(A/N: This story is also on my livejournal account, so if you would like to comment over there, go ahead. My username’s ‘rome_is_love’)

Title: Of Vodka and Sex

Chapter 1: Temptations

All is dark. The pavestones are wet with the sweat of the night.

In the distance, the looming figure of a large clock tower struck midnight, its cream face distinct against the indigo-dyed canvas of the night sky. Stars were, once again, non-existent, and a piece of the full moon peered out from a kink in a large, travelling cloud. Down below, much lower than the tops of many a skyscraper, pieced together like an intricate jigsaw puzzle, was the city of London. Narrowing further our attention, we bring it to a humble street lined with piercing neon lights, the air filled with the scent of cigarettes and sex, the melodious song of the night reduced to the mindless pounding of techno music and the creatures of the night lied in wait, their lustful eyes scanning the passer-bys intently. The cars trickled past on the tar roads, the street filled with strips of vehicles inching away, the backwards signs of the clubs and pubs reflected against the dark glass. Behind every corner, a couple ravaged each other senselessly, bodies moving against one another in a trashy erotic dance. Their alcohol-laced lips never broke contact, a few of their garments were already strewn across the pavement.

Time held no meaning here.

Shameless tarts strutted down the sidewalk, the scrap of cloth they wore as ‘clothes’ barely managing to cover up their plastic bodies. Their fake breasts intentionally bounced with every step they took, attracting the immoral eyes of the random men that walked by. However none approached and the whore gave her comrades a look of frustration, manicured hands on her curvy hips and full, red lips pursed together in a pout. But her eyes immediately lit up as she spotted a young man that stood out from the rest of the crowd, an exceptionally tall male with an evident Asian heritage, dressed simply, yet smartly, in a dark grey button-up shirt and black jeans. As he approached, she struck the most testosterone-inducing pose she could muster, but he simply walked past her as if she was invisible. Her jaw dropped and her gaping mouth opened and closed multiple times, shocked that she had just been turned down.

Now, lost in the crowd, the Asian male wove through the sea of people aimlessly, casually, hands shoved into the pockets of his trousers and jet black eyes scanning the odd club names as he walked by. None attracted his attention and none interested him. He let out a long sigh as he turned a corner and curiously made his way down another street. The clubs here was more modern, large buildings with blinding bright lights and burly bouncers standing on guard at either side of the double doors. Coming to a halt right in front of one called ‘Rome’, he watched as a woman sashayed past the bouncers and into the club. Observing the inside through the gradually disappearing gap between the glass doors, he got a taste of the real nightlife. Raw, untamed and spicy, it sent a shiver down his spine. A frown formed on his lips as he noticed the long line of people that lingered by the entrance despite the chilly autumn night’s air. It must be pretty high-class, he noted.

As he was about to walk away from the temptation of the club, the door swung open and he couldn’t help but stare as a familiar face walked out.

“Robin,” he called and he was replied with a grin, his classmate raising a hand as a ‘hold on’, the collar of his shirt pinched between his thumb and index finger, his friend tugging on it repeatedly to cool himself off. The nippy wind did the trick and after what seemed like hours, the male named Robin walked over to him.

“Yu-Me,” he grinned, cheeks burning red and the scent of alcohol faint yet detectable on him. The odour of cigar smoke, probably from someone else in the club, lingered on his shirt and his black hair was dishevelled, spikes sticking out in random directions. “Didn’t expect to find you here. You won’t squeal on me, will you?” a chuckle followed and Yu-Me had to laugh as well. Robin will always be Robin.

“Under one condition,” Yu-Me answered, thinking of this as golden opportunity.

“Hmm… What shall it be?” his friend questioned, eyebrows raising and the corners of his mouth quirking upwards, interested.

“Get me in the club,” the request was followed by a cheeky smirk which earned a nonchalant shrug from Robin.

“Sure, come on in.”

The Asian male felt his hand being taken by his best friend, the gentle grasp earning a raised eyebrow but all the same, he allowed himself to be drawn past the doors and into the bright lights, ignorant to the envious glares shot in his direction. The ear-pounding music greeted him instantly and the lasers and flickering dance floors drew him further into the sweet poison of the clublife. The room was large and wide, the multi-coloured dance floor in the middle drenched in colour while the rest was dyed a deep sapphire. Couples occupied themselves in dark corners, tarts sauntered to tables filled with raunchy men and uptown girls sat in their cliques sipping cocktails. The dance floor resembled a rapidly thrashing sea of excitement; a hectic crowd of seductively swaying girls and clumsily thrusting guys, of lustful old men and their indecent escorts. Sweat and sex hung in the air, fuelled by the wanton pounding of the dancers Yu-Me drank all of this up, savouring every last drop of the smooth and spicy London night cocktail.

His eyebrows raised further as he was dragged onto the dance floor.

“Shall we dance?” Robin shot him a teasing smirk.

(A/N: Read and review, please)