a/n  Merry Christmas to those who are celebrating! and happy holidays to all ^^ p.s this chapter is dialogue-heavy orz

Nichkhun had thought it would just be another date— meeting up at a normal restaurant, choosing dinner in the menu, having little talks to know each other more and stuff like that, you know, like a normal blind date is— but no. Taecyeon was serious when he said this would be different, special, and Nichkhun only knew he was telling the truth when he walked in to the restaurant (Sensory, the label said) where he was led to another room, a very dark room with zero source of light that it was impossible to see anything at all. After a few bumps and hits, they finally reached Nichkhun’s reserved table and Nichkhun finally managed to sit down.

“Do you want your food now or are you waiting for someone else?” Nichkhun heard the waiter asked.

“Uh, I’ll wait. My friend should be here soon.”

“Alright sir, I’ll check back in ten minutes.” With that, the footsteps moved further from the table and Nichkhun could hear the quiet chatters of other customers around the room.

“This literal blind date,” Nichkhun snorted to himself. He was introduced briefly about the main purpose of the restaurant when he first arrived. Sensory was apparently like other dark dining places— concept was removing vision to enhance other senses, which was popular all over the world. Since blind dating is common in Korea, Sensory had grown to be a popular place for people wanting to take blind dating to another level— where they get to know each other through talks first instead of through physical appearance or attraction. Nichkhun had to admit, the idea was unique and interesting. He had to give Taecyeon credits for discovering this place.

Few minutes later, someone else was finally being led and seated on Nichkhun’s table.

“Lee Junho!” the person hissed. Nichkhun stayed quiet and tried to listen more. “This is so stupid. Get me out of here. Now.”

“Nuh-uh, you’re staying. Don’t even dream about going back to that studio of yours until you get laid tonight.”

“Yah, Junho! ….Junho??”

“I think your friend’s already left,” Nichkhun finally spoke up, making his presence known.

“Holy shhh—.” Sound of cutlery clattering against the plate. “You scared me. I didn’t see you there!”

Nichkhun laughed quietly. “Well I don’t blame you, really. Can hardly see anything in here, eh?”

“Umm. Right,” the person sounded sheepish. “Did— did my friend set us up? Or is this like...random meetings in the dark?”

“I think our friends set us up. I’m Nichkhun by the way. What’s your name?”

“I— I’m Wooyoung…”

“Well, nice to meet you, Wooyoung. I’d shake your hand if I could actually see it, but, well.”

“Oh! It’s here. In front of you. I think…” Nichkhun chuckled but reached forward to try and find Wooyoung’s hand.

“ I can’t fi— oh,” Nichkhun’s hand bumped into another when he lowered his hand. He grabbed it and gave it a firm shake. The hand was soft but sturdy at the same time. It was also pleasantly warm. Instead of commenting on it, Nichkhun asked: “Should we order our food now?” after letting go of Wooyoung’s hand.

“Yeah, that would be nice. I’m actually...quite hungry,” Wooyoung said in that sheepish tone again.

“Oh yeah? You haven’t had anything before coming here?”

“Not really. I was...busy in my studio.”

Nichkhun hummed in acknowledgement, interest piqued after hearing “studio” mentioned twice that night. They asked for their appetizers before Nichkhun ventured further in his curiosity. “What studio is it? Dancing studio?”

“No. It’s a recording studio actually. I make music for a living.”

“Wow, you’re not secretly an idol, are you?” Nichkhun teased. He heard Wooyoung chuckled.

“I’m not. I don’t know if that disappoints you or not.”

“I’m not disappointed,” Nichkhun said honestly. “Less fuss to deal with. Your job is really cool, though, by the way.”

“Thank you,” Wooyoung replied. Nichkhun was so into this concept now— this dark blind dating. He loved how the temporary removal of his vision really did enhance his other senses— like now, it was his hearing. It was really nice and calming to listen to Wooyoung’s voice, to try and detect how he was feeling through his tone and speeches. “It’s something I really love to do. Too much I guess,” he chuckled again.

“You love it and spend too much time holed up in that place?”

“Kind of.”

“You trapped yourself in that cave too much, your friends have to drag you out to make sure you get laid once in awhile?”

Wooyoung choked on his saliva and coughed, probably startled of Nichkhun’s question, so Nichkhun offered him a drink, with laughter lingering on his lips. “Sorry, I was just teasing you. Here, have some water. On your right side,” he slid the glass towards Wooyoung. Wooyoung seemed to be fumbling his hand on the table, but miraculously found the glass.

“Thanks,” he said, and then mumbled “Of course you’d hear that. That stupid Lee Junho. He’s going to get it. Wait ‘till I get my hands on him.”

“Your friend is quite an honest one,” Nichkhun commented. “But he probably just cares about you.”

“Why does he care I get laid or not?” He sounded embarrassed and almost whiny. Nichkhun smiled in amusement. He wondered how Wooyoung looked like, and if he would want to meet outside later after their date is done, or if they would part ways while they were still in the dark. Nichkhun genuinely hoped for the former, because a part of him really did want to know more about Wooyoung. “Hey, how’d you know it’s water?” Wooyoung belatedly asked, referring to the water in the glass.

“Because I drank it first, while waiting for you to come,” Nichkhun answered easily. There was a moment of silence on Wooyoung’s side, and then: “From the same glass?”

“Yeah?” Nichkhun was unsure if that was the answer Wooyoung wanted to hear, but just to be on the safe side and make Wooyoung feel better, he added “Don’t worry. I drank from the other side of the glass.” Of course Nichkhun was unsure of that as well but there was no way either of them would find out anyway, so it wasn’t such a big deal to him. Appetizers were served and Wooyoung didn’t touch more on the topic.

“Hey,” Wooyoung whispered, seemingly to Nichkhun.

“Hmm?”

“They don’t serve weird things here, right? I’m feeling a bit concerned about this,” Wooyoung voiced out his worry. Nichkhun was feeling a little doubtful, too, but at the same time adventurous, so he didn’t mind not knowing what the foods served to them were.

“I’m pretty sure they served normal meals here,” Nichkhun chuckled. “Do you want me to try first?”

“If that’s okay with you…” mumbled Wooyoung. Nichkhun couldn’t stand how…cute Wooyoung sounded when he was embarrassed. If he could see him right now, Wooy