"Eh..... What?"

Nathaniel inhales deeply.

"I said.... Stop wearing that strawberry briefs around the house."

"Huh? Why?"

"It's fine if you want to wear it, but put on proper pants as well."

"But then you won't be able to see the strawberry."

"I don't even want to see it!"

"Eh, c'mon. Don't say that. It's really cute, look."

The way Xavier jiggles his hips to show the said strawberry print on his briefs forced Nathaniel to look at him in disgust. He really doesn't care about what he wears beneath, but since Xavier will not properly dress if he wears strawberry pattern underwear is bugging him to no end. The reason is not just the bulge bare to Nathaniel's eyes, but also....

"Just.... Don't."

"It's cute, though."

"It's not, alright? Especially if you run around the house wearing only briefs. You're an adult, gosh."

"So what? Even an adult needs to relieve."

"Don't say something vague like that."

"Eheu~ Like what?"

Knowing he fell to the trap doesn't make Nathaniel happy. He ended up really smacks Xavier's face as he came closer, leave him alone in the living room as he rushed back to his own bedroom with much annoyance. He sighs in frustration as the door closed, dropped himself on the bed while mumbling something incoherent.

Alright, he too had a thing or two he is so obsessed with, but he still tries to keep it minimum around others, since he doesn't want to make them uncomfortable. Xavier on the other hand, always showing many embarrassing sides of him proudly. It's cute at first, but witnessing a grown man wearing nothing but strawberry pattern briefs so early in the morning is not something he wants to see.

Tired with the absurdity he has been witnessing for days, adds his own work which keeps piling up, the fatigue fast putting him to sleep.

~~~~~

Xavier is in the middle of writing his report, humming following the song playing through the speaking, all still wearing only the strawberry briefs Nathaniel complained about. He paid no mind of his surrounding, focus on the monitor while his fingers awkwardly typing on the keyboard. He really wants to have Nathaniel's speed at times like this, so he can finish his report quickly and got more time to laze around.

And since he wasn't paying attention, the loud slam from Nathaniel's room surprised him so much he almost jump from his seat.

Nathaniel is standing by the door. His disheveled hair and no glasses on shows he just has woken up from slumber. The way he stares at Xavier with frightened eyes, however, puts Xavier into alarmed. Not to mention, Nathaniel's breath is heavy and running.

"What? What happened?"

"You...."

Nathaniel's gaze shifts lower to Xavier's briefs. Upon seeing it, Nathaniel suddenly freaks out and back out to his room, slams the door closed hard like he just saw a ghost. Xavier blinks, now staring at his own briefs, then to the closed door, with so many questions inside his head.

What happened to Nathaniel?

"Nate, you okay?"

Xavier knocks, but can only hear strange whines from within. He couldn't tell if Nathaniel is trying to tell me something, or just plain in pain or what, so he barges in without giving further notice. Seeing Nathaniel curling on his bed at this situation only adds more worries.

"Nate, you okay? Are you hurt?"

"Get.... Get lost!"

"What? Why?"

"At least put on something! I don't wanna see your strawberry briefs anymore!"

"Whoa, whoa. Calm down, okay? Look, I covered it up. You can see it anymore."

Nathaniel glances at him, see him wrapped a blanket around his waist. By then Nathaniel can breathe in relieve. His body no longer trembling and he straightens his body from his previous curling position. Xavier instinctively caressing his hair, wondering what just happened but he refrains from asking.

"You... Don't ever wear it in front of me ever again..."

"But why?"

"I..... I just had a nightmare..."

"Ah.... What kind? Are you okay? Mind telling me?"

Nathaniel hesitates, but he speaks anyway.

"I.... I found myself in wide space, and suddenly they chased after me...."

"They? Who?"

"They.... Their wings are terrifying and they fly towards me so fast..."

Xavier hugs him and caressing his hair as he speaks, listening while calming him down, at the same time encourages him to continue.

"And suddenly the space shrank and I got caught in a..... Glass room. And they approaching faster."

"What are they? Ghost?"

Nathaniel makes a really long pause.

"Nate?"

"They are...."

"They are?"

"........They....."

"THEY ARE YOUR STRAWBERRY BRIEFS WITH WINGS!!!"

"......"

"......"

"......"

"......"

"Eh??"

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