Chapter Text
"Welcome to Cherry Bomb. We hope you have a great experience today and if at any time you need any type of help don't be afraid to ask, we have people all around the floor ready for you."
Jeongguk nods, smiling while he bows politely at the bouncer. He can't help the nerves from disappearing, the feeling that had entered his body is still thriving fully.
"Come on! We are still just in time for the show to begin!" Moonbin enthuses, his face, and body screaming all the excitement he is experiencing. It’s the first time the younger has gotten the opportunity to share this with his best friend, which is very noticeable by Jeongguk.
It’s been around two years since Moonbin has told all about his new ‘relationship’ he shares with his dom, Eunwoo, it was quite a lot for Jeongguk to take it at first, he had heard of BDSM, of course, but only the ‘bad’ and extreme parts. In those two years, Jeongguk has gotten to know much more about the BDSM world and is quite fascinated at this point.
His friend was delighted when Jeongguk told him it would be nice for the club that Moonbin often visits with his dominant and from what Jeongguk can guess, he doesn’t have anything to lose at this point. It’s just a club like any other, right?
Wrong.
Of course, the older knew that this wasn’t just your ordinary club. He had no idea how all of this worked practically, except for what Moonbin had told him and the limited research he did. He knew that coming to the club was a different experience for everyone here, and from what Moonbin told him, it is a very high-end club meaning that none of the sleazy kind of people will come here.
Security is one of the main things that are very important here and he can’t say that he isn’t pleased with that. The owners seem to know what they were doing when they created this. He can’t help but stare in wonder around him, it is definitely for people who can afford it. It all screams luxury and class.
The walls are painted a deep red with all kinds of purple and black furniture. Jeongguk can see the bar on the other end, it looks nice enough and he can see enough liquor but still some kinds of sodas too. Good, he isn’t sure yet that getting drunk is a good idea for tonight.
It’s not too crowded yet either, which he doesn’t know is good or not. On one hand, it’s good that he isn’t gonna be squished together with people he doesn’t know and goodness knows what else will happen inside a BDSM club after that, or if it’s bad because that will probably make him stand out too much.
“You know that it’s only gonna be more noticeable that you aren’t used to this if you stare like that at everything, right?” Jeongguk snaps out of his wonder to look to the side, Moonbin staring at him amused.
Jeongguk rolls his eyes, “oh shut up will you.”
Moonbin laughs while hooking his elbow around Jeongguk’s, tugging the clueless elder forward so that both of them head to the bar. While they are on their way, Jeongguk has already noticed that on the right side a little further away, there is a small stage with seats in front, they look all neat and ordered by numbers weirdly enough but he doesn’t bother thinking about it further when Moonbin rambles on about things that are fun to do here.
“Oh, and they have private rooms too! Eunwoo and I have done it once too, but sadly it was very expensive so we haven’t gotten the chance to do it again. It’s also outsold very quickly, you will be surprised by how many people come here to enjoy a show and after that they retire to those rooms, they are so handy and good! When we rented it, Woonie got the special!” Jeongguk can’t help the fond smile on his face anymore when he stares at the way his best friend lights up mentioning his dominant.
In the beginning, Jeongguk just couldn’t figure out what the pair were. They weren’t a couple but they were exclusive, in his book that is just calling for trouble. He wouldn’t be able to live without knowing what the proper label was. That is probably why he hasn’t had a boyfriend in nearly seven years, maybe men are all about that at these times.
“What can I get for you boys?”
Jeongguk turns to the barista, a young man in his thirties perhaps giving them a bright smile that matches Moonbin’s. He’s dressed unlike any other barista he’s ever seen, normally they would be wearing some type of standard uniform but this is anything but. It’s a type of leather corset with, white bottom up underneath it but the corset is laced intrigue and it’s interlaced with glitters. It’s absolutely breathtaking and Jeongguk can’t help but stare.
“Hyung? What do you want?” A shove at his side is what gets Jeongguk back to the current situation and he can’t help but blush as the barista gives him a smirk matched with a wink.
“I don’t know, something not too strong I guess?” He says while scratching at his neck nervously. He had completely forgotten to think about what he wanted to drink. Fuck.
“I assume you aren’t going to put up a scene tonight?”
Jeongguk’s eyes widen comically as he chokes on air. He coughs while Moonbin holds him through it, all while giggling like a maniac. He sends his friend a dirty glare while trying to come up with something to say.
“Me? In a scene? I’m gonna skip that tonight I think,” He laughs awkwardly.
The barista hums, his eyes trailing up and down Jeongguk’s body slowly. For once in a very long time, Jeongguk doesn’t feel disgusted by it in a very long time. He welcomes it silently, turning his body a tiny bit so that the man has a better view, all while he ignores the smirk Moonbin is sending him.
“Pity.” The barista mumbles just loud enough for them to hear and Jeongguk blushes, internally squealing.
“Okay, so I would suggest for you get a special on the house! It’s one of my secret recipes.” The man winks and scanters away while still holding that goddamn beautiful smile. Jeongguk doesn’t even get to agree with him, staring helplessly as the man sets to work.
“Dude!” Moonbin whispers with a grin, lifting his eyebrows suggestively as he tilts his head back to the man behind the bar. Jeongguk shushes the younger quickly, making a scene of putting his hand to his mouth because he knows how embarrassing the younger can get when he gets excited. It’s been almost three years since anyone has shown interest in Jeongguk and he isn’t about to let his friend ruin it for him.
“Here you go, one Corpse Reviver for the young man,” the man is back, the bright smile this time even more enticing for Jeongguk as he sits down on a high chair together with Moonbin. “And one Cherry Heaven for you, sweetheart.”
Jeongguk curses his rosy cheeks for betraying him once again as he takes the glass, his hand touching the lingering hand of the worker. He doesn’t mind it at all, and from the endeared look the man sends him, it’s equal. Looking down to hide his blushy mess, he takes in the drink. It’s dressed like a typical cocktail, the decor is as stunning as the man it’s made of and he can already feel his wallet crying but he doesn’t mind it for now. Not if he gets compliments again, he’s a sucker for that.
“It’s your first time, right?”
“It is, yes. I have been here before with my dominant but our dear Jeonggukie has not!” Moonbin speaks up before Jeongguk can and he curses internally. He almost forgot that the younger was still here.
“Ah yes, I think I remember you! You were here with Eunwoo at the pet night weren’t you?”
“Yup that was me.”
Jeongguk can hear the fondness in his voice and he can’t find it within himself to be annoyed after all. He knows how the younger feels about his dominant and it’s kinda excusable after he had seen how equally whipped Eunwoo was for his friend, that was one of the reasons why he didn’t worry as much as he did in the beginning.
“Ahh, it’s great to officially meet you then. It’s been a while since our dearest Eunwoo has begun to speak about you and we were all wondering who had snatched his heart.” The barista says with a laugh while leaning on the bar. Jeongguk looks up again after tasting a sip from the drink and he swallows thickly when he stares straight into the eyes of the man.
With him standing so close, Jeongguk is able to see him up closer, their faces not very far apart at all. The man’s face is handsome even up close, his jawline sharp and looking like it’s sculpted by the gods themselves. The chocolate brown eyes are clearly lenses but it’s nothing that he minds, Jeongguk is pretty sure that this man can wear the ugliest clothes and look drunk out of his mind and still be as charming and handsome as ever.
“And what about you? Are you enjoying your first time here?”
Jeongguk swallows nervously, staring at the angel in front of him, he feels like the question is laced with something more. Something he’s not sure if he wants to know.
“We just got here, but so far, I like it.” He stumbles out quietly. The barista hums softly while his eyes seem to pierce through the poor boy’s soul but Jeongguk feels like it’s a test somehow, sitting still and just admiring the beauty in front of him.
“You do-”
“Hobi, dear, just because it isn’t busy today doesn’t mean that you need to slack off.”
And just like that, Jeongguk is suddenly reminded of the reason why he doesn’t interact with such endeavors as a man flirts with him.
He watches as an emptiness fills him up inside as a stranger comes up from behind the barista, hugging the man tightly. Hobi as the new companion called him turns around with a bright smile that could match the sun and smooches a loud kiss on the stranger’s cheek. Jeongguk’s smile slowly disappears from his face when the two men behind the bar share an embrace that only partners would and kiss.
Jeongguk’s grip on the glass turns a little purple as he breaks eye contact with the pair. He swallows back the bail threatening to form as he chucks a large part of the drink back, the alcohol burning him in the only way he knows helps.
He knows that it’s Moonbin when he feels pressure on his arm, and although he knows it’s his friend’s way of comforting him, it’s something that he doesn’t want at this moment. He shoots a forced smile at his friend, not making eye contact with him because he knows that the night will be ruined if Moonbin sees how much this really affects him. He doesn’t need the younger to think of him as weak.
“Ahh Hyung! Here, let me introduce myself to Jeongguk and…” “Moonbin.” “Yes, Moonbin, he is the submissive of Eunwoo!”
Jeongguk can’t handle the casual talk anymore and jumps out of his chair, standing up and leaving the bar with quick steps. His heart is in his throat as he leaves the club behind with a heavy heart.
He exhales deeply when he steps outside. Shaking his head as he runs his hands through his perfectly polished hair and tugs on it harshly, trying to get himself back to reality as he breathes in and out the fresh air. He doesn’t know why he was reacting this violently, it’s not even ten minutes since he’s met the guy but he felt extremely attracted to him and it seemed like a very long time, it was mutual. Turns out it’s just like any other man that Jeongguk is used to.
Jeongguk doesn’t know how long he’s standing outside, leaning against the wall trying to calm himself down before he realizes what he just did. He groans while sinking down the wall to his knees, thinking back to how much he must have made an embarrassment out of himself, he can’t even think about Moonbin and how his friend must be freaking out right now.
He doesn’t even have his phone and wallet on him right now, he just straight up skipped the bouncer and made his way out of the building without thinking about the consequences. He hopes that Moonbin is figuring out where he went, the younger understanding his need to get away probably but he doesn’t know where when it’s unknown territory, after all.
“Jeongguk…”
Said man flinches away when he hears his name being called.
The voice belongs to the one that he really doesn’t want to hear after everything but it’s like destiny hates him. He bares his teeth together, willing his eyes to stay shut and to keep his head down, hoping that the man takes it as his cue to leave him alone.
“Look, I’m sorry for what happened just now. I’m sure that must have been the wrong impression for you and I wanna apologize for that, I completely understand that you reacted that way and ran away, I just hope to say this doesn’t ruin your experience with the club or the community we support. If you are ever okay with coming back, please do so, and don’t let this ruin anything for you. I promise you that the community is as wonderful as your friend has been trying to make it clear to you and I hope you will give it another shot.”
Jeongguk swallows harshly, his hands gripping his biceps to ground himself.
He hears footsteps coming closer and a big gush of wind after that. He looks up with a frown as he stares around him, seeing that Moonbin is running his way with a worried look on his face, but he doesn’t see hobi anywhere around him.
Has he dreamed it? No way… He can see his phone and wallet on the ground a few meters away from him so that’s not possible then right? He must have been here…
Jeongguk can’t help but wonder silently what has just happened in the span of less than an hour as Moonbin rushes in his arms, all rambling on and on while Jeongguk just nos absent-mindedly.
He doesn’t know what to make of this club but it’s definitely something that he didn’t expect.