Ah-choo!

cupid’s arrow.               「 @hrxnick 」 

love. romance. commitment.  it wasn’t that blaqk was opposed to dating. in fact, he would be very open to the idea if he met the right person but his career made the opportunity difficult. throughout the six years of his career, the idol had experienced his fair share of rendezvous; however, he quickly learned he was not keen on passing flings as many idol relationships had a tendency to be. for it, nick’s advice on how to woo one of the idols he only knew in passing was quickly laughed off and the musician’s focus changed paths.  “rather than focusing on me, why aren’t you trying to get someone for yourself? let me help. i’ll even give you tickets to one of our events, if they’re a fan. i’ll hook you up. i’ll make you their little knight.”

Dominick was  a love specialist. Or at least that’s what he believed in.

The boy couldn’t loose an opportunity to try helping a friend to find love. He gave his heart out in advice, but it backfired on him, since Blaqk thought it would be better if the situation was the other way.

Nick quickly shook his head. “We’re talking about you, aren’t we?” He grins, trying to move the subject back to his friend with his most innocent expression. “Do you prefer to date fans, then!? That’s right, you must be tired of the idol girls...” 

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾hyemin honestly, genuinelyhad been trying to ground herself but with the way that her entire body feltlight and airy. with the way that she felt as if she’d flutter away at anysecond notice, this attempt to become a solid oak tree in the city jungle wasnot going to happen anytime soon. but at least she had the older male, even if hewas part of the cause for the giant flux within her.

❛ you werestill loud. i saw you on stage very quickly so it’s okay. but if you get alightstick, i want it to be red or pink. or maybe a fairy light. or somethingcute. sadly there’s no violin shaped lightstick, ❜ hyemin giggles at the thought of having acustom one, wondering how odd it would look to see a smaller version of herbeloved instrument glowing even in the darkness. 

❛ i want…  ❜ her voice trails off in thought, mind having been so focused first onher violin, the stage and now on him that she hadn’t even thought about things.like how hungry she was, finally noticing the little growling commotion frombelow. nor could she think of what she wanted to eat onthe spot, so hyemin takes one of his hand with both hers instead and traces circles with her thumbs. ❛  i’llthink about it during our walk. ❜

she’ll also need to tell himsomething else too during it – though maybe the important news could wait untildinner. or after dinner. just thinking about it made her feel dizzy.☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

He paid attention to every single word that left her lips. Despite the loud music and the loud chatting of people, he made an effort to not miss a single word from hers. He smiled all the time, nodding from time to time to assure her he was paying attention. 

“Should I create a lightstick for you!? I’ll be the very first fan to have it!” He says excitedly, a billion ideas running through his head. He felt like such craftwork would make Hyemin happy, but it would also make him happy, knowing he would be that special fan whenever he would cheer for her. 

“Ok, think about it carefully!” Dominick smiled at the girl, holding her hand firmly as they walked out of the festival. Slowly, the loud music started to fade and the silence started to fall between them. It was a comfortable silence, no awkwardness between them.

          SMALL LAUGHTER ERUPTS FROM HIM, MIRTH BLEEDING into his features. the younger boy’s actions make the walk awkward, not the most comfortable of positions to walk in. but it was simply a testament as to how clingy the other could get - also how much junjae was used to it. truly he would easily do anything for the boy.

❝– you wish,❞  junjae says, using his free hand to lightly bop the other’s nose. ❝ –  snacks are good and all, but we also need to eat an actual meal! you can’t expect to have enough energy to go around and ride all the ride if we don’t eat properly okay? but we can also snack all day long and i’ll pay for all of them too!❞

          a nod of confidence and then another in agreement - not that there were many choices. he allows himself to be pulled along towards the cotton candy, ready for the sugar to rush through his veins. a pleasant start to the day he supposes, also the best for taking a picture on the merry-go-round which junjae fully intended to do of himself and the other.

❝– alright! you want the bunny one?   ❞  the voice which comes out of his mouth sounds a bit muffled by how his face is squished all the slightly. but at least junjae hopes that the younger one will understand what he had been trying to say. ❝ – there’s a blue bunny and a pink one. how about you get one and i’ll get the other? ❞

Nick couldn’t help but to pout when the older boy denied his idea of eating junk all day long and reinforced the need of a proper meal. He would never go against Junjae so, even though the look on his face said no, he nodded his head. “I thought we could get enough energy from sugar!” He complained lightly but smiling at the older boy to avoid being scolded. 

“Are you paying for everything, really?” Nick chuckles as soon as he asked that, a thought coming to his mind and easily slipping through his lips. “Wow! That’s a real date, then!” 

Dominick held Junjae’s hand firmly as they waited in line, bouncing slightly as he tried to contain his own energy and eagerness to grab the sweet and go play. “Yes! We’ll have matching bunnies to take couple pictures!” Dominick says enthusiastically.

Whatever it is that they fed young children with to keep them so highly affectionate, it could only be considered fascinating. He didn’t want any, well, at least in case he aims it at the wrong way towards his father. Felix would just have to keep the act up instead. It wasn’t hard. Not when it came to people like Nick who were so quick in their simple actions. Adorable.

Felix allows himself to be squeezed, a hand that he can somewhat move pats Nick’s back - it really did feel like he was dealing with an overgrown dog all of a sudden. But at least he receives an answer, to which he smiles for because he definitely likes to be a good surprise for people he’s fond of. For others, a bad surprise wouldn’t be so bad in his eyes at least.

❝　I see you’re eager,　❞ Felix says. He hums a bit in amusement but Felix holds onto Nick’s hand as if it’s the most normal thing to do. It kind of is. At least in all their interactions somewhere, this has become just a normal thing to do. ❝　Do you have a plan in mind? If not, I have a suggestion for us?　❞

But he won’t say what it is yet because Felix wants to play a small guessing game with the younger boy.

Throwing his backpack on his shoulder, Nick kept the grip on Felix’s hand, and he pulled the older boy to the exit. He was happy his monotonous afternoon had a great twist and he could spend some time with his friend.

“Do you already have something in mind? What would that be? I bet it’s gonna be something super fun!” Nick started talking as soon as they were outside the silent place. The sun was warm on his skin and he smiled all the more, taking in the good weather as an addition to his good luck for the day.

He kept quiet for a brief moment, his brain working in all kind of possibilities. “Are we going to that new cafe that opened? Are we going sky diving? Are we going on a treasure hunt!?” He spilled everything at once, thinking of a million things at the same time, but never loosing his wide smile.

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　hyemin cannot fathom if her heart is fluttering from the twirl, which seemed like the perfect fairytale ending with a prince, or if her heart was fluttering because of the second hug. maybe it’s both, but they say third time’s the charm so with much risk that also includes a crimson face, she pulls him in for one final hug. she didn’t really get an answer, but at least her heart, even in all its rapid beating, is content.

❛ w-what you say always means a lot. t-thanks nick. even if you weren’t out there you cheered for me and therefore you’re the best. the actual w-winner! to me a-at least. and yes we have to go celebrate yes, ❜  adrenaline still rushing high in her veins she nods aggressively at his statement. 

❛ you’ll cook for me? ❜  she squeaks in surprise. that wasn’t what hyemin had in mind, but she’s going to take it since it means spending more time with the other. also, admittedly,  she was definitely excited to eat whatever he was going to conjure up.  ❛  well now i’m even more excited. ❜　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

The third hug was welcomed with more comfort. Smiling, Dominick ran his fingers through Hyemin’s hair, as both of them slowly calmed down from the hyper moment they just had together. And with a little peck at the top of her head, he lets her go. 

“Am I a winner, you say?” He asked, chuckling with her cute words, but also feeling extremely embarrassed by that. “I’m the cheer winner!” The boy makes a pose, a superman-like pose, proud of himself and his cheering, and trying to hide the flush on his cheeks. “I should have gotten a lightstick to cheer better!”

“Hyemin!” 

Dominick had run to meet her at the exit of the stage right after the girl received her prize. His excitement matched hers and he wrapped his arms around her without thinking twice, twirling her around in a little celebration. 

“I saw it! You were amazing, I knew you would win! I knew it!” Dominick’s excitement was taking over him, so much he barely noticed her reaction towards the hug. Instead, the boy pulled her to a second hug, giggling. “I’m very proud of you! You were brave and talented and pretty and amazing!” He says, finally breaking the second hug. 

Jiyeon never understood why people thought it was sad when someone went to the movies alone. It was something that she preferred because in her mind, even if you went with ten people or just went on your own, once the movie started playing, you stopped talking. The whole point was to watch and listen, not interact with others.

That being said, she also enjoyed earlier shows when she could go, enjoying a movie with less people around but she would take what she could get. 

This was one of those moments and Jiyeon bought her ticket and a drink before heading into the theatre, choosing a horror movie that she had heard really got to people, and curious to see for herself. 

She wasn’t someone who enjoyed horror, it wouldn’t be her first choice but it was the only thing playing at the time and Jiyeon just really wanted to see a movie. 

Just as promised, the movie was scary. It finished and left Jiyeon’s heart racing, the adrenaline pumping through her veins as she left the theatre, glad that she went, even if she knew she would have troubles sleeping that night. 

She was about to head out when she heard someone speak, and turned to see a young boy leaning against the wall, having just left the same movie she had just seen. “But hey, you survived,” she said, her words perhaps seeming blunt, but she meant for it to be encouraging. “Did you enjoy it at least?”

Dominick, despite still reviving the memories of the movie in his head, had his attention brought to a stranger who passed by and talked to him. It took the boy a couple of seconds to actually think about an answer.

“Did I really survive? Or will the ghost follow me home now!?” He pouts, looking up at the stranger. His hands were still against his chest, and he still felt scared. 

After taking a few more breaths and fixing himself the better he could, he offered the stranger a smile, extremely glad she approached him. At least he had someone to talk to and forget the scenes from the movie as soon as possible.

There was something about those days that made Nick feel both comfortable and unpleased. He loved the smell, the sound and the comfort it would bring. But Nick hated getting wet, the traffic and everything else the rain could negatively affect him. 

That afternoon, Dominick noticed the rain can be inopportune not only for him, but for stray animals. A small cat, probably abandoned, was soaked and trembling inside a box, from where it couldn’t get out for being too little. Nick noticed the small animal could drown from the little pool that was being formed inside the box so he decided to step in and help. 

Dominick was clumsy, trying to manage his big umbrella, his school backpack, and now the little animal. The kitten was still trembling in his arms even after he took it out of the pool, so the boy tried to get his jacket from his backpack, without success.

“Excuse me! Can you hold the kitten for a moment? I need to grab something in my backpack.” He asked for the very first person he saw passing by. Nick had his brightest smile, simply because he thought anyone would be willing to help him rescue the poor cat. 

Dominick was staring at the huge ‘no trespassing’ sign, while the older male was easily helping himself take the trash out of the way so they could go through the gates in front of them. 

They were going to the movies together. It was a place Dominick had never been to before and it was a bit far from his place, so he had no idea how to arrive there. He trusted Wonho with the directions, even when the older boy suggested a shortcut. 

Dominick was fine with the desert shortcut, since he trusted Wonho, but the moment it looked like they were going to have to cross an abandoned place in order to get faster to the movies, Dominick had second thoughts.

“What if the police come after us!?” The boy asks worriedly.

In Dominick’s case, he would look up to Seungjoon. Even though the boy wasn’t much older, he was living Dominick’s dream. Coding games was sincerely what Nick aspired doing the most in his life, and knowing someone who was a studying it was like a dream coming true. 

Not only that, but they also had a good chemistry together, and Nick felt special since the older boy actually had patience to hang out with a teenager fanboy. 

“Ok, now pretend you were the king of a vampire kingdom.” Nick started as Seungjoon put the hamburgers down at the table and was getting ready to eat. “But you fall you love with the werewolf princess of the rival kingdom. What do you do?”

Dominick was just being random at that point, and it was probably his hunger speaking louder. He ate some of his own french fries, looking at Seungjoon with expectant eyes. 

The answer didn’t matter much, in the end Dominick was just putting an exaggerated effort on having a conversation with his role-model Seungjoon. 

          OFTEN DOTED ON, TO RETURN THE EMOTIONS by offering it to someone else is an easy task for the boy. or maybe it was his natural penchants to offer a bit of his heart to everyone. regardless, it led him to hosting a specific nick shaped hole in his heart - someone once suggested that junjae would not ever find himself angered by the younger boy, and he thinks he must agree there. for good and for bad.

❝  – so nick,❞  he casually loops his arms around the other boy’s, pulling him closer to his side. they’re attached as if glued together, but there’s a good excuse for it. the amusement park is crowded even in the winter, the slips of cold doing nothing to dissuade anybody from having their fun. it’s sunny, that was enough to keep everything running.

❝  – we got all day so what do you want to do first? go to the extreme right at once with the roller coaster or should we start with something small? we have to remember to make room for lunch though,❞ the corner of his lips briefly tug down into a thoughtful frown. there’s always that lull between food and rides, where anything extreme meant an upset stomach - but gouging what was okay and what wasn’t was always so complicated.

❝  – but you can plan everything! i’ll just go along with you since i’m fine with everything. oh, and lunch is definitely on me okay?❞ 

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴛᴀʀᴅᴜsᴛ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴠᴇɪɴs @hrxnick​

You can’t go wrong with an amusement park. 

Nick loved the place very much, from the most childish rides to the extreme ones. He could do everything and repeat. Dominick could never get tired of it, specially with so much candy around and, of course, with such an awesome friend. 

As he felt the older boy pulling him closer, his body reflex was to wrap both his arms around Junjae’s waist, attaching himself to him. Walking was weird in such a position, but Nick found it funny and comfortable at the same time. So he wouldn’t let go. Also, it was Junjae, he just never let go of Junjae. 

“Why lunch, though?” He looks up with a mischievous smile. “With all those candy and fried food around? We can just snack all day long!” He giggles, exactly like a kid who can do whatever they want because the parents are not around. Maybe Nick was that kid in the end. 

“Let’s not plan anything and follow our hearts. And right now my heart and my nose can smell cotton candy so we should grab some and go to the carousel!” He grins, finally breaking the hug only to hold Junjae’s hand firmly and pull him along to the cotton candy line. 

‧͙⁺˚*･༓☾　it’s still not as warm as she could hope, but it is also still early march. school had just started a short while ago and the cherry blossoms are budding but not blossoming quite yet. it’s warm enough for hyemin to feel more comfortable with each deep breath she takes outside. she’s still dressed warmly, bundled up tightly until the only thing which can be exposed is the upper half of her face. there’s a slight wind blowing, she huddles half behind the taller boy while she keeps her hands tight by her side.

          ❝   are we almost there?  ❞ it may sound unusual for a girl of her age to be unable to decipher where the only underground shopping malls in hwaryung happens to be, but she doesn’t go often choosing to reside at home or relax in the nature around her house. but for friends, she’s willing to go out and with the feeling of spring around the corner maybe it’d be time for her to get something new.

           ❝  do you need something? we should plan our trip out ahead of time! o-or,  ❞ she pauses in thought. plans are nice but admittedly sometimes the most charm comes from simply wandering around looking for anything and everything. this is how gems are often found, during the most unexpected moments and not when things are actively sought.  ❝  maybe we’re better off just going with the flow. maybe we can find something for the t-two of us to both have.  ❞

          eyes look over at the boy, trying to read his expression from her odd angle. she doesn’t tell the older male, but sometimes she feels as if she could stare at him for hours. simply because. 　☽༓･*˚⁺‧͙

*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚⊶  play a tune for @hrxnick

The day was perfect for Dominick.

He enjoyed layering clothes and the feeling of getting warm it would give him. Winter was probably his favorite season, not because of the cold, but because he liked feeling warm and comfortable, and this is something you can only achieve during winter. But spring bubbles something different inside of the boy. All the colors and smells really motivate him in a positive way, so right now, the transition between the seasons was probably the best time of the year.

“Almost there!” Dominick smiled, turning just slightly while trying to catch a glimpse of the younger girl. He couldn’t help but to think she looked extremely adorable like this, all bundled up. And he couldn’t help but notice she didn’t seem warm enough, despite looking like so. 

The boy walked in a comfortable silence for the next few seconds, his mind racing in thoughts about Hyemin’s situation. He had played so many games he knew exactly what to do: to give her a piece of his clothing in order to help her warm up. He wasn’t lucky, though, since she was very well covered. 

After a moment of consideration, he took off his own fuzzy knit hat, gently holding Hyemin’s arm for her to stop walking, and then carefully putting the hat on her head. And in his eyes and mind, it happened exactly like in the games. It was on point. He just needed some background music and maybe some extra cherry blossoms, but besides that, it was perfect. 

“There. We will be warm soon, don’t worry.” He smiled widely, enough for his eye smile to show. After this, he put a hand over her shoulder, bringing her closer, keeping her warm. “And I don’t have anything in mind... I just thought going to the mall would be fun.”

School was never boring to him thanks to Joao. At first, they would not talk to each other, but suddenly one day they were forcefully paired up for a project and the friendship that blossomed from it was just natural and right. 

They were attached to each other since then, and being classmates, of course they would just hang out all the time. But better than spending time at school, was to spend time after school. 

Dominick was helping Joao to finish setting their tents. They were at his backyard, preparing for their camping night. His parents prepared a projector and a big screen for them to watch movies together and ordered a lot of food and sweets for them to feast overnight. 

Nick was adding extra pillows when he had the brilliant idea of attacking Joao instead. With a fast move, and while his friend had his back turned at him, Dominick hit him as hard as he could, using the biggest pillow he found. 

“Oops! Didn’t see you there!” He tries acting innocent, holding back his laughter the best he could. 

in comparison to the small trinkets which he has been procuring for everyone else, the bag is a lot bigger. inside, there’s a notebook. small but useful for many things. ❝  – a place to put your otome game ideas…or if you want your school notes too.❞ 

Dominick’s smile was wide and sincere, he was happy to see the oldest boy, first of all. But even happier he actually came over for White Day. 

Hugging Junjae’s waist, he squeezed him, never loosing the smile. “I’m your favourite youngest but I should also be your favorite love!” He chuckles, cupping Junjae’s cheeks in his hands and squeezing them while puckering his lips playfully. 

“For me?” His eyes fall on the bag that was being given to him, hugging it right away. “Thank you!” Nick thanked before even checking the gift, knowing he would love it either way.

Dominick left school earlier that day thanks to the absence of a teacher, which made him extremely excited to make his free afternoon useful in some way. Not the boring type of useful, the fun type.

 Aimlesly walking down the street while thinking of what to do, the smell of popcorn played with his senses and his own eagerness to have it. Entering the movies without much thought, the first thing he did was to buy the biggest popcorn bucketvthey had and a large soda. And after he was satisfied with his snacks, he decided he needed to watch a movie to make it worth. Unfortunately, all movie sessions were for too late that night in exception of one. 

He chose that movie and went straight to the room. And that was the moment he regretted everything.

It was a horror movie, the worst he has ever seen in his life - not that he has seen a lot either. It was so scary he could barely touch his popcorn, and by the end of the movie he still had a full bucket of it. 

Upon leaving the movies, feeling goosebumps all over his arms, Nick felt the need of resting against a wall and taking a deep breath. 

“That was the scariest moment of my life.” He talked to himself, defeated and spooked. 

The boy reminds Felix of a hamster. Well an overgrown, excessively lanky one. But it was the look of a herbivore, a rodent herbivore that made Felix decide that Nick was probably one of the most least harmful things in the universe. Also he looked as skinny as a toothpick, was he fed properly?

For all that Nick was tall, he doesn’t think he’d be expecting an attempt at being flipped or tackled by the younger but taller boy. Not that he plans to experiment over this either. This is just an observation. One of many that started from the day he found himself being clung onto by a beanpole. Well, Nick is cuter than a beanpole.

❝　Did I surprise you for once?　❞ Felix asks. He doesn’t belong onto this campus but he came to visit for many different reasons and he had wandered into the high school area where he had found a certain person. It’s not hard to when Nick is a few inches taller than his next seatmate in the library.

So Felix had snuck up, quiet as always thanks to his whole heist side job and gently pressed his fingers into the other’s shoulder blade. As a form of hello, a slightly painful one but whatever. He slides into the free seat beside Nick with ease, as if he always belonged there which, he certainly once did. ❝　Are you studying? Or can I bribe you to head outside with me.　❞

a closed starter for @hrxnick​

Dominick always thought the library was an amazing place. It was quiet, bright and smelled great. The young boy could swear the only thing that a library could ever lack was not allowing people to eat in there. And this little lacking thing could be a huge bother to him sometimes. 

Nick was sitting in a corner close to the window, his phone hiding inside a book while he played his new game while pretending to be studying, and his hands from time to time would travel inside his backpack to grab a couple gummy bears and quickly munch on them before he could get caught. ‘Who cares about food rules?’ he would think to himself. 

His mind was focused on the game when he felt a bother on his shoulder, making him wince and scrunch his nose. When he looked to his side, though, the smile appeared on his lips naturally.

“Felix!” There wasn’t a second of hesitation before Dominick wrapped his arms around the older boy’s figure, barely listening to what he had to say, too busy squeezing him. “It’s a good surprise!” The answer came in the middle of the hug.

For the next question, though, Nick quickly broke the hug and closed the book so Felix couldn’t see his phone. “Yeah, studying.” He grins, nodding to assure his words. “But I’m done! Let’s go!” 

Dominick was hesitant. The question caught him off guard and besides that, he was just naturally scared of the girl. She was too aggressive for Nick’s soft nature, therefore he would shrink just by thinking of her. 

“Cartoon bees are very cute, yes.” 

The boy nods but quickly regretting his own words as he noticed that maybe she meant the real bees. “I mean!” Nick takes a shaky breath, thinking carefully about every single word to leave his lips. “Real bees are good too! They are very fluffy. The huggable type of fluffy. Not that you should hug a bee, of course, they would hurt you.” Another hesitant pause was given, panic now growing on him as he rethinks of he just said. “Not that bees are mean! They are just too small so you would hurt them by hugging them and they need to protect themselves!”