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The secret to Mikage Reo’s success in soccer was his partnership with Nagi, a soccer prodigy whose genius was only slightly outweighed by his laziness. The secret to Nagi Seishiro’s success, on the other hand, was being a vampire utterly spoiled by Reo. Safe to say, the two of them had a symbiotic, if slightly unusual, relationship.
Technically, Reo was not supposed to find out that Nagi was a vampire. Nobody was. But when Nagi had collapsed during practice about two weeks into playing soccer together, it was more of a hassle to find an excuse than to tell the truth. So, Nagi confessed his true identity to a human for the first time in his life. He also, shamelessly, asked to drink from said human. The response was… well, better than expected, honestly.
Reo initially thought he was kidding, like any reasonable person would. He had laughed and brushed it aside as one of Nagi’s usual antics to get out of practice. Yet when he reached out to help Nagi up and felt his cold, clammy skin that was so pale it almost lacked color, realization seemed to dawn on Reo. Nagi watched Reo’s face shift through a myriad of emotions, each one more intense than the last, before his expression settled into a warm smile. Reo assured him that, no matter what, Nagi was still his treasure.
That was the first day Nagi got to drink from Reo, and the day that Nagi knew he’d rather die than have anyone else.
In the five months they’d known each other, they had formed a sort of routine. Every three to four days, Nagi would whine and complain about being so hungry he could hardly move. Reo would roll his eyes, pretending to be bothered by Nagi’s neediness, but always extended a wrist for Nagi to latch onto and drink until energy buzzed beneath his skin in an electric current. Did Nagi actually need to feed so frequently? Not really. But the tang of Reo’s blood on his tongue was far too addictive to pass up.
“Nagi, did you try on those new cleats I got you?” Reo asked, glancing over his shoulder at where Nagi sat on the locker room bench.
Nagi hummed affirmatively. “They fit well.”
A self-satisfied smile stretched across Reo’s lips. “Of course, they do. I only get the best for my treasure.”
With that, he turned back towards his locker and began to unbutton his shirt. Nagi watched, enraptured, as the perfectly pressed fabric slid down Reo’s shoulders and exposed the smooth expanse of his neck. Before meeting Reo, Nagi had not known what temptation felt like. Other vampires always talked about how much they wished to sink their fangs into a human’s arteries and indulge in the burst of life beneath their lips. To drink and drink until that human’s blood ran through their own veins. It all seemed like such a hassle in the past. Now, though, Nagi understood what those vampires meant. His fangs ached dully with the need to puncture flesh, deeply and possessively.
He would never harm Reo, though. Not even the sharpest pangs of starvation could convince Nagi to take what Reo did not freely give. As such, Nagi only ever got to suckle from the delicate veins in Reo’s wrists. It satisfied his hunger, sure, but Nagi wanted more than that. Something more intimate, more sacred. To leave his mark on Reo where no one could doubt the intensity of their bond.
“Nagi,” Reo called, drawing out the last syllable sweetly.
Nagi blinked. Without him realizing, Reo had finished changing and now stood in front of him.
“What are you spacing out for? Come on, I’ll help you get dressed,” Reo said.
Obediently, Nagi stood up and followed Reo to the set of lockers along the wall. Reo opened Nagi’s locker with ease, having set the combination to the lock himself, and pulled out the soccer uniform lying inside.
“Arms up,” Reo commanded.
Nagi mumbled an unintelligible complaint but did as he was told. While Reo helped him out of his blazer and hoodie, Nagi’s eyes zeroed in on Reo’s neck again. His hair was pulled up into that cute little ponytail Reo liked to wear during games. Like this, there was nothing stopping Nagi’s gaze from raking over every inch of exposed skin. Distantly, Nagi registered that Reo was talking about something, but the words were unclear. Nagi felt like he was underwater and sinking fast.
A sharp tug on the collar of his shirt yanked Nagi back to the surface. His eyes shot up to meet Reo’s. Concern reflected in those amethyst irises.
“Seriously, what’s up with you today, Nagi? Are you feeling alright?” Reo asked.
“‘M hungry,” Nagi muttered, still a little dazed.
Reo’s eyebrows furrowed together, and a frown tugged at the corners of his lips. He discreetly glanced around the locker room. Upon seeing a few of their teammates changing on the other side of the room, Reo leaned in closer and lowered his voice.
“Already? It’s only been two days,” he whispered.
“Reo’s been working me hard lately,” Nagi said. While this was true, he wasn’t convinced this was the reason for his sudden surge of hunger. Still, it was a decent enough excuse.
Reo let out a quiet huff of laughter. “We’ll have to work harder than this if we want to win the World Cup.”
“Reo,” Nagi whined.
His eyes went wide in a pitiful puppy-dog look. Like always, Reo instantly melted at the sight.
“Okay, okay, but you’ll have to wait until after the game,” Reo said. His gaze momentarily shifted back to their nearby teammates. “You know I can’t cover up a bite mark without long sleeves.”
“Then let me bite Reo somewhere else.”
The words tumbled from Nagi’s mouth before he even registered what he was saying. In response, Reo’s eyes went wide and his lips parted in a small “o”. Then, Nagi blinked, and it was gone. That adorably surprised expression was replaced with Reo’s typical cocky grin.
“Score me a hat trick and I’ll think about it,” Reo said.
Interest sparked in Nagi’s dark eyes, glittering as if Reo’s words had breathed life into him anew. If that was all Reo wanted, then Nagi would happily comply. At this point, Reo could ask him for the world and Nagi would deliver it on a silver platter.
Not only did Nagi score a hat trick, he also threw in one more goal for good measure. That, combined with the two goals Reo himself had scored, resulted in Hakuho’s team winning the game with an astounding score of 6-1. Reo hadn’t stopped grinning since Nagi shot the ball directly into the corner of the net, obtaining the final goal of the game. His warm, sweaty body was pressed up against Nagi’s back, hands gripping his shoulders as he practically bounced in place from excitement. Nagi basked in the attention. Winning the game meant very little to him in comparison to Reo’s radiant smile and endless praise.
“That was amazing, Nagi! You were really fired up today,” Reo exclaimed.
If it were anybody else, Nagi would have flinched from the loud voice directly in his ear. But since it was Reo, it was fine. Anything was fine.
“Mm, wanted my reward,” Nagi said.
Reo’s grin took on a sharp, teasing edge. “That’s what motivated you, huh? And here I thought you’d finally taken an interest in soccer.”
“Soccer’s such a pain,” Nagi groaned.
As if to emphasize his point, Nagi slumped against Reo, forcing the purple-haired boy to bear 190cm worth of dead weight. The laugh Reo let out was as clear and bright as the summer sky.
“Hey now, don’t go collapsing just yet. We haven’t even made it back to the locker room,” he said, voice dancing with mirth.
Nagi turned his head to nuzzle against Reo’s shoulder. “Reo, carry me.”
“Alright, you big baby. Hop on.”
Reo crouched down to allow Nagi to climb onto his back. As soon as Nagi was situated, Reo hoisted him up and headed toward the locker room. Most of their teammates had already left the field at this point, eager to change out of their sweaty uniforms and wash away the day’s exhaustion with a hot shower. While all of that did sound nice – assuming Reo would help him take care of those troublesome tasks – there was a kind of comfort that couldn’t be found anywhere but in the heat of Reo’s body against his own.
Vampires didn’t produce their own body heat. Their temperatures were more reliant on the surrounding weather, much like a reptile. Most of the time, this meant that Nagi ran on the colder side. Yet, whenever Reo made contact with him, even the lightest of touches sent a surge of warmth throughout Nagi’s body. It was as if being embraced by the sun itself. It should be overwhelming, facing a light that could easily burn right through him, but Nagi only ever felt at ease. He craved Reo’s presence, with no fear of the marks his scorching rays left behind.
When they entered the locker room, they were greeted by a series of cheers and excited banter from their teammates. Reo met their enthusiasm with his own, eagerly trading comments and observations from the game with anyone nearby. Like a true team captain, he mixed praise with astute recommendations for future improvement. The problem was, Reo was getting a little too into it. Nagi sighed as he listened to Reo start to brainstorm revisions for the team’s training plan. When were these NPCs going to leave? Didn’t they know Nagi worked really hard today and deserved to have his reward already?
From his position slumped against Reo’s back, Nagi was face-to-face with the very neck that had been tempting him all day. Unable to resist, Nagi nosed at the side of it and inhaled. Underneath the layer of sweat and Reo’s favorite cologne, there was a scent that was unique to Reo alone. Something gentle yet overflowing with life. The scent of his blood pulsing just beneath the skin. Nagi was hit with the sudden, unbearable urge to bite.
With a hint of annoyance at being ignored for so long, Nagi buried his face in the crook of Reo’s neck. Carefully, he parted his lips just enough to allow his fangs to graze the delicate skin. This caused Reo to stumble over his words mid-sentence.
“Something wrong, Reo?” one of their teammates asked.
It took a second for Reo to respond. Once he did, his voice was taut with the kind of fake cheeriness that meant Reo wanted the conversation to end as soon as possible.
“Nothing’s wrong! It’s just, Nagi’s tired, and I need to get him cleaned up before he falls asleep,” Reo said.
Their teammate’s gaze slid from Reo to Nagi and back. “You really do everything for him, huh? Aren’t you tired too?”
Nagi raised his head to send a glare at their teammate, who at least had the decency to flinch. How dare he speak ill of his relationship with Reo? If Reo wanted to be his lovely, doting wife, then Nagi sure as hell wasn’t going to stop him.
“What are you talking about? Of course, I’m going to take care of my treasure,” Reo said, as if he were answering the world’s stupidest question.
“Right…” their teammate said awkwardly. “Well, uh, I guess I’ll let you guys get to it. Good work out there today.”
Reo nodded. “You too.”
Once the two of them were alone, Nagi sagged back down into Reo’s comforting hold. He hadn’t realized how tense he’d gotten until just now. Nagi buried his face in Reo’s neck again, seeking out that soothing scent that would settle the strange uneasiness fraying his nerves.
“Think you can stay awake long enough to shower?” Reo asked.
“Maybe,” Nagi’s response came out muffled by the soft skin against his lips.
Briefly, Reo’s fingers tightened their grip around Nagi’s thighs. He chuckled, but it sounded slightly strained. “Quit sticking your face against my neck. I’m all gross and sweaty.”
That didn’t bother Nagi at all. In fact, he was a little curious what Reo’s blood would taste like tinged with salt. He’d heard someone recently talk about salty and sweet things going well together. Explaining this would be a hassle, though, so Nagi simply replied with, “Reo’s not gross.”
Reo scoffed. “Nice try, but your flattery needs some work.”
Nagi made a quiet, confused sound in the back of his throat. He wasn’t trying to flatter Reo, he was just being honest. Even if Reo turned into a worm, Nagi would never find him gross. Reo would probably be a very cute worm, actually. This line of thought was abruptly interrupted by Reo setting him down to go prepare a shower for the two of them. The loss of Reo’s warmth was immediately missed, but Nagi found comfort in the fact that, with a little patience, he’d finally get the pampering he so rightly deserved.
Freshly showered and mostly dressed – save for his school uniform blazer that was haphazardly thrown onto a bench – Nagi fought valiantly to stay awake. He used up so much energy in today's game that it was now physically difficult to move. And, in his exhaustion, that ever-present craving for a taste of Reo’s blood had become an intense hunger. Nagi watched through half-lidded eyes as Reo neatly folded up both of their soccer uniforms. Every agonizingly slow second felt like torture. Nagi wanted so desperately to pull Reo close, to sink his teeth into supple skin, but he didn't have the strength to do so. All Nagi could do was stare pitifully at Reo until he noticed.
Luckily, Reo was an expert when it came to all things Nagi. The moment he set down the last folded article of clothing, Reo turned towards Nagi like a compass pointing north. He took one look at the miserable creature hunched over on the bench and chuckled.
“Tired, treasure?” Reo asked, despite already knowing the answer.
“Mhm,” Nagi hummed.
Reo crossed the distance between them in a few elegant steps. His hands reached out to cradle Nagi’s face. “You really did a fantastic job today, Nagi. You've earned a good, long rest.”
Nagi used what little energy he had to tilt his head into Reo’s palm. Reo’s warmth was always welcome, but right now it wasn't enough. There was something much more tantalizing circulating within that soft hand.
“I earned another reward too,” Nagi said.
One of Reo's eyebrows raised. “You want to bite me here? Now?”
Nagi nodded and did his best to communicate how much he needed Reo solely through his upturned eyes. Reo’s own eyes shifted around the locker room uncertainly.
“Everyone's gone. I already checked,” Nagi said.
“You really are putting in a lot of effort today,” Reo said, his voice laced with equal parts fondness and surprise.
For a moment, he paused, lips pursed together as he thought hard about what to do. Nagi slowly blinked at him like a sunbathing cat. As always, whatever resolve Reo might have had melted away in an instant.
“Well, I did say I would reward you,” Reo said. He shrugged off his blazer and sat down beside Nagi on the bench. “You wanted to bite me somewhere besides my wrist, right? Was there a particular spot you had in mind?”
Where should Nagi even begin? He wasn't ashamed to admit he had fantasized about feeding from every inch of Reo's body at some point. Whether the concentration of blood vessels was few or many, any part of Reo had to be a delightful feast. But Nagi was a greedy person. This opportunity might never present itself again, so he had to make the most of it.
“Somewhere with large arteries, like your neck,” Nagi said.
“My neck, huh? That's a bit…” Reo trailed off as he subconsciously covered the side of his neck with his hand.
Maybe Reo was scared. After all, most vampires only drank from the neck with the intention to either turn a person or kill them. Reo had done enough research after meeting Nagi to know this, but he also should know that the last thing Nagi wanted was a life without Reo. So, if not fear, it had to be something else. Well, whatever. There were other places he could try.
Nagi’s gaze slowly travelled down Reo’s body, as if he were a predator searching for the tastiest piece of his prey. “If that's no good, Reo’s thighs will work too.”
“Nope, the neck’s perfect!” Reo said loudly enough for his voice to echo off the tiled walls.
When Nagi’s eyes raised to look at Reo’s face, he was met with a beautiful shade of scarlet. Unlike the deep red hue of blood dripping from an open wound, the flush that painted Reo from the tips of his ears to where his neck met the collar of his shirt was vibrant. It was an unfamiliar color on Reo, but one that suited him well. Nagi was so captivated by the sight that he momentarily forgot about his hunger.
“Just don't bite me in a super obvious spot. Make it so the mark’s hidden underneath my uniform,” Reo said as he nervously fidgeted with the top button of his collar.
Nagi could only nod dumbly in response. He continued to stare at Reo, anticipation prickling beneath his skin. If Nagi stopped to think about it, he'd be shocked by the fact that he felt almost giddy. After another moment's hesitance, Reo's fingers deftly undid the first few buttons of his shirt and pushed one side of the collar away from his neck. During the entire process, he refused to look anywhere near Nagi.
“This should be fine, right?” Reo asked.
“Mm, I think I'll need more room.”
Nagi slid closer until they were pressed together at the hip. Eager hands reached out to rest on the smooth fabric of Reo's shirt. Before Reo could do much as make a sound of protest, Nagi pulled at the rest of the buttons. They came undone one by one in rapid succession. At the last button, Nagi forgot his own strength and yanked it free from the threads.
“Nagi!” Reo exclaimed.
The expression on his face was more embarrassed than angry, but Nagi figured he should still apologize. If Reo got mad at him, he might not let Nagi drink from him. Nagi didn't know if he could survive being denied at this point.
“Sorry, Reo. I got too excited,” Nagi said.
Reo's eyes widened slightly, The vivid purple of his irises shone prettily against his still-reddened skin. “Excited? About what?”
“You,” Nagi answered simply.
For some reason, he felt pleased when the blush on Reo’s cheeks intensified. Reo was so pretty like this, and it was all because of Nagi. No one else could coax such a flustered expression out of Hakuho’s perfect prince. No matter how hard his countless suitors tried.
Suddenly, determination bloomed where confusion had previously resided in Reo’s expression. His gaze was sharp yet not unkind. Like his goal was to pierce through Nagi’s soul while gently cradling his heart. In one swift motion, Reo tangled his fingers into Nagi’s hair and tugged him down to press his nose just above Reo’s collarbone.
“Then show me what your excitement looks like,” Reo said, a command tinged with vulnerability. “Go on, Nagi. Drink.”
“Yes, Boss,” Nagi murmured against soft skin. He didn't need to be told twice.
The instant Nagi’s fangs broke the thin skin on Reo’s neck, a stream of hot blood burst forth. Nagi vaguely registered the sound of Reo sucking in a breath through his teeth. He would have been more concerned about checking if it hurt if Nagi wasn't completely overwhelmed by the flavor drowning his tastebuds. Somehow, the blood was sweeter here than when drawn from Reo’s wrist. Like the nectar of a fruit ripened almost to the point of beginning to rot – the pinnacle of life before the slow decline to death. Beneath that sweetness was the delicious contrast of tanginess and rich undertones that no doubt came from Reo’s impeccable diet. A well-balanced flavor was usually indicative of healthy, nutrient-rich blood. Exactly the kind of high quality that fit someone who called himself a “super elite.”
Nagi sucked at the puncture marks like a man starved. Every little drop that threatened to escape his lips was quickly lapped up by broad swipes of his tongue. Reo's fingers twisted tightly in his hair. The sting was surprisingly pleasant. That, paired with the bliss of finally satiating his hunger, drew a soft moan from Nagi’s throat. He felt Reo shudder against him.
“Hey, Nagi, slow down,” Reo lightly scolded.
It was only when he spoke that Nagi realized Reo’s breaths had become shallow. The quick rise and fall of Reo's chest was only outpaced by his frantic pulse. Nagi wanted to feel more of it. To feel every little twitch of Reo’s body as it bled so kindly for him. Nagi pulled away just long enough to maneuver them into a closer, more comfortable position. He placed one hand on Reo's shoulder to push him down onto the bench and slid one knee between Reo's own.
The view before him was absolutely breathtaking.
Reo, with his violet hair splayed out around his head, skin flushed all the way down his chest, and thin trails of blood oozing from where Nagi’s teeth had sunken in. His pupils were so dilated that, for once, Reo's eyes appeared as dark as Nagi’s. Staring down at him, something other than hunger burned in Nagi’s veins. Unnamed yet just as intense, the feeling drove Nagi to place open-mouthed kisses all over Reo’s neck.
Reo gasped at the unfamiliar touch. “Wh-What’s gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“Dunno, but it feels right,” Nagi answered in between kisses.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Reo let out an amused huff. He shifted slightly, seemingly torn between wanting to squirm away or press more firmly against Nagi’s wandering mouth. “You know, I didn't expect getting bitten on the neck to feel so… intense.”
Nagi nosed apologetically at the delicate skin just beneath Reo’s ear, which earned him a quiet, pleased sound. “Was it bad?”
“No, not bad at all. The initial bite hurt a little, but after that it's like…” Reo paused, searching for the right words. His expression turned oddly bashful as he said, “Like my whole body is on fire, but my brain is floating off and can't feel the pain.”
Reassured, Nagi lightly dragged the tips of his fangs down the column of Reo's neck. “So Reo doesn't mind if I bite him again?”
“You spoiled brat. Once wasn't enough?” Reo said in mock annoyance.
“Never enough,” Nagi responded.
He placed a tender kiss over the previous bite mark, and this time Reo tilted his head to give Nagi better access. Reo's hands found their way into Nagi's hair again, alternating between combing through knots and petting the soft strands.
“Take as much as you want, Nagi. I trust you,” Reo said, voice low and dripping with affection.
Coming from any other human, the offer would've been foolish. Yet Nagi knew that Reo’s endless giving did not stem from ignorance of the risks. Instead, it was proof of their unbreakable bond that went beyond convention or reason. Warmth fluttered in Nagi's chest where a heartbeat should be. He wasn't sure what to do with the foreign emotions that only ever appeared in Reo's presence. It was a pain to even think about, but the feelings themselves were anything but unpleasant. Nagi had never felt more alive, even when he still possessed a mortal body.
“What if I took it all?” Nagi found himself asking as his fingers traced the curve of Reo’s collarbone. “Would Reo get mad at me if I did? If I made you a vampire too?”
The next breath Reo took was a sharp, quick burst of air that stuttered on its way out. He hesitated for several seconds before answering with a question of his own. “Would you really do it?”
Nagi lifted his head to get a proper look at Reo’s face. Cheeks still flushed red and eyes a little glassy, it was obvious Reo hadn’t fully recovered from the cloying haze of being bitten yet. They shouldn’t be having this conversation right now. Nagi wanted to wait until Reo was clear-headed to seriously pose the offer. Still, he was curious about the kind of response Reo would give in his current state.
“If Reo wanted me to,” Nagi said.
For some reason, Reo’s lips pursed together into a pout. “So, you don’t want to?”
“I didn’t say that,” Nagi said.
“Geez, it’s always when I want a straight answer from you that you act all vague,” Reo huffed.
Nagi tilted his head slightly, the way a dog would when puzzled by its owner’s displeasure. He wasn’t trying to be vague on purpose. Reo reached up to lightly squeeze Nagi’s cheeks between the palms of his hands. The sight of his squished face caused Reo to let out a soft laugh. Then, with no warning, he tugged Nagi downward. In the time it took Nagi to blink, his lips met Reo’s in a clumsy kiss. Like everything else about Reo, his lips were perfect. Warm, plush, and just as addictive as his blood. Kissing was not something Nagi had ever thought about much, but now he feared it may never leave his mind. Not when it came to kissing Reo, anyway.
When Reo pulled away a short moment later, Nagi couldn’t help but chase after him. Unfortunately, he was stopped by Reo’s firm hold on his cheeks.
“You aren’t the only one that gets to take what they want, Nagi,” Reo said. His smug grin and the determined glint in his eyes were utterly captivating. “No matter if I’m human or vampire, I don’t plan on letting you go. Ever.”
Nagi stared blankly down at him as his brain tried to reboot, having experienced a full system crash. This was dangerous. Nagi’s self-restraint was hanging on by a thread here. He really really wanted to bite Reo and drink until not a single drop of blood remained. Reo would be such an amazing vampire, too. He’d probably conquer all of vampire society in a single night, and Nagi would be so proud of his beautiful wife.
Ah, he was getting carried away. Time to put an end to things before he did something stupid.
Slowly, Nagi sat back until he rested on his calves. Reo’s brows furrowed together in confusion. He propped himself up on his elbows to close some of the sudden distance between them.
“What’s wrong? I thought you were still hungry,” Reo said.
“Actually, I got full a while ago,” Nagi admitted, one hand rubbing awkwardly at the back of his neck. “Reo just tastes good.”
Reo’s mouth opened and closed several times in quick succession. There was a fresh dusting of red across his cheeks. “I’m glad? I mean, as long as you got what you needed, that’s good.”
For a minute or so, the two were enveloped in a stifling silence. It felt like there were things both of them still wanted to say, but the words never came out. Nagi took the opportunity to sweep his gaze across Reo’s body one more time. Most of the blush had receded by now, leaving pale skin covered in bloody kiss marks and a wound that was just beginning to scab. Following Nagi’s line of sight, Reo looked down at the thin trails of drying blood descending from his neck. Then, he dragged a thumb through the crimson tracks and held it up to inspect it.
“Tasty, huh?” Reo muttered to himself.
He raised his thumb to his mouth and, tentatively, poked his tongue out to lap at the blood. Nagi’s eyes went so wide he swore they were going to pop out of his skull. Reo tasting his own blood should not have been this hot. And the following wrinkle of his nose in displeasure was way too cute. The combination landed a critical hit on Nagi’s heart.
“You’ve got weird tastes,” Reo said, a teasing grin tugging at the corners of his lips.
Nagi blinked. The only response he could come up with was a weak, “So does Reo.”
At that, Reo laughed, bright and warm. He swung his legs over the side of the bench before standing up. The sudden movement mixed with the blood loss caused him to sway in place for a couple seconds. Instinctively, Nagi grabbed onto Reo’s hips to steady him.
“Reo should rest,” Nagi said.
Eyes softening with affection, Reo smiled down at him. “I will. Just let me clean up first.”
Nagi didn’t want to let him go, enjoying how Reo’s body heat seeped into his cold hands, yet he had no choice. Reo turned away and headed toward the sinks along the opposite wall. He reached out to turn on the tap, but the moment he saw his reflection in the mirror, Reo’s hand froze midair. Even though he’d only been bitten once, he looked like he had been mauled by a feral animal. Reo’s face flushed with embarrassment as he realized that some of the places Nagi had kissed were faintly purple beneath the smears of blood.
“Nagi!” Reo whipped his head around to stare wide-eyed at his partner, who only gazed back blankly. “What happened to keeping things discreet? There’s no way I can cover up all of this!”
“Reo only said the bite mark had to be hidden,” Nagi said.
Reo had the urge to throw something at him. “If I knew you were going to leave hickeys all over my neck, I would’ve told you not to.”
“Oh. Reo doesn’t like it?” Nagi asked.
It was a tiny shift in his demeanor, no more than a subtle downturn of his eyes, but Nagi looked a little disappointed. Reo wasn’t sure how to respond. For some reason, he felt like he just kicked a puppy.
“That’s… not really the problem here,” Reo answered vaguely as he turned back to the sink. He ran one hand under the stream of cold water then rubbed at the scattered crimson marks on his neck. “It’s just embarrassing if people can see them.”
There was a pause, before Nagi said, “So, it’s okay if people can’t see?”
Reo ducked his head so that his long fringe blocked his face from view. In the process, he revealed how red his ears had turned. Nagi waited for a reply that never came.
“Reo?”
“...Next time, keep all marks below the neck,” Reo finally said.
Nagi’s eyes glinted silver under the locker room’s fluorescent lights. Just the mention of a “next time” made something akin to excitement buzz under his skin. If it meant getting more rewards like this, maybe soccer wasn’t such a pain after all.