The Universe Makes Mistakes Sometimes - Replay

Yuta and Sicheng (4)

"So...err...I guess if you live at Icyda Vision Crescent, I guess this looks more like a hut to you, but it's home," Yuta smiles sheepishly, unlocking the door to his house.

Yuta didn't want to admit it, but he was worried about how Sicheng would react to seeing where he lived. Ever since he was younger, he'd been the kid who didn't have the newest Hot Wheels set, the kid who's mom couldn't pay for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles backpack, the kid who's trainers were nearer to rags then footwear, only held together by some super glue and a few clumsy stitches. When he'd joined NCT U, he'd made sure that he wasn't bullied for his wealth (or lack of it) ever again. His rusty Ford Fiesta? It was vintage. His lack of designer brands? Oh honey, he was just wearing what was in. His crusty old phone, his three-year-old trainers, his second-hand leather jacket? Who the fuck cared, he was Nakamoto fucking Yuta. He didn't care what people thought of him. But still, he couldn't help but hold his breath and Sicheng took in the narrow hallway around him.

Sicheng reaches up to a photo frame on the wall. In it was a picture of Yuta, six or seven years old, holding onto a triple-scoop ice cream almost as big as his face, a dollop of the creamy desert on the top of his nose. His mother was holding onto him, holding him into the cloudless blue sky as if he were flying. Sicheng couldn't help but smile.

"What do you mean a hut? This place is amazing!"

Yuta felt his heart begin to heat. It wasn't one of those moments when an aunt, or a neighbour, or a friend came over, telling them that 'no, I don't think your house is shabby, I really like what you've done with the place, actually' just to be polite. No, Yuta could tell that when Sicheng said those words, he genuinely meant them.

"So...err...you hungry?" The elder asked.

Sicheng shook his head. Yuta was one of those people that made you feel calm and welcome at any time, but Sicheng's overwhelming crush on the guy prevented him from getting to comfortable; he felt that if he were to eat anything, he would throw up.

"Thank you, but I ate before the party."

"Cool. I guess I should go get you some clothes then, huh?" Yuta grinned, hopping up the creaky flight of stairs two stairs at a time. He threw open the door to his bedroom, kicking a heap of second-hand clothes out of the doorway.

"Yeah, it's kind've messy...I don't usually have anyone over," he murmured, rubbing the back of his neck.

He strode over to a chest of drawers, pulling out an oversized graphic tee and tossing it over into Sicheng's hands.

"I'll just be down stairs. You can change in here or he bathroom and then just...come down I guess," Yuta shrugged. He left the room, bounding back down the rickety steps.

~~~

Sicheng took a deep breath as he looked around his crush's room. Anime posters lined the walls, a guitar rested against the chest of drawers, a wardrobe stood next to the window looking out onto the street, and a single bed took up most of the room. It was a lot smaller than Sicheng's room, it wasn't an en suite, and there was nothing but a flickering bulb to light up the small space, but Sicheng couldn't help but feel envious of Yuta. He'd made the space his own...not that Sicheng had expected Yuta to have half a dozen anime posters...but still, it suited him.

Sicheng pulled off his clothes, folding them into a clumsy pile...his maids usually did this for him...before realising that Yuta hadn't given him any pants. There were two options: Sicheng could either sleep in these super tight leather pants, or he could just sleep in his briefs. He opted for the latter, most guys slept in their briefs, right, no biggy. Heck, most guys slept naked...

An image of Yuta sleeping naked crept forward from the depths of Sicheng's brain. He forced the image out, slapping his face to keep his body under control.

Not now, not now, not now...

He shook his head, running a hand through his hair.

It's just one night, you got this.

~~~

Yuta pressed a button on the answering machine of the phone in the hallway, listening to everything that was said. There were the usually voicemails, his grandmother needing help with her TV again, his aunt checking up on them (the same aunt who's slept with Yuta's dad, causing his parents to divorce...he deleted the message) and then finally, a message from his mom from her workplace.

"Yuta, sweetie, I'm gonna be a little late tonight. Try to eat at the party, I wasn't able to go grocery shopping...they said all the pay checks were gonna be handed out a little later this week, but I promise as soon as I get paid, I'll buy the ingredients for those pancakes you love and we'll make them together, okay, honey? Oh, and we're gonna have to take the TV to the pawn shop this weekend. I'm really sorry, sweetie, but there're bills that are due and I just don't have enough money to pay for them...I dunno, maybe I need to work more shifts or...or something. I wish there was something else we could pawn, but we already pawned your grandmother's antique table and that fancy mirror...there's just nothing else left that's worth anything. But I promise you that one day we'll buy an even better one, okay? How about a forty-inch, how does that sound, honey? Okay, well I've gotta go now. Don't wait up for me. Night, sweetie!"

Yuta swore and slammed his fist into the wall.

That TV. That damned TV. It was the only thing his father had left behind...not that he wanted any connection with that cheating scumbag. But still...

Suddenly, the floor freaked behind Yuta and he spun around to face Sicheng. Instantly, a look of guilt fell over Sicheng's face and the younger waved his hands in front of him, trying to explain the situation.

"I-I wasn't eavesdropping...I was just coming d-down the stairs and...I swear I didn't..."

"Forget it," sighed Yuta. Great, he'd go to school on Monday and the everybody would now about how he and his mom had to pawn their things left right and centre, about how his mom took double shifts and worked until the asscrack of dawn. Then again, looking at Sicheng, he didn't seem like the type to...

And that's when Yuta noticed. Sicheng was standing in the middle of his doorway, wearing nothing but his briefs and a graphic tee...Yuta graphic tee. It was an oversized shirt on Yuta, but it absolutely swallowed Sicheng up. One side of it hung loosely off his shoulder, showing his honey-coloured skin and his milky collarbones...

Yuta gulped.

Maybe this night wasn't going to be as easy as he'd first thought...

~~~

I'm really tired, so I'll just publish this and go to sleep, but in a couple days, I'll publish the second part of this Yuwin scene 😏😏😏