Chapter Text
Sweetie’s is the deadest sex shop on god’s green earth.
At least, on a random ass Tuesday night, five hours into his shift, Nicky really thinks so. Even with his own music blasting over Matt’s shitty bluetooth speaker, the clock has been fucking dragging- not even unpacking new huge tentacle dildos is helping his mood tonight.
When the bell dings at five minutes to close, Nicky can’t bring himself to care. He’s already counting the register, and he doesn’t take his eyes off the cash as whoever just walked in shuffles into the shop. He continues to count as they quickly grab something off a shelf and walk up to the counter.
“Find everything okay?” Nicky asks, bland, and sticks the cash back in its drawer before he looks up.
The man standing on the other side doesn’t even dignify him with a response as he slides a box of condoms across the counter. He’s still wearing a name tag- Nicky thinks he recognizes the business, so it must be close by- and it reads SETH in chickenscratch scribble.
He’s handsome, though, in a rough sort of way. A couple piercings, hair cropped close to his skull, and a tattoo peeking out from under one sleeve- plus, he’d picked the higher end of condom sizes. Nicky hopes beyond hope he’s actually measured, or he’ll start envying Seth’s ego instead of his dick size.
Nicky wonders if Seth is reading his name tag, with its NICKY! HE / THEM penned in hot pink.
“Need any lube with that, handsome?” Nicky scans the barcode and slides the box back over.
Seth gives him an irritated look and shakes his head.
“Lucky you. Nine twenty-nine.” Nicky takes the cash. “Have a good night.”
“Yeah.” Seth picks up the box and heads out.
The bell chimes as the door swings shut behind him, and Nicky sighs. He mocks the stranger as he gets back to his clearance stickers. “Thanks, Nicky! Have a good night, Nicky!”
Nicky lets out an irritated groan, wipes Seth’s face from his memory, and gets back to business. By now, the clock’s run down enough that Nicky can jaunt over to the open sign and flip it to closed, giving the store a cursory clean-up before locking up and heading out.
Nicky would probably have forgotten him completely if Seth didn’t come back four days later.
He’s in a much better mood today- he’d woken up with enough spare time to dress cute and get a coffee before his shift, a not-oft accomplished feat in Nicky’s experience. By the time it gets dark out, his drink is down to dredges. His outfit, thankfully, is still going strong- his new jeans fit like a glove, and the spontaneous last-minute crop of half his t-shirt came out the perfect length.
He’s on a fucking ladder when Seth walks in.
“Hello again.” He calls out, hooking the newly redressed mannequin back up to the wall. “Out already?”
Seth ignores him in favor of the shelves.
“Alrighty!” Nicky feigns sales-associate cheer as he climbs back down the ladder and folds it away. He surveys his work, three mannequins clad in less fabric than Nicky usually wears to bed. He nods approval before returning to the desk with its new pile of untagged lingerie sets.
Not long after he’s got the tag gun sorted out, Seth approaches. He’s again in his work outfit, nametag and all, as he sets a bottle of lube on the counter. His eyes immediately drop to the visible sliver of Nicky’s waist and dart away when Nicky sets the tag gun down.
Nicky takes note. He’s had random strangers check him out without a care in the world in store, but this guy doesn’t seem quite like the type. His face is definitely a shade redder, though. Interesting.
“Told you.” Nicky cracks as he shoves the pile of fabric aside to scan the box. “Three forty. Need any condoms with that?”
Seth shoots him a look.
It’s softer than anything he’d given Nicky last time he was here. Nicky is slightly taken aback- but he doesn’t let it show on his face.
It’s possible he’d misjudged. Unfortunately, Nicky is one to jump to conclusions- but this time he feels maybe he jumped too soon. Maybe Seth had a bad day at work the other day. Maybe he’d had a valid reason to be ignorant on day one.
Nicky raises his hands in mock surrender. “Maybe you got really lucky. I don’t know your life.”
Seth rolls his eyes, but it’s not malicious. The corners of his mouth twitch like he might have even found Nicky’s joke funny. The card reader dings.
Okay. Nicky definitely misjudged.
“Anything else I can help you with?” Nicky asks. Seth shakes his head before collecting his box.
“Thank you.” Seth says, his voice odd, and Nicky watches him as he tucks the lube in his jacket and leaves without another word.
This time, his face doesn’t leave Nicky’s mind.
Seth returns a few days before Valentine’s Day.
He’s at the wall of vibrators when Nicky notices his arrival, and like a good sales employee he is positively delighted to help. Three times is a pattern, and Nicky knows it.
Nicky sidles up beside Seth with a perfect smile and an acute knowledge of all things that buzz and rumble.
“Hello there.”
Seth startles. “Jesus.”
Nicky grins. “Looking for something specific?”
Seth takes a moment to recover from his scare. Nicky eyes him, his conch piercing, the edge of his tattoo that Nicky thinks might be an hourglass.
“You make commission or something?” Seth manages. He shifts, sticking his hands in his pockets. Nicky watches him intently as he debates. “Just… whatever works.”
“Well…” Nicky approaches the wall, contemplating. “For you, or-“
“For my girlfriend.” Seth says, a little rough at the edges. A little offended.
Nicky doesn’t take offense. He’s known guys like Seth. Maybe Seth shouldn’t be so sensitive to a non-assumption, but Nicky can look past that- though the confirmation of a girlfriend dims his spirits a bit. He was hoping Seth’d ask him his number tonight.
It doesn’t dim Nicky’s imagination, though.
“Your girlfriend.” Nicky turns back to the selection.
He scans for a moment before settling on what he’s looking for. Seth shuffles aside as Nicky steps forward and pulls two boxes of different sizes down.
Exactly now is when Nicky is at his best. He knows about this. He’s not someone who’s awkward around sex, or toys, and he is never above explaining everything he knows if it’ll make someone feel more confident in a choice. Infinite sex positivity. His shop brain.
“Options.” He says, and faces Seth- who is suddenly a little flushed. “This one-“ He holds up the bigger box- “Rabbit. Good for doing all the work itself. Fun for solo stuff- and if you really wanna focus on watching someone fall apart. This specific one’s got good battery life. Annoying as fuck when shit dies on you.”
Seth nods. He feigns nonchalance, but Nicky can tell he’s actually paying attention. It makes Nicky like him a little more- though that might just be the shop brain talking.
What isn’t shop brain is the uptick in his heart rate as Seth listens to his every word.
“And this one.” Nicky shakes the smaller of the two. “Bullet. This one has a shorter runtime, but it’s got more settings. Girlfriend’s choice. Plus, personal experience, small enough to use with a dick in you without awkward maneuvering.”
Nicky cringes internally. Way to tell a cute guy he has a vagina for the first time.
Seth seems to recognize this, too, and he keeps his eyes on the boxes even as his face goes a little red. Nicky watches as Seth thinks it through. He’s especially good-looking a little flustered- which makes Nicky’s mind wander slightly in a direction he should definitely not be thinking of Seth in.
But- if Seth is red just from hearing Nicky talk about getting fucked, Nicky is incredibly curious how he’d look being the one doing it. Panting, sweaty, desperate, maybe a little tied up- Nicky is versatile. He could take Seth to pieces from either position. Speaking of positions-
Mournfully, Nicky drags himself back to reality. Valentine's Day. Shopping for his girlfriend.
After a long moment, Seth takes the smaller box from Nicky’s hand and lets Nicky hang the other back up on the wall.
Nicky is a little sad the conversation is over. Three times may be a pattern- but in this case, it is certainly not the charm.
“Hope your girlfriend likes it.” Nicky says as Seth swipes his card.
“Me too.”
The next time, Seth buys the rabbit.
With that, something flips. Logically, Nicky knows nothing will happen here, not with recent discovery, but still he wakes a little earlier each morning to pick a shirt with a shorter hem, or the better-fitting pair of jeans. He tells himself it’s not for Seth. He knows despite himself that it is.
The time after the rabbit, it’s more lube and condoms, and then Seth is browsing more and more. Nicky grins at him when he tosses a third vibrator on the counter and watches as Seth’s eyes flit down to the hip cutouts in his pants and back up.
“So when do I get to meet your sugar baby girlfriend?” Nicky jokes as he clicks the trigger on the scanner.
Seth grimaces. “Gross.”
Nicky shrugs. Seth hands over his card, looking like he’s warring with himself, deciding if he wants to elaborate.
“Not my girlfriend currently.” Seth’s face is unreadable.
Nicky blinks. He may only know this guy from a few sparse visits to buy sex toys, but he definitely doesn’t seem the vulnerable type, with his asshole tendencies. Why he’s opening up to some flamboyant idiot behind the counter, Nicky has no clue.
“Oh, shit. Sorry.” Nicky says, and an awkward silence overtakes their small talk. The machine beeps. Seth takes out his card.
Nicky flails. “This for you, then?”
“Shut up, dickhead.” Seth huffs, but his expression cracks as Nicky slides the box back over.
“No judgement.” Nicky raises his hands, more pleased with himself than he should be. He definitely notices the way Seth’s eyes trace the hem of his shirt, the line of his bare hip. He preens. “I can recommend some stuff to tide you over.”
Seth waves a hand dismissively. “I’ll be back.”
Nicky nods. He knows, logically, that Seth means back with his girlfriend- but he lets himself take it also as back here, the shop, in front of Nicky’s register with a new toy on the counter.
Nicky leans forward onto the counter as Seth swipes his box from it. The weight of the day on his feet is hitting him, and his spine is aching enough to make him uncomfortable. He bends, arching, feeling a couple satisfying cracks as he stretches out like a cat.
Seth suddenly busies himself with shoving his new purchase under his arm. “Have a good night.” Seth mumbles, and takes his leave.
Seth comes to visit a few times over the next month.
He never mentions a girlfriend again. Nicky does his best to pitch him some self-pleasure devices, but Seth always clams up when it comes to his own pleasure. Nicky lets himself think about making Seth melt underneath him and tries not to buy him a fleshlight himself.
It’s a few days later that he convinces Seth to buy a pair of handcuffs by displaying them on his own wrists, and watches with delight as pink dusts across Seth’s face. He tries and fails not to think of how much pinker it’d get with the handcuffs on Seth’s wrists instead.
It’s almost a month later when Matt texts him just as he clicks Sweetie’s lock shut behind him.
Still heading over?
I’ll spot you a bottle
Nicky shoves his keyring between his teeth to free his hands as he walks to his car. He’d almost forgotten about Matt’s houseparty invite. Might as well make today’s cute outfit worth it, since Seth didn’t show.
omw !! hope the bottle is unopened this time
No promises!
The drive to Matt’s is easy. The driveway and street have more than a few cars littered along them, but Nicky quickly finds a spot to stick his own car before heading inside.
Matt is nowhere to be seen from the front door. There’s more than a few people in the kitchen, sitting on or leaning against surfaces, beers in hands and laughs filtering through the music in the air.
Nicky immediately goes to the cabinet and draws out an unopened bottle of fruity vodka. He takes a hearty shot as he beelines for the living room, hoping to see Matt and Dan lounging on the couch-
And instead runs into Seth.
He’s on the couch with a beer in his hand like it’s the most casual act in the world, tapping absentmindedly at his thigh with his free hand. His clothes aren’t incredibly different from his work uniform- but seeing him without his name tag and instead in a rock band t-shirt, along with a few more pieces of spiky ear jewelry in and a visible brow piercing, still sends Nicky spiralling.
Nicky swallows against a suddenly dry throat.
After an unknowingly observed moment, Seth stands, shoving a hand into his pocket and striding to the patio door. Amusement tugs at Nicky’s mouth as he follows him over and steps out.
Seth has set his beer down on the railing in favor of fetching himself a cigarette, sticking it between his lips and flicking his lighter as Nicky approaches.
“Hello there.” Nicky says, and Seth nearly chokes on his long drag.
“Oh, fuck-“ Seth coughs, his cig nearly dropping ash onto his shirt. “Jesus. Nicky. What are you doing here?”
An odd twinge makes itself known in Nicky’s chest. Seth remembers his name without his stupid pink penmanship.
“Uh.” Nicky slides the door halfway shut behind them. “Guy who’s house this is is my coworker. Well, boss, sort of. Shift lead?”
“Matt?!” Seth’s coughs turn to slight laughter. “God, that tracks.”
“Crazy you’ve never been when he’s working.”
Seth hesitates with his drink halfway to his mouth. He raises it until the mouth of the bottle rests against his lower lip before he speaks again.
“Yeah. Weird.”
Nicky watches as Seth sips his beer and returns his cigarette to his lips. His brow furrows as he inhales, the silver spike nearly poking his eyelid. Nicky tries not to imagine his eyes screwed shut and his face gone red. His mind betrays him, as is growing more and more common these days. “What are you doing here?”
Seth blows out a plume of smoke. “I was Matt’s roommate in college.”
“No way.” Nicky laughs. “Got any extremely embarrassing stories? Might need them to get out of a shift someday.”
“None that I wouldn’t kill him for sharing.” Matt interrupts from the half-closed doorway, half the spikes in his hair crushed up against the wall.
“Shut up.” Seth busies himself with his cigarette, and Matt steps fully out with them onto the deck.
“He being a dick?” Matt gives Nicky a flat look, like he’s expecting an easy agreement, but Nicky frowns.
Seth can be annoying, but he’s not a douchebag.
“No.” Nicky says, and tips his bottle for Matt to glance. “Stole this. You owed me.”
Matt blinks. “Seth Gordon isn’t being a dick to you?”
Seth scoffs into his drink. His eyes stick somewhere on the lawn. Nicky gives Matt a confused look and takes another shot.
“Okay.” Matt drags the word out like he still thinks Nicky might be lying. “Well, enjoy your smoke break. Dan and I are inside if you need us.”
Seth nods, and Matt disappears back into the house, pulling the door completely shut behind him.
With the blinds blocking their view into the room and the music muffled against the glass, suddenly the two of them feel ten times more alone.
The vodka swirls in Nicky’s stomach. He should have eaten something first. All he’s had all day was a stupid iced coffee.
Seth stubs out the last bit of his cigarette on the wood beside his beer and tosses it to the grass.
“Littering. I’d make you pay up, but then you wouldn’t have money for a fourth vibrator. You get desperate enough to try something for yourself yet?”
Seth groans and lets his head fall forward. “You’re not even on the clock.”
Nicky smirks. The drinks have hit his system a little too fast, and now he’s a little sleepy and a little horny and fed up with whatever coy game Seth is playing. If Seth is waiting for him to make the first move, fine. He’ll give in.
“Doesn’t mean I don’t care about your pleasure, babe.” Nicky leans against the railing next to him, watching Seth as he watches the yard. “If you’re not keeping up with it, let a guy know.”
Seth’s head whips around so fast Nicky’s surprised it doesn’t twist off his neck.
“You’re funny.” Seth manages after a long moment. Nicky shrugs.
He pretends not to notice Seth’s eyes on him while he takes another drink. “I promise, I am always happy to help.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Seth turns back to his beer. Nicky lets his face fall into his arms and lets out a long sigh. Seth wouldn’t know Nicky was flirting with him if he tossed his panties in his face.
He might as well toss them.
“Before I leave tonight,” Nicky starts, pushing himself up, “You’re going to ask me for my number.”
Seth nearly drops his beer.
“I am?” Seth asks, dumbfounded, and mentally slaps himself. He’s been fucking this up since he put the damn condoms on the counter and, like an asshole, dumped his girlfriend to hide his suddenly growing collection of unopened sex toys under his never-made bed. He can’t afford to waste an opportunity when it flashes him a smile like that.
Nicky raises an eyebrow. “I mean, I’m not above fucking in Matt’s bed, but a guy’s gotta pack a bag at least. I got the job for a reason.”
Seth opens his mouth. Closes it. Opens it again.
It’s not like he hasn’t thought about it. Nicky’s easy knowledge and skimpy outfits have had Seth’s eyes and mind wandering more than once- but to put it simply, Nicky is his first. He’s had a few drunk kisses with guys dating back to his teenage years, but never more than that. Never the weird light feeling that takes over his chest when he catches a glimpse of him across the store.
“You…”
“Ask me.” Nicky steps closer. Seth’s heart kicks into double-time. “For my number.”
Seth swallows and wonders who is going to kiss who first.
He pauses for long enough that Nicky sighs and starts to turn away- and only then does he gain enough courage to reach out and pull Nicky back to him.
Nicky makes a surprised noise as their mouths connect. This part is familiar enough. Seth knows how to navigate kissing someone- but Nicky surprises him by taking over almost immediately, one warm hand teasing up the nape of his neck as Nicky guides him closer.
Seth’s beer bottle clatters to the ground in favor of resting his hands on Nicky’s hips. Nicky’s fingers tighten at the back of Seth’s neck, and a quiet, strangled noise tears out of his throat before he can stop it.
Nicky giggles, and Seth thinks he might fall apart.
“Shh.” Nicky shuts him up with another kiss. “You’re asking now.”
“I am.” Seth repeats, made pathetic and stupid. If Nicky can make him like this just by kissing him, he wonders what it’ll be like when Nicky is soft and pliant underneath him.
He startles as Nicky’s hands meet his hips, but they only feel around his pockets and draw out his cell phone to put his number in. Seth sits and watches like an idiot with his fingers clutching Nicky’s waist.
“I’m dead tired.” Nicky says, snapping the phone shut and stuffing it back in Seth’s pocket himself. “I don’t work tomorrow. Text me when you’re out, and you can pick me up.”
“Okay.”
"Good boy." Nicky says, and Seth bites back a whine threatening at his throat. What the fuck. He hopes Nicky can't feel the new semi suddenly prodding at his boxers.
Nicky gives him a last chaste kiss before patting his chest, twice, gentle, and sauntering back towards the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow." Nicky looks him over, and Seth feels a little faint. "Have clean sheets ready."
Seth watches him go, head spinning, digging his phone out of his pocket to check that yes, actually, the guy who sells him vibrators and pitches him handcuffs by clicking them shut on his own damn wrists just put his number in his phone. To fuck. Explicitly and undeniably.
What the fuck was in that cigarette?