MC stood in front of the apartment door, fingers wrapped in a fist, millimeters away from the door. He was still confused about why V had called on him, but he wasn't about to turn him out. V had always been serenely sweet to MC, even when he himself was suffering under the loss of Jumin.

Licking his chapped lips, MC knocked lightly on the door, nervous. A muffled voice from inside, "Just a minute!" MC nodded to himself, smoothing out his long-sleeved tee. He wore black joggers as well, paired with converse. The door opened after several seconds, and a bright-eyed V met MC's eyes.

Several inches taller than the freshman and with stunning teal hair, V's presence was loud and bright. The only deceiving aspect were the heavy bags beneath his eyes. MC felt a twinge of empathy.

"MC! I'm glad you're here. Come in, come in." V ushered MC into the apartment, and MC was acutely aware of his friend's hand on the small of his back. His hands sweat up for no reason. Flicking his hair out of his eyes, he surveyed the apartment.

It was obvious that V had been cleaning- he spotted windex on the counter and balled up paper towels in the trash. He wasn't judging or anything, but he found it odd. MC didn't expect special treatment, but he felt nice that V had done this for him.

MC noticed a bottle of red wine on the counter and he turned to V in surprise, "That looks expensive," he commented, hitting V playfully on the arm as he walked to the bar counter.

V smiled ruefully, rubbing his arm, which hurt more than it should've. He poured the both of them a glass of red wine, then tied on his apron and began chopping vegetables for dinner. They chatter casually, and soon MC forgot his previous anxiety and relaxed into the gentle jazz V had put on over his sound system.

When there was comfortable silence, MC admired V's form over the top of his wine glass, smiling to himself. Tall and lanky, MC would've thought that V would be clumsy, but as always, the teal-haired young man would always surprise him. V hummed along to the jazz as he chopped onions without batting an eye, tossed vegetables in a cast iron pan, and fried tofu.

Besides how lovely V looked as he whisked around the kitchen, the food smelled delicious, and MC found himself forgetting about his priorities, like how he had class tomorrow and how V's best friend had died and how Rika wasn't doing well herself.

MC got up from his stool and walked to the pictures in frames along the walls, looking over the familiar faces. He saw himself a few times with the rest of the group, grinning happily, usually sandwiched between Zen and Saeran. V looked over and saw MC floating around the pictures, so he walked over and pointed to one on MC's right. "That's my favorite," he commented wistfully.

It was a picture of the whole group at Saeran and Saeyoung's graduation. The twins were in the middle, Saeran smiling genuinely for once, and everyone else was crowded around them, wearing button-downs and sundresses. MC was right next to Saeran, one arm around his shoulders, looking up at V, who was on his other side. Jumin was in the picture as well, dressed down out of his ever-present tux, and instead in a striped dress shirt, hair tousled, looking happier than usual.

"Enough memories," V said sadly, and gestured for MC to sit down again. A few minutes later, V served MC dinner, stir fry with peanut sauce, and they ate out on V's porch, watching the sun disappear below the tree line. V talked about how his photography was going and how he wanted to travel, watching in satisfaction as MC clung to his words.

Once the sun had sunken and the night became colder, the two headed inside. MC offered to do the dishes, but halfway through the chore, V turned up the jazz music and turned off the sink, spinning MC and taking his hands to dance slowly around the kitchen.

When they were this close, MC realized just how much taller V was than him, and he found comfort in the fact that he could easily rest his head against V's chest, breathing in the scent of his minty cologne, forgetting about everything- his priorities and so on- in his wine-fogged mind. All he knew was that V smelled good and he was lonely and he didn't care that V could be dark and humorless because he could also be bright, light-hearted.

The song slowed to a deeper beat, building up for the finale and V gradually stopped swaying, merely standing, holding MC's hand, his other on MC's waist. He bit his lip, the brunette's hair tickling his chin, and made a decision then and there.

If he wasn't going to do this now, he wasn't going to be able to do it ever again, he'd never have the courage or passive mind.

Here he had MC, alone, drunk on wine, cradled in his arms, fragile.

So V slowly spun MC towards the wall and pushed him softly against it, heart thumping. He masked his face with confidence and lowered his lids, looking down at the freshman suggestively. MC finally understood.

"Are you crazy?" he asked, weakly pushing at V's chest. Blush was fanned across his cheeks, and he swallowed hard as V's dark eyes descended down on him. His presence was heavy and warm, like slipping into bath water thick with foam.

V's face was so close that his features blurred in MC's eyes and MC felt long fingers pressed to the side of his waist. His back arched, and V swooped down to his lips.

"Undoubtedly".

MC's lips were soft and small, and V pulled him closer and closer, fireworks exploding beyond his eyelids as the jazz music washed over his senses.

MC himself was confused, but melting for V regardless, and he pressed his palms on the sides of V's jaw, trying his best to not concentrate on the fact that Jumin was dead and V was dating Rika. He tried to lose himself in the way that V's hands were soft on his hips and he tasted like wine, and eventually his mind gave up and his heart took over.

Seconds later, V pulled back, and MC looked away, embarrassed. Maybe he wasn't a good kisser. V smiled kindly, "Don't worry," he whispered, "but Rika's coming home soon. You'd better go." MC flushed, nervous all over again. V slowly led him to the door, keeping one hand around the brunette's waist, and handed him a bag.

"A gift. For you. Don't open it until you get home. Also, call a taxi- you shouldn't be driving. You can keep your car in the lot for tonight and pick it up tomorrow." MC nodded dumbly, lost in V's bright eyes. V opened the door, kissed MC lightly on the forehead, and then watched him walk away, steps shaky.

Closing the door, V sighed, smiling to himself. He had MC under his spell, exactly where he wanted him. Rika would never know.

...

After cleaning up, finishing washing the dishes from dinner and all, V was getting ready for bed. Just as he expected, Rika had come home 10 minutes after MC had left, just long enough for V to clean up all the "evidence". She looked as tired and beautiful as always, and had given V an unexpectedly loving hug hello, not that V was complaining.

"I miss you when I'm gone," Rika had said sadly, and V had stroked her long hair, nodding. Now, Rika was asleep in their bed and V was in the bathroom, getting ready too. He was tired and groggy and stiff, for some reason. Pulling off his shirt, V walked into the bathroom.

Looking in the mirror, he froze. He lowered his gaze to his torso to confirm what he saw. Bruises. MC's hands were printed in blue bruises all along V's arms and shoulders, and two were beginning to frame his jaw. V sighed, frustrated. This wasn't too much of a surprise after everyone started coughing up flowers, he guessed. Why wouldn't he have an anomaly as well?

Resigned, he pulled a bottle of Rika's concealer, a special kind, meant for covering tattoos, out of her makeup bag. Rika and he had gotten matching sun and moon tattoos when they were 18, and she used the thick concealer to cover it up sometimes. It didn't quite match his skin tone, but it would have to do until he could go to the convenience store to buy the proper shade.

He could wear long pajamas that night so Rika wouldn't see the marks on his torso and arms, but he'd have to wear the concealer on his jawline, where his clothes wouldn't cover.

V mused over the situation in his head. So he was using MC, but for the price that every time MC touched him, a bruise would appear. He guessed that wasn't so bad. He certainly wouldn't die from some light bruising, unlike Regressive Floral Asphyxiation, but it would hurt a bit.

Was it worth it though?

V smirked.

Definitely.

...

MC stared at V's gift, confused. Smooth, thin white fabric fell over his fingers as he lifted it from the bag. It was the morning after V and his dinner together, and he'd been too tired and slightly drunk to open the gift when he got back to his dorm, and instead he'd fallen asleep without even changing into sweatpants.

The fabric MC held unfolded and revealed itself as a simple white dress, v-neck, held by straps and with a cinched waist. Confused, MC thought perhaps V had meant it for a Rika, so he pulled out his phone and called V. He picked up on the second ring.

"Good morning, MC," V said smoothly, "Did you sleep well?" MC could hear the cool smirk on his lips.

"Yes, thanks. You?"

"Better than I have in a while, to be honest."

MC ran his hand over the fabric of the dress as he spoke, "V, are you sure you gave me the right gift? I mean, it's gorgeous but..."

V chuckled, "Yes, I'm sure. I know, cross-dressing is usually frowned upon, but I saw it and I thought of you. Do you like it?"

MC's eyes were wide, "I love it. Thank you so much."

"Good to hear. Will you wear it tonight? I want you to come over for drinks."

"Didn't I just come over for drinks yesterday?" He teased, smiling.

"Well, I mean, if you don't want to..."

MC panicked, "Yes! Yes, of course I want to." V laughed. "But, I'm worried. V... about last night..."

"You're worried about Rika," V guessed. "Don't worry about it. I'll figure it out. In the meantime, go to class, do your work. Come over at 8?"

MC smiled shyly, "I'll be there," he said quietly. "Bye~"

...

"Dinner, huh?" A voice came from behind V as he hung up the phone.

"Hello, Saeran," V said without turning. He was at the Chois' house, and had been foolish to think that one of the brothers wouldn't listen in to his phone call.

Saeran stormed forward, seething. "What are you doing, V? What's your plan? You know it's wrong. Flirting with him was pushing it, but this is way over the line. You have a girlfriend! What about Rika! If she finds out, I don't even know what'll happen, but I sure as hell know it won't be fucking good."

V stood from the computer chair, pushing his phone into his back pocket. He took pleasure in the fact that he was taller than Saeran, if only by an inch or two.

"You don't have feelings for him yourself, do you, Saeran? Because you sure as hell missed that chance," V spat.

Saeran stepped back, hurt. "I know I messed up. But that doesn't give you the right to swoop in and use him."

"As if you haven't?" V asked incredulously. "You've lied to him for over a year, Saeran. You have no right to lecture me on how to treat MC when you're the one who's been keeping things from him. Don't pretend to be the good guy."

"I won't pretend to be good, but at least I have the decency to protect him," Saeran jutted out his chin defiantly.

"Protect him? From what? Himself? For your information, I plan on telling him the truth, it's more than you ever did." V knew he'd hit a weak spot. He sneered maliciously and decided to push it. "What kind of best friend are you to keep such a big secret?"

"You wouldn't," Saeran said dangerously, "You don't have the right to tell him."

"I would. And I will. And then he'll probably hate you, but that's not my problem."

Saeran paused, looking down at his shoes. "I need to tell him myself," he managed to sputter.

V flicked his hair out of his eyes and turned around, walking towards the stairs out of the basement. "Then do it before 8. I'm having him over for drinks."