Archive of Our Own

Wave leaned back in his chair, taking a short break from typing at his computer. His fingers were so stiff. He was starting to think his hands would be cramped up permanently. 

If that wasn't bad enough, his stomach chose that opportunity to let out a loud growl. He was supposed to take his lunch break an hour ago, but the work had piled on until he couldn't justify stepping away, even for thirty minutes. He had five different projects all going at once. Each required him to develop an infrastructure plan using mathematics to ensure the structures would be solid, then sending them off for approval from his clients. 

Working at an architecture firm was always busy like this. If this was any other month, he might've delayed the extra work in favor of filling his stomach. But his boss had just put in his resignation notice, meaning the position of Project Manager would be opening soon. The promotion came with a list of new responsibilities, including overseeing many more projects and delegating work to the lower positions in the company. 

The firm was taking the next six months to decide who would be his replacement. Everyone in their department was a potential candidate. Wave had to prove that he had the skills to secure the position. He was determined to get that promotion. 

His cubicle neighbor was quite the opposite. He peeked around the short partition separating their desks and let out a heavy sigh. Lava had fallen asleep with his head on his desk and a document open on his computer, again. If someone less generous than Wave had found him in such a vulnerable position, they just might tamper with the document to get him in trouble. 

But even if that happened, Lava probably wouldn't care much. He didn't take his job very seriously. He was always joking around on the clock, leaving his post to talk to people in other parts of the office. Wave didn't know how he'd even kept the position for this long. 

Not that Wave disliked him or anything. He just wished Lava would learn to take his work more seriously. But after working beside him for two years, it didn't seem like that was going to happen any time soon. 

Wave had half a mind to ditch Lava and allow him to sleep through lunch. But a more empathetic side of him didn't want him to wake up with hunger pains. Besides, he didn't want Lava to complain later about how Wave was cruel to let him starve. 

Wave spotted a stack of papers on Lava's desk, untouched. Wave had been nagging him for days to get the paperwork filed. But each time he brought it up, Lava simply shrugged and brushed away his concerns. It was time for some payback. 

Wave stood and made his way to Lava's desk. He lifted the stack of papers and slammed them dramatically back down onto the desktop. Lava startled awake, looking left and right for the source of the noise. “Did a bomb just go off?” 

Wave snorted. “Nope, it's just me.” 

Lava blinked at him sleepily, then yawned and wiped the drool off his chin. So unattractive. “What's all the racket? I'm trying to sleep.” 

“You know you're not at home, right? You should be trying to work.”

Lava gave him an unimpressed look. He looked like a grumpy puppy, with his bed hair sticking up at odd angles. “What are you, my boss?”

“Not yet. But I will be soon.” 

Lava shooed him away. “If you want to boss me around so bad, then get back to work to make sure you get the promotion and leave me alone.”

Wave felt his eyebrow twitching. He'd taken the time to wake Lava up to make sure he didn't miss lunch, and this was how he was repaid. Lava was about to lay his head down again, disregarding everything he said to get back to Dreamland. 

He gripped onto Lava's shoulders and shook them, urging him to stand. “You've napped enough. It's lunch time.”

Lava whined and placed his hands over Wave's. “Waveeee. If you wanted to touch me so badly, just say that. No need to disturb my sleep first.” 

Wave yanked his hands away before Lava could get any ideas. But that only made Lava turn towards him while pouting his bottom lip out, looking all pitiful. Since he was still sitting, he had to look up at Wave. His eyes were still half-closed and hazy from sleep. There was a red mark on his cheek from where it had rested against the desk.

Begrudgingly, Wave had to admit that he looked cute in that moment. 

He remembered the first time he met Lava. It was his first day at the company, while Lava had already been there for a while. Their boss introduced Lava as the guy he'd be working beside for the foreseeable future. He'd been dressed to the nines, a rare time when Lava had his full three-piece suit on. These days, it was lucky to find him with his button-down shirt tucked in. He'd long since abandoned his suit jacket, and he usually had the first three buttons of his shirt undone, showing off too much of his chest. So unprofessional. 

At that time, Lava had been the perfect picture of a cold, unfeeling coworker. Strict and unapproachable, with a resting bitch face and a penchant for rolling his eyes when he was ordered around. 

If someone told him that same Lava would be a sleepy, whiny mess just two years later, he wouldn't have believed them. He could hardly connect that old image of Lava with the current one. Once Lava warmed up to him, he became nothing more than a baby sloth. He might have teeth, but he didn't know how to use them. He'd sooner fall asleep than get into a fight. 

At the end of the day, Lava was a loser and a slob. But in an endearing way. In a way that made Wave want to take care of him time and time again, even when his actions were sometimes irritating.

All that to say, he'd grown quite fond of Lava. Which was why he was compelled to pinch both of Lava's cheeks, pulling at them. “Who would want to touch you, huh? I'm stuck babysitting you because you're my desk neighbor.”

“Oww, Wave, it hurts!,” Lava whined, but he didn't even attempt to pull away. Instead, he wrapped his arms around Wave's torso, latching onto him. He buried his face against Wave's stomach and let out a content sigh. 

He was so clingy. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Going back to sleep,” Lava murmured, his words muffled against Wave's shirt. 

Wave shook his head, but he still stroked Lava's hair. He couldn't deny how attached he'd become to this silly slacker. “What am I going to do with you, huh?”

His stomach picked the worst moment to let out another growl, reminding him of his predicament. Lava pulled away and looked up at him with sweet puppy-dog eyes. “You're that hungry? Let's go eat, Wave.” 

Lava finally turned off his computer and started making his way towards the door. He could never predict Lava's next move. He was just whining about not wanting to leave, and now he was leading the way out.

He'd learned long ago not to question Lava's actions. The best he could do was follow and make sure he could drag Lava back to the office after lunch. 

Wave found himself watching Lava as he devoured his meal. For someone who initially wanted to keep sleeping, he was eating like he'd been starved for thirty days and thirty nights. He had no decorum. 

But something about watching Lava eat made him happy. He shoved the food into his mouth, lacking class. He got sauce all over his lips and didn't bother wiping it off. But that was how he could tell Lava truly enjoyed his meal. Wave was the one to pick today's lunch spot. He was just glad Lava wasn't disappointed with his choice. 

Lava really was such a mess. But he was Wave's mess. 

Lava reached across the table to grab a handful of napkins to wipe his mouth, only because he was going to take a drink next. Wave knew his eating habits, since they frequently went to lunch together. But as Lava dragged the tissue over his mouth, his eyes flickered up from his plate. 

Lava had caught him staring. He scrambled for a conversation topic to pretend he was contemplating rather than mindlessly watching him eat. “Don't you want to try for the promotion?” 

Lava laughed humorlessly. “More responsibility? No thanks. I don't even want the responsibilities I already have.”

That was the answer he expected. Typical Lava, unwilling to surrender more energy to work. “It comes with a pay increase.” 

“Not enough to deal with ordering around these losers.”

Lava still hadn't wiped his mouth properly. Wave grabbed an extra napkin and dabbed it against the corner of Lava's lips, collecting the sauce that was hidden there. “You're one to call someone else a loser. You can't even eat without making a mess.” 

He was about to pull his hand away, but Lava caught his wrist before he could withdraw. “You take such good care of me. What am I supposed to do when you get promoted and leave me all alone in that stuffy office?” 

“Don't be dramatic. You'll still see me every day. Also, I might not get the job.”

Lava's thumb rubbed delicate circles against the pulse point in Wave's wrist. His voice was a touch softer when he responded. “As if. There's nobody more qualified than you.”

He'd never sounded so sincere before. His lips didn't lift into a teasing smile or an annoying grin. He looked completely serious, and his eyes were shining with something Wave couldn't name. Something tantalizing, that tempted him to lean closer. It felt like an unspoken promise passed between them. But he didn't know exactly what that promise was.

Wave couldn't look away. He was enraptured with the deep emotion he saw reflected within those irises. Others may not know that Lava was actually an emotional person. He hid it well, from everyone except for Wave. He masked his feelings with smirks and jokes. But Wave knew there was something sweet underneath it all.

He wanted to unwrap the complex layers of Lava's psyche and see just how sweet he could be.

Lava dropped his wrist, and the spell was broken. He cleared his throat and pulled his hand away, setting it safely in his lap. So that he didn't do something crazy, like trailing his fingers over the freckles that dotted over Lava's cheeks. “You should still consider it. People like you, they'd listen to you.” 

“If I became their boss, they wouldn't like me anymore.”

“Are you saying that you won't like me if I get the promotion?” 

Lava raised an eyebrow. It was amusing how his eyebrows were the most expressive part of his face. “I never said that. Who could dislike you when you're so perfect?”

Wave didn't consider himself to be perfect. Far from it. He strived to improve himself every day. But it did feel nice for his efforts to be acknowledged. He couldn't hide his smile as he looked down at the table, his chest sparking with giddiness.

Lava gripped his chin with one hand, lifting it to tilt his head back. In his other hand was a forkful of food. “Don’t forget to eat, Mr. Perfect. You were so hungry before, but you've been too busy talking.” 

“Lava, what are you doing? Let me go!”

“You're making a scene, you know. Just open your mouth like a good boy.”

Wave's cheeks were burning, because he felt the stares of the other unsuspecting customers at the restaurant. He didn't want to draw more attention to himself, so he opened his mouth and accepted the food. 

As embarrassed as he was, Lava did have a point. His stomach was still empty, but he kept getting distracted by fussing over Lava to quell his hunger. 

Lava fed him two more bites of food before he was satisfied and reached over to pet Wave on the head, as if he was a dog. “Good job, Mr. Perfect.” Then, he returned to stuffing his own face like nothing happened. Wave could hardly believe he'd actually allowed someone to feed him. 

It almost felt like Lava wanted to take care of him, too. 

After one month of putting every ounce of his energy into work, he was running on fumes. He worked so many extra hours that he hardly got any sleep at night. 

Once he set a goal for himself, he did everything to achieve it. That was both a blessing and a curse. His work performance had improved, but his body was seconds away from caving in.

He pushed himself past his limits. He felt worn down, like a pencil that had been sharpened so much that it was now too small to write with. Dark circles made a permanent home underneath his eyes. But he couldn't make himself rest when he knew there was still work that needed to be done. 

He rubbed at his stiff neck and rolled his aching shoulders. Sitting for hours at a desk was murder on his body. But there was still five more months left before the next boss of the department would be chosen. He had to prove himself before then. 

A touch to his back startled him. He turned to find Lava standing behind him. “You're still here? You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Lava offered a lopsided smile. “Why not? I work here too. You were too buried in your computer to notice me.”

“I just assumed you'd want to leave as soon as your shift ended.”

Lava shrugged and placed a cup of water on Wave's desk. “I went to get this for you. You haven't moved for hours, you must be thirsty.” 

Wave ducked his head to hide his smile. “Thank you, Lava.”

Lava gave a noncommittal grunt, like it was nothing. But he didn't sit back down until Wave took a sip of the water. 

He wondered when things shifted between them. From coworkers to… friends who looked out for each other. He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment when they started taking care of each other in small ways. But he was glad it happened. Lava was the only person keeping him sane these days. Which was ironic, since Lava was known as the person who drove everyone crazy. 

The cold water cooled his dry, scratchy throat. Lava knew what he needed before he even knew himself. As he smiled against the rim of the cup Lava had brought him, he found himself wondering if they'd still find ways to check up on each other if he really did get the promotion. 

If he didn't share an office space with Lava anymore, who would wake Lava when he fell asleep on the job? Who would make sure he took his lunch break? And who would bring Wave water and remind him to take care of himself? 

Thinking about being separated was souring his mood. He had to remind himself that this promotion was what he'd been striving for, ever since he joined the company. He always wanted to climb the corporate ladder and land himself a higher position. They would still be working in the same building. There was nothing to worry about. 

The sound of keyboard keys clacking filled his senses. Lava was really typing up a storm. Even Wave couldn't type that quickly. It was rare to see him so motivated. Curious, he peeked over Lava's shoulder. What he saw baffled him. 

“Hey, is that my project report?!”

Lava quickly minimized the tab and leaned closer to the screen, trying to block Wave's view with his broad shoulders. “Nosy much? This is my report. Mind your business!” 

“I saw my name at the top! Nava Mahasamut.”

“Uhh, actually, it says Lava Tahasakorn.”

“That's not even your name.”

“How do you know? Keeping tabs on me?”

They'd been coworkers for two years. Of course he knew Lava's full name. Lava was just trying to change the subject. He wouldn't be fooled. He grabbed onto Lava's nearest shoulder, pulling him out of the way so he could reopen the tab. Sure enough, it was one of Wave's reports. He should know. He'd been filling them out one after another all day. The words were starting to blur together on his computer screen, until he couldn't read them and he wondered if he needed glasses. 

“Lava, seriously. Why are you doing my work instead of yours?”

Lava shifted his gaze downwards, frowning like a sad puppy. “You look so tired these days. You've been working late nights. I wanted to help you out.”

Wave was stunned into silence. He never expected Lava to go this far to ease his workload. He wouldn't expect it of anyone, much less Lava, who didn't even get his own work done in a timely fashion. 

But if anyone was going to help him to such an extent, it would be Lava. For all his messiness and laziness, he was the one person Wave could always depend on to have his back. He cared about Wave more than anyone else. 

He scrolled through the document. It was about one of the projects he was juggling, a proposition for a new apartment complex in the city. Lava had used his already-drawn references as a basis for the written report. 

It really did sound like he'd been the one to write it. Lava perfectly recreated his writing style. He'd seen plenty of Lava's reports in the past. They were professional, but they got to the point quickly. Whereas Wave made sure to explain everything in grave detail, so there would be no room for misunderstandings. He took the extra time to go over all of his calculations, as well as write in reassurances so the client would know the proposed structure was solid. 

He didn't even know Lava could explain himself this well. He found no faults in the report. 

Lava placed his hand on Wave's arm, giving him those puppy-dog eyes. “You’re quiet. Are you mad? I promise, I didn't make any mistakes. I only explained your blueprints, I didn't change anything. You can trust me.”

He wasn't worried about Lava making him look bad. He knew Lava wasn't one to make mistakes when he actually got his work done. It just took him a while to complete his tasks. But by the looks of it, Lava had almost finished this report. He must've been working on it for a while, but Wave was too focused on his other projects to notice. 

“This could get us both fired.”

Lava whined, tugging lightly at his arm. “Wave, nobody would ever realize. I know exactly how you write.” He grabbed Wave's hand and placed it against his cheek. Lava's skin was warm against his palm as Lava nuzzled against it. “I've read so many of your reports. You saw how I wrote just like you, right?”

His lips quirked into a smile, and he watched as some of the tension in Lava's shoulders dispelled at the simple action. He didn't want Wave to be upset with him. To console him, he rubbed his thumb against Lava's cheek, finally succumbing to his desire of tracing over the constellations mapped out across his skin. “You're surprisingly sweet.”

The rest of the tension melted out of Lava, and he gave a smile of his own. “What's surprising about it? I'm always sweet.”

That was true. As scary as Lava seemed at first glance, he didn't live up to the intimidation at all. He was more like a teddy bear than a grizzly bear. 

“But aren't you worried about not getting your own work done?”

Lava shrugged. “I don't care about the promotion, I told you. I would be a horrible boss. I can't lead anyone.”

Beyond Lava's usual playful tone, there was a hint of sadness in his voice. His eyes were tinted with melancholy, and his smile felt half-hearted as he pulled away from Wave. 

That was when it hit him.

If Lava could do his work this proficiently, then he should be able to do his own just as well. He could fill every report with this amount of detail and still get them done in record time. 

It wasn't that Lava was lazy and didn't care what others thought about him. In fact, it was the opposite. He cared about how people perceived him. He wanted to be seen as the funny, easy-going guy who didn't take himself seriously. That way, he would never be given too much responsibility and undergo the risk of disappointing anyone. 

Lava didn't want to try for the promotion, because he didn't think he could do it. He had no faith in himself. He didn't want to face the embarrassment of failure. It was easier to act like he didn't care.

“I think that's a lie.”

“What?” 

Wave squished Lava's cheeks, partly as punishment for pulling away from him and partly to soothe the slightly anxious expression off his face. “It's not that you can't do it. There's something else holding you back.”

Lava huffed, but didn't retreat again. Instead, he met Wave's gaze with a challenging glint in his eyes. “Really? What would that be?”

“You're scared of disappointment.”

Lava paused, his expression falling. But he quickly caught himself, regaining his false arrogance. “You’re funny. What gave you that idea?” 

Wave snorted and squished his cheeks some more. “You're so obvious.”

This time, Lava's grin was genuine as he leaned closer to Wave. Too close for comfort. His eyes were pools full of stars that Wave wanted to reach into. He wanted Lava to lend him the brilliance of those stars shining in his eyes. “Am I? I think you just pay special attention to me.”

Lava was his coworker and his friend, of course he paid attention to him. At least, that was what he tried to convince himself. But each time Lava did little things to show he cared, Wave found himself touched more than one could consider normal. There was also his unusual need to take care of Lava. He was never driven towards making sure his other coworkers ate and finished their work. He only fretted over Lava.

He shook that train of thought out of his head. “You're changing the subject.”

“You didn't deny it.”

He wisely decided to ignore the teasing, instead using his good looks for evil by rounding out his eyes and pouting slightly. Lava wasn't the only one who could act out. “Don't make me pinch your cheeks again. Just be honest with me. You trust me, right?” 

“Awww, don't give me that sad look.” Lava wrapped his arms around him, squeezing him tight. “I don't want to compete against you, Wave. I don't want to make you sad.”

He rubbed circles over Lava's back, cooing at his clinginess. “Getting the job by default won't make me happy, Lava. The most qualified person should get it.”

“But you want the spot. You've been working so hard, you deserve it.”

“That's not for us to decide.”

Lava pulled back from the hug, only to look into his eyes again. “What if I did try my best and actually got the job? Would you be mad?”

He shook his head with a smile. “Of course not. I'll celebrate with you.” 

Lava looked adorable, with his lips pouting out and a hesitant look in his eyes. Wave couldn't resist reaching up to pet his hair, smoothing down some strands that were sticking up at odd angles. He really was like a messy puppy. “Try for me, hmm? I want to see how hard you can work.”

Lava whined again, still unsure. “Why do you want me to try so bad? Isn't it easier if I keep slacking?”

“I want to see you reach your full potential. If you just have some faith in yourself, you can reach for the stars.”

Lava roamed his gaze over every inch of his face, analyzing his expression. “What do I win if I do what you say?” 

He should've known Lava would try to get something extra out of this. He couldn't even be mad, because he knew Lava would never ask for anything that was too out there. And he was weak to those constellations that kissed Lava's cheeks. So weak that he found himself tracing them with his eyes as he responded. “If you give it your all for the next five months, you can have whatever you want.” 

Lava grinned. “You asked for it. I'll get so much work done, you'll be shocked!” 

He didn't know what he’d just signed up for, but what was the worst that could happen? Lava was docile, a sloth with no claws. He could handle anything Lava asked of him. 

“So no more doing my work for me, okay? Do your own work from now on.”

Wave grabbed Lava's suit jacket from where it had been abandoned, hanging over the back of his chair. He placed it over Lava's shoulders and guided his arms into the sleeves. “If you put a little effort into your appearance, you'd look more professional.”

“What’s wrong with my appearance? I'm hot.”

Wave tucked Lava's button-down shirt into his pants for him, since he wouldn't do it himself. “Hotness doesn't get the job.” 

“Again, you didn't disagree about me being hot. Starting to think you're using this as an excuse to touch me.”

Wave adjusted Lava's tie, tightening it from where Lava had loosened it throughout the day. His fingers brushed against Lava's neck as he hummed, then spoke in a low whisper. “Arrogance isn't attractive.”

Wave trailed his fingers down the tie, then grabbed onto the end of it. He used his grip to yank Lava forward, until their chests were pressed together. “Besides, I don't need an excuse to touch you.”

He released the tie and returned to his seat with a satisfied grin. He watched as it took Lava several seconds to process what just happened. Lava looked at him like he was a new person. Like he'd never quite seen what Wave was capable of before. He blinked several times, rebooting, before he was able to speak. 

“Wave, what was that?”

Wave shrugged, still grinning, and turned back to his computer. 

“Hey, don't ignore me!” 

Wave spared him a glance over his shoulder. “Didn't you say you'd work harder? Well, get to it!” 

Lava grumbled but complied, returning to his desk. They worked on their own reports side-by-side for another two hours, before Lava determined it was time for them to go home. He complained about how Wave had been staying far too long in the office, and that was why he couldn't get any sleep at night. 

Wave couldn't disagree. All he could do was sigh and go along with Lava's plans, practically getting tugged out of the office. 

He slept easier that night. But it was less from being forced to go home and more because he felt more at ease, knowing Lava was going to take his work more seriously. He only wanted the best for Lava. Even if it meant building Lava up to take the promotion over him. He would still focus on his work, whether he got the job or not. But Lava needed a push to reach new heights. He needed someone to believe in him.  

Wave was happy to be the encouragement he needed.

For the following five months, Lava managed to stay focused on work enough to drastically improve his productivity. He never thought he could be so motivated. He found himself putting his all into every project that graced his desk. Even if it meant stiff fingers at the end of the day and a migraine from staring at a screen for hours.

His coworkers were baffled. They asked where his sudden work ethic came from. He brushed off their questions with a laugh, “I'm after that pay increase. I want a house with a pool in the backyard, you know?” 

They'd laugh along with him and wish him well. But they didn't know the reason why he was working so hard. 

Wave had faith in him, when he didn't even have faith in himself. He'd lit a fire under Lava that inspired him to perform to the fullest. He'd given him a goal to strive towards rather than shy away from. He'd reached in and stroked Lava's untapped potential, which had sat unperturbed for so many years. Ever since his father died. Ever since his mother stopped expecting him to succeed. Ever since his teachers gave up on him. 

Despite all that, he'd managed to finish school and land himself a good job. He wasn't out on the streets like people used to warn him about. He was making a living with his own efforts. But everyone losing faith in him left a lasting impression. He was simply a troubled youth, riddled with guilt from having a hand in his father's death. If only he didn't have a hero complex, his dad would still be with him.

How could someone carrying such a heavy burden be expected to move on and perform to his best abilities? Of course, he struggled in school. Nobody tried to understand where he was coming from. He was shunned and treated like a problem child. 

But he was all grown up now. And someone finally believed in him. He didn't want to let Wave down. 

He was charmed by that beautiful smile and those darling dimples. Those teasing grins and big boba eyes when he wanted Lava's attention. Did he even know his face was just begging to have kisses placed over every inch of it? It was a wonder how Lava kept himself under control for this long. If it was up to him, he would've had Wave as his partner for over a year by now. 

But he'd always thought he wasn't good enough for Wave, someone who was perfection personified. Someone who always knew what to say to cheer up everyone around them. Someone who was wanted and needed, a great addition to the workplace who always put his best foot forward. 

Meanwhile, he was just… Lava. He'd made a name for himself as the guy who was good company, but only within the confines of the workspace. Nobody considered him close enough to meet up outside of work, or bring home to meet their family. Most of his relationships were shallow. 

And he was okay with that. Keeping his distance meant nobody got close enough to see the plume of misery that clouded his existence. He could continue being the lazy coworker who was good for a short conversation but couldn't be relied on to undertake intense projects. 

Until Wave had changed him. Wave made him want to be a better person. And the only way he could do that was to openly try harder, even if it meant failing in the end. It meant allowing himself to be perceived as someone who wanted to do their best, rather than a person who was okay with being stagnant and staying in a dead-end job. 

Maybe now, he could be worthy of Wave's attention. He didn't want anyone else to have it. He wanted to cling onto Wave's coattails and keep him close. To claim Wave all for himself. He didn't care how greedy that made him sound. He wanted Mr. Perfect to be his. 

But while Wave taught him more about himself, he was also learning more about Wave.

As perfect as he seemed on the outside, he had issues of his own. Namely, his habit of pushing himself too hard, until his body almost gave up on him. He was the exact opposite of Lava, who had spent the last two years coasting by without putting that much effort in. 

Wave tried to do too many things at once. He felt like it was his responsibility to accomplish more than what was expected of him. That was why Lava had been compelled to help him by filing that report in his name. He just wanted to lessen the burden Wave was forcing on himself. 

But Wave didn't want that kind of help. He only wanted to achieve success in the most genuine way possible, through his own hard work. Which only made him even more admirable. 

Wave's biggest flaw was forgetting that he was human, not a machine. But that was okay, because Lava was here to remind him. 

Lava didn't even need the added incentive of Wave's promise to do anything if he applied himself. Just seeing how badly Wave wanted him to try was encouragement enough. But it was a nice bonus. As they say, you miss every shot you don't take. 

Dastardly Wave had actually gotten him to work harder. But it felt nice, being useful. For the first time in a long time, he felt needed. Like his presence actually made a difference. People would notice if he didn't show up to work one day. 

After five months of taking himself seriously, he didn't even feel tired. On the contrary, he felt like he could do even more than this. He could shoot for the stars and beyond, all thanks to Wave. 

He made mistakes at times, as everyone did. But every time, Wave was right there to set him back on track. “The sun sets to rise again,” he'd say with a soft voice while stroking Lava's hair. 

Lava wanted him so bad. More than he ever wanted anything in his life. But he never had the courage to make a move. He promised himself that if he got the promotion, he'd finally ask Wave to be his. Then, he would've proven himself to be worthy of Wave's affection.

Wave had given him enough hints that the attraction was mutual. They were touchy with each other in a way that went beyond the label of coworkers. Lava had never buried his face in another coworker’s stomach as they stroked his hair, for one. And there was the time Wave pulled him closer by his tie. All this time later, and Lava still thought about it every day. He wanted a repeat. But this time, he would be daring enough to press his lips against Wave's afterwards. 

Currently, they were sitting on a bench outside CEO Q's office. They were just two out of the group of many who had been called to reveal who got the promotion. 

Their coworkers went into the office one by one, only to leave with varying degrees of disappointment on their faces. There was Tum, who walked out with a smile, claiming, “I didn't want that promotion. Why'd he even bother to call me in?” 

Wut looked slightly more disheartened when he closed the door behind him, but he was quick to return to his smiley self. “It's okay, I'll get the next promotion!”

Kratae sighed once she finished her meeting, giving them a pitiful look. “It's so hard to be a woman in the workplace, you know? I have to work twice as hard to get the same benefits.” 

Wave nodded in empathy. “I understand. My sister works at a different firm, and it took years for her to get the respect she deserves. Don't give up, Kratae!” 

Others came and went with unreadable expressions. It was impossible to tell if they'd gotten the job or not. There was still a handful of people left, milling around the hallway as they waited for their turn. As the crowd thinned out and they still hadn't been called, Wave's leg started bouncing up and down in nervousness. He placed his hand on Wave's knee to still its anxious movement. “Hey, don't worry so much. No matter what happens, I'm here for you.” 

Wave turned to look at him, and offered a shaky smile. He placed his hand on top of Lava's. Wave's hand was cold, but the touch warmed his heart all the same. “I’m here for you, too.”

Wave was the next one called into the office. He patted Lava's hand twice. “Let's go out for dinner after this.”

Lava nodded and gave his best encouraging smile. “Of course. I'll pay.” 

Wave narrowed his eyes, probably suspecting that he was using this as an excuse to flirt. And well, he was right. But he didn't deny the offer, so Lava considered that a success. 

Then Wave entered the office, leaving Lava alone. He was in there for longer than anyone else. Even though he was just the one comforting Wave, he felt himself getting nervous. He wanted Wave's hard work to pay off. He worried about how Wave would react if he didn't get the job. Would he beat himself up for it? Or work himself to the bone in a misguided attempt to prove himself? 

Whatever the outcome was, he just wanted Wave to be okay. 

When Wave finally did return, Lava could tell by his expression that the outcome wasn't favorable. “I didn't get the job. He said my work ethic is strong, but he's worried it would be too much pressure and I'd run myself into the ground.” 

Lava rubbed circles over his back, as Wave often did to cheer him up. “Are you okay?” 

Wave took a deep breath, then nodded with a slight smile. “I'm okay. He made a good point. You're always telling me to rest more.” Wave reached over to touch his cheek, rubbing his thumb against Lava's freckles. He liked to do that sometimes. It soothed him. Lava allowed it, because he'd do anything to make Wave feel better. 

“He said to send you in next. Good luck, Lava.” 

He was flooded with nerves when he stepped inside the office. He didn't even think he wanted the job that badly. But somehow, he felt like not having his hard work over the past few months acknowledged would break him. Like he might retreat to his older form, which didn't dare to put in any effort. The scared version of himself that would rather sit back and do nothing, than show off his best self and risk coming up short. 

He would be okay with losing out to Wave. But now that he knew Wave didn't get the job, he didn't want to lose to anyone else.

Q told him to take a seat, which he did, albeit stiffly. He’d never been called to the CEO’s office before. It was nerve-wracking. 

He caught sight of a picture that sat on Q’s desk. It was a photo of him with his husband, their young twin sons, and even their dog. The entire company knew about his family. They were pretty much famous, at least among local architects and artists. It was amusing that Q was family-oriented, and a dog person. It was hard to imagine him as a family man who played with his kids and a little dog when he was always so serious and straight to the point at work. 

Q gave him a once-over. “I’ve never seen you look so nervous. You really want the promotion, don’t you?”  

If someone had asked him months ago, he would've said No. But now, he'd worked too hard to continue lying to himself. “Yes, sir.”

“I’ll get straight to the point, then. You had the greatest improvement during this period. I can tell you matured and are taking your job more seriously now.” Q pulled some papers out of a file, spreading them out over the table. They were filled with statistics of Lava's workflow over the past few months. “Your numbers are off the charts. If you can swear to keep this up, the job is yours. But only if you're serious about it.”

He could hardly believe it. An unfamiliar feeling swept through his body. His heart sped up a little, and his head felt fuzzy. He found himself smiling harder than ever. 

Was this what it felt like to be proud of himself? 

His hard work had paid off. It was nice to win for once. Nobody could look down on him now. He would no longer be seen as the lazy coworker that everyone thought was one wrong move away from getting fired. 

He accepted the job, of course. He'd be starting in two weeks. That transitional time was to allow him to finish up his current projects and transfer any necessary files to his new computer, which would be in his shiny, new office. 

No more cramped cubicle. He would get an office all to himself, meaning he had to move out of his shared space with Wave. It was bittersweet. But Wave wanted this, too. He wanted Lava to succeed. 

He was burning with the need to tell Wave the good news. Once he was excused, Wave jumped up from the bench to greet him. He was looking at Lava with bright, hopeful eyes. There were no traces of disappointment left on his face from his own unfavorable verdict. 

“Did you get the job?” 

He looked around at the other people who were still waiting for their turn. It wouldn't be right for them to learn the news from him. They needed to hear it from the CEO's mouth, not his. 

“Let's go talk somewhere else.”

He grabbed Wave's wrist and led him to the parking lot. Since it was the middle of the day, everyone was in the office. The area was deserted.

“Lava, what are you doing? Isn't it too early to leave?” 

Lava dropped his wrist and turned to face him. He braced himself for the worst. He worried that Wave might give him a fake smile and a half-hearted pat on his shoulder, then never treat him the same again. He might not be able to get over the fact that he lost the job to someone who used to laze around during work hours. Lava could lose his chance to make Wave his.

Those pretty lips might frown at him, and Wave might ask how he could dare to take a job that was better suited for him. That would shatter the self-esteem Wave had helped him build. He just might have to march back inside and turn down the job as quickly as he'd accepted it, if that was the case. 

But Wave had said he'd be there for him. And Wave was looking at him expectantly, so he had to give him an answer. 

“I got the job.”  

Neither scenario he feared occurred. Instead, Wave's smile was wide and genuine as he threw his arms around Lava and gave him a squeeze. “You did it!” 

Wave was genuinely happy for him. He didn't glare at Lava for getting the position over him. He didn't even spare a second to express his disappointment. Instead, he embraced Lava. He celebrated Lava's achievement. 

That only proved something Lava had been feeling for a while now. Wave paid special attention to him because he felt the cosmic connection between them. The magnetic pull that ensured they spent as much time together as possible. Wave wanted him to do his best, because he wanted Lava to be proud of himself. 

Wave's arms were still wrapped around him. He felt warm. He returned the hug, pulling Wave closer to his chest. Wave didn't even falter. Instead, he hooked his chin over Lava's shoulder. 

“I knew you could do it, Lava. I'm so proud of you.” The words were whispered beside his ear. But they may as well have been shouted in a cave with an echo effect, for how hard they hit Lava. 

Nobody had ever been proud of him. For as long as he remembered, he only brought his family disappointment. People had given up on expecting anything out of him. They wrote him off as a slacker and a good-for-nothing, who was lucky to even get a decent job. 

But Wave was different. He saw a glimmer of something in Lava that nobody else bothered to see. He'd helped Lava realize his potential, even though it meant building up his competition. He was willing to give up the promotion he'd been waiting for, to give Lava a chance to shine.

Wave pulled away slightly, but he didn't go far. Their arms remained locked around each other. Their noses were almost touching. But neither retreated. Lava was too busy looking into Wave's eyes, which shined from the sunlight. Then, his gaze lowered to Wave's mouth. His lips looked soft and full, and he'd wanted to kiss them for so long. He didn't know how much longer he could ignore his urges. 

“Are you going to kiss me or not?” He watched Wave's lips form around the words, which was why he took a second too long to register their meaning. Once he did, he jolted slightly. 

“What?”

Wave had a slight grin as his fingers trailed up Lava’s neck, unhurried. His hands were warmer now. He must not be anxious anymore. “You don't want to kiss me? I suppose you were just staring at my lips for fun.” 

As much as he wasn't exactly hiding his affection for Wave, they'd never acknowledged it before. It was like an open secret. An unspoken truth they both knew, but didn't do anything about. Until now, when Wave was deliberately teasing him about it. 

Lava whined as one of Wave's hands rested on the side of his neck, the other fiddling flirtily with his tie. “I do. But how can you just say it like that? I wasn't ready.” 

Wave laughed lightly and leaned closer, until their noses really did touch. “Still not ready? But I've waited long enough, don't you think?”

Wave grabbed onto the end of his tie, tugging to pull him even closer. Their lips met this time, no more teasing. Lava still wasn't ready for it, even when Wave wasted no time devouring his lips. 

Following his instincts, he wrapped his arms around Wave's waist and pulled him flush against his chest. He'd been itching to get acquainted with that tiny waist. Exhilaration filled his body with every hungry press of Wave's lips. 

Wave's mouth was demanding, claiming Lava's lips. First, he focused his kisses on Lava's top lip. Lava followed his lead in a way he'd never had to follow anyone before. He never knew he would like going along with someone else’s guidance this much. He wanted Wave to lead him in a million more kisses. 

Then, Wave shifted his focus to his bottom lip, even briefly sucking it into his mouth. He tilted his head this way and that, kissing Lava from every angle until they were both out of breath and were forced to part. 

But even then, Wave didn't go easy on him. He pinched Lava's cheek with a smug smirk. “You're going red. It's that easy to rile you up, huh? I should've done it sooner.”

Lava buried his face against Wave's neck to hide his reddened cheeks. “Don't tease me, Wave. I've waited so long to kiss you.” 

“Aww, poor puppy. Don't pout.” Wave stroked his hair, playing with the short strands. “Remember, you still have a wish from me.”

Lava perked up at the reminder. Wave had stolen all of his thoughts right out of his brain with that stellar kiss, and he needed a moment to recuperate before he could emerge from the safe haven of Wave's warm neck. 

“Why do I have a feeling you already know what I'm going to ask for?” 

Wave played innocent, shrugging with widened eyes. “How would I know? I have no idea!”

Lava placed his hands on Wave's cheeks, squishing them. Giving him a taste of his own medicine. “I'm asking you to be my boyfriend.”

“Are you asking or telling?” Wave's voice was slightly distorted from his smushed cheeks, which only made him even cuter. Lava succumbed to cuteness aggression and placed a quick kiss to his lips.

“Both. I know you'll agree, anyway.”

“Someone is arrogant.” Wave pried Lava's hands off his face, then put his sneaky fingers back to work, trailing them up Lava's tie. “My boyfriend is a bigshot.”

Hearing that term from Wave's mouth sent a wave of dopamine straight to Lava's brain. He couldn't stop smiling, even as he grabbed Wave's hands to still them. “Enough with the tie games, Khun Faen. I can't keep up.” 

“But the tie makes you look so attractive.”

“I knew you thought I looked hot in this suit.”

“I never said you didn't.”

Wave wriggled his hands free, only to grab Lava's hand and hold it properly, interlacing their fingers. “We have to go back to work, before they start looking for us.”

“Can we just skip?”

Wave lightly smacked his shoulder with his free hand. “Lava! You just got a promotion, you can't slack off now!” 

“Okayyyy, fine. But can I have another kiss first?” 

“Well, since you asked so nicely.” Wave grabbed onto his chin, tilting it back to give him a slow, deep kiss. Lava was more prepared this time, so he redeemed himself by keeping up with each slide of Wave's lips against his. 

When Wave broke the kiss, he was radiating happiness like the sun, smiling with those pretty, flushed red lips. “Let's go, teerak.” 

Lava squeaked at the new nickname, but he didn't have time to react further before Wave was dragging him back towards the building. How was he going to get any work done now that he knew what Wave's lips tasted like? He would have to focus on boring blueprints while Wave sat next to him, looking like an angel incarnate, with a face that just begged for kisses by simply existing. 

Wave looked back at him with a grin. “You can kiss me again after hours, after our dinner date. You're still paying, right?” 

How did Wave know he was thinking about kissing him again? He was so cheeky. Lava was more than a little in love with him. “Of course, dear. We can go anywhere you like.”

“I'll let you choose, to celebrate your new job.” 

It was indeed harder to get his work done when he was vibrating with the need to kiss Wave again and again. But he managed to endure, pushing aside his urges to continue making Wave proud, until their shift finished. 

In the end, they had sushi for dinner. Lava didn't particularly like sushi, but it was Wave's favorite. Wave's smile and little excited dances when the food was served made it worth it. Even though this was supposed to be his reward, he was the one paying for it, and he'd let Wave choose the place. Did that make him a simp? 

But when Wave reached across the table to place his hand on top of Lava's with glowing eyes and a warm smile, he found he didn't mind being down bad. He'd happily be weak to Wave's whims for the rest of his life.