Fence, "You Forgot My Kiss, Part 3" Nicholas/Seiji, rated Teen

[paynesgrey]

Fandom: Fence comics
Title: You Forgot My Kiss, Part 3
Author: paynesgrey
Characters/Pairings: Nicholas Cox, Seiji Katayama, Nicholas/Seiji
Word Count: 3,179
Warnings: drug use, hazing, bullying
Spoilers: up to "Striking Distance" novel, since I'm in the middle of reading "Disarmed".
Notes: Written for the "flamingo" prompt for the Summer Mini Challenge. This is the third and final part.

Summary: A cruel prank turns into a night of interesting revelations for Nicholas and Seiji.

Also @ AO3 

Nicholas was squirming against him as Seiji wrapped an arm around him and drew him close. He was trying to wrangle him off the dance floor and out the double doors, and Nicholas was protesting quite firmly, even though he was clearly in no state to dance any longer.

 His speech was slurred, and he kept fighting to keep his eyes open. Seiji could make out “need another dance” from the word salad, but Seiji was determined to steer his friend back to their dorm room. When he felt most of Nicholas’s weight lean against him, he knew he didn’t have much time before he would ultimately pass out.

 “No, c’mon, Seiji, one more dance…” Nicholas managed to crack out, trying to wiggle out of Seiji’s grasp.

 “As delightful as another dance sounds, Nicholas, I’m afraid you’re not feeling well enough to stand anymore, much less dance,” Seiji told him, mustering the strength to get him closer to the exit door.

 “Oooh! Pink!” Nicholas said, and he managed to peel out of Seiji’s hold to stumble over to a table with a stuffed flamingo. He grabbed it, and though Seiji tried to return the stuffy to the table, Nicholas whined and held it to his chest with an iron grip.

 The curious eyes of the Lacrosse team were still watching them, and Seiji wanted to get out of there before Nicholas’s behavior became worse. They began laughing in their direction as Nicholas hugged the stuffy and professed his love for it.

 At this point, Seiji was losing patience. He was this close to picking Nicholas up and hefting him over his shoulder.

 Instead, Seiji moved close, gaining his attention as he whispered in his ear. “Nicholas, I have an idea. Since we are such good friends, let’s go back to the room and take down the duck curtain, shall we?”

 Nicholas blinked, and he turned to Seiji with half-closed eyes and a goofy grin. “Really?”

 Seiji smiled softly at him, playing up the niceties. “Of course, we’re friends, aren’t we?”

 “Yes, yes! Let’s go! Let’s do it right now,” Nicholas proclaimed, still clutching the stuffed flamingo and heading toward the exit door. Seiji caught him before Nicholas stumbled forward on his face, and he guided him for the rest of the way through the hall toward their room.

 Seiji shot a glare over his shoulder, meeting the eyes of the Lacrosse team again. They frowned when they realized their target was leaving and that someone was taking care of him. Seiji met the stare of the ones that planned this prank and glowered, giving them a look so icy it was known to leave fencing opponents crying from the salle.

 They blinked at him, obviously taken aback, and then they looked nervously away. Seiji turned back to Nicholas, who was finding some extra energy to head back to their room.

When Seiji managed to get Nicholas through their dorm door, Nicholas launched himself at the duck curtain, tripped over it, and dragged it unceremoniously toward the wall. A few metal rings snapped off and clanged to the floor. The curtain crackled as Nicholas rolled in it, laughing as he cocooned inside it.

Seiji sighed and he watched as Nicholas grinned while wrapped in the curtain. He moved toward him, and when Nicholas did not have the capacity to free himself, Seiji began peeling the curtain off him and helped him to his bed. Nicholas was still laughing, his warm breath against Seiji’s shoulder as the boy shifted him onto the bed.

 “This must be a dream,” Nicholas finally said, and Seiji was surprised Nicholas was still awake after all he’d been through. He turned toward Seiji and looked up at him with blurry eyes. “I have to be dreaming, right?”

 “Why?” Seiji asked, sitting next to him on Nicholas’s bed.

 “You wouldn’t be this nice to me for real, so you must be my dream-Seiji,” Nicholas said with a sleepy smile.

 A single eyebrow rose on Seiji’s face as he looked at him. “Your...your dream-Seiji?”

 “Yes, that’s you,” Nicholas said with a chuckle, and he hugged the pink flamingo as he became sleepier. He babbled on and Seiji listened to him. “Like tonight, on the dance floor, that was like a dream, like how I picture you when you’re being really nice to me.

 “I really enjoyed dancing with you. When I wake up, let’s dance again,” he said sleepily. “I was nervous asking you, but I know that dream-Seiji can’t say no to me.”

 “Hmm,” Seiji made a noise of affirmation, feeling the blood rush to his face as Nicholas confessed to him.

 Nicholas droned on with a sleepy smile. “Yeah, sometimes I don’t know what you’re thinking, so usually I just wait to ask you things. I was so nervous when I asked you to be best friends, but I know that maybe someday you’ll accept it - someday you’ll accept me.”

 Seiji didn’t say anything, and he looked at Nicholas with surprise. He didn’t know how to reply, but he could feel his heart beating wildly in his chest and he waited in anticipation of what Nicholas was going to say next.

 “Since you’re dream-Seiji, it’s okay if I tell you,” Nicholas turned his attention to him and smile. “I really like you.”

 “You...you do?” Seiji asked. People usually didn’t like him. It was usually the other way around. Was Nicholas mentally damaged? What did he like about him, he wondered?

 Nicholas continued. “I wanted to kiss you on the dance floor tonight, but I didn’t know if it was the right time. You still don’t even want to be my best friend, so how could I hope for something more?”

Seiji’s face felt like it was burning when he’d heard that. Desire pulsated through his whole body, and he thought about what it would be like to kiss Nicholas and even be something more. Did he want that? A voice in his head screamed at him that he did. He liked Nicholas better than anyone else, and though sometimes he felt insane for even considering Nicholas that way, most of the time he couldn’t get the boy out of his head and enjoyed his company too much to ever want to part from him.

 “What do you mean something more?” Seiji asked in a strained voice. He cleared his throat awkwardly, knowing the boy’s answer but wanting to hear it out loud.

 Nicholas chuckled, “Oh, you know, so I could kiss you anytime. But I can’t. Fencing comes first. I must focus on getting better, no matter what I feel toward you. I’m content to be your friend if you let me. Being friends is great too; it’s like winning the lottery or winning a gold medal in fencing.” He laughed.

 Seiji felt a little disappointed by that answer, but he did find some merit in Nicholas’s dedication to fencing. He wondered if there really risk to their fencing if they became closer. Though, he admitted that their relationship could be a distraction. Still, the idea to accept Nicholas as more than a friend was tempting. However, Seiji was adapting to the idea that Nicholas even liked him like that at all.

 “Are you sure about this, Nicholas? About liking me?” Seiji asked, and he didn’t know why he suddenly needed confirmation.

 “Yeah, of course, I like you; how could I not? You’re the best fencer I’ve ever seen. You’re so good it hurts. You inspire me every day,” he said with a sigh. “I can’t wait to see you win in the Olympics. I want to cheer you on, and then someday I’ll be right there with you. Or maybe I’ll be gold and you’ll be silver!” He chuckled again.

 Seiji was touched, though he disagreed about the medals. He never knew that Nicholas felt that way about him, and his confession prompted Seiji to examine his own feelings about the boy. He swallowed awkwardly but he felt he had to respond.

 “But I’m not…” he stammered and shook his head. “I’m not the best fencer. There’s Jesse and…”

 Immediately, Nicholas wrinkled his nose and snorted. “Jesse Coste… he’s nothing compared to you.”

 Seiji didn’t immediately believe that, but he noted Nicholas’s derision toward the other fencer and couldn’t figure out why. He always knew that Nicholas guarded himself when it came to his connection to Jesse, but now he was completely open. Seiji probably shouldn’t take advantage of his friend in this state, but he just had to know what Nicholas’s relationship was to Jesse.

 “I don’t understand why you dislike Jesse so much,” Seiji said baiting him. “Clearly, your animosity is clouding your judgment toward his fencing prowess.”

 Nicholas snorted again, and Seiji watched as he continued to rant while he stared at the ceiling. “It’s not that I dislike him. It’s just that he has everything, and I have nothing, and it’s not fair. He has a father that claims him, he has his fencing talent and the means to practice his skills.” He paused to release a heavy sigh. “Robert Coste knows who Jesse is, but he has no idea who I am or that I even exist.”

 Seiji stared at him agape, unsure how to unravel this information. He was almost afraid to ask for the context. Did that mean that Robert Coste was…?

 “But someday I’m going to be an awesome fencer, better than Jesse, and I’m going to show Robert Coste that I’m worthy to be his son. Then, he’ll know me. Everything will change…” His voice tapered off and his eyes looked heavy. His breathing steadied, and Seiji watched as Nicholas finally succumbed to sleep.

 He knew that Nicholas never intended to tell him that. Nicholas thought this was a dream, and maybe he’d already rehearsed the confession in his head. Would he remember what he said when he woke up? He was sure that Nicholas’s memory would be compromised from the drug, and if that were the case, Seiji would pretend he’d never heard Nicholas’s reveal of his connection to Jesse and Robert Coste. When he was ready, Seiji hoped that Nicholas would be confident enough to tell him under normal circumstances.

 Seiji watched as Nicholas fell into a deep sleep, and he turned toward his own bed. He tried to pick up their room as much as he could, but he knew that the duck curtain would have to be repaired. He was too tired and distracted to rectify that, so he prepared to go to bed. He would continue his next day as usual with his morning routine, and he made a note to file a complaint with the principal about the Lacrosse team’s bullying.

 He changed into his pajamas and before he settled into bed, he turned to Nicholas who was sleeping peacefully, clutching the pink flamingo to his chest. Seiji swore he heard his name spoken as a whisper as Nicholas mumbled in his sleep. His face felt hot again, and then Nicholas shifted in his bed.

 Seiji turned off the lights, and he doubted he’d get much sleep that night. He had a lot to think about.

 

---

 Seiji finished telling Nicholas the story of the previous night, though he made sure to leave out the details about Robert and Jesse Coste. He knew that Nicholas would tell him his secret when he was ready; though, Seiji had the presence of mind to no longer hassle him about Jesse.

 When he was finished, he looked over at Nicholas who was embarrassed enough to hide his face behind the stuffed pink flamingo. His face looked red, and he made no motion to remove the flamingo that hid him.

 Finally, Nicholas said, “Oh man, this is… I’m so sorry, Seiji,” he said morosely. He finally uncovered his face from the stuffy and nervously met Seiji’s gaze. Seiji was embarrassed too, but he did manage to compose himself through the heavy awkwardness.

 “There is no reason to be sorry, Nicholas,” Seiji said, straightening his posture as Nicholas darted his eyes around the room nervously. “You did not take the drugs willingly, and you were a victim in this matter.”

 Nicholas cleared his throat. “No, no, I mean… sorry for, uh, confessing all that to you. I’m sure you’re disgusted or angry, or… well, I don’t know how you feel, but I’m sorry anyway.”

 Seiji couldn’t find the right words to respond to that. They both looked away from each other, and the more they drowned in silence, the more awkward the space felt between them. Nicholas began tossing the flamingo in his arms excitedly, his nervous energy getting the better of him.

 Seiji released a heavy sigh, and he was about to say something, but Nicholas interrupted him.

 “I should probably find the owner of this flamingo and return him,” Nicholas said, and he made a motion to bolt out the room, but Seiji caught his arm.

 “Wait, Nicholas,” Seiji said, and they locked eyes and Seiji mustered the courage to finally say something. He knew if Nicholas left their room at that moment, he’d lose his nerve and they may not get this chance.

 Seiji’s cheeks felt like they were burning again. “Before you go, you forgot something.”

 “Huh?” Nicholas said, staring dumbly at him.

 “You said you meant to kiss me last night,” he said, and he looked at Nicholas sternly and crossed his arms. He was trying to play it tough, and Nicholas was buying the act, looking at him with disbelief.  “Well?”

 “What - are you serious?” Nicholas asked, blinking at him as if hearing such a thing was only in his dreams.

 “I… I am,” Seiji said. “I admit I was startled by your confession, Nicholas, but I was also touched. I did not expect to search my own feelings on the matter, and I realize that I enjoy your company. I suppose I could even say that you are always in my thoughts and that perhaps… while we danced, I wanted to kiss you too.”

 At first, Nicholas just stared at him like he still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Seiji watched as he closed his mouth a couple of times, and he also squinted at him as if he was still processing everything. Nicholas made a few unintelligible noises, but ultimately, he was speechless.

 “Well?” Seiji was still waiting for his kiss.

 Nicholas straightened his posture, and he was positively vibrating with anxiety. Seiji watched him bite his lip and then step forward. He launched himself at Seiji and grabbed his shoulders. Before Seiji could blink, Nicholas’s lips were on his, pressing hard as he pulled the boy against him. Seiji closed his eyes and fell into the kiss, finding it pleasant and dizzying. Instantly, he felt some of the tension release between them. He sighed against Nicholas’s mouth as he continued to kiss him, angling his head for better access. Seiji opened his mouth, an obvious invitation for Nicholas to taste him.

 At first, Nicholas’s kiss felt messy and wild, which Seiji felt was inherently him, but it also set off wildfires inside of him, and he only craved more. Nicholas leaned closer to him, and Seiji delighted in the way his warm body felt against his. Their lips sought out each other, becoming messier and more chaotic, and Nicholas began pushing him back against the edge of his bed. Seiji felt his breath, hot and heavy as he kissed him, and when Nicholas’s arms fell to clutch his waist, he moaned when their hips rubbed against each other.

 When Nicholas clacked their teeth together, he pulled back, mumbling an apology. His hands were still resting on Seiji’s back, and they stared at each other with flushed faces and puffy lips.

 “Sorry, um, that was… well, this is all sort of new for me,” Nicholas said.

 “Yes, well, it is the same for me,” Seiji said. “Like all things, we just need to practice and enhance our skills.”

 Nicholas cracked a grin. “Like fencing.”

 Seiji wrapped his arms around Nicholas’s shoulders and leaned in for a quick peck. “Exactly.”

 

 

Later…

 

Nicholas had left the room to search for the true owner of the pink flamingo, so Seiji took the opportunity to fix the duck curtain. Though, he and Nicholas had become closer, he wanted to keep the duck curtain up for propriety’s sake.

 If he was being honest, Seiji still loathed Nicholas’s messy habits and wanted the curtain to remain as a shield.

 When Nicholas returned, he was empty-handed, so Seiji assumed that he’d found the owner of the stuffed flamingo.

 Nicholas was in good spirits when he entered their room. “Good news, the stuffy belonged to Bobby, and he was super happy that I brought it back. It was a gift from Dante to match his new skirt for the dance, and he’d been bummed it’d gone missing.” Seiji watched as Nicholas’s eyes swept across their room and landed on the repaired curtain.

 “Hey, I thought we were taking this thing down?” He frowned at him.

 “Yes, well, I would prefer to keep it up a little longer,” Seiji said, meeting Nicholas’s disappointment.

 “But why? I mean, I thought we …” His voice trailed off and he blushed as his thought didn’t turn into words.

 Instead, Seiji explained himself, “Yes, of course, we are closer now, but I thought if we are going to be involved, things are still so new, and I’d prefer to have some sort of privacy…”

 Nicholas blinked at him until he understood the meaning. “Oh!” He looked away from Seiji’s gaze. “Right.”

 “Plus, you’re uncouth living space still annoys me,” Seiji said honestly, and Nicholas rolled his eyes.

 “Well, you’re just going to have to learn to live with that,” Nicholas said.

 “Yes, I am aware,” Seiji said sardonically.

 Nicholas grinned, and Seiji watched as he moved toward him. He felt Nicholas’s arms reach around him and settle on the small of his back again. He drew him closer, and Seiji felt the warmth of Nicholas’s chest against his.

 Seiji could hear the smirk in Nicholas’s tone. “Good, because I guarantee I’ll break you down, and you’ll remove the curtain on your own.”

 Seiji’s brow rose. “Is that a challenge?”

 Nicholas’s grin stretched wider. He laughed a little before leaning into Seiji and capturing his lips again. This time, Nicholas’s lips were more controlled, yet there was still a sense of wild urgency in the pressure against their mouths. Seiji melted, matching the rhythm of the kiss, enjoying Nicholas’s taste, his smell and more than anything, his heat.

 Nicholas pulled back, and he rubbed his nose against Seiji’s. “If it’s a challenge you want, I’m your man.”

 Seiji held him tighter, and they were closer than they were at the dance. He locked eyes with Nicholas, and a surge of desire showered through him. He leaned in and playfully bit Nicholas’s lip. Finally, he replied. “Yes, you are.”

 And Seiji sure as hell had meant it too.

 

END

 

 

 

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