Chapter Text
The plane had just landed in Bangkok, and Fourth let out a sigh of relief as he unbuckled his seatbelt. It had been a pleasant few days in Dubai with his mother, but now there was only one thing he longed for: to go home. The hustle and bustle of the city, the sightseeing, the dinners in luxurious restaurants... it was all pleasant, but it seemed that staying in a country that simply wasn't his own was exhausting. What he wanted now was his condo, his couch and a good night's sleep. His mother seemed to be glowing, and that was enough.
His driver was waiting for him outside the airport. The drive to his apartment building seemed longer than usual, despite the free-flowing traffic. He decided to drop off his mother first before continuing. Fourth rested his head against the window, absent-mindedly watching the city lights go by. He hadn't told anyone he was coming home that evening. He didn't see the point: he lived alone, and no one was waiting for him... or so he thought.
When he pushed open the door to his condo, a soft, subdued light greeted him. He frowned. He was sure he'd turned everything off before leaving. Then, a familiar scent of vanilla and sandalwood wafted up to him. He advanced cautiously, only to stop dead in his tracks as he took in the scene before him.
Gemini was there, sitting on the sofa, a plaid over his legs and a mischievous smile on his lips. Around him, several LED candles cast a soft glow, and a small coffee table was set up with red-white cardboard boxes.
“Surprise,” Gemini called out, patting the empty seat next to him.
Fourth froze for a few seconds before shaking his head, an amused smile emerging on his face.
“Are you serious? How did you know I was coming home today?”
“I have my sources,” Gemini replied with a shrug. “Besides, I figured you'd need a cozy vibe when you arrived. Look what I brought.”
Fourth felt a gentle warmth spread through his chest. He put down his bag and walked over, settling down next to Gemini under the plaid. He looked at the coffee table and immediately recognized the packet. He raised an eyebrow, curious. He knew Gemini's love of food, and his restaurant was a real success. But here, something about the atmosphere made this moment... different.
“You set up a tasting dinner for me? Like, in private mode?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“Exactly,” Gemini confirmed, his enigmatic smile still hanging on his lips. “I've missed you, and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to spoil you a little.”
Fourth felt a strange warmth rise to his face. He could never get used to a Gemini direct. He looked away and absentmindedly grabbed a napkin before observing the dishes in front of him. An assortment of marinated pork meats, carefully and a little homemade sauce he'd recognize between a thousand and one.
“Are you trying to seduce me with my stomach or something?” he joked as he took his first bite.
Gemini stared at him for a moment before replying in a tone both teasing and ambiguous.
“Maybe so.”
Fourth stopped short, chopsticks dangling. He searched Gemini's gaze, trying to detect the joke... but his friend's smile had this nuance he couldn't decipher. On the verge of friendship.
There was silence, disturbed only by the sound of the city in the distance. Gemini finally breaking the moment by holding out another mouthful to Fourth.
“Taste this, it's my new recipe.”
Fourth hesitated for a split second before opening his mouth, accepting the offering. His heart was beating faster than he cared to admit, and he wondered if Gemini was aware of the effect he was having on him at this moment. He chewed slowly, trying to concentrate on the flavors exploding in his mouth rather than on Gemini's insistent gaze. The meat was perfectly seasoned, the sauce spicing up every bite with a precision that showed just how much Gemini had perfected his recipe. But despite the quality of the dish, it wasn't this that troubled him most. It was the way Gemini watched him. As if expecting a reaction, not just to the food, but to... something else.
“It's... really good,” Fourth admitted after swallowing. Like, unbelievable. You've improved again.”
“Obviously,” Gemini replied with a satisfied smile. “But you haven't tasted the best yet.”
He grabbed another piece with his chopsticks, coated it with a little sauce and raised it in front of Fourth. This time, he wasn't handing his a plate. He was feeding him directly.
Fourth raised an eyebrow, hesitating for a moment.
“Are you serious?”
“Why not? You're tired, aren't you? Let me take care of you.”
His tone was light, but in his eyes there was something deeper. Something beyond simple friendship.
Fourth felt his stomach knot slightly. This kind of gesture between them was nothing new. They'd always had a tactile relationship, sometimes bordering on playfulness and teasing. But it was always he who teased, not the other way around. Tonight, with the lights dimmed, the intimacy of the moment and the obvious care Gemini had put into this surprise... the mood was different.
He could have refused. He could have grabbed the bite himself and avoided this strange moment. But instead, he leaned forward slightly and opened his mouth, letting Gemini feed him. Their eyes met as Fourth closed his lips on the morsel. Gemini didn't look away or make any jokes. He simply watched him, an indecipherable gleam in his eyes, as if testing an invisible boundary between them. Fourth swallowed slowly, his heart beating a little faster than he would have liked. He straightened up, looking for something to say, but Gemini was quicker.
“So, what do you think?” he asked softly.
“It's... perfect,” murmured Fourth, unable to break the tension that had built up.
A satisfied smile stretched Gemini's lips.
“I knew you'd like it.”
There was something in his voice, something that said he wasn't just talking about the dish. And Fourth knew it. But after all it was gemini. His best friend and serial partner. He was surely in a playful mood tonight, and he wasn't masking any innuendo in his gestures. So he just took another bite, this time on his own, while avoiding Gemini's gaze. But he knew Gemini was still watching him. As if waiting for him to understand something he wasn't yet ready to admit. Not yet ready to admit.
“I'm glad you're back” said Gemini with a soft look in his eyes ”I know we'll have separate projects this year so I'd like us to do this kind of evening often. No cameras, no fan just you and me.”
Fourth's heartbeat quickened and almost instinctively he brought his hand to Gemini's forehead and pushed her hair back with his five fingers, spanking the features of his face. Gemini closed his eyes and sighed with relief.
“Just us” replied Fourth in a gentle voice.
Gem opened his eyes and Fourth held his breath. Something in his best friend's seemed to consume him completely and his heart missed a beat. As if that wasn't enough, Gem's gaze fell on his lips. With a slow movement, he brought his hands to them and with his thumb wiped Fourth's lower lip, then brought it to his own mouth and sucked. Fourth felt his throat dry up.
“Indeed, it's delicious,” said Gemini, without taking his eyes off him.
“Gem!” growled Fourth.
Gemini's lips raised in a slow, mischievous smile before taking on an innocent hue.
“What? You had sauce there. It's not my fault you're a messy eater.”
Fourth nudged him gently and the two began laughing and talking about anything and everything. Later that evening, as the two lay facing each other, Fourth tossed before falling asleep.
“Next time use a cloth if you want to clean me... and not your thumb and mouth”.
Gemini smiled and murmured to himself
“Next time I'll just remove the thumb...”
Then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.