Chapter Text
The soft hum of the music faded as Seonghwa pushed open the large wooden door to the bathroom. Alcohol pulsated through his veins, numbing his senses and slowing his movements.
The strong scent of marijuana and other recreational drugs soon attacked his nose, making him gag. Although his brain wasn't functioning to his standards, he still refused to fall victim to the insatiable desires that tempted others into their impending doom.
Temptation was a sick game the gods above had created to see who was stupid enough to grasp onto the idea of pleasure that seemed to drown them slowly. And, Seonghwa refused to become a pawn for entertainment.
Slowly moving towards the bathroom sink, Seonghwa trailed his fingers along the tiled wall, the grooves sliding smoothly under his fingertips. He soon reached the counter. His mind was foggy, a consequence of the amount of alcohol he had consumed in mere minutes. His hair was tousled, and sweat coated his neck in a sheer layer.
Seonghwa grimaced as he pulled at the collar of his shirt, trying to detach the velvety material from his skin. Mascara ran down his face, ruining his white porcelain skin and staining it a murky grey. His lip stain smudged as a result of a girl who had tried to throw herself at him. Much to her disappointment, however, Seonghwa had rejected the games she wanted to play.
He felt stupid. Seonghwa, a man of great goodness in the world, a saviour to those who need it, a goddamn paramedic, had lost himself to the forsaken desire of alcohol. No matter how hard life got, he vowed never to touch a single drop of the infectious liquid, and yet he broke his word.
Tearing his jacket off, Seonghwa rolled his sleeves and turned the faucet on. He splashed water on his face -- a futile attempt to bring himself back to reality. Undoing the top buttons of his shirt, Seonghwa leaned on the counter and looked at himself in the mirror through his lashes. Water slithered its way down his neck, glistening slightly and highlighting his Adam's apple as he swallowed.
His grip tightened on the marble as he analysed each flaw meticulously. The way his skin stretched over his bones in such a way that disgusted him. His smile. His eyes. Seonghwa hated everything. He had an ideal body, yes, but he still never felt good enough. Everyone only wanted him for his figure, and it made Seonghwa sick.
He hated it.
His body.
Was that all he was good for?
The pounding in his head was relentless as he slid down the wall beside the counter, leaving the water running -- a sound that eased his mind of the silence that plagued him. Seonghwa floated in and out of consciousness as the alcohol seemed to take full effect. The world spun, and the walls seemed to draw closer to him, pulling him deeper.
Dazed, Seonghwa failed to notice the person who had walked into the bathroom until they crouched in front of him.
"Well, hello there..." The man said, his voice taunting as he tucked a stray strand of Seonghwa's hair behind his ear. Seonghwa drunkenly smiled, way too out of his mind to contribute to an actual conversation. The man's hand trailed down his body slowly, tracing his collarbone.
Seonghwa shifted slightly, his mind screaming at him to make the man stop, but his body remained still. "Did you come alone, darling?" The strong scent of smoke intoxicated Seonghwa further as the man spoke. His mind was hazy, and he struggled to make out the man's face who stared at him intensely, bringing a hand to his face and stroking his cheek.
The words were lodged in his throat, rendering him useless and inane. As much as he wanted to scream at the old man before him, he couldn't. The world stripping him of his voice in a dire time of need was a cruel trick to play, but never old.
"He came with me," a sultry voice cut through the air. The man lowered his hand from Seonghwa's face and turned around, annoyed. "Really?" He questioned, his tone filled with frustration. Seonghwa lifted his head slowly, looking for the source of the new voice, silently thanking them.
A small figure stood near the door. Although Seonghwa couldn't make out his features, his black hair was slicked on one side, revealing a small section of his forehead. Leather pants and a red button-up accentuated his body; the exposure of his collarbone made Seonghwa gulp before he dropped his gaze back to the floor, his head spinning wildly.
"Yes. Now, fuck off before I tell security you're harassing somebody who's so obviously under the influence," he spat.
The man turned back around to Seonghwa, "Maybe next time, sweetheart." Seonghwa internally grimaced as the man stroked his cheek with the back of his hand once more before standing up.
Before he could walk out the door, the shorter man grabbed his shirt and brought his mouth to his ear -- whispering while keeping a hard gaze on Seonghwa.
The older man froze, his posture straightening slightly before he nodded quickly and left the bathroom. The slam of the wooden door resonated throughout the room, and Seonghwa let out a soft sigh, sliding further down the wall.
"Now," the other began after a moment of silence. "Why would you get so drunk to the point you can't move when you came here alone?" He asked, walking towards the counter and turning the faucet off. Seonghwa let out a drunk laugh before coughing slightly, "I'm not alone," he slurred. "I came here with you."
The other stifled a chuckle, finding Seonghwa's drunken state particularly amusing. "Do you even have a brain in that thick fucking skull of yours?" He muttered under his breath. The words stung, but Seonghwa refused to let them show. The man continued, "Can you stand?"
Seonghwa nodded, pushing himself up slowly and swaying on his feet. The man wrapped his arm around his waist to support him, making Seonghwa's breath hitch at the sudden contact. His movements were sluggish as the other dragged him towards the cubicle before lowering him onto the ground beside the toilet.
Seonghwa's brows furrowed slightly. The man sighed, "You need to throw up everything in your system." The man briefly motioned to the dirty toilet. "It'll make you feel better." Seonghwa allowed the words to slowly process before he pouted and shook his head, "I'm fine, I promise."
"Sure, and I'm the fucking Prince of England," the man pinched his nose. "Just do as I tell you. Don't make this harder than it already is." Silence enveloped them as the man stepped outside the cubicle, leaning against the wall beside it and opening his phone. Seonghwa let out a small sigh as he stared mindlessly at the ceiling above them.
"What's your name?" He managed to say, despite his words still being slurred. The man stopped typing for a moment before continuing, ignoring his question. Seonghwa's brows furrowed as he tilted his head in the direction of where the man stood, "Hey! I asked you a question!" He murmured, his voice louder than intended.
The man sighed before shoving his phone back into his pocket and peering into the cubicle. "Now, why would I tell you that? I don't even-" He began before a retching sound rudely cut him off. "-know you." He finished quietly, sighing.
Scrunching his nose, the man backed up against the wall again, listening to Seonghwa throw up. As the gagging stopped, Seonghwa wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before attempting to stand up, but to no avail.
The man rounded the corner and pulled Seonghwa to his feet, dragging him to the sinks. Seonghwa smiled sheepishly, "Sorry."
Seonghwa let out a small squeal as the man wrapped his hands around his waist before lifting him.
The black haired male shook his head slightly, propping Seonghwa up on the edge of the counter. Seonghwa kicked his legs, observing the others' movements. "You know, you never really answered my question," he murmured.
The man let out a sigh, ignoring Seonghwa once again as he grabbed his handkerchief, wetting it slightly under the faucet. Squeezing the excess water out, he brought the cloth to Seonghwa's face -- gently dabbing away his ruined makeup.
The man was careful, trying not to hurt Seonghwa. Tears welled in Seonghwa's eyes as he watched the other slowly analyse his face and care for him. No one has ever done this for him before; normally, they would ignore him and leave him to tend to himself -- an expectation he upheld for his job. They never truly knew how much he craved to be cared for, to be pampered by someone.
"Hongjoong," the man whispered. Seonghwa snapped out of his thoughts and looked at him, confusion taking over his features. "My name is Hongjoong," the black haired male clarified, eyes focused on cleaning up the smudged lipstick stain on Seonghwa's face. Seonghwa hummed slightly, his mind buzzing as he held his breath, relishing in the soft touch of Hongjoong.
"Seonghwa," he muttered. Hongjoong nodded in reply, turning back to the faucet. He threw the handkerchief into the sink before grabbing Seonghwa's forgotten jacket and turning around. He gently placed it around his shoulders. A slight spark travelled through them at the light contact as they stared at each other.
Seonghwa noted the man's fierce eyes, although hazy from his alcohol consumption, and the small scar that seemed to travel over his right eye. The eyeliner accentuated his eye shape, the slight smoky look making him look more appealing than he already was. His lips were parted slightly, his breath a mixture of mint and smoke. Unlike the other man's breath, the smoke was dull and more sweet, numbing Seonghwa's remaining senses.
They both unconsciously leaned in, their breaths mingling for a moment. The scent of Hongjoong's cologne pulled Seonghwa closer to him -- the soft sage intoxicating him further.
Hongjoong was the first to look away, clearing his throat slightly. Seonghwa's cheeks flushed, turning a brighter shade of pink than what they already were, and he rubbed his neck shyly.
Pull it together, Seonghwa. He's a stranger.
Seonghwa internally gagged at the mere thought of losing himself to someone he didn't know.
"Let's get you home," Hongjoong mumbled, helping Seonghwa off the counter and leading him towards the bathroom door. The alcohol was still present in Seonghwa's system, his movements still sluggish and unstable. The small hand around his waist stabilized him as he was dragged towards the front door of the club.
The night's memories were locked away in the club as the cool breeze hit Seonghwa's face and the door shut briefly behind them. Hongjoong adjusted his grip on Seonghwa, his fingers brushing slightly against the exposed skin of his side.
Seonghwa shuddered at the feeling before relaxing into the man beside him while they waited for a taxi. "Hongjoong," he mumbled, his voice laced with exhaustion. Maybe the alcohol was still taking over his system, but Seonghwa had this strange feeling of trust embedded in him. Hongjoong hummed, awaiting his response.
"Thank you...for everything you did tonight."
โคโคโค
- ๐๐ฝ๐ช๐๐๐จ๐ป๐