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“Kaelix? What are you still doing here?”
Kaelix snapped up from his empty trail of thought, head turning to see Leo looking at him with a raised brow. Glancing over at the clock on the wall, he could see why his coworker was confused to see him, sitting on one of the high chairs at the dark counter of the closed bar in the hotel his company was staying at. The party had dispersed well over an hour ago, most retiring to their rooms or other amenities. Like the gym Leo seemingly just came back from, judging from the black compression shirt and athletic pants he had on.
“Oh hey! I was just finishing up this cup of tea before heading upstairs.” Kaelix smiled, hoping he wouldn't pay too close attention to the now cold, over steeped and undersweetened chamomile tea in his hands.
“Right… and you're down here drinking it in the dark instead of upstairs with the pretty boy in your room?” Leo said, leaning against the counter with a knowing grin.
Oh, he clocked him.
This trip had been planned for a few months now, it was both a convention and mini vacation for his branch. Originally, Kaelix had gotten his own room. He liked being able to recharge by himself after socializing all day with friends and coworkers, he needed it sometimes. However, as they arrived at the hotel and discovered there was a miscommunication with some hotel staff and overbooking, he found himself raising his arm up in volunteering to take in the poor individual who had lost his room. His dear friend Malim, who looked completely devastated on hearing his room was the one caught in the crossfire. Kaelix’s heart had swelled as the boy turned to him once he offered to room together, his expression so grateful and relieved that the taller boy didn't even think about the fact that he just put himself in an isolated room together with one of his closest friends and biggest crush. A room that was supposed to be just for him. Which meant…
“I- I was just giving him some time to settle in the room before I head up. What about you? Just finished working out?” He stumbled over his words a bit, desperate to change the conversation. He was sure the heat in his face was visible, and by Leo’s expression it definitely was.
“Yeah, gotta keep the routine up or Claude is gonna kill me. I’m gonna go wash up.” Leo patted Kaelix on the shoulder before walking off. “Don’t keep him waiting too long!” His voice teasing, laughing as Kaelix grumbled loudly in embarrassment.
Leo was right though, it has been almost two hours since Malim let Kaelix know that he was heading upstairs to take a shower. It honestly wasn’t until that moment that it really hit Kaelix that they would be alone, in close proximity, sharing a bed… Malim’s hair glistening as he steps out the bathroom wearing only a robe. His smooth skin peaking through as it slips past his shoulder, those blazing catlike eyes locked onto his own, trapping him and luring him in, finally letting his honest feelings for his friend come out as he wraps his arms around-
Kaelix blinked rapidly as he came back to, taking a few moments before crashing onto the counter in a loud groan of defeat. You sick pervert… there’s no way I’m surviving this weekend.
He couldn’t stall any further. It was almost midnight by the time Kaelix finally stood up, downing the cold tea before discarding the cup in the trash, making his way over to the elevator. He stood in front of the door to the hotel room for an embarrassingly long time, head completely empty and void of thought until the sound of the elevator ding snapped him out of it, swiping the card for the room to open.
He stepped in to almost complete darkness, it looked like only the entryway light was on. Kaelix slipped out of his dress shoes, lining them neatly next to Malim’s own pair of smaller shoes, they look cute lined up next to each other. Like a couple. Kaelix winced at his own thought, this was gonna be a long night.
After shaking off some nerves and convincing himself he’s normal, Kaelix walked into the room, glancing at the bed to find Malim already snuggled on the left side of the bed, his fluffy red hair flared out on the white pillow, eyes closed in a peaceful sleep. Letting out a soft sigh of relief, Kaelix goes over to his side where his suitcase was already opened from earlier, grabbing his pajamas and toiletries before heading to the shower himself.
It took longer than usual for him to finish up in the bathroom, finally leaving to the main room as his hair was mostly dry. Malim was still on the bed, though slightly more sprawled out than before. He’s gonna be so close… Kaelix sighed to himself, standing on his side of the bed for a few more minutes, a million thoughts rushing through his head at once. Loud and intrusive, until a soft voice broke him out of his stupor.
“If… if it's uncomfortable, we can put up a barrier. Or I can sleep on the floor.”
In Kaelix’s mental panic, he hadn't even noticed Malim curl up further to his side of the bed, his voice muffled beneath the blanket pulled over his head. “I can ask again tomorrow and see if there's another room…”
“Wait, Malim. What do you mean? You’re fine. I’m sorry for waking you.”
“You’ve been stalling for hours… I wasn’t asleep, I was waiting for you… I thought maybe you regretted letting me stay with you.” Malim admitted, sounding dejected.
Embarrassment and guilt flood in all at once, making Kaelix’s fast burn bright red. He puts that aside, crawling onto the bed and sitting next to his dear friend, placing his hand on his shoulder. “I wasn’t stalling-”
Malim turns around to look Kaelix in the eyes. His eyes glistening with unshed tears, and a pretty pout on his lips. “I was stalling. But not because I was regretting letting you stay.” He reassures, his hand reaching out to pinch Malim’s cheek gently, unable to help himself with how cute he looks right now.
“Why were you stalling, then? You’ve been hesitating and sighing since you got back.”
Kaelix hesitated briefly, but seeing how earnestly Malim was looking at him he knew he wouldn’t be able to run from the truth any more. “Well… I was feeling a bit nervous.”
Malim sat up at that, reaching for Kaelix’s hands and holding them gently, thumbs rubbing across the top of his hands. “Nervous about what?”
Kaelix’s gaze dropped down to their hands, moving to intertwine their fingers together, admiring how long Malim’s fingers were. He gave them a slight squeeze before responding. “Don’t you usually get nervous around the person you like…?” he mumbles, his face heating up at the admission. He feels and hears his own heartbeat in his ears, and only looks up when the silence is starting to stretch a tad bit long. If he wasn't feeling so flustered he would probably burst out laughing at Malim’s expression, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide. The cogs in his brain were visibly turning.
“Wait, do you mean… as a friend?” If it wasn’t for the complete bewilderment in his face, Kaelix would have sworn that Malim was messing with him.
“I have a crush on you.”
“Oh… so you do…” Malim blinks several times, looking like his thoughts are going a mile a minute while Kaelix sits in his own embarrassment.
“I didn’t think it would affect me as much as it did, like we hang out alone all the time. For some reason, my mind just wouldn’t shut up and I made myself anxious just from overthinking. I’m really-” Kaelix’s train of thought was cut off as Malim suddenly was surging forward, arms wrapping around his shoulders and face in his neck as they both collapsed back into the bed. Malim let out a long sigh, sounding relieved.
“Thank goodness… so I was right after all…” He mumbled, melting into his chest. Kaelix, on the other hand, was in the middle of a complete mental shutdown. “For a while, I thought that maybe you liked me more than a friend too, so I was feeling a little hopeful when you first offered to let me room with you. I was hoping that maybe something can change… but, then you looked really pained when you realized we had to share a bed, I thought maybe I made up everything in my head and I misread your true feelings.” Malim lifted his head, catching a glimpse of Kaelix’s flushed and confused face. “Your face can be surprisingly honest, you know.”
Kaelix blinked rapidly, his thoughts finally catching up in real time. “Wait, you like me too?”
“I've been flirting with you for a full month, you know.”
“That's not fair- you flirt with everyone!!”
Malim paused at that. “Okay, yes but I toned it way down with my other friends and turned it up with you specifically.”
“I thought you were just being friendly…” Kaelix mumbled, embarrassed as he began to recall all the encounters that have been plaguing him and his dreams the past month. Malim huffs softly before sitting up in Kaelix’s lap, legs cradling his hips as he brings his hands up to his cheeks, caressing them gently with his thumb.
“Kaelix, I want to be your boyfriend.”
“Oh. Me too. Your boyfriend, that is. Not my boyfriend. Obviously. I-”
“I'm going to kiss you now.”
“Please.”
Malim couldn't help but chuckle affectionately, pressing a soft kiss to Kaelix's flushed cheeks, his hands gently lifting the glasses off the bridge of Kaelix's nose, folding them neatly and placing them off to the side. Kaelix's hands find purchase on Malim's waist as kisses are peppered all over his face, from his forehead, then the tip of his nose, until they finally connect with his lips.
Kaelix didn't know what he was expecting. He had fantasized kissing Malim more times than he would like to admit. Maybe it was the nerves of the whole night, or the way he embarrassed himself a bit earlier, but he hadn't expected the warmth that came with kissing Malim. It felt right. It felt like coming home.
They don't waste much time before deepening the kiss, Malim melting down into Kaelix's arms, wrapping his own around the others shoulders, fingers tangling in the soft and slightly damp snow colored hair, while Kaelix finds himself pulling Malim in closer, obsessed with the softness of the small of Malim’s back, along with the sweet sounds that are pulled out from him as he massages his fingers along the middle. They spend a few minutes in this trance, barely breaking for air between kisses until finally getting lightheaded enough for a pause, breaths mingling as they gaze into each other's eyes.
“Malim.”
“Kaelix.”
“I love you.” Kaelix says, sincerely. A moment passes and a smile spreads across his lips. “I felt your breathing stutter.” he teases lightly.
“Stop. I love you too.” Malim whines with a slight pout, not even getting a moment to collect himself as Kaelix is the first to kiss the pout from his lips, sucking his lower lip gently before sliding his tongue once more between Malim's lips.
Their hands get bolder as time passes, first a curious glide over Kaelix’s pecks, then a slow rise of Malim's shirt. One of them murmurs something about the temperature being too warm, then the next moment has Kaelix's shirt going over his head, with Malim's following shortly after. Malim is quick to take advantage of the new territory, pressing kisses down Kaelix’s neck, sucking hard enough to draw whimpers from the boy beneath him, hands gripping Malim’s ass, marveling how it fits perfectly in his hand.
“Mmm, you’re so gorgeous. You sound like heaven.” Malim whispers into his ear, nibbling gently at the lobe.
“You’re too nice to me…” Kaelix whines, exposing more of his neck to his boyfriend.
“Am I?” Malim mumbles against the skin of his lover's neck, grinding down against him, eliciting a gasp from the boy beneath him. Eyes sparkling with mischief, he rolls his hips down one more, taking pleasure in how Kaelix’s face continues to deepen in color. However, before he can get carried away, Malim suddenly gets flipped onto his back, hands pinned above his head, fox-like eyes locked into piercing ocean blue ones.
“Behave.” He mutters, capturing his lips once more before there could be any retort. Malim moans softly into his lips, wriggling his hands and legs, completely pinned down by Kaelix.
“That was really hot.” Malim says as they break for air, the hold his wrists relaxing as Kaelix softly massages them while placing kisses against Malim's cheek and neck.
“You’re really hot.” Kaelix retorts, bringing a hand down to caress his cheek. “Sorry for stopping it, I want to go further with you but not here.”
“I figured, I was just teasing you.” Malim says, turning his head to press a kiss on Kaelix's hand. “Although I did prepare myself just in case.”
Kaelix froze, eyes blinking rapidly. “Oh.”
“I even went and got lube from Leo just in case. Him and Claude are rooming together tomorrow so I knew he definitely had-”
Kaelix collapsed down on Malim, hiding his face in the crook of his neck. “Oh my god. So that's why he said that…”
“Hmm?”
“Nothing. It's nothing.” Kaelix says, and for extra measure presses kisses along his shoulder, leading back home against his lips, effectively distracting him from the rest of that conversation.
For now, at least.