A Love Situation
Aug. 30th, 2023 09:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
learashiTitle: A Love Situation
Pairings: Matsumiya
Genres: Host AU, mutual pining
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Developing feelings for someone you work with is a potential minefield, even more so when they are your employee. Nino likes Jun but can never seem to find a way to tell him. When Jun has too much to drink one night, Nino's opportunity might have finally arrived.
"Where is he?"
The bartender pointed to a table in a dark corner right at the back of the club.
Nino gave him a nod and headed over to where a well-dressed handsome man sagged in his seat with his head resting on the table.
"Jun, if your boss wasn't such a nice guy you'd be out of a job by now. You're paid to get the ladies drunk, not yourself." Nino checked the chair for spilled drinks before taking a seat at the table.
Jun raised his head slightly and squinted up at Nino. "But, you're my boss, and you're not nice."
The bartender unsuccessfully tried to smother a snicker. Nino's head whipped around in his direction. "Aiba-chan, don't you have some glasses to polish or something?"
"Nope. They look perfectly shiny from here." Aiba blinked innocently.
Ohno, the other barman joined Aiba and leaned his elbows on the bar as he watched Jun and Nino with interest.
Nino chose to ignore them and went back to raising Jun’s head up off the sticky surface of the table. After a bit of tugging, he finally succeeded in prying off a drink coaster that had become stuck to Jun’s cheek and wiped the red wine dregs off his face with a paper napkin.
Jun closed his eyes and leaned his head on Nino's shoulder. He hummed happily and snuggled closer.
Sho, the most popular host at the club, tossed a packet of paracetamol down on the table. "Try and get a couple of these into him. Jun is grumpy enough in the morning as it is, without him having a hangover."
The other tenants of the building where Sho and Jun split the rent on a small two-bedroom apartment, considered themselves lucky to have the opportunity to ogle the roommates on a daily basis. Even when doing something as simple as collecting their mail, or putting the rubbish out for collection, they managed to look like a pair of idols who were slumming it in their down-market neighbourhood.
"Thanks." Nino popped two out of the foil package and pressed them into Jun's hand. He made sure that Jun swallowed them and said,"You three can go home now. The rest of the guys have already left, and I need all of you looking pretty tomorrow night, so make sure that you get your beauty sleep."
"Thanks. It's been a busy night and I'm exhausted. Fuma was really pushing those fifty-dollar flaming cocktails to his ladies tonight and they're a pain to mix." Aiba yawned and loosened his tie. "It’s raining hard out there. How about you pay for a taxi?"
"Taxi?!" Nino squeaked. "Do you think that I’m made of money?"
"In that case, I'm afraid that we will have to stay here until it stops raining." Sho lowered himself onto a bar stool and folded his arms across his chest.
Ohno walked around the bar and joined him. He pulled a handful of peanuts out of his pocket and chewed on them as he made himself comfortable.
"Great idea. We can sleep here and stay nice and dry," Aiba said happily. "We can stay up until dawn and tell ghost stories."
Jun stirred and looked up at Nino with a dreamy gaze and snuggled closer.
Nino immediately dragged his wallet out of his pocket and thrust a wad of notes into Sho’s hand. "Here. Don't forget to bring me the change tomorrow night."
Sho looked smug and slipped the money into his pocket. Nino's affection for Jun had been obvious for months, but Jun was a master at suppressing his emotions. Perhaps Jun’s inebriated state might change things. He was all for Nino spending some alone time with Jun, and if it meant extra money in his pocket, he was more than happy to help.
"Let's go, you two." Sho gathered up Aiba and Ohno and herded them across the floor of the empty club. He looked back at Nino and added, "Nino's buying us a late dinner as well as that taxi ride."
Nino gritted his teeth and nodded. There was plenty of time to get revenge on Sho at a later date.
Ohno let the door slam behind him, and the sudden noise startled Jun out of his stupor.
"Wh…where did everyone go?" Jun squinted at his watch and unsuccessfully attempted to stand. He landed back on the chair with a soft thwump. "Ooopsy. I think I had too much to drank…I mean drunk…um…drink. I should go home."
As Jun fumbled for his phone to call a taxi, Nino grabbed his hand and held it still. "Forget it, Jun. I'm not letting you go home alone in this state. I don't trust you to not set fire to yourself making a cup of tea or something."
"Awwww. You really do care about us slaves," Jun purred with a hint of drunken sarcasm.
"Pfft. If slavery did still exist, I might actually make a profit on this place." Nino tugged Jun to his feet and practically dragged him to an almost invisible door set in the wall next to the employee changing room.
"Wha...?" Jun blinked in confusion as he stumbled into what had obviously used to be a storeroom, but was now a small studio apartment "You live here? There aren't even any windows."
Nino pushed Jun down onto a scruffy armchair and went to brew some coffee. "That’s why it's perfect for me. Sunshine is definitely overrated, and why should I pay good money for an apartment to only spend a few hours there every day?"
As Jun attempted to wrap his alcohol-sodden brain around Nino’s reasoning, he discovered that the cupboard-sized studio apartment was actually very cosy. It also explained why none of the staff had ever seen Nino anywhere other than in this building.
The coffee cup was warm in Jun’s hands as Nino made sure that he had a good grip before letting go.
Nino squatted on the floor at Jun's feet and looked up at him. "Now is probably not the best time to ask, but why did you drink so much tonight with your client? You're usually more careful. If it wasn't for the fact that sometimes you can be a bit scary, you'd be the number one host at Love Situation instead of coming second to Sho."
"Scary?" Jun's eyebrows were hunched together threateningly.
Nino lightly touched the angry crease between Jun's brows with the tip of his finger. "Scary to everyone who doesn't know that deep down you're a marshmallow."
"It's not easy. Spending every evening with women. Pretending to be attracted to them. Pretending to be interested. Pretending that they mean more to me than a business arrangement. Pretending…always pretending." Jun swayed forward and slid out of the chair onto his knees so that his face almost touched Nino's. His breath was warm on Nino's face and his distress was palpable.
Without thinking, Nino reached out wrapped his arms around Jun's neck and pulled his head onto his shoulder. Jun's soft puffs of alcohol-scented breath tickled his skin and sent shivers of sensation down his spine.
*hiccup* Jun giggled tipsily and pressed his face against Nino's collarbone in an attempt to smother any further hiccups.
Nino knew that Jun wasn't sexually attracted to women. It had been clear from the first day that Jun had turned up at the club and asked for a job.
Jun wasn't the only employee of Nino's who felt that way. As long as his hosts made their guests happy and brought in enough income, their orientation outside of the premises was nobody's business.
They were selling a fantasy, and their female clients expected good company, a listening ear, and to be the centre of attention for as long as the very expensive bottles of champagne lasted. And Jun definitely excelled at making them feel special.
But if Nino had known that this job would cause Jun such pain, he would never have hired him. "Jun, would you like to swap to a job at my friend Toma-kun's cabaret club? It might be beneficial for you."
"Nooooooo!" Jun shook his head and nuzzled closer to Nino’s neck. "I love working at Love Situation. *hiccup* I get along with everyone, and the money is great," he said, but then added sadly, "It's just that spending time with those lonely women every night reminds me that I am just as lonely."
Nino threaded his fingers through Jun’s hair and tried to think of a way to remedy his sadness without kissing his tears away and earning himself a sexual harassment lawsuit. "You have me," he blurted, and then hastily added, "and Sho, Aiba, and Oh-chan of course."
"That's my problem. I don't want you as part of a group." Jun pulled away from Nino and when he looked at him, his eyes were huge and glassy. “I think… *hiccup*… I think I really… I really like you."
“Yeah?” Nino's attempt at a casual response failed miserably as the word came out in a high-pitched squeak.
“*hiccup* Yeah… like, a lot.” Jun’s fingers trembled slightly as he reached out and cupped Nino’s cheek.
Nino exhaled slowly and eventually admitted, "I might like you a lot too."
A huge goofy grin spread across Jun's face. He moved his hand to Nino’s nape and caught hold of a handful of his dark hair. "Y-you dooo?"
A flush spread across Nino's cheeks and his ears turned red. Jun’s fingers were warm and strong and somehow made him tingle all over. For once he was speechless, and all he could do was nod weakly and clutch at the front of Jun’s shirt.
Jun giggled and darted forward and kissed Nino lightly on the lips.
Nino couldn't resist returning the kiss, and this time things quickly became serious. Jun’s lips were warm and soft. They parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside. To Nino, Jun tasted of wine, and Jun.
There were so many times that Nino had imagined this happening, but in none of those scenarios had Jun been drunk. He somehow managed to break the kiss and pulled away far enough to look Jun in the eyes. "Jun, we need to stop. I don't want to take advantage of you."
"Advantage of me? How?" Jun blinked slowly and bit his bottom lip.
Ignoring an insistent stirring in his lower half, Nino dragged his eyes away from Jun’s mouth and cleared his throat. "*ahem* You've had too much to drink. Your judgement is probably impaired."
"So you think that someone could only like you because they're drunk?" Jun sat back in the scruffy armchair and dragged Nino up with him onto his lap. "Do you think so little of yourself? You're handsome, smart, and kind, even though you try very hard to pretend that you aren't any of those things."
"Wait a minute." Nino narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why don't you sound drunk?"
"Because I'm not," Jun confessed without a hint of shame. "It was Aiba-chan's idea. He and Ohno-san were serving me non-alcoholic wine all night. And why? Because everyone, including Sho, was sick of us pining for each other but being too afraid to admit it. They persuaded me to go along with their scheme and I'm so glad that I did. I hope you aren't angry at them or me."
"Angry, at such a master-stroke? I never knew that they were such a bunch of evil geniuses. I might even consider giving them a raise."
Jun raised an eyebrow. "A raise? Really?"
"Well…no," Nino admitted. "But I might consider reducing the money that Aiba and Ohno owe the club for broken glasses."
"Why did I choose to fall for such a stingy guy?" Jun complained.
"Because I'm charming," Nino replied with a smirk. "And according to at least one reliable source, I'm handsome too, and smart."
"I'm going to kiss you now, mostly because I like you, but also to shut you up," Jun laughed and proceeded to do precisely that for quite a long time.
Pairings: Matsumiya
Genres: Host AU, mutual pining
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Developing feelings for someone you work with is a potential minefield, even more so when they are your employee. Nino likes Jun but can never seem to find a way to tell him. When Jun has too much to drink one night, Nino's opportunity might have finally arrived.
"Where is he?"
The bartender pointed to a table in a dark corner right at the back of the club.
Nino gave him a nod and headed over to where a well-dressed handsome man sagged in his seat with his head resting on the table.
"Jun, if your boss wasn't such a nice guy you'd be out of a job by now. You're paid to get the ladies drunk, not yourself." Nino checked the chair for spilled drinks before taking a seat at the table.
Jun raised his head slightly and squinted up at Nino. "But, you're my boss, and you're not nice."
The bartender unsuccessfully tried to smother a snicker. Nino's head whipped around in his direction. "Aiba-chan, don't you have some glasses to polish or something?"
"Nope. They look perfectly shiny from here." Aiba blinked innocently.
Ohno, the other barman joined Aiba and leaned his elbows on the bar as he watched Jun and Nino with interest.
Nino chose to ignore them and went back to raising Jun’s head up off the sticky surface of the table. After a bit of tugging, he finally succeeded in prying off a drink coaster that had become stuck to Jun’s cheek and wiped the red wine dregs off his face with a paper napkin.
Jun closed his eyes and leaned his head on Nino's shoulder. He hummed happily and snuggled closer.
Sho, the most popular host at the club, tossed a packet of paracetamol down on the table. "Try and get a couple of these into him. Jun is grumpy enough in the morning as it is, without him having a hangover."
The other tenants of the building where Sho and Jun split the rent on a small two-bedroom apartment, considered themselves lucky to have the opportunity to ogle the roommates on a daily basis. Even when doing something as simple as collecting their mail, or putting the rubbish out for collection, they managed to look like a pair of idols who were slumming it in their down-market neighbourhood.
"Thanks." Nino popped two out of the foil package and pressed them into Jun's hand. He made sure that Jun swallowed them and said,"You three can go home now. The rest of the guys have already left, and I need all of you looking pretty tomorrow night, so make sure that you get your beauty sleep."
"Thanks. It's been a busy night and I'm exhausted. Fuma was really pushing those fifty-dollar flaming cocktails to his ladies tonight and they're a pain to mix." Aiba yawned and loosened his tie. "It’s raining hard out there. How about you pay for a taxi?"
"Taxi?!" Nino squeaked. "Do you think that I’m made of money?"
"In that case, I'm afraid that we will have to stay here until it stops raining." Sho lowered himself onto a bar stool and folded his arms across his chest.
Ohno walked around the bar and joined him. He pulled a handful of peanuts out of his pocket and chewed on them as he made himself comfortable.
"Great idea. We can sleep here and stay nice and dry," Aiba said happily. "We can stay up until dawn and tell ghost stories."
Jun stirred and looked up at Nino with a dreamy gaze and snuggled closer.
Nino immediately dragged his wallet out of his pocket and thrust a wad of notes into Sho’s hand. "Here. Don't forget to bring me the change tomorrow night."
Sho looked smug and slipped the money into his pocket. Nino's affection for Jun had been obvious for months, but Jun was a master at suppressing his emotions. Perhaps Jun’s inebriated state might change things. He was all for Nino spending some alone time with Jun, and if it meant extra money in his pocket, he was more than happy to help.
"Let's go, you two." Sho gathered up Aiba and Ohno and herded them across the floor of the empty club. He looked back at Nino and added, "Nino's buying us a late dinner as well as that taxi ride."
Nino gritted his teeth and nodded. There was plenty of time to get revenge on Sho at a later date.
Ohno let the door slam behind him, and the sudden noise startled Jun out of his stupor.
"Wh…where did everyone go?" Jun squinted at his watch and unsuccessfully attempted to stand. He landed back on the chair with a soft thwump. "Ooopsy. I think I had too much to drank…I mean drunk…um…drink. I should go home."
As Jun fumbled for his phone to call a taxi, Nino grabbed his hand and held it still. "Forget it, Jun. I'm not letting you go home alone in this state. I don't trust you to not set fire to yourself making a cup of tea or something."
"Awwww. You really do care about us slaves," Jun purred with a hint of drunken sarcasm.
"Pfft. If slavery did still exist, I might actually make a profit on this place." Nino tugged Jun to his feet and practically dragged him to an almost invisible door set in the wall next to the employee changing room.
"Wha...?" Jun blinked in confusion as he stumbled into what had obviously used to be a storeroom, but was now a small studio apartment "You live here? There aren't even any windows."
Nino pushed Jun down onto a scruffy armchair and went to brew some coffee. "That’s why it's perfect for me. Sunshine is definitely overrated, and why should I pay good money for an apartment to only spend a few hours there every day?"
As Jun attempted to wrap his alcohol-sodden brain around Nino’s reasoning, he discovered that the cupboard-sized studio apartment was actually very cosy. It also explained why none of the staff had ever seen Nino anywhere other than in this building.
The coffee cup was warm in Jun’s hands as Nino made sure that he had a good grip before letting go.
Nino squatted on the floor at Jun's feet and looked up at him. "Now is probably not the best time to ask, but why did you drink so much tonight with your client? You're usually more careful. If it wasn't for the fact that sometimes you can be a bit scary, you'd be the number one host at Love Situation instead of coming second to Sho."
"Scary?" Jun's eyebrows were hunched together threateningly.
Nino lightly touched the angry crease between Jun's brows with the tip of his finger. "Scary to everyone who doesn't know that deep down you're a marshmallow."
"It's not easy. Spending every evening with women. Pretending to be attracted to them. Pretending to be interested. Pretending that they mean more to me than a business arrangement. Pretending…always pretending." Jun swayed forward and slid out of the chair onto his knees so that his face almost touched Nino's. His breath was warm on Nino's face and his distress was palpable.
Without thinking, Nino reached out wrapped his arms around Jun's neck and pulled his head onto his shoulder. Jun's soft puffs of alcohol-scented breath tickled his skin and sent shivers of sensation down his spine.
*hiccup* Jun giggled tipsily and pressed his face against Nino's collarbone in an attempt to smother any further hiccups.
Nino knew that Jun wasn't sexually attracted to women. It had been clear from the first day that Jun had turned up at the club and asked for a job.
Jun wasn't the only employee of Nino's who felt that way. As long as his hosts made their guests happy and brought in enough income, their orientation outside of the premises was nobody's business.
They were selling a fantasy, and their female clients expected good company, a listening ear, and to be the centre of attention for as long as the very expensive bottles of champagne lasted. And Jun definitely excelled at making them feel special.
But if Nino had known that this job would cause Jun such pain, he would never have hired him. "Jun, would you like to swap to a job at my friend Toma-kun's cabaret club? It might be beneficial for you."
"Nooooooo!" Jun shook his head and nuzzled closer to Nino’s neck. "I love working at Love Situation. *hiccup* I get along with everyone, and the money is great," he said, but then added sadly, "It's just that spending time with those lonely women every night reminds me that I am just as lonely."
Nino threaded his fingers through Jun’s hair and tried to think of a way to remedy his sadness without kissing his tears away and earning himself a sexual harassment lawsuit. "You have me," he blurted, and then hastily added, "and Sho, Aiba, and Oh-chan of course."
"That's my problem. I don't want you as part of a group." Jun pulled away from Nino and when he looked at him, his eyes were huge and glassy. “I think… *hiccup*… I think I really… I really like you."
“Yeah?” Nino's attempt at a casual response failed miserably as the word came out in a high-pitched squeak.
“*hiccup* Yeah… like, a lot.” Jun’s fingers trembled slightly as he reached out and cupped Nino’s cheek.
Nino exhaled slowly and eventually admitted, "I might like you a lot too."
A huge goofy grin spread across Jun's face. He moved his hand to Nino’s nape and caught hold of a handful of his dark hair. "Y-you dooo?"
A flush spread across Nino's cheeks and his ears turned red. Jun’s fingers were warm and strong and somehow made him tingle all over. For once he was speechless, and all he could do was nod weakly and clutch at the front of Jun’s shirt.
Jun giggled and darted forward and kissed Nino lightly on the lips.
Nino couldn't resist returning the kiss, and this time things quickly became serious. Jun’s lips were warm and soft. They parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside. To Nino, Jun tasted of wine, and Jun.
There were so many times that Nino had imagined this happening, but in none of those scenarios had Jun been drunk. He somehow managed to break the kiss and pulled away far enough to look Jun in the eyes. "Jun, we need to stop. I don't want to take advantage of you."
"Advantage of me? How?" Jun blinked slowly and bit his bottom lip.
Ignoring an insistent stirring in his lower half, Nino dragged his eyes away from Jun’s mouth and cleared his throat. "*ahem* You've had too much to drink. Your judgement is probably impaired."
"So you think that someone could only like you because they're drunk?" Jun sat back in the scruffy armchair and dragged Nino up with him onto his lap. "Do you think so little of yourself? You're handsome, smart, and kind, even though you try very hard to pretend that you aren't any of those things."
"Wait a minute." Nino narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why don't you sound drunk?"
"Because I'm not," Jun confessed without a hint of shame. "It was Aiba-chan's idea. He and Ohno-san were serving me non-alcoholic wine all night. And why? Because everyone, including Sho, was sick of us pining for each other but being too afraid to admit it. They persuaded me to go along with their scheme and I'm so glad that I did. I hope you aren't angry at them or me."
"Angry, at such a master-stroke? I never knew that they were such a bunch of evil geniuses. I might even consider giving them a raise."
Jun raised an eyebrow. "A raise? Really?"
"Well…no," Nino admitted. "But I might consider reducing the money that Aiba and Ohno owe the club for broken glasses."
"Why did I choose to fall for such a stingy guy?" Jun complained.
"Because I'm charming," Nino replied with a smirk. "And according to at least one reliable source, I'm handsome too, and smart."
"I'm going to kiss you now, mostly because I like you, but also to shut you up," Jun laughed and proceeded to do precisely that for quite a long time.
