The nightclub was alive with a vibrant energy that practically pulsed through the air, a symphony of chaos and exhilaration that engulfed everyone who walked through its doors. The bass thumped like a second heartbeat, resonating in the walls, the floors, and even in the drinks that sloshed in their glasses. Overhead, multicolored lights swung wildly, painting the crowd in shifting hues of electric blue, fiery red, and molten gold. Smoke machines hissed intermittently, adding a hazy mystique to the already intoxicating atmosphere, while the sharp, metallic tang of sweat and spilled alcohol filled the air.
People packed the dance floor, their bodies pressed together in a mass of swaying hips and flailing arms. Laughter and shouting cut through the music, though no one could make out actual words—everything was just noise, vibrant, reckless noise. At the bar, drinks flowed freely as bartenders flung bottles into the air with practiced ease, their movements as fluid as the liquor they poured into glasses. A group of women leaned over the counter, shrieking with laughter, while a cluster of men in the corner puffed on cigars, their faces lit by the glow of their phones as they took selfies.
Eun-jae, perched casually on a barstool with one elbow resting on the counter, was already five shots deep into his night. He'd gone through two Dragon's Fire shots, a Neon Blaze, and something the bartender had called a Liquid Inferno, which was basically just vodka disguised with a splash of citrus. The fifth shot was an emerald-green concoction that had gone down smoother than he expected but left a pleasant warmth curling in his chest. His head felt delightfully fuzzy, the edges of his vision softening as the alcohol worked its way through his system.
"This place is jamming," Eun-jae muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning the crowd. His words were slightly slurred, but his tone was still sharp, layered with the kind of sass that suggested he thought the entire thing was vaguely amusing.
"You actually came," Tae said, appearing beside him with a wide grin and a glass of whiskey in hand. He was dressed in a fitted black blazer and an open-collared shirt, looking every bit like the life of the party he clearly intended to be.
Eun-jae glanced at him with a raised brow, swirling the remnants of his drink in the glass. "Hmmm, yes," he drawled lazily. "Clearly, I had nothing better to do tonight than come to this loud, sweaty mess of a nightclub. Truly, what a treat."
Tae laughed, unbothered by Eun-jae's sarcasm. "You love it here. Admit it."
Eun-jae smirked but said nothing, tipping back his glass to finish the last of his drink.
"Care for a dance?" Tae asked, already moving to the beat of the music as he gestured toward the crowded dance floor.
"Absolutely not," Eun-jae replied flatly, setting his empty glass on the counter with a satisfying clink.
"Come on, live a little!" Tae insisted, grabbing Eun-jae's wrist before he could protest further. The next thing Eun-jae knew, he was being dragged toward the chaos of the dance floor, his boots scuffing against the sticky tiles as he stumbled slightly.
"I didn't agree to this!" Eun-jae shouted over the music, though his voice lacked any real venom.
"Doesn't matter!" Tae shot back with a grin, already starting to move to the beat.
Eun-jae swayed halfheartedly, his movements more of a token effort than anything else. He was just about to tell Tae that he'd had enough when a familiar figure caught his eye across the room.
There, standing near the bar with his arms crossed and his usual scowl firmly in place, was Caesar. He was dressed casually for once, in a black t-shirt that clung to his broad shoulders and dark jeans that made his legs look impossibly long. His sharp jaw was set, and his piercing eyes were locked onto Eun-jae and Tae, his expression unreadable but intense.
Oh, this is going to be fun, Eun-jae thought with a smirk, his buzzed brain immediately zeroing in on Caesar's reaction. He leaned closer to Tae, deliberately exaggerating his movements as he swayed to the beat.
It took less than a minute for Caesar to push off the wall and start making his way toward them, his strides purposeful and his eyes never leaving Eun-jae.
"Uh-oh," Eun-jae muttered under his breath, biting back a grin. Is that jealousy I see?
Before he could say anything, Caesar was there, and without a word, he grabbed Eun-jae by the wrist and pulled him away from Tae.
"Oh?" Eun-jae said, his voice dripping with mock surprise as he stumbled into Caesar's chest. He looked up at the taller man with wide, innocent eyes, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his amusement. "What's this about?"
Caesar's jaw tightened. "I don't like seeing you around him," he said, his tone calm but firm.
Eun-jae's smirk widened. "Ohhh, I see how it is," he teased, leaning into Caesar with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Is my boyfriend jealous?" He deliberately dragged out the word "boyfriend," his voice dripping with playful sass.
"It's not jealousy," Caesar replied, though the faint flush creeping up his neck suggested otherwise.
"Mmm, suuuure," Eun-jae drawled, his alcohol-fueled boldness kicking into high gear. Without warning, he grabbed Caesar's face with both hands and pulled him into a kiss—hot, messy, and unapologetically intense.
Caesar froze for half a second before his instincts took over, his hands gripping Eun-jae's waist as he kissed him back with equal fervor. The world around them seemed to fade, the music and the crowd nothing more than background noise.
Eun-jae pulled back first, his lips curling into a satisfied grin as he licked his bottom lip. "Hmm, not bad, skyscraper," he muttered, his tone as sassy as ever.
Before Caesar could respond, Eun-jae's attention was suddenly caught by the music. His eyes lit up, and he gasped dramatically. "OH, THAT'S MY SONG!" he shouted, practically bouncing on his heels.
"EUN-JAE!" Caesar called, but it was too late. Eun-jae was already halfway to the stage, his movements fueled by a dangerous combination of alcohol and sheer confidence.
And then, to Caesar's utter horror, Eun-jae climbed onto the stage and grabbed the pole.
The crowd went wild.
Eun-jae moved like he owned the stage, spinning around the pole with surprising grace before arching his back and swaying his hips to the beat. His movements were exaggerated just enough to keep the crowd entertained, but there was an undeniable sensuality to them that left jaws dropping and bills raining onto the stage.
"Oh my god, he's really doing this," Caesar muttered under his breath, running a hand through his hair.
On the stage, Eun-jae crawled forward on all fours, his eyes locking onto a woman in the front row. With a wink, he leaned down and picked up a bill with his mouth, earning an even louder cheer from the crowd.
"Are you sure this isn't a side job Helix does?" one agent asked another, both of them nursing drinks at the bar.
"No way," the other agent replied, though his expression suggested he wasn't entirely sure.
Caesar finally reached the stage, his face a mix of frustration and embarrassment. "Eun-jae! Get down from there!" he barked, but Eun-jae was too lost in his performance to notice—or maybe he just didn't care.
When Eun-jae finally slid down the pole, striking a dramatic pose to end his routine, the crowd erupted into applause. He grinned, sweat glistening on his skin as he looked down at Caesar, who was now standing at the edge of the stage with his arms crossed and an unamused expression.
Eun-jae jumped down, stumbling slightly before catching himself. "What's the matter, babe?" he said, his tone teasing as he wrapped an arm around Caesar's shoulder. "Jealous of all my fans?"
Caesar groaned, running a hand down his face. "You're impossible," he muttered, but his arm instinctively wrapped around Eun-jae's waist, steadying him.
Eun-jae chuckled, resting his head against Caesar's shoulder as they walked toward the exit. "Admit it, though," he slurred, his voice muffled. "You loved it."
Caesar sighed, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite himself. "This idiot's going to be the death of me."