[vernon/the8] we stand on the edge, wondering
Vernon found himself in a very weird situation. It’s been a week since the weed incident, as he’s taken to calling it (although this could technically refer to about 80% of his college life). It did not repeat itself, and Vernon spent a lot of time not feeling bitter about it. Things haven’t been awkward between him and Minghao, not really, but there was a definite change in their relationship. Minghao would smirk at him when he caught Vernon staring for too long, and random pats on the ass have started happening with Minghao playing possum every time Vernon raised an eyebrow at him. There was also the fact that more often than not Vernon when spent that extra five minutes in the shower jerking off, no matter what imagery he started with, it always ended with the memory of the weed incident. It didn’t bother him as much as he thought it should.
*
Unsurprisingly, things started unraveling through another particularly alcoholic truth or dare. There were definitely more people than Vernon and Minghao’s tiny apartment could handle and Minghao decided it’s a great idea to save space by pulling Vernon in his lap. Drunk Vernon had way more courage than sober Vernon, though, and drunk Vernon also had the advantage of never backing off a challenge. So he made himself comfortable on Minghao’s lap, pulled Minghao’s hands around his middle to steady himself and returned a perfectly chill look to Junhui’s raised eyebrow.
"I assume ‘no homo’ is not relevant anymore?"
"Hm?" Vernon blinked at him. Minghao had taken to (not really) subtly mouthing at his neck and it was slightly distracting. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."
"Are you two together?" Joshua asked, confused. Joshua was relatively new to their group and mostly Junhui’s friend - and while they did know him, this was Joshua’s first sort-of-party with all of them. Vernon had a sneaking suspicion Junhui started hanging out with Joshua so much mainly because he wanted in his pants.
"Nope." came Minghao’s lazy drawl. Then he proceeded to slip his fingers under Vernon’s shirt. The fucker.
Joshua smiled at them, without a doubt no less confused, and Junhui snickered.
*
Of course, because all of them were secretly thirteen-year-olds, the drinking game of the night was decided to be truth or dare. Again. There was an unspoken decision to keep things at least above the waist as to not scar Joshua too much right off the bat.
After Mingyu made Joshua confess he was actually still a virgin (Junhui had looked like Christmas had come early), Joshua returned the favor by making Minghao breathe on someone’s neck for thirty seconds. (Everybody collectively pretended they’re impressed.)
Since Joshua didn’t specify who, Vernon prepared himself for another attack on his neck, only… Minghao pulled Mingyu closer, dislodging Vernon in the process, and shoved his face in Mingyu’s neck. Mingyu laughed the entire time but Vernon did not miss the flush that had creeped up his face when he got back to his corner of the couch.
This is probably why when Wonwoo gave him the Very Creative dare to give someone a hickey, Vernon slid right off Minghao’s lap and crawled into Jeonghan’s. He slid a hand in Jeonghan’s hair, brushing it back and used his other arm to balance himself against Jeonghan’s shoulder. When he felt Jeonghan’s arms circling his waist and took that as his cue to latch his mouth onto Jeonghan’s neck. He must’ve missed whoever was keeping track saying "enough" because soon Jeonghan’s arms traveled from his waist to tangle in his hair and he tugged lightly, laughing.
"Easy there, tiger."
Vernon pulled off and blinked at him. Jeonghan was now sporting a giant bruise and Vernon kissed it before sliding off his lap and crawling back to Minghao on the couch. Minghao was looking vaguely murderous, and lifting himself back onto Minghao’s lap seemed like too much effort anyway, so Vernon settled for just leaning against his thigh on the floor. When he looked around for the next dare victim he saw everyone was staring at him.
Junhui cleared his throat. "So you really have rescinded your no homo policy?"
Vernon looked up at Minghao, whose expression hadn’t changed and gave Junhui a lopsided grin. "Yeah, no, I’m all about homo now."
The room erupted in catcalls with only Joshua sitting in the middle of it, quiet and confused. Vernon felt a little guilty for anticipating the change whenever Junhui finally managed to get his hands on him.
*
See, Vernon had the perfectly innocent intention to just go get more alcohol when Minghao pushed him against the kitchen counter. It was like a deja vù of the last time and Vernon couldn’t help but trail his eyes down Minghao’s body. He licked his lips. Minghao shook his head and dragged him towards the bedroom.
The moment the door closed behind them Vernon pushed Minghao on the bed and climbed on top of him. Minghao seemed pretty cool with the idea at least until Vernon’s hand reached his fly.
"Oh no, mister" he caught Vernon’s hand and pulled it back up his chest. "We are not going there high. Or drunk." He added before Vernon could even open his mouth to protest.
"Since when do you care," Vernon pouted. He was nothing if not determined, though, and since Minghao hadn’t actually pushed him off, he grinded his hips down and smirked at the hitch in Minghao’s breath.
"I am not giving you the excuse of the influence." Minghao stated, way more serious than a person who spent the night taking shots should sound.
"So this," Vernon grinded his hips again and Minghao hissed, "Is okay? But everything else is not?"
Minghao gripped his thighs to stop him from moving again. "I’m okay with making out," he gave Vernon’s thighs a squeeze and Vernon closed his eyes. "But getting off is not happening, sorry."
Vernon opened his eyes to pout again. "You are no fun."
"Yeah, well" Minghao grinned, "I have a theory that if I get you sexually frustrated enough one day you’ll get over yourself and crawl into my lap without getting drunk or high first."
Vernon pouted again. "I take that back. You’re an asshole."
Minghao laughed as he pushed Vernon off himself and arranged him so he would be comfortable and proceeded to snuggle into him. Vernon whispered a "fuck you", but didn’t remove Minghao’s hand from across his chest.