Chapter Text
Nut exhaled slowly as he stepped out of the lecture hall, the late afternoon sunlight filtering through the university corridor windows and casting long shadows across the floor.
The exhaustion settled heavily in his bones, deeper than what a normal student would have felt after a day of classes.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, he had been on a mission. He had returned just before dawn, completed the necessary reports, grabbed barely a few hours of sleep, and still dragged himself back to campus in time for his lectures.
His shoulders ached beneath the weight of his backpack, but what irritated him more was the stack of papers balanced precariously in his arms.
Assignments, worksheets, additional reading materials, extra reports. The pile was thick enough to rival a small textbook.
Most students would have assumed the professor was simply trying to help him catch up after missing classes.
Nut however, knew better.
The professor had never hidden his displeasure toward him. While other students spent every lecture diligently taking notes, Nut would disappear for days at a time, only to return and somehow continue scoring among the highest marks in quizzes and examinations.
It was a source of constant irritation for the man. As a result, every absence seemed to generate another stack of work waiting for him.
Nut glanced down at the papers and suppressed a sigh.
The campus around him buzzed with life as students moved between buildings, gathered beneath shaded walkways, or sat on grassy patches laughing with friends. Conversations drifted through the air, mixing with the sounds of footsteps and distant traffic from beyond the university gates.
Nut passed through it all almost unnoticed.
Not because people didn't recognize him, but because he rarely stopped long enough for anyone to approach.
His life at university had always existed in a strange balance.
To most people, he was simply another student, quiet, unusually intelligent, a little distant and maybe a little clumsy here and there.
What nobody knew was that between lectures, assignments, examinations, and group projects, he was also training, taking missions, attending agency briefings, and occasionally risking his life.
The contrast was almost absurd.
One day he would be doing an experiment in a lab. The next he would be chasing criminals across provinces. Then he'd return to campus and worry about deadlines like everyone else.
Sometimes it felt like he was living two completely separate lives. Neither one ever slowing down enough for him to catch his breath.
Adjusting the stack of papers against his chest, Nut headed toward the library.
It had become something of a third home over the year. (First being his own apartment, second the agency, and now the third)
When he wasn't in class, training, or on assignment, there was a good chance he could be found somewhere between the endless rows of bookshelves, quietly working through whatever academic disaster awaited him next.
The familiar building came into view across the courtyard. Large glass windows reflected the afternoon sky while students moved in and out through the entrance carrying laptops and textbooks.
The sight alone eased some of the tension in his shoulders.
As he climbed the steps and pushed through the doors, the cool air greeted him immediately. The noise of the campus faded behind him, replaced by the gentle hum of air conditioning and the occasional rustle of turning pages.
Nut headed toward one of the secluded study corners near the back. Always the same spot, far from people and distraction as Nut always there ever since his first year.
Setting the stack of papers onto the table, he lowered himself into the chair and rubbed a hand over his face briefly.
His body wanted sleep, his schedule demanded otherwise and the assignments spread before him like a challenge.
For a moment, he simply stared at it all.
Then, with the resignation of someone who had long accepted that the rest was a luxury, Nut opened his notebook, picked up a pen, and began working.
After the endless assignments, the mountain of notes, and the agency email that had only added another layer of responsibility onto his already overloaded schedule, all he wanted was coffee and maybe ten minutes where nobody expected anything from him.
Apparently, the universe had other plans.
The afternoon sun was warm as he stepped out of the library, stretching his stiff shoulders with a quiet sigh. He had been sitting at the same table for hours, working through the stack of assignments his lecturer had practically dumped onto him after another stretch of missed classes.
Still, he'd managed to finish more than half of it.
That deserved coffee.
With that thought in mind, he headed toward the café across the road, weaving through the busy university crowd. Students moved everywhere around him, laughing with friends, carrying books, rushing toward lectures.
Nut barely paid attention.
His focus shifted instead when his phone vibrated.
An email from the agency.
He opened it while walking. Immediately, he sighed.
Another team transfer.
Ever since his promotion to team leader, the agency had been moving him from unit to unit, trying to find where he fit best. Apparently none of the placements had stuck yet.
Nut rubbed his face tiredly. Just once, he wanted a week where nobody moved him anywhere.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice the figure walking backward until it was far too late.
A body collided with his shoulder. Nut yelped in surprise.
The person stumbled as well, and when Nut looked down, he immediately spotted the dark coffee stain spreading across an expensive-looking sleeve.
His stomach dropped.
"Oh-I'm-oh-oh god, I'm so sorry," Nut blurted, staring at the spreading stain on his sleeve like it was a personal failure. "I wasn't looking. I can-uh-I can wash it, or-replace it? I mean, it's probably expensive, right-"
The words tumbled out faster and faster.
Normally, Nut wasn't like this. He was calm under pressure, handled armed criminals and life-threatening situations. Yet somehow a stained sleeve had him spiraling.
Maybe it was the exhaustion or the stress. Or maybe it was the fact that he'd slept four hours in the last two days.
Whatever the reason, he was panicking.
Though across from him, the other person simply stared. Then came a laugh, warm, surprised, fond.
The sound made Nut finally look up and promptly forget how to function.
Because standing in front of him was Hong Pichetpong.
Hong.
The Hong Pichetpong.
Student model, campus celebrity. The face plastered across fashion campaigns and clothing advertisements.
Nut had seen him before, of course.
Everyone had.
It was impossible not to, but seeing him in person was entirely different. The photographs hadn't done him justice. The sunlight caught in his hair, his smile easy and bright, eyes crinkling slightly as he laughed.
For a terrifying second, Nut became painfully aware of his own heartbeat as he almost blushed. Somehow, through sheer force of will, he managed to maintain a vaguely normal expression.
"I think it's my fault," Hong had said easily, already shrugging off his jacket. "You okay?"
Nut nodded far too quickly.
"Yes. I mean. No. I mean-yes."
Hong laughed again.
Nut was beginning to suspect the sound might actually be dangerous. Then his gaze dropped to the jacket Hong had removed.
The sleeve was stained, so the least he could do was fix that. "I can wash that for you if you want...?" Nut asked awkwardly.
Hong glanced down at the jacket before smiling.
The smile alone nearly knocked several years off Nut's life expectancy.
"Sure, give me your number."
Nut blinked.
"My... Number...?"
Hong laughed again, and Nut had to physically stop himself from staring. "Yeah, so that i can know when to get my jacket from you."
That made sense.
So why did Nut suddenly feel nervous?
Awkwardly, he handed over his phone which Hong took it without hesitation, typing his number in before calling himself.
A second later, Hong's phone buzzed.
Satisfied, he handed the device back with his jacket.
"I'm Hong by the way," he introduced himself, smiling as Nut nodded, as if Nut didn't already know exactly who he was.
"I'm Nut." Nut managed to introduce himself in return, though he wasn't entirely convinced his brain was still working properly.
Hong simply looked at him for a moment as his expression softened slightly.
Then he smiled, a small smile. One that somehow felt more personal than the bright public ones everyone else saw.
"It's nice meeting you, Nut. I'll see you soon"
And just like that, he left.
Nut stood frozen on the sidewalk long after Hong disappeared into the crowd.
The coffee had been forgotten, the agency email had been forgotten, the assignments had been forgotten, even the stained sleeve had been forgotten.
Because for the first time in years, Agent Nut Thanat-future team leader, top trainee, and generally competent human being-had been completely and utterly charmed.
And the worst part?
He had a feeling he would absolutely be seeing Hong again.
"Oh my god!" Lego suddenly exclaimed, nearly dropping his snack as realization struck him. "You're like a puppy, Nut! You can only function when Hong is around!"
William burst out laughing as Tui nearly choked on his drink.
The living room was filled with the comfortable chaos that always seemed to follow whenever their friends gathered at the house. Moji was curled up on the armrest of the sofa, asleep despite the noise, while Yuki had somehow claimed William's lap and refused to move.
Hong was in the kitchen, making his coffee while telling the story to Lego because he asked.
Nut groaned as Hong laughed loudly.
"It was cute!"
Nut pointed toward the kitchen, "Don't encourage them."
Hong ignored him completely. "I still remember our first date. Nut was so nervous when he returned my jacket. He even accidentally hit the table."
William doubled over laughing, Tui covered his face and Lego looked like he'd just been handed the greatest piece of information in human history.
"No way."
Hong nodded, "Way." Nut buried his face in his hands, "It was one time."
"You knocked over your coffee."
"It was one time."
"You apologized to the waiter."
"It was one time."
"You apologized to me."
"It was one time."
"You apologized to the table."
William slid off the couch laughing, "THE TABLE?" Nut immediately grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at William's face.
Tui laughed so hard he had to put his drink down.
"Agent of the year."
"Shut up."
"Top trainee."
"Shut up."
"Leader material."
"Shut up."
"Defeated by a pretty boy."
Nut threw another pillow, which this one hit Tui.
By then Hong had finally done with his coffee. The moment he sat down, Nut automatically shifted closer before practically attached himself to Hong's side. Hong settled comfortably against him while Nut rested an arm around his waist, snuggling onto Hong's shoulder.
Lego watched the entire thing with narrowed eyes, "Puppy."
"I'm going to throw you out."
Hong laughed as Nut ignored everyone else and focused entirely on stealing Hong's drink.
"That wasn't our first date, anyway. It was our first formal meeting."
Lego gasped dramatically, "Formal meeting? You were meeting your crush. And you called it a formal meeting?"
William immediately sat up, his eyes widened, "Wait. Did you already have a crush on Hong back then?"
The room collectively turned toward Nut.
Nut's ears immediately turned red as he cleared his throat, "I mean...yeah."
The room exploded.
"I KNEW IT."
"NO WAY."
"YOU WERE DOWN BAD."
Nut looked ready to leave his own house, "I was nervous, okay?"
William was crying.
"The same guy who jumped off a building?"
"Yes."
"The same guy who fought six armed men?"
"Yes."
"The same guy who got promoted three times?"
"Yes."
"Scared of asking Hong out?"
Nut grabbed another pillow as William wisely moved. Nut sighed as he pouted, back to cuddle with Hong, "I didn't ask because Hong was popular."
Tui grinned, "Then who asked who first?"
Hong silently raised his hand.
"What?!"
"No!"
"That's illegal!"
"It should've been Nut!"
Hong laughed so hard he nearly spilled his drink, "It's fine. I asked him out first because I think I liked Nut first anyway."
Immediately Nut sat upright.
"No. I definitely liked you first."
Hong pointed at himself, "I literally asked you out."
"Because I was too nervous."
"Exactly."
"I still liked you first."
Hong narrowed his eyes.
"Evidence?"
"I saw you once and almost walked into a wall."
"That's not evidence."
"It absolutely is."
"I liked you first."
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
The argument continued for nearly two minutes, as nobody attempted to stop them. Mostly because it was hilarious.
Eventually Hong sighed dramatically before he grabbed the front of Nut's shirt and kissed him.
The room collectively groaned.
Hong pulled back first, "I don't care." Nut grinned as Hong poked his forehead. "We love each other. That's all."
Nut's smile softened immediately before he leaned forward and kissed Hong again.
William made a disgusted noise, Lego covered his eyes and Tui looked physically offended.
The moment they finally separated, Tui grabbed a pillow and threw it directly at Nut's head.
"Stop that."
The pillow bounced off Nut's shoulder as Nut immediately picked it up and launched it back, "Mind your business."
The pillow hit Tui squarely in the face.