Fence, "A Zero Who Dares", Seiji/Nicholas, Rated: Teen

[paynesgrey]

Fandom: Fence (Boom comics)
Title: A Zero Who Dares
Author: paynesgrey
Fandom: Fence comics
Pairing/Characters: Nicholas Cox/Seiji Katayama, Aiden Kane/Harvard Lee, Bobby, Eugene, Dante
Rating: Teen and up
Length: 4,768
Summary: Nicholas finally realizes his feelings for Seiji, so of course, he does something really stupid to get him to notice.
Notes: Based on the Harlequin Blaze summary for "Yours to Seduce" by Karen Anders. Written for 2021 unconventionalcourtship.


Links: AO3 | FFnet

AN: Written for the unconventional courtship 2021 challenge at Dreamwidth and AO3. Based on the Harlequin Blaze story "Yours to Seduce" by Karen Anders.  This is complete and will not be continued.

A Zero Who Dares

Nicholas had a problem.

After rigorous personal training with Seiji Katayama for the past few weeks, he noticed a shift in their friendship. He feared it was most likely one-sided, but Nicholas became more aware of the number of times they touched. The frequency in which Seiji touched him also increased, and the elite fencer became more comfortable with him, leaving his hand on his shoulder longer and with a softer touch.

Though Nicholas had come to King’s Row with the fortitude to become the best at fencing, it was the main thing always on his mind.

Seiji Katayama was also on his mind, and Nicholas’s jealousy toward Jesse having any hold over Seiji raged like a wildfire. Perhaps he was oblivious to the gravity of those feelings in the beginning, but as he spent more time with Seiji, he became aware of the depth of those emotions.

He not only wanted to be Seiji’s best friend, but his admiration of the champion fencer was turning into a desire for something more. Nicholas wanted Seiji to touch him, and he wanted him to pay attention only to him.

The more time he spent with Seiji, the more he desired from the boy, and he wanted to test their boundaries.

Yet, for now, he had to shove his feelings aside. Seiji was intuitive enough to detect when Nicholas was distracted, so he poured all of his concentration into his improving technique as well as Seiji’s gracious tutelage of his form and basic fencing rules.

Still, despite his focus, Nicholas could still feel the burning delight of Seiji’s hands on him, or his long fingers pressing against his tense shoulders.

Outside of the training and the piste, Nicholas’s feelings would come back to him like a heatwave, forcing him to confront his desires the moment he was back in the dorm room with his roommate.

He didn’t know what else to do other than ask his friends for advice. (Of course, Seiji was his closest friend at King’s Row, and he couldn’t go to him - not for this, anyway.)

“Guys, I am so screwed. I have a real problem right now,” Nicholas whined as he sat with Bobby, Dante, and Eugene during breakfast. He and Seiji had practiced late last night, and true to form, Seiji still got up bright and early to train with his private coach.

“So you finally realized you have a thing for him,” Eugene teased. Nicholas blinked at him bemused, and he looked at Dante and Bobby and saw that they weren’t shocked either by his revelation.

“Wait, how many people know this?” Nicholas’s face warmed up from embarrassment.

“Apparently, only you and Seiji are unaware of it,” Bobby said with a shrug. Dante handed Bobby half of his apple, and Bobby’s eyes lit up from the gesture. The two boys fell into their usual routine; Dante would do anything for Bobby, and Bobby was more than touched by his generosity.

“I mean, even Coach has noticed something,” Eugene mentioned with a laugh.

“What?” Nicholas said, food falling out of his mouth as he had just shoveled in some bread.

Eugene laughed loudly, and Nicholas was sure his face was bright scarlet. “This isn’t happening,” he said with a groan.

“What’s not happening?” Aiden breezed by their table, stopped, and pulled out a chair to sit next to Nicholas. Nicholas’s face was still bright red, and everyone else had smirks on their faces. Aiden took the hint.

“Ahhh, so did you finally admit to yourself about liking Katayama?” Aiden said with a satisfied grin. “Took you long enough, little freshman. So when’s the wedding?”

Bobby giggled, and Nicholas buried his head in his arms on the table. He groaned loudly.

“No way it was this obvious. I just… well, I didn’t really think about all this until recently!” he bemoaned.

“Well, you’re clueless about this sort of thing. You both are, honestly,” Aiden said, grabbing a strawberry from Nicholas’s plate. He was too busy drowning in his own misery to notice the food theft.

“Hey, you think we should let Nicholas into the betting pool?” Eugene asked Aiden, who cocked a single eyebrow at him.

“What betting pool?” Nicholas asked, a little frightened of what that meant.

“Oh, yeah!” Bobby said excitedly. “You totally should! Haha, you may have an advantage over us.”

“I don’t think it would be fair...I mean even Coach is involved,” Aiden said.

“What…Not Coach too?” Nicholas said.

“Oh, yeah, we decided to bet on when you and Katayama finally got together. It’s been going on since Aiden found you two “fighting” in the closet,” Eugene said, emphasizing with air quotes.

“Oh my GOD,” Nicholas said. “This is a disaster. My worst nightmare…”

“You know, you could move this train along and just ask him out. Get it over with,” Aiden suggested.

“I’m going to die…” Nicholas said, rubbing his eyes.

“Good idea!” Bobby said. “But I only say that because my date in the betting pool is next week.” He winked at Nicholas.

“Or, you could just accidentally...trip over him in the shower, see where things go…” Eugene suggested, tapping his chin.

Aiden snapped his fingers and grinned. “Ooh! That’s a good one. Go with that plan!”

Suddenly, Harvard showed up to sit next to Aiden. Their gazes met and they gave each other a tender smile. When Harvard was in his seat, Aiden leaned over and pecked him on the cheek. Bobby squealed with delight, and Eugene rolled his eyes.

He said, “I don’t know, guys. If Nick and Seiji get together, we’ll have two annoying couples on the team with gross PDA.”

“We are talking about Katayama here,” Aiden said with a snicker. “I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

“Ah, so Nick, you finally realized your feelings, huh?” Harvard finally said.

“Not you too, Harvard!” Nicholas lamented.

“Take it slow, you don’t want to scare him off,” Harvard advised.

Aiden chortled. “Yeah, you only say that because your betting pool date is next month.” Harvard laughed, his cheeks looking darker as Aiden totally called him out.

“I’m leaving,” Nicholas finally said, getting up from his seat. “You guys are awful, terrible friends.”

“Good luck, Cox,” Eugene said with a huge grin.

“You’re going to need it,” Dante finally chimed in. Aiden and Harvard couldn’t stop laughing as Nicholas slinked away.

 

----

When Nicholas returned to his dorm room, Seiji was still not back yet. He knew that soon his roommate would arrive from his private training and jump into the shower. Nicholas’s cheeks inflamed when he thought of Eugene’s suggestion.

It was a stupid, awful idea, and if Nicholas was good at anything, it was piss-poor ideas.

But perhaps it was easier than a full-on confession. Nicholas didn’t think he could handle raw rejection at this point, and if Seiji did reject him, he might also lose out of their private sessions together, and he was sure being away from Seiji would just cripple him.

If he did something stupid and reckless, Seiji wouldn’t be surprised. In fact, he just saw it as par for the course, and he’d get a chance to ream him a good one, and lecture him about modesty, civility, and whatever the fuck else Seiji thought of his low-class manners.

He wouldn’t stop training him, and he could still be with him - and that was enough for Nicholas. Maybe Seiji just needed more time to warm up to him and realize his own feelings.

So, Nicholas had a plan. It was a bad plan, but it made sense to him and either way, Seiji would be mad at him. Anger is better than rejection, Nicholas thought to himself. Seiji seemed to enjoy glaring at him and being a prick to him all while still indulging in his company.

Nicholas collapsed on his bed, pulled his pillow against his body, and faced away from the duck curtain in the middle of their room. He was anxious, at least too anxious for sleep, but this way he could appear to be asleep until his roommate inevitably came back.

When he heard Seiji enter their room, he tensed up, and he tried to relax so he appeared to be sleeping. Seiji said nothing to him, and he could hear him shuffling about the room, gathering his stuff for the shower. The moment Seiji had left for the shower, Nicholas heard his roommate swear and he realized that he had left the towels on the floor again.

Nicholas sprang to action, hearing the water running in the bathroom. He chucked off his shirt, grabbed a towel and his all-purpose soap, and bounded toward the bathroom.

He gritted his teeth as a thought came into his mind. I am so stupid. This is stupid. He’s going to kill me.

Despite his brain’s last attempt at reason, Nicholas crashed through the bathroom buck naked, and as he stepped on the wet floor, he slipped before meeting Seiji’s shocked expression and tumbled onto him. Seiji had the presence of mind to catch him, more from attuned reflexes than anything, and his long fingers brushed up against Nicholas’s hips before they fell together in a mess of limbs and bodies on the floor.

“What...You...YOU DAMNED IDIOT!” Seiji screamed at him.

“Uh, I forgot, uh, the towels, and um…” Nicholas said in a low, squeaking voice.

“Get off me, you simpleton!” Seiji said as Nicholas froze, still caging a wet and very naked Seiji on the bathroom floor.

“Sorry, I’m just,” Nicholas braved a full look at their entwined bodies and he felt his whole body flame with embarrassment. Seiji looked pink with anger… and maybe something else.

Nicholas peeled himself away, dove for his towel, and he covered himself and turned away from Seiji’s blazing glare.

“I don’t even…” Seiji spat out. He was obviously embarrassed as well as livid. “What are you doing here? Didn’t you hear the water on? I can’t believe you! Have you no modesty, no shame?”

“I didn’t… I didn’t think you were in here. I woke up and remembered the towels and...uh, sorry,” Nicholas said, and he turned his head slightly to Seiji and he got a glimpse of his well-defined roommate with his hands on his hips, looking at him disapprovingly and naked as the day he was born.

“Shit…” Nicholas said with a strained breath. He needed to go now. If he took another look at Seiji in this state, he wouldn’t be able to leave or smooth over this idiotic ploy later on.

“What is it now?” Seiji demanded, and Nicholas didn’t look at him.

“Nothing,” he said in a tight voice. “I’ll go. Sorry, really sorry about this, Seij.”

Seiji didn’t seem convinced that there was “nothing” in the way Nicholas swore under his breath or even the soft way he said his name.

“Nothing, really, you are a horrible liar,” Seiji said, and he sighed languidly.

“It’s just that….” He continued to avert his eyes from Seiji’s body. “It’s nothing. I’m going.”

Seiji didn’t say anything, but Nicholas could feel his fierce dark eyes glaring at his back as he exited the bathroom.

When Seiji came back to the room fully dressed in his school uniform, Nicholas still didn’t meet his gaze. It really had been a stupid plan, but Nicholas couldn’t forget the way Seiji’s body felt against his. And he wasn’t as angry as Nicholas thought he would be. He was annoyed and inconvenienced, but he didn’t seem to care that Nicholas had invaded his space for that reason, or that he was naked while he gave him a full-on lecture.

Nicholas finally braved looking at Seiji, who wore a severe glower on his face.

“I can’t believe you,” Seiji said with a sigh. “I take it you were sleep-deprived from last night. Maybe we should finish earlier when we train.”

“Dude, I’m sorry. Yeah, I was tired but I didn’t mean to um, upset you...or, um, fall on you like that,” Nicholas said with a wince.

“I’m not that upset. I am used to your bungling as of late, so it does not surprise me,” Seiji said, but his cheeks remained pink. Nicholas wondered if he was embarrassed or just warm from the shower.

“Yeah, but it’s still not cool to invade your privacy like that,” Nicholas said, and he legit did feel guilty even if the whole thing was a setup. He expected Seiji to be angrier so having him react like it was just one of Nicholas’s dumb mistakes was kind of a relief.

At least Seiji still wanted to train with him.

“Are you at least awake enough to train again tonight?” Seiji asked him, and Nicholas watched him gather his school things. He knew that Seiji had a class in the next hour, while Nick’s first class of the day was closer to 9 AM.

“Yeah, I should be good. I’ll definitely wake up during the day,” Nicholas said, hoping that Seiji would still train with him tonight.

Seiji nodded to him, his cheeks still pink and suddenly the atmosphere seemed awkward between them. Nicholas wondered if Seiji was thinking about their encounter in the shower again. He still scowled at him, but he definitely seemed more preoccupied than usual.

“Lunch then?” Seiji said, and his tone came out more like a demand, but Nicholas could sense an edge of softness to it.

“Yeah, usual spot,” Nicholas said, flashing him a delighted grin. Seiji narrowed his eyes at him, yet he still appeared a little ruffled.

He nodded his head, said nothing, and he exited their dorm with a slam. Nicholas released a heavy sigh within their lonely dorm room. He fell back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling as the warmth of Seiji’s beautiful naked body rampaged through his thoughts.

 

--

 

Seiji was particularly harsh on him during their training. He yelled at Nicholas if he breathed wrong, and Nicholas was getting annoyed by it. He sniped at his instructions a few times or made sarcastic comments that just made his roommate all the more enraged.

Nicholas goaded him on purpose, enjoying that they were bickering like normal and that the moment in the shower this morning was behind them as they focused on fencing.

Nicholas was more than relieved that they didn’t have to churn through some awkward talk again about how Nick tackled him and their wet bodies slid together on the bathroom floor. He didn’t want to talk about how he really liked feeling Seiji’s body against his, and he hoped that someday Seiji would willingly touch him and hold him like that. Nicholas tried not to entertain his wild thoughts any further, as the more he indulged himself in how good Seiji felt, the steamier his fantasies became and would rudely interrupt him during Seiji’s training.

They paused for a quick water break, and Nicholas watched him take a swig of water and his dirty thoughts were back haunting him as Seiji pulled his collar loose to get some relief from the exertion.

Seiji caught him staring, scowled, and Nicholas watched his friend release an annoyed sigh.

“If you have something to say, say it. I’m still waiting for you to tell me what was wrong from the morning,” Seiji said.

Nicholas met his eyes, and Seiji’s cheeks were pink again. Damn it, he remembered. He remembered that moment when Nicholas looked at him -- really looked at his body up and down, and swore under his breath. Seiji never missed anything, and he was an idiot to think the boy would just let it go.

“Uh, oh, well… it really was nothing to be concerned about,” Nicholas said, turning away from Seiji’s heated gaze to drink his own water.

“I will be the judge of that,” Seiji said.

“Oh, you will judge, there’s no doubt there. I even judge myself for it,” Nicholas said. “But if you have to know… I was just thinking…” He swallowed and Seiji watched him like a panther in a tree, waiting to pounce on its prey. Nicholas’s face felt like it was on fire. “I just thought how good you looked and uh, I was mad at, I guess, how rude of it was of me to have that reaction.”

“Ah yes,” Seiji said. “You are right; I will judge you for such inappropriate thoughts.”

“It’s no secret how much I admire you,” Nicholas said, still not meeting Seiji’s eyes. “All of you.”

Seiji blinked, almost rendered speechless. Almost.

“I suppose you couldn’t help it,” Seiji said.

“So humble, my friend,” Nicholas said with a chuckle. He finally met Seiji’s gaze as the mood lightened. “I’m sure it’s not the first time someone told you how hot you are.”

Nicholas watched Seiji tense up. “Actually, it is, well, to my face anyway. It’s also one of the first times I’ve had a real friend, and it’s the first time that anyone has actually admitted that they genuinely admire me.”

“Hrmm,” Nicholas said. “I’m lucky I guess.”

Seiji’s cheeks turned pinker and he narrowed his eyes. “Shall we get back to practice then?” He was clearly uncomfortable where this conversation was going. Nicholas nodded, setting his water down and getting ready to go back to the 50 exercises with the tennis ball like before. Getting into position, Seiji was at his side like always, his slender fingers settling on Nicholas’s shoulders to ease out the tension. Feeling his touch, Nicholas’s face felt warmer than ever, with sweat beading at his temple again.

Seiji’s hands moved to fix his form everywhere, and when Nicholas felt his hands on his hips, Seiji’s whisper was against his ear.

“I really value our friendship, Nicholas. I hope you understand,” he said, and it sounded like a desperate plea. Nicholas nodded, and he fought tears that threatened to blur his vision as he focused on the neon yellow of the tennis ball.

Sure, he understood. Seiji may have had feelings for him, and that was at least clearer to Nicholas, but the boy treasured their friendship as if he’d never had possessed something so precious before - not like this. Would Nicholas mess it up if they became more than friends? Was Seiji afraid of going further if it meant they wouldn’t work out and he’d lose both a boyfriend and a friend?

He was afraid, and maybe Seiji was just content to remain as they were, at least for now, as they were in no rush for anything more.

“We’ll always be best friends,” Nicholas said finally, and Seiji’s hand squeezed his hip in acknowledgment.

The rest of their training that night was quiet, with silence only breaking for heavy breaths and steely instructions.

---

Training finished and they were back at their dorm room. Nicholas was cordial enough to let Seiji shower first, and he left him alone this time. Seiji came back, refreshed and snug in his normal blue pajamas. He settled into his bed and Nicholas saw him grab his literature book and concentrate on homework.

Nicholas slid into the empty shower with a yawn. His muscles hurt, his head hurt, and his heart was working on some aches and pains as well. At least, he thought, he’d made a little ground on his feelings as well as Seiji’s. Seiji knew that Nicholas found him attractive, so he could take that information and do whatever with it. Nicholas’s intentions were clear. He considered Seiji his best friend, he admired him, and he even found him desirable.

Seiji, on the other hand, seemed to make his position clear too. Nicholas was his dear friend, and he treasured that. Nicholas found that kind of beautiful actually, and he definitely felt like a friendship with Seiji was a huge win for him too. His teenage hormones threatened to change that, but for the sake of Seiji’s wishes, he could try to keep that in check.

He had fencing to focus on anyway.

Nicholas let out another sigh as he stripped and threw his clothes on the floor as usual. He turned on the water, finding it slightly cool instead of hot, and he enjoyed the water wash over his sweaty skin. He dipped his head under the water and carded his fingers through his unruly brown hair.

He jumped when he heard the door creak open, and before he could get the water out of his eyes to see who it was, Seiji was behind him. He yelped in shock, and Seiji was naked and towering over him, leading him back against the shower wall. His presence was formidable, and he caged Nicholas against the wall with his arms on either side of Nicholas’s head.

“Seiji?” Nicholas stuttered, and he almost pinched himself to see if he was dreaming.

“We’re even now,” Seiji said as if this was something that resembled competition.

“Uh… I don’t think it works that way,” Nicholas said, giving him a daring grin.

“What do you mean?” Seiji said as if Nicholas found a chink in his plan.

“Well, for us to be even, you need to practically fall on top of me,” Nicholas said.

Seiji blushed, realizing what Nicholas meant. “It wouldn’t be an accident…”

“The first time wasn’t an accident either…” Nicholas said, and Seiji sharply met his eyes, shocked at the truth.

“You...you did that…on purpose?” he asked, and he seemed more shocked than angry.

“Uh, kinda? If I’m being honest...I wanted to figure out how you felt about me,” Nicholas said.

“Why didn’t you just...ask?” Seiji fumed at him.

“And risk being rejected and blackballed from training with you? No way. I had to do something dumb so you wouldn’t be surprised,” Nicholas confessed.

“Well, it was dumb so I daresay you did achieve that,” Seiji said, and Nicholas laughed at him. Seiji’s arms were still around his head against the wall, so Nicholas reached up to his arms and rested them on the other boy’s shoulders.

He grinned at him. “Now about getting even with me…”

Seiji sputtered, “Well, it’s pointless now. You just wanted to seduce me, and…”

Nicholas silenced him with a quick kiss, and Seiji froze for a moment, but then drew his arms back around Nicholas’s waist. He pushed him against the wall, and Nicholas gasped as Seiji’s lips traced the seam of Nicholas’s mouth. Instinctively, Nicholas began rocking against him, pulling Seiji closer, and they both moaned as their naked bodies slid against each other. Nicholas moved a leg in between Seiji’s thighs, and he kissed him harder when Seiji made a soft, sexy noise. He coaxed open Seiji’s mouth with his tongue and tasted him, licking and sucking past his lips, over his teeth, and chasing his tongue.

In the heat of the moment, Nicholas rubbed up against something that made Seiji pull out of the kiss with a gasp. Their gazes locked together as they caught their breaths.

“I don’t think… that makes us even,” Nicholas said, trying to regain his composure. 

He was very aware of himself too, of how hot that kiss was, and how excited he was. He tried not to look at Seiji below his shoulders, though curiosity was getting the better of him.

He glanced for a second and saw that his roommate, who had his tongue in his mouth not a moment ago, was equally hot and bothered.

“Yes, I… finish your shower and we can talk,” Seiji said awkwardly, even though his tone sounded like an order. Nicholas shivered as he turned and gave him a glorious view of his backside.

Nicholas grabbed his arm and said, “Wait…” Seiji turned to give him his attention, and Nicholas swooped in for another quick kiss, nibbling on Seiji’s bottom lip before he let him go. He smiled at him as Seiji shirked away.

--

Nicholas came out of the shower fresh with a towel on his head. He returned to the dorm and immediately found Seiji lounging on his bed, reading a book and patiently waiting for Nicholas’s return.

“I was under the impression in training today that you wanted to just stay friends,” Nicholas said. Seiji looked up at him, and his cheeks pinked. “I’m not complaining,” and before Seiji could say a word, Nicholas added, “I’m also not that dense.”

“I do want to be friends,” Seiji said, putting the bookmark back in his book and setting it down neatly at his side. “But as I said before, I’m not good at being friends or even making friends.” He paused. “You’re the only one brave enough to befriend me, and you are also the only one brave enough to come onto me.”

“I’m sure that’s not true if you were less scary,” Nicholas said with a wink. He hovered by the side of Seiji’s bed and stared at him. Seiji nodded once, and Nicholas sat at the edge.

Seiji appeared anxious, fiddling with the sleeves of his pajamas. “This is all sort of new for me.”

“Yeah, maybe you’re onto something here,” Nicholas said with a sigh. Seiji looked at him as if he was missing some meaning.

“Let’s take things slow,” Nicholas said. “And I promise I won’t accost you in the shower anymore.”

Seiji stiffened but as Nicholas gazed into his eyes, he seemed a little disappointed.

“Not unless you want me to,” Nicholas added with a grin.

“Don’t be absurd!” Seiji said immediately, and he felt Nicholas take his hand. Their fingers entwined and he felt Seiji’s comforting squeeze.

“Breakfast tomorrow? I can wait for you to get done with your morning training,” Nicholas said.

Seiji looked up and there was a ghost of a smile, but Nicholas could see the mirth in his eyes. “I’d like that.”

 

---

The next morning, Seiji and Nicholas sat next to each other as other fencing teammates began to join them at their table. Seiji handed over a piece of his fruit to Nicholas, and he scowled at him when Nicholas opened his mouth, intending for Seiji to feed him.

“Disgusting,” he said, and he smashed the strawberry against Nicholas’s teeth. Nicholas laughed as he cleaned himself up.

“Thanks, babe,” Nicholas said, and Seiji turned to him with fury in his eyes. Nicholas recoiled back with a sheepish smile. Okay, so he wasn’t going to call him that again. Or maybe he would, just to get him riled up.

“So how goes it, lovebirds?” asked Aiden, as he and Harvard were hand in hand as they stopped by their table.

Seiji sighed. “I feel like I have temporary insanity,” he said honestly.

“Hey!” Nicholas said, turning to him. “That’s kind of mean.”

“It makes sense though,” Harvard said with a chuckle. Nicholas pouted. “But it’s good you guys finally got together.”

“Yeah, the sexual tension was stifling,” Aiden said, and both of them turned red at the implication. Bobby, Dante, and Eugene joined them and the table was full of random chatter. Nicholas began to tune them out, and he was looking forward to alone time with Seiji again that evening.

Underneath the table, he felt a hand over his hand on his knee. He turned to Seiji, who didn’t meet his gaze. He just entwined their fingers together and squeezed. Nicholas smiled, feeling warmth explode in his chest.

“So it looks like Bobby won the betting pool,” Eugene said as he noticed Seiji and Nicholas holding hands.

Bobby squealed with victory. “Pay up, boys! I can’t wait to spend all your money.”

The boys groaned and Nicholas and Seiji watched speechless as Bobby collected twenty bucks from each one of them.

“Should I even ask what that was about?” Seiji asked Nicholas.

“It’s just going to make you mad if you do,” Nicholas said.

“Hrmm…” Seiji said though he was clearly unhappy with the betting thing, and Nicholas knew Seiji wasn’t that clueless. He could figure out that all of them had bet on his and Nicholas’s relationship.

“Want to vent about it later?” Nicholas suggested. “You can take your anger out on me during practice.”

Seiji cracked a satisfied smirk. “It would be my pleasure.”

Nicholas chuckled nervously at him, he turned and met Seiji’s eyes. He nudged him. “You’re scary.”

Seiji leaned close to him, so close that Nicholas could feel his breath on his skin. Their noses tapped together once and Seiji finally said, “Everyone says that.”

Nicholas laughed. Their teammates groaned at their public affection. Seiji squeezed Nicholas’s hand and his heart had felt just a little bit lighter.

END

.