A/N:
It's my birthday but y'all get a gift! /hjk
This is part one of three of the holidays special, I'll be posting the next one before new years probably and the last one after new years ^^
Its just a fun au on Lyor and Nikias that passes during the holidays in an alternative universe.
Anyway, enjoy.
Song Recommendation: ♫ Die With A Smile - Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars ♫
"Celebrate life, celebrate spirit, as our days pass and life becomes even more interesting with your presence in it.''
⚠︎ This chapter is a special Christmas/New Year's themed side story, it happens in a parallel world, and it touches on two 'what ifs' scenarios: 1.What if their world was a mirror of our present one. 2. What if Lyor and Nikias are simply students that live in the same apartment complex. So enjoy this special au between our beloved protagonists.
Part One - Striking Eyes
I hate holidays, that's the first thought the young adult Vahe Kouris has once he leaves his small student apartment to be met with the cold December winds and loud Christmas songs of the other students having parties in their rooms. It's prohibited to have people in the single rooms, yet they don't give a fuck, he thinks, clenching his jacket so that he doesn't feel too cold as he walks towards the elevator to go to the small mart down the street. Usually he would avoid leaving his room, especially December 24th, but his mind that was extremely scattered the last few days forgot to buy food so that he survives for the next week.
The loud sound of carols that are being played in the city's square brings extreme annoyance to the 19 year-old. His walk to the mart is slow and cold, there's no rush when there's nothing waiting for him once he gets home, he crosses paths with families with laughing children, group of friends wearing matching sweaters and stinking like alcohol and couples that are sharing the warmth of their pockets with each other, none of them are aware of the presence of Vahe nor care for those that are lonely in such festive days.
So annoyingly happy, he notices extremely bothered by the crowds inside the small mart, even with the annoying crowds, most of those there are in the festive mood of Christmas Eve. It takes him two full hours to do his shopping, most of that time was spent in line, waiting to pay. By the end of it, he's already wishing to pop open the beers he bought and lay in bed just so that he can ignore the happiness everyone seems to be in.
His phone vibrates in his pocket the moment he leaves the mart, he doesn't need to check the id to know who's texting him, after all he has no family and only one friend he made in university.
My Beloved Best Friend: Heya.
My Beloved Best Friend: Happy Christmas!
My Beloved Best Friend: Wanna come to the bar?
My Beloved Best Friend: There's some hotties here.
Vahe: No thanks.
My Beloved Best Friend: Where's the heart at the end?
Vahe: Fuck you ♡.
My Beloved Best Friend: Omg, love ya too.
My Beloved Best Friend: At least come by during New Year's!
Vahe: Fuck no, there's too many gays there.
Vahe: ♡.
My Beloved Best Friend: You're gay.
My Beloved Best Friend: And this is a gay bar so yeah.
Vahe: I'll go if you're wearing something remotely normal.
My Beloved Best Friend sent a picture.
The moment he opens the image, Vahe makes the most disgusted expression one could make, he and Dacre aren't friends for long, they're not even in the same major, yet somehow during the freshman welcome party they ended up in the same hotel room. Sure, nothing happened, they're not even close to being each other's type, and although their personalities are complete opposites, they hitted off, maybe because their past is quite similar.
There's no mistaking, though, while Dacre enjoys crowded places, being surrounded by people and hooking up with strangers, Vahe quite enjoys the monotony of his room and long-term relationships. Although only going to university and never leaving his room isn't quite the best way of meeting lovers.
In the picture, Dacre is wearing something Vahe wouldn't even dare to use, a short pink crop-top that matches the bright pink of his hair, with a fishnet long-sleeved also crop-top, skinny low-rise jeans, bold makeup and a bunch of accessories only a fashion student would think of using. Next to him there's the silhouette of a man, who's hand is around Dacre's waist. Why is he insisting in my presence when he already has someone there? That's another thing that always made Vahe wonder, he made absolute no effort to get to be friends with Dacre, and even if he allowed him to do whatever he wanted, like changing his door code to his birthday or changing his contact name to that hideous one, Dacre still kept trying to be close to him. I'm definitely not worth the trouble.
Vahe: It's -10 and you're wearing that?
Vahe: No thanks, I rather drink beer in my room.
Vahe: Alone ♡.
My Beloved Best Friend: Buzzkill.
My Beloved Best Friend: I'll go there tomorrow with some snacks and horror movies.
My Beloved Best Friend: If you put a chair against the door again I'll knock the door down ♡.
Vahe: …whatever.
With a loud and exhausted sigh, Vahe slides his phone back onto his pocket, his fingers red due to the cold and the heaviness of the bags, luckily he's already waiting for the elevator inside his apartment complex, next to him a group of extremely intoxicated students are discussing Christmas Movies. It stinks, he thinks, grabbing his phone again, pretending to check on something so that the drunkards don't notice his presence. The elevator makes noises when it stops on the ground floor, making it clear the state of the old building, however what can Vahe do when he's nothing but a student surviving off a puny inheritance of his dead parents.
He allows the group to enter the elevator first, he's not in a hurry and he doesn't wish to go up to the 12th floor with a bunch of people speaking loudly and stinking of alcohol. While he continues to wait he puts his bags down, so that he can shove his hand inside his pockets, even with his gloves, the burning sensation of the cold in his skin is present. He uses that time to also check his email, and just like a Christmas Miracle, he received the one he was waiting for while he was out.
Dear Vahe Kouris,
We are pleased to announce that your application for the Internship at our company was approved for the next step. Please attend the following location at the set time for the group interview.
Those who are late or don't bring the necessary documentation won't be approved regardless of the results of the interview.
Good luck.
Best regards,
Blaze Solaris
Executive Director of S.U.N.
A sigh of relief leaves his lips. He was waiting for the results of the test he took a month ago, he was already growing inpatient and was incredibly pessimistic, but since none of his classmates also got their replies, he remained hopeful. S.U.N. is a car and cellphones manufacturer extremely famous across the globe, and also the dream of any Mechanical Engineering student that hopes to enter the industry, getting even an internship there could make the difference in entering the job market once he graduates.
Since there's nothing like connections or money to aid him, Vahe had to work hard for this opportunity, he can't fail, if he does, he isn't sure if he'll get another opportunity like this.
The moment the elevator arrives he enters while texting Dacre about the email he just got, after all he was the one that drove him to and from the test, he can't lie, even if the man does extremely annoy him most of the times, it's nice to have someone to support him in such things.
With the corner of his eyes he notices another person entering the elevator with him, but as the person doesn't make a noise or stinks like alcohol, he just ignores their presence, per usual.
Clanky noises, sudden shaking and a total blackout, that is enough to make Vahe raise his head from his phone, fuck no, he thinks, realizing the situation he's in. ''Fucking old building'', he whispers to himself, of corse the elevator was going to stop now, when he's so close to his bed and the pure bliss of silence. Emergency lights turn on, they're weak, yet enough for him to see what's happening. He checks the time on his phone, before turning his gaze to the elevator's panel, but the other person is already there.
Vahe rarely freezes out of shock, but in this moment, he does.
''Listen, are you sure you're gay? You seriously can't find anyone here attractive?'' He remembers Dacre words when they first went to the gay bar at the university district, the place was swarming with men as the semester barely started, and while Dacre managed to get at least six guys phone numbers, Vahe declined everyone that approached him.
''Correct'', he answered, focused only on drinking his watered down beer and thinking about how it was a bad idea to allow Dacre to drag him there. ''Of course I'm sure I'm gay, I had a boyfriend before, you know?''
''And who the fuck was he? A god?''
''Hm, no, he was average'', he answered, ordering another beer, his tolerance was always high, but being there made him feel like getting drunk, the lights, the awful smell and the warmth of people are all things Vahe remembers absolutely hating. ''That's why we broke up after three years''.
''Three years is an awful lot to date someone you're not attracted to'', Dacre answered, genuinely curious and his tone was worried. Maybe that's why he can't ask him to back off.
''We started dating after my brother died, I just didn't want to be alone'', Vahe said with a long sigh. ''My point is, unless it's someone with the build of a god descending into earth, I have no plans in dating anyone''.
''Ha, I promise to visit you and your forty cats when you're old and alone'', Dacre joked, sipping his colorful drink.
''Sure, if you're not senile after the amount of chemicals you pour into your head'', Vahe retorted with an amused laugh.
Even if he was the one that said it, he never, absolutely never, thought that he would meet someone so… Perfect. He was 100% ready to die alone, just like Dacre suggested.
But the man in front of him was something that even with Vahe's high standards would never be able to imagine. It wasn't just his appearance, obnoxiously tall, probably around 25cm taller than Vahe, obsidian black hair in perfect cut waves reaching his well-trimmed thick eyebrows, milky pale skin, muscles that pop out even as he's wearing a bright red Christmas sweater and baggy black jeans, fuck his eyes, Vahe thinks, opening his mouth slightly as his breath becomes unstable and his heart begins to pound, the man has beautiful heterochromatic eyes, one dark like the night and the other light gray like the clouds in a bright day. However being objectively gorgeous isn't all there is to be able to match Vahe's taste perfectly, his gaze, pursed plump pink lips and perfect round and snub nose that is twitching to the side as the man thinks, it all gives him this mature and eminent aura, as if he was truly a god that descended into Earth.
There wasn't a single thing Vahe could point at that could dissatisfy him, so much so that it makes him wonder if there is a flaw in his personality, or perhaps his voice, manners or perhaps even his dick that could turn him off. Because there isn't such a thing as a perfect person.
Maybe if Dacre was there he would say that someone that is perfect in Vahe's eyes wouldn't be so in someone else's eyes.
However he doubts anyone could look at his man and say he's not the most gorgeous human being to step within this unworthy realm.
''...Hi, the elevator stopped and the lights are off'', the moment the man speaks, probably with the emergency personnel on the other side of the intercom, Vahe's heart jumps, he grasps it from on top of his sweater, his face becoming a scarlet tone of red, for the first time in his life he has heard such a voice, its not too low nor too high, has just the right amount of velvety and most of all its calm and controlled, as if the man is used to speaking to people. Shit, shit, shit, Vahe can't think straight, his heart is beating so loud he's scared the other will hear, and most of all, he can't control this insane burning feeling across his body.
After 19 years, Vahe Kouris is having his first experience feeling attracted to someone else.
A crush, as Dacre would crudely say.
The man speaks with the personnel for a few minutes, while Vahe is trapped inside his own mind, wondering what he should do. He was never one to be doubtful or hesitate, but he also never felt like this before.
After the personnel turn off the communication, the man finally turns to Vahe, his eyes are absolutely striking. ''Are you ok?'' The man asks, his eyes are clear, but his expression is calm, he seems used to dealing with crisis situations. ''You're awfully red'', the man says, checking his watch.
Vahe is embarrassed, yet he's able to speak clearly. ''I'm okay, just a bit shocked'', the words leave his mouth with difficulty, as if there's razors in his throat, his mouth dry due to nervousness.
''Yeah'', the man says, stretching his head, messing his hair. ''The guy said it might take a while to fix it since it was a general blackout''.
''During Christmas Eve?''
''Exactly'', the man sighs, checking his watch again. ''Since its the holidays it might take a while for it to be fixed, do you have any medical conditions of note?''
His words are calm and he seems extremely used to taking leadership in these kinds of situations. I wonder what he does for a living. ''No, I'm ok, and if needed, well, I have food'', Vahe says, raising the bags he's carrying, placing it in a corner soon after, they're heavy and he's not going to hold onto it until the elevator starts working again.
''That's good'', the man says, ''Unfortunately I have nothing to offer'', he continues, checking his watch one more time. ''At least we're not going to starve or suffer any emergencies''. He looks around, his eyes are peaceful.
''Are you late for something?'' Vahe can't avoid but ask, he's usually so indifferent to others, but its not everyday he gets the opportunity to meet someone so… Perfectly his type.
After checking his watch one more time, the man shakes his head. ''No, I'm just checking my messages'', he turns his wrist towards Vahe, it is a smart watch and on its screen a load of messages keep blinking.
''You must be quite popular'', he wants to smile, be friendly. But he's not very good at it and his smile ends up being slightly awkward.
The man laughs. ''I guess you could say so''. He sits down on the elevator's floor, probably tired, after all they might be there for quite a while. ''I'm the representative of my major, the lead intern at the company I work in and the leader of a local book club'', he tilts his head, staring up at Vahe. ''So there's a lot of people contacting me even during the holidays''.
Vahe is surprised, sure, he figured the man is used to leading, but having so many responsibilities? He would never disturb his own peace for so many useless things.
''So you like being busy?'' He asks, also sitting down, his back against the wall, staring at the man, he doesn't really hope for anything, after all he never flirted with someone, but he can burn that image of perfection into his brain.
''I wouldn't say that as well'', he sighs, pushing his hair back. ''It just happened, people seem to rely on me whenever I go''.
''You could always say no'', Vahe comments.
''I'm Lyor Natrix'', he changes the subject, extending his hand to Vahe who stares at it for a few seconds before taking it. I hope I'm not sweating so much that he can feel it through my gloves.
''Vahe Kouris''.
''Are you a student?'' His question seems quite obvious, but Vahe doesn't mind, he even laughs softly at it.
''Yeah, why would I be living here otherwise?'' His statement seems to make Lyor embarrassed since his ears turn red. ''I'm a second-year Mechanical Engineering student'', he continued.
Lyor nods. ''It suits you…'' His comment seems to bother him, because he continues in a panic. ''I mean that you look like an Engineering student…'' he shakes his head. ''Not that there is a specific way an Engineering student would look like…''
Vahe laughs, ''Chill, it's fine, I know I dress like an old man''.
This time Lyor's face also turns red. Cute.
''I didn't mean it like that, you look smart, that's all''.
''Thanks, and you look like an extreme extrovert'', Vahe says with a light smile, his nervousness slowly fading. ''What's your major?''
''Business with a minor in communication'', Lyor answers with a tired sigh.
''You don't sound happy with it'', Vahe observes.
''Well, it's not like I had many options and I don't hate it either, I just don't know what I want to do with it in the future''.
''I don't think anyone really knows such things, we just go as we roll'', Vahe shrugs.
Lyor smiles, and fuck, such smile should be illegal, Vahe is pretty sure his heart stopped for a fraction of a second because of it.
''I guess you're right Vahe'', shit his name sounds like the chant of an angel coming from him.
''I never saw you around'', Vahe says, desperate to continue the conversation.
''Hmn, I moved recently, the lease of my old apartment expired, so I had to find another place quickly'', Lyor says, leaning against the wall, his eyes fixed on Vahe. ''I'm glad I moved here though''.
''Why?''
''Because I got to meet you''.
Silence, deafening and excruciating silence. Vahe isn't sure how to answer him, it might sound like he's flirting, but maybe he's just overly friendly?
''Yeah… Same'', Vahe mumbles, his heart threatening to leave through his mouth.
Another silent pause, how much time did it pass since the elevator stopped? And why is it getting way too hot inside that damn old metal box? Vahe browses his bags, grabbing one of the cold beers, he pauses before opening, turning to look at the man who's still staring at him.
''Want one?''
Lyor simply nods, Vahe passes the coldest one to him, settling for one that isn't all that cold. He's not a fan of drinking lukewarm beer, but he needs alcohol right now, and he's not going to give him a warm beer. He opens the bottle using only his hand, the gloves help so that he doesn't hurt his hands.
''You're quite strong'', Lyor comments, as he grabs his keys from his pocket, a bottle opener hanging on it that he uses to open the bottle. Vahe blushes at his unnecessary display of strength.
''I used to work in construction during summer'', he says, turning the bottle so that he can drink quickly, perhaps the alcohol will slow his heartbeat down.
''That sounds rough, do you not have a scholarship?'' Lyor asks, slowly sipping his beer, he's a slow drinker compared to Vahe, who's almost done with his own bottle.
''I do'', Vahe says, tilting his head, why is the alcohol only making that man look even more beautiful? ''But I need money to pay rent so… What about you?''
''My parents may be absent but their money still comes through'', the bitterness in Lyor's voice makes Vahe flinch, he doesn't sound angry, he just sounds sad and regretful.
''That… sucks'', he says, beating himself over internally for not being able to say anything of substance in this situation. So he does what unfortunately his best friend does best, share his own trauma uninvited, but contrary to Dacre who does so to make others uncomfortable, Vahe does so out of pure nervousness. ''My parents died four years ago'', he finishes his beer. ''They were around though, unfortunately'', instinctively he touches his hip, where the mark of his parents' love lies.
''My condolences'', Lyor says, cautiously.
''Nah, I'm glad they died, they could've left my brother though…'' Vahe says, clearly still grieving the death of the only person he ever loved.
''Do you miss him?'' Lyor asks, he's already half-way through his own beer.
''Everyday'', Vahe answers, grabbing another beer, not caring about it being warm, this time Lyor extends his keychain before he attempts to open it with brute force again. ''Thanks''.
Lyor smiles, ''I'm sure your brother is watching over you from a better place'', his words come from a place of empty condolences, yet it comforts Vahe nonetheless.
''I hope not'', he says with a sigh, leaning his head back to stare at the boring stale ceiling of the elevator. ''I don't want him to see me all alone, he would be sad''.
''Are you sad to be alone?'' Lyor asks almost immediately, his expression is hard to read. Is he flirting with Vahe or not?
''Nah, I enjoy the silence''.
''Sorry''.
''No…'' Vahe stumbles, dropping the empty glass bottle that was on his lap. ''You're not… loud'', he isn't sure what he means with that, but Lyor smiles, making him blush again. At this rate he might think my real skin tone is red.
''You're adorable'', Lyor comments with a soft laugh, Vahe wants to bury himself in concrete.
''I don't think anyone would use such a word to describe me'', he retorts, finishing his second beer.
''But it is true'', Lyor says, ''I saw you before, you know''.
''Where?''
Lyor pauses for a second before taking a last sip on his first beer. ''At the ground floor, a week ago''.
''Oh…'' Vahe wonders how he didn't notice Lyor before, yet it's quite clear due to his complete uninterest in the world surrounding him, if the elevator wasn't stopped today, he would still be unaware of Lyor's existence.
''You were on your phone, you sounded annoyed yet you were smiling'', Lyor says, playing with the empty bottle. ''I remember thinking, 'oh, so such a beautiful smile does exist', after that I just kept looking for you whenever I left my room or came back from work'', Lyor doesn't look at Vahe, his ears are red, the only hint of him feeling embarrassed by the words he just said. ''I can't believe we got stuck together, it's kinda funny even''.
Vahe never felt that it was a shame that he had such a high alcohol tolerance, he pops open another beer, ''I don't really understand what you mean, if you looked in the mirror you could see a more beautiful smile'', his words are jumbled together, but he's not drunk, just extremely awkward, this situation is uncomfortable, yet he can't bear to stay silent.
Grasping the opportunities laid in front of him was something he always excelled in doing.
Lyor sighs, leaning his head onto his arm, staring intently at Vahe. ''I don't think we can agree''.
''So, you are flirting with me?'' He asks, trying to hide his embarrassment with the beer bottle, unable to take his eyes off Lyor's, his breath is unstable, he feels feverish, almost numb, as if his whole body was anticipating the answer for his question.
The man smiles so brightly that the emergency light looks weak in comparison. ''Yeah, I am''.
Vahe holds his breath, he can't breath, otherwise something might go wrong, he can't move, his heart certainly can't seem to slow down, and his body temperature is so high most would think it's summer not winter.
He wants to say something back, a snarky retort, or a flirtatious comment, but his mind is completely blank, he doesn't even know how he managed to ace every single test he ever took with how he's nervous right now. His lips become dry, all he can do is stare at Lyor, his heterochromatic eyes, his soft smile and damn… Why would such a person flirt with him? No, why would he even remotely think Vahe is worthy of his gaze?
Maybe that is his flaw, Vahe thinks.
Regardless of it, this situation seems unreal, or maybe it's just part of the Christmas Miracle from before.
If he stops this conversation now, if once the lights come back on he runs away to his room, going by his night completely alone, will he ever be able to see Lyor again? Or is this one of those opportunities that appear only one time?
That if he doesn't grab his hand tightly and make him stay he'll never have the chance again?
Or maybe this is just an illusion life threw him, to mock his existence.
Whatever the answer is, Vahe knows that his choice at this moment will change his life.
Be it for better or for worse.
Whichever it is, there's no mistaking that this stranger he's known for just one single hour, is the reason for it.
As if by cue, the lights of the elevator turn back on, the metal box moving again slowly. The two men get up, Vahe grabs his bags as he watches in silence the numbers blinking, he needs to make a choice quickly. He was always good under pressure, so why is his mind completely blank right now?
The moment the doors open on the 12th floor, Vahe swallows dryly, he moves slowly, as if his whole world is in slow motion.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
He takes a deep breath, the moment he crosses the door, slamming his hand on it, so that the door doesn't close. ''Do you want to have dinner with me right now?'' He impulsively asks, he never did something out of impulse before.
Lyor stares at him for a few seconds before smiling. ''I would love to''.