Khino 🌗

—~+~—

Shino strolled down the dimly lit streets of their dorms in the evening, a devil-may-care attitude in every step. He searched for one dorm in particular. He had just finished a late-night volleyball practice and was in dire need of some relaxation. He knew exactly where to find it.

With a sense of familiarity, he reached Kol's door and gave it a light knock before letting himself in, not waiting for a response. The door creaked open, revealing a sight that was all too common. Kol was sitting by the window, shrouded in the soft glow of a single desk lamp, a lit cigarette between his fingers.

Shino raised an eyebrow but didn't bother to comment on the smoking. He'd seen it all before. Instead, he sauntered over and plopped himself onto Kol's lap, unceremoniously making himself at home.

Kol glanced at him, a lazy smirk forming on his lips. "Well, look who it is, the ever-nonchalant Shino Basca."

Shino leaned back against Kol's chest, feeling the warmth seeping through the thin fabric of his clothes. "Hey, when have I ever been anything but nonchalant, Kol?"

Kol chuckled, taking a drag from his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke towards the ceiling. "Fair point, my friend. So, what brings you to my humble abode this fine evening?"

Shino shrugged, content to be where he was. "Just needed some company, and you happen to be the most tolerable option around."

Kol snorted with laughter, tapping the ash from his cigarette into a nearby tray. "I'll take that as a compliment. So, how was practice, or should I even bother asking?"

Shino stretched his legs out, his voice casual. "Practice was a drag, as usual. Coach is on my case about improving my serves, but I just can't be bothered."

Kol leaned back against the window sill, taking another drag. "Ah, the eternal struggle between talent and effort. I can't relate."

Shino smirked, tilting his head to rest it against Kol's shoulder. "Yeah, but you're a lazy bastard by choice. I'm a lazy bastard by nature."

Kol chuckled, his fingers idly tracing patterns on Shino's arm. "True enough, Shino, I don't want to do anything. So, what shall we discuss tonight? World politics? Existential dread?"

Shino let out a low, thoughtful hum. "How about we discuss something less emo... Like the mysteries of the universe, why the hell you still smoke those cancer sticks?"

Kol raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ah, the age-old question. Well, Shino, sometimes a man just needs a vice to keep him grounded."

Shino chuckled. "Grounded, my ass. You're a walking health hazard, Kol."

Kol took a final drag from his cigarette and stubbed it out in the tray. He leaned in close, his lips dangerously close to Shino's ear. "You say that, but you still sit your ass in my lap while I smoke."

Shino couldn't help but shiver at the sensation of Kol's warm breath against his ear. He turned his head, their faces inches apart, and grinned. "Touché, Kol. Touché. But back up, your breath stinks." He now pulls back, rolling his eyes.

"Don't act like you've been a perfect angel. You've tried things worse than me." Kol says in defense.

"Oh really, like what?" Shino retorted, turning back with an offended look at crossed arms.

"Don't make me list them." After Shino is silent, eyebrow raised in warning, Kol shuts up. 

"That's what I thought." As Shino turns back around, they both laugh wholeheartedly, both happy to be with their favorite person. 

They settled into an easy silence, the only sound being the soft hum of the campus outside and the occasional creak of the old building. Shino closed his eyes, feeling strangely at peace in Kol's arms.

Kol's voice broke the stillness, a hint of amusement in his tone. "You know, Shino, you're the only person I'd let invade my personal space like this."

Shino cracked one eye open and smirked. "Oh, really? Should I be honored?"

Kol nodded, his fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on Shino's thigh. "Absolutely. Most people irritate the hell out of me, but you, my friend, are the exception."

Shino chuckled, resting his head back against Kol's shoulder. "Well, ain't I lucky."

Kol's fingers stilled, and he let out a soft sigh. "You have no idea, Shino."

As the minutes turned into hours, they continued to chat about nothing and everything. The world outside faded away, leaving just the two of them in their little bubble of comfort. 

That is until the question that broke the peace.

"Did you finish that homework assignment for support class?" Shino said after Kol had finished telling him an over exaggerated story.

"You know I don't do homework. Especially for support class. Database is a joke, his class is a joke, so why would I waste my time?" Kol leans back, his head resting on his hands.

"Anyways. I will not take the disrespect towards Database so watch your mouth." Shino now gets up from Kol's lap after hours of relaxing together. "Take out your books. Now." He said the last part with more aggression than before, Kol groaning into action.

Shino and Kol sat on the floor in Kol's dorm room, textbooks and notebooks spread out before them. The previous moments of relaxation and comfort had given way to a growing sense of irritation as they attempted to tackle their homework assignments.

Shino huffed in annoyance, breaking his pencil led on the page as he heard Kol. "Kol, do you have to chew that gum so loudly? It's driving me insane."

Kol, who was indeed chewing gum with exaggerated smacks, shot Shino a mischievous grin. "It's not my fault you have freaky senses that make you get distracted by a feather falling."

Shino scowled, his patience wearing thin. "I was trying to concentrate before you started acting like an obnoxious teenager."

Kol leaned back in his chair, feigning innocence. "But I am an obnoxious teenager, Shino. That's part of my charm."

Shino rolled his eyes, determined to stay focused on his work. He scribbled something in his notebook, only to hear Kol's annoyingly loud gum-popping in response.

"Kol, seriously, stop it!" Shino snapped.

Kol chuckled, leaning closer to Shino. "What's the matter, Shino? Can't handle a little gum-popping?"

Shino slammed his notebook shut in frustration, glaring at Kol. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Kol leaned even closer, their faces inches apart. "Oh, I know, Shino. But you love me for it."

Shino's irritation only grew as he pushed Kol away. "Don't flatter yourself, Kol. I'm just trying to get some work done."

Kol leans back in his chair again, sensing Shino's actual anger. "Fine, fine, no more gum-popping. But can I at least borrow your calculator?" He opens his book now to start weeks old math homework. 

Shino reluctantly handed over his calculator, a yellow graphing calculator covered in different stickers, which Kol took with a grin, taking a moment to examine the stickers. "Thanks, babe. You're a lifesaver."

Shino raised an eyebrow, his irritation momentarily forgotten. "Babe? Since when do you call me that?"

Kol winked at him, a teasing glint in his eyes. "Just trying to keep things interesting, Shino, or should I say, babe, since you seem to like it so much."

"Do not! Just shut up and do your homework." Shino open his books again but now more as a distraction from his own blushing. 

As they settled back into their homework, the tension in the room began to ease. Shino couldn't help but shake his head, a begrudging smile tugging at his lips. Kol might be obnoxious and infuriating, but he was also the one person who could always manage to make Shino laugh, even when he was grumpy.

And as they continued to tease each other senseless, Shino couldn't deny that he was glad to have Kol as his partner in both homework and mischief.