Shihwan leaned heavily against Insu’s shoulder. They were sitting on Insu’s living room floor, cans of beer and opened snacks on the table before them while the tv flashed various blue lights in the otherwise dark room. At some point, Insu had reduced the volume until they could just barely hear the man on the tv go on and on about the mysterious life of the giant squid.

Insu was facing forward, quietly watching the tv as he took a sip of the nearly empty beer can in his hand.

Shihwan watched as his own hand reached out and idly twirled a strand of Insu’s long hair around his finger.

It was silky soft.

He had always wanted to touch it, but knowing how Insu disliked physical affection, he had always kept that desire to himself.

But his mind wasn’t sharp right now, his inhibitions were low, likely due to the several cans of beer he had drunk. And, more than that, Insu was being accommodating, quietly allowing Shihwan to lick his wounds. Or so he assumed. Because, despite Insu’s prickly attitude, he had always been kind-hearted.

Shihwan sighed. There was still a strange, dull, annoying ache in his chest, but it didn’t feel quite so bad as when he had been walking out of the theater. And he knew it was all thanks to Insu.

He vaguely wondered why that was as he twirled the silky strand again and again over his finger before letting it slip away.

“So pretty,” he mumbled to himself, then looked up to meet Insu’s startled gaze.

Insu’s face was bright pink as he gazed at him in shock, frozen with a can of beer in one hand.

“I think you drank enough,” he said, his voice curt. He then reached out to take the can from Shihwan’s grasp.

Shihwan simply watched as Insu leaned over, his black shirt falling open and allowing him a glimpse of his bare, pale golden chest.

He idly noted that Insu’s nipples were a pretty dark rose color, a color that he had always liked.

“You have pretty nipples too,” he said, his eyes closing slightly as he felt himself growing drowsy.

Insu jumped back, forgetting the can he had been reaching for as he immediately forced a distance between them, staring at Shihwan in horror. “What the hell, man?” he whispered. “Why are you looking at another guy’s nipples?”

“Sorry,” said Shihwan, but the grin on his face was unapologetic. “They were just right there.”

“Honestly,” he continued, his words a touch slower than normal as he took a sip of the beer Insu had failed to confiscate. “If you were a girl, I’d be in serious trouble.”

Insu, who had returned to his seat on the ground beside Shihwan, froze.

Shihwan threw him another dimpled smile. “I think you might be exactly my type.”

The can Insu held fell with a clatter, spilling the remaining droplets of beer on the floor.

He was floored. Did Shihwan know what he was saying right now? Who in the world said that to their best friends?

Fuck. He shook his head, reminding himself that it was all drunk talk. Shihwan, who rarely ever drank more than a can of beer, had gone way past his limit. And that was all that was.

Choosing to ignore his friend’s words, Insu shakily reached over to pick up the empty can when he felt a sharp prickle on his thumb.

He cursed, lifting his hand to see that he had nicked himself on the mouth of the can. Blood pooled to one side of the cut before dripping slowly down his thumb.

He cursed again, but before he could grab a napkin to press against the wound, a large hand wrapped around his.

Insu looked up in surprise. Shihwan, who had pulled Insu’s hand toward his face, was staring at the wounded thumb with a narrowed and far too serious gaze.

Sighing, he tried to pull his hand away, but Shihwan’s grip remained firm.

His heart began to quicken as he watched his friend’s gaze, which had been soft and drowsy a moment ago, suddenly sharpen and turn hot.

Then, before he could do or say anything, Shihwan brought the bloody member to his lips and… licked.

.