#nicrom

Without warning, Laevis yanks him down, pulling him into a deep kiss. The alcohol in Nicrom's systems is enough to muddle his decision-making skills.

Fuck it.

The kiss quickly evolves into something steamier as Nicrom feels up Laevis' ass, pressing the other closer to him.

No words are exchanged, as if their bodies were acting on autopilot.

After all, the both of them craved for the touch of one another. For a long, long time now.

Laevis tugs at Nicrom's hair, moaning softly when the taller male responds by squeezing the inside of his thigh, hand dangerously close to his hardening dick.

In their drunken stupor, they find themselves on an empty bed, already stripping. Nicrom pulling off Laevis' shorts and his own pants.

Their intense make-out session continued, hands roaming underneath fabric and warm breaths shared.

Nicrom is ontop of his senior, mercilessly leading with hungry kisses. Laevis begs for more air, grip strong enough to nearly tear Nicrom's hair out.

Strong liquor mixed with the bitter taste of cigarettes mingles in the saliva shared between them both.

"O-oh—"

Laevis chokes out a moan as their hips brush against one another, Nicrom is made painfully aware of his erection and Laevis'.

"Haa... Nic.."

He's trapped Laevis underneath him, and the shorter male hooks his leg over Nicrom's, pulling him closer until their hips grind against one another. Only the fabric of their underwear is left between warm skin.

Nicrom wanted to hear him, more of his name on Laevis' tongue.

Supporting himself with his arms, Nicrom thrusted forward, grinding his crotch against Laevis. They're already both panting, briefs wet with pre-cum.

Sensitive... Nicrom thinks hazily as Laevis clings close to him, muffling a loud moan.

A mere delivery wasn't a surprise to him, he knew the work was calmer in the night. He liked the change of pace. Many of the fusions in the Agency would disagree with him though.

"Nicrom. Take Laevis with you," Cinnabar said before he stepped out of the room. He turns and looks at the triad.

"...Why?"

"I don't recall paying you to ask questions," the look Cinnabar gave him was a familiar one. Nicrom didn't bother pressing his luck. It was a waste to ask anyway.

"Yeah.. Alright." Time to force Laevis outside again..

He was starting to suspect that Cinnabar often told him to do this just so Laevis wasn't inside all the time. Not unlike taking a dog for a walk. Of course, Nicrom didn't think of it that way. It's not like Laevis was averse to going outside, he just didn't like it if Nic wasn't accompanying him. Maybe he finds it amusing.

Nicrom stops as he enters the common room, usually filled with other fusions, but now dead silent in the middle of the night. However, it wasn't completely devoid of life.

"Well, at least I don't have to go to your room."

He looks up to a half-screwed grille on the wall.

"I'm guessing you already heard what Cinnabar said."

Not to his surprise, Laevis pops out of the vent, causing the grille to fall with a raucous metallic clatter.

"Aww.. When did you find out?"

"The second I left your room. You know it makes a lot of noise when a grate falls on your table?" Nicrom bent down and picked up the grille and its scattered screws.

Laevis frowned, "No fun.. I can't surprise you anymore!"

The shorter fusions swings out from the air vent, landing on the carpeted floor, "Soo.. You got a boring mission!!"

"I like boring," Nicrom pushed the grille to Laevis, who took it with his sleeves.

"No, you don't," grinned Laevis. He tossed the grille onto a sofa, "I'll fix this later!"

Nicrom decided to pocket the screws. Though, knowing Laevis, he probably had spares upon spares within his coat.

"Right.. Let's go then. We still have to pick up the thing."

"Six years.." Laevis replied slowly, "It'll take four years to complete my bachelor's degree and maybe two for my master's."

His heart fell like a heavy stone, clattering in the pit of his stomach, "Six years...?"

"I'll be living in a dorm there," added Laevis.

Vis—gone for six years? How much would have changed by then? A cold feeling seized him by the throat, Will he change too?

Nicrom clenched his jaw, not knowing what to say. And it looks like Laevis doesn't either, as he doesn't meet Nicrom's eyes.

"I'll learn a lot... When I come back, we can leave for the Capital together!"

He dreaded the thought of being left around in this place... After all, Laevis was the only reason he stayed here for so long.

Two days after Laevis left for District 4, Nicrom ran away.

Laevis' eyes widened as he saw the face in the window.

"...Nic?"

The older boy nodded, lightly tapping on the glass.

Laevis opened the window, lifting it up with difficulty, as the sides had been shut for quite a long time. But Nicrom slips his arm through the gap, and pushes it up swiftly. The glass squeaks in protest.

"You followed me...!" Laevis realized, seeing the dishevelled state Nicrom was in, soaking wet from the storm.

Laevis grinned, shaking Hype's hand without hesitation, "Laevis! I have Nicrom with me!"

"He's your...?"

Nicrom furrowed his eyebrows as the man looked at him.

"Partner! He carries out tests for me, and brings muffins. You have those, don't you?" Laevis' eyes shined with a particular glimmer.

Hype chuckled, "I think you'll find our services fit enough for whatever you need, Professor."

"Hmm!" Laevis looked back at Nicrom, "Professor sounds great, doesn't it?!"

Nicrom gave a shrug.

"Well, anyways," Hypelare cleared his throat, "I'll escort you to your department, and they can get you started from there."

The man turned and they followed after, with Laevis sticking by his side as they walked. Nicrom trailed behind them, wary of anything suspicious.

"So, Hype! What do you do here? You're pretty decorated!"

"I'm his Sovereign's aide. In truth, he requested I personally escort you to your division."

"It's an old story about a long journey. At the end, the protagonist ends up living happily."

Nicrom frowned, "Now, why would you spoil that?"

"Because it isn't the ending that matters, but the events it took to get there," replied Azarel, "In the grand scheme of things, the end goal is such a fleeting thing, is it not? The journey you undertook to attain that goal. That is what truly changes you."

"...So, what's the story?"

"Well, it begins with a tragedy."

"How depressing."

"I don't either!" Zephyrus added.

Nicrom stares at both the fusions before gazing up.

The night sky. An endless expanse of a dark, cold void.

Except... tonight, he could see twinkling lights winking back at him from above.

A trick of the moonlight? Nicrom thought as he squinted, "What are those?"

"Huh?" Azarel glances at him, "What do you mean?"

"The... lights."

"Those are the stars!" said Zephyrus, "You can always see them at night!"

...Stars.

"You can't see 'stars' from the city," Nicrom grumbled.

"I guess it's too polluted," Azarel cut in, "but you... really have never seen them before?"

Maybe he didn't remember. But... something tells him it was his first time seeing these lights...

"No.."

"Well, what do you think of it?"

"..It's pretty."

Azarel and Zephyrus both smiled. The child skipped over to Nicrom and wrapping his short arms around his shoulders.

"Hurray for Nic's first time seeing stars!!"

"Is it really something worth celebrating?" Nicrom couldn't help but laugh.