Chapter Text
SECOND YEAR, FIRST SEMESTER
Minghao walks into the aisle with the expectation that Mingyu is close behind. His footsteps are far too loud in the silenced space. He stops in front of a shelf filled with leather-bound books. His eyes land on one at the very top, the one out of his reach. He tiptoes, but his fingertips barely graze the bottom of the spine.
A deep, low murmur rumbles from behind him. "Let me."
His breath hitches as Mingyu's tall frame reaches up and easily plucks the book from the high shelf. He turns around to thank Mingyu, but the words die in his throat.
The book thuds to the ground, its pages fanning out like a bird's wings. At that point, he doesn't even recall the book’s title or why he needs it. A reference of some sort, maybe? Honestly, he doesn’t care at the moment. Not when Mingyu cups Minghao's face in his hand. His thumbs gently strokes the apple of his cheeks. Minghao feels his eyes flutter close as Mingyu leans down.
Minghao hums into the kiss. His blood runs hot, a needy want pulses in his veins. He drags a hand through Mingyu’s hair, pulling him closer. He relishes in the groan he elicits from Mingyu in return.
He faintly registers that they should be careful. He doesn’t want to get banned from the library, but all coherent thought fades from his mind as soon as Mingyu's tongue slips into his mouth. There’s a thin thread of spit connecting their lips when they pull apart. They’re breathing heavily in the quiet space between them before Mingyu has had enough of not touching and leans in again, ready to take his breath once more.
The second kiss is just as hungry as the first. Minghao’s hands slide down Mingyu's chest, bunching the fabric of his shirt as he pulls him flush against his body, but the slam of a door from the front of the library startles them apart. They freeze, their chests heaving. They peer down the long aisle, half-expecting an angry librarian to appear.
Mingyu reaches down and picks up the fallen book. He places it in Minghao's waiting hands. Their fingers brush. The simple touch feels electric after what just happened. "Let's get out of here," he whispers, his thumb stroking Minghao's knuckles.