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The bar was bustling, loud music playing in their ears as the smell of alcohol filled their noses the moment they entered. The only relief they had was the karaoke booth they rented, all five of them immediately making a beeline for it.
Elias had just turned 24 a few days ago, and realized that he was so busy with work that he's never drank alcohol before, let alone with their little ragtag group of misfits. A little celebration just for them.
Ashkariel had ordered the drinks prior, so they sat in the karaoke booth while waiting, still sober. Liron was the first to call dibs on the karaoke itself, snatching the remote from the table and choosing a song.
“You’re seriously singing now? I thought you’d wait until you get wasted.” Caelen judged, only to receive an eye roll from him. Liron huffed, “It’s only appropriate for Elias to sing first when we’re drunk.”
“And I bet I’m gonna be better at drinking than you.” Elias remarked snarkily.
“No way!” Liron rebutted.
“Yes way!”
Liron and Elias bickered back and forth, filling up the otherwise quiet booth. Shiki just came back from the bathroom, wiping off his hands on his hoodie before taking a seat next to Caelen. There was a distance as always. That’s just how Shiki worked, he was never a fan of physical contact. Even if Caelen was his genmate, he made no exceptions.
Sure, it hurt at first. When Caelen finally got the courage to talk to Shiki when they met after Caelen got fired from the precinct, they became friends quickly. But he didn’t know why Shiki always maintained a distance between them, making him assume the worst.
All those years ago, that misunderstanding had been cleared up to the both of them. Caelen respected Shiki’s boundaries, never smothering or touching him when he knew he wanted to be left alone. It was just how their friendship worked.
A few minutes later, their drinks came in which they took gratefully, letting the waitress set it down on the table before thanking her as she left. Elias was the first one to take one of the bottles of beer and pour it into his own glass before pouring for the others, setting it down before picking up his own cup. Ashkariel raised his glass in the air proudly, everyone following suit.
“To Eli finally not being a bitch and downing a drink! To Elias!”
“To Elias!”
Elias smiled brightly when their glasses clinked, downing his beer like everyone else did— with skill, at that. The burn in his throat didn’t seem to affect him, looking a bit too casual for his first time drinking.
Elias only noticed his actions when he realized everyone was staring. Laughing awkwardly, he followed, “Oh- uhm- owwww, it burns!”
“This isn’t your first time drinking, is it?”
His innocent smile at Shiki’s question spoke for itself. Ashkariel sighed and just chugged the rest of his glass— he could worry about Elias’ credibility when he’s sober enough to actually think.
When it came to drunk behavior, Caelen didn’t change much. He was still snark, save for a few comments he made here and there. Liron and Elias were probably the most energetic out of them, Ashkariel usually reduced to tears while Shiki slurred his Japanese and English together.
Caelen was watching as Elias and Liron hogged the karaoke machine, singing songs that were definitely too high for them and not so healthy for their throat. They will definitely not be happy tomorrow.
He observed the booth, noticing every little detail. Like how Liron’s face was bright red under his makeup, how Elias’s neck veins strained each highnote, how Ashkariel was clapping with teary eyes like a proud mother, how Shiki seemed to seated directly next to him, how Shiki’s hand rested on his thigh, how Shiki’s shoulders were touching his, how Shiki—
How Shiki was closer than he was before.
Turning his head, he looked at the boy before him. He smiled and laughed like his mind was empty, a slight sheen on his forehead from the heat of being drunk. Somehow, it was like he hadn’t even noticed how close they were when he’d usually slither away. Their arms were flush against each other’s, Caelen feeling the warmth of his skin on his— since when did his hoodie end up on the couch?
Even when intoxicated, Shiki made it clear that he wouldn’t magically like skinship. The last time they drank, he kept a distance from practically everyone, hiding in the corner out of sheer drunkness. So the sudden change in behavior was surprising.
When Shiki wraps his arm around Caelen’s shoulder to pull him haphazardly into a side hug, he couldn’t help but get shocked at the sudden contact even through his own drunken state. Shiki, who disliked physical touch, Shiki, who was radiating under the karaoke lights. Suddenly, he noticed his smile was glowing more than usual, his long, purple hair falling perfectly down his face, cheeks flushed from drinking so much.
Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the lack of air conditioning, but Caelen could feel his face start to heat up.
Has Shiki always been this pretty?
It was an inside joke between them at this point to call Shiki pretty for even breathing, blessing the room with his presence itself. They always teased him for pretending to be shy at being called good looking, and it was very true.
Liron fell to the ground dramatically when his voice cracked, a hand reaching up to grab his glass and take another sip of his alcohol. Shiki laughed and turned his head to look at Caelen if he had the same reaction.
Suddenly, their faces were inches apart and Caelen’s breath hitched upon realization. Neither of them knew how it happened. His smile faltered, but not once did he look away. Shiki smelled like sake and beer with a small hint of his cologne. His cologne that he bought a matching pair for Caelen in Japan so they even smelled the same.
Even through their foggy minds, the weight of the situation was clear to them. “You smell good.” Shiki blurted out. “You smell like me.”
Silence was all that came from the other end, Caelen was unable to make up any words. Shiki’s hand fisted into his shirt, playing with the hem just centimeters away from his collarbone. Caelen’s own hand slowly ran up Shiki’s thigh, getting caught occasionally on the rips of his jeans.
No one seemed to notice them, too busy in their own minds to pay attention to them. The sound of Liron and Elias singing went deaf in their ears. Their breaths on each other’s faces suddenly became hotter.
Caelen doesn’t realize his lips on Shiki’s until it was too late.
He pulled away as fast as he pulled in, shaky eyes scanning Shiki’s face for something, a sign past the shock and surprise. “Shiki, I didn't mean to…”
Shiki’s expression was still as unreadable as ever. Caelen felt his eyes watering, emotions running through him before he could even comprehend it. When Shiki tried to say something, Caelen got up and sat next to Ashkariel on the other couch, not exactly far away, but far enough.
Shiki didn't bother to go after him, taking another swig of his drink. The rest of the night passed, Caelen draped over Ashkariel, ignoring Shiki's eyes burning into his skull. His glass was fuller than usual, up to the brim just for it to go back to the bottom after a few seconds. He drank so much to the point that even Liron got concerned despite his own wastednes.
By the end of the night, everyone was red and drunk and half-passed out. Ashkariel— with whatever clarity he had left— texted Cassian and asked to come get them. The karaoke machine was long forgotten, Liron passed out next to Elias who was munching on some chips and stroking his hair. Caelen was curled next to Ashkariel, having a hush conversation that they’d occasionally laugh at. Shiki was by himself on the other couch, sipping from his empty cup as his gaze never faltered.
His knuckles turned white around the glass when Caelen wrapped an arm around Ashkariel’s midsection, laughing together over the small gesture. Something set alight in Shiki’s gut, seeing how close they were. Any normal person would say it’s normal considering how long they’ve known each other, but drunk Shiki was not a normal person.
His feet took him without his brain even registering where he wanted to go. He grabbed Caelen’s wrist and yanked his arm off of Ashkariel’s waist, fire in his eyes as he stared at his glossy ones. All eyes were on him— even the once sleeping Liron— wondering what was going on. Caelen yelped at the pressure, unable to escape from his harsh grip.
“Shiki, what’s wrong?” Ashkariel spoke up first, his speech slurred and soft. He covered Shiki’s hand with his, getting him to loosen his grip. If it went on any longer, it was bound to leave bruises.
“Fuck.” He breathed out, leaning down to incase Caelen’s lips in his, teeth clacking painfully. Crawling into his lap, he made sure that Caelen couldn’t go anywhere. Not once did his brain register his three shocked groupmates— their gasps were just background noise to him. All he wanted to hear was Caelen.
“Shiki, wait-“ His pleas were cut off by Shiki pushing harder, grabbing both of his wrists so he was at mercy to his wishes. He tasted like beer with a thin coating of strawberry left from the sake, it was intoxicating. He took Caelen’s tongue into his mouth, sucking as their saliva mixed into a stringy pool that leaked down their chins and onto their shirts.
Liron was quick to cover Elias’s eyes, his own blown wide open in shock as his groupmates practically ate each other’s face. Ashkariel hid his face behind his hands, and turned around to lean into Elias’s shoulders, facing away from the two. Fluster settled in them, the scene was nothing but erotic.
But Caelen and Shiki didn’t care. A strong hand wrapped around Caelen’s waist as the other went to pull at his hair, tilting his head back so the milky skin of his neck could be exposed. Trapped under Shiki’s iron grip, Caelen had no choice but to take it— and like it— as his neck was attacked by teeth and tongue.
Shiki was a wild animal, leaving bites and hickies from the neck up like he was claiming his territory. Albeit a bit blurry, his mind was set on one thing. Make Caelen his. The kiss opened something within him, making him realize how much he’s been wanting his own bestfriend.
Recently, he’d been admiring him a bit more. He’d always compliment his singing just to see the pretty blush on his face, following him wherever he goes to make sure he was safe. Even if he didn’t realize it sooner, he’d been wanting Caelen for so long. He just needed an excuse to act on it.
“Shit, you can’t just kiss me and expect me to ignore it.” Shiki growled against his neck, pulling his hair tightly to pull a pained noise from him. Sadistically smiling, he took back to painting the white canvas of Caelen’s neck with blue and purple.
“Holy shit, this is actually happening. Caelen and Shiki are fucking making out in front of us.” Ashkariel whispered into Elias’s shoulder as realization settled in him, his hand coming down to grip his bicep for support. “I dunno, it’s kinda hot.” Elias blurted, the hands over his eyes dropping ages ago. “We’re hotter when we make out, Eli.” Liron quipped to which Elias agreed. Liron handed a shot of sake to Ashkariel who drank it all in one go.
Neither of Caelen nor Shiki bothered to pay attention to the comments towards them, too focused on each other to even think about their surroundings. Shiki pulled his head back down to shove their lips together, tasting him hungrily like he hasn’t been fed in years. Feral, desperate.
“Come on, guys. The car’s outs- WOAH.” Cassian entered the booth, his tracks— and heart— stopping when he saw the scene. Everyone’s heads snapped to him, showing different levels of emotion that had him feeling like fainting. Without another word, he slammed the door and ran back outside.
Liron was the first to get up, running after him to escape from the awkward situation. “You two are explaining all of this when you’re sober.” Ashkariel pointed an accusatory finger at Shiki and Caelen before dragging Elias out, leaving the two of them together. The booth was empty, just them.
“You’re gonna remember this in the morning, right?” Caelen asked in a hushed voice, receiving a small nod from the other. He sighed in relief, escaping his hands from Shiki’s loosened grip to intertwine their fingers. Their chests heaved heavily against each other, close.
Shiki peppered small kisses around Caelen’s collarbone, feeling in his presence just a bit more before they needed to leave. Caelen’s skin was rough against his soft hands, full of calluses calluses. That’s what he always loved about him. His dedication to his work. His dedication to him. “Don’t let this be a drunk mistake.”