Fence Comics, "Seven-Day Pass" Eugene x Jesse, rated T

[paynesgrey]

Fandom: Fence Comics
Title: Seven-Day Pass
Author: paynesgrey
Rating: T
Characters/Pairings: Eugene Labao, Jesse Coste, Seiji Katayama, Nicholas Cox, Eugene/Jesse
Word Count: 3,582
Disclaimer: I do not own Fence comics.
Spoilers/Warnings: No warnings. Spoilers for "Disarmed" Fence novelization.
Notes: Written for the Fence Holiday Exchange 2021. This is a pinch hit for keerttanasankaran99 for her prompt "Idiots in Love" for Eugene/Jesse. 

Summary: Jesse invites Seiji to a high-end gym, but he finds out that the King's Row reserve Eugene has taken his place. Jesse had never been so attracted to kindness and big muscles before he'd met Eugene.

Links: AO3

Seven-Day Pass

Jesse entered the elite Downing gym in the center of town, and he headed to the locker rooms to get ready for his workout. He chose a rowing machine near the front entrance of the gym, and he watched the door, hopeful that Seiji would use the seven-day guest pass he gave him. If he was lucky, he had seven days to convince Seiji that he just had to follow him to Exton. 

It was one of his last-ditch efforts to lure Seiji away from King’s Row. The more Jesse thought about Seiji at that third-rate school, the more nauseous he felt that the best fencing partner he’d ever had was there, and he had insisted on staying.

That morning he’d found Seiji outside of King’s Row’s campus at a diner, enjoying a small ice cream sundae in the company of that terrible fencer who was always hanging around. His friend, whose name he couldn’t remember, was glaring at him while Jesse ignored his presence and engaged in Seiji’s attention. 

As usual, Seiji stiffened when Jesse approached him, and his attention on his former fencing partner immediately took Seiji out of his pleasant mood. Jesse still couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Seiji had a “friend” and that someone enjoyed his company enough to joke around with him - like he was a normal person.

He disregarded Seiji’s stiff composure and annoyed expression and asked him once again to return his texts. 

“I don’t have the time,” Seiji said, dismissing him bluntly. Jesse knew that Seiji just didn’t want to deal with him.

“At least, take this,” Jesse said, setting down the Downing gym pass in front of Seiji. At first, he didn’t look at it, and when he did, his lip curled in disdain. “I’ve joined a new gym downtown, and I have a guest pass that you can have for seven days. Can you at least come so that we can talk?” 

Seiji looked down at the pass on the table with disdain, but he made a noncommittal grunt, which indicated to Jesse that he had to go. He wasn’t going to get anywhere with Seiji when that terrible fencer was there glaring at him, watching over Seiji protectively lest Jesse decided to kidnap him by force.

As if he would lower himself, Jesse scoffed inwardly.

Since Seiji refused to engage him further, Jesse left the diner and hoped that Seiji at least considered coming to the gym to talk to him. Perhaps Seiji would think he would get closure, and Jesse was prepared to talk some sense into him. With Seiji alone away from his “friend”, Jesse was confident he could sway Seiji back to Exton.

He paused his reps on the rowing machine and increased the resistance. He glared at the door, annoyed that he’d let that other fencer’s glare get to him. He hated that he felt this possessive toward Seiji, and Jesse would rationalize this behavior as a simple tantrum, and surely Seiji would regain his senses and leave King’s Row. 

Minutes passed while he worked on the rowing machine, and he stared a hole into the gym’s front door, only to see no sign of Seiji. He blew out a breath, trying to move his blond hair out of his face as it started to stick from sweat to his skin.

He switched machines, settling on a treadmill to run out some of his stress and get a good amount of cardio. After a couple of minutes, he noticed that someone had started running on the treadmill next to him. He glanced curiously, only to meet the deep brown eyes of a familiar face.

Jesse’s eyes widened as Eugene Labao, the reserve fencer at King’s Row, shot him a wide grin. 

“Hey bro, what’s up?” Eugene asked him jubilantly, treating him like they were old friends. 

Jesse’s jaw slacked in surprise. What was he doing here?

“Uh,” Jesse responded inelegantly. “How did you get in here?”

He didn’t mean it to come out so tactless as if to insinuate that Eugene wasn’t welcome here. It was just his first thought. Eugene’s smile seemed to brighten, and he didn’t seem insulted at all. Instead, he winked at Jesse. 

“Seven-day pass, bro, thanks to you and my good bro, Seiji,” Eugene said, and Jesse’s stomach dropped. 

“What?” Jesse said, flabbergasted at the turn of events. So that was how it was. Seiji had given the guest pass to Eugene.

Eugene’s face brightened and Jesse could tell he was incredibly happy. “Yeah, bro, he said I’d like this more than he would, and dude, he was so right! I love trying out new gyms, and I’d never get to afford this one.” Eugene’s smile showed teeth, and Jesse noticed his kind eyes. “Bro, you’re the best.”

“Hm…” He responded dumbly. Jesse really wasn’t the best, and he knew it. Eugene was giving him way too much credit. Seiji had been the mastermind at this gesture. Seiji really hadn’t wanted to see him, and this was the perfect way to dismiss Jesse’s intentions. If anything, Seiji turned his scheme onto its head and only further rejected Jesse.

And Jesse couldn’t be mad at Eugene, not really. He had nothing to do with his rivalry with Seiji, and from what Jesse knew of Eugene, the boy did not have a malicious bone in his body. After their interactions in France, Jesse felt something akin to tenderness toward the King’s Rowe reserve. Out of the King’s Row fencers, Eugene had the best character. He hadn’t seen him fence, but Jesse felt sorry for the kid that he’d come all the way on the trip only to be too sick to compete. Then the poor kid got dumped on top of it.

Despite Eugene’s bad luck in France, he took it all in stride and still remained positive and kind, and he didn’t worry about his dad being mad at him. Jesse didn’t know what that felt like, to have a supportive parent that wouldn’t shame them if they couldn’t compete.

Eugene was an anomaly to Jesse, and his kindness and easy friendship were admirable, enough for Jesse to find him interesting.

Not only interesting, but Eugene was also attractive. He appeared so bright to Jesse sometimes that he couldn’t look away, like a colorful sunset or the way the light reflected off a gold medal. 

Jesse wasn’t sure how long he was staring, but his treadmill squawked at him that he wasn’t running fast enough, so he shook his thoughts from his head and looked forward, picking up his pace. He heard Eugene lightly chuckle beside him, and Jesse felt embarrassment heat his cheeks. 

“Bro, we should pump some iron together,” Eugene said, running on his treadmill at an even pace. “I don’t really know anyone here to be my spotter.” Eugene gave him a sideways glance and another flashy smile. “Except you, bro.”

“Sure,” Jesse agreed before he knew what he was doing. 

Not more than five minutes later, Jesse was spotting Eugene as he hefted a heavily weighted bar over his head. Jesse tried not to look at him, but once in a while he would look down and watch the sweat stream down Eugene’s caramel skin. His stomach knotted at the sight of this, and he watched it run down his cheek and onto his neck. His eyes dared to look further, noticing more sweat glistening on Eugen’s collarbone, with moisture dampening his thin tank top.

Damn, Jesse thought, hating how much this boy was affecting him. He couldn’t remember the last time any boy caught his attention like this. His obsession with Seiji had always eclipsed those desires for anyone else, and he hated to admit it, but he’d never really indulged in anything sexual toward Seiji. In his fantasies, he was always beating him, humiliating him in fencing, and being the best.

Jesse noticed attractive men all the time, but noticing and pursuing were different behaviors. Most boys he found good-looking scorned him and were intimidated by his prowess and his family name. And he had no use for fools who were obvious in their worship of him - he was sure they only wanted to use him.

Not Eugene - he was genuine in all that he did and felt. 

“Want me to spot you?” Eugene asked, looking up at him. Their eyes met, and Jesse felt a strange heat simmer all over his body. He nodded and watched as Eugene removed weights from the bar and cleaned up the bench with sanitizer. 

Jesse slowly regained his attention, and he started adding small weights, some that he knew he could do, and secured them onto the bar. He knew Eugene was watching him closely, and Jesse had no delusions that he could best Eugene at lifting weights. 

Eugene let out a huff when Jesse was ready to hit the bench. “Bro, I’ve seen you on the piste. I know you can take more than that.”

“I prefer lean muscles to bulk,” Jesse retorted. Eugene smirked at him.

“I thought you liked a challenge,” Eugene asked, and Jesse knew he was teasing him.

“It’s been a while since I benched, Labao,” Jesse said. “Let me work my way back up.”

“Fair enough,” Eugene said. “But I want to hear you breathe hard, bro, really work at it.”

Jesse felt heat all over his face again and he hadn’t even started lifting weights yet. 

He didn’t respond and just shot Eugene a challenging glare. He secured his grip on the bar and did his first set of reps. And dammit, Labao was right. The bar with the meager weights he added seemed too light. Eugene seemed to pick up on his realization.

“Told’ja,” Eugene said, and as Jesse rested the bar, Eugene turned to add about ten pounds to each side. Jesse humored him, got into position, and lifted the bar with the added weight. It was perfect, a little heavier, but it at least gave him a challenge.

He looked at Eugene suspiciously. “Impressive, how did you…?”

Eugene’s smile was sunny again as he crossed his arms preening. “I have a knack for these things.”

“I’d say,” Jesse said, and Eugene bounced back and forth on his heels as he spotted him. Jesse could feel the ache in his arms, and he joined Eugene on the mats to hydrate and stretch out their muscles. Jesse was once again trying not to stare at Eugene’s movements and his well-sculpted muscles glazed in sweat.

He ended the night at the gym with a head full of strange thoughts. When Eugene said goodbye to him in the parking lot, Jesse nodded at him and had the odd feeling that he didn’t want his time with Eugene to end.

The second day, Eugene was back at his side, finding him at the treadmill and greeting him like a friend again.

“I’m doing a leg day today, how about you?” he asked conversationally.

“Same,” Jesse said. 

“Sweet, bro, have any favorite machines?” Eugene asked. Jesse wondered if Eugene really liked weight-lifting or if he generally liked hanging out with Jesse. 

“Um, I guess there’s a good leg curl machine in the corner. For you, it could pose a lot of resistance if you choose,” Jesse said, feeling odd that he could fall into easy conversation with him.

“Let’s give it a shot!” Eugene said happily, and once again, they were working out together, using machines next to each other and then supporting each other when they needed it. 

Jesse was having a hard time not staring at Eugene as he worked out. If the sweat on Eugene’s skin didn’t distract him, his heavy breathing did. Jesse watched trails of sweat paint over Eugene’s perfect muscles, and he stood enamored as the boy’s chest rose and fell from his labored breaths. 

Jesse was beside himself as he realized how much he was starting to desire Eugene in ways he never had for anyone else.

And by the end of the night, Jesse’s head was dizzy from his time with Eugene. They parted in the parking lot again, and Eugene caught him off-guard.

“Bro, give me your number,” Eugene asked bluntly, and Jesse was taken aback. He almost refused, but the potential to get sweet and teasing texts from him was too tempting. 

“Uh, sure, but why?” There was his lack of tact again. 

Eugene grinned at him as if he had ulterior motives. “I just want to text you a bad-ass protein shake recipe.”

“Is that all?” Jesse mused with some bite in his tone.

“For now,” Eugene said, with a wink that almost made Jesse’s knees give out.

“Alright,” Jesse said lightly, and he handed Eugene his phone to add his number. Eugene gave it back after a quick moment, and soon Jesse was getting a text from him. It said “hey bro” and Jesse couldn’t contain a small smile.

“See you tomorrow, blondie,” Eugene said, waving at him. 

Jesse huffed, and once again he hated they had to part ways.

On the third and fourth day at the gym, Eugene and Jesse fell into a cozy routine with each other. They spotted each other, and they talked about fencing, working out, and family. Jesse learned more about Eugene than he’d ever cared to learn about everyone, but mostly he liked listening to the boy and watching him. 

After the fourth day, Jesse gave up hiding that he was staring at Eugene, and several times while he watched Eugene work the muscles on his calves or his back, Jesse admitted to his desires. He wanted to push Eugene up against the wall and lick the sweat off his skin, wondering if he tasted as good as he looked.

Eugene wasn’t stupid either. He noticed the looks, and he felt confident enough to flirt with him.

“Did you try that protein shake I sent you? With the new whey protein?” Eugene asked.

“I’m surprised you would recommend that. That mixture is pretty pricey,” Jesse said. 

“Hey, bro, I’m not that poor. I’ll shell out for the good stuff,” he said as he waggled his eyebrows at him. “I may not look it, but I have great taste.”

“I have my doubts,” Jesse said, a single eyebrow raised. 

“I’ll just have to convince you,” Eugene said before he heaved a bar of numerous weights, and fell into a steady motion of reps. Jesse watched him impressed, unable to fathom the number of weights Eugene had added. Eugene was definitely challenged, and Jesse enjoyed the heaviness of the boy’s breathing.

Jesse realized other than watching Eugene sweat, he also loved his strained breaths too, wondering if he breathed like that during other strenuous activities.

“We should go to dinner sometime, bro,” Eugene said unexpectedly between inhaling and exhaling. Once again, he caught Jesse off-guard.

“Oh?” Jesse asked, trying to play hard to get. Eugene’s eyes locked with his, and he almost drowned in them, dark and heady with desire. 

“Unless you don’t like to eat,” Eugene said.

“I do, normally,” Jesse said, trying to be evasive.

“Good, so do I,” Eugene said. “I’d like to eat more with good company.”

“Who? Who do you think is good company?” Jesse asked. 

Eugene let out a raspy guffaw. “Bro, you are hilarious.” Their eyes locked together again, and Jesse’s face softened. He’d never been called hilarious seriously before.

“I’d treat you, but you’d probably make a poor-boy joke,” Eugene said, and Jesse huffed. “So I’d at least try to make you dinner at my place.”

“At your place?” Jesse asked. “Really. I’m shocked.”

“Sure you are,” Eugene said with a snicker. “Haven’t you ever had someone make you dinner before that didn’t work for you?”

“Oh, lovely, Labao, a rich-boy joke,” Jesse said with a playful sneer. Eugene didn’t laugh this time, he just grinned at Jesse and drew him in with his captivating eyes. 

“C’mon, bro, give a guy a break. It’s not easy asking you out,” Eugene said, and Jesse felt his cheeks burn again. He should have expected this but he didn’t realize Eugene was this motivated. Or this brave.

“I suppose you’re right, Labao,” Jesse said with amusement. “I am hard to ask out. I’ll give you that.”

After a heavy silence, Eugene chuckled to himself. He finished his repetitions and began cleaning up the bench and putting weights back in their proper places. He turned to Jesse, inching closer to him. Jesse felt small next to Eugene’s stature, but he didn’t see him as intimidating. If anything, Jesse yearned for those large arms to embrace him and cherish him, something that he’d never had before. 

“So, dinner at my place then? When you’re ready of course,” Eugene asked with his usual sunny grin. His eyes betrayed that grin though; he was looking at him like a predator stalking his prey.

“After we stretch, let’s head to the locker rooms, and I’ll think about it,” Jesse said.

“That quickly?” Eugene teased, and Jesse gave him his own predatory smirk. Eugene knew that after all of these days, Jesse desired him - wanted him. And if one thing was certain, Jesse Coste always got what he wanted.

When Jesse and Eugene entered the locker rooms, Jesse grabbed Eugene’s slick, muscled arm and pulled him against the lockers. The lockers vibrated from the impact of Eugene’s back, and Jesse met his dark eyes before he slotted his mouth over Eugene’s. Eugene moaned in his mouth, drawing him farther into the kiss. Jesse’s mouth parted, and he kissed a trail down Eugene’s chin, and he heard the exquisite exhale of his breath that he longed to hear like this. Eugene arched toward him when Jesse trailed his tongue down a bead of sweat that settled on the edge of his jaw.

“Mmm, I knew you’d taste good,” Jesse whispered against Eugene’s skin.

Eugene carded his fingers through Jesse’s silky hair and brought his mouth up to his, parting Jesse’s lips and diving his tongue inside, sucking and licking up his taste, savoring Jesse like a last meal.

Jesse moaned in Eugene’s mouth and felt strong hands rest on the small of his back, pulling him hard against the sculpted muscles that Jesse had longed to touch. Jesse wrapped his arms around Eugene’s taut neck and pulled him closer, their lips and tongues chasing each other, swallowing moans and delighting in tastes. 

“Damn, bro, you’re so hot right now,” Eugene said in between hungry kisses.

“Not as hot as you, Labao. You’ve no idea the things I’ve wanted to do to you,” Jesse said in a strained whisper. He groaned when he felt Eugene’s leg rub between his thighs.

“Show me,” Eugene said in a moan. 

Jesse pulled back, licking the sweat off Eugene’s chin, and he smiled at Eugene’s heady eyes and kiss-bruised lips. 

“Patience, Labao,” Jesse said, pulling him into another searing, mind-altering kiss. Eugene chased his tongue with fervor, but Jesse stepped back, cooling their heated kiss. He wanted more than anything to continue, but a public gym was not an appropriate place.

He finally said, “Make me dinner first, Eugene,” Jesse said, tenderly calling him by his first name. Eugene smiled at him and nuzzled Jesse with his nose. 

“And then?” Eugene said, still catching his breath.

“I’ll show you a different type of workout,” Jesse said with a sly tone.

Eugene groaned against him. “Unfair, bro.” And Jesse felt unsatisfied too, but he still considered his time with Eugene as a victory. 

“It’s going to be a rough night,” Eugene lamented as he leaned in a rubbed against Jesse, stealing a few more kisses. Jesse obliged him, but both boys restrained themselves for now. 

They managed to regain their composure, sending each other hungry looks before leaving the gym once again.

“I wouldn’t worry about the seven-day guest pass anymore, Labao,” Jesse said, drawing Eugene back to him and stealing a kiss. 

Eugene looked at him confused. “Huh?”

“My membership allows me one guest for as long as I want. When you want to work out, come with me,” Jesse offered.

Eugene’s face brightened more than the street light they were under. “Really, bro?”

“Of course,” Jesse said with a curt nod, but Eugene was pulling Jesse into his arms for a hug. He arched back and they were kissing again against Jesse’s car. Time seemed to stop between them as they enjoyed each other, reluctant to separate. 

“I’ll text you,” Eugene said, nuzzling against Jesse’s nose. 

“You better, and not a shake recipe either, Labao,” Jesse said.

“Nah, not this time. I’ll send something nice,” Eugene said with a chuckle, and Jesse believed it because to him, Eugene was always nice.

Their evening was coming to a close, and they kissed each other lazily before they parted. Eugene smiled at him, and Jesse caressed his hand down Eugene’s jaw again, wiping off an errant bead of sweat. He brought it to his lips and licked.

“Good night, Eugene,” Jesse said, giving Eugene a look that would stay with the boy throughout the rest of his sleepless night.

“Night, babe,” Eugene said, catching Jesse off-guard again. 

Jesse hated that his face had turned visibly hot again, and Eugene chuckled at his fluster as he left. He couldn’t be mad that Eugene Labao affected him this way. 

In fact, Jesse was grateful for it - and he was grateful for Eugene.

END

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