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Chapter Text

This floor's test was largely known for being easy to pass and it was a good month long rest before they were scheduled to take it.

As Khun began to research the area and what there was to do here, a lot of the forums on the Box were quite…adamant about one thing in particular.

Do. Not. Go into the forest.

Which was largely proven to be something that the Test Administrator disapproved of and told them as well.

If you do, don't go far enough where you lose sight of your lodging. It's extremely easy to get lost even if you know how to handle a forested area. It was all so…vague and it made Khun squint. Not a single person elaborated on why it was such a bad idea besides 'getting lost'. The most he could scrounge up was it was unlike a lot of the other forests in the Tower. It would shift and change. Anyone who did would not be seen until testing day. 

Should anyone go into the forest in groups or even together with just one other person, both wouldn't matter. One person would disappear completely for the whole month and the other would be spat out back at their lodging. Princesses were immediately turned around.

Besides going missing, the forest was… 'relatively' harmless. Yet Khun didn't understand how. In every case, the person showed up and the test would be immediately passed. If no one went in, the test was still easy. When asked, the people seemed unaware of the missing chunk of time, largely confused and often upset they were left out of some downtime. They were also completely void of injury or fatigue…except for a seemingly minor detail. They seemed to go through 'withdrawal-like symptoms'. Withdrawal of what he couldn't find anywhere.

Huffing in frustration Khun smacked his hand on the screen of his lighthouse and then waved them away. If you wanted something done you better do it yourself. That certainly seemed to be the case for this.

Might as well check and make sure no one else had run off, explain the situation at hand, then volunteer. It wasn't like he would care about the inability to relax, anyway.

If he could guarantee that their posse passed, Khun would do it.

Of course, butting heads with Bam over it was something he had to avoid, so he needed to slip away when they weren't paying attention. 

Which…in a group of at least twenty people, wasn't very hard.

Especially when Shibisu and Hatz were concerned. Alcohol always tended to get involved under the guise of 'you need to let loose'. 

Using the art of pretending he had gained after going up floors with Isu before he split up from them the first time, when everyone was more or less hammered off their rocker he excused himself. Bam, all cute and flushed, had waved him off with a smile. 

Really, he was an awful person. He wasn't even lying about anything, simply avoiding explaining his plan. Yet here he was, three AM and waiting for the noise to die while he stared at the ceiling.

Five AM and he dubbed it safe to sneak out. Was he some teenager or something? It sure felt like it.

He made it past the treeline when he felt the presence of the Irregular behind him. Not even looking back, taking a leap of faith with the information he gathered, he booked it into the forest.

It took five minutes for Bam's shouting to fade. What was the weirdest part about it was he actually physically saw the trees shimmer with Shinsu before changing completely.

"Take me." Khun begged the forest he was still running at top speed in, the trees themselves seeming to move out of his way. "I'll take the month Test. Take me. Leave him alone."

He had no idea this was how it was supposed to go when his ankle got wrapped up and he was suspended above the ground. He feared he had hit a tripwire, but when he glanced up it was only a vine. There were no other people around and he closed his eyes. A noise from his Pocket caught his attention. 

Bam: Where are you?

Bam: Why'd you run from me?

Khun's hand was shaking as he replied.

Khun: We're guaranteed to pass if I do this. 

Khun: I'll be back at the end of the month, I swear.

Bam: All month?! Khun! I could have gone!

Khun: I'm sorry, Bam. It's already happening. Trust me. I'll be okay.

Dropping his hand his Pocket disappeared. He could only hope he was right.

A few more minutes went by and Khun was starting to get lightheaded. What was taking so long? What was going to happen to him? The longer he waited the more anxious he became. He had gone into this completely blind. It was reckless and stupid but everyone came back who disappeared.

With withdrawal symptoms.

What in the Tower was he going to get addicted to in order to pass?

A shot of green goop flying at him disturbed his thoughts and he barely managed to raise his arms to shield his face.

It was hot and he squirmed, trying to latch onto the vine around his leg to pull up, but another shot of goo and more vines came to grab the rest of his limbs. When he got a good look at what was happening, he had a mini-freakout as he saw his clothes melting away . As he struggled in his panic, the vines tightened to the point of pain but loosened so he kept circulation when he stopped moving. It was then he realized it was only his clothes. His skin, albeit a little red, was fine. Whatever scraps were left draped awkwardly on his body.

Khun swallowed hard and thick. Was this really happening? Was this a part of the Test? No wonder no one talked about it. Being stuck in this position was embarrassing. 

More vines snaked their way from the shadows and he took note of the different kinds. Some were slimy, no doubt with the substance he had been covered in. Two wound around his torso and had tiny, fluttering flower buds on the ends. When they opened, he felt the equivalent of tiny kisses and a little suction across his chest. When they brushed his nipples he jerked in surprise, but they latched on. Fuck! Nonono, shit! This was the worst! In defiance, he bit his lip and didn't make a sound even as he squirmed.

Whatever goop that hit him before had slid down his body and as dripping vines wrapped around his thighs he was now effectively naked, everything dissolved away. As more vines circled his torso and wound across his pelvis, Khun was sure they were trying to map out his body. It was confirmed when a much…thicker one came out from the shadows of the canopy and at first completely missed his mouth, the pink bulb on it gliding across his cheek. He tried to move around, keep it from finding his lips, but one vine nearly made him panic when he felt it around his throat. It wasn't tight, but similar to the ones on his wrists and ankles; it was used to immobilize him.

When the bulb managed to push past his lips, the slime it was coated in tasted like syrup and the overt sweetness made him gag. Next thing he knew it had detached itself and the vine left his mouth, sealing over his lips before he could spit out the sticky sweet bulb. Left to either chew it or choke, he opted  to chew. He had promised Bam he would be back so he didn't exactly want to die today. Swallowing the damn thing made him want to throw up.

The vines around his neck loosened and moved elsewhere on his body while whatever that was settled in his gut, a warmth spreading similar to the first scorching drink of hard liquor. Khun regretted this. The only reason why he bit his tongue and let it happen instead of using his ice Shinsu or the firefish was because he didn't want Bam to go through this. They needed Bam to pass the Test.

Soon enough the seal on his mouth was removed and he immediately whimpered at how sensitive his lips were. Flexing his throat he could barely feel it. So it had sensitized his mouth and numbed his throat. Khun didn't want to know why, but knew he would find out.

More of the little suction flowers started fluttering on his skin and Khun watched the bigger one disappear. It was replaced by a vine of similar size that seemed completely smooth, and when it brushed against his lips he trembled at the feeling, but didn't let it in and closed his eyes. That was when he felt something… lick his bottom lip. Ever defiant, Khun bit his lip instead, making a muffled grunt at the sensation of his own action. Fuck! That basically backfired!

Another lick, one across his teeth and one…at his balls . Jolting, gasping when the wiggling tentacle, thin and wet, wrapped around the sacks and undulated. This allowed the one at his face to slip inside.

Khun knew he lost when he moaned at the feeling of it on his tongue. He had never kissed, but he wondered if it would be like this. 

Maybe over the years and many victims, whatever monster this was had learned how to distract its prey. It sure did its job because he didn't even notice that a third licking vine joined the fray. The first closed up and started fucking against the flat of his tongue. The second moved from his balls to tease along the length of his dick. Finally the third licked a wet stripe across his hole, making him jerk and squirm, but it was relentless. 

All three moved in such unison that when Khun squirmed it would cause the second one to stroke up and down, winding all around. That would cause him to try and pull away, right into the third until it breached the rim. When it swirled around and drove deeper, Khun gasped and the one in his mouth started fucking his throat. It let him breathe here and there, but while it did it rubbed his tongue and the cycle started again.

The longer it went on, the more his body processed whatever he ate; resulting in him feeling warmer and his skin more sensitive, tingling where the suckling flowers were. Drunk off what was happening, his mind grew hazy and he slowly stopped fighting it, squirming more from pleasure and need. Actively thrusting into the vine around his dick, he felt it closing up around him, turning into a textured vice. The vine left his mouth free and he panted, drawing air into his lungs. Then he gasped as the one down below left his hole and insides clenching at nothing. 

This empty feeling didn't last long. Soon two new vines emerged, thin at the tip then getting thicker towards the main body of the vine. Khun let the one back into his mouth and watched the second slide down his body, disappearing underneath and then pressing at the rim. A bit of resistance, but not much. Khun quickly got used to the intrusion, whining at the way his insides felt too hot. 

Then the second vine started going deeper as the first started to move in a languid manner. That same rhythm of before started up and Khun's hands flexed, wanting to grip onto something. So…full. He was full and getting even more so while his cock got massaged inside the vine with the tongue-like tentacle.

Deeper. The second vine wasn't stopping , but then there was a pressure . It came from the one in his mouth first, a massive gush of sticky sweet directly down his throat and into his stomach. His rim was stretched and he felt every inch of the pressure traveling through him until it bloomed . It was so scorching hot and forceful that he gave a muffled cry, releasing as well into the vine surrounding his length.

Another pressure at his hole and he trembled, looking down when his mouth was freed. Khun felt dizzy already but was even more so when he saw a slight bulge in his abdomen. That pressure increased, nearly painful until his body gave and he squirmed as it traveled. There didn't seem to be much…give to this one, and he panted harshly, overwhelmed and a livewire. 

Instead of another rush of heat, a heavy weight settled inside him and he choked as he saw the bulge get bigger . "No…" A month. This was why it was so specific about the people who disappeared. If it wasn't trauma that blocked out this memory, it had to be erased somehow. Maybe from the administrator? "No…no, stop, let me-" he keened suddenly as the vine pulled back bit by bit, sliding through him and setting him ablaze in the friction, "Ah! Fuck!" He writhed but it only jostled the egg inside him. The vine got to a [good] place to start pumping inside him, making him feel like he was being hollowed out. 

The original vine on his cock removed itself and Khun felt as if he had slammed back five shots of whiskey, if not more. Might as well put that at half a bottle. In spite of his weak attempts, he was mostly hanging on at this point, hips moving of their own accord as he was bouncing with the vine pistoning in him. Those kissing flowers were driving him up the wall from where they were latched onto his nipples, and a new vine appeared that seemed to resemble a bluebell at the end. It surrounded his shaft and he moaned at the silky soft feeling. Lost to the pleasure and the haze, he bucked into it which resulted in him fucking himself on the other one when he rolled back.

Faster and faster, Khun couldn't keep up with it. Sweat had long since started running down his skin in rivulets and it soaked the back of his neck. Grunts and groans filled the forest and the build-up came to a crashing end, his scream echoing off the leaves and he spasmed so hard the vine in his ass filled him to the brim with hot, sticky fluid that ran down his legs as soon as it pulled free. When the egg pulsed he whimpered and curled in on himself as much as the binding would allow.

Around him, a cocoon started emerging from the shadows and while he felt the exhaustion start making his eyes droop, and a burst of purple powder around him accelerated the process. 

He was passed out in less than a minute, and had no idea what else lay in store for the Floor around him or even himself.

After all, there was an extremely distraught Irregular who wasn't going to wait a month to find his Lightbearer.

Chapter Text

Bam: Where are you?

Bam: Why'd you run from me?

Khun: We're guaranteed to pass if I do this. 

Khun: I'll be back at the end of the month, I swear.

Bam: All month?! Khun! I could have gone!

Khun: I'm sorry, Bam. It's already happening. Trust me. I'll be okay.

Anger filled Bam reading the message. What in bloody Hell was Khun sacrificing himself for this time? Why wouldn't he let him help or do it himself? 

Why couldn't they talk about it ?

He was expecting him to wait a month for him to come back? After everything they had gone through? 

No. No, no, no ! He refused ! It was unacceptable and he wasn't going to let Khun get away that easily. He wasn't going to let the forest take him.

"Give him back!" He screamed at the trees, fists clenched and power surging. He would rip the forest apart out one at a time, "Let Khun go or I'll-" 

"The Irregular The 25th Bam is required at the Testing Grounds. One witness may be present."

That was fast for the Administrator. Maybe he didn't want his Floor to be destroyed. Huffing, he let his Shinsoo snap back and turned around. Getting back to his cabin with the others didn't take very long, the woods basically spit him out at the front door.

One witness. He may be hammered, but Bam made a beeline for Shibisu's room.

Turned out, a witness didn't mean Shibisu was going to be listening in on the conversation with the Administrator who called upon him. The poor guy ended up being put in the stands while Bam and the Ranker stood in the arena. 

By all intents and purposes, Bam was prepared for a fight. "Give me Khun back." He wouldn't back down.

"First of all, he went willingly and even begged the trees to take him and leave you alone. Besides that-" he continued when Bam opened his mouth to protest, "I can't give him to you that easily. The process was already starting and I can't interfere. You know how this works." 

He watched Bam grit his teeth, "Do you even know what he was doing? He's a Lightbearer. He was aware something lurked in the forest, even if he didn't know what."

"I know whatever it is would let us pass if he completed it." Bam answered with a growl in his voice.

The Ranker pulled up his Pocket and seemed to consider it before speaking. "The thing in that forest has been around since before the 10 Greats. They went through this, too. Many, many people do. Those who don't heed the warning not to go inside. I took over this Floor thinking I could prevent it, enforce the rule, only people would still do it anyway. I took up erasing memories of the last month just like the last Administrator because of the trauma it causes."

Bam's tanned skin went paler, "Trauma? So your Team went through this?" Jahad and them did? What in the Hell was going on? "Stop beating around the bush! Tell me! Where's Khun?! How can I save him?!"

"See, boy…helping you would be seen as me taking sides," the Ranker glanced at him and back at the Pocket. "Yet for what anyone knows, what I'm telling you could aggravate you enough-" a ping on Bam's own Pocket, "-you punch me and go on a rampage to save your friend. I could feel so inclined to pass your team to evacuate them, since you're so threatening and all."

He was- Bam squared up and grit his teeth. He wanted him to destroy the Floor? He could do that.

Rearing back, Shinsu swirling around him, the Ranker looked appropriately surprised before Bam hit him, sending him flying into the stadium. Bam flew after him once he summoned his wings, punching at him a few times. More flashy than anything, since the Ranker was trying to pretend, Bam made sure he didn't do any damage that couldn't be healed fairly easily. 

Then his wrist was grabbed, "Burn the forest to the ground." And his Pocket was summoned.

"Due to the actions of the Regular Khun Aguero Agnis, the following Teams were set to pass. A warp gate will be open and the Regulars are urged to advance to the next Floor immediately."

"I'll meet you there." The Ranker told Bam right before he was kicked off and it was his turn to go flying. He blinked and the guy disappeared.

"What in the Tower was that all about?!" Shibisu demanded as Bam was looking at the message on his Pocket where the location of Khun was. "The actions of Khun? What did he do this time?!"

"That's what I want to know." Bam groused, "Listen, Isu, I'm not going with you to the next Floor. Not without Khun. I'm going to rip this Floor apart to find him. It'll be safer for you to take the others ahead."

"Bam, do you really think you should do that-"

Burning golden eyes bore into Shibisu, "I'll see you in a month at the latest." With that, he took off into the air and ignored Shibisu's shouting.

Time to find Khun and give him a piece of his mind.

The forest was burning outside but he had put up a Shinsu barrier to protect the cave he had landed at. Certainly the Floor Guardian would have stepped in by now, but there was no sign of reprimand. Perhaps they were already dead and this Floor was left unchecked. Perhaps the Guardian didn't care.

When he got in the cave, Bam didn't know what to expect but it wasn't this.

It would have never been this.

Some odd turquoise crystals glowed in the background and it was the only source of light. Water pools reflected it and made it bounce off the stone walls and ceiling, revealing what lay inside.

Squirming green vines with several ends, and dripping pods of various sizes, some as large as he was. Flowers too large to be natural in many colors and types. Horrendous screeching that tore at his eardrums had him growling menacingly at the pods. Was this a living creature of some sort, split into many parts? 

"Your friend is further in the cave." The Ranker appeared from the shadows in the back, holding his side. Bam guessed he might have hit him a bit too hard. "I've tamed them so they're screaming but won't attack you. They won't even use their spores." He shook his head, "I was hoping our conversation would end before…well. I can show you. I'm sorry. I will try to find a solution with you." 

Bam didn't like the sound of that, but he pressed his lips together and nodded, stepping around the creepy goo that soaked the floor outside of the pools of water.

All he saw when they got back there was a large cocoon and a few vines that seemed to feed into it. "Is he…in there?"

"Unfortunately. It means he's in the incubation phase." Bam paled and reached out for it, only to have the Ranker catch his wrist. "Wait. Let's talk first."

"What do you mean by 'incubation'? Is he-"

"He won't become anything, no. Forgive my crudeness but let me get this over with. He's essentially…pregnant. With one of those things . They put an egg inside you and after a month it hatches and your body purges it." The Ranker sighed heavily. "I've recovered your friend's Lighthouses from the woods before your rampage." He motioned towards the wall. "There's also a warp portal in the corner I created. It will take you to the stadium. I will wipe his memories of this, but I believe it could be accelerated by two weeks or even one. I don't want to hurt him more than he already is, but it would be best overall anyway. He's not like the others."

"What do you mean by that?" Bam's fingers twitched with the need to destroy the cocoon and he glared at it.

"The Firefish. He's already woken up once and panicked until he was knocked out again by the sleep spores. Usually that's how the victims last so long, they're fed a special pod that keeps their body processes working, hydrated and more or less fed. After that the sleep spores basically keep them in a coma." The Ranker shook his head, "Anyway, my idea is…to feed the egg Shinsu. Force it to hatch more quickly."

Bam side-eyed him, "How exactly should I do that without hurting him?"

"One of two ways. You rip the cocoon open and have sex with him in place of the vines, since that's what they do anyway. That, or you feed your energy to the pod connected to the vine already in there." 

Wincing, feeling sick and angry, Bam rubbed his arm. Rape via vines and a monstrosity or sex with him , someone Khun was supposed to be able to trust? The answer was an easy one. "You…said you can erase the memories? How…how do you know about all this?"

"I was suspicious when a teammate had withdrawal symptoms and got hypersexual after this Floor and I did my research. Turns out that happened because they had been a virgin beforehand. So, that's something you should keep in mind. Even with the memories erased, that can happen."

"How would I even watch out for something like that when this is over?!" Bam was horrified. This could come back to haunt Khun anyway?! What could he do? He didn't know anything about Khun's sex life to even have that answer!

"Hypersensitivity is one thing. Keep tabs on if he fiddles with his clothes more often, as if he can't handle wearing them or is too hot and sweating. Flirting is a big obvious clue, but that's your call if it's out of character," the Ranker shrugged, "The choice is yours. You're stuck here for at least a week, but I suggest two so not to overwhelm his body. If he gets injured because of the egg I will have him healed. I will take my leave."

Watching him go through the warp portal, Bam stared down the cocoon for all of three seconds before tearing into it, the sticky substance on his hands sending heebie-jeebies down his spine. 

Khun was naked and asleep and only one of those things set off his anxiety, "Khun! Khun please wake up," he begged, fear clutching his chest and he continued ripping.

Seeing Khun 'pregnant' struck Bam sideways and his fingers ran over the bulge in Khun's lower abdomen. 

Bam refused to acknowledge how his pants got a little tighter and heat pooled in his groin. Maybe it meant that he was a monster, too, and he didn't need that right now.

"Khun, please," he stroked his fingers in sky blue locks, kneeling beside the cocoon and scooping the limp body into his arms, a gentle hand tucking his head into his shoulder and rocking him.

How long had it been since their chase? 

"Ba-am?" That timber voice was croaking but it was there. 

Bam jerked at the sound as well as the hand on his face. When did he start crying? "Khun! Khun you're-" not okay "-awake!" He heaved a choked sound in relief, "Everyone passed. I got you. You did it, Khun. I'm here now."

"'s been a month?" Khun sounded disbelieving and groaned, squirming and gasping, fingers digging into Bam's bicep, "Hot…Bam, Bam, I'm…" he trembled and curled closer, writhing, "Why won't it stop?" He whispered.

"It's only been a few hours. Whatever is in your system is still there." Fuck it. He had a week. Grabbing Khun's chin, he shoved their mouths together. Clumsy, inexperienced and terrible but the give of Khun's plush lips under his was heady and addicting. "I'll take care of you." He swore as he fell with Khun back into the cocoon. It was cushioned and much better than the cave floor would have been.

"Can't- I'm always-" Khun started and stopped, giving way to Bam's assault of kisses. With a hand at Khun's side the other arched into it, legs bracketing Bam's. 

"You're not a burden. Not to me." At Khun's incessant tug at his clothes Bam was shedding them and tossing them back out, growling when they had to break apart. Was it the smell of a cave? Of Khun covered in sweat and slime? Was it the needy way he pawed at his body and arched into him? All of the above?

Whatever it was, it didn't take long for him to be as naked as his Lightbearer. Their cocks slid against one another and Bam could feel the bump of the egg against his own stomach. Ignoring how it made him twitch, Bam reached between them and felt the stretched, used hole. That got Khun to cry out, holding on to his shoulder for dear life and something dark and possessive came over Bam.

"I don't want to hurt you but I don't want this thing to have you longer than it needs to." He hissed against Khun's mouth, "A week. Can I have you, Khun? I know how to make it go away faster."

"Do it," Khun gasped, hips grinding down on his fingers, "Yes. Yes, Bam. I can't-too much. I can't-"

"I got you." Bam promised, grabbing the base of himself so he could guide it to Khun's already slick entrance. In one smooth, easy thrust he was fully seated and they both moaned into each other's mouth. Khun was the first to add tongue, grasping his head with both hands and driving the wet muscle past Bam's lips. He could taste a sticky, syrupy sweetness and before long his tongue and lips were tingling. He started a pace full of purpose, not too fast and slapping his pelvis against Khun's ass. The sounds were lewd and nasty, but both of them were lost in the sensation.

Around them the cocoon started rebuilding itself. Bam noticed, but he didn't care. It wasn't like he had anywhere else to be. He was going to be right here, buried deep in Khun's body until he was released from the creature that bound him. 

"Bam, oh-" Khun whimpered, "Ah, more, a-ah! I can take it-"

That flipped a switch and after grasping onto Khun's thighs Bam increased his pace, pitching his hips forward and pulling back until he was nearly leaving his body. The new angle made Khun scream , shooting fire through Bam's veins at the sound and how it echoed. His own grunts mingled with it, and as he watched Khun take what he had to give he suddenly hated that he was taken by a thing , "Mine." He snapped, "You're fucking mine , you understand me? Don't ever leave me like that again!" 

Tears pooled at the corner of Khun's pretty pale lashes, nails on long pale fingers dug into the sticky cocoon, "Sorry-I'm sorry, Bam, please, I just wanted to-"

Bam wasn't having it, leaning forward and sinking his teeth into Khun's collarbone to shut him up. Which snapped them both, Khun crying out again as he came all over their stomachs and Bam followed suit with barely enough time to remember to add copious amounts of Shinsu.

Doing so led to it being so hot inside Khun, more than he already was. 

This time, when Khun screamed, it wasn't in pleasure. Even Bam felt the pulse of the egg inside Khun and he barely had room to lean back as Khun grabbed at the bulge. "I feel-I feel it growing!" He choked, bucking into him, heels digging into his ass. Arching, he gave a full body shudder, "Bam!"

"What-" Bam panicked. The cocoon was completely closed around them now but he could see a little bit. About as well as one could underneath the sheets with moonlight streaming in for light. "What do I do?! Khun!"

"More! Oh Gods, more, Bam!" 

"But I-" his dick was already shrinking and he was worried about his- Bam didn't know what they were now, but he was certainly no longer turned on.

There was an opening in the cocoon and a vine slipped in with a pink bulb on it. Khun, bleary eyed and trembling, seemed to recognize it, "Bam, eat that."

Knowing they at least both wanted the same thing, he snatched it and popped it in his mouth. If it wasn't for Khun sitting up enough to slap a hand over his face, he would have spat it back out. "I know, just-" Khun closed his eyes and tried to breathe, "We can do this. It's okay if it puts us to sleep, too. I want this to stop. I'll forget about all of this, right? Tell me. Tell me anything you want, Bam."

He shouldn't be given that kind of opportunity. Groaning against Khun's hands, Bam felt the warmth in his stomach from swallowing the…fruit? It helped that his lips and tongue were sensitive now as he licked the other man's palm. Leaning over him, he felt heady seeing him open his mouth for a kiss, but Bam's destination was that pale skin. Gently, he licked and kissed the bite he made. Cock still buried in him, Bam sighed deeply and rocked their bodies together.

What to say? "I like your hands in my hair…" That was a good start, and he closed his eyes as Khun did so, removing the ponytail holder which was barely holding on anyway. A light snap told him Khun put it on his wrist and that seemed to settle his feelings a bit. "I've cared about you since the Floor of Tests. I missed you so much. Every time we were apart I just wanted you back. I wanted to be together between the Workshop and the Hell Train. I was a wreck when you were in your coma." There was a tender stroke through the brunet strands. 

Khun didn't say anything in response, simply shifted his hips and Bam could feel his cock coming back to life. Gods, licking this pale body while his tongue was sensitive was such a trip. So smooth and silky with the slightest roughness of his nipples he wouldn't have noticed otherwise. Flicking one of the peaks, Khun seemed to like it, squirming beneath him, and Bam wrapped his lips around the pink bud.

"Ah! Ah, fuck, that's so much better than-" he keened a bit, a throaty sound as he arched.

"Better than what, Khun?" Bam rumbled, scraping his teeth over the nipple. Flicking his eyes up, he noticed the flush was a bit more shy than aroused.

"Th-There's these little flower vines and they feel like little kisses all over, with a little suction here and there." Khun admitted, licking across his lips, "Kiss me, Bam. I'm sure it'll feel amazing with the tingling."

Groaning, how could he refuse that? Surging up he latched onto the blue-haired beauty. It was a tangle of lips, tongue, and teeth but it was fantastic. In short order he was giving little aborted thrusts into the ready and waiting body, "Not even noon and I'm going to fuck you until we pass out," Bam hissed against his jaw, nibbling and sucking his way to Khun's ears. Just as he thought, he was sensitive here, too.

"Fuck, yes," Khun pleaded, hands latching around his neck, "Take me. Fill me up. I don't want to stay here. Whatever this is, it's working."

"Why wont you tell me things, too, Khun?" Bam asked as he started a slow and steady rhythm, trying to get back into it rather than to be gentle, "I want to know." The soft blue glow from outside gave Khun's silhouette an ethereal twist, and Bam's heart was gone. He couldn't come out of this the same way.

Khun knew this. Of course he did. "No, you don't," Khun was moving with him, their synergy amazing even like this, "I'll forget but you won't. Ah…mm…and wh-where will that leave you? Ah-ah! All al-lone with knowledge I wouldn't believe-hnnn…"

"Tell me then…mmph…how do I…ah…" Bam's head was heavy on Khun's shoulder, sweaty and dizzy, glad he didn't really need to see anyway, "How do I love you?"

A choked noise went off in his ear, "Kiss the back of my neck when I'm working on my lighthouse." His fingers gripped harder on Bam's shoulder blades, scratching at the skin, "Say you couldn't help yourself. That will get my mind spinning." They were breathing in each other's air again as they bumped noses and tried to kiss for real, huffs and gasps filling the space between them as well. "Make me coffee in the morning, you know how I like it, and stroked my hair, like you're smoothing down a piece I missed. You know how I hate that." Bam had a hand at the back of Khun's neck, tugging his hair to expose more of it and a long, drawn out moan was his reward. "Touch me. My back, m-my arm-hah-tease me by trailing your fingers-" Bam's right hand skimmed over his side while the left released his hair in favor of holding his hip. All the while he continued to give little bites to his neck and lick the shell of his ear. "Yes! Yes, Bam, just like-Bam!"

Outright babbling at this point he was cut off with another heady makeout, their bodies undulating and molding together so well it was hard to tell who was who.

"Gunna-Bam, gunna-" and with a particularly hard thrust, Khun was lost, back arching and toes curling. It wasn't even white anymore, just a slimy gush, but his whole body continued to tremor in Bam's hold, ass clenching down and fluttering, "Bam, it hurts…" he hissed, "Too much…"

“A…lil more…” he drove both hands into Khun's hair and kissed him firmly, cradling his head as he pounded into him with what little leverage he had. “I love you,” he groaned between kisses, “I love you…Aguero…” and he was spilling, spiraling out of control as he jerked in erratic thrusts. There was no growth of the egg or scream Khun made which honestly relieved him, but he did feel the throbbing pulse again. Gently, slowly, he pulled out and Khun turned into a puddle, eyes drooping, but Bam’s body was hot after eating that…fruit, thing. Whimpering softly, he nuzzled his cheek and kissed across his cheek, “I need…I’m sorry…” he didn’t know what to do, and if Khun had eaten that bulb before, it must’ve worn off if he got to the point it hurt.

Bam’s hearing caught the sound of something ripping at the cocoon and he flinched when he felt something at his legs, but it was practically impossible to turn around in here without breaking it apart again. Then he remembered what Khun described, how there’d been little ‘kissing’ flowers and that was what he felt now across his calves and thighs. “Aguero, there’s…but it’s going after me now.”

“Hmm…” Khun drawled, sounding on the verge of passing out, “Maybe…it senses your hormones. We give off natural pheromones and the scent of it can spike when we’re aroused. That’s why people will say ‘you smell really good’, they’re talking about that.” 

How in the world was Khun able to rattle off so much information when he was hovering between sleep and awake? It made sense to him, Khun always knew how to break it down so he would understand. Bam bit his lip and his body trembled as the vines wormed their way around his pelvis, brushing against his dick, “What if it tries to…”

“You’re stronger than I am, and a part of me knew I signed up for this when I ran into the forest. So I didn’t fight it as well as I should have.” Khun hummed again, brushing long digits in Bam’s unruly locks, “when you get close again you can put it in, okay? We want to get out of here as fast as possible, right?”

“I don’t want this to kill you, so you swear you’ll tell me to stop when it’s too much? It grew earlier, right? I don’t want you to…” it was horrifying to even consider, “Pregnant women usually grow for months…”

“I’ll tell you to stop.” Khun promised, rubbing his thumb on his cheek, looking totally out of it but lucid enough to keep him calm, “I won’t hurt you like that, either. I’m here, Bam. It’s going to get uncomfortable in this position for too long, though, so I’ll stay like this for a little bit, while it…hmm…preps you. Then I’ll turn around.”

Turning around would be a bit tricky, but they had enough room. Then they could sleep back to front, too. Honestly, long term that position would be easiest. “Right. Okay. I-” he made a muffled little noise as the vines reached his nipples, chest jutting out and pushing into the sensation, “Ah…”

A bushy blue brow arched up and Bam didn’t know what to think about that smirk. “You like that, huh?”

“Not-hnn-not as much as you seemed to. It’s…um. Strange. It’s…it’s nice, though.” Bam admitted, throat working and he felt a thicker vine skim across the cleft of his ass, causing him to reflexively move away and further into Khun, shaking as he was scared and nervous. Khun’s touch was fluttery, limbs feeling too heavy to really move them, but it was there, grounding him. Still, he swallowed hard and kissed him to distract himself, "I'd rather it was you…"

Khun moaned weakly, "Damn it, you can't just…say those things."

"Why?" Bam was kissing him again as he felt the flick of something wet similar to a tongue swiping at his rim, "Why not, Aguero?

"Makes me want to fuck you." Khun growled low and moved his hands to grab at Bam's asscheeks, smirking at his whimper since it gave the weird tongue vine more room and spread him open, "Maybe if I get me to have sex with you after this I'll do that. Would you like me to fuck you, Bam? Want me to be the one eating you out? I do. I want to feel your tongue driving into more than my mouth."

Oh…oh shit , Bam got it now as his dick throbbed with the mention. "All of it." He heaved, "I want it a-all! Shit!" He grit his teeth at the punch of the vine and the way his hole gave way, "Aguero!"

"Gods, Bam, you're so greedy and the way you say my name…" Khun shuddered, and with a quick peek Bam saw he had a chub. Maybe he really could get Khun to cum again when he did. Coming without him felt incredibly selfish.

Feeling the vine inside him was a whole new experience. Every smooth inch and the slide of it in and out at a slow, languid pace was starting to make him feel something. Words stopped between them in favor of his harsh breathing, and incrementally he started pushing back against the vine, fucking himself with it rather than letting it fuck him. Still, he was stiff and didn't know how to handle it. For as hot and needy as he was, Bam wasn't… enjoying this. He didn't want the vine and couldn't let himself fall into the sensations.

Khun opened his eyes enough to watch him and noticed the pinch of his eyebrows. When he kissed between them he startled him, and Bam gasped as he teased the wrinkled skin where the vine moved. Thanks to the slickness, it took nothing at all to slip it in alongside it.

The entire act made a keen rise in Bam's throat and he pressed back with a little cry, "Aguero!" Now he was squirming, the heat in his veins lighting on fire , "Ah, that-hnng-good, s'good!" 

"You're doing so great, baby," Khun cooed and made Bam's length bob, "This was what you needed, huh? My hands on you, pleasing you…" the spare hand kneaded the flesh of his ass, keeping him spread, and added a second finger, the vine slipping between them as he pistoned in next to it, "Nothing else can satisfy you, isn't that right, Bam?"

"Yes! Yes, oh Gods, please, that feels amazing," Bam babbled, his body moving purely on instincts with no direction or purpose. All he knew was, "Please don't stop…"

"I won't, not until you fuck me again." Khun licked Bam's ear and when that got nothing, he nibbled at his jaw and neck, smirking as he whined. "Neck is where it's at for ya, huh, Bam?" He cooed, scraping his top teeth along the length of it. Bam full on rutted against his thigh and that made Khun's cock twitch in interest. 

Practically delirious with the liquid fire in his veins, lightning on his skin and all of the sensations, Bam completely lost himself. Rocking forward and back, sounds he didn't know he could make tumbling from his mouth, it was only when he felt the sharp twist of pleasure in his lower abdomen that he forced his body to still, "Aguero…" 

Khun was instantly removing his fingers and gingerly rolling his body over, hissing through his teeth as the egg jostled and made it more difficult. Bam helped as much as he could, mostly rolling him since Khun was weak and there was hardly any room to maneuver. When they succeeded and that glowing pale ass was presented to him, Bam didn't waste time in lining up and pushing .

They both moaned long and loud as the new position felt entirely different for both of them, hitting spots that made sparks go off.

"AH!" Khun sucked in air harshly when he was flush, nearly choking, "Bam! F-fuck, could you…hold my shoulders? Arms? I don't want to…" 

Bam got what he was saying and strong, sturdy hands wrapped around his biceps at the junction of his elbows and the pace he started was brutal, pulling him back to meet each thrust and at the same time Bam was shouting as the vine fucked him, wiggling and catching all the sweet spots at once.

"Aguero…Aguero, I'm not gonna make it!" Bam panted, faltering almost immediately and his thrusts became erratic.

"Cum." Khun ordered, not at all surprised and his own dick smacked his abdomen, "Fill me up. Need to feel it. Want to feel you. Oh, fuck, Bam…you feel so good. I'm so -ah- glad you're here. I'm glad it's -hah- you. I need-ah! Need you! Please cum! Until it's nothing but you!" 

With all Khun's dirty talk and pretty words, Bam was screaming , tumbling right off that edge and he was pouring out so much Shinsu as he released it lit up the entire cocoon. Khun was shouting but it wasn't pain, cumming untouched at the sheer force of Bam's second orgasm, hot and filling him in thick spurts.

They collapsed and the vine removed itself, allowing Bam to wrap Khun up from behind and curl not only against him but around him. "I'm glad I'm here, too…" Bam whispered, even as he heard the steady breathing of Khun, passed out and limp in his arm.

Much to their dismay, the Firefish turned what was supposed to be 8-12 hours of sleep with the purple spores, the fruit effects and the spore effects were halved. This resulted in both being purged from Khun's system fairly quickly while Bam would still be either asleep or sleepy and leaving Khun alone.

Bam hated it.

Where they could be thankful, however, was the Firefish also kept Khun healed of any internal damage or his ass being ruined during Bam's rough horny treatment. According to Khun, it was also trying to purge the damn thing, but even if fire was the worst for a plant, the egg shell wouldn't give. 

It also hadn't grown anymore throughout the days, which was good, but it took Bam's Shinsu and soaked it up like a sponge. Khun was worried that might mean it would be hard to destroy when it came out. Bam was more concerned about it getting away rather than obliterating it.

Bam damn near wanted to ask the Ranker to purge his memory of the last day when it actually happened.

Let it join the rest of his nightmares. What mattered was it was gone and it was all over.

Considering he had told Shibisu he would be two weeks, he sat with Khun as he slept in a nice warm bed with the sheets tucked around him. Memory wiped, all he had to do was wait. The Ranker kept him in an induced coma for a full 24 hours, annoying the Firefish, but it was worth it to make sure everything was back to normal.

Khun was healthy and safe, and Bam didn't care about much else. 

While he waited, Bam fought the ghost of the vines on his body and inside him by destroying the Floor until not a single trace of that monstrous creature was left. Maybe if he was a monster, someone would do this with him, but at this point all they had to do was sick Khun on him and he would take the blade to the back with a smile on his face and 'thank you' on his lips.

With soot staining his clothes and the one green view from the cabin windows now charred remains of the trees, Bam didn't even flinch as he saw Hwaryun.

"I have a spare room rented for you until the end of the month, my God." She had told him, not looking away from his intense stare. There was no way she didn't know about any of this.

"Thanks." Was all he could say, because what else was there to say?

She walked out and Khun's eyes fluttered open.

"Khun!" Bam was up out of his seat and placing his hands on the edge of the bed, by Khun's arm, "How are you feeling? Can you move? We really need to leave."

Khun's eyes were wide and alert right away, "What is it, Bam?" He croaked and tried to sit up only to sway and hold his head after he fell back against the pillows, "I feel like I drank half a whiskey bottle, but I could've sworn I didn't drink that much…" 

Bam's smile was strained. Right. That had been the night of their first day. "I guess Hatz goaded you and you took the challenge. I wasn't paying that much attention, I sat with Isu and Anaak. We really should go."

"Is that smoke I smell on you? You look like you jumped in a fireplace-" Khun paled and he was throwing off his blankets, "Why are we just casually chatting when there's a fire?! Why don't I hear the others?!"

"The cabins are protected and there are warp portals. They already left. The Test Administrator passed us so don't worry about it." Bam assured. Wow, all this lying was going to bite him in the ass later, but hopefully he could send Shibisu a message telling him just enough of the truth that the others would play along. 

Not even giving a damn about it at this point, he scooped Khun up, earning a yelp and Khun's hands flailed before landing on his shoulders. "Bam!"

"Hold on, Khun. I'll get us out of here."

Chapter Text

It was incredibly obvious that something was not right as soon as they got to the next Floor and they had their own private room for the rest of the month.

Which struck him as odd, but as he glanced at Bam and saw his eyes were tight, shadowed in a way they hadn't been in a long time, Khun kept his mouth shut. 

Getting to their space was a bit difficult, too. Bam had to support him as they went long distances down the hallway. Even if he drank as much as he thought, walking shouldn't feel like such a chore. Flopping onto the large King bed, he pursed his lips. "There's only one."

"Mm. Hwaryun got it for me."

"Ah. I guess it's nice that it's a King-size. We can be at opposite ends and be fine."

"Yeah." 

Bam didn't sound like himself and it bothered him. "Are you alright? Are you feeling dizzy or anything from the smoke?" He shouldn't be drenched in soot from simply running outside. Had he tried to help others, as he usually did? 

"I'm alright, Khun. I'm going to take a shower. Please rest, okay?" Bam called as he turned on his heel and disappeared into the ensuite bathroom.

Waving a hand to look at his Pocket easily confirmed his suspicion; it was a week and a day since he drank a drop of alcohol.

Bam really was a terrible liar…but why would he lie? To him no less? Where had that time gone? Khun decided to give Bam the benefit of the doubt. He seemed extremely upset about it, too, and he didn't want to poke at a wound better left alone.

That didn't mean Khun wouldn't do his research, especially with the sound of the shower turning on. First order of business was learning about the previous Floor.

That was where he got his first wave of deja vu.

This information…he had definitely read it before the party. Don't go into the forest. Those who did went missing for a month but there could be only one and Princesses were excluded. Anyone who came back had withdrawal symptoms but nothing said from what. Teams automatically passed if this happened.

So then why…?

What happened? Did Khun do that? What did Bam do ? Had he…started a forest fire to find him? Wouldn't surprise him in the slightest, if he was honest with himself.

He couldn't remember a damn thing and guessed it was the same circumstance the other Regulars went through. 

'Better stop thinking about it before you ruin all his hard work, dumb fuck.'

Khun wrinkled his nose hearing the Firefish, 'Is that so?'

'Some things are better left alone .'

Strange that even the Firefish didn't want to talk. Reluctantly, Khun conceded and waved his lighthouse away. The message was clear. Leave it be. 

Unfortunately for Bam, he was going to have to tell the others he knew the time was wrong. Bam must have told them to lie when he got into the bathroom. 

What made him the most upset in the same conversation with Shibisu on his Pocket, he was told that Bam fought the Ranker, and then as they were all leaving through the warp they could smell the smoke and see it billowing in the distance. They had no idea what was going on. Shibisu didn't even know what the big deal was. 

Which meant that the only one who did was currently taking his sweet time in the shower.

He really didn't want to do this. Confronting Bam could either lead to avoidance, denial, or straight up shutdown of any conversation. Still, he couldn't let this stand. Lying to him when things were so precarious? When their lives depended on cooperation? Khun wasn't going to let him get away with it so easily.

Going to the bathroom door, he tested the handle just to see if Bam had been frazzled enough to forget to lock it. A frown downturned his features when the door opened freely. Waving up a lighthouse, he gathered some spare clothes that were folded to use as his excuse if Bam poked his head out. Not that he needed an excuse since Bam's clothing had been filthy.

"Hey, Bam, I brought you some fresh-" 

A quiet 'mmph' and a muffled whine.

He froze. Oh…that's why Bam had been taking so long. "Um…fresh clothes. I'll just leave them on the counter. We need to talk when…when you're done." Cheeks flaming, Khun hightailed it out, catching the tail end of a moaned 'thanks'. He did what he set out to do and that was what mattered.

Only problem was…he had to ignore how his own body decided to be a traitor. Never had he gotten so… stiff in his pants so quickly before. Khun was actually dizzy with it and there was something strange about his body. A warmth that had nothing to do with the Firefish accompanied by a tingling beneath his skin. His fingers especially. The heat pooled in the center of his torso and radiated . Gripping the doorway of the bedroom, he heaved frantic breaths and tried to calm down as his legs shook.

'This is something I can't flush from your system. You're stuck with the energy until it fades naturally. I can't believe he got you addicted …couldn't be the plant, it had to be the kid.'

Khun latched onto all of that information. 'What the fuck are you talking about?'

'I will burn you if you try to remember. Being addicted to him is nothing. Just takes time.'

Fantastic, the fish wasn't going to say anything else. Khun wanted to think he was screwed, but the innuendo only made him throb and he stumbled to the bed. No point in wanking one out when Bam was almost done. Addicted…withdrawal symptoms. A plant in the forest that got you addicted to it, that made…sense, he supposed. the pieces were falling into place, but Khun figured he would never have the full picture. Not with the Firefish threatening him and Bam freaking out enough to lie . Maybe Bam got addicted, too? 

'Addicted to him '…did that mean…Bam?

Was he craving him and that was the reason for the burst of desire? Was this plant an aphrodisiac like taking ecstasy? That was…incredibly dangerous. No wonder Princesses were exempt.

Yet what…how he was addicted to… Bam , his memory was suppressed and this…buzzing couldn't be forcibly removed. Was it…that bad? Some sort of…sex pollen? Had Bam gone crazy and…or maybe it had been him?

His body shuddered at the thought of either way and he covered his mouth, forcing himself to calm his body with rolling chills of his ice. Who knew when Bam would step out and he was still going to talk to him. 

So he sat, muscles sore and now he had an inkling as to why. Maybe in order to block his memories he had to be out for a few days. So it was a mixture of…the sex and being out of commission. Really, Khun had no idea how to process the fact he and Bam had fucked. By the looks of things it had barely been consensual. Khun hated that the most. Was Bam…

He didn't get to finish the thought process as he heard the bathroom door and Bam came out with a towel around his head. He was…also shirtless, but was wearing the pants, unbuttoned and hanging low on his hips. 

Shit. So much for all his efforts. Still, he had to try.

"Bam." Those golden eyes flitted over and caught his, only to dart away, "Sorry for barging in without knocking, that was my mistake."

A deep flush covered Bam's face and Khun was fascinated by it and how it traveled down his neck and collarbone to the top of his chest. "I-it's fine. Um…thank you for the clothes. I'll put the shirt on when I'm more dry. Uh…y-you said we…need to talk." He was looking down at his feet and his toes were rubbing into the carpet.

Khun wanted to go to him, make him look at him, but standing wouldn't be good right now. "I know you lied to me. It was a pretty bad one, too. I also know you told the others to pretend because I talked to Shibisu. You fought another Ranker, Bam? Are you serious? Not only that, but the Box is blowing up about the fire on the last Floor. Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

Bam was quiet, going from looking at the ground to the ceiling and he closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. A tension was in the air as he released it. The tingle in Khun's fingers made him start tapping them against his thigh. He didn't like how quiet Bam became.

"I figured it out, too. Something to do with the forest trapping people, right?" Khun tacked on. 

What he wasn't expecting was Bam's attention to snap towards him and there was a frantic panic, "Don't!" He was crossing the distance to get in front of Khun, "Please don't remember! You can't! Let me-let me remember but please, don't-"

"If I hurt you, I'm sorry." Khun didn't like that reaction at all. His hand covered his mouth again and he looked away from him, "I'm surprised you even have us in the same apartment. I guessed it has to do with some sort of aphrodisiac, right? The Princesses are exempt so it has to do with sex or something of the sort. I…if I forced anything on you I'm sorry, Bam. If it was you, then…it's okay. If it was out of your control then it wasn't your fault."

"So you don't remember…anything?" 

Khun chanced looking at him and was shocked by the tears falling down Bam's face, and even more so when Bam fell to his knees and…hugged him around the waist, burying his face in his stomach. "B-Bam?" He stammered, "Bam, what's going on? Talk to me."

"I almost lost you. I can't do that again. Please stop trying to remember. It was your fault-" Khun flinched but Bam held fast, "-but it wasn't what you think. You didn't hurt me…or you did, but not…like that." 

Bam's babbling only confused him further. "If it hurts you so much…why do you still have your memories but I don't? Did…I have a bad reaction?"

Shaking his head, Bam sniffed, "I guess you could say that, but I kept mine because…if I have them suppressed I'll forget what you said." There was a little hiccup, "I don't want to forget what you told me, so I'll…I'll deal with it. It can be another nightmare, it's fine…"

"It's not, though…you're a mess, Bam. You said I didn't violate you, but…" he startled at a sudden snort from the brunet.

"If anyone violated anyone it was me to you…" Bam pulled back and wiped his face, "The situation was really weird, but I'm not going to get into it. I can't tell you. I won't." He gave him such a pleading expression, "You probably don't want to rest, but at least lay back on the bed and I'll make you coffee, okay?"

Khun watched him stand and turn around, but he reached out and caught his hand. Bam was surprised and Khun didn't really know what to say besides; "I don't hate you or anything, Bam. Whatever happened…I'm still here, okay?" He didn't want to bring up the addiction part, not in the face of that conversation. "Coffee would be great, thank you. I have to research this Floor's test and see what Isu's gathered."

His usual business seemed to calm Bam and tense shoulders dropped a little, "Right," he nodded, "You do that and I'll be right back."

This time, Khun let him slip free and walk away. 

Khun didn't manage to make it another twelve hours.

The first night he ended up waking up sweating and throwing off the blankets he would usually be rolled up in. Just having his pajamas rubbing across his skin was setting off every nerve in his body and he was rock solid and squirming.

Bam had taken the couch even though Khun told him that he didn't have to. Khun was now glad for it, and tugged off the pjs as well. 

It was his turn in the shower in the morning and first of all, he needed to get rid of this boner. If he didn't it would be incredibly difficult to talk to Bam. For safety measures he locked the door and he tried to keep it mechanical and get it done, he really did.

Unfortunately, he gave up after ten minutes and focused on rinsing the shampoo and started washing his body. For some fucked up reason he hadn't been able to get remotely close. Grumbling, he was innocently washing his ass when he brushed against his rim.

Sparks danced behind his eyelids and he thumped his chest against the shower wall with a hiss, spasming and doing it again before he could stop. The soap made it so easy and he moaned. He hoped to whatever holy being that existed that it was covered by the sound of the running water. Fuck! His eyes rolled back and he gripped himself, tugging his flesh as he pushed two slender fingers in. This wasn't a usual occurrence but at this point he simply wanted him and Bam to be in the same room as one another without feeling this tingling and desire to kiss him.

Ah, shit. Imagining being kissed by Bam had his mouth parting further and he whimpered, thrusting faster. Get it done! 

Yet to spite his desperate pleas his mind conjured up some fantasies. Bam pressed to his back, large dick smooth as it slid in and out. "Bam…" he whispered unbidden and ground back into his hand. Kisses on his shoulder that felt so real. Bites to his neck, marking, claiming him. Khun's eyes rolled back, cock twitching in his hand. Not enough. "Bam…" A third finger. 

Fireworks went off and he lost his footing, sliding down against the wall to his knees and he was needy for his release, his damp hair clinging to his cheeks. His vision was blurry, not registering the bathroom but instead it was someplace dark and protected. Bam was all around him. Holding him tightly and whispering nothing into his ear, teasing the shell of it, his nipples, stroking at his dick. "Bam…Bam…please, fuck, Bam…" he babbled, not thinking about how it was a bad idea to cry out that name. Gritting his teeth he whined as he swore he could feel the ghost of these touches he was imagining on his skin. 

That tingling was at full force and he could feel it radiating in his whole body before it pooled at his lower abdomen and he throbbed hard, "Bam...I'm gunna...I feel you, fuck, I'm...BAM!" His whole body went rigid and his cum shot up, coating the wall in thick gobs and he slumped forward, fingers slipping out and he tried to catch his breath, disoriented and trying to make sense of where he was, what he was doing.

Khun came back to his body at the turning of the knob and then a nervous knock on the door. "K-Khun? You…okay?" Bam called.

Mind clear in his post-nut euphoria, Khun was quickly mortified. "Y-Yes, Bam! I'm fine. Did I wake you? S-Sorry. Um, I'll be right out in another five. Just gotta rinse the conditioner."

"That's fine. I'll make you coffee while I wait." 

Getting back up on shaking legs, Khun hurried up and tried not to think about how this was reversed from yesterday and that Bam had likely orgasmed in this shower, too. 

Had Bam been thinking of him?

Feeling a press of lips on the back of his neck did multiple things to Khun's heart and set off the tingles. That coupled with a mug placed on the coffee table made him wonder, not for the first time, what he had said to Bam that he had been forced to forget.

"W-What was that?" He asked, trying to keep his tone light. It was the evening of the second night and he hadn't felt the tingling since the shower this morning. Gingerly he took the mug, sighing at the warmth that seeped into his hands.

"I couldn't help myself." Bam answered just as quietly, as if trying not to disturb their fragile existence. It sounded familiar almost, too. Besides all this the second biggest oddity was not being near their team, planning and trying to survive. Hwaryun wouldn't put Bam in danger, not like this. "You're awfully fidgety with your clothes. Are you hot?"

"Hmm? I am? I hadn't…really noticed. I was really focused." Khun took stock of his body and how he felt. His hands being cold was nothing new, but now that Bam mentioned it, his clothes did feel restrictive and irritating. "I'm kinda warm. My clothes are just…uncomfortable, ever since I woke up."

"Hmm…I could give you a massage? To distract you maybe?" Bam offered, sounding hopeful.

Khun shook his head. "I'm alright with just the coffee, thank you, Bam." 

He heard the dejected sigh behind him and wondered if that was the wrong choice. "I'm going to go out for a little bit, buy some things. I'll be back soon, and I'll be careful."

Khun pouted a little at him but shook his head, "Take care."

The thing was…being alone sucked.

This incessant buzzing through his veins had Khun in the bedroom by the time Bam got back and he was sweating in rivulets around his neck. He curled into the fetal position after hearing the door, not wanting Bam to see the state he was in below the belt. Everything was hazy and he whimpered, wanting to just strip everything off. Only being in his slacks wasn't good enough.

"Khun…oh Khun. I should've known." Bam's voice drifted to him and Khun heard the sound of a bag ruffling on the bedside table as it was set down. Gentle fingers brushed through his bangs and he leaned into the touch subconsciously. "I guess this is what withdrawal does…I don't know how to help."

"Withdrawal usually means I was addicted to something to begin with," bleary blue eyes peeked up at Bam, "The Firefish wasn't able to purge your energy." The fingers stilled and Bam looked stricken, "I'm addicted to you, aren't I? Because of what we did?" He grasped Bam's wrist when he tried to pull away, "Don't leave me, Bam…"

"I-Isn't that the worst things to do with addiction? Feed into it?" Bam's breathing wasn't as smooth as it had been a second ago. "I should go, give you more privacy and you can ride this out."

"Since when were you the voice of reason?" Khun frowned deeply.

"What do you think I did for seven years and then another two when you slept? Just follow orders? I was also a part of Sweet'n'Sour for two of those seven." Bam snapped, "You don't…actually want this. Which is fine. You know Hwaryun got us this place so you'd have a safe space to come out of withdrawal without being bothered by anyone."

"Well that's awfully generous of her, but why have you near me at all then?!" Khun sat up to glare at Bam properly, "You don't have to push those things into my face. I'm very much aware of my fuckups and how I failed you!"

"Khun, that's not what I was saying-"

"Well that's how it sounded! What else am I supposed to feel when you say things like that?! Or should I just keep my mouth shut?!"

"Khun, stop-"

"You think I don't want this, do you?! You think I'll come out of this like I would if I was drunk and everything will go back to normal?!" Khun's hands tossed into the air, "What if I'm already fucking sober, Bam?!"

He wasn't expecting to be grabbed by the back of his neck, but soft lips crashed into his. All he was able to do was give a little 'mmph', but it was already over, leaving him dazed and blinking.

"You don't want this." Bam muttered as he pushed Khun away and moved to stand.

"Why you little-" Khun could be vicious if he so desired in multiple ways. With a harsh growl he grabbed Bam by his shirt, yanking him back down so hard and fast Bam lost his balance. He bit down on Bam's lower lip and got him to gasp, then shoved his tongue into his mouth while swinging his leg over, pinning him to the bed. By the Tower their hands were scrambling all over each other, grabbing hair and Bam's fingers scraped across his skin, ripping out an honest to God moan from Khun's throat. Bam answered back right into their connected mouths and their tongues swirled together in a dance that felt familiar and hungry.

Down below they were grinding and Khun's fingers worked to get at least Bam's top half as naked as his own, ruffling his hair in the process and he looked so good all disheveled. Khun was a bit mesmerized by the speedy rise and fall of Bam's chest that he ran his hands over his abdomen, up until his thumbs brushed over dark nipples, marveling at how he shivered and jerked. It was amazing, seeing him in a new light and taking in how different their bodies were. Bam's beautifully golden tanned skin was such a stark contrast to Khun's porcelain pale complexion, his own nipples a blush pink. "Lust isn't the same as being intoxicated, at least not the level I'm at right now. I'm well aware of what I'm doing and I very much like what I see." He hoped his voice was as much of a seductive purr as he wanted it to be.

Bam's lips parted subtly as he breathed and Khun enjoyed how those caramel brown eyes burned and smothered as they stared him down. "I never thought you would want this." He admitted in a tone of voice that was raw and vulnerable in spite of the bedroom eyes. It sobered Khun up a bit more actually. "One more chance to back off, Khun." His hands had somehow moved to the bed sheets instead of holding Khun like he wanted.

"You're not getting rid of me that easily. How is it you're trying to save me from this rather than the other way around?" Khun was genuinely perplexed by the concept. "Don't…you want this?" He recalled their conversation yesterday and frowned, "I wasn't…bad, was I?" The walls started crashing down and he started to pull his hands from Bam, self-conscious and concerned. Maybe he should have thought that through…if Bam didn't want this, then…

His hands were grabbed and put back on Bam's chest, "I never said I didn't want you." He reached up and brushed his fingers over Khun's cheek as he swept at the fringe framing his face. "You weren't bad, Khun. Not at all." He brought him down to kiss more gently this time and Khun melted into it, still grinding a bit as his body heated up by the romantic gesture.

When they parted, Khun's heart hammered at the sultry-without-trying expression Bam had; lips slightly parted and eyes half-lidded, "You said I can't get rid of you that easily and then you almost pulled away at the thought that I don't want you." A gentle stroke against his cheekbone that Khun leaned into, "I just don't want to lose you, but I do want you. I want this. I was…trying to…love you right. By…making you coffee and kissing the back of your neck or giving you a shoulder massage while you were on the couch. I didn't want to dive into this. I don't want to hurt you, Khun."

"Please," Khun murmured as he turned his head and kissed the inside of Bam's palm, keeping his eyes trained on him. It delighted him at how Bam's breath hitched. "Call me by my name."

"Aguero…" Bam breathed and groaned, "Aguero," he smothered him in another kiss and they rolled so Khun's back lay against the duvet, his body arching into Bam's. It was such a simple thing, but Khun giving him the permission and Bam taking it spoke volumes between them. Khun accepted what he was trying to do and heard what he was saying. Through it all, he still wanted him. 

That was more than either of them could ask for.