over, with the rosy tip of his nose barely tucked under the neckline of his jacket. In the harsh artificial lighting from the lampposts, fending off the ever-present darkness of the night, the raven-haired man looked terribly fragile and vulnerable. Hands shoved as deep as possible into his pockets, arms held flush to his body, Nico's posture could only be interpreted as intending to conserve what little body heat remained trapped under his clothes.

The coldness of those delicate, slender fingers despite their proximity earlier continued to linger in Will's mind… If he was already cold in the club, far from being exposed to the outdoors, how freezing must he feel out here in the harsh, unrelenting cold?

A small pang of pity pierced through Will's chest, and somehow, he mustered up enough courage to walk up to Nico, who was standing alone on the edge of the sidewalk. Draping his arms over Nico's shoulders, Will felt guilt pool in his gut as Nico flinched at the sudden contact.

"Sorry," Will murmured, pressing his flushed, rosy cheek against the ice-cold silkiness of Nico's hair. After a wordless moment, Nico's tense form relaxed into Will's embrace as he tucked his nose even further under his jacket.

Will shifted his arms over where Nico's arms pressed against himself, and slid his large, warm hands into Nico's pockets, gently interlace their fingers. The coldness of the leather on Nico's back quickly faded as Will held Nico tightly against his chest, the unyielding warmth soaking through the jacket into Nico's shivering body.

How intimate they must look under the streetlights to the few wandering souls drifting up and down the street. Will's larger form enveloping Nico's small frame, their bodies pressed flush to each other. Will's blond curls illuminated by the headlights of intermittently passing cars, Nico's glossy hair spilling down the side of his face, just barely grazing Will's arm. The way their chests rose and fell, perfectly in sync, moving like they had become a single being. The soft puffs from their frozen, ephemeral exhales, quickly and simultaneously dissipating into the void of the night.

"How are you so warm…?" Nico asked quietly, his voice muffled as he spoke into his jacket, eyes closed, tiny flakes of frost forming on his long, dark eyelashes.

"I've always run pretty hot, at least from what people have told me." Will chuckled as he replied, his heart pounding against his chest as he continued to embrace the other man.

"Lucky you," Nico mumbled, his eyes peeking open before shutting again in the bitter cold.

"I've always run pretty cold… but it's worse in the winter." Nico continued as he leaned even more into Will's chest, Will smiling as he feels his own body heat ebb away, warming Nico instead.

Will's phone in Nico's jacket vibrated as a grey Honda Civic rolled to a stop in front of them. Nico pulled his hand out of his pocket, confirming the license plate of the car, before turning off Will's phone and stepping forwards to get into the vehicle. Will quietly whined at the loss of Nico from against his chest, earning him a small laugh from Nico as he opened the door.

"Will?" The driver asked, turning at the sound of Nico opening the door, Nico only nodding in response.

Will had begun to walk around to the other side of the car when Nico's slender, freezing hand grabs him by the wrist, pulling him towards where he's seated, Will clumsily landing in Nico's lap. His face flushed red as Nico quickly closed the door, Will shifted off Nico's lap towards the left side of the car. His relocation was almost immediately thwarted by Nico's arms wrapping around his waist, holding Will securely on his lap.

"Where do you think you're going, hmm?" Nico teased, pressing his cheek against Will's back.

"Um, I-I was going to the other side," Will stammered out as he felt Nico laugh against him in response.

"Oh no, you're not going anywhere," Nico crooned, the vibration of his voice calming as it resonated into Will's ribs with each word, causing him to shudder in Nico's embrace.

"You're going to stay right here on my lap, love."

The car merged back onto the road as every single one of Will's senses became hyperaware of his surroundings. The scent of the air freshener wafted through the car with each bump and divot in the asphalt, the rumbling of the tires and revving of the engine blending into the sound of Nico's small sighs, Nico's scent driving him just a little madder with each whiff caught as he inhaled.

He longed to be able to tuck his face back into the tender, fair skin of the curve of Nico's neck, the intoxicating earthy scent only becoming more addicting with each moment he indulged himself.

Will inhaled sharply at the feeling of Nico's cold hand wandering under the hem of Will's shirt, delicate fingers running over what little muscle definition remained in his torso. Self-conscious of the flab that he knew he had packed on over the semester, Will actively flexed his abs, trying to mask how out of shape he had become.

"Relax, love," Nico murmured with a small laugh, his fingers continuing to wander over Will's skin, creeping up once again to palm the warm flesh on Will's chest.

"I don't bite… that hard."

Will felt a small smile stretch across Nico's face once more, the coldness of Nico's cheek against his back no longer as intense as it was at first. His face once again flushed with embarrassment as he felt himself twitch in reaction to Nico's touch and voice.

"Mmm… so sensitive," Nico said, his thumb lightly brushing over Will's nipple, Will unable to suppress his small, stifled gasp in turn.

"I can feel you shivering under my touch," Nico continued, trailing his fingers back down Will's chest, his hand finally coming to rest against the waistband of Will's jeans. By now, surely Nico knew how much he was riling Will up with just a few touches here and there.

"Speechless already? I haven't even gotten started yet…" Nico whispered, pressing his own arousal against Will from below, a needy moan escaping the blond as he fully registered their shared desire.

"I can't wait to hear all the delicious noises you make for me tonight, love."

The haze in Will's mind only intensified with each passing moment, the scenery outside the car unrecognizable in his current state, even if he could have easily pinpointed where he was while sober. Despite being fully aware of his disorientation and lack of control, Will couldn't quite identify what he was feeling at that second… Fear? Exhilaration? Maybe a combination of both?

All he knew was that the pounding of his heart in his chest surely was loud enough to be heard by all three men in the car.

The rapid, steady sound of his heartbeat set the rhythm for the performance he was experiencing in the moment. The sounds of the vehicle as they drove, their breaths still synced, the feeling of Nico's fingers tracing circles in perfect time with his pulse, all came together to create a beautiful masterpiece; almost as if the musician had created his quiet melody, playing Will like an instrument.

Will didn't even know how long he had lost himself in the background music of the night, but his trance-like state was finally shattered by the sound of the driver's voice, prompting the two to get out of the car as he pulled into the parking lot of Will's apartment complex. Embarrassed at his own indecent behavior, Will mumbled an awkward "thank you" as he rushed to stand up and get out of the car.

The moment Will righted himself, the edges of his vision faded to black, the sudden ringing in his ears so disorienting that he stumbles forwards. If not for Nico quickly reaching out to catch Will by the waist, his sudden drop in blood pressure would surely have him face-planting into the pavement.

"Are you sure you're not passing out on me tonight?" Nico asked, voice laced with concern, but even through his double vision, Will could tell that there's just a hint of mirth dancing behind the worry in those deep brown eyes.

"Sorry, I-… I think I stood up too fast," Will stammered, his legs as unsteady as those of a newborn fawn.

"No, really? I didn't even notice," Nico replied, rolling his eyes in amusement. He glanced over at Will, who was in the process of squinting at the blurry numbers on the apartment buildings, trying to figure out where his apartment was.

Will knows that there's no way Nico didn't pick up on the disorientation in Will's gaze as he scanned the complex, trying to find his own building.

"What's your apartment number?" Nico asked as he bundled himself back up in his jacket, starting to walk towards the line of apartments.

"Um… 800… something, I think," Will replied, rubbing his face with his palm.

"You think?"

"Should be the top right apartment in the second 800 building…?" Will muttered, the paired buildings each having split into four brick-colored rectangles, light fraying their normally straight lines.

"Got it," Nico said after a brief pause, letting out an amused sigh as he started walking towards Will's building. As Will swayed behind him with his first few steps, the familiar haze of shame once again began to cloud his thoughts.

Pathetic. Imagine needing to have someone show him the way to his own apartment…

At least, given the way the night had gone, Will had plenty of other things worth imagining instead.

His gaze flits down to the way the black denim curves around Nico's ass with each hurried step, drinking in the way the crease so perfectly teases what's hidden underneath—until Nico suddenly stops to check on him—and Will almost knocks both of them over, unable to react quickly enough, his arms reaching out just in time to grab Nico by his shoulders before he can stumble forwards.

Will looks up guiltily at Nico, who sighs despite the small smile gracing his lips, before pulling his hand from his pocket and snaking it around the taller man's lower back, all just to guide Will in the direction of his own home.

It's deathly silent for a moment, the abyss instantly swallowing up the sound of their breaths and the scuff of their shoes on the pavement.

And from there, they walked.

Across the parking lot, where Nico released Will's waist momentarily to flip off a car that nearly reversed straight into them.

Then through the building entrance, the biting cold relinquishing its hold on them, the door closing quietly behind them.

Up the newly painted wooden stairs, where Will went up first, followed by Nico's slow, steady paces, the sound of their ascent echoing in the otherwise empty stairwell. Still unsteady, Will grimaces as he's left with no choice but to clutch onto the filthy germ-laden handrails he always avoided.

And then finally, he was face to face with his apartment.

823. That's it.

He could almost hear the doorknob taunting him, frigid and unyielding as he tries to open the door to no avail.

The coldness of Nico's hand on his back seems to help streamline Will's focus, his mind clearing just enough to recognize that he needed to find his keys to get inside. He digs through all six of his pockets, searching for his apartment key…

After a bit more fumbling, he manages to pull the key out of his jeans and unsteadily aligns the key with the keyhole. The familiar sound of the metal bolt sliding inside the lock, while mundane, was comforting. And at this point, any sense of comfort was welcome, given his otherwise distressed state of mind. With a quiet click, the door finally unlocks, the rusty knob turning with a screech in Will's hand.

Will slowly steps into the darkness of his apartment, Nico slipping in after him and shutting the door behind them.

As the warmth of the apartment envelops Nico's shivering body, he sighs in relief as his hair is gently pushed away from his face, fluttering under the gust of heated air from the ceiling vent.

As he stands there in his intoxicated daze, Will turns to watch him, and doesn't even seem to realize that a small, endearing smile had already crept up onto his face.

Until it promptly disappears when he registers the state of his apartment.

The apartment was an absolutely chaotic mess: textbooks open on every visible surface, notebooks haphazardly stacked on top of cluttered furniture, loose papers held in place by dirty dishes and silverware. The rest of the space on the carpeted floor was littered with empty takeout boxes, crushed energy drink cans, and the occasional dead vape.

"Sorry, I-I haven't cleaned up in a while," Will mumbled, kicking a few stray plastic bags aside as he retreats slowly towards his bedroom, probably trying to find some empty space to temporarily shove his dirty laundry and whatever else is on the floor in there.

"Just give me a few minutes... you can sit anywhere you can find a spot, I guess."

As he watches Will disappear unsteadily into the room, Nico stands silently in the middle of the rest of his living space, taking in the utter chaos that surrounds him. He glances over at the covers of the nearest textbooks, 'Medical Physiology' and 'Basic & Clinical Pharmacology' drawing his curiosity.

A medical student?

That's... unexpected.

How the hell do you take care of other people while living like this?

Hi everyone.

Not gonna lie, work has been kicking my ass since I started my new job in August. Working in healthcare feels like it's sucking every drop of energy out of my body and the very life out of my soul, but I think being able to make a little bit of a difference, one person at a time, has been worth it. I just wish it left me with a bit more motivation to write regularly, but I'm getting the hang of it. Bear with me.

But as always, thanks for reading!

Aleavon