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Valentine's Day—or how they call it, Heart's Day.
A special day where you celebrate how you express your love towards your loved one, or even a friend—but sadly for Niko, he doesn’t have anyone to celebrate this with.
Such a lonely day for him, when he should be out celebrating it with his friends along with his nephew, but they were never around when he was on. It was very quiet and isolating to be a researcher in the lab that you built.
Niko is such a pathetic man.
But what does he do to wash away the feeling of loneliness? An easy answer—he drinks. He would down a whole bottle of gin and tequila to suppress every emotion he experienced; not even caffeine could save him.
He learned it the hard way; ever since, his relationship with Paper has been… tense.
The best way to define the inexplicable tension between him and Paper—his friend, even someone he despised out of fear upon his return—is that it's complicated. The times they spent together, the conversations they had, the time Paper killed him, and even the heated argument they had because of how his alcoholism disrupted everything.
Moments like these, Niko couldn’t tell if he was head over heels about Paper—but the number of times he went to Tepito, with the bartender Maki listening to his stories and tirades while he was still drunk, the majority of his conversations and stories were all about Paper. Every time Niko sobered up, Maki had to tell him right to his face that he was, in fact, in love with Paper. Maki would always make fun of him as he denies and internalizes the feelings he had, even though she was right.
But ever since he vanished, Niko has been hurt and devastated. While he still had a lot to tell him, he didn't anticipate his departure too soon, but everything remained unsaid. He didn’t get to tell him how he truly felt towards him, how he felt about them—even the idea of them together. It proves how cowardly and even more pathetic Niko was, until today.
At this time, it was very unexpected for him to forget who Paper was, but maybe it’s because of the alcohol.
Chugging two bottles of liquor, or even more, to where his vision started becoming hazy and blurry as he tried to navigate the basement of his lab. In both hands, Niko held a clipboard containing his research on the black goo and the bottle he had drunk from, which still had enough for him to finish. Swaying side by side as he passes through his office, hitting the shelf full of books and documents—he’s slowly losing control of his mind and body.
He was left with nothing to do but lie on the floor, still holding an untidy stack of his documents, and try to gather his thoughts. His feelings were also all over the place; after drinking four bottles, he experienced a shift in mood from feeling pitiful and depressed to feeling buoyant and euphoric.
Seeing colors like he’s inside a kaleidoscope, Niko couldn’t help but laugh and start murmuring words that were incomprehensible. The momentum paused as he heard knocking on his door—as well as hearing a familiar voice.
“Nikooo? Are you there?” Overhead, a cunning yet eager voice could be heard. How Niko wished he could open the door and let that someone into his lab, but his current state prevented him from doing so. “I brought you something—a gift that I think you’d like.”
Something about the way that person speaks and even calls his name makes him shiver, but in a good way. The only issue was that he couldn't remember who was at his door at the moment. He must be able to see that person, feel that person, and even sense their presence. He truly wants to recall who it is that knocked on his door, but the effects of the alcohol have affected every part of his body.
It was obvious that the person who was outside his door was Paper, but there were no bells ringing in his head.
Luckily enough, he had the passcode to his door, easily getting inside his lab as he made himself comfortable. Even though Niko could hear shuffling and footsteps above, he remained motionless, only groaning as he struggled to control his alcohol and find himself.
He eventually built the courage to finally speak up: “Welcome home, honey.”
It was stupid, Niko calling his friend "honey" as if they were together—like a malewife waiting for his husband to return home. It was almost a miracle that he didn't recognize the person he had called as Paper, because he would have freaked out and run away.
His tone quickly changed in confusion. “...What?”
Niko was giggling and snorting like an idiot as he heard the confusion in his tone, to where Paper made the decision to go down to the lab's basement and try to find Niko. Not in his office, not in his bedroom, not even in the kitchen, but by the teleporter, where he was buried under a mountain of files and documents.
“Jesus—”
“Heeeyy!” he gleefully exclaimed, still laughing like a child, as he tried to get to his feet on his own. “How’re ‘ya dooooin’?”
There was nothing Paper could do but stare at Niko, who was sitting on the documents at the moment; he was at a loss for what to do but taunt him by making fun of him or luring him. As he got closer to him, he noticed the redness of his ears, as well as his cheeks—weird enough for someone to bleed out green toxins.
Paper dropped his backpack filled with gifts, knelt down, and cupped Niko’s face as he attempted to lock his gaze to his eyes. He sighed and asked the long-overdue question, “Niko, are you seriously drunk right now?”
Unbelieving that he was being asked that question, he lifted his head backwards and laughed in response. It’s almost like it was never obvious, but he didn’t care to bother.
“How’dya know that, babe?” Niko asked in jest, shifting his head back onto Paper's hands as if they were a mold, then holding both his hands. “I don’t do drunk.”
“You’re being incomprehensible right now, so you’re drunk.” He replies back in a playful tone, but deep inside, Paper felt a hint of panic as he dealt with his drunk friend. Furthermore, he realized that Niko had been calling him pet names. This wasn't a big deal, but it was a new concept to him, though perhaps it's because he's not used to it.
As Niko squinted his eyes to regain his clear vision, he realized who was holding him and talking to him; it was none other than…
“Papel?”
He remained still as his eyes lit up, and his lips curved, forming a smile. “What’re ‘ya doin’ here…?”
He had never anticipated seeing the ghost that he longed for, feeling his touch, or even seeing his presence. The realization that he could feel his touch one final time made Niko very delighted.
Only a sigh could be elicited in response. “You realized just now? How shameful and rude of you, Niko—”
“C’mere, amorzinho.”
Silence fell over the entire room, but Paper remained silent, staring and holding onto Niko with a frantic expression. The nickname he got called caught him off guard—questionable, even. He knew Niko had a thing for him, but actually hearing Niko trying to flatter him? It’s new.
Paper remained still as Niko began to pout, becoming increasingly impatient. “What’s taking ‘ya so long? Lay down with me, Papel.”
“You’re way taller than me; just drag me down with you,” he reasoned out, making Niko more infuriated. He sighed and pulled Paper down with him on the file pile, knowing that he had nothing else to do other than follow what he said.
But Niko didn't let him go so easily; he continued to hold Paper, pinning him down, from which he was hardly able to move or get away. Although Paper had no intention of pushing him away, he pinned both of his hands, thereby restraining him.
“Good. I just don’t want you to leave me here again, please?”
Paper was baffled—he wasn’t used to Niko doing this in an affectionate manner, but now that he witnessed it, he started liking the idea more. Niko was vulnerable and easy to control in this state, but he didn't want to be controlled this time; he wanted Paper to stay with him.
He smirked as he looked at Niko’s flushed face and desperate eyes. “You could lie down now.”
Niko immediately plopped on top of Paper, resting on top of him, although his physique was way taller. He pulled Paper's waist and gradually embraced him while Paper played with Niko's hair and ran his fingers through it. It’s like they were something—or maybe they actually are.
“Holy fuck, you reek of both alcohol and cigarettes.” Paper complained as Niko climbed up to him.
All Niko could do was smile in satisfaction and comfort, unconcerned about what Paper said, because he, of course, has the freedom to do whatever he wants.
“You do know what day it is today, right?” Paper questioned, his right hand pressing onto Niko’s back. “I hope you did, because I got you lots of things—even a surprise.”
“Mmmh,” Niko groaned. “Couldn’t care less; I just want ‘ya to stay.”
“You don’t want the gifts?”
“Having you keep me company is enough, anjozinho. The gifts could wait, y’know?”
From where did he now get that name? He didn’t expect Niko to call him with such a nickname—calling him “angel” was something he least expected, knowing that Paper is the complete opposite of it.
“Well, I thought you liked gifts?” he asked, attempting to shift his posture on the hardwood floor as the tall drunkard rested on top of him. “I have coffee and the remains of a boss I killed earlier in the dungeon.”
“Nooooooo,” he whined out loud, burying his face into Paper’s scarf. “Just you, queridinho. Nothin’ else matters, ‘kay?”
There he goes again, with the stupid pet name. Paper could feel the embarrassment and uneasiness creeping in as Niko continuously gave him nicknames all throughout. Even though it's strange for someone to be temperature-insensitive, Paper tried to cover up the fact that he could feel his face getting hotter.
“What’s up with you calling me those names?” Paper questioned, averting his gaze away.
“What names?” Niko tilted his head as he lifted his upper body, getting closer to his face.
It’s a dead end; he knows he couldn’t avoid eye contact when it comes to Niko being intoxicated with alcohol. “The ones you called me? You called me queridinho, Niko.”
“Am I not allowed to?”
He crawled toward him, just to see his face closer. Niko held Paper’s right hand and placed it on the right side of his own face, giving him a wide grin. “Y’know, I missed you. I really thought you left me.”
“Niko, you’re drunk.” Paper shushed him. “You still haven’t sobered up properly, and it’s annoying that I didn’t get to be the one annoying you.”
“I’m a hundred percent sobeerrr!” Niko drew himself closer to Paper's face while defending himself. He was distracted to see his pale, yet pretty face for so long—I mean, it has been a while, right?
“I hope you know the next nickname that I’ll call you is a Tagalog nickname that fits you well.”
Paper shook his head in disbelief; he couldn’t get to fully take advantage of Niko if he was being really needy and clingy at the same time. It’s like his plan was semi-ruined.
“Why are you calling me those names?” He asked, one last time, begging that Niko could finally answer seriously.
Niko grabbed onto Paper’s chin, locking eye contact as his face was still red and smudged from the alcohol, as well as caressing his face with his thumb.
“It’s because I really like you, mahal.”
He sighed, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. “You’re just saying that because you’re drunk.”
“No—really! I like you—no, not like!” The confession was going well until he stumbled over his vocabulary, and Niko became anxious because he was having trouble coming up with the right words to say.
“Stop playing with me,” Paper warned with a steady voice. “I should be the one playing with you in the first place—you’re seriously being unfair.”
“Papel, aking mahal—I love you.”
“I call you those because I love you; isn’t it obvious?” Niko paused, trying to catch his words. “I’d always drink, and drink, and drink, just to suppress what I’m feeling towards you, and now that you’re here I—”
As the words flew out of Niko’s mouth, the whole world felt like it stopped for a brief moment. Niko confessing his love for someone and then stopping in the middle was strange—to his longtime friend Paper, in particular—and so unbelievable.
His grin turned into a smirk once more, and he began to laugh recklessly to get over his embarrassment. Paper lightly slapped his face as he comprehended what he said.
“Are you seriously asking me out? I was going to ask you first—I had everything planned, you plan wrecker!” Paper hissed as his plan went unsuccessful, but seeing Niko being really proud of himself, as well as really gleeful, warms him internally in a sense that he doesn’t want to fully bother him.
Niko shrieked as he lay on top of Paper once again, pulling him into a hug. “You look way too attractive and cute for me to not say anything! You really are my angel.”
“You shouldn’t be saying that; I literally came from hell.” He scoffs, bursting into a soft laugh as he plays with Niko’s hair once again. But this time, Niko wasn’t responding—he was passed out drunk.
Paper didn’t budge, knowing Niko deserved to at least hibernate before doing anything after consuming almost five bottles of alcohol. He waited for him, massaging his scalp repeatedly, until he could feel himself slowly dozing off.
Perhaps cradling each other's arms isn't a bad idea for a Valentine's date.