letsgoletsgetit08

[letsgoletsgetit08]

...they were roommates

summary: Hongjoong is at his wit's end with his new roommate. His new roommate, whom he finds out has a surprising way of making money.

warnings/tags: mdni, 18+, explicit smut, spanking, counting, safe/sane/consensual, light dom/sub, jung wooyoung likes being told what to do

pairings: dom!kim hongjoong x sub!jung wooyoung, cam boy!jung wooyoung

author's note: This is loosely based on canon events of Wooyoung admitting he liked it when Hongjoong bossed him around.

word count: 3,246

ao3 link: ...they were roommates

...they were roommates

Hongjoong didn’t know how much longer he could take it. He had thought it was fiscally responsible to sublet his spare bedroom for the school year, but he was quickly realizing there’s a reason people warn you about strangers on the internet. He knew that Wooyoung had been listening intently when he explained the house rules. He even repeated them back to him. 

So why was he so blatantly determined to ignore every single last one?

It was almost like he was doing it on purpose! 

The rules weren’t anything crazy either:

1) Keep the kitchen clean, wash your dishes after using them

2) I keep odd hours so I would appreciate it if you warned me if you have someone/are bringing someone over

3) Common areas are off limits for sex

4) Pay your rent on time

But Hongjoong could almost predict as he walked into the kitchen, there would be a coffee mug, a bowl, and chopsticks in the kitchen sink. 

Usually he loved being right. 

But after pulling an all-nighter, getting less than glowing reviews from his music production studio professor that morning, and to top it all off, the muted noises of sex obviously coming from the younger’s bedroom, this was the last straw. 

Hongjoong was not a prude. He felt that was worth noting. And don’t get him wrong, he definitely expected someone bright and handsome with siren eyes and an addictively animated laugh like Wooyoung to bring home sexual partners, but he never expected it to be so often. It seemed like every other day he was subjected to toe-curling noises from the man’s room. And yes, although he would never admit it to Wooyoung, due to his own schedule being crazy and having zero spare time to date around, sometimes Hongjoong touched himself to the noises, making up his own scenario in his head. But he would never ever admit that. 

He knew he was probably about to walk in on a sight that would be burned into his brain forever, but he had to admit, Wooyoung was full of surprises.

He barged into Wooyoung’s room unannounced, ready to tell him off, and was met with the sight of the man alone, spread out on his bed, completely naked, with ring lights, his phone on a tripod, and a second camera set up filming from a different angle, lubed up, fully hard cock being stroked in his hand. And he didn’t stop when Hongjoong walked in. Which was maybe the most surprising part. 

Hongjoong was too sleep-deprived and annoyed to not shake out of it and deliver his message anyway, ignoring the drool pooling in his mouth at the sight. He was so touch-starved, and he was just being hit with how badly he missed it. “Wooyoung,” he said, sternly, “Do you remember the rules you agreed to when you moved in?”

Wooyoung’s eyelids fluttered, his hand slowed slightly, surprised at the other’s tone of voice, “Yes, I do.” He said breathlessly.

“Good. Then you’ll take care of the dishes in the sink before I wake up in the morning.” Hongjoong couldn’t help but notice that his authoritative presence seemed to be… turning Wooyoung on?

The younger dared to smirk, hand picking up the pace, bratty as ever, “Or what?”

His own dick was filling in as he watched the man get closer to the brink of release, “Or what? You don’t want to know, Wooyoung. But be sure that I will figure out a way to punish you for your behavior. Show me that you understand.”

Wooyoung’s breath became shaky and he held Hongjoong’s eye contact as he said, “Yes sir.” In a strained voice.

“Good boy.” Hongjoong said, which was followed by Wooyoung releasing all over his own hand and stomach, head thrown back, his open mouth slowly turning into a smile as he came down. 

Hongjoong turned on his heel and slammed the door behind him, making quick work of his pants on his walk to his own bedroom, barely having to touch himself as the image of Wooyoung getting off was burned so vividly onto the backs of his eyelids, hips bucking as he found his own release. 

What the fuck just happened. 

They did not speak about what happened. 

But the dishes were clean and put away the next morning. And it was okay with Hongjoong that they didn't talk about it. 

But as the days went on, Wooyoung seemed to crave his attention more and more, coming by his room to ask him questions he definitely knew the answer to, appearing in the kitchen when he heard Hongjoong in there, happening to leave his room (shirtless) when he predicted Hongjoong would be in a common area. It all culminated a few days later when Hongjoong was working on his laptop in the living room and Wooyoung walked through right as Hongjoong’s stomach let out a loud growl, obviously hungry. He actually couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten. 

Wooyoung plopped himself down on the couch next to him, reaching up to pull his headphone gently off of his ear, a bright smile on his face as he leaned in to ask, “Anything I can do to help with that?”

Hongjoong huffed through his nose, “You could be useful for once and cook us dinner.” He said, cocking an eyebrow, challenging. 

He could almost swear he saw Wooyoung shiver at the instruction, “If I cook for us, you have to take a break and eat with me.” He poked his bottom lip out, pouting. 

“If I take a break with you to eat, you have to clean up the kitchen afterwards.” Hongjoong shot back. 

“No fair!” Wooyoung whined. 

“I didn’t say I was fair,” Hongjoong grabbed Wooyoung’s wrist, pulling his hand off his headphone, daring to stroke it gently with his thumb before placing it gently onto the younger’s lap, “What are you waiting for?” He asked as he turned back to his laptop, putting his headphone in place once more. 

Maybe he was cracking the code on this whole roommate situation. 

And he was good to his word, he pointedly picked up his laptop and deposited it onto his desk in his bedroom, closing the door behind him after Wooyoung came by to tell him dinner was ready. Wooyoung was a good cook, and he told him as much, delighting as he watched the man preen with the praise. 

“I want to play a game,” Wooyoung announced as he all but pranced over to the table with a chilled, unopened bottle of soju in one hand, a pair of shot glasses in another. 

“A game?” Hongjoong’s curiosity was piqued, he couldn’t deny it. 

“Mhm,” Wooyoung nodded as he poured two shots, “It’s Friday night, Hongjoong. Can your project wait until tomorrow? You deserve to let loose and have fun occasionally, you know.”

Hongjoong sighed, thinking about it. Really he did have plenty of time to finish his assignment over the weekend, even if he spent half of tomorrow hungover. And really, truthfully, he was becoming increasingly curious about Wooyoung. He would like to see where this was going. “Okay. Fine. You got me. What game do you want to play, Woo?”

Wooyoung blushed at the shortening of his name, “I want to know more about you. It’s been almost two months and we barely have spoken to each other. So I want to take turns asking each other questions. If we don’t want to answer, take a shot.” He smiled smugly. Pleased with his own genius idea.

“Seems fair enough to me,” Hongjoong concluded, “But let’s move to the couch, these chairs suck.” And I don’t want a hunk of wood separating us, he thought to himself as they relocated. 

Wooyoung sat next to him on the couch, cross-legged, so they could face each other. 

“You can start.” He offered to the younger. 

“Okay. When was the last time you had sex?” Wooyoung gave him an impish grin after asking.

“Oh, look! Soju!” Hongjoong said as he grabbed his shot glass off the coffee table and threw it back. 

“Aw boo, you're no fun!” Wooyoung whined. 

Hongjoong ignored him, “Did you post the video with my voice in the background?” He asked as he felt the warmth from the alcohol move through his body. 

“No way,” Wooyoung looked offended, “I would never post anything with you in it, at least not without your consent first.” 

Hongjoong didn't know why he was surprised but he was glad that Wooyoung seemed to be considerate, have some sort of decorum, moral code, “Okay, good. Thank you.” 

Wooyoung reached over and squeezed his knee, “Of course. Don't thank me for doing the bare minimum. My turn!” He pretended to think about it, “Did you get off?” His voice had turned husky, “After you walked in the other day?”

Hongjoong felt heat swirl in his abdomen, blood rush to his cheeks, “Was I that obvious?” He met Wooyoung’s eyes sheepishly, the other’s were half-lidded, hungry. They both were subconsciously sipping on their soju in between questions, probably out of nervous habit.

“Is that your question?” He asked. 

“Is that yours?” He replied. 

“No.”

“Exactly.”

“Yes, you were that obvious. Ask me if I thought it was hot.” Wooyoung was leaning in now.

He felt himself swallow, “Did you think it was hot?”

Wooyoung winked and took a shot.

“You brat!” Hongjoong accosted him. 

“You like it,” Wooyoung simpered as he refilled his glass.

“Maybe.” He leaned in as well, “You like being told what to do, don't you?”

Wooyoung’s eyelids fluttered slightly, “Yes. And you like being in charge?”

“Definitely. How do you feel about being spanked?”

A blush crept up Wooyoung’s neck, “Mmh, good. Definitely good. You know I'll need aftercare, right?”

“Absolutely. Safe word?”

“Chrysanthemum.”

“Um, bless you?”

Wooyoung rolled his eyes, “It's my birth month flower.”

“My room or yours?” Hongjoong asked as he reached up to tuck a piece of hair behind the younger’s ear, noting how he leaned into the touch.

“It's my turn!” Wooyoung was more busy staring through Hongjoong's eyes straight into his soul than he was actually protesting. 

“Jagi,” Hongjoong's hand traced down the other’s face, thumb landing on his bottom lip, “I really don't care.” 

He closed the gap between their mouths, earning a squeak of surprise that quickly turned into a moan from the younger. 

Hongjoong had missed this, he hated to admit to himself. It had been far too long. 

Their lips slotted together like they had done this a thousand times before, soft, exploratory kisses quickly turning hungry, needy. Hongjoong grabbed Wooyoung’s chin, turning their heads to the side as he licked into the other’s mouth, greedily sucking on his tongue, pulling another delicious moan from his mouth.

Wooyoung pulled back, “Oppa,” he panted, “I'm not doing those dishes.” 

“I know.” He kissed down his jawline, “But you're going to make it up to me. You'll be good for me, won't you, baby?” 

A sharp intake of breath as he nipped as his earlobe, “Yes. Yes sir.” 

“Mmh,” Hongjoong attached his lips to the sensitive spot behind his ear, marking him, “So sensitive.”

He didn't give Wooyoung a chance to react, instead opting to reach down and start pulling the his shirt off, following with his own, before standing up and offering him his hand, “Bedroom. Now.” 

He led them into Wooyoung’s bedroom, knowing his roommate had condoms and lube (and probably plenty of other things) unlike himself, who was on at least a year long dry spell. Wooyoung didn't question it, just did as he was told. 

They shed their clothes quickly, Wooyoung gasping as he finally was able to see Hongjoong fully naked, “I've literally never seen you go to the gym or work out, how the fuck do you look so good?” 

Hongjoong blushed, “Shut up.”

“Make me.” Wooyoung challenged. 

“Hands and knees on the bed.” He said, kissing him lewdly before shoving him backwards onto mattress. 

He watched as the younger complied, feeling his dick fully harden at the sight of Wooyoung presenting himself, pretty cock hanging uselessly, already dripping precum. 

“Supplies are in the bedside table.” Wooyoung informed him as he made his way around the edge of the bed, “Perfect.”

He pulled out a condom and lube, put them within reachable distance on the bed, then climbed up behind the miles of velvety smooth honey skin waiting for him. 

Hongjoong grasped one of his ass cheeks, rubbing it gently, “You understand why I have to do this right, Youngie?”

“Yes sir,” He replied, breathless.

“Good,” he drew back his hand and landed the first spank, earning a startled gasp, followed by a whine as he soothed the sting with his hand, “Count for me, darling.” 

“One,” Wooyoung whimpered. 

Hongjoong barely let him get the word out before landing the next slap to his other ass cheek this time. 

“Two!” He exclaimed instinctively, nearly in shock.

“Mmh, very good, what a quick learner you are.” Hongjoong praised, as he reached for the lube, applying it to his fingers before starting to slowly circle the tight rim that was being presented to him. He drew his other hand back and landed the third strike, this one slightly harder. 

Wooyoung gasped, “Fuck. Three.” 

Hongjoong slipped his first finger inside, knuckle by knuckle, enjoying how he was being drawn in. He struck again. 

“Four.” He whined, but his hips moved greedily towards Hongjoong, obviously enjoying himself. 

“You like this, don't you baby?” Hongjoong teased as he added a second finger, letting the other adjust to it before spanking him again. Wooyoung gasped but couldn’t seemed to get words out. “Use your words, love.” Hongjoong instructed. 

“Yes,” His hips bucked as Hongjoong curled his fingers, finding his prostate, “Yes I like it.”

“What else?”

“Oh,” He was already so fucked out and they had barely started, “Five.”

Hongjoong smiled, said, “Good boy,” before landing the next one. 

“Six!” Wooyoung panted.

“I bet you could get off just like this, couldn't you?” Hongjoong stroked his ass cheek as he added a third finger. 

“Probably.” 

“Do you think you can cum twice, jagi?” Hongjoong whispered, scissoring his fingers, landing another slap. 

“Seven. Yes. Please. God yes, I'm so close already.” He sounded so desperate. It was hot. 

Hongjoong was steadily hitting his prostate, “Okay, good. You can cum on ten.” He spanked him again. 

“Eight” 

Another.

“Nine!”

Finally.

“Ten!” And he was pouring out onto the bed as Hongjoong coaxed him through it, slowing the pace of his fingers as he clenched around them. 

“Oh, what a good boy,” He removed his fingers, guiding the younger onto his back so as to avoid landing in the mess he had just made. 

Wooyoung was sweating, panting, he looked so fucking good, Hongjoong thought he might eat him for dessert. 

He kissed the inside of Wooyoung’s knee, working up his thigh, letting the other catch his breath for a minute as he kissed and sucked, feeling almost painfully hard at the idea that he would be covered in marks. Claimed. 

He was surprised at how fast the man was filling back up with arousal. Soon, he was begging, “Fuck, Hongjoong, please.”

“Please what, darling?” 

“Please, I need you inside of me.” 

“Mmh.” He pulled back to quickly roll the condom on, “Only because you asked so nicely.”

He applied more lube, then positioned himself between Wooyoung’s legs, teasing him by dragging his cock everywhere except for where he wanted him. 

Wooyoung arched off the bed, trying to find friction, grabbing for Hongjoong's hips. 

“No, no, baby.” He grabbed his hands and pinned them over his head as he finally lined himself up, starting to push in, “Hands to yourself.”

Wooyoung felt incredible, greedily sucking him in. So wet, hot, tight. 

Incredible. 

Fucking incredible. 

He took his time pressing in for as long as he could stand it, before finally burying himself to the hilt, Wooyoung’s legs wrapping around his waist. 

He paused to let the other adjust before finally landing his first thrust. Slow. Languid. Almost lazy. 

Wooyoung’s hips bucked, he whined, needy. 

Hongjoong took pity, started fucking him for real, leaning forward to graze his teeth lightly over the younger’s nipple, earning a gutteral moan in response. 

“So reactive, jagiya. You're so much fun.” He didn't wait for a response, just attached his lips to his nipple, sucking as he set a steady rhythm. 

It was probably stupid to fuck him missionary. He feared he would catch feelings. 

He feared he already had started to, position of choice be damned. 

“M so close, Joongie. Fuck. Feel so good.”

He pulled back, kissing his way up the younger's chest, up his neck, “Go ahead, gorgeous. You can let go.”

He really followed instructions so well. Hongjoong followed closely behind, feeling a little bad that he was probably overstimulating him, but by the look on his face, and the way his legs latched tight around his hips, he liked that, too. 

He collapsed on Wooyoung’s chest, both of them spent, laying panting together before he finally pulled out, discarded the condom. He returned to the bed quickly, pulling Wooyoung to his chest, stroking his hair, kissing his forehead, praising him, “You did so well, baby. You were so good. It wasn't too much, was it?”

Wooyoung shook his head, “No way. It was perfect. Thank you.” 

Hongjoong smiled into his sweaty hair, “No, thank you.” 

They showered together, Hongjoong carefully washing Wooyoung’s hair, being gentle with him, making sure he knew how cared for he was. Aftercare, yes, but Hongjoong felt there was more behind it. It was totally possible he was developing feelings for his roommate. 

“Um, Joong?” Wooyoung asked carefully as they toweled off together. 

“What's up?” 

“Can we… well. I really do better being held afterwards. It doesn't have to be all night!-”

Hongjoong cut him off, “Sleep in my bed, jagi. I'm more than happy to have you.”

Hongjoong fell asleep easily with Wooyoung tucked into his chest, his rhythmic heartbeat, his steady breath, his weight and warmth. 

He woke up to an empty bed, hearing a clattering in the kitchen, Wooyoung's voice as he was singing to himself carried to his bedroom. 

He was doing the dishes. 

Hongjoong came up behind him, wrapped his arms around his waist, making the other jump at the contact before relaxing into it once he realized what was happening. He laid kisses down his neck in greeting, meeting Wooyoung’s lips as he turned his head, asking for it. The angle was weird but they made it work. 

And that's how Hongjoong ended up giving Wooyoung head in their kitchen. 

The next few weeks went just about like that, in fact, if you asked him, Hongjoong wasn't sure there was a surface in their apartment that they hadn't had sex on at this point. It wasn't until Hongjoong woke up in Wooyoung’s bed for the third night in a row when they hadn't even had sex the night before to warrant it, that they ever breached the subject of what they were. 

“Youngie?” He pulled him close to his chest, “Be my boyfriend?”

Wooyoung giggled, “I've been yours since the first day when you walked in on me, Joong.” 

And that was that. 

The first video they posted together on Only Fans was Wooyoung's most popular to date. 

Maybe they had truly figured out this whole roommate situation.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

fireflies

summary: Wooyoung has been gone for over a year - backpacking across Europe to find himself. Yeosang meets him at the Jung's summer country house upon his return. Will their nearly two decade long friendship be able to pick up where it left off?

warnings: mdni, 18+, smut, drinking, loss of virginity, unprotected sex (don't you dare!)

pairing: gentle dom!kang yeosang x bratty sub!jung wooyoung

word count: 4,430

ao3 link: fireflies

fireflies

The country lane turned to dirt and Yeosang slowed his motorcycle down, always having thought this part of the drive was pretty - old growth forest with trees and rocks covered in moss, and every shade of wildflower lining the road that led to Wooyoung's family's summer house - but also, despite not wanting to admit it, Yeosang was biding his time. Nervous. He couldn't really put a finger on why, either. Wooyoung had been his best friend for nearly 20 years now, they were practically raised together, but he'd been away for over a year now. Backpacking across Europe, sending Yeosang pictures of all the food he was trying, the landscape, the varying degrees of sketchy to safe hostels he was staying it, different friends and acquaintances (possibly lovers, but his stomach turned at the thought, so he didn't let it fully form) smiling behind him in nearly every new location. Yeosang had stayed home. Bartending to support himself through grad school. He was excited to be on this path - he was going to be an art therapist - but he still envied Wooyoung a little. His freedom, his ease. His ability to flourish no matter where the wind blew him. Yeosang was scared he would outgrow him, despite him being the older of the two. He had always been there for Wooyoung growing up. Showing him the ropes in his subtle way because if Woo had caught wind of Yeosang trying to help in any way, he would never have allowed it. Independent, stubborn. Defensive about being younger. And bossy, always getting what he wanted. At least as far as it went with Yeosang, who was always happy to oblige. Even if he pretended to resist sometimes.

A memory came flooding back as he went around a curve in the road, the trees opening up to fields of clover and wild lavender, he could see the big three story stone house in the distance, remembering playing out in those fields when he was 9 and Wooyoung was 8. Chasing fireflies. Letting Woo direct which exact bug needed capturing for a (short) life in the jar with holes poked in the top.

“No, Sangie, not that one, the one down there, by the dandelion! Its light is brighter!”

Yeosang had rolled his eyes, smiled to himself, “You already have one, Young-ah. Why do you need a second one?”

Wooyoung had looked hurt, lip pouting, “This one would be lonely. I can't let him be lonely, Yeo.”

“Okay, okay,” his hands had closed around the bug of Wooyoung’s choice, “Got it!”

Wooyoung’s laughter had peeled through the humid late spring evening air, excited at the long awaited capture of a friend for his other pet.

“Now they'll never be alone.” Yeosang had said, carefully releasing the bug into the jar Woo was holding.

“Just like us, right, Yeosang?”

“You'll get tired of me eventually.”

“No way,” Wooyoung's eyes had tears threatening to spill over at this statement, “You’re my best friend. Forever. Promise?”

“Okay, fine. Promise.”

And Woo had tackled him to the ground in a big hug, never having been one to shy away from physical affection. Yeosang had struggled, pretending to hate it, but gave up quickly, never admitting he loved the warm, verging on too tight embrace the younger had him in.

But that was 16 years ago. And 14 months was a long time to be away. He was worried how things might have changed.

He slowed his bike down to a crawl as he pulled up the last stretch of the driveway, lined with peach trees, and he flipped his visor up so the smell could reach him better, the fragrance, between the fruit and flowers in the field, was intoxicating. Wooyoung had always smelled a little like it, even though he and his family only stayed out there three months of the year. It lingered. Peaches, clover, moss, and wildflowers.

His nerves subsided for the time being as Kyungmin - Wooyoung’s younger brother, now nine himself - bounded out the front doors, down the steps, and launched himself at Yeosang right as he had fully dismounted his bike.

“SANGIE HYUNG LOOK!” he backed up from the attack (a hug, really) and pulled his bottom lip aside, showing him a back molar that was wiggling slightly, “Wooyoung says it's not ready but you'll help me pull it if he won't, right?”

Yeosang couldn’t help but grin wide, kneeling to Kyungmin's height and gently patting him on the head, “Of course I will, Min, but let's give it another night, okay? It will hurt really bad otherwise.”

Kyungmin pouted for a second (a family trait, apparently) before taking his hand and pulling him inside, “Come on hyung! My stupid brother has a stupid tattoo he's been showing everyone.”

Yeosang let himself be led inside, nerves returning, pausing a little too long to untie his black boots, setting them gingerly next to a slightly smaller pair of beat up black Vans, biding time again.

He followed Kyungmin through the foyer into the kitchen, following the smells of saffron and seafood that were waiting through the air.

“...and that's why it's not paella unless it's cooked for this long” Wooyoung was facing the stove top, stirring something in a comically large pan, explaining about the food he was making to his parents, who were standing around the kitchen island, snacking on several charcuterie boards and drinking wine, listening to Wooyoung ramble politely. Seeing him nearly knocked the breath out of Yeosang. He looked the same, of course, in a large black t-shirt and faded black jeans, but his skin was the color of honey, tan, one forearm covered in a sleeve of tattoos he had evidently been collecting during his time abroad, and his hair was long, tied half up, the bottom part skimming his shoulders. Yeosang had grown up accustomed to people praising him for his looks. His features were fine, delicate, fair skin, round cheekbones, sparkling eyes, lithe body, “a living statue” an ex had told him once. But Wooyoung… the look behind his eyes always made you feel like you were in on a secret. Everything about him drew you in, like a moth to a flame.

He turned, then, to continue yapping at his parents, but stopped short upon spotting Yeosang, dropping the wooden spoon he was holding onto the countertop carelessly, running over to his best friend.

“Yeosang-ah!” he exclaimed into the elder one's ear, arms around his neck, trying to pepper kisses on his cheeks, Yeosang moving just enough out of the way every time to deflect the kisses, an old game they had always played. Yeosang always pretended to hate the affection but deep down he craved it.

“Youngie, you're choking me.” He chided him, contradicting himself as he finally returned the hug, letting Wooyoung land a kiss sloppily on his cheek at last. Ignoring the flush to his cheeks that followed it. He felt himself breathe deeply for the first time since he started his two hour long motorcycle ride to the country house, breathing in Wooyoung’s familiar scent, realizing that nothing had changed.

“Mmh I don't care, I missed you so much, hyung.”

He let himself relax.

Dinner passed fast, all of them listening to Wooyoung's stories - the cat who followed him from Greece to Italy to Croatia until a friend he made there decided to adopt him, how he lost his shoes in Switzerland, high and lost on the streets of Amsterdam before being adopted by a somewhat famous band passing through town who let him stay at their hotel for the night, dancing in the streets of Barcelona with a handsome stranger, etc. By the end of it, Yeosang's sides and cheeks hurt from laughing.

He helped Wooyoung clean up the kitchen as his mom started trying to convince Kyungmin it was bedtime, yes he still had bedtime during the summer, and his dad went off to put the ducks and chickens away for the night. Yeosang was at the sink, washing dishes, lost in thought, and suddenly felt Wooyoung’s presence behind him, wrapping his arms around his waist, just tall enough to rest his head on his shoulder, breath tickling the hairs at the back of Yeosang's neck. Yeosang tried not to tense up at the contact, it had surprised him, but what surprised him more was the way his stomach flipped at the contact. If he was completely honest with himself, he would admit that his feelings for Wooyoung had changed in his absence. Still friendly, always friendly, but seeing his pictures with others, hearing his stories, especially the ones that he was pretty certain he had edited for his family's sake to leave out the parts where he had hooked up with people, Yeosang couldn’t help but feel jealous. Not at the experience itself but at people having access to Wooyoung. His Wooyoung. Not that he could claim that title, really. But he wanted to.

“I wish you would have been there, Sangie.” Wooyoung sighed into his back.

“It looked like so much fun, Woo, but you know I couldn't take that much time away from school or work. Plus, it seems like you had plenty of company without me.” He felt a little bad adding that last part on, hoping it didn't come off rude.

“Yeah but those were just some guys. Everywhere I went I kept thinking, ‘Sang needs to see this.'”

Wooyoung let go then, taking the wet plate from Yeosang's hands and drying it with the dish towel before putting it in the drying rack.

“Mmh. I missed you too, Young-ssi.” He felt himself smile thinking about Woo wishing he would have been there, then quickly snapped out of it when he felt Wooyoung’s eyes on him, face serious again as he handed him the last dish to dry.

“You're not jealous are you, hyung?” Wooyoung poked him in the side.

“What? No. Why?” Yeosang thought he had done a better job of hiding it.

“Hmm,” Wooyoung studied him, “I'll be right back, stay here.” he instructed.

Yeosang did as he was told, and noticed a bottle of wine unstoppered and only half finished sitting on the island. He didn't want to do more dishes, so he drank some straight from the bottle. It left his mouth dry and he looked at the label, Cabernet Sauvignon. Yuck. He much more enjoyed the sweet sparkling Cava they had had with dinner. He took another drink anyway. Trying to erase the images his mind was creating of Wooyoung pinned beneath faceless men and women, blushing as he pictured the faces and sounds he would make.

Footsteps broke him out of his daydream. Or daymare more like. Wooyoung was carrying a big plaid blanket, a small cooler, and a Mason jar, “Let's go outside, Sangie.”

Wooyoung was sitting criss-cross on the blanket out underneath the big sycamore tree where they had spent so many nights together as kids during the summer. “Yes, right there, hyung-ah!” he all but squealed as Yeosang was closing in on his firefly of choice, tipsy on the lillet blanc he had brought outside with them. Yeosang kept sneaking in splashes of soda water into his glass. Not only because Wooyoung was getting a little past tipsy, but also in hopes of softening the blow of the headache he would wake up with drinking something so sweet. It was good though, he had to admit. Over ice with the fresh peaches they had picked from the trees on their way out there, slicing them for their glasses. The French preferred orange slices, Wooyoung had informed him, but how could they pass on the sun ripened peaches already at their disposal?

Yeosang brought the fireflies over to place them in the jar, having somehow managed to catch two at once, knowing Woo would insist on him catching a pair so one wasn't lonely. He flopped down somewhat harshly next to Wooyoung, leaning back on his hands as Wooyoung screwed on the lid with holes in it onto the jar. He picked up his drink and tilted his head back, finishing it, and tapping the bottom to encourage the peach slice to fall into his mouth. He felt eyes on him and moved the glass down, embarrassed. Wooyoung took the glass from his hands and fished the peach slice out, holding it in front of Yeosang's mouth, who took it, feeling the juice spill down his chin, but Wooyoung was there to wipe it for him before he could.

“Messiest eater I've ever met, Yeo.” Wooyoung smiled at him fondly, the corner of his eyes crinkling. To his surprise, Wooyoung brought the finger that had just captured lillet infused peach juice off his chin up to his own mouth, licking it clean while maintaining eye contact with Yeosang.

“Did you bring me out here just to make fun of me, Wooyoung? Did that work on what's-his-name from Barthelona?” He half-joked, half-snipped in poorly disguised jealousy. The lisp in Barcelona also half because he himself had a slight one and half making fun of how people who went to Spain once always returned saying the name of the city.

Wooyoung's smile faded, and his eyes turned away, suddenly very focused on the fireflies in the jar, both helplessly signaling with their lights, trying to communicate that they would like to please be let out, wishes that went ignored by the two boys who were responsible for their distress.

“No,” he said quietly, “I brought you out here because this is one thing only you and I share. I thought you would appreciate it. Since I got to do so much without you.”

“Oh, Wooyoung, I'm sorry, I do appreciate it, I-”

Wooyoung cut him off, “And you're jealous for no reason, by the way. I didn't sleep with that guy.” He started picking up the jar, the cooler, the glasses, and storming off inside.

Yeosang sat in stunned silence for a minute, laying back on the blanket and staring at the stars, wondering what was so terribly offensive about the joke he had made.

After a little while, he was starting to get cold, so he got up and wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, headed inside.

He padded up the stairs and turned left towards “his” room at first and then stopped, pivoted, and walked right into Wooyoung’s room without even knocking.

“What the fuck?” Wooyoung was fresh out of the shower, hair wet, wearing only boxers, “Yeosang, go to bed. I don't want to talk to you right now.”

“No,” Yeosang said, sitting on the edge of Wooyoung’s still-made bed, “I'm staying here until we talk, Youngie.” Wooyoung huffed and went to the other side of the bed, sitting down and folding his arms, staring straight ahead instead of looking at Yeosang, “Fine. Talk.”

Yeosang wasn't used to being the one to start, but cleared his throat and swung his legs up on the bed so he was closer to Wooyoung, “I'm sorry. For being jealous. I think I really just missed you.”

He could feel Wooyoung roll his eyes even if he couldn't see it, “Oh, sure. And that's the only reason?”

Yeosang's breath shuddered in his chest, “Yes.” Wooyoung’s head turned sharply away, “Or. Um. No. I don't know.”

“Figure it the fuck out, Kang.”

Yeosang leaned his head back, frustrated, hands fiddling with the comforter, “Wooyoung. I was jealous because I wanted to be there with you. I think… I mean I realized while you were gone. I have feelings for you, Young-ah.” He said the last part barely above a whisper, looking over at Wooyoung, eyes pleading to look back at him. He did, finally, “You do, hyung?”

“Yes. I definitely do. Seeing you again only confirmed it. But I wanted to be happy for you if you were sleeping with other people while you were gone. I want you to have the best life, Woo. With or without me in it.”

Wooyoung gave him a sympathetic look, “Sangie. I don't want my life to ever not have you in it.”

“Really?”

“God, yes, I'm obsessed with you. I could have slept with plenty of people while I was gone. I went in the first place partially because I was running away from my feelings for you, I think. I didn't ever dare dream you would return them.”

Yeosang's heart was on fire, “How could I not return them, Young-ah? You're my favorite person in the whole world.” He reached over and tucked a piece of damp hair behind his ear, hand shaking slightly, “God, you're so pretty, no wonder all of Europe was trying to sleep with you. Why couldn't you do it, honey?”

He was in love with him. Had been for at least a year. Probably longer.

Wooyoung’s eyelids fluttered at his touch, “Not just them, hyung. I've always turned people down. I think…” he looked up at Yeosang, “I think I always wanted it to be you.”

Yeosang felt his cock twitch in his pants, “Wooyoung… are you saying… You've never…?”

“Never, hyung.”

His thumb traced over Wooyoung’s cheek, his jaw, “And you want me to be the one, jagi?”

Wooyoung leaned in closer, “Please, Yeosang. I don't want anyone else. Will you?”

Yeosang closed the gap, his lips fitting perfectly over Wooyoung’s, kissing him slowly, lightly, tasting better than he had ever imagined, his smell intoxicating, “Yes, baby” another kiss, “I'd be so honored,” another, “you're so perfect, Young-ah.”

He deepened the kiss then, sliding his tongue in between Wooyoung’s already perfectly parted lips, tasting, teasing, letting Wooyoung’s tongue into his own mouth, sucking on it a little, which elicited the most delicious whine out of the younger one's mouth.

Yeosang wanted to take him right then and there but this was special. He wanted to make it so good for him. Perfect.

He slung a leg on top of Wooyoung, straddling his hips, grinding down, already able to feel the other's dick getting hard through his pants. “Oh fuck baby,” he said through increasingly deep kisses, “you feel so good like this.”

Wooyoung moaned into his mouth, hips bucking already, reaching for the hem of Yeosang's shirt, “Mmh hyung, please,” quieted by a kiss for a brief minute, then, “hurry. Please. I need you.”

“Oh, Young-ah, baby, you're going to have to be patient,” breaking away to remove his shirt, “Can you do that for me?”

Wooyoung’s gasp as he finally got the skin contact he was searching for, “Yes, god. Yes. Anything you want.”

A nip at his collarbone, “Oh, good boy. You're going to be so good for me, aren't you, darling?”

“Yes, hyung.” He whined.

Yeosang was so hard. He stood up to remove his jeans, his boxers tented with his erection.

Wooyoung’s eyes were half-lidded, sultry, needy.

He removed his boxers, too, almost an afterthought, suddenly desperate for Wooyoung to see him, touch him.

“Fuck, Yeosang,” Wooyoung’s eyes studied his body, “You're so big. I'm not sure I can-”

“I'll get you ready to take me, baby, don't worry,” a kiss on his cheek as he climbed back on top of him, “And we can always stop. But I'll take care of you, I promise. Can you trust me?”

Kisses down his jaw, collarbone, sucking and marking him as he traveled south.

“Mmh, yes,” a sharp inhale as Yeosang bit playfully at his nipple, “Yes, Sangie, I trust you.”

“Good boy, Woo. You're so exquisite, honey,” he all but purred as he finally was kissing his thighs, “Do you have lube, Youngie?” he said as he pulled the younger one's boxers off, taking his time and enjoying the *thwack* of his dick being released from the waistband, hitting his stomach. Hard and flushed, gorgeously proportioned and shaped, it was already leaking precum and it was all Yeosang could do not to lean down and lick him clean. Instead, he resumed his kisses on the soft flesh of his stomach.

“Drawer- hnnng oh god, hyung,” he moaned as Yeosang could no longer resist not having his mouth on him, lightly trailing his tongue up his length, licking clean the salty pearl at his cleft, “You're gonna make me cum too fast,” he whined, fingers curling into the comforter.

“No, jagiya,” Yeosang's voice was low, rumbling, as he reached up to grab the lube and a condom out of the bedside table drawer, “I'm going to make you cum exactly when I want you to,” he stopped on his way back into his position to kiss him again, deep, working his way across his jaw, landing on his earlobe, which he pinched between his teeth lightly, giving it a small tug before releasing it and planting a kiss there in its place.

Wooyoung was squirming, impatient underneath him, “Please, Sang-ah,” he begged. It was hot.

“Please, what, baby?” a hand on his cock, “tell me what you want”

“You,” a moan as Yeosang stroked him gently, taunting, “I just want you. Everything. All of it. Please-hnnng. Fuuuccckk.”

Yeosang's mouth was around the head of his gorgeous cock, tongue stroking against the underside of the tip, a lube-slicked finger tracing his entrance. He came up for air for a second to say, “Just try relax, angel. I've got you.” Before dipping his head down again, taking him further into his mouth as he started working his finger inside his tight rim simultaneously. When he felt him loosen at his presence there, he added another finger, slowly, knuckle by knuckle, waiting to feel the pressure let up that had returned, removing his mouth when it did, not wanting to overstimulate or drive him to the edge too fast.

Wooyoung whined when his dick was no longer being occupied but it quickly turned into a low moan when Yeosang curled the two fingers inside him slightly, stroking his prostate delicately, steadily. He didn't figure he had too much time before his gorgeous lover was ready to explode, so he added the third finger, scissoring his fingers, making sure he was properly prepped. Wooyoung was already babbling nearly incoherently when Yeosang pulled his fingers out, reaching for the condom on the bed, but was with it enough to stop him, “Wait, Sangie. Can we do it without the condom, please? I wanna…” he trailed off, embarrassed.

“Wanna what, love?”

“I wanna,” he found eye contact again, “I want to feel you cum inside me.” He was pouting. How could Yeosang deny him? Plus, he knew how incredible it would feel. It's not like he had had any partners in the last year. And Wooyoung, fuck, it hit him again that he was taking Wooyoung’s virginity. What a privilege. His best friend. The love of his life, he thought. Who else?

“Oh, Youngie, sweetheart, of course. God, who told you you could be so hot?”

A smile lit up Wooyoung’s face. His favorite smile in the whole world. This would never get old.

He grabbed the lube again, applied it liberally, fingering Wooyoung one more time before placing his dick at his entrance, “Just breathe for me baby, okay?” his tip started to push inside, “And tell me to stop any time. You will never have to ask twice with me, I promise.”

Wooyoung moaned his acknowledgement, already taking him so well. Yeosang couldn't figure exactly where to look, it was all so glorious. His eyes flitted over to Wooyoung's tattoo sleeve, the national flowers from every country he visited, but nestled in the middle, between a bunch of lavender and a peach tree flower, was two fireflies. He could have cried had he not felt so fucking good right now. “Young-ah, you're doing so well, honey, I wish you could see yourself taking me, fuck.”

He was buried to the hilt, testing the waters by circling his hips slowly.

“Fuuucckk, hyung, I'm so full, you feel so good, please, pleeeeaaase, mmnhhhh.” He was babbling.

Yeosang started to set a rhythm, “God you're so tight, baby, you feel amazing,” he cooed, grabbing his hands and interlocking their fingers, pinning them up by Wooyoung’s head, the change in angle making his hips buck, needy.

“Mmh, so close, please… ”

“Please, what, love?”

“Please can I cum?” He whimpered.

“Do you think you can do it without me touching you, baby?”

“Mhm so close already, please.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” he thrusted a bit harder, “cum for me, angel.”

And he did, messy, all over his own stomach. He was so gorgeous, the sight of him coming undone, sweaty, desperate, was almost enough to send Yeosang over the edge. He knew Wooyoung was probably overstimulated but as if he could read his mind - he probably could at this point - Wooyoung cried out, “No no no please don't stop,” moan, “wanna feel you, please.”

Yeosang readjusted, pulling him up into his lap, Wooyoung’s legs grasping around him, ensuring there was as little space between them as possible.

The change of angle combined with staring into his love's gorgeous siren eyes set Yeosang over the edge quickly, so much hot liquid that it was already leaking out of Wooyoung. He pulled out gently, guiding them down onto the bed, pulling Wooyoung close, planting kisses all over his face, cooing, “Oh, you did so good, baby. You're amazing, really, I'm so-” a kiss finally landing on his perfect mouth, “I'm so in love with you, Wooyoung.”

Wooyoung looked like he had just been told he'd won a lifetime supply of free Dunkin Donuts, “You are?”

“Yes, baby. Completely,” another kiss, “stupidly, irrevocably,” another, “in love with you.”

Wooyoung was giggling, returning his kisses with glee, “Yeosang-ah, I'm in love with you too,” a kiss to his jaw, “I've been in love with you.”

“You got a firefly tattoo.”

“It was the first one I got,” he curled up into the crook of Yeosang's neck, “I got it the day after I landed in London. I missed you so much already.”

“It's perfect. I love it, Wooyoung. I'm tempted to get a matching one.”

Wooyoung sat up, “Really?!”

“Yes, baby,” Yeosang laughed, “I think I'd do anything for you.”

“Oh we're SO getting matching tattoos,” Wooyoung tossed a leg over him, possessive, sticky. He didn’t care. He loved it. He sighed, content, “I'd explode the world for you, angel.”

“I just want fireflies.”

“Then I'll catch you every firefly you ask me to.”

“I never want to go anywhere without you again,Yeosang.”

A kiss to the crown of his perfect head, “You never have to, Wooyoung.”

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ateez soft hours pt. 2

how they would treat you while you're on your period

maknae line

warning: mdni, period sex, smut

word count: 3.4k

ao3 link: maknae line

author's note: I uh. yeah.

choi san: "What's up, babe?" He sounds out of breath over the phone, "I'm finishing up at the gym."

"Everything hurts and I want to die." You whine.

"Oh, no, my poor baby! Do I need to bring you any supplies on my way over?" His voice was sweet, always so attentive. You felt lucky every day that he grew up with an older sister.

"No, I'm okay with all that, but thank you. I just want you to come lay on top of me with your entire body weight."

"Anything you want, honey. You know you could come join me at the gym, exercise helps relieve cramps, allegedly." He was mainly joking.

You groaned, "Ugh, Choi San stop talking about exercise right now or I'm going to turn homicidal. You know any other day I would have gone with you."

He laughed at your dramatics, "I know, precious. I just had to tease, I'm sorry. I'll be sweet the rest of the night, promise."

"I mean if you really want me to break a sweat, I have some ideas for cardio we could do later." Heat curls in your aching abdomen at the thought of it. Glad your boyfriend has never been squeamish about period sex.

"Oh?" He asked, you were silent until the implication hit him, "Ohhhh. Well, yes, of course." His voice lowered so he couldn't be heard by anyone around him, "You know I'll take care of you, baby. Make you feel so good. No touching yourself until I get there, okay?"

Your thighs clenched together at his words, "Okay, yes, I'll be good." Your voice was breathy, already laced with lust.

"Mmh, good girl. Already getting all bothered for me, aren't you? I'll see you soon, honey." He didn't give you a chance to reply before the line went dead.

San was so good at picking up on your cues, happy to take the lead or to follow, depending on your mood. You liked him any way you could get him but your favorite was when he gently took the reins, giving you soft but stern instructions and showering you with praise all night, talking you through every orgasm. The thought of it made it hard for you to keep the promise you had just made to him.

You decided to shower instead, waiting for him to come home, feeling a little yucky after being in bed all day.

By the time you emerged in nothing but a towel, San was already there.

"Hi, gorgeous." He enveloped you in a big hug. He had showered at the gym, it seemed, hair still damp, cheeks rosy, comfy in a t-shirt and sweatpants.

"Sannie." You sighed into his chest.

He pulled back and trailed his hands down your arms, "Look at you, all clean just for me?"

You nod, looking down, feeling shy and exposed. Hormones, probably.

He pulled the towel open to look at you, "Oh, honey. I'll never get over how stunning you are." He pulled the towel all the way off, tossing it over the still-open bathroom door, reaching for you again, hands warm as they fell to your slightly boated tummy. He always made you feel so beautiful even when you felt like a hot pile of dog shit. "I brought something." He kissed your forehead then went to his backpack, pulling out a bottle of massage oil, "Thought this might be nice. I know your body is achey. Does a massage sound nice?"

"It sounds incredible." You smile at him, tears in your eyes, feeling especially grateful for him in that moment.

"Come on then, jagi." He leads you to your bedroom, grabbing a new towel on his way, to keep the massage oil - and whatever other potential bodily fluids - off of your bedding.

He has you on your stomach, deft hands turning you to putty at their touch, paying special attention to your lower back, where he knows carries extra tension. You're nearly in a trance when he wipes one hand on the towel, still kneading one ass cheek with his other hand, evidently able to tell what the massage was doing to you, your core becoming wet with arousal. He removed his other hand and you hear a squirting noise. When his hand returns, you realize the noise had been him applying lube to his fingers, which were now teasing your already slick slit, up and down, movements slow. Your legs parted further on instinct.

"Yes, baby, that's it. This is what you wanted, hm? Don't worry, I'm going to make you feel good." San’s voice was low and you felt yourself grind back into his fingers at it. "Patience, love." He chuckled, "We have all the time in the world."

His fingers found your clit, applying pressure to either side of it, before finally brushing over the top, just briefly before they slid down your folds once again, his other hand spreading your ass cheek as he held his fingers to your entrance. He didn't have to apply much pressure at all, you were so turned on that your cunt sucked him in greedily. He thrust them in and out a few times before curling them forward, hitting your sweet spot. Your back arched at the sensation and you could tell he was smiling behind you, "Mmh, so responsive, jagiya. I could do this for hours."

And you believe him, too. He sets a pace but slows down when you try to fuck yourself back onto his fingers, "No, no, sweetheart. Let me bring you there. I want you as relaxed as you were when I was massaging you, okay?"

"Yes, sir." You manage, face squished by the mattress, brain floating towards another planet already.

"Good girl." He says, fingers returning to continue their ministrations.

At some point, his thumb finds your tight ring of muscle, taunting him as it sat there within reach right above your now absolutely quivering cunt, circling it and adding just a little pressure. A gasp leaves your mouth at the sensation, surprised at how much you like it. "Mmh, so sensitive. You like this don't you?" You were so wet, every nerve alight at his touch, seconds from falling apart, holding on because you knew he would want to tell you when to let go. "You've been so good for me, angel, why don't you go ahead and come? On my fingers like a good girl."

Your body obeyed immediately, pleasure rolling through you. You thought your orgasm might never end, it was unlike anything you had ever felt before. "There we go baby, just like that. God, you're stunning." You were still clenching when he removed his fingers, just long enough to strip off his boxers and tank top, climbing back up and guiding the tip of his cock to your absolutely drenched core, letting you suck him in, inch by inch. The way he filled you had you immediately working up to your second peak, "Christ, honey, you're so wet. So. Fucking. Tight." He punctuated his words with the snap of his hips as your walls clenched around him again and again.

"Sannie-" You cried out in pleasure.

"I know, kitten, I'm right here with you." He purred. By the time you're worked up to your third release, he's cumming in perfect time with you, cock quivering as he pumped you full. "Oh my god, yes, fuck." He cried out. "You were made to take me, weren't you, baby? So fucking good for me." He praised you as he pulled out, collapsing beside you and dragging your limp body over to lay on his glistening chest.

"Sannie, that was... fuck." You couldn't form proper words, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me, jagi." He kissed your forehead, "The pleasure is all mine."

song mingi: He barely stirs as you roll on top of him, body aching, too early to do anything about it.

"Mmh, baby," Mingi’s morning voice is deep, raspy, one of his big hands pulls your leg up over his hips, the other tugging you closer to his chest.

You fall back asleep for a while. When you wake up, your head is a little more clear, and you realize you've bled through your underwear onto Mingi’s boxers. Heat flushes your cheeks in embarrassment and he stirs as he feels your body tense.

"'S wrong, jagi?" He rubs your back as his eyes blinked open slowly.

"Mingi, I'm so sorry, I-" you move your leg and he realizes what happened.

"C'mere." He pulls you back down into a slow kiss, apparently immune to your morning breath. You can't help but let out a moan as his hand finds your ass cheek, helping your hips grind into his thigh. "Yeah, you like that?" He all but growls into your ear as his hands work your stained underwear off, following with his own swiftly behind.

He rolls you over wordlessly, spooning you from behind, his already hard length in hand as you open your legs for him. He drags the head of his cock from your clit up to your soaked entrance, repeating it a few times until you're whining, grinding your ass back, begging to be taken.

"Oh, really?" He whispers, kissing down your shoulder, "You want me that bad, hm?"

"Please, Mingi, yes." You beg.

He holds his cock to your entrance, "Don't worry baby, I've got you." He pushes forward slowly, tip barely buried inside of you. "Go ahead, then." He instructs. You obey, working yourself down rather easily with the extra lubrication as you stretch over his large dick. You can tell he's watching himself disappear inside of you, his hair tickling your shoulder.

"Ah, fuck, jagi. You take me so well." He moans, beginning to lay long, lazy strokes. You knew when you first saw him dance on stage that his stroke game would be incredible, and you were pleased to find out how right you were when you started dating. It's only improved as he's gotten to know you better.

His hand reaches around to find your clit, fingers bumping into his shaft as he pleasures you, the perfect amount of pressure, circling and stroking. You were cramping so bad when you woke up but now your ab muscles had been given something real to focus on. You lean back, head falling to his broad shoulder as your whole body spasms in release. "Fuck yeah, just like that, baby." Mingi growls, his pace picking up as he works you through it, hips pumping harder and faster until he finally stills, and the feeling of his cock pumping you full of his seed is nearly enough to have you on the edge of coming again. All he has to do is play with your tender nipples and lay a few more strategic strokes and you're clenching around him again, breathless, whole body boneless, insides jellied.

You both caught your breath for a minute before Mingi spoke again. "Baby, I know we had plans for the farmers market today, but I'm sore from dance practice yesterday and I know you don't feel well. What if I make us some breakfast and start a load of laundry and then we can stay in all day and watch movies until I have to go to the studio tonight?"

You crane your neck around to kiss him, off-kilter from the odd angle, "That sounds perfect, baby."

"Mmh, good, I'm glad." He kissed you again, "Let me go grab you some Midol and start the shower, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you for being so sweet to me."

"Of course baby," He smiled as he extracted himself from your back, "I'm happy to. You always take care of me, it's the least I could do."

jung wooyoung: Hands on your waist startle you as you're washing dishes, audio book playing through your headphones concealing the noise of Wooyoung letting himself in.

“Ah!” You nearly drop the bowl in your hands, “Jesus! You scared the shit out of me!”

You feel yourself relax into his touch as he hooks his chin over your shoulder and moves one headphone off of your ear, “Baby, you're shouting.”

You huff as you place the bowl onto the drying rack, “Whose fault is that?”

He begins tickle you, “Not my fault!”

“Youngie!” You whine as you turn around in his arms, trying to evade his attacks, “Stop it!”

“Aw, grumpy,” his pout matches the one on your face.

You slap his chest playfully, “Hey, I have the right to be grumpy, my period just started.”

His expression turns sympathetic immediately, “Oh, jagi.” He kisses your forehead, “How can I help?”

You considered it for a second, “Well, I bought ingredients to make dinner but I really don't feel like cooking, so I was thinking about ordering in instead.”

“No way.” He grasped your face in his hands, “I'm gonna get you set up in the living room and then I'll get started cooking, okay?”

“Are you sure? You don't have-”

He cuts you off with a swift kiss, “No protesting. I'm happy to do it.”

You watch one episode of the show you've seen a thousand times, curled up on the living room couch, but as you see the preview for the next episode, you realize it's one you don't care much for, plus, the smell coming from the kitchen is calling your name. You turn off the TV and walk in right as Wooyoung is bending down to put the food in the oven to bake, making yourself right at home behind him on the island. He shuts the oven door and removes your light pink oven mitts- which look adorable on him - turning to spread your legs open so he can stand between them, arms caging you in as he presses his forehead to yours.

“Hi, beautiful.” You've always found his voice endearing, but it's especially so with the slight rasp it gets when he's jonesing for a you fix.

“Hi, handsome.” You barely get the words out before he's kissing you. Slow, deep movements from his mouth draw a moan from yours.

You can already feel heat pooling between your legs at his proximity and you pull back to ask, “Baby?”

“Yes, darling?” He smiles, eyes dark with desire, reveling in how he knows he drives you crazy.

“How much time do we have?”

“Twenty minutes,” His hand skims the waistband of your loose sleep shorts, sending shivers down your spine, “Plenty of time.”

You don't get a chance to reply before his fingers find their way inside your underwear, circling your throbbing bud slowly before dipping down to gather the slick that has gathered at your entrance, taking his time as he trails them back up, exploring your folds before resuming his ministrations at your clit.

Your hand finds his waist to hold onto for support, getting carried away with the sensations he's providing.

His thumb takes over for his fingers as they work their way south once again, circling your entrance before plunging them inside, curling them to hit your sweet spot.

“Wooyoung-” You gasp, your muscles already tensing at the magic he's working.

His lips tickle your earlobe as he whispers, “Shh, jagi, I've got you.”

Your head falls to his shoulder as his fingers set a pace, the sound of how wet you are at his touch only serving to double it.

You whimper as your walls start to clench around them and you can almost picture the smirk he's wearing, “That's it, pretty, just like that. Come on my fingers.” His words only intensify the sensation of pleasure as you clench around his fingers, panting as you call out his name.

He pulls his hand out when he's sure you've ridden out the waves, holding his slick fingers, streaked in some places with blood, in front of his face, devilish look on his face, eyebrow cocked.

“Wooyoung!” You scold him, “Don't you dare-”

But it's too late, he's popped his fingers into his mouth, sucking them clean, eyes rolling back in his head at the taste.

Beep-beep! Beep-beep! Beep-beep!

The timer goes off, interrupting you from further chastising him.

“What?” A smile takes over his face, “You taste good all the time, honey.”

You roll your eyes, but secretly find it cute.

He insists on feeding you bites of your dinner later, wiping the corners of your mouth with a napkin when you're finished.

Later, in the shower, you let him bend you over and hit it from behind, pulling out last second to finish, hot liquid landing on your back, your ass. He helps you wash your body to make up for it.

Once in bed, he kisses you all over, making you giggle and squirm before finally relenting and tugging you to his chest, stroking your hair as your breath evens out and you drift off to sleep.

choi jongho: You almost wonder if the man has logged into your period tracking app on his phone, uncanny in how he can pretty much always predict it. Eyes studying you a few days out as you tear up unexpectedly at a particularly sappy car commercial. You find your cabinets stocked with your favorite snacks the next day. 

The next morning, you wake up bloated, cramping, and grumpy. As you head into the bathroom, you realize Jongho has re-stocked your pain killers and period supplies. You call him when you get back into bed. 

He answers on the second ring, “Hi, princess, how are you feeling today?” 

“I swear you're more accurate than my tracking app, you fortune teller.” You can't help but be amazed at his abilities. 

He chuckles, “No, peach, I just pay attention.”

You smile at the cute pet names. He's always trying out new ones on you. You can hear traffic in the background, “You're the best. What are you up to?” 

“I'm about five minutes from your apartment.” He answers. 

“Choi Jongho!” You giggle, “How did I get so lucky?” 

“I'm the lucky one, jagi. I'll see you soon.” 

He's good to his word, chocolate and a teddy bear in his arms, backpack slung over one shoulder when you open the door to let him in. 

“Baby!” You all but squeal, “You're too good to me.” 

He puts his things down on the coffee table and pulls you into a big bear hug, “Anything for my perfect girl.” 

You pull back and he traces your cheek with his thumb before leaning in to kiss you, his lips slow and careful, hands gentle as he pulls you close. Your tongue probes into his mouth and he allows it, a moan coming forward from somewhere deep in his chest. He detached his lips, “Do you want to go to your bedroom, sweetheart?” 

“Yes, please.” You simper. 

He scoops you up bridal style and carries you to your bed, placing you gingerly onto the bed, climbing on top of you, kissing you into the mattress. 

“Baby,” You stop him as he reaches for the hem of your shirt.

“What's up?” He falls to the bed beside you, not wanting to crowd you. 

“I'm probably going to sound crazy and too needy-”

“Hush, don't talk about my girlfriend like that. Tell me what you need, ma chérie.” 

You giggle at his attempt at French, “I don't really want to like… have sex. Because I feel icky. But I still want to. You know.” 

He smiles fondly at you, “Where's your vibrator, gorgeous?” 

You blush, pointing to your bedside table drawer. 

He is relentless with your favorite toy, talking you through multiple orgasms, leaving your legs jellied, panting and sweating.

“So good for me, darling. I love watching you come.” He praises you as he switches the vibrator off, placing it on the bed beside him, pulling your boneless body to his chest. 

“Thank you for understanding,” you murmur into his chest, “Sorry I didn't feel like doing more.” 

“You never need to apologize for something like that.” He kisses your forehead, “Promise I'm happy to do it anytime. Anything to help my baby feel good.” 

The teddy bear he brought is the weighted kind you microwave to help alleviate cramps, which he fixes up for you before curling up with you on the couch, chocolate within reach. He turns on your favorite comfort movie without being asked, humming the score softly. The sound of his voice melts your heart. You feel yourself drift off to sleep before the movie ends, with Jongho’s strong, warm hands moving absentmindedly across any expanse of skin within his reach, heart feeling fuzzy with affection towards your sweet boyfriend.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ateez soft hours pt. 1

how they would treat you while you're on your period

hyung line

warnings: mdni, period sex, smut

word count: 1.9k

ao3 link: hyung line

author's note: I'm feeling some type of way, okay? Don't look at me.

park seonghwa: He knows how sensitive you are while on your period so he takes full advantage of it to help you feel good.

A black towel placed down on his bed, guiding you on top of it, nimble fingers pulling down the blindfold and placing noise cancelling headphones over your ears, playing entrancing music to help you get out of your own head and just let yourself feel everything.

Soft fingers tracing feather-light over your sensitive body, the swell of your breasts, nipples going hard immediately at his touch. The softest carress - he knows they get sore, too.

Gooseflesh rising on your skin as his fingers trace down further, over the swell of your stomach, down to your thighs. Kisses soft as raindrops fall up the inside of your legs.

He knows his touch alone could probably send you over the edge, but he's not one to tease when you're in this state.

Finally, his fingers find your clit and he begins to add pressure, before dipping down further into your folds, using the wetness that has pooled at your core to help his fingers work you with less friction.

It doesn't take long for you to careen over the edge, hips bucking. You can hear him praise you over the music, "Such a good girl, always so good for me."

He slips the blindfold and headphones off one after the other, dipping in to kiss you as your legs wrap around his waist so that he can push inside of you. He knows the sex will help with your cramps, but he's more gentle than usually, laying long, languid strokes, the tip of his dick dragging deliciously over your sweet spot over and over and over until your abs are clenching, your walls milking him for all he's worth with your second orgasm.

You shower together and he wraps you up tight in bed, massaging your lower back and kissing your neck as you fall asleep.

kim hongjoong: He leaves the studio early for you after you text him complaining about how bad your cramps are. He comes by your apartment with takeout and heats up your hot water bottle for you while you get situated on the couch after spending all day in agony in bed.

He eats with you and watches an episode of the silly dating show you've been binging with you until he has to continue working, letting you put your feet in his lap as he works on his laptop.

He can only work for so long before he starts glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. You look so cute in his sweatshirt, lip stuck out in a pout as you try to ignore the pain and concentrate on the show. Eventually, his hand moves from your calf to your thigh, unable to stop himself from giving it a small sqeeze. Your legs part instinctively, allowing his hand to trace up further. You can feel the warmth of his hand through the thin fabric of your sleep pants and the sensation drives you crazy. You scooch down on the couch a little so he can reach further up, which he does, fingers nearly to where you're craving them to be.

You let our a small whimper and he either hears it or can just read your mind at that point, fingers finally landing on your still-clothed clit. You grind your hips into them, seeking friction, gaping at the smile curling up at the corner of his mouth.

He set a steady rhythm until you can't take it anymore, sitting up and staring him down until he clicks a few more times, saving the file he's working on, and drops his laptop and headphones a little carelessly onto the coffee table before pulling you into his lap. You straddle his thigh as he begins kissing you, hands gentle as they guide your hips down onto him.

The friction and pressure are everything and you're about to fall apart when he whispers, "Go ahead, darling. Make yourself feel good. I love when you use me." His thumb finds your clit again through your pants and you fall forward to his shoulder, rutting against him a few more times until you find yourself tumbling into pleasure, breathing hard as he praises you, "There we go baby. Feels better now, doesn't it?"

You hum an acknowledgement, already about to slip into sleep. He realizes and picks you up, walking you to your bed, where he tucks you in for the night, kissing your forehead before he goes back into the living room to continue working for a few more hours. He joins you later that night and lets you roll practically on top of him, rubbing your back in comforting circles as he drifts to sleep.

jeong yunho: He knows you're extra aroused while menstruating and takes full advantage of this fact. Orders in steak and cheesecake because "You need the extra iron and protein right now, honey." The cheesecake is just because you like it. But that will be saved for later. The red wine he brings over goes with the steak, though.

You eat until he is satisfied, sipping on your wine as the food digests. He listens attentively as you complain about your discomfort throughout the day, never making you feel silly for your vulnerability, face looking concerned as you talk. He kisses your hand, "I wish I could take all the pain away from my princess." His eyes darken as he kisses all the way up the inside of your forearm, sending shivers down your spine. You feel yourself getting slick, thighs clencing together, which doesn't go unnoticed by Yunho.

He stands up slowly from the couch, pulling you up with him and into a deep kiss that turns desperate and messy very quickly. His hands grope your ass and you moan into his mouth. A few quick movements and he has you bent over the armrest of the couch, pants ripped down, teasing your aching cunt with his cock.

He likes that your blood serves as extra lubrication. Not that you need it. He makes you so wet so easily. But it never hurts, especially with how big he is. The stretch as he enters you never gets old, feeling especially incredible right now. You suck him in greedily and he starts fucking you, snapping his hips exactly how he knows you need it.

"Fuck, baby, you feel amazing. So tight. God, I love watching myself disappear into you, you have no idea." His hands find your waist and you feel his thumbs rub circles into your lower back where he knows you carry pain during your time of month. One of them slips all the way around, long fingers finding your throbbing clit and it only takes a few more strokes, which he lays in time with the strokes of his fingers, before you're clenching around his considerable girth. He finishes quickly behind you, filling you to the brim.

His cock glistens red when he pulls out. You'd be more embarrassed, but you know he finds it hot.

You shower together afterwards, and he can't resist getting you off again, with deft, precise fingers.

kang yeosang: "Oh no! My poor angel. Stay right where you are, I'm leaving work early. I'll be there soon, okay darling?" His voice is so sweet over the phone. You feel tears pool in your eyes. You know it's partly just the hormones, but goddamn do you love Kang Yeosang.

"Aw, baby, you don't have to-" You start to protest.

"Uh-uh. Nope. My sweetheart is not going to suffer alone. I won't take no for an answer." You smile at his soft lisp, knowing that he's telling the truth. He might be the most gentle person you've ever met, but that doesn't mean he doesn't like being in control.

"Okay, if you insist." You sigh into the phone.

"Good girl." You can picture the smile on his face as he says it, knowing that it drives you mad with need every time. "See you soon, love."

Thirty minutes later, he's unlocking the door to your apartment with the copy of the key you made him, pint of ice cream clutched in one hand.

"Hi baby!" He calls to you from your spot in bed, "Stay there, I'm just grabbing spoons."

He's the one taking care of you, but you end up wiping the corners of his mouth where he's managed to get ice cream while eating it with you in your bed. "Messiest eater I know." You tease him.

"How do you know I'm not saving that for later?" He acts affronted.

"Because." You kiss him on the cheek, "You're sweet enough already, you don't need the extra sugar on your face to prove it."

He giggles, "That doesn't make any sense."

"Yeah, well, I don't have to make sense right now, all my blood has left my brain and has formed a sentient knife demon in my uterus that is trying to stab its way out from the inside." You fix him with big puppy dog eyes.

"Hmm..." He considers what you've said, "Well then you'd better start calling me 'Demonslayer.'"

"Huh-?" He doesn't let you finish computing what he just said, pulling you into a real kiss, turning so that he's pushing you into the mattress.

He has your pants down in an instant, face plunging between your legs, tongue expertly teasing your clit, exploring your folds, dipping low to circle your entrance. He comes up for air, "I'll show you messy eater."

He's not joking, either. He's not satisfied until you've come on his face and around his fingers at least three times. He finally comes up for air, chin tinted slightly pink, face wet from your multiple orgasms, "How do you taste amazing even like this, angel? I swear, I'm the luckiest man on earth."

He draws you a bath afterwards, adding the lavender epsom salt mix he knows helps relax your muscles, never needing to be asked to do it. You lean back onto his chest in the bathtub and let him massage your neck and shoulders. His fingers slip down to your chest, soap making easy work of things as he cups your breasts in his hands, fingers teasing your nipples. He can't resist. He always loves making you feel good, but when you're extra sensitive, it's like a drug to him.

You're close to coming just from the attention to your nipples.

"Go ahead and touch yourself, angel," He whispers into your ear, "I've got you."

The added pressure between your legs as you touch yourself is all you needed to send waves of pleasure coursing through your body once more.

"Oh, there we go." His deep voice vibrates as it resonates in his chest, "I love watching you, darling. And such pretty noises you make for me."

"Thank you, Sangie." You pant, still coming down from your orgasm. You can tell he's hard behind you but he never lets you help him out when you're on your period. He insists it's all about you and making you feel good. His pleasure can wait. He gets enough of it just helping you get yours.

"Of course, my love." He kisses right below your earlobe.

Later, he grabs your favorite stuffy from your bookshelf and hands it to you to cuddle as he curls up to spoon you from behind. You usually let them sleep on the shelf when he's over, but he knows you find extra comfort in them when your're feeling especially emotional. He's everything you could have ever asked for and more.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

decalcomanie

summary: Reader and Mingi go into heat at the same time, Yunho has to call in for reinforcements to help you both through it.

warnings: mdni, omegaverse, knotting, group sex, smut

pairing: established alpha!yunho x omega!mingi x omega!(gn)reader, alpha!seonghwa is also there

word count: 5,899

author's note: this is my first foray into writing omegaverse, please be gentle.

ao3 link: decalcomanie

decalcomanie

It was bound to happen at some point, really, you couldn't be too surprised. But there was also no good way to plan for it. 

So, when you awoke in blinding pain in Mingi's bed, only to find him also writhing and sweating uncomfortably, grabbing for you in his foggy state, it wasn't a shock, rather, more of a well this could be interesting realization. 

Your heats have finally synchronized. 

Yunho must have been able to sense it, smell it on you both, because he all but broke down the door on his way in, breathing hard, a dark look and worried expression on his face. 

Mingi was glommed onto you, seeking any sort of friction as your brain started to get fuzzy with desire, slick between your legs, body feeling so sensitive, like was on fire. 

“Mingi, y/n.” Yunho's voice was deep, soothing, drawing you both to attention. 

“Yunho, it hurts.” You whine, suddenly so desperate for your alpha. 

“Shh, I know, baby,” He rushes over to soothe you, running his long fingers over your hair, checking your temperature by placing the back of his hand against your forehead, eyebrows furrowed in concentration as he does the same to Mingi, who was reaching across you to touch Yunho as well. “I'm going to go get you both some water, okay?” You and Mingi whine pathetically at this announcement. You don't want water. You want him.  

He chuckles at you both, endeared at how needy you both were, “It's okay, my loves. You have each other, I'll be right back, I promise.”

He kisses both of you on the forehead before quickly exiting the room. 

You and Mingi can't wait, though, both desperate with need, desire, brains foggy with it. 

You turn your head towards him and he's there in an instant, plush lips on yours, struggling to get his shirt off. You help him, breaking apart just long enough to remove yours, too, followed by the rest of your clothes. 

He kisses down your neck, murmuring your name into your skin, nipping and biting everywhere except your scent gland. 

You three aren't really there yet, although it's pretty unspoken that you will mate at some point. It's already uncommon for two omegas to bond as you and Mingi have, but for you both to have found Yunho is something else entirely. Although, to be fair, packs are becoming more and more accepted by the general public these days.  

Before you know it, he's flipped you onto your stomach, flat on the mattress, and he's pressing into you from behind. 

He's bigger than Yunho, not by much, but enough that it's noticeable, and when heat hormones aren't in play, there's no way you'd possibly be able to take him with so little foreplay. 

But heat hormones are at play, and you're already so wet with slick and the stretch feels incredible, especially with your legs close together like this, making you feel even more full. 

And god he smells amazing. It wasn't as noticeable when Yunho was in the room, his rosemary and cedar wood scent being pretty all-consuming. But in the brief time he stepped out, you could smell Mingi again. Floral, something like magnolia or peony, and juniper berry, with a hint of musk. It was divine. It wasn't until you met the two of them, did the stupid thing everyone warns you against and moved in with two dudes you met on the internet, that you could smell your own scent. Incense, cherry, and red wine. All together, to those who you weren't matches with, you're sure you smell like a thrift store caught fire in a catholic church. Actually, you've heard Wooyoung say exactly that. But he tends to be a brat. To you three, it was all-consuming, addictive. 

You're brought back into reality somewhat as the bed dips and Yunho is beside you, watching you and Mingi go at it, lust burning in his eyes. 

You're reaching your peak, but the angle isn't quite right. Mingi seems to read your mind, pulling out to readjust. Yunho moves behind you then, pulling your back to his chest so he can support some of your weight, and you spread your legs to accommodate Mingi, hooking them over Yunho's ankles. 

Yunho pulls Mingi in for a sloppy kiss before pushing him down by the shoulder to resume what he was up to before, kneeling in front of you this time, lifting you into his lap to get the angle you were searching for a minute ago. Yunho reaches around to palm your chest, nipples almost painfully sensitive and erect, but he knows exactly how to pinch, knead, and tease them. 

Your brain is screaming for a knot, knowing Mingi can't give you one, logically, but wanting it nonetheless. Not during the first wave though. You all know how this goes. Even through the heat hormones, you have an idea of how this goes. 

Yunho's mouth moves up your jaw, and he pauses to whisper, “That's it, baby. Good girl. Look at you two, how did I ever get so lucky, hm? Two gorgeous omegas, all to myself.” 

You can feel his dick getting hard behind you, and the thought of it is what ends up sending you over the edge. You're just riding out the aftershocks when Yunho reaches up to Mingi's face, thumb caressing his bottom lip, tapping his jaw lightly to say open up, which he does, allowing Yunho's thumb inside of his mouth before closing his rose petal lips around it and sucking on it like it was his life force, finally able to cum. Inside of you. Because that's how you all liked it. (Thank you, IUD).

You feel a little better but it wasn't enough, still. 

Mingi falls onto the mattress beside you and Yunho, and the latter extracts himself from behind you, repositioning so he was now between your legs, kissing up your thighs before-

“Fuck, Yunho.” He was lapping up the mess Mingi had made inside you as it leaked out with a fresh wave of slick like it was the last supper. 

Mingi was hard again, too, at the sight of it, and you turned your head to kiss him again, reaching for his already leaking cock with your hand, using some of the slick you could reach from the inside of his thigh as lube. 

He finishes before you this time, lips faltering on your own, a faint moan of your name hanging in the air. 

Some alphas would be jealous of that, but it only seemed to drive Yunho on in his pursuit of your release, sucking firmly on your clit, tongue dipping inside of you before adding two of his long, elegant fingers, crooked at just the right angle to carry you over the edge again at last.

You and Mingi were now both thoroughly spent enough, heads cleared slightly after getting some release, to fall asleep. 

You feel yourself be sandwiched in between them, Mingi spooning you and reaching across your waist to find purchase on Yunho's hip, nuzzling into the crook of your neck to breathe in your scent. Yunho touches you both gently and sweetly as you drift off to sleep, stroking your hair, humming quietly to himself, the resonance it creates in his chest fully lulling you under.

The smell of honeysuckle and wheat is what woke you up this time. You have no clue how long you were asleep, but it's bright outside Mingi's bedroom window, and you can smell Seonghwa in your living room, Yunho is absent, and you're confused but you're also vividly aware of the fact that you were apparently grinding your ass back onto Mingi in your sleep, evidenced by the slick between your legs and his hand grasping onto your hip, guiding your hips back again so he can feel the pressure on his already hard length. 

You are both probably filthy, having fallen asleep naked after fucking, but neither of you mind, either. Stuff like that didn't matter when your brain was only capable of thinking about how badly you needed to be bred. 

Mingi is spreading you apart and sliding inside of you before you have to beg him for it, both of you out of your minds with need. 

The door opens a crack, and you both look up to see who it is but don't stop what you're doing. Incapable, really, of stopping. 

Seonghwa steps through the door frame slowly so as to not startle you, “Don't worry, it's just me. Yunho had his studio review this morning. With that professor who is weirdly stubborn about no make-up chances.” He walks over to sit on the bed next to you, “You know how hard he's been working on programming the first level of his video game for this assignment. He wouldn't have left unless he had to. And he needed to pick up some food while he was out, too. I told him we would be just fine, won't we?” He was containing himself well, but you could still see the desire behind his eyes as he watches you and Mingi together, his pupils slightly dilated, cheeks beginning to flush. 

There was a time when you thought you might be a match for Seonghwa. The first time Mingi & Yunho had their friends over so you could meet all of them, seeing as they tended to be in and out of the house a lot, with it being the closest to campus of all of their places. You had clicked really well with him, and also happened to be decidedly denying and repressing your feelings for Mingi, and even more so for Yunho, at the time. In fact, he's sort of the reason you three were whatever you were now. After the two of you started seeing each other, Mingi and Yunho realized their feelings, all of it culminating with them quite literally gnashing teeth and growling over you. 

It was kinda hot. 

Definitely a boost to your ego. 

You had all talked it out later, of course, and were back to normal, though your relationship was still undefined, and none of you had discussed your feelings, really. But it was back to normal to the point where Yunho felt comfortable enough to tag Seonghwa in now when he had to be absent. 

And yeah, so what if you were still a little attracted to him? It was practically an inside joke between the four of you at this point. It didn't mean anything, not when you were so sure about Yunho and Mingi. He's just an objectively gorgeous person. Androgynous and delicate in ways your guys weren't.

So no, it wasn't surprising that Yunho had asked him to come look after you two when he couldn’t be there to do it. What was surprising, however, was the low growl Mingi let out when Seonghwa reached over to stroke your cheek with his hand. 

“Oh, good boy, Mingi, protecting your omega. You have to look out for your own kind, don't you?” His hand didn't retract as he talked, but Mingi pulled you closer, his pace quickening.

Seonghwa laughed under his breath, clearly amused, seeming to almost want to egg him on, “That's right, gorgeous. She's all yours. You can give her everything she needs, can't you? Until she needs a knot, of course.” 

You whine at the mention of it, leaning into his touch. Yes, a knot. You think to yourself. 

Mingi pulls you even closer, another growl seemingly just below the surface. It was so fucking hot. You knew this is not how Yunho would be taking care of the two of you but you didn't mind. 

Seonghwa dares to move his touch to Mingi, caressing his cheek as he says, “Don't worry, handsome. I won't be giving anyone my knot.”

You can feel Mingi start to falter under his touch, and Seonghwa continues, “At least not right now. Not unless one of you asks for it. And not until you've eaten something.” He notices you pouting a little, but still addresses Mingi, “Now come on, give your omega what she needs. Don't be selfish.” 

His hand strokes lightly down your arm, moving to your flank, as Mingi moves his arm that was around your waist up to pay attention to your nipples, which are peaked with interest. Seonghwa's hand moves further south, his fingers finding your throbbing bud, circling it tantalizingly before adding real pressure in time with Mingi's thrusts. It doesn't take long for you to finish like that, Mingi following quickly behind as you clench desperately around him. Seonghwa coos at you both and you feel so much better now, getting praised by a beautiful alpha, and having satisfied your favorite person again, at least enough to tide you both over. 

Mingi pulls out and you can't help but whine at the sudden feeling of being empty. 

Seonghwa frowns at your discomfort, “Oh, poor darling. Yunho will be home soon enough, I'm sure.” He starts to stand up and you and Mingi both reach for him, Mingi's voice sulky as he asks, “Where are you going?” Which also happened to be exactly what you wanted to know. 

Seonghwa sits back down, “Nowhere, lovely, I just think you both need a shower at this point. I was going to go get it started for you. Will you let me take care of you a little? I'd love nothing more than to help you both. And as heavenly as you both smell right now, the bedding also needs washed and changed. Which I will tend to while you two shower. Sound okay?”

“Can you draw a bath instead?” Mingi asks him. 

Seonghwa smiles knowingly, “Of course, darling. Anything you wish.”

Mingi is so smart, you think to yourself, turning yourself around to kiss him so he knows it, not really being able to fully form words to tell him so at the moment. He returns it gladly, and you hear Seonghwa chuckle at you two before he gets up, saying, “I'll go start the bath, then,” as he leaves the room, heading into the en suite. 

You and Mingi get so caught up in your lazy makeout that Seonghwa's return startles you both once again, and he laughs sweetly as he takes his spot on the edge of the bed again, hand landing softly on your back to reassure you, “Sorry I startled you,” his voice is so deep and honey smooth, it feels like a balm on your heightened nerves, “let's get you two clean, yeah?” 

He helps you up and guides you two into the bathroom, helps you climb in to the large bath tub (a feature that is a big reason you wanted to live there in the first place when you saw the ad online), and then asks if you need anything else. You shake your heads ‘no’ but ask if he'll stay in the room, uncomfortable with the idea of being separated from an alpha, even for a little while. He obliges, sitting down on the bath mat, hand dipping into the water to trace patterns on your thigh absentmindedly. You settle in against Mingi's chest, breathing in his scent, feeling your muscles start to relax in the warm water.

It's nice, really, helping each other wash, Mingi's large hands rubbing your shoulders to relieve tension. But you can't help and miss Yunho.

“Do you think he'll be home soon?” Mingi asks Seonghwa, once again practically reading your mind. 

“I'm sure if you two can get a nap after this, he'll be here when you wake up.” Seonghwa says softly, leaning forward to plant a kiss on Mingi's temple. You hear yourself whimper in jealousy before you can stop yourself, and Seonghwa doesn't let it go unnoticed, “Oh, sorry darling,” he kisses your cheek, “you're not left out, don't worry.” 

You feel yourself relax, attention acquired. 

Seonghwa goes to change the bedding as you and Mingi rinse and towel off, both of you already yawning, ready to lay back down. 

Seonghwa comes to collect you and tuck you in, and you pull him down on your other side, wanting to be sandwiched in like you were last night. He obliges and you turn over to spoon Mingi, falling easily into a dreamless sleep as Seonghwa rubs circles on your back. 

Waves of pain roll through your abdomen, waking you up. You feel clammy and out of sorts, and it takes your eyes a moment to adjust. Seonghwa is there to soothe you, “Shh, it's okay, y/n. Yunho just messaged, he will be home any second now.” He smooths your hair down, tucking a strand behind your ear. Mingi is stirring behind you, seeming to wake up in just as an uncomfortable state as you. 

“Yunho?” His voice is deeper than normal, throat dry from being asleep. 

Seonghwa was about to correct him but then you all hear the front door open, “Well, that was kinda spooky, Mingi,” he cajoles him. Yunho's scent wafts in, followed quickly by the man himself, smiling sweetly as he pokes his head in the door, “Aw, look at you three.” His voice immediately sets you at ease. 

“You’re never allowed to leave that long again.” Mingi pouts, his arm snaking around you, absentmindedly. You're glad for it, realizing how badly you needed to be touched. 

“I'm so sorry, jagi. You understand though, right?”

You both nod, but you feel your eyebrow creasing in a fresh wave of pain. “I'm surprised they didn't beg you for a knot.” He addressed Seonghwa, and his mouth opens to answer but you reply first instead, “He said we have to eat first!”

The alphas share a knowing look and chuckle at you. Yunho sits down at the foot of the bed, hand falling to your calf, “Yes, baby, and he was right to say that. In fact, I need to go put the groceries away and feed you two. Will you be okay with Seonghwa a little longer?” 

“Yeah, okay.” You say, as Mingi answers, “Hurry, please, Yuyu. We missed you.” 

“I know, sweetheart, I missed you both as well. I thought of you every second I was gone.” And you could tell by his expression, as he placed his other hand on Mingi's leg to comfort him, too, that he was telling the truth. 

Mingi pulls you to his chest as Yunho leaves the room, carding his hand softly through your hair, and you cling to him tightly as another wave of pain rushes over you. You know Mingi is in pain, too, both of you much more clear-headed than yesterday, though now glaringly aware of how badly you needed a knot, but despite that, he was putting on a brave face to comfort you. None of the three of you have said you love each other yet. You haven't even really defined what you mean to each other, but when moments like this happen, you nearly let the words slip out. And really, the thought of telling them is getting less and less scary. The way you treat one another is from a place of love. Yet it still feels like a monumental step to take. You're sure none of you three know who should say it first and are probably all hoping someone other than yourselves will be the one to break the ice. But it wouldn't be appropriate here, now, with Seonghwa in the room, and Yunho in a different room entirely. You might have said it alone to Mingi first, seeing as you two fell for each other before anything. Yunho had been helping Mingi through his heats for years, but nothing turned romantic until you were in the picture. It all just sort of fell into place. Yunho had told you one time, a couple of months ago, that you were like their missing puzzle piece. The sentiment has stuck with you ever since. 

Seonghwa tries to comfort you as well, rubbing your shoulders and massaging your lower back, where the pain tends to radiate. You wonder, briefly, how it will work when he leaves and Yunho has to decide who to knot first while the other waits. You're sure Mingi would be patient for your sake, but you would feel so guilty making him wait, especially given how badly you know you're aching for one right now, knowing he's in the same boat. 

Yunho returns soon enough with some fruit, cheeses, and bread, knowing neither of you would be willing to do much more than snack in your current state. You eat until he is satisfied, heat coiling in your gut as he praises you for being good and eating. It's all you can do to not knock the glass of water out of Seonghwa's hand that he's extending to you, as Yunho instructs you to drink it, and jump either of their bones. But you're determined to please him, so you listen and drink it anyways.

Seonghwa clears the dishes and when he leaves the room, Yunho turns to you both, “Okay, feel free to veto this, obviously, but I thought Seonghwa could stay and um. Help out. I know you both are wanting a knot, and you know I'll give it to you, but I don't want someone to have to wait. I don't like the idea of one of my omegas being in need while the other is satisfied. It doesn't seem fair. And this is kind of an unusual circumstance. Seonghwa has already agreed, I asked him earlier, just in case. It's totally up to you.” 

You know you're fine with it, but you turn to Mingi to see his reaction. He looks a little torn but then he says, “I was willing to wait for you to knot y/n but I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be miserable while you did it. I'm okay with it if she is. I need you, alpha. So bad. It really hurts.” His voice turned to a whine at the end. 

“I'm okay with it if Mingi is comfortable. But um. I know it's not like this bed is huge or anything, but I don't want to be separated from either of you.” You say, feeling yourself blush with how needy you are, though you know full well how attractive Yunho finds it, especially given how independent to a fault you are otherwise, outside of your heats. 

Seonghwa appears in the doorway, “I'm sure there's room for four up there.” His voice is low, rumbling with desire as he stares at you, tongue flicking over his lips. You know then that what you assumed was true, Seonghwa would be the one to knot you. Slick is building between your legs and you're sure Seonghwa can smell your lust, evidenced by how he starts towards the bed, taking off his shirt as he walks over to your side. 

“Well okay,” Yunho laughs, addressing the room but staring Mingi down with hungry eyes, “That settles it.”

Seonghwa is laying beside you in an instant, as Yunho strips before he climbs into bed in between you and Mingi. It is definitely just big enough for four, and you feel like you're on fire in the best way, sandwiched between two alphas. Yunho dips down to kiss you briefly, whispers, “I missed my pretty omega so much today. Thank you for being so open minded, jagi.” 

You preen at the praise, not wanting him to turn away, but immediately distracted by Seonghwa kissing up the side of your neck you had exposed to him while being kissed by Yunho, and your anxiety melts away. 

You watch as Yunho climbs on top of Mingi, pulling him in for a steamy kiss, and feel a fresh wave of slick between your legs. Neither of you had bothered to get dressed after your bath, knowing you would just get filthy again soon enough. Seonghwa is making his way down your neck to your chest, you watch as Yunho does the same to Mingi, every nerve a live wire. Mingi turns his head to look at you and you can't help but move your hand toward his laying between you on the mattress, which he latches onto immediately. You feel much more grounded now that you're connected to him somehow. 

Seonghwa's mouth finds your nipple and you let out a moan at the sensation. Mingi follows suit as Yunho finds his. You briefly wonder if they had planned this out before now, considering they're practically perfectly in sync with one another, two pairs a mirror image of one another. All thoughts melt away a Seonghwa gives a soft nip, soothing it immediately with his tongue, moving to your other breast immediately after. It feels amazing but you're getting more and more desperate and in this state, you could easily come like this. 

“Please, Hwa,” You hear yourself beg him. 

He pulls his head up to ask, “Please, what, darling?” 

“Hurry, please.” Your voice is strained. Every fiber of your being screaming for release, for a knot. 

“Y/n,” Seonghea smiles knowingly, “I want you to finish at least once before I give you a knot.” 

You whine at his answer, but you also know he's right. 

You feel his smile press into a kiss on your navel, your free hand tangles in his hair as he trails kisses down your torso, finally landing between your legs, where his dexterous tongue starts its ministrations between your folds, lapping up the slick that's built there, finally landing on your already throbbing clit, hips arching off the bed at the contact.. A gasp from your side, and a slight squeeze of your hand tells you that Mingi is being similarly compromised. You look over to him again, see his face drawn in pleasure makes the muscles in your abdomen spasm. Your eyes trail down to see Yunho's lips wrapped around Mingi's large cock, head bobbing up and down slowly, spit leaking out the corner of his mouth, and the sight, combined with a well timed probe of Seonghwa's tongue into your cunt nearly has you over the edge. His tongue returns to your clit, setting a steady rhythm there, your eyes return to Mingi briefly, only to realize he was watching you, which turns you on even more.

A sharp suck from Seonghwa steals your attention back, and given the fact that you look down and meet his eyes, you can tell he wants your attention on him. 

So you give it to him. 

Mingi squeezes your hand reassuringly, and Seonghwa pulls off to insert one finger, saying, “Eyes on me, pretty baby,” before adding another finger to the mix, crooking them at just the right angle to find that very sensitive spot, before reattaching his mouth. Your legs are shaking by now, hips bucking involuntarily in time with the movement of his fingers and his tongue. He hums encouragingly and that, plus the sound you're very familiar with, of Mingi's breath pattern when he's about to cum, is what brings you your release. Head thrown back in pleasure, spasming around Seonghwa's fingers, Mingi crying out incoherently next to you with his own orgasm, almost perfectly in time with your own.

“Oh good girl,” Seonghwa coos as he places the fingers that were inside of you past his own plush lips, sucking them clean with hollowed out cheeks, a slight pop noise when he removes them, “What a good omega you are. I think you've earned what you really want now, no?”

“Yes, please,” your voice is dripping with a hazy lust now, “please, alpha.” 

Seonghwa smiles, all but growls, “Glad you agree, darling,” voice low, rumbling in his chest.

“Are you ready for me, baby?” Yunho asks Mingi sweetly from the other side of the bed. 

“Please, alpha. Need a knot so bad.” He pants, his deep voice carrying a strained edge to it. Seonghwa positions himself between your legs, teasing your absolutely drenched entrance with the head of his cock (no condom because you know he's clean and you trust him), and you can't help but watch as Yunho pushes into Mingi beside you, his large cock disappearing inside of him inch by inch as Seonghwa enters you simultaneously. It almost creates the illusion that it's Yunho fucking you instead, though the stretch isn't as intense as it would be with Yunho.

As hot as it is, you don't want to displease the alpha who is currently rutting his hips into you, soon to give you the knot you want so badly, so you turn your attention to him, but continue to let the noises of the two beside you fuel your arousal. 

You can feel another orgasm building already, hands clawing at Seonghwa's back, which he seems to enjoy, considering it seems to spur him on, his pace speeding up. “That's it, baby, take what you need from me,” he says with some effort.

You wrap your legs around him, pulling him closer, “Feel so good, ‘m gonna come again, Hwa.” You manage to get out. 

You hear a similar conversation to your side. Mingi sounding so whiny, fucked out, downright breedable, is so incredibly sexy to you. 

Seonghwa closes the gap, leaning down to kiss you, and the increase in friction between your two bodies is exactly what you need to push you over the edge into ecstasy. 

“Excellent job, sweetheart,” Seonghwa huffs out as he continues fucking into you. 

“Knot me, please, alpha,” you whimper, “please. Need a knot so bad.”

“That's right, beg me for it, darling,” Seonghwa's throat is tight, clearly near the edge. 

You try to speak again but it just turns into a pathetic whine in your desperation, eyebrows knitting together, then you feel the pressure of his knot at your entrance and your brain goes haywire. 

“Yes, please, god, yes, alpha, please give me your knot.” you beg from below him. 

His knot pushes inside of you, locking you in place, followed by his hips faltering, and the warmth of him spilling inside you is everything. 

You had heard Mingi finishing a few seconds ago, and Yunho seemed to be knotting him now. It was incredible to watch them together. You couldn't believe they were yours. 

Seonghwa pulls himself down to your chest, maneuvering you so he can turn you both over and sits up against the pillows so that you can rest against his chest as you wait for his knot to go down. Yunho and Mingi had ended up changing positions before Yunho knotted him, and where now spooning, facing you and Seonghwa.

Your brain buzzes contentedly, not able to think about much besides finally being knotted and how in love with Yunho and Mingi you are, especially after all that. 

Seonghwa's knot goes down first and he picks you up in his arms and carries you to the shower before you can fall asleep disgusting again. 

“Was I okay?” You ask him sheepishly as he washes your body. 

“Of course you were, gorgeous,” He kisses the crown of your head, “You’re always so good.”

“Thank you,” you say as you bury your face in his neck, embarrassed. 

“No need to thank me, y/n.” his voice is so gentle, “You should consider telling them how you feel, you know.”

“I know I do,” you sigh, “I don't think I've ever really been in love before though, it's scary.”

Seonghwa grabs your chin, tilting your face up so you have to look in his eyes, “If it wasn't scary, it wouldn't be worth doing.”

And you know he's right, “Sorry it didn't work out between us, by the way,” you tell him. 

“Oh, y/n,” his face looks so concerned, “Don't apologize for that, darling. I'm happy to be your friend. Help you all out when needed. Besides, there's some unresolved tension between Hongjoong and myself. I'm sure you've noticed.”

You nod, “I think if I have to be brave then you should have to as well, Hwa. Go get your beta.”

It's his turn to whine this time, “Ugh, I know you're right.” 

And you can't help but laugh, hugging your friend close. 

The next few days pass largely the same, Seonghwa coming by occasionally to help out when he's available, but after the first knot, you and Mingi are mostly okay to wait for turns with Yunho. 

You wake up sore on the fifth day and groan as you stretch your tired muscles. Your heat has passed, and you assume Mingi's has, too, considering he's making similar disgruntled noises from the other side of the bed.

Yunho stirs as he hears you and Mingi start rustling around, “Breakfast?” He asks the room, his hair sticking up in the back as he sits up, one eye still squinched closed. 

You and Mingi mumble your agreements and the three of you split up for the first time in almost a week. 

Your own room smells weirdly sterile in comparison, you think to yourself as you get dressed and reacclimate to reality. 

Seonghwa texts you on your walk over to the diner, telling you that he was good on his end of the deal and he and Hongjoong are going to give things the old college try, and instructing you to hold up your end. 

You steel yourself, deciding then and there that you would tell them, informing Seonghwa to ensure you were good on your word. You're so happy for him, and it's very encouraging. 

It still takes you by surprise when it happens, though. Mingi is in the middle of impersonating one of his professors, nearly knocks his orange juice over, but Yunho catches it, sending you all into fits. 

“Goddammit,” you try to catch your breath through your laughter, “I love you guys.” 

They only falter for a second before Mingi's face softens, “I love you, too, y/n.” He reaches across the table to grab your hand, “And I love you, Yunho. I mean, I've loved you for a long time, but like, I'm in love with you. Both of you-” 

“Me, too,” Yunho cuts him off, “I'm in love with you both.” His smile is so brilliant, tears building in his eyes with his obvious joy, “I've known for a while now, but the timing hasn't felt right. And maybe I'm a little cowardly.” He blushes. 

You feel yourself laugh, completely endeared to them, “I knew one of us just needed to say it, and it probably wasn't going to be one of my boyfriends.”

They practically glow at being given the title, “Did you hear that, Mingi, we're boyfriends now. We have a girlfriend.”

Mingi is smiling so big that his gums are showing, “I'm so happy. So fucking happy.” 

And that about sums up how you all feel. 

The sex between the three of you later that week, when no one is in heat, might even be better than heat-drunk sex. No one is mated, not yet. But you're sure the way you scent each other any time you're in public, it's pretty obvious that you belong to each other. It will all come in due time. What matters most is that you three have each other, and you're incredibly content with that fact.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

forget-me-not

summary: San never has returning customers at his flower shop. Until one day, he does. That Guy keeps coming in asking for help with bouquets for different dates. San can't help but be curious about him.

warning: mdni, non-graphic smut

pairing: Choi San x Jung Wooyoung

word count: 3,626

ao3 link: forget-me-not

forget-me-not

San didn't typically have very many returning customers at his flower shop. He saw people once for proms, weddings, funerals, proposals, and Valentine’s Day, of course. Honestly, he liked it that way. 

But he was back. 

A man he had taken to calling That Guy, with mischievous eyes and a nose he weirdly had wanted to chomp on when he first saw him, had come back into the shop, asking for help with another bouquet. 

He had come in a few weeks ago for the first time, asking for help to put together a bouquet for his date with, and he was quoting him now, “A very particular Virgo” who liked the color blue. San had helped him silently, arranging some hydrangeas, thistle, and lupine amongst some more neutral white flowers to balance it out. The man had overpaid in cash and didn't want change back, winking as he turned around and headed for the door. 

San hadn't thought anything of it. That was, until That Guy had returned the next week, wanting help for, and he was quoting again, “A really odd but attractive Pisces who liked pink.” 

That Guy had yapped mindlessly the whole time San picked out the flowers, listening intently the whole time as he talked about how the date last weekend had started off okay (he loved the flowers) but the guy hadn't wanted to go to the restaurant he had suggested, then complained about the restaurant he himself had chosen instead. “I think I need someone a little less particular.”

San nodded, “You seem to be a little more go with the flow.” 

That Guy beamed at him, “I am! I'm pretty spontaneous.” 

San tried to hand him change again, but That Guy refused again, so instead he just said, “Good luck tonight!” As That Guy walked out. 

Today, That Guy hadn't even bothered to say hi, just immediately started rambling, “...He left through the bathroom window and then when I confronted him about it, he didn't even deny it! Just said he thought he saw a raccoon and wanted to see where it was going!” 

San couldn’t help but laugh. That Guy gasped, offended, “Don't laugh at me-, wait, what's your name?” 

San ducked his face behind a clump of sunflowers to hide his blush, “It’s San.” 

“Don't laugh at me, San!” That Guy said, pouting. 

“I'm sorry, but the raccoon thing is funny.” San defended himself. 

That Guy's pout broke into a smile, “Okay, fine it's a little funny.” He reached out, parted the sunflower bunch to reveal San's face again, “I'm Wooyoung, by the way.” He extended his hand. 

San switched the hand holding the flowers to shake Wooyoung’s. 

“Wooyoung.” He repeated, thinking the name was cute and very fitting for the impish man, “Nice to meet you.” 

“You, too. I love sunflowers! But this guy is an Aquarius who loves pastels.” 

San nodded, “Okay, noted.” He smiled, staying professional, but unable to ignore the slight pang of jealousy at the mention of yet another date. 

“A fellow Sagittarius! He likes light blue and yellow.” Wooyoung called as a means to announce his presence in the flower shop. 

San popped up from behind the counter, “No luck with the pastel lover? Were the tulips too bright?”

Wooyoung sighed dramatically, “No, the flowers were perfect. They always love the flowers. I'm starting to think I'm the problem.”

San smiled sympathetically, “I highly doubt that, Wooyoung. You seem very likeable.” 

Wooyoung quirked an eyebrow, “What would you know, flower boy?” He teased. 

San rolled his eyes, “I'm very observant, thank you.”

Wooyoung studied him a minute more, “Okay, fine, you’re right,” he beamed, “I am very likeable!”

San just laughed and walked around the countertop to start finding flowers for the newest bouquet. He didn’t find what he was searching for though, “Actually, I think I have the perfect thing in the back, wanna come see the cooler?” He asked before he could think better of it. 

Wooyoung didn’t hesitate, “Of course!”

San grabbed his jacket off the hook by the door, “Here, you’ll need this.” He said, handing it to him before opening the door to the large refrigerated room. 

Wooyoung followed him closely as he walked around, looking for what he had gone back there for, finally spotting them in a corner, “There they are!” He approached the bundle of primroses that he had just gotten delivered. Wooyoung had been so close to him when he stopped that he ended up almost against San’s back, his chin hooking over his shoulder to get a closer look at the flowers, shivering in the chilled air. San tensed at the contact, but Wooyoung just leaned into him more, apologizing, “Sorry, I’m still cold, even with the jacket.” 

San felt heat creep up his neck and was sure the tips of his ears were red as he mumbled, “It’s fine.”

Wooyoung stepped back abruptly, announcing, “Those are perfect!”

They picked out a few more flowers to accompany them, then the rest of the interaction was the same as the other times: overpaying (but their hands brushed at the exchange of the cash this time) and best wishes (but Wooyoung’s eyes lingered on San’s this time). 

San couldn’t help but secretly hope the date wouldn’t go well. 

He didn't, however, expect to have his wish granted. 

Wooyoung looked sad as he entered the shop a few weeks later, didn’t even say hi, just walked around the counter like he owned the place and hugged San out of nowhere, head dropping to his shoulder defeatedly. San hesitated, then returned the hug, patting the man on the back to comfort him. 

“I’m getting tired of this, Sannie,” Wooyoung mumbled into San’s shirt. 

Alright, I guess we’re using nicknames now, San thought to himself, “What happened?” He asked.

Wooyoung sighed, “We saw each other for a few weeks but. I don’t know. We might have been too similar? Also I think maybe he was into someone else. Kept mentioning some guy who oddly sounded really similar to someone I went on a date with a while back? I don’t know. I’m just frustrated.”

San pulled back, “Why are you so determined?”

“I don’t know,” Wooyoung shrugged, “I just really like love and all my friends are in relationships. And someone broke my stupid heart last year and I don’t know, I’m ready to get back out there. Maybe I’m just jealous. I know I’d be such a good boyfriend but no one will let me!”

San had to swallow his laughter, trying to take it seriously, but Wooyoung was very funny and it was making things hard, “I can see it, hell, I’d be all about you if you got me flowers. I guess some people just aren’t as romantic. I’m sure the perfect person is out there for you though.”

The glint in Wooyoung’s eyes was magnetic, “Oh you’d be all about it, huh, flower boy?” He poked San in the chest, “I’ll have to remember that, in case this date goes poorly.” He winked. 

San knew he was joking, no one was interested in the weird guy who was too into flowers and whose only friend was his cat. But his heart rate picked up at the mention of it, nonetheless. 

“Who are you buying for today?” He asked, changing the subject.

“A Leo who likes blues and greens and bluish greens and greenish blues, probably.” Wooyoung said, all in a rush with no breath in between. 

San smiled, nodding, “Got it.” 

As he checked Wooyoung out this time, he gathered all his bravery and wrote his phone number on one of the blank flower tags he kept behind the countertop for people who wanted to leave a note saying who the flowers were from. He handed it to Wooyoung and said, “Here, in case your date goes poorly and ditches you in public again. Or if you drink too much and need a ride home. Just give me a call.”

Wooyoung broke into the prettiest smile San thought he had ever seen on someone before, giggling as he put the card carefully into his wallet, “Oh, I’ll definitely hang onto this. Especially with how things have been going lately.”

He handed San too much money yet again, “Keep the change,” He winked over his shoulder, opened the door, then looked back at San, his eyes trailing down San’s body, then up again, easy to miss if one wasn’t watching closely. San was frozen to the spot, and before he could even breathe about it, Wooyoung was out the door. 

San closed up the shop like normal, then made the trek up the stairs to his studio apartment above it. He made dinner, fed Byeol (his cat), and showered like always, tucked himself into his favorite blanket on the couch, then turned on the anime he had seen a thousand times, scrolling through his phone absentmindedly as the show played, Byeol finding her favorite spot on the back of the couch by his head. 

Two episodes in, he got a text from a number he didn’t have saved. 

No Name

didn’t expect to take you up on this but i got stood up and i really like this bar and don’t want to go home

this is wooyoung btw

do u wanna come get a drink?

San looked at Byeol, “What do you think? I probably shouldn’t go, right? I mean I’m already in my sweatpants.”

She stared at him blankly.

“Oh, who am I kidding, I’m literally debating this with a cat. Fine. You win!” He scratched behind her ears and kissed her right in the middle of her forehead, the affection met with loud purring. 

The bar was pretty cool, he had to admit. He also didn’t get out much, so he didn’t have much to compare it to, but he liked the vintage vibes, and there was an impressive vinyl collection, as well as a dj who was playing some cool jazz mixes. It definitely felt like somewhere Wooyoung would like, though he knew very little about the man. 

“Sannie!” Wooyoung said loudly, an already empty cocktail glass in front of him. “You’re here!” He kissed him on the cheek excitedly. San blushed, not used to someone being so openly affectionate, but definitely not minding it. 

“I’m here!” San said, “I have to warn you, I’m a bit of a lightweight."

Wooyoung giggled, “That seems surprising! I mean, you’re all-,” he puffed out his chest and flexed his arm muscles, a reference to San’s build. He did spend quite a bit of his free time at the gym, “-and stuff. But no worries! I’m just glad for the company.”

The bartender stopped by to take their drink orders, San opting for something alcoholic against his better judgment. But screw it. He never went out like this. 

San smiled, “Thanks for inviting me. I need to get out more. I pretty much just hang out at home with Byeol.”

Wooyoung’s face fell, “Oh. Your partner.” He said it like it was a fact. 

San’s brain buffered for a second as he processed what Wooyoung had said, “My-? What? Oh, no, sorry! Byeol is-” He laughed, “She’s my cat!” 

“You have a cat?!” Wooyoung was back to being happy, “I’ve got to meet her! I love cats but my landlord doesn’t allow any animals.”

“She would probably like that,” San smirked, “She probably gets sick of just seeing me.”

"You don’t get out much?” Wooyoung elbowed him.

San rolled his eyes, “Not everyone has an intensely packed social calendar like you, Wooyo.”

The nickname slipped out, his tongue loose from the bourbon in his cocktail. 

Wooyoung shoved his arm, “Oh, shut up. For that, you have to buy us some shots.”

San was already feeling the buzz but who was he to say no to Wooyoung? The man was so enticing, his eyes sultry without even trying, his demeanor playful. He marveled at the fact that none of the dates he had gone on had stuck. 

Their tequila shots came and they cheers’d, Wooyoung making pointed eye contact as he licked the salt off the rim of his shot glass. San felt heat swirl in his abdomen, his senses suddenly piqued with interest. The tequila went back smooth, and San could already feel his face starting to flush. 

Wooyoung studied him, “So, were you insinuating that you’re alone a lot? Why is that? You seem very likeable.” He quoted San back to himself. 

San couldn’t help but smile at it, “My friends moved away for college and I stayed here. They come to visit, but it’s not the same. I took over the flower shop from my mom straight out of high school. Got my bachelors degree online. Haven’t had time since then to really get out and about. Once I got on steady footing, it felt like the world had kinda passed me by, everyone my age already had friends, partners.” He shrugged, “Sorry, I don’t ever really talk about it, I’m probably oversharing.”

Wooyoung smiled warmly, placing a hand on his knee, “It’s okay, I don’t mind, plus, I asked. I like learning about you.” 

San didn’t know what to say because he was embarrassed at being noticed, observed “I want to hear more about you, though.”

They were interrupted briefly by the bartender bringing them another round of drinks. San knew he should slow down, but he was having too much fun. 

“About me?” Wooyoung asked rhetorically, “Well besides being horrible at love, apparently, I’m a barista. I do photography for fun, and I’ve been learning guitar recently. I read a whole lot, probably why I’m such a hopeless romantic, and I also like to cook.”

“You should try being a hopeful romantic, instead.” San said, giggling at his own joke. 

Wooyoung looked at him disbelievingly, “You are a lightweight, oh my god! That wasn’t even funny, why are you laughing?” He poked him in the side, earning more laughter, “Sannie! Stop laughing!”

San couldn’t stop laughing now, he hiccuped, “I can’t!”

The hiccup sent Wooyoung over the edge, too, laughter peeling out, and his silly high-pitched laugh just about took San out, doubling over, his abs already in pain from the effort.

Wooyoung composed himself, patting San on the back, “Come on, I’ll walk you home. Do you live close by?”

San managed to nod and answer, “I live above my shop, it’s just a few blocks. Oh! You’ve been to my shop! You’ve pretty much been to my house! Wooyoung at my house! How silly.” He was babbling.

Wooyoung paid the tab, overpaying as always, and ducked underneath San’s arm to help him stand up, “Okay drunky, let’s go.”

San looked at him as they exited the bar, “You’re so pretty.” He sighed, noticing that Wooyoung was blushing and having a hard time containing his smile. 

“No, flower boy, you’re pretty.” He corrected. 

“We’re both pretty.” San concluded. 

They stumbled into San���s apartment and he was vaguely aware of Wooyoung getting him water and doing goofy baby talk to Byeol in the other room as he drifted off to sleep in his bed. 

He woke up the next day with a horrible headache, an even worse taste in his mouth, and a dead phone. He plugged his phone in, showered and brushed his teeth while it charged. He turned it on to find new texts from earlier in the morning. 

Wooyoung

hope ur hangover isn’t too bad

i had fun anyway

thank u xx

He was embarrassed, but also very happy that Wooyoung had messaged him, despite how fast he had gotten drunk and needed to go home last night. 

Me

It is not the worst. Still a hangover.

Thanks for taking care of me.

Also, sorry, lol 

I had fun, too. 

It was almost two months before San saw or heard from Wooyoung again. He didn’t really know protocol, so he didn’t reach out and they never continued texting after that night. Last week he had stopped being hopeful, ready to take the defeat and continue on in his lonely ways. He had moped around the whole time, and Byeol had been even more affectionate lately, noticing his distress. 

But now here Wooyoung was, waltzing in like nothing had changed. 

“What are your favorite flowers, San?” Wooyoung announced his presence in the shop.

“Mine?” San asked, unsure if he had heard the man right. 

“Yes,” Wooyoung nodded, “I keep going off of what all these other people like and I’m starting to think I need a change of game plan.”

Oh. So he was going on another date. And wanted San’s favorite flowers. For someone else.

San’s spirits sank, but he decided to help Wooyoung anyway. It’s not like the guy owed him anything. They had hung out once. He never should have assumed the crush would be anything but one-sided.

Wooyoung stayed at the counter as San built his bouquet this time instead of following him around like he had historically. 

“... and I also really love these.” He said as he added the last flowers to the bouquet. They were small, delicate and light blue with yellow centers.

“What are those?” Wooyoung asked, “I like them.”

“Forget-me-nots.” San provided. 

“I could never forget you, San.” Wooyoung winked. He overpaid and left. 

San sighed, finishing up some tasks before starting to close down the shop. 

He went upstairs and had just finished feeding Byeol when he heard the doorbell ring downstairs.

Weird. 

He went to investigate. 

Wooyoung was standing there, wearing a much nicer outfit than normal, holding the very bouquet San had made for him earlier. Must have forgotten something on his way to his date, who knew. 

San opened the door, “Wooyoung?”

Wooyoung extended the flowers to him, “San, will you go on a real date with me?”

Oh. Oh. 

“Me?” He asked, still in disbelief. 

Wooyoung slapped his arm playfully, “Of course you, who else?”

“I don’t know!” San was confused, “I didn’t hear from you for almost two months, I’m lost here.”

Wooyoung looked at him sheepishly, “Oh. Yeah, I know. I’m sorry about that.” He sighed, “It’s because I kinda had an entire existential crisis because, well,” He took a step closer and San moved back so he could come inside and close the door behind him, reaching around Wooyoung to lock it, landing them standing closer than ever before, the air between them feeling electric. Wooyoung continued, “Because I actually really like you.” He looked him in the eye, “I’ve had a big crush on you since I first started coming in, actually.” He blushed, “I was going on those dates because I thought I was ready to get back out there, but I wasn’t. I had a pretty bad breakup last year… more on that later. But point being, liking you scared me.” He reached up a hand, caressing San’s cheek gently, testing the waters.

San leaned into it, “I have a secret crush on you, too.” He set the flowers down on the little table by the door, deciding Wooyoung’s waist should occupy his hand instead. 

“You do?” Wooyoung’s eyelids fluttered.

San could feel his heart rate pick up as he glanced at Wooyoung’s beautiful lips, so close to his own, “I really do. Can I please do something about it now?”

Wooyoung answered by closing the gap, lips eagerly meeting San’s. 

They fit together remarkably well, their pace matching perfectly, Wooyoung’s tongue soon finding its way into San’s mouth, exploring, both of them moaning at the sensation.

San pulled back despite how badly every muscle in his body screamed at him not to, “So, that date?” He asked.

“Fuck the date, let’s go upstairs.” Wooyoung requested.

Fuck the date, indeed. 

Wooyoung was so reactive, and vocal. God was he vocal. It was incredible. Laid out underneath San, warm and tight as San had ever felt anyone, panting, both of them nearing their release. 

“Go ahead, baby, I’ve got you,” San cooed in Wooyoung’s ear. 

That was all it took. 

Wooyoung insisted on riding him afterwards, so that San could chase his own release as well, collapsing on San’s broad chest after he dismounted. 

“That was-” He started.

“Yeah.” Wooyoung finished, “We should-”

“Oh, definitely.”

They showered, only for San to find himself unable to resist going down on Wooyoung in the shower. 

Once finally clean, they managed to get it together long enough to get dressed and finally go on that date. 

And they never stopped, but they took it slowly after that, San knowing that Wooyoung needed time given how his last relationship had ended. So, San had shown up to Wooyoung’s coffee shop the next week with a bouquet of sunflowers and forget-me-nots, (alongside other flowers he had remembered him being keen towards throughout his trips to the shop), and asked him on a date that time. He built his trust by staying consistent and being intentional. Never making Wooyoung guess if the feelings were mutual.

They went back and forth like that for almost three months until finally, cuddled together in San’s bed post-date, he looked at Wooyoung and just knew . He was in love. 

“Youngie?” He said, stroking his hair.

“Yeah?” Wooyoung answered, looking up from his spot, as he was using San’s chest as a pillow.

San kissed his forehead, “I love you.” He whispered, heart beating fast in his chest at the vulnerability.

Wooyoung sat up, tossing a leg over San’s hips, leaning down to kiss him, “I love you, too, Sannie.” He kissed him again, “So much, baby.” Another kiss, “My beautiful flower boy.”

San felt like he could fly. Turns out, he really liked having a returning customer.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

reversed

summary: Airports are bad for Jisung's anxiety. Minho helps the best he knows how, finds a way to help take his mind off things. Jisung takes control.

warnings: mdni, dom!han jisung x sub!lee minho, light degradation, unprotected sex (established monogamous relationship)

word count: 2,201

ao3 link: reversed

if you're under 18, goodbye! click away.

reversed

Jisung’s grip on Minho’s hand hadn’t let up since the moment they left their seats on the airplane, holding on for dear life as the elder led him through the flashing cameras and endless calling of their names. They knew the risks of PDA like that in public, but Minho didn’t care. People had speculated he and Jisung were together ever since they debuted. They just didn’t know how right they were. And it hadn’t ruined their careers yet. Nothing was more important to him than getting Jisung through one of his most triggering situations. 

The door to their dorm clicked shut behind them. Finally home. Jisung slumped down the back of the door, sitting himself unceremoniously onto the floor, head between his knees, breathing shallow. 

“Sungie,” Minho knelt down in front of his boyfriend, “Come on, baby. In for four.” He instructed Jisung through a few rounds of box breathing, a technique that he had learned a few years ago and taught to Jisung. It worked remarkably well, nine times out of ten. Luckily, this was one of those times, and Jisung was able to finally self-regulate, breathing deeply, eyes coming up to meet Minho’s.

“There he is.” Minho smiled, moving to sit beside the man. Not touching him yet, because sometimes too much contact could overstimulate him. 

“I’m sorry.” Jisung choked out, tears streaming down his face as he came down from his panic attack. 

“Jagi, no.” Minho reached for him, “Can I touch you again?” He waited for the tiny nod from Jisung before reaching over, grabbing the other’s hands in his own, “Look at me. You never ever need to apologize for that.” He had told him as such a thousand times if he’d said it once. He would tell him every single time, too. Happily. “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart. Can you tell me what set you off tonight?”

Jisung’s lip quivered but he managed to get the words out, “I’m just so frustrated. I love being who we are but sometimes I hate the trade-off we all made when we chose this path. I feel like I have no control over my own life sometimes. It’s so much worse, especially tonight. Did you see one of our body guards? He barely managed to keep a so-called ‘fan’ from touching us! Sometimes I wish we weren’t famous and we could be together openly. Jisung and Minho. Not Han and Lee Know. I know that sounds selfish and counterintuitive-”

“No, honey.” Minho kissed his knuckles, “I know what you mean. It’s completely valid to be grateful for what you have and still wish you had something else. Everyone does it. It’s as much a part of the human experience as breathing oxygen. Sometimes I wish for the same thing. But I’m so glad we have each other. I couldn’t do any of this without you, Sungie.”

Jisung’s eyes were saucers as he met Minho’s own, “You couldn’t? Why? I’m the one always freaking out. You’re the normal one.”

“Freaking out is normal in our line of work. It’s just not normalized. And you keep me grounded. Something real to worry about. I mean that in a nice way. It’s a privilege to get to worry about you. That you trust me how you do, that I’m a source of comfort to you. It comforts me in return, Sungie. And you’ve been there for me plenty as well. You’re not the only one who ‘freaks out’ like you call it.” He tilted his chin up, “Look at me. If lack of control is what’s bothering you, then take control. I’d love for you to tell me what to do. What you want from me. How I can help you get that release.”

“You’d like that?” Jisung asked, eyes going dark with desire. 

“Yes, baby. I trust you. I just want to make you feel good. However I can.” Minho had found that sex was one sure-fire way to fully pull Jisung out of a spiral. He would never exploit it, but Jisung had told him himself that he was okay with him doing such, free to try to get his mind off of things however he saw fit. Usually Minho took the reins. But this was different. Jisung had never explicitly mourned a perceived lack of control before. Minho wanted him to have it. 

“Minho-” Jisung breathed, leaning in, lips ghosting over Minho’s, not touching yet. “On your knees, then.”

It surprised Minho, he wouldn’t lie. But he was so intrigued. They had established safe words and boundaries years ago. He was ready. He wanted to see where the dark expression on Jisung’s face would lead them. 

“Yes, daddy.” He quipped, curious to see how Jisung would react if he acted bratty. 

“Mmh. I like the sound of that.” Oh. Well. Daddy it is then, Minho took a mental note. Jisung smiled devilishly as he stood up, tossing his shirt to the side, revealing his impossibly tiny waist. Minho wanted to grab it so bad. He was very accustomed to doing so, fingers nearly meeting in the middle as he gripped it, helping Jisung ride his dick. But not tonight. 

Minho dared to lean forward, rubbing his face across the front of Jisung’s grey sweatpants, feeling him already filling out against his cheek through the fabric. “Can I please take these off?” He asked, hands coming up to skim the waistband. 

“I’d be more concerned if you didn’t.” Jisung mocked him. Minho couldn’t help but feel proud, his sweet Jisungie coming into the role so well. 

He grasped the waistband of Jisung’s pants, thumb hooking under the waistband of his underwear as well, pulling them both off, letting Jisung hold his shoulder to balance as he stepped out of them. He took Jisung’s flushed length into his hand, peering up at the man through his eyelashes, making sure that was what he wanted. Jisung’s eyes were closed in pleasure as he stroked him, so he took that as a yes. “Are you going to let me fuck your face any time in the next business day or what?” Jisung derided him from above. 

“Yes, sir.” Minho tried a different name, just out of curiosity.

Jisung pouted, “‘Sir’? I don’t remember saying I liked being called that name.”

They were locked in with ‘daddy’, it seemed. “Sorry, daddy. Won’t happen again.” He licked a stripe up the underside of Jisung’s now fully-hard length, teasing the tip of his cock with his tongue before slowly enveloping him into his eager mouth. Jisung had such a pretty dick, the smallest curve upwards and the perfect size, especially for current activities. 

Minho let spit leak out of the corners of his mouth as he buried Jisung as far as he could take him, nose pressed against the soft, short hair at his pubic bone. Jisung’s hips bucked, probably harder than he had meant to, but Minho recovered, happy that his love was feeling so good. He let out a surprised sound as Jisung’s cock hit his soft palate, gripping his thighs. Jisung seemed to understand as he laid the next stroke, fingers finding Minho’s soft waves to hold his head still. Minho hummed in confirmation and Jisung went again, moaning as he started to set a pace, fucking Minho’s throat raw. Jisung didn’t pull out at all as he came, moaning Minho’s name as he poured down his throat. Minho waited patiently for him to pull out, forcing himself not to gag at the slow movement. He knew Jisung was just trying to be careful. 

“Fuck, good job, baby.” Jisung panted, leaning down to kiss Minho’s swollen spit-slick lips, pulling him up to stand. “Now let’s see if I think you earned a reward from that performance. Go ahead. Strip down for me.” 

Minho obeyed, shucking his clothes off as fast as he could manage without looking ridiculous. Jisung led them to Minho’s bedroom - Jisung technically had his own room, but it went largely unused unless they were too lazy to change the sheets - and he immediately pushed Minho down to the mattress, straddling his legs to cage him in, crushing their lips together before pulling back to retrieve the lube he knew to be in the bedside table drawer.

“Can’t wait to hear you beg for it. You’ll be good and beg for me, won’t you, baby?” Jisung taunted him, squirting lube onto his fingers. 

“Yes, daddy. Anything you want.” Minho whined as Jisung began circling his rim. 

“Good.” He hovered his lips just out of reach again, “Now relax for me.” He instructed as he pushed one finger inside. 

Jisung was a little clumsy at first. It had been a while since he’d been in that particular position. But muscle memory took over fast enough and soon, three fingers deep, Minho was in fact crying out and begging for it. 

“Please, Jisung.” Mimho whined.

“Please, what, darling?” Jisung chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. 

“Please, fuck me, daddy.” 

“You think you deserve that?” Jisung asked.

“No, I don’t deserve it. I don’t deserve you at all.” Minho’s voice was breathy, already dangerously close to the edge. 

“Then you better keep begging, angel.” Jisung’s voice was low, stern. Minho was impressed. 

“Please let me cum. Please fuck me. Please, need you inside me. Want you so bad, Jisung. Please, I’ll do anything, but please, please fuck me.” Minho laid it on thick, back arching off the bed as Jisung’s fingers slowed their pace.

Jisung sighed, slowly beginning to pull out, “Fine. But keep in mind when I’m fucking you senseless, that you asked for this. You begged for it.” He kissed Minho’s jaw before sitting up to apply lube to his cock, which had had plenty of time to bounce back after he tortured Minho for what had felt like hours on end, at least on Minho’s part. 

He pushed in slowly, letting Minho suck him in, falling forward a little clumsily as he buried himself to the hilt. “Fuck-” His hips snapped immediately, chasing the feeling. Minho was glad he had spent so much time opening him up as he stayed true to his word, bending Minho in half as he began fucking into him, hard and increasingly faster. 

Normally, it wouldn’t work for Minho, but seeing his boyfriend get so much pleasure out of fucking him like that, it worked. 

“You can only cum after me, got it?” Jisung grunted, “I’m in control here. And I won’t be assisting you at all so you better cum when I do, understood?” 

Minho nodded. A challenge, but he would be good for Jisung. He would do anything that was asked of him. 

“I didn’t hear you.” Jisung huffed. 

“Yes, daddy, please cum, I want you to fill me up.” Minho whined, so close to his release already.

Jisung gripped his hips like a vice, adjusting their angle ever so slightly to give him better leverage, nailing Minho repeatedly, “I’m-” thrust, “gonna-” thrust, “cum- ahh Minho.” Jisung cried out. 

It was all Minho needed, hot strands of cum falling to his chest as he came, clenching around Jisung, milking every last drop from him. 

Jisung fell onto Minho’s chest, breath shallow and labored, but for a completely different reason this time. 

“Oh, baby.” Minho enveloped him in a hug, feeling the younger’s dick softening slowly inside of him, “You did so good.”

Jisung pulled out and fell to his side, using Minho’s chest as a pillow, “Aren’t I supposed to be praising you right now?” His voice shook still weak from the effort. 

“Doesn’t matter.” Minho kissed his head, “I’m just so proud of my baby. So, so happy.”

“I’m happy, too.”

“Feeling better?” Minho asked gently, rubbing circles on his boyfriend’s back. 

“Yes. So much.” Jisung’s head raised up and he propped himself on his elbow so he could look at Minho, “Thank you. You are incredible. I love you so much, Lee Minho.”

Minho pulled him back down into a languid kiss, barely disconnecting their lips to whisper, “I love you more, Han Jisung.”

“No way!” Jisung giggled.

“Yes way!” Minho shot back, kissing him again briefly, “I wouldn’t call just anyone ‘daddy’ willingly.”

Jisung buried his face into Minho’s neck, “Can I be honest? I did not like ‘daddy’. I just thought I should stand my ground since I was in charge and I could tell you were trying to test me.”

“Oh thank god.” Minho laughed, relieved, “I hated it, too. Anything you prefer?”

“What about… Sire?”

Minho paused before reaching down to tickle Jisung’s ribs, “Ab-so-lute-ly not! You watch too much Downton Abbey, Han Jisung!” 

“Oh, I like that one!” Jisung laughed, breathing hard again as he recovered from being tickled.

“Like, what? Your own name?” Minho asked.

“Yeah. Just use my name next time.” Jisung concluded, nuzzling into the crook of Minho’s neck.

“Anything you ask for, Jisung.” Minho whispered, kissing somewhere near Jisung’s temple, wherever he could reach from the weird angle. 

And it was true. Lee Minho would always happily do anything that was asked of him by Han Jisung. It was a law of physics that could be relied upon as readily as gravity.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

hand formed

summary: One outburst and Changbin is sent home from work with instructions to seek help with anger management. The only option on his list he could stomach was pottery making. But he finds the real art to be the pottery maker himself.

warning: mdni, hyunjin x changbin, fluff, smut

word count: 4,342

ao3 link: hand formed

Anger management issues.

Changbin was seething. All he had done was stand up for Chaeryeong at work. He had overheard two guys on her team making fun of her for missing work due to period cramps. He had simply swiftly corrected them with a maybe slightly louder than necessary rant about how painful PCOS is and they had no clue what she went through and they should be ashamed of themselves. And that she carried that team on her back, they're just mad because they're having to carry their own weight for once. But somehow he was the bad guy in the situation. Sent home early, list clutched in his hand of some options for him to pursue to help manage his anger. Twelve hours required before he could return to work.

The list was stupid:

1. Volunteer at a nursing home

2. Hot Yoga with Bridgette!

3. Learn pottery at clay on main

4. Golf lessons with Russ

5. Volunteer at You've Gotta be Kitten Me with adoptable cats.

Well. He was allergic to cats. He hated golf. Hot yoga made him pass out the last time he tried it. Old people liked him a little too much for his comfort.

Looks like he'd be learning pottery.

clay on main was in an admittedly cute brick building downtown, the inside decorated with the artists’ pottery, some of it for sale on the free hanging shelves across the walls. A petite blonde man sat behind the counter, reading a book, glasses at the end of his delicate nose, looking up as Changbin approached, “Hi! Welcome in!” The man’s deep voice was a surprise, not what one would expect, based on his rather dainty appearances. He was pretty, but Changbin preferred brunettes.

“Hey, so this is stupid and it was a complete misunderstanding but-”

The man cut him off, “Anger management?” Eyebrow cocked, looking rather amused, eyeing Changbin up and down, eyes lingering on Changbin’s forearms which were exposed - Changbin had a habit of rolling up his sleeves as soon as he left work. He knew his muscular appearance probably didn't help his case much.

“Uh. Yeah, actually.” Changbin was a little surprised. Was he that obvious?

“You have very good timing.” The man praised him, “He hosts them every Wednesday and Friday night at 6pm.”

Changbin glanced at his watch. It was 5:50pm, “Okay, great. Thank you, um…”

“Felix.” The man smiled, extending his hand.

“Thanks, Felix. I’m Changbin.” He shook the man’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, Changbin.” Felix looked him up and down again, snorting and shaking his head.

“What?” Changbin was lost.

“Hyunjin is about to eat his words. You’re exactly his type.” Felix laughed again, turning towards his book.

Changbin didn’t have time to inquire before the doors to the back of the shop swung open, revealing a man he was sure he had created from his own imagination, almost convinced he wasn’t real.

Tall, slim but well-muscled, legs for days, plush lips, long, black hair. If he wasn’t the Hyunjin that Felix had just mentioned, whose type he supposedly was, Changbin might actually start breaking every piece of pottery in there.

Maybe he did need to learn something about anger management.

The newcomer’s eyes found his own, and Changbin found himself unable to look away, knowing his cheeks were probably glowing red at being noticed by someone so otherworldly stunning.

“Felix, who do we have here?” Hyunjin asked his co-worker without looking at him, eyes still locked on Changbin’s.

“Hyunjin, this is my new friend, Changbin. He’s here for your anger management class.” Felix introduced them, devious grin on his face.

“Hi, Changbin.” Hyunjin smiled, striding over to shake Changbin’s hand, “Looks like I’ll be hosting class after all.”

“Am I your only, uh, student?” Changbin looked around, not seeing anyone else in the room, not knowing why he was asking questions with such obvious answers.

“Unless Yongbokkie decides to let me try to teach him again!” Hyunjin smiled, poked Felix in the cheek.

“No, thanks. I don’t understand how you can stand the feeling of wet clay on your hands.” Felix shuddered at the thought of it, “Plus, Anne is calling my name.” He held up his book, a well-worn copy of Interview With the Vampire.

“Boo. Lame.” Hyunjin said at the same time Changbin said, “Ooh! My friend Chaer loves that book! Maybe I’ll finally read it.”

Hyunjin looked at him amusedly as he led him to the back of the studio. Felix called after Changbin, “You really should read it!”

The studio was peaceful, japandi style decor with lots of earthy colors, soft music playing, incense burning somewhere. Changbin felt himself take a deep relaxing breath as he walked back, following Hyunjin over to the hooks on the wall where aprons were hanging. Hyunjin handed him one, watching as Changbin struggled to tie the strings in the back before finally intervening.

“Do you want help?” Hyunjin smiled kindly.

Changbin felt his cheeks go warm, embarrassed and frustrated that he was fumbling in front of such a beautiful man.

“Sorry.” Changbin let his arms fall to his side, defeated, turning around so Hyunjin could help.

Hyunjin approached, tying the apron slowly, with practiced hands, “Why are you apologizing? There's no shame in asking for help.”

His voice was sweet, honey smooth, with an animated affect that went straight to Changbin's heart.

“There we go!” Hyunjin stepped away, heading over to the setup of wheels. “Here, come sit next to me.”

Changbin sat gingerly on the stool behind the wheel, watching and trying to absorb as much as possible as Hyunjin spoke, finding himself occasionally getting lost in his eyes, which he found to be beautiful and full of stars, hypnotic.

“Okay, go ahead and start your wheel.”

Everything was going okay for the first few minutes, Changbin felt like he was doing a pretty good job holding his hands steady. His goal was to make a bowl. Seemed like a good place to start. He probably could have accomplished it, too, had Hyunjin not started singing his praises.

“Excellent job, Changbin. You're going to put me out of business in no time.”

“Hush.” Changbin couldn't contain his smile.

“I'm serious.” Hyunjin laughed, “You're a natural.”

Changbin made the mistake of looking up to meet the stare he felt from Hyunjin on his side. His finger slipped. He pulled back before he could destroy the whole thing, but the bowl was quite squiggly all on one side.

“Shit!” Changbin stopped the wheel. “Sorry! Goddammit! Sorry. Can I start over?”

Hyunjin smiled, “I thought I told you to stop apologizing? And no. This is going in the kiln just as it is.”

“What?!” Changbin was taken aback, “But it's ugly! I can't have this wonky piece of trash in my cabinets! What will my other bowls think?”

“Why does it matter what they think?” Hyunjin asked, showing Changbin how to cut the clay off of the mound, “This one is handmade. It's abstract. It's beautiful just as it is.”

“That's subjective.”

“Be that as it may, I say it's beautiful. If you can't see it, I think it will do you well to have to stare at it next to your perfect bowls.”

“What if I throw it away?” Changbin challenged him.

“You can process your frustration however you see fit. Smash it for all I care. But I don't think you will.” Hyunjin smiled over his shoulder as he led Changbin over to the kiln.

“This should be ready by Friday. You'll come back, won't you?” Hyunjin peered at him through thick eyelashes, face expectant. Changbin realized right then and there, he would never be able to say no to Hyunjin.

“I don't really have a choice. But yeah. I'll be here.”

“Good.” Hyunjin leaned in close, wrapping his arms around Changbin, who was confused very briefly, frozen to the spot, until he felt the artist's long, pretty fingers untie the strings of his apron for him. “I'll look forward to it.”

They were standing so close that either of them could have closed the gap easily, Hyunjin’s breath warm and minty on Changbin’s face. Their eyes searched each other's for just a little too long to be friendly, Changbin unable to help but glance at the other's gorgeous, plush pout.

A beat, then Hyunjin was turning away, moving to clean up the mess they had made.

“I'll see you Friday.” Changbin managed to choke out, mouth dry from nerves, ducking his head as he headed to the front.

Felix called a goodbye after him as he made probably an embarrassing mad dash out the front door.

Thursday was doing its best to try every single one of Changbin’s last nerves. His customers were needy. His co-workers were incompetent. And Chaeryeong still wasn't back to make his life less miserable. Plus, he had woken up that morning from a dream about Hyunjin that he really hadn't wanted to stop having.

He got home that night and texted one of his old hook-ups to see if he was available. He needed a distraction.

Chan rolled up with a bottle of wine and takeout. Sometimes Changbin wished they were more compatible as a couple, but they learned a few years ago that they simply do not mesh in that way. What they had - chemistry - was best contained to a few hookups every other month or so.

They couldn't keep their hands off of each other past wine, electing to save their food for post-sex.

“Fuck yes Channie. Right there, right hnnng-” Changbin’s voice still carried though his face was squished into the comforter. Chan liked it when he was loud. He liked that Chan liked it when he was loud.

“Gonna cum, Bin.” Chan grunted out.

“Go ahead, baby.” Changbin panted. He usually let Chan top, but the other liked being given instructions. Changbin was happy to oblige, but sometimes he wished he were the one to be able to let his brain go blank all except for following directions from someone else. It sounded kinda nice to let go of control in that way.

Aftercare.

Shower.

Dinner.

A peck on Chan's cheek as he walked out the door. They had it down to a science. It scratched Changbin’s itch for intimacy well enough, typically. But tonight he felt himself wanting more. He wished someone would want to stay. Wake up and make them coffee in the morning. Someone to do the little things with. The slow things. Mundanity had never appealed to him so violently before, but laying in bed alone that night, he was almost on the edge of tears with how lonely he felt. He had spent most of his young adult life perfecting the art of being a bachelor. Always single, never growing attached. Never letting people stay the night after sleeping together. It worked for him.

It used to work for him.

He was mad that he now knew he would have to do something about it.

But that was an issue for tomorrow Changbin.

“Oh, hey, Changbin! You came back!” Felix's voice sounded pleasantly surprised from his spot behind the counter, finger marking his page towards the back of his book. He was a fast reader.

Changbin chuckled, “Um, yeah. Why do you sound surprised?”

Felix's smile lit up his face, turning his eyes into half crescents, “Hyunjin never keeps a student past the first class! Turns out people who need anger management classes don't like being told they can't start over when they inevitably fuck up their first piece.”

“Not to be crass but have they not seen him? Sorry, that's probably not appropriate-”

Felix's laughter quickly assuaged his worry about being inappropriate.

“No, no. It's funny. I know. He's very pretty. If I weren't so deeply in love with my husband, I would have let him bend me over this counter by now. Seungmin isn't even a jealous person and I still catch him shooting dirty daggers at Hyunjin’s back when he comes to see me at work.” Felix sighed, apparently deep in thought about his husband.

“So he's… Single?” Changbin couldn't stop the question.

“Yes. God, yes. Painfully single. Are you actually interested? Oh, please ask him out, Bin! Sorry, can I call you ‘Bin?’” He barely waited for Changbin to nod, “Binnie. I'm begging you to ask him out. He's been moping for almost a year now. And his ex was nowhere as cute as you, trust me. Even his pottery looks mopey. Look at it.” Felix gestured to the art on the walls. Changbin had no frame of reference for the emotional state of inanimate objects, but didn't have the heart to tell Felix as such, nodding in agreement instead.

“Anyway. He likes sushi. Do with that information what you will.” Felix winked at him, shutting up as Hyunjin appeared from the back of the shop.

“You came back!” Hyunjin seemed to be just as surprised as Felix had been.

“Well, I wasn't about to abandon my child.” Changbin joked.

“Come meet her then.” Hyunjin gestured for him to follow.

“Her?” Changbin snickered.

“Yeah, I don't know. I just got girl vibes from this particular piece.” Hyunjin handed him the slightly deformed bowl.

“Look at her!” Changbin smiled as held the piece in his hands. It wasn't as bad as he had remembered, the dip his finger had made when it slipped made the bowl vaguely heart-shaped. “Okay, she's kinda cute.” He admitted.

“She is.” Hyunjin said, but was looking at Changbin as he said it, rather than the pottery.

“Thanks for saving her from my wrath.” Changbin felt his cheeks go red, embarrassed that he had ever considered throwing something out that was so perfectly imperfect.

“Any time!” Hyunjin beamed at him, “Wanna learn how to throw off the hump?”

“I beg your finest pardon?” Changbin felt like the other had just spoken gibberish.

“Come on,” Hyunjin grabbed his hand, “I'll show you. Then we can talk glazes for this piece.”

Twelve tries. It took Changbin twelve tries to even somewhat succeed. It was much harder than it looked and his mound kept landing off-center.

“I quite literally never expected you to succeed your first night, Changbin. It's really okay.” Hyunjin watched him, amused.

“I know!” Changbin whined, “But I'm so close! I just want to get it right one time!”

“Here,” Hyunjin stood up to move behind him, “May I?”

Changbin thought he knew where this was going, his breath catching in throat as he nodded, “Please. I need help.” He admitted.

Hyunjin wrapped his long arms around Changbin's back, breathing into his ear as he whispered, “And I'm so proud of you for acknowledging that.” He wrapped Changbin’s hands in his own, then guided them to grab the clay, “Here. Like this. Don't overthink it.”

Perfect throw.

“Yes!” Changbin turned in his excitement, finding himself nearly nose to nose with Hyunjin.

“Great job, Bin.” Hyunjin whispered.

“Thank you.” Changbin found his eyes on Hyunjin’s lips again.

“Changbin-” Hyunjin breathed, eyes dark.

“Hyunjin-”

Changbin had no clue who closed the gap first, but it didn't really matter. Hyunjin’s lips were fervent, almost needy. Changbin felt the same need to devour, turning in the other's arms as he was pulled to his feet, a wet clay covered hand landing on his cheek, turning his chin so Hyunjin could lick inside of his mouth. Sounds he hadn't made in who knows how long escaped his mouth. He was buzzing with excitement, desire.

They broke apart only when the door to the front of the studio swung open, revealing a shameless Felix, who giggled at them.

“I'm heading home early.” He announced, “I'll make sure to relay that I saw you with your tongue down someone's throat to Seungmin tonight. He said if I ever did he would finally let me top.”

Changbin couldn't help but chuckle, finding Felix's immediate familiarity and propensity for oversharing to be very endearing.

“Ew. Have fun with that. Send my love to Minnie.” Hyunjin called towards Felix, who was already bowing out. “Sorry,” he turned back to Changbin, “Where were we?”

“You were about to agree to letting me take you to dinner.” Changbin said it before he could overthink it.

“Oh, was I, now?” Hyunjin kissed him on the cheek, “Well. I trust your recollection. We should. Um. Clean up first.”

“What? We look fine!” Changbin joked, reaching up to crumble a fleck of dried clay out of Hyunjin’s hair, laughing at the state of them, messy as hell.

“-And when I told him he couldn't trash it and start over, he burst into tears!” Hyunjin had been relaying some of his favorite anger management client stories to Changbin, between bites of sushi.

Changbin had been in stitches the whole time. Hyunjin was impossible to not like. He felt himself grow increasingly more fond each minute they spent together.

“I can't believe you made someone cry, Hyunjin!” Changbin accused him.

“Oh, I'm certain I could make you cry, too.” He shot back, devilish look on his face.

“Cocky.” Changbin observed.

“Confident.” Hyunjin corrected.

“I'd like to see you try.” Changbin challenged him.

“I'll have you crying in no time.” Hyunjin promised.

“In a good way, I hope?”

“In the best way.” He leaned in closer, “Crying out my name, for starters. Crying in pleasure. For release.” His fingers traced down Changbin’s forearm, sending shivers down his spine.

“My place or yours?” Changbin couldn't wait any longer.

“Yours. If you don't mind.” Hyunjin picked his hand up off the table, kissing the back of his knuckles, “I have a roommate who hates being woken up.”

“Perfect, I live alone, like ten minutes from here.” Changbin paid their bill and led Hyunjin to his apartment, reveling in the fact that the man held his hand the whole way there.

The door had barely closed and Hyunjin had Changbin pressed up against it, knee between his thighs, sucking at his neck.

He broke off briefly, lips slick with his own spit and flushed a rosy red. He was exquisite. Changbin felt like the luckiest man on earth.

“Are you okay if I take the lead?” Hyunjin asked softly, thumb tracing lightly over his cheekbone.

“Yes, god. Please do.” Changbin all but begged, hips bucking at the pressure Hyunjin’s leg was providing.

“Mmh, so needy already.” He dipped down to kiss Changbin again, messy, pulling away just to give instructions, “Where's your bedroom, baby? Show me.”

“Yes, sir.” Changbin breathed. Probably playing it up but enjoying it too much to stop, pulling Hyunjin by the hand back to his room, glad for his instincts to clean his room and change his sheets yesterday after he had left work frustrated.

Changbin had no clue how right he had been to want someone else to take control like this. Hyunjin was so calm, so sure of everything, delegating and praising like it was second nature. Changbin didn't even care that he had technically “lost” as the tears escaped down his cheeks, crying out in pleasure as Hyunjin nailed his prostate with his long, dexterous fingers.

“That's right, baby.” Hyunjin’s voice was low, “Can you be good and cum twice for me?”

“Yes, fuck. Yes.” Changbin begged, “Please.”

“Good boy,” Hyunjin praised, “Go ahead, then. I want to watch your pretty face as you come around my fingers.”

Changbin had found a new lease on life, obeying commands like he was born to do it, calling out Hyunjin’s name as promised, making a mess on his own chest.

“Oh, there we go, darling. So sweet for me.”

Changbin was floating outside his own body, watching from above, sure he had died and that his soul would soon enter his corporeal form again any minute.

“Still doing okay?” Hyunjin checked in with him as he pulled his fingers out, wiping them on the bed as he kissed down the inside of Changbin’s knee, then his thigh.

“So good.” Changbin panted, cock already recovering at Hyunjin’s attention.

“Good. I want you to feel good, pretty thing.” Hyunjin smiled as he resumed his kisses.

“I will feel better when you're inside of me.” He quipped.

“Big talk for someone who can't even get hard again yet.” Hyunjin teased.

“Just let me stare at you for a few more minutes and I'll be good to go.”

“Oh?” Hyunjin’s turn to blush, “Are you calling me pretty, Changbin?” He asked, using his discarded t-shirt to wipe the mess Changbin had made on himself.

Changbin pulled him to his side, risking the ballsy move, but unable to resist, “I think you're the most beautiful person I've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes upon.”

“Changbin.” Hyunjin rolled his eyes.

“I'm serious.” Changbin stroked his cheek, “You’re so beautiful, Hyunjin. I couldn't stop thinking about it these past two days.” He didn't know why the man was surprised, or why a tear slipped out of his eye at the compliments, but he kissed it away before moving back to the other's lips, their intimacy now feeling like it was on a whole different level. He had plenty of time to learn about Hyunjin's past later. If he has his way, this would not be the last time they did this.

Hyunjin lined himself up with lube-slick cock in hand. Changbin might have been drooling. He didn't know. But Hyunjin was large. He now understood the necessity of being opened up so carefully.

“Stop me at any time, okay, baby?”

“Okay, yes. I will.” Changbin’s back arched off the bed, insatiable in his need for Hyunjin, “Please, need to feel you.”

“Oh, sweetheart,” Hyunjin began pushing in, “It will be impossible for you not to.”

He was nothing if not truthful. As he was fed inch after inch, Changbin felt himself like a contemporary to the clay which Hyunjin was so talented at molding. Malleable under his fingers, expanding at his touch, his presence. Willing to move any which way he was told. How lucky he was to be molded by his hands.

He saw stars as Hyunjin seated himself fully. It was heaven. He had never felt so full and it only halfway had to do with Hyunjin’s size. They kept eye contact as Hyunjin laid slow, almost lazy strokes, and Changbin thought he would never tire of this. It was different than his hookups. He wanted to put Hyunjin in his cabinet right next to his fucked up bowl. Guaranteed to be there waiting for him when he got home from work.

He wanted Hyunjin.

For now, he settled for letting Hyunjin know - very verbaciously - how incredible he was making him feel.

“I'm close, baby. Feel so good. Want you to split me in half, fuck, Hyunjin-ahh!” He spilled over Hyunjin’s hand, relishing in how the other followed immediately afterwards.

“Oh, Changbin-” Hyunjin gasped.

Changbin wished he could paint. Or had a camera. Something. Whatever means necessary to capture the look of Hyunjin’s face as he came. It was otherworldly. He wanted it tattooed on his brain.

He let himself be coddled and cared for. Aftercare was always nice, but being on the receiving end was something else. He convinced himself to enjoy it, almost on the verge of tears as Hyunjin wrapped him in his own towel after their shower.

“Hyunjin?” He asked, a little sheepishly.

“What's up, baby?” Hyunjin asked, kissing Changbin on the forehead.

“Would you hate me if I asked you to stay the night?”

“Changbin,” He tilted his chin up to make him meet his eyes, “I'd love to. And I don't think I could ever hate you. I like you too much already.”

“You do?”

“I really do.” Hyunjin smiled, and Changbin could see the fondness in his eyes.

“I like you, too. I want to make you breakfast in the morning.”

“Then make me breakfast in the morning.” Hyunjin said simply.

“I can't cook, I can almost guarantee if I tried, you would die.” Changbin was only halfway kidding.

“Then. Order me breakfast in the morning?” Hyunjin had to think about it.

“I'll even put it on plates so it feels like it's homemade.” Changbin bargained.

“Deal.” Hyunjin kissed his cheek, “Let's get you to bed, baby, you've been so good tonight. Worked so hard for me.”

“And I'd do it again.”

“I sure hope so. How else are you ever going to learn to manage your anger?” Hyunjin chided him playfully.

“Shut the fuck up.” Changbin rolled his eyes, pulling Hyunjin into bed beside him once again.

“Make me.” Hyunjin challenged.

So he did. Until they were interrupted by their own yawns, too sleepy to carry on.

Changbin finished his required twelve hours of anger management before asking Hyunjin to be his boyfriend.

He presented Hyunjin with a bouquet of flowers in a vase he had made himself. Hyunjin leaped into his arms, as the question was asked, nearly causing Changbin to drop the flowers.

“I take that as a yes?”

“Yes! God, of course yes!” Hyunjin squealed excitedly. When he wasn't being domineering and assertive, he was silly and carefree. It was endlessly endearing to Changbin.

Felix clapped from his vantage point at desk, “Yay! I'm so happy for you two! And for me! Seungmin is going to have to let me top again now!” They didn't break eye contact, Hyunjin’s legs still wrapped around Changbin's waist.

“Go fuck your husband, Felix.” Hyunjin commanded.

“Say less. Please wipe down my counter. I don't want any trace of fluids on it when I come in tomorrow.” Felix darted out, blowing kisses over his shoulder as he left.

“Hyunjin, my beautiful boyfriend, can I top you tonight on Felix's counter? Pretty please?” Changbin batted his eyelashes.

“How could I ever say no to you, Seo Changbin? Especially when you asked so nicely.” Hyunjin kissed him as he was carried over to be deposited on said countertop.

They did wipe it down afterwards, too. They weren't animals.

Anger, consider yourself managed. Pottery was the perfect answer.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

summary: Mingi knows that the post will get Yunho's attention. He misses him and if jealousy is the only sure-fire way to get him to cave, then so be it. He's willing to face the consequences of a jealous, possessive Jeong Yunho.

warnings: mdni, dom!yunho x dom!seonghwa x sub!mingi, oral sex, punishment, jealousy, group sex, degradation

word count: 3,869

ao3 link: lessons learned

lessons learned

“What exactly do you think you're doing?” Yunho's voice was calm. Too calm. A shiver ran down Mingi’s spine at the tone of it. It was exactly the reaction he had been hoping for when he posted the picture a few minutes ago. His lower back was screaming, still laying in the same position on his couch that he had been in to take the picture, but had he moved, it wouldn't have been as effective. He wanted Yunho to walk in and see him posed exactly the same way. He had left the hotel door propped open just for it, actually. This was a last ditch effort after being all but ignored by the man for the last few weeks.

“Oh, hey Yunho. What's up?” Mingi didn't look up, eyes glued to his phone. But he knew the tops of his ears were starting to turn red, giving him away.

“I asked you a question, Mingi.” Yunho's voice still came from the same spot behind Mingi in the doorway. Mingi had to resist craning his neck to look at him. Yunho looked so good when he was jealous. But Mingi had to be strong. He was determined to draw this out, achieve his goal. If he gave in now, Yunho might take the attention and leave. Mingi had other plans.

Mingi adjusted his hips slightly, knowing the movement would be noted by Yunho, “I'm just fucking around on Instagram.” He tried to keep his tone casual.

“A fan of yours dm'd me about this, you know.” Yunho finally entered the room, circling around the coffee table to sit on the armrest of the couch by Mingi’s head.

“About what?” Mingi played innocent, looking up at Yunho through his eyelashes.

Yunho ignored his question, reading the message instead, “‘Are you just going to let this happen?’ What am I supposed to do with you, Mingi?”

“I haven't eaten yet, if you want to-” Mingi started, knowing that wasn't what Yunho meant.

“Mingi,” Yunho reached down to touch Mingi’s cheek, “You’re making this very hard on me. I've been trying to be good. Last time we did this… it got messy.”

It was true. They had agreed to not continue sleeping together at the beginning of the year. It had become all-consuming, hard to differentiate their personal and work relationships. Verging on psychological torture on Mingi’s end, never knowing if Yunho was being extra rough because things hadn't gone his way at the studio or if it was just part of their dynamic. Aftercare cut short due to packed schedules, leaving them both feeling raw, feelings unresolved. They agreed to cool it. See other people. But they were both single again for the first time since then, had been for around a month. And all Mingi could think about was how much he missed Yunho. Giving over control. Letting himself be had. Kept. Knowing whom he belonged to. It was driving him mad.

“I've been trying, too, I swear.” Mingi sat up so Yunho could sit on the couch, then immediately rested his head in the older's lap, sighing softly as long fingers combed through his hair.

“Hmm.” Yunho considered, “Yet you still posted those pictures.”

Mingi sat up fully, feeling exposed and a little foolish, staring straight ahead rather than looking at Yunho, “They weren't just for you. Atiny seemed to really like them.” He defended himself.

“Oh, I'm sure they did, jagi.” Yunho reached over to turn Mingi’s head towards him, “But there's no need to lie.”

Jagi. It had been months since Yunho pulled out a pet name. Mingi felt heat rush south at the word, his brain starting to buzz happily, already slipping easily into subspace, even after months of disuse.

Mingi swallowed, “Sorry.” His voice barely made it past his lips, throat suddenly very dry.

“And I'll make sure you mean that.” Yunho's thumb traced over Mingi’s bottom lip, pulling on it slightly before releasing, “But after this we need to have a discussion. I don't want it to end like last time. And I think we can do a better job at setting boundaries, making the lines more clear.”

“Yes, absolutely.” Mingi had barely heard a word past the first sentence, but he trusted Yunho.

“I want you to feel safe with me. I need you to confirm that you know what we're about to do has nothing to do with our professional relationship or our friendship. Understood?”

“Yes, I understand.” Mingi nodded, “Thank you for saying it.”

“Of course, sweetheart.” Yunho kissed his cheek, moving to whisper in his ear, “But it's ‘yes, sir’ from here on out.”

“Yes, sir.” Mingi echoed him, barely able to keep from jumping into Yunho's lap. He knew he had to be patient though.

Yunho pulled back and stood up, rolling up the sleeves to his button-up as he strided over to the door to the hotel room, ensuring it was locked and that the curtains were drawn. Mingi’s eyes were glued to his forearms and hands the whole time, drool pooling in his mouth at the sight, veins and tendons prominent, tucked under velvety skin.

Yunho sat back down on the couch beside Mingi, “Jeans and shirt off.”

“Yes, sir.” Mingi stood up, obeying happily, glad for instructions.

“Come here.” Yunho gestured, taking Mingi’s hand into his own, pulling it up to his mouth, maintaining eye contact as he kissed up the inside of his forearm.

Mingi let out a noise at the contact, senses already on fire.

“On my lap.” Yunho assisted him as he straddled his thighs.

Mingi’s hips bucked involuntarily at the close contact, whining at the friction.

“Oh, princess.” Yunho smiled, a breathy laugh leaving his nose, “I missed this.” He didn't let Mingi reply, instead choosing to press their mouths together, his fingers wrapping lightly around Mingi's neck, keeping him from leaning too far into it, other hand on Mingi’s hips, guiding them down as he humped pathetically, chasing any sort of friction.

Yunho broke their kiss, moving to kiss across Mingi’s jaw, “Needy puppy.” He whispered, voice tickling Mingi’s skin, “Go ahead, since you're so desperate. Make a mess.”

Warm fingers of lust gripped Mingi from the inside, spreading outward from his abdomen, whimpering as he felt his and Yunho's cocks rub together through the thin layer of his boxers. It was a little uncomfortable but he needed this.

He was so close, Yunho was sucking on his neck, marking him, “Yunho-” he whined.

“Shh, baby, I've got you.” Yunho soothed the spot on his neck with a kiss, “Now be good and cum for me.”

The instruction is what Mingi needed, warmth seeping into his boxers, falling forward to Yunho's shoulder as he came down.

“There we go.” Yunho rubbed his back, fingers just barely ghosting over his skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. “Feel better now that you got what you wanted?”

“Yes, sir.” Mingi panted, a sharp intake of breath as Yunho's hands found his ass cheek, pulling it to the side through his boxers as he squeezed it.

“So desperate, aren't you?” Yunho teased, “Little slut. Doing so much just to make me jealous. What am I going to do with you?”

Mingi sat up, meeting Yunho's eyes bashfully, “I'll do anything you tell me to.”

“Oh,” Yunho chuckled, “I know that, darling.” He kissed Mingi’s cheek, then forehead, finally landing on his lips before pulling back once more, “On your knees.”

Mingi reached for his boxers but Yunho stopped him, “No, darling. I think you need to sit in your mess for the time being.”

Mingi pouted but did as he was told, extracting himself from Yunho's lap and moving to the floor in front of him, hands in his lap.

Yunho stood, tilting Mingi’s chin up with careful fingers, “I'm going to fuck your face now, sweetheart.”

He pushed Mingi’s hair off of his forehead, “You have to know there are consequences for making me jealous. Understand?”

Mingi nodded, already getting hard again at the thought of it, “Yes, sir.”

Yunho leaned down to plant a kiss on Mingi’s forehead, whispering, “Just tap me twice if you need to stop, okay? Don't let me hurt you.”

“Okay, yes, sir.” Mingi tilted his face up, expecting another kiss but Yunho stood back up.

“Well, it will be much harder if you don't take off my pants.” Yunho mocked him.

Mingi scrambled, immediately reaching for the button and fly on Yunho's slacks, fumbling in his haste but eventually succeeding. He shucked the pants and underwear off in one go, revealing an almost fully hard Yunho.

His cock was beautiful, Mingi’s mouth already watered looking at it, pretty and flushed, larger than he recalled. He stroked it tentatively, looking up to Yunho for confirmation.

“Yes, baby. Not gonna be easy to suck it if it’s not even fully hard.” The corner of Yunho's mouth raised, a glint in his eye that Mingi hadn't seen in far too long.

Mingi began kissing Yunho's thighs as he stroked him, feeling himself start to get hard again as he felt the other grow in his hand. He sat up to begin administering kitten licks on the tender underside of Yunho's cock head, earning a moan from the man in return.

Mingi finally began working him inside his mouth, grateful that Yunho was letting him adjust to his size, muscle memory taking over as his jaw stretched to accommodate.

“Fuck, you were made for me, weren't you, honey?” Yunho gasped as his cock hit Mingi’s soft palate for the first time.

Mingi hummed a noise he hoped came across as agreement, unable to verbally communicate in his current state.

Hands in his hair, holding his head still, “Hold still, princess.” Yunho's voice was low, metered, clearly trying to maintain assertiveness through his pleasure.

It wasn't comfortable, but Mingi loved being used like this, his nose hitting Yunho's pubic bone as his mouth and throat were completely occupied, tears leaking out of his eyes at the effort. Spit spilled out the side of his mouth. He wasn't embarrassed, he knew Yunho liked it messy.

Yunho's pace quickened and Mingi hung on for dear life to his thighs, begging himself not to gag as Yunho fucked into him. Yunho started to pull back, taking his length into his hand, only leaving the tip of his dick on Mingi’s tongue.

Warmth. Yunho crying out.

Click.

The door swung open to reveal Seonghwa. Mingi's roommate while they were at this hotel. Who had a key card. Snacks in hand, dropping several bags of chips in his shock. Yunho was unable to stop, covering Mingi’s face in cum as his hand had moved a few degrees in his surprise to the door opening.

“Shut the door.” Yunho practically barked at Seonghwa, who shut the door behind himself, smile playing on his lips as he deposited his snacks unceremoniously onto the kitchenette counter.

Seonghwa was aware of Mingi and Yunho's history but Mingi couldn't help and feel embarrassed, warm, thick fluid dripping over his closed eyelid.

“I take it you saw his post, then?” Seonghwa asked Yunho, shirking his jacket, folding it neatly onto the chair at the desk.

Yunho swiped Mingi’s eye clean, depositing what it had gathered onto his tongue, mouth still open, closing it with two fingers under his jaw. He stroked Mingi’s throat with the backs of those fingers, encouraging him to swallow, “Someone was trying to make me jealous.”

Mingi’s throat was raw but he couldn’t help himself, “I succeeded in making you jealous.”

Seonghwa looked at him, utterly bemused, “Sounds like this little cock whore hasn't learned his lesson yet.”

The three of them looked between one another as if to ask if they were all okay with the turn of events. Mingi gave them both a nod. He could take the degradation if it meant praise and attention the rest of the night, both men sleeping in his bed, cuddling him.

“Would you like to help me teach him?” Yunho asked, approaching Seonghwa.

“Yes, I think he needs to learn just how painful it is to be jealous.” Seonghwa offered.

“I agree.” Yunho caressed Seonghwa’s cheek, tucked a piece of hair behind his ear, making eye contact with him, though it was Mingi to whom he gave instructions, “No touching yourself. Don't forget you can use your safe word, dear.”

“Yes, sir.” Mingi answered, barely able to get the full phrase out before the other two were kissing.

They were putting on a show, over-exaggerating for Mingi’s sake. He whimpered as Yunho began peeling off Seonghwa’s clothes. His cock was crying for attention but he had to be good. He would be good for Yunho.

Yunho palmed Seonghwa through his gray sweatpants, “Oh, now, we're going to do something to take care of this, aren't we?”

A tear escaped Mingi’s eye as he watched them together.

Seonghwa’s head tipped back at Yunho's touch, voice raspy, “Yes, we definitely are. Do you think your little pet over there might want to help me out?”

Yunho glanced over at Mingi to confirm. Mingi responded with no hesitation, “Yes, please, let me help you.”

“His mouth is already warmed up for you.” Yunho's smile was wicked.

Seonghwa stepped out of his pants and boxers as he crossed over to stand in front of Mingi, still kneeling on the floor. His knees ached and his thighs burned, his jaw was sore, but he barely noticed any of it.

Thankfully, Seonghwa was not as well endowed as Yunho.

Mingi licked and sucked, doing more of the work this time, glancing up at Seonghwa for approval as he tried to perform his very best, not knowing what the man liked, never having so much as kissed him until now. Tears tracked hot down his cheeks, choking on a sob, needing Seonghwa to finish so he could give his mouth a break.

“Christ, Mingi,” Seonghwa panted, hips bucking as Mingi worked him towards his release, “Sucking me down like the slut you are. Not gonna last long like this, honey.”

Mingi hummed in acknowledgement and the sensation was all Seonghwa needed to finish, hot liquid pouring down Mingi’s throat.

Yunho had been watching from the couch and he reached down to stroke Mingi’s hair, “So kind of you to help out, baby.”

Mingi preened at the praise, leaning his cheek into Yunho's hand.

“I think he's earned a reward, don't you?” Seonghwa asked as he helped pull Mingi to his feet. Mingi’s legs were half asleep and he stumbled as he stood up.

“Easy,” Seonghwa caught him, guiding him over to sit on the bed.

Yunho went to fetch the supplies he knew Mingi kept in his bathroom bag. Seonghwa crawled into bed behind Mingi, propping himself up at the headboard, then pulling Mingi to himself, letting him rest with his back to his chest, stroking his hair as they waited for Yunho to return.

“You were so good for us, darling.” Yunho praised as he approached, laying the lube and condom within reach on the bed. He helped Mingi remove his boxers, wiping his cock with a warm washcloth to clean the now-dried cum that he'd been subjected to marinating in.

“Thank you.” Mingi whispered, already feeling spent, but in need of a second release.

“You understand why we had to teach you a lesson though, right?” Yunho asked, now reaching for the lube, which he applied to his fingers.

“Yes, sir.”

“It was for your own good, pretty.” Seonghwa’s voice was gentle now, in contrast to earlier.

Yunho's fingers circled his rim, “But good boys deserve to feel good.”

“And you were perfect for us.” Seonghwa added, fingers trailing up Mingi’s flank, landing on his nipple.

Yunho pressed one finger inside, “So, so perfect.”

Seonghwa pinched his nipple as Yunho buried the first finger fully, Mingi’s back arched off the bed at the sensation. He had gotten himself ready in the shower before posting the picture. He was sure Yunho noticed, but he didn't say anything.

“Let us show you how perfect.” Seonghwa whispered, leaning down to kiss the crown of Mingi’s head.

“Yes, sir. Please. Want you so bad.” Mingi begged as Yunho added a second finger. “Yunho- ahh.” It came out as a whine. The other's fingers were skilled like a musician who played stringed instruments. Calculated as they chose exactly when to hit his prostate and when to leave it alone. He let his body go limp, relaxing into the touch of the two men who were tending to him so devotedly.

He closed his eyes and let the sensations take over.

Pressure as a third finger was added.

Soft touches on his torso.

The odd feeling of emptiness as fingers were removed.

Kisses on his forehead.

Being split down the middle. Filled. 

Heat coiling in his abdomen.

Seonghwa's hand around his cock as Yunho fucked into him. 

Levitating. 

Warmth from the inside. 

One last jerk of his hips. 

Release. 

“Mingi, baby?” Yunho's voice sounded worried as he pulled out and laid down beside him on the bed. “You okay?” 

“Mmmmh. Mhm.” Mingi couldn't form words yet. His brain was still pleasantly blank. Suspended in warm honey. 

“I think we fucked him to death.” Seonghwa joked, stroking Mingi’s hair as he began to stir, still breathing heavily. 

“‘M alive.” Mingi defended himself. 

Yunho chuckled, “Was it that good?”

“So good.” Mingi managed.

“Let’s get him to the shower.” Seonghwa addressed Yunho. 

Mingi let himself be walked to the shower, body weight supported by the other two. 

“You got him?” Seonghwa asked. 

“Yeah, thank you.” Yunho turned on the water, “Why don't you go get us some clothes? Grab Mingi a pair of my sweatpants and a t-shirt. My key is in my pants pocket.” Yunho knew Mingi had his own clothes he could have worn, Mingi knew what he was doing. Yunho also knew it was a comfort to Mingi to wear his clothes instead of his own after a night like that one.

“On it.” Seonghwa answered. 

Mingi still had his eyes closed for the conversation, leaning into Yunho's chest, only opening them to step into the shower. 

“Mingi, sweetheart,” Yunho tapped his cheek, “Stay awake to shower, jagi.” 

Mingi opened his eyes and nodded, unable to meet Yunho's gaze as the emotions from everything that had just gone down rushed forward, demanding to be felt.

Yunho was the one person in the world Mingi felt comfortable crying in front of. For good reason. He felt a sob escape as Yunho began washing his body. 

“Oh, sweetheart.” Yunho tugged him to his chest, “You’re okay, baby. That was a lot, I know.” 

Mingi couldn’t control it now, sobs racking his body, “Sorry.” He apologized, voice thick with tears. 

“No, honey. Don’t apologize.” Yunho rubbed circles on his back, “Shh, you’re okay. You’re okay, precious. You know we didn’t mean anything bad we said about you, right? You mean so much to me. To Hwa, too. I promise. So, so perfect, baby.” 

Mingi finally managed to compose himself enough to speak, “I know. I’m sorry, I’m a mess. I enjoyed it, it’s just…”

“A lot?” Yunho offered.

“Yeah. It’s a lot. I missed you so much.” He felt another wave of tears coming on, “I’m sorry. I should have talked to you about it rather than posting to get your attention.”

“Oh, baby.” Yunho’s face softened, “It’s okay, I promise. I missed you, too. I could have said something as well. I’m just glad we got there. Even if the path was a little convoluted.” 

“Me, too.” Mingi smiled, though he still felt an errant tear or two making their way down his cheeks. 

“I want you to be mine, Mingi. Any time you’re not someone else’s.” Yunho confessed, stroking Mingi’s cheek, “Is that something you’d want? We’d be free to date, of course, but if we find ourselves in this situation again, I want you to be mine. No questions about it. I want to take care of you. Make you feel good. Want everyone to know. Everyone who can know, obviously. Would you like that, baby?”

Mingi nodded, letting himself be pulled to Yunho’s chest again. 

“Good. Me too, jagi. I’d really like that.” Yunho took a deep breath, weight seeming to lift off his shoulders. Mingi clung tighter. “What about Seonghwa? I know you gave the go ahead, but is that something you’d be interested in again? You can think on it, but I think he really enjoyed it, as did I, and I hope you did as well.” 

Mingi considered the offer, “I want to talk to him about it some more. I feel safe with him, but I’d feel better if the terms were more clear going into it if we do anything like this again.” 

“Of course, baby. I just want you to be comfortable.” He kissed Mingi’s shoulder, which was the expanse of skin most readily available to him at that moment, “That’s all I care about.” 

“Thank you.” Mingi pulled back to look into Yunho’s eyes, “Can I kiss you?” 

Yunho smiled, expression incredibly fond, “I’d love that, jagi.” 

The kiss was tender, mostly chaste, but it was exactly what Mingi needed to soothe his heightened senses. Grounding him. Pulling him back to earth. He had often thought of Yunho as his own source of gravity, the only force keeping his feet firmly planted on the rock as it hurtled through space. 

They finished washing and dried off, emerging from the bathroom wrapped in matching white towels to find Seonghwa sitting on one side of the bed, scrolling through the hotel TV guide, neatly folded piles of clothes at the foot of the bed.

Mingi let Yunho help him dress, then Seonghwa called him over. 

“Mingi, honey, come here,” Seonghwa patted the bed beside him. Mingi obeyed, letting the older pull him to his side, “I need you to know that I don’t think of you in any of the ways I mentioned earlier, okay? I think you’re wonderful. And sweet. You’re not showy in how you care for people but you’re always looking out for your members, aren’t you? I’m so lucky to have you as a friend, baby.”

Mingi squeezed him tight, “Thank you, Hwa.” 

“Of course, darling.” Seonghwa kissed the top of his head. 

Yunho crawled into bed beside them, hand falling to Mingi’s thigh as he was still cuddling Seonghwa.

Mingi felt himself relax and smile, loving being taken care of, sandwiched in between two men who were happy to demonstrate their affection. 

Seonghwa had outdone himself. He had gathered snacks, an ice pack for Mingi’s jaw, water, Ibuprofen, and an extra blanket. The three of them cuddled in bed and watched mindless hotel TV, Yunho and Seonghwa taking turns letting Mingi curl into their sides until they eventually drifted off to sleep. 

Mingi had probably learned the wrong lesson in posting pictures for attention, but oh well. It wouldn’t be an issue anymore. Not after his conversation with Yunho. He belonged to him now. He would never have to go through such gymnastics for attention from him ever again.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

home for the holidaze

summary: Seonghwa promised Yunho he wouldn't sleep with his half-brother, Hongjoong, while he is in town for an extended holiday sabbatical. He quickly realizes how idiotic of a promise it was to make.

warnings: mdni, dom!hongjoong x sub!seonghwa, recreational drug use

word count: 10,706

ao3 link: home for the holidaze

“Just whatever you do, please don't sleep with my brother.” Yunho warned Seonghwa with a serious expression. Seonghwa rolled his eyes. He remembered Hongjoong from growing up in the same neighborhood as the two of them. Though Hongjoong was closer to Seonghwa's age, he had ended up befriending Yunho instead. Hongjoong had been sent to an elite private boarding school across the country and they barely saw him except at holidays. He was shorter than his little brother (they had different moms) and Seonghwa always recalled him as being rather stuffy, uptight, very serious about doing his assigned reading over holiday breaks, where Yunho and Seonghwa were more inclined to sneak off to smoke weed at the playground.

Seonghwa was only half listening, very focused on Animal Crossing, “Yeah, I get it, no offense but I'm really not interested. He is way too uptight for me.”

Yunho sighed, seeming relieved, “Okay,” he turned towards the door, “Okay. Cool. I'm gonna go get him from the airport, then. You still down to meet up later for dinner?”

“Sure, just send me the location and a time.” Seonghwa said a little dismissively. 

“Sweet!” Yunho walked through the door, calling out over his shoulder, “Later!” 

Seonghwa had virtual trees to shake and rooms to design. It was his day off and he planned to take advantage of it fully by getting stoned and playing Animal Crossing until his eyes were the things crossing instead. Then he would probably re-watch Empire Strikes Back for the hundredth time. He had been a little reclusive lately. His breakup with Yeji was affecting him more than he'd like to admit. He knew Yunho had noticed and had tried to help. He also knew that six months should have been enough time to get over a relationship half that length. But he was really struggling with the part where he was the one rejected. Not to brag or anything, but he had always been the rejector, never the rejectee. It certainly had given him empathy to those he had broken up with in the past. This sucked. And the guilt of that realization - how he now understood how those he had broken up with had felt - also wasn't helping. He wanted to, was finally ready to break out of his funk. At least mentally. But it was like his body wasn't ready to listen yet. He would stare and stare at the dust bunnies on his floor and get so icked out by them that he felt almost angry. But he still couldn't convince his body to get up and vacuum. He was a very tidy person so it made things like that even more frustrating. A layer of dust on the coffee table was holding his attention more than the credits rolling on his movie, his phone lighting up with a notification was the only thing that shook him out of his stupor. 

Yucifer

Joongie picked that ramen restaurant we used to like downtown. See you there in 30? 

Me

Alrighty

Sweatpants had felt like a completely reasonable option for one of their favorite old haunts. That was, until he saw Hongjoong. Looking very put together for someone who just spent nearly ten hours on a plane. Dressed in slacks, an expensive looking sweater, and designer loafers. Intellectual property law was a lucrative career, evidently. What was more surprising was that he looked so stylish. Growing up, he had stuck to polo shirts and khakis with ugly dress shoes that looked like they belonged to someone forty years his senior who shopped exclusively at Walmart. Practical. Already a tiny adult by his early teenage years. 

Seonghwa felt weirdly exposed in comparison, though he was just as clothed as his companions. He ran a hand through his hair as he approached the table, trying in vain to become a little more put together before he was spotted. 

Too late. 

“Park Seonghwa!” Hongjoong called, trying to catch his eye. 

Seonghwa met his gaze sheepishly, feeling embarrassed to be under the spotlight, “Kim Hongjoong. Good to see you, man.”

Yunho scooted over in the booth so that Seonghwa could sit across from Hongjoong. 

Hongjoong’s whole demeanor was different from Seonghwa's memory. Where he had once been full of nervous, high-strung energy, he was now calm, almost intense. Cool and confident. 

It was… something.

If Hongjoong noticed that Seonghwa was currently clawing his way out of a deep depressive cycle, he didn't let on. Seonghwa felt like he was being studied, but not in a bad way. Just maybe in a way that made him nervous that he would break his promise to Yunho. 

Hongjoong was the first thing that had truly piqued his interest in half a year. And he had agreed not to sleep with him. Because he was a fool, probably. 

“When do you go back to Sydney?” The question rushed out of Seonghwa’s mouth before he could stop it, realizing it probably sounded rude. 

Hongjoong laughed, “Ready to get rid of me already?”

Seonghwa blushed, “No, no. Sorry. I realize how that sounded. I'm happy you're here. Staying with us.” His gut twisted at the last part. Hongjoong. Staying into their guest bedroom. Their rooms were jack-and-jill, connected by a shared bathroom. 

“I'll be here at least through New Years. I'm taking an extended vacation.”

Fuck. It was October 3rd. Three months.

Maybe Hongjoong was straight. Maybe it wouldn't be an issue. 

It was an issue. 

Hongjoong seemed to be hell-bent on trying to not-so-subtly flirt with Seonghwa all night. 

“Yeah, work has been hard.” Hongjoong’s foot was out of his loafer, tracing up Seonghwa’s ankle, “My days are long.” A wink that Yunho had conveniently missed. 

He was sure Hongjoong would have stopped if Seonghwa had given any indication he wasn't into it. Unfortunately, he was very into it. His breathing became hard to regulate, cheeks flushing, both things easy enough to place blame upon the alcohol they were drinking over the appropriate place for blame - Hongjoong's foot working its way further up his leg. When it reached the junction of his inner thigh, Seonghwa stood up abruptly, mumbling a mostly coherent excuse about needing the bathroom. 

Once in there, he splashed his face with cold water, trying to get it together. He took a few steadying breaths and washed his hands before heading back out, trying to keep Yunho's voice in his head, asking him to not sleep with his brother. He hadn't expected wanting to so badly when he agreed without second thought earlier. How was he supposed to know Hongjoong had grown out of his awkward stuck-up goody two shoes phase and into… whatever the fuck he was now. Hot. Domineering. Interesting. Confident but not cocky. Did he mention hot? So fucking hot. 

“Everything okay?” Hongjoong asked, eyebrow cocked, sly smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. 

“Oh, uh.” Seonghwa sat down, crossed his legs, gave Hongjoong a look he hoped conveyed that they should cool it for now, “Yeah, all good.” 

“Perfect.” Hongjoong said, “I already took care of the bill. You guys ready to head out?” 

“You didn't have to do that, Joong.” Yunho told him. 

“I know,” Hongjoong looked at Seonghwa when he spoke next, “but I wanted to.” 

Seonghwa wished he had an excuse to not ride back with the two of them, but he had taken the train there and there was no reason to not let Yunho drive him when they were all going to the same place. Hongjoong rode up front, which Seonghwa was grateful for. Though under different (read: literally any other) circumstances, he would have been happy for the man to ride in the back with him. In his lap. Fingers in his mouth, even. 

His mouth watered at the thought of it. 

It was going to be a long fucking three months. 

Once back at their apartment, Seonghwa and Yunho helped Hongjoong carry his belongings from the car into the guest bedroom, the man in question thanking them before saying he was going to go ahead and turn in for the night, citing jet lag as his excuse. 

Seonghwa didn't expect to see him again, and he also wasn't used to sharing his bathroom, so he was quite startled when he opened the unlocked door to reveal a shirtless Hongjoong brushing his teeth at the sink closest to his respective room. He was in thin light blue sleep pants, but his tattoos were the most surprising thing. His half sleeve had been hidden by his sweater earlier, but the design was bold and beautiful, just like its owner.  

Seonghwa was probably gaping at him for too long before he shook out of it, “Shit! Sorry. Not used to someone being in here. I can just-”

Hongjoong stared at him as he leaned down to spit in the sink, breaking eye contact at the very last second, taking his time finishing up before finally wiping his mouth and turning towards the guest room, his bedroom (Seonghwa would have to get used to thinking of it as that), calling a very nonchalant, “All yours,” over his shoulder as he exited. 

All of that lead up for… nothing? 

What sort of mind games was he playing? 

Hands suddenly landing on his waist startled the hell out of Seonghwa as he fixed himself an omelet the next morning, nearly causing him to flop his breakfast onto the burner.

“Smells good,” Hongjoong whispered into his ear.

Yunho was already at work. Seonghwa was closing at the bar that night so he had most of the day free. He had gotten up early after a fitful sleep, and began finally cleaning like he had been trying to force himself to do for a month now. It felt good. 

“Want one?” He tried not to let on what Hongjoong’s touch was doing to his brain. He was probably failing miserably, “I'll make a second one. I don't mind.”

“Mmh, how very domestic of you, dear.” Hongjoong all but growled in his ear. 

Jesus. The butterflies’ wings caught on fire in his abdomen. He subconsciously leaned back into Hongjoong's embrace, pliant in his hands. 

“Do you still take your coffee with half and half?” He managed to get out through shaking breaths. 

“What a good memory you have.” Hongjoong whispered, lips ghosting down his neck, not actually making contact, only teasing, making him shiver. His presence was gone as soon as it had come, leaving Seonghwa feeling almost crazy for thinking it had happened in the first place. 

He finished preparing both omelets and fixed their coffees, setting all of them on their little dining table. Hongjoong chose to sit directly across from him, making sure Seonghwa could watch him enjoy the food he had prepared. 

Hongjoong didn't make any more moves though, and after they were finished, he cleared the table before Seonghwa could protest, thanking him for breakfast, practically dismissing him. 

“I hope I won't bother you by cleaning. I go into work around 3pm so I won't be a nuisance for too long.” Seonghwa didn't know why he was telling him his plans for the day.

“No bother at all.” Hongjoong spoke to him while washing the dishes but didn't look up, “Where do you work?”

“Oh. Um. It's a bar called The Bar is Low. Near uptown. It's not really a gay bar but I guess we attract a certain clientele.” He was rambling. 

“Yes, I can imagine you attract a certain clientele.” Hongjoong said it like he was implying the customers were there for Seonghwa alone. 

“Well. Joke is on them because I'm not interested.” Seonghwa answered dryly. 

“No? You're not gay?” Hongjoong asked. 

“Ha! No, no. I'm definitely bi. I'm just not interested in dating anyone right now. Haven't been for almost six months now.”

“Bad breakup?” 

Seonghwa felt tears well up behind his eyes, which pissed him off. He thought he was done crying about it by now. He answered, hoping his voice didn't sound too thick with the looming tears, “Yeah. Not been the best year for me.” 

“Mmh. Well. You deserve to be with someone who sees your value, Seonghwa.” Hongjoong said it so casually, glancing over his shoulder as he did. 

Seonghwa picked nonexistent lint off of his t-shirt rather than make eye contact, mumbled a “Thank you,” under his breath, trying to swallow the tears down. 

Hongjoong was too damn astute, though. 

“Hey, whoa, I'm sorry,” he dried his hands in a hurry, now finished with the dishes, “Come here.” He rushed over, pulling Seonghwa in for a hug. Seonghwa began sobbing embarrassingly hard, soaking Hongjoong’s shirt, choking out apologies, “God, I'm sorry, I haven't cried about it in weeks. Fuck.”

“Shh,” Hongjoong rubbed soothing circles on his back, “Don't apologize for having feelings, honey. You're okay.” 

“Sorry.” Seonghwa repeated himself despite the instructions he had just gotten, pulling away from the hug. 

Hongjoong reached up to wipe his face dry with a gentle thumb, repeating himself, “You're okay. Hey, look at me.”

Seonghwa obeyed, finding the other's eyes to be softer than he'd seen them so far. 

“I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable. I didn't know about the breakup.” Hongjoong offered, hand still on Seonghwa’s cheek. 

“Oh,” Seonghwa swallowed, “No. Um. I don't mind.” He thought he was probably blushing profusely, using every brain cell he had left to keep his eyes locked with Hongjoong's, “I like the attention.” He admitted, so quietly he barely heard it himself. 

“Noted.” Hongjoong’s thumb traced his jawline, “You’re in control here, Hwa. I want you to know that. Just say the word. Either way. And I'll stop. Slow down. Or… I'll start in earnest. But it's up to you how this goes, darling.” 

“I'll keep that in mind.” Seonghwa managed to choke out, suddenly very aware of how close they were standing. Too bad he was still chicken shit scared, “Um. I'm gonna. Go. Uh. Clean. Sorry about your shirt.” 

Hongjoong chuckled, “Stop apologizing. I'll see you later.” He stepped back, leaving Seonghwa room to step away and head towards his room.

And he did clean. As soon as he got off to the thought of Hongjoong, fingers stuffed in his mouth and music blaring to muffle the noises. Maybe he left the bathroom door connected to his room open just a tiny crack, though. Maybe he hoped Hongjoong had caught a glimpse. 

“Need a re-make for table eleven on the fly, please!” Wooyoung’s voice broke through Seonghwa’s thoughts. He had been drying the same glass for who knows how long, lost deep in thought about a certain new roommate of his. 

“Hwa!” Wooyoung pleaded from the expo area. 

“Sorry!” Seonghwa strided over, “What’s wrong with these?” The martinis looked perfectly fine to him.

“They swear those are gin. They ordered vodka.” Wooyoung explained.

Seonghwa grabbed a cocktail straw and dipped it into one of the martinis in front of him, stoppering the end with his thumb and dropping the liquid into his mouth.

“Oh. Yeah. That’s gin. In my defense, vodka martinis should be criminal.” He said as he began shoveling ice and pouring water into two clean martini glasses to chill them before making the drinks. 

“I like vodka martinis.” Wooyoung defended himself. “Bone dry and slutty filthy dirty.”

Seonghwa scrunched his nose in disgust, “You just like olive juice. And this is why they only let people with good palates be bartenders.”

Wooyoung brushed his split-dyed hair out of his eyes, pouting, “I have a good palate! It’s just different. And you got this job because the manager said he was afraid you’d kill him if he didn’t let you bartend!” 

“And I might have! Fuck waiting tables. Bartender privilege is amazing in comparison.”

“Who was going to kill me?” A deep voice rounded the corner of the kitchen into the bar. 

“He was, Yeosang! Not me. I’d never. You’re too pretty.” Wooyoung batted his lashes at his work crush. 

Yeosang blushed, trying to contain his smile, his face turning pink to match the birthmark by his eye. He tied his neon green hair back into a half-up, purposely avoiding Wooyoung’s gaze, “You really shouldn’t flirt with your manager, Wooyo.”

Wooyoung landed a firm smack on Yeosang’s ass as he passed by, before placing the correctly made martinis on his tray and sauntering away.

They thought no one knew they had been sleeping together. They were stupid. And horrible at hiding it. 

Wooyoung reappeared a few minutes later, “So what’s got your brain on a different planet tonight?” He asked, leaning across the bar, nosy as ever. 

“Yunho’s brother is in town. For like three months” He said, not intending to elaborate, but knowing Wooyoung would pry until he got it out of him anyway. 

“The stick-in-the-mud twink attorney?” 

“The very one.” Seonghwa sighed, resuming his task of drying dishes. It was slow that night. He had mainly been doing side work, not so much actually making drinks. 

“What, is he secretly hot or something?” Wooyoung was stabbing cocktail cherries onto a sword-shaped toothpick. 

“Very astute.” Seonghwa placed the cherries down on the rail below the bar back where they belonged before resuming his task. 

Wooyoung ate the cherries on his toothpick and leaned over the bar to retrieve the jar, “Why is that a problem?”

“Because,” Seonghwa swatted Wooyoung’s hand away, “Hey! Enough with the cherries. Because Yunho specifically made me promise not to sleep with him!”

Wooyoung waited until his back was turned to snatch the jar, hiding it under the bar this time as he fished more cherries out, “So? Just do it anyway. That’s what I would do. Isn’t he just visiting? Do it and ask for forgiveness later.” He tried to put the jar back before Seonghwa noticed. 

“Did you just-?”

“No? Just what?” Wooyoung said around a mouthful of cherries.

“You’re such a little brat.” Seonghwa rolled his eyes. Really, he was quite fond of his coworker. He made it nearly impossible not to like him. 

“You love me.” Wooyoung trotted away to clear the only table they had had in over an hour. Tuesday nights were like this. Yeosang would probably cut him soon and take over bartending for the rest of the night to save on labor costs. And so he could close with Wooyoung and make out in the back. Whatever. Saturday nights always made up for a whole slow week. 

Seonghwa picked up takeout on his way home and had just sat down at the kitchen table to eat it when his phone lit up with a notification. 

Yucifer

Crashing at Mingi’s tonight. Just a head’s up. Feel free to toss my laundry on my bed if you need the dryer. 

Me

Thanks man, later.

He tucked into his food, trying to not let his mind spiral at the thought of being home alone with Hongjoong that night. A few minutes later, his phone lit up again

[Unsaved Number]

Looks like it’s just us tonight.

Me

Hongjoong?

[Unsaved Number]

The one and only

Wanna get stoned and watch a movie

Me

Kim Hongjoong does illicit substances now? Since when?

Evil Man

Shut up. And Hurry up. Shower and brush your teeth and meet me on the couch in 30

Heat coiled in Seonghwa’s gut. He hated how much he liked how bossy Hongjoong was acting.

Me

Aye, aye, captain

Evil Man

Nevermind I decided I hate you

Me

Wait, no, come back. What about “yes, sir”?

Evil Man

Much better.

Me

Yes, sir

Evil Man

Mmh, I could get used to that

Seonghwa didn’t necessarily think Wooyoung gave out the best advice. But after the year he’d had so far, he decided to throw caution to the wind. Two fingers deep inside of himself in the shower, thinking of Hongjoong’s instructions the whole time, he was more sure of his decision than ever. He had never ever broken a promise to Yunho. Sure, he felt a little bad about it, but Yunho would have to understand that he hadn’t felt so alive in months. He needed this. 

He sat staring at his collection of sex toys in his bedside table drawer for too long, wasting time, risking being late, before finally selecting his favorite butt plug, guiding it inside with practiced ease. Another risk, but screw it. 

He finally emerged from his bedroom dressed in the shortest silk sleep shorts he owned. Light silver. A matching silk babydoll shirt, trimmed with black lace, on top, hair wavy and messy after his shower. The outfit was probably too much. Yeji had had a habit of making him feel weird about his good looks, not on purpose, he was sure, but in a way that read as her being intimidated and wanting to be the “pretty” one in the relationship. But he liked feeling pretty. He wanted to be told he was pretty, but he felt silly asking for it. So he felt a little embarrassed as he walked (slightly awkwardly) out of his room into the living room. 

All of his fears were quickly erased at the look on Hongjoong’s face as he emerged. He was wearing the same light blue pants from last night, dark hair swept off of his forehead, the planes of his chest visible through his thin black t-shirt. 

“Oh, darling. Look at you. All of this for me?” Hongjoong asked, beckoning him over, patting his lap. 

Seonghwa nodded as he straddled his lap gingerly, trying his best to avoid jostling around too much or else the plug would be uncomfortable. 

“Use your words, sweetheart.” Hongjoong instructed, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

“Yes, sir. All for you.” Seonghwa replied, his voice low, a little raspy from his nerves. 

“Lucky me.” Hongjoong whispered, hands roaming Seonghwa’s body, thumb grazing his nipple on its way down, making Seonghwa’s breath catch in his throat, before landing on his hip, which he gave a small squeeze, “You’re exquisite, angel.” His hand continued down, landing on Seonghwa’s ass cheek, fingertips pulling him apart ever so slightly. Seonghwa squeaked out a tiny moan at the sensation, senses heightened with the object he was playing host to. 

“I got myself ready for you in the shower.” He admitted, forehead tipping down to Hongjoong’s as the man kneaded the soft flesh underneath his hand. 

“Trying to be teacher’s pet are we?” Hongjoong teased as his hand found its way under the silky fabric of Seonghwa’s shorts, fingers dipping in the soft crevice before they discovered the exposed part of the plug, “Oh. Well, look at you. A little presumptuous, no?”

“Sorry.” Heat flooded Seonghwa’s cheeks, the embarrassment suddenly almost overwhelming, tears threatening to build in his eyes. 

“No, no, no,” Hongjoong tilted his chin up with his other hand, “Uh-uh. I love it. Don’t get in your own head. I’m thrilled you picked up on my lead and even more so that you’re here, presenting yourself to me like this. It’s so hot, baby. I promise. I won’t tease so much, I’m sorry.”

“‘S okay.” Seonghwa murmured, still recovering.

“We can stop any time, promise.” Hongjoong kissed his cheek to seal the contract. 

“I don’t want to stop. I just feel a little bad because I promised Yunho I wouldn’t do this.”

“Do what? Sleep with me?” Hongjoong asked, petting Seonghwa’s hair. 

“Mhm.”

“Oh, baby. He has been talking you up to me for months now. He didn’t explicitly mention the breakup, but I figured it was something like that.” Hongjoong laughed, “He probably told you that so this would feel forbidden or something. I get the feeling you like to do the opposite of what you’re told, typically. When you’re feeling more like yourself, no? I mean does he have a habit of crashing at Mingi’s? My guess is he thinks this will help you get over your ex. He’s a schemer like that.”

Oh. OH. 

“Well. I feel stupid.”

“No, sweetheart, don’t.” Hongjoong pulled him to his chest, kissed the top of his head, “You’re not stupid, you’re a good friend. You’re just out of sorts. And that’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you, I just want to make you feel good. You deserve to feel good, Seonghwa. Will you let me?”

Seonghwa steeled himself, sitting up to look at Hongjoong, “Yes. Please. I want that so bad.”

Hongjoong smiled, his eyes beginning to turn back to their original dark, lustful state, “Good. I’m glad. Because you look good enough to eat right now and I might go crazy if I can’t have you.”

Blood rushed south at his words, suddenly nothing felt nearly as important as pleasing the man underneath him, “You can have me. Please have me.” He pleaded, hips swiveling into Hongjoong’s at the thought of it. 

“Oh, I plan on it.” Hongjoong’s hand returned to grab his ass, guiding him to grind down again, “I’m going to take you apart piece by piece and put you back together again so that the only word you can remember how to say is my name.”

Fuck. 

“Yes, please. I want that, Hongjoong.” Seonghwa all but begged, continuing to move his hips as the other guided them, their quickly hardening cocks rolling together tantalizingly. 

“Come here, then, pretty.” Hongjoong whispered, finally pulling him in for a kiss. 

Seonghwa felt his brain go fuzzy. The kiss was deliberate, measured. He wasn't going to give Seonghwa too much at once, preferring to take his time, draw it out. Seonghwa was more accustomed to heated, passionate sex. Clothes ripped off in a whirlwind. Rushing towards the finish line without taking in the scenery. 

Seonghwa tried to lean in more to deepen the kiss but Hongjoong pushed him back gently, “No, baby. Let me. You just let me take care of you. Can you be good for me?”

Seonghwa wanted him so bad, could have taken him in one go right there, easily. But he was very interested in letting him lead, “Okay, yes.” He sighed, “Yes, sir.” He corrected himself. 

“Good boy,” Hongjoong stroked his hair, “So good for me.” 

Seonghwa preened at the praise, leaning into the other's hand. 

Hongjoong reached for something on the table beside the couch, producing a small, light blue intricate weed pipe, already packed and ready to go, as well as a gold zippo, engraved with his initials, “Still wanna smoke?” 

“Sure, if you do.” Seonghwa offered. 

“I do. I want to shotgun with you.” 

“Look at you, Kim Hongjoong! Full of surprises.” Seonghwa teased him.

Hongjoong’s face turned devious, “I'm not the one who is about to be full of something, jagi.” He trailed his hand down Seonghwa's face, thumb tracing over his bottom lip before using both hands to take the first hit from the pipe. Once he freed one hand again, he reached up and pressed at the spot where Seonghwa’s jaw hinged, asking him to open up. He obliged and let his face be pulled towards Hongjoong's, lips so close they were almost touching. He took the hit, inhaling greedily like it was oxygen. 

“Your turn, love.” Hongjoong handed Seonghwa the pipe as he exhaled. 

Seonghwa took his hit and leaned in to pass it along to Hongjoong. Time passed slowly as the high began to hit and he exhaled into Hongjoon's mouth. The latter barely let him fully release the hit before he was crashing their lips together, this time with more need, fervently. Seonghwa blindly placed the pipe down on the table beside them, not caring much how it landed. Nothing else was important right now. 

He felt Hongjoong’s fingers latch into his hair, tugging it slightly as he turned his head to the side, tongue teasing the seam of his lips before finally probing inside, eliciting an embarrassingly needy whine from somewhere deep inside Seonghwa’s chest. Seonghwa's tongue sparred with Hongjoong's until the latter caught it and sucked on it, nearly sending Seonghwa into a dizzy spiral of pleasure. 

Hongjoong pulled back abruptly, “Bed. Now.” He commanded. Seonghwa got up, his thighs shaky from straddling Hongjoong for who knows how long. 

“Mine or yours?” Seonghwa asked as he grabbed Hongjoong'a hand, leading them towards their connected bedrooms.

“Yours, gorgeous. I'm not even unpacked yet.” 

“Yes, sir.” Seonghwa simpered, loving being bossed around. 

“Kneel on the bed for me, darling.” Hongjoong instructed. 

Seonghwa did as he was told, hands in his lap, ass resting on his heels. 

He watched as Hongjoong stripped in front of him, maintaining eye contact as much as was possible, leaving his crisp linen boxers for last, peeling them off slowly, releasing his fully-hard cock. It was lovely, not braggadociously large but well-proportioned, nicely formed, and flushed pretty pink. Seonghwa was apparently staring at it with stars in his eyes. 

“Like what you see?” Hongjoong asked as he stroked himself, walking towards the bed. 

“Yes, sir. Want you in my mouth. Can I? Please?” Seonghwa asked, peering up at him through his thick eyelashes. 

Hongjoong smiled, “Well, since you asked so nicely…”

He climbed up onto the bed in front of Seonghwa, kneeling but raised up so his cock was level with Seonghwa’s eager mouth. 

“You can pull my hair.” Seonghwa offered as he took Hongjoong’s length into his hand, “I like to know if I'm doing well.”

“I'll be sure you know how well you're doing, beautiful.” Hongjoong smiled as he stroked Seonghwa’s hair. 

Seonghwa licked his lips, glad the weed hadn't hit so hard to have given him dry mouth, and began licking the tender underside of Hongjoong’s tip before working it inside genuinely. 

Hongjoong moaned as Seonghwa sucked him in, hollowing out his cheeks, hitting his soft palate. He felt his hair be tugged on, “God, yes, baby. Just like that.” Hongjoong praised from above. 

Seonghwa hummed at the praise, setting a pace, bobbing his head and working his tongue in time with the strokes. He could feel Hongjoong's hips stuttering, trying not to fuck his face, getting close to his release. Suddenly, Hongjoong pulled on his hair, backing up a little, “You're going to make me cum like that, baby.” His hand caressed his cheek, “And as much as I'd like that, I really want to cum inside you.” 

“Yes. God. I want that.” Seonghwa stared up at him knowing he probably already looked fucked out with flushed cheeks and swollen lips. 

Hongjoong chuckled, “Mmh so eager. You're dangerous, little bunny.” 

Seonghwa let himself be pushed back onto the mattress, “Dangerous?”

“Very. You're going to have me tempted to keep you.” Hongjoong's hands grabbed Seonghwa’s wrists, pinned them up by his head as he leaned down to kiss him once more, caging him in, not allowing a reply. He came up for air and dismounted, following a hunch for supplies, looking towards Seonghwa as his hand landed on the drawer pull of his bedside table. Seonghwa nodded, confirming the location of the lube and condoms. Hongjoong gathered them and placed them within reach on the bed beside Seonghwa before climbing back in, kneeling between his parted legs.

Seonghwa gasped as Hongjoong dove in, kissing his neck, making his way down to his chest where he mouthed and licked at his still-covered nipples, the friction of the now-damp fabric driving him insane. His top was gathered up by practiced hands, torso bared for further exploration. Hongjoong's breath was warm as he kissed down his happy trail before coming up long enough to peel his tiny shorts off, tossing them to the side before resuming his kisses, landing everywhere except for his painfully hard, leaking cock. 

“Mmh, look at you.” Hongjoong cooed, “You're so stunning, Seonghwa.” 

“Thank you.” Seonghwa gasped, his breath catching as Hongjoong's deft fingers found his plug once again, grasping the base and teasing it in and out with tiny movements that had Seonghwa’s back arching off the bed. 

“Oh fuck, please.” Seonghwa begged, writhing on the bed at the sensation. 

“Please, what, jagiya?” Hongjoong purred, obviously knowing exactly what he wanted, “Use your words, gorgeous.” 

“Please, need you to fuck me, sir.” 

Hongjoong took his time removing the plug, leaving Seonghwa clenching around nothing, feeling extremely empty. 

“Well. Since you're begging so nice.” Hongjoong rolled on the condom like it was second nature, following it with plenty of lube. 

Hongjoong grasped Seonghwa’s length in one hand, barely applying pressure, and teased everywhere except his eagerly awaiting ring of muscle with his own cock, guided by his other hand. 

Seonghwa was sweating now, desperate in his anticipation, letting out a soft whine. 

Hongjoong smiled knowingly down at him, “Shh, darling. I know. I don't mean to be cruel, you're just so lovely, all strung out for me. But I think you've earned this.” 

Seonghwa thought he might have ascended to a different astral plane at the stretch of Hongjoong pushing inside. It was delectable. He had never felt so precious, so worshipped by anyone before. He took Hongjoong easily, adoring how perfectly full he felt once the man was buried deep inside of him. 

“Fuck, baby. You feel amazing.” Hongjoong gasped, unable to help the movement of his hips as he began fucking Seonghwa in earnest. 

“God, yes, right there, Joong.” Seonghwa gasped as Hongjoong found his prostate. “Not gonna last long like this.” 

“Can you be a good boy and cum for me when I tell you to, baby?” Hongjoong asked, voice strained from the effort. 

“Yes, sir. Please. Fuck.” Seonghwa mewled. 

Hongjoong stroked him in time with his thrusts, his hips beginning to falter as he reached the edge of his own release, “Go ahead, darling. Show me how pretty you are when I make you cum.” 

Seonghwa obeyed, panting out Hongjoong's name as he came all over his hand and his own chest. 

“Fuck, yes. That's it, baby.” Hongjoong worked him through his aftershocks, before trying to pull out. 

“No!” Seonghwa gasped, definitely overstimulated, but needing Hongjoong to follow through on his promise, “Inside! Please. I can take it.”

Hongjoong didn't reply, but his eyebrow furrowed as he accepted Seonghwa’s plea, fucking into him hard and fast before finally reaching his own orgasm, spilling into the condom with a shaky breath. He took his time pulling out, falling to the bed beside Seonghwa, gathering him to his chest and stroking his hair while praising him sweetly, “Thank you, baby. You were so good for me. Took me so well. So, so good.” Hongjoong kissed his head, squeezing him tight to make sure he knew he was cared for and appreciated. 

Seonghwa felt tears escape, warm as they traveled down his cheeks, unable to hold them back. Hongjoong didn't even bat an eye, just coddled and comforted him, “Shh, jagi, it's okay. Let it out. You're okay. I've got you.” 

“Sorry.” Seonghwa sniffled, “I don't know what's wrong with me.”

“Nothing is wrong with you.” Hongjoong tilted his head up to meet his eyes, “Hey. Nothing is wrong with you, baby. You're perfect. It's normal to react like this after sex like that. Especially if it was your first time in a while. Okay? Nothing is wrong with you, Seonghwa.” He kissed the tears off of his cheeks, “Absolutely nothing.”

Seonghwa managed to compose himself and Hongjoong started to sit up, but Seonghwa panicked, “Wait, where are you going? Please don't leave!”

Hongjoong smiled, smoothing his hair, “I'm not going anywhere, angel. I just wanted to go start us a shower. Okay? I can stay here for a little longer, too, if you want.”

“Just a few more minutes? Sorry. I'm a mess.”

“No, sweetheart. You're not. I'll stay as long as you need.” 

A few minutes passed and Seonghwa finally convinced himself to let Hongjoong start the shower, soon returning to collect him from the bed. Hongjoong held him gently as he washed his body, fingers soft as they washed his hair. Seonghwa couldn’t help but feel sad, already mourning the fact that Hongjoong would be leaving in three months. What had once felt like an eternity now felt entirely too short. 

“Joong?” He asked as the other was putting down the hairdryer. 

“What's up?” 

“I'm scared.”

“Of what, honey?” Hongjoong’s eyebrow furrowed once again. 

“I'm scared I'll grow attached.” He took a shaky breath, “I'm scared I already have.”

Hongjoong smiled, a hint of sadness behind his eyes, “It's okay, Hwa. No one ever wants to keep me around for very long. I'm sure by the time I'm leaving you'll be glad for it.” 

“Why do you say that?” Seonghwa asked, suddenly concerned.

“It's just never not been true.” Hongjoong shrugged. 

“And what if I want to keep you?” Seonghwa asked timidly. 

“Then we'll talk about it when we get there. If we get there.” Hongjoong answered simply. 

“Will you stay with me tonight?” Seonghwa asked, reaching for the man’s hand, so delicate and pretty for someone so intense. 

“Of course I will, Hwa.” Hongjoong promised, “Anything you want.” 

Hongjoong fit so perfectly nestled in Seonghwa's arms that he knew as soon as the other fell asleep, he would never be able to bear letting him go. He couldn't stand the thought of him moving back to Australia. Unless he was going in his suitcase. It wasn't like he had a whole lot going on here. Was that crazy? Move halfway across the world to be with someone whom two days ago, he had sworn he would have no interest in sleeping with? He decided to let his subconscious mind work that one out, finally meeting the sweet embrace of sleep. 

“Slut.” Something hit Seonghwa’s face. “Whore.” Again. “Harlot.” Yunho's voice. “Promise breaker.” He was throwing Cheerios at the two of them, still curled up in bed together. “Jezebel.” 

“Fuck off, Yunho.” Seonghwa grumbled, seeking asylum under his comforter. 

“No! You're the Skanky McBetrayerface!” Yunho whined, obviously joking, but still being a nuisance, just because he could. 

“Yun.” Hongjoong sighed, “I told him you were scheming. Now please, fuck off. I'm trying to give your roommate some morning dick.” 

“Ew.” Yunho's voice held genuine disgust, “Fine. But hey, Seonghwa. Don't say I didn't warn you when he drives you crazy in a few weeks!” 

“Please fuck all the way off before I let your brother penetrate me in front of you!” Seonghwa called, already beginning to straddle Hongjoong from underneath the covers. 

“Okay fine. You guys are mean.” Yunho stomped off dramatically, playing the part of youngest sibling remarkably well. 

“Um actually, can I fuck you this time?” Seonghwa asked after removing his mouth from the pulse point under Hongjoong’s jaw. 

“Oh, fuck yeah, by all means.”

Hongjoong was bouncing on his dick and Seonghwa felt amazing but the two of them kept bursting into fits of giggles as they were trying desperately to be quiet for Yunho's sake. Eventually, Seonghwa had to pull out and take him from behind so they could finish, seeing as every time they made eye contact, it devolved into laughter immediately. 

It was proving quite handy for their bedrooms to share a bathroom. 

As the weeks went on though, they pretty much only stayed in Seonghwa’s bed. Hongjoong unpacked very slowly, almost like he thought at any point he would be asked to leave. 

The comment that both he and Yunho had made about getting sick of him kept rattling around in the back of his mind, making less and less sense as he got to know the man better. 

Sure, Hongjoong liked knowing his whereabouts. He could see maybe how some people might find that to be overbearing or controlling. But in all honesty, Seonghwa liked it. He liked that someone cared enough to keep tabs on him like that. Hongjoong liked to read. A lot. He read non-fiction. Historical non-fiction. And the newspaper. He was very serious about the crosswords. He didn’t go out a whole lot. And sure, he was bad about spending his money on clothes rather than saving it. Seonghwa saw what could have been perceived as flaws, but to him, they were endearing. He was growing so incredibly fond. And the sex had only gotten better as time went on. 

Hongjoong came by the bar for the first time on Halloween. He was picking Seonghwa up after work to go to the party his old friend from boarding school, Jongho, had invited him to. They were going dressed as sexy Lincoln and sexy John Wilkes Booth. It was stupid. But it was funny to them. 

“Is that the hot brother?” Wooyoung asked as he waited at the bar for Seonghwa to prepare the drinks for his table. 

“Who?” Seonghwa asked, not knowing Hongjoong was there yet, haven’t having had time to check his phone all night due to how busy they were.

“The Booth to your Lincoln over there at the end of the bar.”

Hongjoong was there looking handsome as ever, if not a little goofy, and nervous for some reason. 

“Oh, Yeah. That is definitely him!” Seonghwa answered, sighing at how adorable he found the man. 

“Okay, yeah. I get it. He’s hot.” Wooyoung leaned in, “Is he like crazy dominant in bed? Because he looks like he would cannibalize anyone who looked at you for too long.”

“I am not dignifying that with an answer.” Seonghwa rolled his eyes, “But. Um. Yeah. It’s kind of incredibly hot.”

“Oh, I get it. Yeosang is territorial, too. I think it’s probably not something everyone is into. Yeosang apologized for being that way a lot when we first started hooking up. But I kept reassuring him that I like it. It’s hot. It’s nice to feel wanted like that.” Wooyoung was staring off into space, obviously deep in thought about Yeosang. 

“Hm. Yeah. That’s exactly it. Maybe that’s what they meant…”

“What who meant?” Wooyoung asked, curious as ever.

“Hongjoong and Yunho. They both said something to the effect of knowing that I would eventually get sick of Hongjoong. I think they were talking about him being possessive. But you’re right. I think it’s very, very attractive.” Seonghwa was actually getting a little hot and bothered just at the thought of it. 

“Okay, ew. Stop drooling. Can you please leave now? I like watching Yeosang bartend and I can’t do that if you’re here. Plus you’ve already made beaucoup tips.” He shook their oversized tip jar. It was true. It was nearly brimming over with cash and he saw plenty of bigger bills in there. 

“Slut.” He fished the cash out, “Okay byeeee!” He called after pocketing his tips and closing out his drawer, collecting Hongjoong on his way out. 

Jongho’s place was super cool, modern and expensive, looking like somewhere a Bond villain might reside, and the man himself was a little cold at first but quickly warmed up to Seonghwa the longer they spent together. Everyone loved their outfits. One man, Jongho’s friend, San, really liked Abe Lincoln, apparently. He kept touching his costume and leaning in, clearly not one to hold his alcohol well. Seonghwa didn't think he was flirting, really, mostly because he had seen him interact with plenty of others the same way that night. He figured the man was just touchy and friendly. Hongjoong spotted them talking and came over to snake his arm around Seonghwa’s waist. “Hi, baby.” Hongjoong all but sneered at San as he spoke, “Making friends?” He asked before pulling Seonghwa in for a messy kiss. Once released, Seonghwa watched as the man’s cat-like features went through a series of emotions, from confusion to understanding to acceptance, walking away with a small wave. 

“Sorry. I don’t know why I felt the need to do that.” Hongjoong said, shaking his head and stepping away from Seonghwa. 

“What? It doesn’t bother me, Joongie.” Seonghwa offered, reaching for him again.

Hongjoong took another step away, “No. I need to stop. I’m sorry.” He turned on his heel and tried to walk away, but Seonghwa caught his arm.

“Hey, whoa. Can we go somewhere and talk about this, please?”

“I know we haven’t been here long but can we go home if we’re going to talk about it?” Hongjoong asked, looking up at Seonghwa apologetically. 

“Yeah, sure, of course. Of course we can, baby.” Seonghwa reassured him. 

Hongjoong stared out the window in the backseat of the Uber the whole drive back to their apartment. He let Seonghwa hold his hand, but that was about it. Seonghwa’s mind was racing the entire way there. When they finally got back, he suggested they get showered and changed and meet in the living room afterwards. Hongjoong nodded, still refusing to make eye contact. Seonghwa showered quickly and changed clothes before heading into the kitchen to put on some water to make tea. Two cups of lavender chamomile with honey. He didn’t know if Hongjoong liked tea, but the ritual of making it helped calm his nerves anyway. By the time he carried the tea cups over to the coffee table in the living room, Hongjoong was finally emerging, face pink from being scrubbed clean, hair still wet, wearing one of Seonghwa’s sweatshirts he had evidently left in his room, looking rather small and vulnerable in it, seeing as it was big on him. 

“Come here,” Seonghwa offered, patting the couch beside him, “I made tea, does that sound good?”

Hongjoong sat down beside him on the couch, not touching him, but nodding at the offer of a hot beverage. Seonghwa handed him the mug carefully, warning that it was hot, trying to study his face, but remaining patient. 

“Thank you,” Hongjoong said after taking a sip, “This is nice. I don’t know why you’re being so kind to me.”

“Hongjoong, no offense, but what the fuck are you talking about?” Seonghwa asked, genuinely confused. 

“I…” Hongjoong finally met his eyes, looking completely distraught, “I don’t know where to start. I have some bad habits that I’m trying to break. But it’s hard. And I thought I was over them. Thought I could control them with you. Obviously I’m just as insane as I used to be.”

“First of all, you’re not insane. Second, can you elaborate? What habits?” Seonghwa dared to place a hand on the other’s knee to try to comfort him. 

Hongjoong took a deep breath, “I had a bad breakup, too. A few years ago. He cheated on me, made me think it was my fault, somehow. I stayed in it way too long trying to be ‘better’, be who he needed me to be to stay happy. But that was never going to happen. I should have known. There was no pleasing him. He swore up and down that he had stopped seeing the other guy but I knew he was lying and I ended up following him to prove myself right. I should have just fucking let it go. But then I confirmed it. After that, the harder I tried to cling on to him, the more distant he got. I wish I would have had enough self respect to just leave, but I was so stubborn. Ever since then, I have been kinda paranoid in relationships. It’s not that I can’t trust, it’s just that everything kind of feels like a threat, I guess. So I like knowing where my partner is. I like everyone else knowing they’re mine. That kind of behavior is typically a turn-off to people. That’s what I meant when I said I would scare you off. And when those feelings came up tonight after seeing you talking to San… I don’t even have any claim to you, Seonghwa. And I still couldn’t hold it together. I’m so fucking frustrated with myself.” Tears streaked down his face at the last part.

Seonghwa carefully removed the tea cup out of his hands, placed it on the coffee table, and pulled the man into his lap. It was his turn to comfort. 

“Oh, Joong. You’re okay, baby.” He stroked his hair, rubbed circles on his back, “Hey,” he leaned back slightly so he could look the other in the eye, “Look at me. No one I’ve ever been with has cared enough about me to ask my whereabouts. They parade me around because I’m a pretty object to be shown off. The possessiveness you’ve shown so far… I like it, Hongjoong. I was just talking to my co-worker about it at the bar when he saw you there, looking like you would happily murder anyone who dared to look at me for too long. Do I see how it could turn toxic? Sure, but I don’t think you’re toxic, Hongjoong. I think we both have some flaws. And I think we’re both adults who can work through them, if we want to. Personally, I want to. Have you balked at all any of the times I’ve been a hot mess after getting emotional? No. You’ve just helped me through it. And I would do the same for you, happily. As far as a ‘claim’ to me goes. Hongjoong. I want that. I know you thought you would scare me off but I knew after that first night, I want this with you. I know you have to go back to Australia and I honestly don’t know what it would look like, but I really, really want to try. I want to be yours, baby. Please. Let me.”

Hongjoong studied him for a moment like he thought he might burst out into laughter and yell ‘Sike!’ in his face or something. But of course, he didn’t. Seonghwa was dead serious. 

“You want me to claim you?” He asked, finally, eyes now dry and turning dark with desire. 

“Yes, baby. Please. Want everyone to know who I belong to.” Seonghwa felt heat stirring deep in his abdomen. 

“So I can mark you?”

“Yes. God, yes. Anywhere you want.” Seonghwa’s hands trailed down Hongjoong’s flank, desperate to touch him. 

“I’m going to make sure everyone knows who you belong to.” Hongjoong growled, pulling them both to their feet, abandoning their tea in favor of heading to Seonghwa’s bedroom. 

Hongjoong had left marks all over Seonghwa’s neck and down his thighs as he opened him up. 

“Are you clean? Can I take you raw? Please?” Seonghwa begged as Hongjoong reached for the condom. 

“I am. Are you sure?” 

“Yes. I said I wanted to be claimed. Want you to stuff me full, get me pregnant, baby. Wanna feel you leak out of me.” He was babbling, but he meant every word. 

“Christ, Hwa.” Hongjoong grunted as he applied lube before pulling Seonghwa into his lap, guiding him down carefully onto his cock, chest to chest as they made love, Seonghwa’s own dick pinned between their torsos. They caught their release simultaneously, foreheads pressed together, panting versions of each other’s names. 

They had to change the sheets after their shower. 

Later, in bed together, Seonghwa tried to confess his feelings. 

“Hongjoong?” He asked timidly from his spot on the man’s chest. 

“Hm?”

“I think I’m falling in love with you.” He said it so quietly he was afraid Hongjoong hadn’t heard.

“Baby… you’re just feeling good from the sex. Tell me again in the morning if you still feel that way, okay? I don’t want you to say something you don’t mean. You still barely know me.” 

“It doesn’t matter. I know how I feel.” He was feeling a little stubborn then, “I will tell you in the morning. Because I mean it.”

“Okay, darling. Get some sleep.” Hongjoong whispered, stroking his back in time with his breaths. 

“G’night.” Seonghwa replied, brain already foggy, half asleep.

“Goodnight, my little bunny.” Hongjoong kissed the crown of his head. 

Seonghwa woke up alone. He knew Hongjoong was gone. He could just feel it. The note on his bedside table only confirmed his fears. 

Seonghwa,

I’m sorry. You deserve better than what I can offer. I’m sure you will hate me for this, but I promise you, it’s for the best. You should be with someone who isn’t an obsessed, paranoid, possessive asshole. I hope you know I cherished every moment we spent together. You’re really something special. You will heal and move on and be glad that you didn’t tie yourself to me. Promise. Take care of yourself. 

-Hongjoong 

Seonghwa called into work that night. 

Then he called into work for the rest of the week, until Wooyoung became so concerned that he came by the apartment to make sure Seonghwa was alive. After explaining what happened, Wooyoung was uncharacteristically kind and attentive, nearly protective of him on their shifts together. It was nice. It made Seonghwa almost feel like a person again. 

November came and passed and he was completely numb to all of it. All he did was sleep, work, and play Animal Crossing. Yunho felt bad, like it was his fault somehow. Tried to make it up to him in little ways. Made sure he was fed and watered. It wasn’t until after Thanksgiving that he forced him out of the house. 

“We’re going to Mingi’s for a late Friendsgiving. Come on. Here,” Yunho tossed him a sweater and some jeans, “Boots and scarf, too, it’s going to snow. I’m not taking no for an answer. I’m serious, Hwa.” He stood in the doorway, ensuring Seonghwa actually got dressed. 

He wouldn’t admit it, but it was nice to be around people. Wooyoung and Yeosang were friends with Mingi, apparently, and although he saw them several times per week, it was nice seeing them outside of that context, curled up together on the couch, able to be openly together outside of the bar. Mingi had pulled him into a big bear hug despite them not being very close, and it almost made him cry. He was a good hugger. And it was the first physical affection he’d had in a month. He was sure he looked rough, haggard, face gaunt, dark circles under his eyes. He hadn’t even been able to call it a breakup this time, but it felt like one. Worse than one. 

But being here, with people who cared for him, and good food, sparkling wine, he began feeling some semblance of normality again. They were half an hour into a game of Catan when the doorbell rang, Mingi's black labrador retriever, Chicken, barked at the noise until Mingi opened the door to reveal Jongho and San. How they all knew each other, Seonghwa had no idea. But the two were holding hands and he realized just how silly Hongjoong had been at the party. Jongho seemed just as surprised to see him.

“Oh, hey. Nice to see you again.” He offered, shaking Seonghwa’s hand. 

“You, too.” Seonghwa answered, not really knowing if it was truthful or not.

“You look almost as bad as Hongjoong has when he facetimes with me.” Jongho chuckled. 

“Oh. You’ve talked to him?” He didn’t know why he was surprised. They were friends, afterall. 

“I’ve definitely talked to him. Well, he does most of the talking. He’s being very stupid, though. I keep telling him he was wrong for what he did and he needs to get his shit together and apologize profusely. He has a job offer here, you know. He’s just getting in his own way. I get it, he’s scared. But I still stand by him being very, very stupid.” 

“He what?” Seonghwa was confused. 

“You didn’t know?” Jongho looked at him sympathetically, “Sorry. Yeah. My company offered him a job. It was part of the reason he came to town. He declined when he fled the scene, but they haven’t stopped pursuing him. He’s like prodogiously good at his job.” 

“What the fuck.” Seonghwa felt even more betrayed than ever. 

“Yeah. Like I said. Very stupid” Jongho patted his arm, trying to be comforting, but mostly failing. 

Seonghwa snuck outside while everyone was distracted by the newcomers and made a phone call. He didn’t know if Hongjoong had him blocked or not because he hadn’t bothered to try to reach out, but he tried anyway. It rang five times before there was an answer.

“Hello?” Hongjoong’s voice sounded groggy but Seonghwa didn’t care enough to think about the time difference then. Fat snowflakes were falling on his face. He let them melt there, not bothering to wipe them away. 

“Kim Hongjoong. You fucking coward. You have until New Years before I block you. I’m so fucking mad at you. Don’t make me fly to Sydney, you son of a bitch. Come home. Take the job. That’s a threat. Come home and beg me to take you back before I change my mind on giving you another chance. I want you, you stupid idiot. Grow up. Get it together. Hurry the fuck up and get here.” 

“Seonghwa? I-”

“I said hurry the fuck up.” Seonghwa hung up the phone, feeling a little smug as he walked back inside. 

It was a beautiful white Christmas morning. Clear and cold, almost two feet of snow on the ground. Seonghwa had spent the whole day before cleaning his depression nest, feeling very confident that Hongjoong would show up any day now. Seonghwa had laid in bed for a while that morning, reading, drinking coffee, and enjoying the sight of snow falling outside the window. There was a knock at his bedroom door. He padded over in his slippers and Christmas tree patterned flannel pajama set to open it. 

Hongjoong stood in the doorway, holding a beautifully wrapped gift in his hand, snow-flecked beanie still on his head, nose pink from the cold. 

“Oh, hi. Took you long enough.” Seonghwa tried to be stern but couldn't hold back his smile. 

“You're happy to see me? You're something else, Park Seonghwa. You should be trying to throttle me right now.” Hongjoong said, a little sheepishly. 

“I should, but I'd like to hear you out first. You're too pretty to die young.” Seonghwa moved out of the doorway so he could come inside. 

“I, um. Made you something.” Hongjoong handed him the box as they sat side by side on Seonghwa’s bed, “It's not much. But I kinda learned how to crochet while I was gone.”

Seonghwa peeled the tape carefully, not wanting to waste the pretty paper. Inside was a box, which he opened to reveal a crocheted hat. It was soft and pink with floppy bunny ears on top. He loved it. 

“For my bunny.” Hongjoong said, giggling as Seonghwa tried it on. It fit perfectly. 

“Thank you, I love it, Hongjoong. But I hope you don't think this makes up for things.” 

“No, no, no. God no. Definitely not.” Hongjoong was practically tripping over his words. 

“Well. You're here. I'm all ears,” Seonghwa reached up to the bunny ears on his head, “Quite literally.” 

Hongjoong took a steadying breath, “Seonghwa. I'm so fucking sorry. I thought I knew what was best for you. For us. I panicked. I know that you said we could work through it. But I got this notion that I needed to protect you from myself. I don't think I would have been so scared had I not liked you so much. Then you said you were in love with me and I started to spiral.” He reached for Seonghwa's hands, eyes pleading as he continued, “But Seonghwa. You were right. I'm such a coward. I never ever should have run away like that. The fact that you had to be the one to call me and snap me out of it makes me sick. I honestly can't believe you'd even consider giving me another chance. But I had to try. My time here was the highlight of my year. I'm-” His hand reached up to caress Seonghwa's cheek. Seonghwa let him, and he continued, “I'm in love with you. If you'll give me another chance, I intend to prove to you every single day just how true that is. I'll call right now and accept the job. I just want to treat you right. How you deserve. And you deserve the absolute best. I can't promise you that I'll be perfect, but I will promise to always do my best. If you need time to think about it-” 

Seonghwa cut him off by kissing him. He didn't need to hear any more. He pulled back before it could get any more intense. 

“Sorry. You made me wait almost two whole months to do that.” Seonghwa scolded him, mostly joking, “I don't need time, baby. I want you right now. I'm still so mad at you, but I know you'll make it right. I'm willing to trust you, Hongjoong. Because I'm very much in love with you, too. I want to hear about your stupid history books. I want to help you with your crosswords. I want you to keep tabs on me and I want everyone to know that I belong to you. And I want you to call and accept that job, but first I want to take you right here on this bed until you forget you ever left in the first place.” 

“Get over here then.” Hongjoong instructed. 

It was just like their first time, Seonghwa underneath Hongjoong, crying out as he neared his release, back arching off the bed as Hongjoong nailed his prostate over and over. He had insisted on keeping the bunny hat on. 

“Come on, baby, go ahead. Let go for me, gorgeous.” Hongjoong instructed. 

“Hongjoong!” Seonghwa cried out as he came.

Hongjoong worked him through it, following quickly behind, “Yes, there we go. Fuck. Seonghwa-” He finished inside, Seonghwa loving the feeling of the warmth spreading uncontained deep in his abdomen.

They lay panting together on Seonghwa’s bed, Hongjoong tracing patterns on his back as they recovered. 

“What's with the bunny thing, anyway? I mean, I like it, I think it's really cute, actually, but it seems a little random.” Seonghwa inquired. 

Hongjoong sat up slightly, “You don't remember?” 

Seonghwa shook his head. 

“It was the only time you and Yunho convinced me to go to the playground with you on winter break.” He chuckled as he recalled the memory, “I took one hit and was a giggling mess. You guys made fun of me relentlessly. Then we saw a squirrel chase a bunny off, away from his acorns, chattering at it aggressively. I looked at you and said ‘I'm the squirrel.’ You nodded and said, ‘I'm the bunny.’ And then this big golden retriever had gotten loose from his leash and chased them both off and we cracked up, agreeing that that was Yunho.” 

“Oh my god, I do remember that! I can't believe I forgot!” Seonghwa sat up to kiss Hongjoong on the nose, “I also can't believe you remembered.” 

“I've thought of you as a bunny ever since then.” Hongjoong admitted.

“That's stupid.” Seonghwa squeezed him closer, “And adorable. I love you.”

“I love you, my little bunny.” 

New Years Eve was spent at Hongjoong’s new apartment, sort of a combined housewarming party. To everyone's surprise, Yunho and Mingi kissed as the clock struck twelve, far too passionately to just be friendly. 

“Are you guys-?” Hongjoong asked them when they finally came up for air. 

“Us?” Mingi asked, “Oh! Yeah. For a while now. We just weren't loud about it because of what you and Seonghwa were going through.”

“Huh.” Seonghwa and Hongjoong said in unison. 

“Well, um, congrats!” Seonghwa raised his champagne glass. 

“Cheers!” Yunho called, “To happy endings and new beginnings.”

“Cheers!” They echoed him. 

Later that night, after exploring every viable surface from which to have sex upon in Hongjoong’s new apartment, they lay in bed together, both too excited to sleep yet.

“What do you think about adopting?” Seonghwa asked as he stroked Hongjoong’s back, who was curled into his chest. 

“Like… a child?”

Seonghwa snickered at the obvious high pitched inflection his voice had taken as he asked the question, “No, silly. I was thinking a cat. Or maybe a rabbit.” 

Hongjoong kissed his chest where he could reach, “A bunny for my bunny. I think that's a great idea.” 

They adopted one the next day. Named her Squirrel because they were so funny. Funny, and very, very much in love.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.8

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 4,195

ao3 link: chapter 8

VIII: comes back around

The rest of the weekend passed excruciatingly slowly, Seonghwa felt nervous and off-kilter the whole time, texting his friends more than normal, debating whether he should message Hyunjin first or wait for the other to approach him.

He decided the latter was the best decision, since he had specifically asked for time, and the roughly eight hours between seeing each other at the club and unblocking him surely weren't enough. 

On Saturday, he met with his parents. Told them to fuck off, permanently.

Well, he said it with more diplomacy than that, but that was the gist of it. His dad laughed in his face, told him he would see him in a year when he was out of money. Seonghwa then realized just how out of touch with reality his dad had to be to think the amount of money in Seonghwa’s trust fund would only last a year. He had even hugged his mom and told her if she ever wanted to leave his dad’s sorry ass, he would be willing to try to mend things with her. He hadn’t missed the wobble of her bottom lip when he told her such, but he was sure his dad had. The man wouldn’t recognize someone else’s emotions if it literally hit him in the head like one of those pianos that falls down in cartoons or whatever. 

By Sunday, he was in desperate need of something to take his mind off of everything, pass the time, so he did something he had never done before: use his kitchen. For some reason he had an absolutely ravenous craving for chicken noodle soup. Completely out of nowhere! (A lie). 

Saying he had never used it was an exaggeration, of course, he didn't eat out daily, but cooking something like this, with a recipe and fresh ingredients, putting his knife skills to the test (they weren't great, he was a little afraid for his fingers), this was decidedly new. 

Almost as if summoned, as soon as Seonghwa sat down to eat his first bowl of soup, his phone notified him of a new message. 

Hyunjin

My last appointment should be over around 5 today. Do with that information what you will. 

Seonghwa could have done a backflip right there in the middle of his kitchen. He looked at the time, and seeing that it was 3:30 already, he sat down and ate his soup as fast as he could tolerate.

It wasn’t as good as Hyunjin’s but honestly, it was pretty damn delicious. 

He left the mess in the kitchen for later, opting to use his time to shower and get dressed, heading to San’s flower shop to try to get a bouquet before he closed it down for the day. He wasn’t exactly sure how these things were supposed to go, but every rom com he had ever watched seemed to involve flowers for a moment like this, and he wasn’t willing to take any chances by not following the script. He also had some of his chicken noodle soup with him, in case the flowers were a no go. But he had distinctly remembered Hyunjin mentioning at one point that he loved flowers, wanted a garden someday, so he felt like it was the right move. 

He burst through the door of Wild Mountain Flowers, out of breath from his jog from the parking lot, calling out, “San! It’s an emergency! A flora related emergency!” 

San had been crouched behind the counter, picking up a rogue rose off the floor, “Seonghwa?  What are you doing-?”

“Hurry, San, what flowers mean ‘I’m sorry I’m so incredibly stupid, please give me a second chance?’” He braced himself on the counter, breathing heavily. 

“For Hyunjin?” San asked, already looking around his shop.

“Yes, yes, for Hyunjin, he just messaged me, I need to be there by 5!” He panted. 

“Okay, okay, give me ten minutes.” San said, looking very happy to be needed and to put his expertise to good use. 

Ten minutes passed slower than the whole weekend combined, but at the end of it, he appeared with a beautiful bouquet with lily of the valley, hyacinth, pink and white tulips, and white roses. It was beautiful. 

“Here, I wrote down what they all mean in case it might happen to help you with Hyunjin for some reason.” San said, handing him a hand-written card alongside the bouquet, which he had wrapped in brown butcher paper and twine. It was perfect.

“You’re brilliant, Sannie, thank you so much. How much do I owe you?” Seonghwa asked.

San chuckled, “You only owe me if he doesn’t take you back, how about that? Now go get him!” He ushered Seonghwa out the door, calling, “Good luck!” as Seonghwa speed walked to his car. 

Seonghwa walked through the door of Hyunjin���s tattoo shop at 4:59pm, soup and flowers in hand, somehow both of them staying intact post-transport. 

Jeongin greeted him with a lap-full of Yeosang once again, saying loudly, in an overly dramatic voice, “Well, well, well, aren’t you brave to show your face around these parts?” Then whispering, “I know I’m supposed to hate you right now, but I’m rooting for you, don’t tell Hyunjin!”

Yeosang smiled at his boyfriend, “No way! I’m rooting for them, too!”

And for some reason they felt the need to kiss about it. 

Time slowed down as Seonghwa heard footsteps from the direction of the little walled-off area of the shop where Hyunjin tattooed people, followed by the man himself, looking resplendent as ever in a dark green sweater with the sleeves pushed up, showing off one of Seonghwa’s favorite of his body parts: his forearms. 

“I can literally hear you guys, you know.” Hyunjin sniped at them, but stared down Seonghwa instead as he said it, looking at him expectantly, if not with a tinge of reproachfulness in his eye. 

Seonghwa hadn’t even prepared a speech, “Um. Hi. I uh. Well, first of all, I got you these.” He held out the flowers, “And I made soup.” He put the container of soup down on Jeongin’s desk. Hyunjin didn’t move to take the flowers, but instead leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, looked at Seonghwa as if to imply he should continue. 

So he did, “Do you want to do this in front of them, or?”

Hyunjin shrugged, “They know everything already, I don’t see why not.”

Seonghwa could see Jeongin and Yeosang’s heads turn back and forth like they were at a tennis match, Yeosang’s cheeks going pink at the acknowledgement of their presence in the room. 

“Um okay, yeah, good point.” He cleared his throat, “First of all, I need you to know that I’m so incredibly sorry for ever thinking you would be agreeable to the sort of relationship I was suggesting. It was stupid and naive of me to even consider it. I would never be able to keep a relationship with you secret, Hyunjin. Someone like you deserves to be shown off, bragged about to anyone who will listen. You’re worth more than some stupid appeasement of my parents’ wishes. Which brings me to the second thing I need you to know, which is that I cut myself off. Even if you’re not willing to forgive me, it would still be worth it, because you finally helped me see that I was letting them completely control me, even when I felt like I had some semblance of control. And I’ll always be grateful for that. I truly hope you can forgive me though, Hyunjin, because,” he swallowed his nerves, “I’m so incredibly in love with you. I think you’re the best person I’ve ever met.” He glanced over to his friend, “Sorry, Yeosang, you get it though, this isn’t the point.” He shook his head, “Anyway. I think you’re kind, caring, gentle, funny, sexy, and endlessly interesting. I never want to stop learning new things about you. I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but it’s just felt so right from the minute I met you. I don’t know how to explain it.”

Hyunjin was still staring at him indiscernebly. 

Seonghwa’s eyes darted around, not knowing where to land, “Um. Say something. Please?”

Hyunjin’s lips slowly started to curl up at the corners, “Oh, I was going to see if you’d get on your knees and beg, but I guess that would have been a little much.” He crossed the room as he talked, stopping close enough to take the flowers out of Seonghwa’s hands. 

“I will, I’ll do it.” Seonghwa said, only half-joking.

Hyunjin giggled, “And I believe you, but I really would rather kiss you instead.” He took a step closer.

“Yeah?” Seonghwa asked, a little breathless already.

“Yeah,” Hyunjin answered, closing the gap, kissing Seonghwa so sweetly, this kiss quickly becoming his favorite they had shared yet. 

Hyunjin pulled away briefly, “I’m in love with you, too, by the way.” He breathed, still close enough that his lips brushed Seonghwa’s as he spoke, immediately resuming the kiss when he was finished speaking. 

They were shaken out of it by a loud series of coughs from Jeongin and Yeosang.

Seonghwa broke away this time, “Um we should probably-”

“Yeah, let’s go upstairs.” Hyunjin finished for him, grabbing the soup and calling over his shoulder, “Innie, please lock up for me!” Then turning back to Seonghwa, “Did you make this?”

Seonghwa couldn’t help but blush, “I did! It’s not as good as yours but-”

“But nothing, this is great. I’ve never gotten makeup soup before.” Hyunjin glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, smiling at the somewhat proud look on Seonghwa’s face. 

Once upstairs, Seonghwa offered to put the flowers in a vase while Hyunjin refrigerated the soup, neither of them having much interest in eating at that very moment. He was cutting the stems of the flowers to appropriate lengths when Hyunjin came up behind him, reaching around his waist to place a vase half full of water on the countertop but his arms landed on Seonghwa’s waist on their retreat, head resting on his shoulder. 

“We have a lot to discuss,” He began kissing up Seonghwa’s neck, sending a shiver of pleasure down his spine, “But we can do that later, no?”

Seonghwa picked up his pace on the flowers, “Absolutely we can.” He placed the flowers a little unceremoniously into the vase, turning around to face Hyunjin, who leaned in to whisper in his ear, lips tickling his sensitive earlobe as he spoke, “I want you to tell me the meaning of every type of flower while you open me up.”

Seonghwa's breath caught in his throat, “Fuck, baby, yes, anything you want.” He made a mental note to thank San later. 

Hyunjin’s lips made their way across Seonghwa's jawline, “I was so fucking mad at you.” He whispered, pulling back to look at Seonghwa in the eye, “But now…” he kissed his cheek.

“Now what?” Seonghwa asked, voice husky with desire. 

“Now,” Hyunjin kissed his other cheek, “I'm so relieved.” A kiss to his nose, making him smile and blush, “I'm so relieved and I feel like I could devour you whole.” He proved his point by landing his pillowy lips on Seonghwa's own, his fervent pace quickly matched by the other. 

Seonghwa would take him right there in the kitchen if that's what he wanted, but instead, Hyunjin broke away, taking his hand and leading him into his bedroom. 

They were both naked, Hyunjin sprawled out underneath Seonghwa, who had one finger inside of him, voice low as he explained the meanings of the flowers he had memorized on his drive to the tattoo shop, just in case, “Lily of the valley represents forgiveness and wanting to love forward again, they also happen to be one of my favorite flowers.” 

“I like them, too.” Hyunjin said breathily, moaning a little towards the end as Seonghwa began to add a second finger. 

“Hyacinth can mean jealousy,” he began curling his fingers, trying to find Hyunjin’s sweet spot, “And I definitely would never have stopped being jealous if you had ended up with someone else.” He leaned down to plant a kiss right at Hyunjin collarbone, “but it also represents a sincere plea for forgiveness,” another kiss, “and also joy, which is absolutely what I felt when you said you loved me back earlier.” 

He knew he had found Hyunjin’s prostate when the man moaned in pleasure, crying out, “Fuck, yes, I really do, I'm so in love with you.”

Seonghwa scissored his fingers, eliciting another moan from his beautiful love's mouth before adding a third finger to the mix, “And I'm in love with you, darling.” He dotted sweet kisses up Hyunjin’s neck before continuing, “That's what the white roses are for: new love and new beginnings.” He finally reached Hyunjin’s mouth, “I want every new beginning to be spent with you, Jinnie.” 

“Me too, jagi. I'm so happy.” His voice was breathy, needy.

“Now about the tulips-” He began but was cut off.

“No offense but fuck the tulips, I need you inside of me right now, baby.” Hyunjin whined. 

Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile, pulling his fingers out slowly, unable to help but revel in how cute Hyunjin’s face was when he pouted at his absence. 

“As you wish,” He quoted Hyunjin back to him, making a note to ask him later if he was quoting Princess Bride when he had said it. Now was not the time though.

The slow press inside was better than anything Seonghwa had ever experienced in his life, good enough to make him question life itself, the existence of god, everything. 

“Fuck, Hyunne, you're,” he was struggling to find the right words, “you're everything, baby. Taking me so well.”

Hyunjin was equally as enraptured it seemed, “You've successfully ruined me, Jesus Christ, I'll never get used to this. So full.”

Seonghwa was only halfway inside, “You’re so tight, angel.” He stroked Hyunjin’s already sweaty hair, “Relax, gorgeous.” He guided another inch inside as he felt Hyunjin relax, gasping at the sensation. 

“Wish I could take you raw.” He panted. 

“I know, baby, we'll be able to soon.” Seonghwa kissed his hairline, feeding him the rest of his length. 

“God, Hwa, I can feel you everywhere, feel so good.” Hyunjin was so beautiful, Seonghwa thought he could easily cry over it. The man had been making him cry more recently than he had in years. And for once, he was perfectly okay with it. 

“Gonna move now, okay, love?” He murmured into Hyunjin’s neck. 

“Yes, please, you're going to kill me if you don't move.” Hyunjin begged. 

Seonghwa started with small movements, earning him delicious sounds from Hyunjin’s mouth, each one he swallowed greedily with his kisses. Hyunjin’s hands gripped onto his shoulders and Seonghwa pulled back, sitting up a little bit to reposition, making longer, harder strokes now, determined to hit that perfect spot. He wanted to make it so good for Hyunjin. 

“Fuck, baby, I wish you could knock me up.” Hyunjin moaned. 

Seonghwa was surprised at how hot he found it, “Jesus, Jinnie, you're trying to kill me now.” His pace quickened largely outside of his control, “Everyone would know you're mine once you started showing.” 

“I'll never let them forget it anyways.” Hyunjin’s voice was shaky. 

Seonghwa’s grip tightened on his hips, probably bruising, but he didn't care, didn't think Hyunjin minded either, given how his back arched off the bed at the sensation. He might not be able to get him pregnant, but he could leave some sort of mark, “You're mine, Hyunjin. For as long as you want me.”

“All yours, fuck!”  Hyunjin cried, seeing as Seonghwa was downright abusing the man's prostate now, “So close, baby.”

“Good boy, Jin. My Jinnie. Go ahead and let go, jagiya.” Seonghwa knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer either, he pushed through, kept the same pace as best as he could until Hyunjin was crying out in pleasure at his release. 

“Seonghwa!” And the owner of the name thought he never wanted to hear anyone else say it ever again given how incredible it sounded coming from the lips of the man he loved. The sensation of Hyunjin clenching around him had him finishing immediately as well, completely lost in ecstasy as he lowered himself down to kiss Hyunjin as they rode out the aftershocks together. 

He pulled out after they caught their breaths, pulling Hyunjin to his chest as was now becoming their routine.

Hyunjin giggled, still completely fucked out, “I think I was having sex wrong before I met you.”

“Me too. Or we just really like each other.” Seonghwa said as he buried his nose into the crown of Hyunjin’s head, inhaling his scent before placing a sweet kiss in its wake. 

“I like you so much. I've missed you. God. I was so mad at you, Seonghwa. So fucking disappointed.” He curled himself closer to the other’s chest, “I thought maybe,” Seonghwa heard him sniffle, felt the crook of his neck become damp with tears, and pulled Hyunjin even closer, stroking his hair to comfort him. Hyunjin caught his breath enough to get the rest of his thought out, “Maybe your feelings weren't as strong as mine and I'd been a complete idiot.” He struggled through the last bit of the sentence as the tears started flowing genuinely now. Seonghwa knew their emotions were heightened after coming down from the mind-blowing sex high, but he hated Hyunjin being upset nonetheless, “Shh, baby,” He tilted his head up, kissed his tears away, “Darling, no. I was just scared. I was looking at the situation all wrong. I'm so sorry I made you feel that way, it breaks my heart to think I caused you pain.” 

Hyunjin took a few deep breaths, swallowed the tears back, “I know. I realized that after seeing you at the bar. I just wasn't sober enough to know what to do about it, but that's when I finally understood things from your perspective. And I made myself give it a day before reaching out. But I missed you so much. And part of me was still worried you'd come here and be apologizing for all the wrong reasons. Either way, I knew I needed to hear you out.” 

Seonghwa was tearing up now, “You've seen the best in me since the beginning.”

“Of course I did.” Hyunjin reached up to trace his thumb over Seonghwa's cheekbones, “I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. And I saw nothing of the person you're made out to be publicly when I met you.”

“And that's a big reason I fell for you so hard. I don't think you realize that you gave me a new lease on life, Hyunjin. I mean, maybe I would have gotten here eventually, and I’m not saying I needed to be saved or anything, but this is so much better than my alternative.” Seonghwa closed his eyes, leaning his cheek into the artist’s hand. 

“I'm so proud of you, Seonghwa. Really. You're so brave, baby.” Hyunjin whispered. 

Seonghwa turned his head to kiss the palm of Hyunjin’s hand, “Thank you. I love you.”

Hyunjin melted as he had every time they exchanged those three words so far, “I love you, too, Park Seonghwa.” 

“Be my boyfriend. Please?” He asked, trying not to sound too desperate, but also not really caring, “I'll literally commit arson if I can't start calling you my boyfriend.”

Hyunjin giggled but didn't answer, so Seonghwa tickled his ribs, “That's a threat, Hwang!” He joked. 

Hyunjin was cackling now, squirming out of Seonghwa’s arms to escape the tickling. Seonghwa managed to get on top of him, caging him in before Hyunjin managed to stop laughing, still breathless as he said, “Okay, yes! Yes, please! I want to be your boyfriend so badly.” 

Seonghwa kissed him until they were both smiling too big to continue, teeth clacking together, dissolving them into further fits of giggles. 

He thought he might be beginning to understand the term domestic bliss. 

1 Year & 3 Months Later

Seonghwa had been pleasantly surprised around six months ago to receive a call from his mom saying that she had left his father. They had spent a lot of time mending their relationship, and he still had to tell her to stop apologizing. He was extra pleased currently, though, that he had her in his life, as she straightened his bowtie, nodding at the wedding coordinator as she informed them it was five minutes until they would be headed down the aisle. He was also a little selfishly glad she had signed such an favorable pre-nup when she had married his dad, and was honestly guilt free at her insistence to pay for his and Hyunjin’s wedding. 

He couldn't wait to see his beautiful blushing groom. The anticipation was killing him. 

“You did the right thing, Seonghwa. I'm so proud of you.” She kissed his cheek, ignoring Wooyoung's shrieks in the background about messing up Seonghwa's makeup he had worked so hard on, “Your bravery helped me be brave, too. And I can't wait to have Hyunjin as a son-in-law!” 

He couldn't help but laugh, “I know, ma, you've told me that every day since we got engaged.”

“Can you blame me?”

He sighed, “No, not at all. He's wonderful.” 

Nellie was their officiant and they kept exchanging nervously excited glances out of the corner of their eyes, eagerly anticipating Hyunjin’s arrival. 

Seonghwa cried.

Of course he cried. 

Hyunjin was the most beautiful creature to ever walk this earth, even more ethereal in his white suit. Mingi had hooked them both up with designer suits, and Hyunjin had one tailored that Mingi had worn for Dolce & Gabbana at Paris Fashion Week that year. Seonghwa wore an all black Versace number. San had provided the flowers, of course, and it was a surprise, but Hongjoong was drawing up the plans for a house he intended to have built for the two of them, construction set to start while they were on their honeymoon. 

There wasn't a dry eye in the house (or rather, the persimmon orchard in which they were getting married, with the audience of only close friends and family, George included, much to Hyunjin’s joy) as vows and rings were exchanged. Seonghwa even swept Hyunjin up into his arms and bridal carried him all the way to their getaway car which would take them to the reception. The Pink Pony Club was happy to close down for the day to accommodate them and their guests. 

As they swayed on the dance floor together, Seonghwa sighed, “I'm so glad Felix gave me the week off. He really is an angel.”

Hyunjin chuckled, “He is! And you needed it. You know, Jeongin asked me for the week off next week. And he asked for a raise a while back. I think he might be planning something.”

As if on cue, the music abruptly came to a halt and Jeongin had grabbed one of the karaoke mics and was asking for everyone's attention. They hadn't planned for speeches so this could only mean one thing.

“Hi everyone, first of all, I want to say thank you to the beautiful couple, to Seonghwa in particular, for introducing me to the love of my life.” 

Seonghwa didn't have to look, he knew Yeosang was blushing profusely and hiding his head in his hands, pleasantly embarrassed. 

Jeongin continued, “And I also want to thank them for forgiving me for stealing the thunder at their wedding. But I can't wait any longer.” He knelt, “Kang Yeosang, will you marry me?” 

Yeosang was somehow giggling and crying at the same time, nodding “yes”, Jeongin barely giving him time to reply before rushing over and picking him up, spinning him around. 

Chris, who was acting as their DJ, picked up the discarded microphone, shaking his head as he sat back down at his booth to resume the music.

Hyunjin and Seonghwa exchanged glances, communicating telepathically, and took the opportunity of eyes being off of them for a minute to run into the bathroom together. 

Seonghwa would need to edit his review of this place. It was no longer only the best bathroom to do coke off the countertops, but also the best bathroom to blow your husband as he sat on the countertop.

5/5 stars. 

They got matching tattoos from an artist Hyunjin had long admired while on their honeymoon in Amsterdam. A bouquet of flowers, the same flowers in Seonghwa's apology bouquet. 

Seonghwa didn't even pass out that time.

That night, Seonghwa showed Hyunjin the rendering of the house Hongjoong had designed for them. Hyunjin was so happy he cried and then demonstrated his happiness by fucking Seonghwa on the balcony of their hotel.

He never let Mingi hear the end of it, how wrong he'd been about saying to not sleep with his tattoo artist. 

It was the best decision Seonghwa had made in his entire life.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.7

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 3,952

ao3 link: chapter 7

VII: what goes around

Seonghwa woke up to an empty bed and a text from Nellie apologizing, saying she had an early pilates class she had to get to. He understood, but he couldn't deny how alone he felt. 

He knew he had a lot to do but didn't exactly know where to start. So instead, he ordered breakfast delivery and sat on his oversized “adult” bean bag chair in front of his TV, playing his favorite comfort movie, Spirited Away, as he wolfed down his breakfast potatoes and omelet, nursing a large cold brew. Instead of feeling more awake, he just felt jittery and on edge. Great. 

He still wasn't really ready to face the music, so he texted the group chat with all his friends in it, largely unused except to plan the next Twink Dinner and an occasional text from himself asking if anyone could hang out, which is exactly why he was using it currently. 

Me 

Anyone down to hang out?

He waited on a reply for a second, then before he could think better of it, sent a second text. 

Me

I kinda fucked up and I could really use a friend right now. I know you're all busy so I understand if no one can, but I thought I'd ask. 

I love you guys. 

The texts flooded in a few minutes later. 

Joong

I don't have time today but I could meet tomorrow. I'm sorry, buddy. 

Jjonghooo

I can also meet tomorrow. 

Yeothang

Jeongin told me what happened. I think I’m too close to the situation to get involved but I know you’ll do the right thing. 

Mingus

I’ll call you when I land 

Yuyu

Mingi, add me to the call. 

Mingus 

sorry, who is this? I don’t have anyone’s numbers saved to my phone

Yuyu

Shut up, Mingi. 

Mingus

oh hey yunho whats up

Wooyoungie

sannie and I are available later this week. 

Mountain Dew

We’re here for you, Hwa. 

That’s when Seonghwa cried for the second time in twenty four hours. He really did love his friends so much and he felt he had spent a lot of time taking advantage of the fact that they stuck by his side despite the direction his life took after he graduated college.

If he was completely honest with himself, he knew that there were other avenues he could have taken, he could have gotten a job somewhere, probably a well paying one, too. But he was stuck in the victim mindset. Still mad at his dad, trying to drain his funds. Not that his lifestyle even made a dent in his dad’s funds. And by living like that, he was still centering his dad in everything he did. It was making him miserable. It’s not his dad’s fault that he’s unemployed and depressed. Or it was, indirectly, but it was time to stop giving him that power over his life. Truthfully, he was scared. He knew he needed to cut himself off now, with or without the possibility of gaining Hyunjin’s forgiveness. But he needed to talk to his friends first because despite having access to a lot of it, he had no idea how to manage money in the slightest. It’s a good thing Jongho was a lawyer at an accounting firm and Hongjoong had taken a recent interest in the stock market. Mingi was also impressively good at saving money, and he finally felt ready for his disarmingly sage advice. He felt that he had a pretty good place to start. 

“If all the information you just gave me is right, yes, we should be able to transfer your trust fund into a new account with only your name on it. It’s legally your money, and it’s both wild and hilarious to me that you technically haven’t touched it yet.” Jongho slipped his reading glasses off his face, rubbing the bridge of his nose as he laughed in awe at Seonghwa’s antics. 

Hongjoong stared at him disbelievingly, “You have actually just been spending your dad’s money this whole time? You’re telling me your trust fund is completely untouched?!” 

Seonghwa felt a little proud of himself then, “Um, yes. I was very serious about sucking the life force out of my father as much as I possibly could. And it’s mostly untouched, besides my Mercedes, but that hardly made a dent, honestly.”

“That’s actually really funny.” Hongjoong still looked like he couldn’t believe it, shaking his head. 

“What’s funny is that you’ve been dating a hot person and you didn’t tell any of us about it!” Seonghwa crossed his arms, waiting for Hongjoong to explain himself. 

The man blushed, unable to contain his smile, “It’s new but it’s really nice. He’s a music producer, as you know, so he understands my weird, long hours as an architect. It’s... Kind of everything I’ve ever wanted. We spend a lot of time in one of our studios or the other just working on projects, ordering food in, and forcing one another to call it for the night and go to sleep.” He was rambling and it was so nice to see him happy like this. 

“I’m so excited for you, Joongie, he sounds like he's gotten his shit together some since when we were seeing each other.” Seonghwa patted him on the back before standing up, “I’m going to go get another coffee, can I get you guys anything? This is probably the last round on my dad so make it count.”

They gave him their orders, the most expensive drinks on the menu, probably bound to be too sweet but it was a momentous occasion. 

Park Seonghwa was about to be on his own for the first time in his life. 

Hongjoong ended up recommending a few ways for him to invest some of his money so that he could grow his accounts and not rely on a flat sum of money. Even if he didn’t work, he would be set for a good while, but he wanted to work. He wanted to do something good in the world. Help the people that people like his dad would only exploit if given the chance. If he was lucky, he’d mostly be spending the money from his trust fund to donate to Felix’s charity, and to take Hyunjin on amazing vacations, buy him a nice ring someday, a little house for the two of them. 

If he was lucky. 

He tried not to get his hopes too high, but he knew he would do everything he could to earn Hyunjin’s forgiveness. Of course, if the man declined to give it to him and wanted to move on, he would leave him alone. 

He wasn’t crazy. 

He was just in love. 

After getting his finances sorted, the trio spent time getting caught up like they hadn’t been able to at Twink Dinner, Hongjoong telling them more stories about his soon-to-be boyfriend (he planned to make things official soon), about how Chris had invited him to his studio one night after they had both had a long, grueling week at work, and instead of finding him working, he had set up a picnic on the coffee table and they cuddled while they ate and listened to music. It was so incredibly sweet, exactly the kind of relationship Hongjoong deserved. Jongho had been performing at a few open mics recently, finally being brave and sharing his talent of singing with more than just his friends. It was a fun hobby and he was enjoying exploring it. He was even learning guitar. Seonghwa let him know how proud he was of him. His friends deserved all the happiness the world had to offer, he thought. 

He left with instructions on how to get his trust fund transferred and how to invest some of it, but more importantly, he left feeling incredibly grateful for his friends. 

Mingi called when he landed, as promised, later that afternoon, and added Yunho to the call as was requested of him. 

“Do I get to say ‘I told you so’ or are we not there yet?” Mingi asked immediately. Asshole. 

“Go ahead and get it out of your system.” Seonghwa sighed dramatically into the phone. 

“I told you so!” Mingi laughed at himself. 

“Do you feel better?” 

“Nah not really, I pretty much just feel bad for you, whatever you did.” 

Yunho cut them off, “Anyway, what happened, Hwa?” 

And he told them, sparing no detail, ignoring Mingi as he took offense to being told Hyunjin was better at topping than him, ending with him telling them about what he was doing with his trust fund and asking their advice on how he could possibly make things up to Hyunjin. 

“Woof.” Mingi said, very helpfully. 

“Very insightful, thank you.” Seonghwa deadpanned. 

“You're welcome!”

“He still has you blocked?” Yunho asked.

Seonghwa doesn't need to check. He's checked every waking hour since he realized it, “Definitely,” he answers through his teeth, the hangnail he's got between them being stubborn as he tried to bite it off. 

“Stop biting your nails, I can hear you through the phone.” Mingi instructed, “Give him like. A week at least, Hwa. Time to be mad, time to calm down, and time to start missing you. I'm not saying it absolves you or anything, but this kind of thing, maybe not this scenario specifically, but hurting someone's feelings, being brickheaded and making the wrong choice, this shit happens. It's just part of adult life. If you really want to build something with Hyunjin, and if he wants that, too, which I'm assuming he does based on how hard he took you fucking up, then you two have to be able to work through things. If you guys get back together, or together officially, I suppose, this isn't the last time you will hurt his feelings. He'll hurt yours, too. That's just what loving someone entails.”

“Mingi is right,” Yunho adds, “And I think it's pretty obvious that Hyunjin wants you to fight for him. He seems to have been hoping you would choose him in the first place, but I would also think if he knows you at all, he would know this is a big, scary decision for you to make. Just be honest with him about how you feel like you have been with us.”

“And look, dude,” Mingi chimes back in, “If he needs time to think about it, give that to him. If he is completely closed off to the idea of giving you another chance then we'll be there for you while you heal and move on, okay? Ultimately, if you two can't move past this then it would be for the best that it ended. Because it would mean you wouldn't be able to work through anything in the future. Relationships might be hard, but love has to be easy. And I can tell you love him.” 

“Absolutely, I don't think I've ever seen you care so much about something as you do this.” Yunho says matter-of-factly, “Not that you don't care about your friends, but you know what I mean.”

Seonghwa chuckles softly, feeling better after talking to them, “Yeah, I know what you mean. So should I ask Jeongin or Chris to see if he wants to meet up or what? If he doesn't unblock me, I mean.”

“I think if he doesn't unblock you, probably go by his tattoo shop right before close or something.” Mingi suggests. 

“Yeah,” Yunho agrees, “I think it's best to leave Hyunjin’s friends out of it. Until you get back together with him and ask Felix for a job, of course. Because you gotta do that.” 

“You definitely have to do that,” Mingi laughs, conspiratorially. 

“Okay. Yeah. All that makes sense. And I know, I will absolutely be asking Felix for a job as soon as this is cleared up. I'm actually kind of excited? Is that crazy?”

Yunho laughs, “From you? Very crazy. For most people, it's crazy to be excited about having a job, but for a different reason than it's crazy for you to be excited about having a job.” 

“But we're happy you're excited, man.” And he can practically hear Mingi smiling through the phone. 

“Okay.” Seonghwa takes a deep breath, “I feel much better about all this. Thank you guys for walking me through it. I um… I love you guys.”

“Love you too, buddy.” Mingi returns, almost at the same time Yunho replies, “Wooow Park Seonghwa loves us! We love you, too, you hot mess.” 

He would take “hot mess” any day over “party boy”, and he never thought there would come a day he would feel like that. 

“... and that's the Harvard method! Thanks for watching the tutorial, feel free to comment any questions you may have and don't forget to like and subscribe!” Seonghwa slammed his laptop shut as the end of the video played, cutting off the sound before the outro music could play. He rubbed his eyes, cracked his knuckles and neck, stretched his arms over his head. 

He had spent all week working on his resume and a template for a cover letter and he was exhausted. Exhaustion aside, he felt like it had come together very well and was honestly pretty excited to put it to use. 

But it was finally Friday and he was meeting Wooyoung and San for drinks and karaoke tonight, after sending a plea to them to do something fun. He had gotten good advice from his other friends regarding money and relationships and between that and spending all week formatting (and embellishing) his resume, he was in sore need of a night out with friends to take his mind off of things, give his brain a break. And for once that would entail good, wholesome fun instead of a night of party drugs and general debauchery. 

San was a notorious lightweight, and he and Wooyiung had beat Seonghwa to the karaoke bar by about ten minutes and were already half a drink in which meant San was loosened up, cheeks rosy already, arm around Wooyoung’s shoulder. Seonghwa couldn’t actually remember the last time he saw him not touching Wooyoung. The couple were so disgustingly touchy and in love that he feared at some point their bodies would form into one giant WooSan amoeba. He couldn’t bring himself to be as jaded about their state of being as of late though. Not now that he thought he had caught a glimpse of the feeling and could empathize. 

Wooyoung’s face lit up when he spotted Seonghwa walking in, stopping in the middle of whatever anecdote he had been yapping a mile a minute about into San's ever-attuned ear, to say hi and immediately order tequila shots for the group from the server walking by. Seonghwa knew immediately this was the right choice for the night. 

He debriefs them after they take their shots, telling them the abbreviated version of everything that has gone down, including his plans for how to approach Hyunjin and to get a job and everything. When Seonghwa got to the part about brunch, San stopped him to order another round of shots, a mark of his empathy for how naive Seonghwa had acted and how sorry he was in the aftermath. They didn't have much to add, advice-wise, but that was okay, that's not what the agenda of the night involved. 

What it did involve was them adding their names to the karaoke list and waiting their turns, biding their time by introducing even more alcohol into their system. 

Wooyoung and San started things off with a duet of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! by ABBA, sending the crowd into hysterical applause. They were so good, Seonghwa made sure to capture video, sending it immediately to the group chat. They ate it up, of course, calling for an encore. He said he would be sure to pass the message on. 

He felt a little bad to bring the mood down slightly by following their act, but he had had Pink + White by Frank Ocean stuck in his head all week and felt like he needed to sing it out of his system. 

He was coping, okay? The people at this bar could deal with it. 

He made it through about two-thirds of the song just fine. That was, until he felt the uncanny sensation of eyes on him. 

He scanned the crowd and oh. 

Hyunjin was there, sitting at the bar, facing him, staring at him, lips slightly parted as he listened to his voice carry over the crowd, whose rapt attention he had managed to garner. A man, a little taller than him and handsome, though Seonghwa thought he would probably never find anyone who was quite so stunning as Hyunjin, was talking animatedly at Hyunjin, hand on his bicep. Suddenly the air was too thick and Seonghwa couldn't force it down his throat. He placed the microphone unceremoniously down onto his friends' table as he ran off stage into the bathroom, heard San take over the remainder of the song, cutting the line, ignoring the complaints as he locked the door behind him. 

He couldn't breathe, felt his vision start to get blurry as he struggled to catch his breath, quick and panicked and not delivering enough oxygen to his brain. 

He hasn't had an anxiety attack in years. 

He slumped against the door, back dragging down the wood slowly until he was fully seated on the ground, head between his knees, trying to slow his breathing but all he could see was Hyunjin’s face in the crowd and it wasn’t exactly helping calm him down. 

He had know clue how long he was in there, his ears were ringing and he could hear unintelligible muffled voices through the door, feel it vibrate behind him as people knocked, but he couldn’t snap out of it until he heard a female voice cut through, “Park Seonghwa, open up! I’m your fiance, you have to listen to me!” It was Nellie. And for some reason, hearing her voice out of context like that, when he had no clue she was even there at that bar at all, shook him out of his own head, at least long enough to stand up and open the door. 

A bit of a crowd had gathered, Nellie was standing at the door beside Wooyoung and San, whom he assumed had also been trying to make him open up. And a few paces behind him was Hyunjin. Seonghwa caught his eye, and saw him mouth the word, “Fiance?” 

He had tears budding in his eyes and was turning away, forcing his way through the crowd. 

Seonghwa followed after him without a second thought, vaguely aware of his friends calling for him and ignoring them all the same. 

He pushed his way through the bodies, unwilling to lose sight of Hyunjin, finally following him out the door, breaking into a jog as he called out his name as the man walked out front and hung a right around the corner of the building into the alleyway, “Hyunjin, wait!”

He had caught up at last, but stayed a few feet away, not wanting to crowd him. Tears streaked Hyunjin’s face and he wanted nothing more than to fix it.

“What?” He snapped coldly, “Now you chase after me?” He asked, eyebrows knit together in obvious anger, but the overall look was still one of profound hurt and sadness.

“I’m sorry, I should have the first time. And it was a joke… and inside joke, we’re not engaged, I-”

Hyunjin cut him off, “Seonghwa, I’ve been drinking, as I’m assuming you have, too, I can’t do this right now.”

“Can I just explain? I’m-” Seonghwa started.

“No, not right now. I can’t do this right now.” Hyunjin repeated himself, but still wouldn’t look at him, “You saw me and had a fucking panic attack and it’s all just too much. I need time to think about everything.”

“But-” He tried again.

“Hwa, I said no. Please respect that.” Hyunin looked at him sternly, eyes no longer dripping with tears.

Seonghwa didn’t know what else to do, so he just took a deep breath and said, “Okay. I’m so sorry, Hyunjin. Please get home safely.”

“I will. And stop apologizing, I can’t accept it right now. Just. Give me a little time.” He sighed, walking past Seonghwa back towards the entry of the bar. 

Seonghwa waited for a minute, and Hyunjin’s presence was soon replaced by his friends’. 

“I’m so sorry, Seongie, I didn’t mean to say that in front of him, I had no idea he was here.” Nellie offered, pulling him in for a hug. 

He hugged her back, “It’s fine, Nell, really. How would you have known? I didn’t know he was here and I didn’t see you here either.”

“Okay, sweetheart. Wooyoung and San are going to take you home now, yeah?” She asked.

He didn’t know if she was asking him or them, but they all answered, “Yeah.” 

By home, apparently they meant their apartment. Wooyoung sat with him and helped him remove his makeup, made him drink water while San found sweats and a t-shirt for him to wear. 

“Did you guys talk?” Wooyoung asked him quietly as he rubbed a makeup wipe gently across his face. 

“I tried, but he wasn’t ready to talk yet.”

“Yet? He said that?” Wooyoung asked.

“Yes, he said it multiple times.” Seonghwa sighed, “Made it very clear.”

Wooyoung hugged him suddenly, Seonghwa was never prepared for the man’s sudden bursts of affection but was too tired to do anything except lean into it, “Oh, Hwa, that’s great news. That means he wants to talk about it! Just not yet.”

He hadn’t thought of it that way, “Oh. I guess I didn’t think of that. But yeah, when you put it like that, it makes sense.”

“It’s all going to be okay, I think.” Wooyoung reassured him, “And if not, we’ll find you someone way hotter. Promise.”

“Way hotter than who?” San walked through the doorway, fresh clothes in hand, “Hyunjin? Don’t lie to him, jagi. That man is stunning.”

Wooyoung strided over to take the clothes from his hands, slapping him halfheartedly on his arm out of jealousy, “Hey!” 

“No one’s prettier than you, of course, darling.” San wrapped his arms around Wooyoung’s waist, pulling him in to land a kiss on his cheek.

The show of affection is what triggered Seonghwa’s tears this time. Wooyoung and San rushed over and sat on either side of him on the bed, comforting him as best they could, apologizing profusely.

He ended up tucked in between them in their bed that night. He hadn’t even protested, just let them coddle and cuddle him. It wasn’t something he would readily admit, but he was very glad for the attention and the comfort they were offering. It’s totally possible he hadn’t realized just how lonely he was until he met Hyunjin and now he felt his absence tenfold. But he had a tiny glimmer of hope, afforded to him through Wooyoung’s analysis of the mention of the “yet” Hyunjin had used in reference to the subject of talking things out with Seonghwa. And that glimmer was all he needed to keep going forward in his pursuit of righting things. 

The next morning, he began his obsessive routine of checking to see if he was still blocked via searching for Hyunjin’s account on Instagram. It took him a minute to comprehend, his fingers had typed the username so many times recently to no avail but this time, Hyunjin’s profile popped up. 

He was no longer blocked!

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.6

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 3,760

ao3 link: chapter 6

VI: feet on the ground

It took Seonghwa a few minutes to gather his bearings when he woke up. Sunlight was streaming in through the shades on his windows, and oh - a body was behind him. 

Hyunjin had stayed. 

Hyunjin had stayed and was awake, his dick hard against Seonghwa's ass, tracing patterns with his long, delicate fingers over his back, breathing softly into his neck. 

Yes, Seonghwa was beginning to see the merits of having someone stay over. 

“You’re awake.” Hyunjin kissed his shoulder. 

Seonghwa sighed, “I’m surprised you are.”

Hyunjin laughed softly, “I woke up a couple of hours ago, chugged that water, and took whatever magical pills you gave me and I feel a lot better now.”

“I’m glad you feel better.” Seonghwa reached back and stroked the other man’s thigh, warmth curling in his gut at their proximity. 

Hyunjin wrapped his arm around Seonghwa’s waist, pulling him closer, moving his hips ever so slightly, “Thank you for taking such good care of me, baby.”

Seonghwa couldn’t stop himself from grinding his ass back tentatively in response, “Of course, darling. No need to thank me.”

“I’m a little embarrassed. But I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve taken a far too wasted date home and had to take care of him.” 

“Nothing to be embarrassed about,” He stroked his thigh again, this time pulling his leg a bit closer, concealing a moan at the feeling of Hyunjin behind him, realizing that he was, well, big , “But you’d be surprised. You’re the first person I’ve brought here.”

Hyunjin had started to kiss down his neck, pulled off just enough to whisper, “Are you saying I’m special, Park Seonghwa?” His lips brushing his neck as he spoke, breath tickling the tiny hairs on his skin. 

Seonghwa’s head was practically swimming with desire, “You’re incredibly special, Hyunne. You have no idea.” He flexed his lower back genuinely this time, his ass pressing decidedly against Hyunjin’s length. His skin felt electrified as he heard the other moan at the response. 

Hyunjin returned the motion, hand traveling down to Seonghwa’s waistband as he whispered, “Show me how special. Please. Baby ,” his hand slipped below the elastic, grabbing Seonghwa’s already hard cock, “Let me take care of you.”

“You want to…?”

“Fuck you, yes. Please. You don’t always have to be in control, Hwa. Do you trust me,” His strokes were tantalizingly slow, “Can you trust me, baby?”

Seonghwa shivered, so fucking aroused, it was unreal. He almost never bottomed. Not since college, with Mingi. “Fuck. Yes. I want that. I trust you. I want that so goddamn bad, Hyunjin.” 

Hyunjin ground down his hips one more time before releasing Seonghwa (which earned him a pathetic whine at his absence), to roll over and open the bedside table drawer, where he assumed the necessary supplies would be. He was correct, and he placed the condom and lube on the bed within reach before shucking off his boxers, climbing over Seonghwa, caging him in for a hot, messy kiss, before reaching down to help with his underwear as well. 

“Christ, I forgot how pretty you are.” Hyunjin gaped at his dick, “I’m gonna need that inside of me at some point, too.”

Seonghwa couldn’t help but chuckle. How could someone be so devilishly sexy one second and so innocent and adorable the next? “You won’t have to ask me twice.”

Hyunjin was kissing his way down his thigh but stopped when he got to the more fleshy part to ask, “Can I mark you?”

Fuck he was so hot, “Yes, god, please do.” He was all but writhing around in the sheets, needing badly to be touched. 

Hyunjin smiled at him, amused, “Pretty baby, seeing you like this is such a treat.” He punctuated his remark with a sharp nip on the soft flesh of Seonghwa’s thigh, sucking for a second before soothing it with his tongue. He continued until he was right at the crease between thigh and hip, Seonghwa was an absolute mess underneath him, “Jin, please.”

“Please, what, baby?” He teased. 

Who knew a taste of his own medicine would be so hot? “I need you inside of me.” He begged.

Hyunjin tsk tsked, “Patience, darling. I’ve gotta open you up first.”

And god did he ever. 

One lubed up finger at a time as his mouth roamed over his chest, finding one nipple, then the other, taking time to pay equal attention to both of them, kissing up his neck, marking him occasionally as he went, until finally, finally , he had three fingers inside and was absolutely bullying Seonghwa’s prostate with slow, firm fingers, curled at just the right angle. 

“Fuck, Jinnie, I’m going to cum like this if you don’t stop.”

“Oh? Well as much as I’d like to do that at some point, I really want inside you right now.” He purred, pulling out slowly. 

Seonghwa felt tears well up in his eyes at the absence of his fingers, “Hurry, Jin, please. ” He whined. He fucking whined. What was this man doing to him?

“So needy.” Hyunjin said playfully, smiling as he leaned down to kiss the pout off of Seonghwa’s face, “Good thing I find that extremely sexy.” He said as he rolled the condom on.

Hyunjin lined himself up before Seonghwa could think better of it and turn himself over to avoid eye contact. Honestly, though, at this point, he was already so screwed. What’s a little eye contact while doing missionary with a man who might actually be a Greek god in disguise, when you know you’re half in love with him already?

Hyunjin pushed in slowly, letting Seonghwa adjust to his presence. 

“Fucking hell,” He moaned, “You’re going to split me in half.”

“Too much?” He looked worried. It was so cute. 

“No. Hell no. More, please. Feel so good.” Seonghwa might as well have been on Mars, a different planet for sure, he felt so incredible. 

“As you wish,” Hyunjin obliged, feeding him inch by inch excruciatingly slowly as he cooed praises into Seonghwa’s ear until he was fully seated, “Fuck, baby, you took me so well.”

“Mmh move before you actually kill me, please , Hyunjin.” He whined. Again with the whining. 

Hyunjin kissed him again, gentle and sweet, before obliging, finally laying his first stroke.

It was heavenly. Seonghwa had never felt this good while receiving, didn’t remember the pressure, the drag, the stretch ever feeling so amazing. 

“Christ, Hwa, you’re so tight. ‘M not gonna last long.” Hyunjin panted from above him as he started to set a steady rhythm. He adjusted them just a little, canting his hips at a slightly different angle, finding Seonghwa’s sweet spot again.

“Right there, baby, fuck, keep going.”

Hyunjin grunted in acknowledgment, very focused, clearly struggling to hold back, reaching for Seonghwa’s leaking cock, sliding the precum down his length before stroking him in time with his thrusts. 

Seonghwa was a mess, babbling incoherently at the build-up, until finally reaching his peak, yelling out, “Hyunjin!” As he came all over himself. 

Hyunjin stroked him through the rest of his orgasm and was about to pull out but Seonghwa latched his legs around him, “No, please finish inside. Wanna feel it.” Involuntarily clenching at the overstimulation, which is what sent Hyunjin over the edge at last.

Hyunjin pulled out slowly, bonelessly collapsing on the bed beside Seonghwa, sighing contentedly, “Um…”

“ Wow.” Seonghwa supplied.

“Yeah,” Hyunjin giggled, “Wow.”

Seonghwa pulled him into his chest, and he didn’t protest, despite the fact that arguably, it should be the other way around. “Thank you, baby. You’re wonderful.”

Hyunjin tilted his head back to kiss the underside of Seonghwa’s jaw, “No, thank you. Really. That was amazing.”

Seonghwa pulled him closer, both of them ignoring the fact that they were filthy with sweat and cum, “I’ve never enjoyed bottoming that much.” He confessed.

Hyunjin gleamed with pride, “So you’re saying I’m really special.” He didn’t even say it like a question, but as a given. And honestly, it was. 

“So very special, love.” He had to bite his tongue, stop himself from straight up confessing his feelings on the spot. 

“I think you mentioned brunch?” Hyunjin poked him in the stomach to emphasize his point. 

Seonghwa grabbed his hand, bringing it up to his mouth, kissing every single fingertip before saying, “Yes, but we’ve gotta shower first.”

“Oh,” Hyunjin laughed, “Abso-fucking-lutely we do.”

They spent more time kissing in the shower than actually showering, using all the hot water as they helped bathe each other. Hyunjin washed Seonghwa’s hair for him, spiking his hair up with shampoo foam and nearly falling down with laughter at the sight, clapping his hands as he laughed (another sickeningly adorable habit of his), sending bubbles and suds everywhere. Seonghwa thought he might let the man do anything to him as long as it brought him some modicum of joy, pleasure, delight, happiness, whatever have you. 

He had never felt like this before. 

His heart ached with feelings for Hyunjin. 

Looking at him, truly looking at him, was like staring into the sun. What a burden it must be to be the sun, providing light and warmth to those around you. But he bore it well. Seonghwa could only hope to be his moon, reflecting the light he provided back at him. Showing everyone who bothered to look just how magnificently Hyunjin shined. Illuminating the world with his light even when he wasn’t around to show it. 

The brunch spot was Seonghwa’s favorite, his well-kept secret. He had only ever gone here with friends because it was that sacred. Lucy’s Diner was open 24/7 and the menu never changed, it was always being run by a human cigarette of a cook and either an older woman you would happily adopt as your grandma, or the meanest woman you’ve ever met in your entire life, no in between. Luckily, today they got the sweet granny option. The coffee was strong and the food was consistently perfectly greasy and delicious. Hyunjin didn’t even grimace at the vague stickiness of the table or the worn-through leather of the booths. 

“Here you go, boys!” Their waitress deposited their waffles, syrup and butter, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and hashbrowns in front of them. “Anything else I can get ya? Warm up on your coffees?” She smiled at them, already topping their coffees off. 

“No, I think we’re set, thank you so much.” Seonghwa returned her smile. 

“Well aren’t you just too sweet! You’re very welcome. Just holler if you need anything.” She sashayed away to another table. 

“Hwa, you can just ask me to stay another night, you don’t have to kidnap me by putting me into a food-induced coma.” His eyes were huge as he eyed the food in front of him. 

“Trust me, you’ll want to try all of it.” Seonghwa elucidated his point by pouring syrup (the cheap, viscous kind that made your teeth hurt from sweetness) onto his waffle before cutting a bite off and shoving it greedily into his mouth. 

Hyunjin followed suit, making pleasantly surprised commentary on everything he tried. When they had made a good dent in it, his expression turned a little somber.

“Seonghwa… I have to tell you something.”

He had to remind himself to breathe, “Okay, I’m listening.” Was he about to confess his feelings? Seonghwa had wanted to be the one to confess first, and he wasn’t sure he was quite ready yet. Or, worse, was he going to say they should stop seeing each other? Hyunjin was speaking before he could spiral too much.

“I got really jealous last night. When you were dancing with Hongjoong. I know it’s dumb, you’re just friends, but it made me so upset, that’s why I went and drank so much and then I saw Chris and my other friends and went to dance with him, hoping you’d see it. We’re just friends, too, as you know now, he’s kinda seeing Hongjoong. But anyway, I’m really sorry, I shouldn’t have done that-”

“Hyunjin,” He reached across the table and grabbed his hand to stop his rambling, “Baby. It’s okay. Hell, I was jealous when I saw you with him and I had no right to be since I was doing the same thing but um… he and I used to date. Casually. I didn’t want to get into all that last night. Although I can’t really say I wouldn’t have been jealous even if he wasn’t sorta my ex. I think… maybe I hate the idea of you being with anyone else.” He looked up, catching himself avoiding eye contact as he had let the words rush out. 

Hyunjin blinked at him, “Oh. You do?”

“Yes. I really do. There’s something else, too.” He took a deep breath, “The second date my parents set up, with Eleanor Vanderwalt. Uh. Well. She goes by Nellie, for one. And she’s a lesbian. Her parents have been trying to set her up with someone for like two years now. Neither she nor her parents gave a fuck about the tattoos. But she made me kind of an interesting offer.”

Hyunjin nodded, expression unreadable, but encouraged him to continue, “What did she say?”

“Well… She said we should just um. Go for it. I guess? Get married for appearances. We could do IVF, give our parents what they won’t leave us alone about, get them off our backs. And then we could date whomever we pleased. Just not publicly, obviously. But still. I don’t know. I haven’t made a decision yet, but I’m considering it, I guess. It kinda seems like a win-win.”

He didn’t understand the defeated look on Hyunjin’s face, why his voice shook as he asked, “And that’s what you want?”

“I don’t know if it’s really what I want per se…”

“What do you want, then, Seonghwa? I’m not really sure I’m understanding. Because a minute ago, you said you didn’t like seeing me with other people. So are you saying you want to marry Nellie and what? Date me in secret?”

Seonghwa was lost. Why couldn’t he understand the merits of the arrangement? “I was never going to give up the money, Hyunjin. I just happened to fall for you, and this seems like a way I could keep both.”

“I just thought… Nevermind.” Tears were budding in his eyes and Seonghwa hated being the reason for them. He tried to squeeze his hand, but Hyunjin pulled it brusquely away as if it was suddenly burning him. 

“Thought what?” He pleaded.

“Nothing. It doesn’t. This is what I get for making up a version of you in my mind that doesn’t exist in reality.”

“Hyunjin… I’m lost here-” His heart was about to beat out of his chest, his mind going a mile a minute. 

“Yes. And that’s half the problem. Enjoy keeping your lifestyle, Park.” Hyunjin called him by his last name, pointedly, knowing it would sting, and stood up to leave, “Because you can’t keep me. Not like that.”

“Hyunjin, wait!” He should chase after him. 

He should chase after him.

He should’ve chased after him. 

He didn’t know what to say. Didn’t know what he could have said to make him stay. To talk it out. He threw down two hundred dollar bills on the table, because someone deserved to have a good day, if it wasn’t him, and walked the whole way to the Pink Pony Club to retrieve his car from where he parked it last night, unable to stop the conversation from looping in his head the whole way there and the whole drive back. 

His room mocked him upon his return, bed still unmade, the heady scent of sex still lingering in the air. He wanted to cry but he was too mad at himself. Instead, he opened the windows, stripped his bed, threw his bedding into the washer, and ended up cleaning his entire penthouse, music blasting but still unable to keep his mind from spiraling. 

It took until the sun was setting for him to finish. He was exhausted. He still couldn’t cry, so he rummaged around in his wine fridge, finding a vintage he had been saving for a special occasion, uncorking it, and drinking straight from the bottle. He didn’t deserve a wine glass. 

It took an entire bottle of wine for him to finally craft an apology text to Hyunjin, (Hyunjin, I’m sorry. Can we please talk?), but the message said it was unable to send. He tried calling, but that didn’t go through, either. He was fully panicking then, and opened Instagram to confirm his fears. 

He was blocked. 

He opened another bottle of wine. Scrolled through his contacts. He didn’t feel like explaining everything to anyone, and the only person who knew more to the story was Mingi. He really didn’t feel like being offered disorientingly sage advice right now. He scrolled a little further. Nellie! What a great idea! He called. She answered on the fifth ring. 

“Hello?” She sounded out of breath.

“Eleanor- Wait, what’s your middle name?” He slurred.

“Seonghwa?”

“No, silly, that’s my name.” He laughed. He was so funny. 

“It’s Marie. I’m kinda in the middle of something, someone, actually-”

He cut her off, “Eleanor Marie Vanderwalt, will you be my gay wife?” He laughed again, but it turned into tears quickly. Yay! He was finally crying! Ouch. Crying hurt his head. 

“Seonghwa,” she let out a long sigh, and she heard her offer muffled apologies and excuses in the background, “Send me your location. I’m coming over.”

“You’re the best fiance EVER!” He was laughing pathetically between his sobs.

 Oh look, wine! He loved wine. He wished he could marry wine. 

He almost forgot to send his location, but then he remembered his lesbian fiance had asked him to. 

Nellie showed up 45 minutes later in sweats, with Thai takeout and weed. 

Maybe he should marry her. She made him change into his “Jammies” she called them, “Pronto, Tonto!”

He didn’t know what that meant but he took it to mean “hurry up” so he did, putting on his comfiest clothes. 

They sat out on his balcony and smoked and ate, and she graciously let him sober up before pressing the issue. 

“Hwa. You wanna tell me why you just called me drunk at 6pm on a Sunday night?” She asked him gently. 

He sighed, “I fucked everything up, Nel.”

She listened intently as he explained everything, his feelings for Hyunjin, about how amazing he was, his experience at the soup kitchen, spared her the details about the mind-blowing sex they had had that morning, ending with how he had told him about the proposition she had given him, and how he reacted. “Oh, Park Seonghwa. You big dummy.”

“Hey!” He was offended, “I’m in pain and you’re calling me dumb?!”

“Yes!” She laughed disbelievingly at him, “Yes, I am, because you are dumb and I never lie. Well. That’s a lie. But my point stands.”

“Why am I dumb?” He pouted.

“You’re in love with Hyunjin.” She said it like it was self-explanatory. A habit of hers, apparently.

“I guess I am.” He closed his eyes, breathing deeply, “Actually. Yes. I know I am. But I’m still lost here.”

She rolled her eyes, “Seonghwa. Honey. Please think about how you would feel in Hyunjin’s shoes.”

He defended himself, “I told him I wasn’t going to give up the money from the get-go!”

“That’s so not the point. Now stop being defensive and actually think about it.” She instructed him sternly.

So he thought about it. He thought about how he felt that morning, wishing he could show everyone who would look how much he and Hyunjin loved each other. 

Oh. 

“Oh. Fuck. Why would he want to keep our relationship secret? Oh, god , Nellie. I can’t believe I ever thought he would want to go for that. Jesus Christ. I fucked up so bad.” He moaned, holding his hands in his head.

“Dude, I never would have even suggested that proposition if I would have known you were so disgustingly in love with someone like that.” She reached over to rub his back, “I’m so sorry. This is partially my fault. I meant it as, like, we could date people casually in secret. Not like someone would willingly go into that relationship if you guys were that crazy for each other. I don’t know Hyunjin, obviously, but just hearing you talk about him, there’s no way you wouldn’t be absolutely miserable keeping that shit secret.”

He looked up at her, “What do I do, Nellie? He’s already blocked me. I’m so stupid.”

“I know, babe, that’s why I called you ‘dumb’ a minute ago.” She laughed at the death glare she was met with, “Unfortunately, I think you need to give this a little time. Let him cool off, lick his wounds. Then figure out a way to talk to him, because if I were him, I’d leave you blocked, like, permanently.”

He groaned, “And if none of that works?”

“Well, we’re already engaged, so don’t worry. We can still do this. But,” she tilted his head up to look him in the eyes, “If he’s half as amazing as you’ve made him out to be, I really think he’ll forgive you. And then I’ll get to laugh at you because you’ll be poor. So we’ll both win.”

“Okay, Marie Antoinette.” He chided her, “What do I do about money, though, if it does work out between us?”

“Didn’t you say his non-profit friend practically offered you a job when you met him? Seems like Hyunjin was planning ahead. Saw the best version of you before you could see it yourself.”

“GOD! I’m so dumb!” He wailed. 

“Yeah,” She chuckled sympathetically, “You are. But luckily you made a new friend who is also a genius with some semblance of emotional intelligence. And I won’t even ask you to Venmo me for your pad thai. Because I’m nice. And you’re about to have to rely on a non-profit salary.”

He gaped at her, disbelieving, “You were going to make me pay for my half?! You’re nearly as wealthy as me, stingy ass.”

She ended up staying the night after he pouted about not wanting to be alone and assured her he had washed his bedding. He felt slightly better, glad at the very least, to have made a friend out of this whole fucked up situation. 

He didn’t dream at all that night.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.5

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 3,778

ao3 link: chapter 5

V: head in the clouds

This was probably a mistake. Seeing Hyunjin interact with people at the soup kitchen was doing something to Seonghwa. 

It was so healing to see someone interact as an equal with people who those in Seonghwa's tax bracket would treat as intrinsically other. 

The day went by so fast, no one recognized Seonghwa and therefore no one was weird about him being there. Hyunjin introduced him to some of the frequent flyers he was friendly with as “Hwa” and no one questioned it, just treated him like Hyunjin’s friend. 

It was the best day he had had in a long time. 

He was actually tired in a really fulfilling way, which wasn't a familiar feeling.

When they finished cleaning up, Hyunjin introduced him to the director of the non-profit, his good friend, Felix. Felix not only looked like an angel, but apparently was one as well. Seonghwa could see the genuine passion he had for helping people just based on the look in his eyes when he was talking about his organization. It had started as a charity to help clothe underprivileged children during the winter months and had grown to a full-scale operation. They held the soup kitchen daily, they had renovated a school bus that went around the city to provide haircuts, hand out food, water, and pamphlets explaining their other services, they had a legal team, they had people who mended clothing, a team in charge of their donation closet… it was so much. So needed. 

“And we're pretty much always hiring as we expand!” Felix concluded in his deep voice that pleasantly contradicted his delicate appearance, with a bright smile on his face, “My husband, Changbin, is head of HR, so he's in charge of all that. But I can always put in a good word.” 

Oh! The Changbin from his first tattoo appointment. Hyunjin’s gym buddy. It all made sense. Seonghwa didn't know why he relaxed at the mention of Felix having a husband, but the man was so pretty and so comfortable with Hyunjin that he had been starting to feel the panicky palpitations of jealousy the more he watched them interact, and was glad for those feelings to reside. He also didn't really know why Felix was telling him about job openings, but he made a mental note of it anyway. 

Hyunjin’s shoulder kept brushing his own as they walked out of the building, (it was only a few blocks away from Hyunjin’s shop and apartment, which is where Seonghwa had parked so they could walk together) every touch stirring the butterflies in Seonghwa's stomach. 

“What's the dress code for Twink Dinner?” Hyunjin asked. 

Seonghwa laughed, “Truthfully, whatever is your sluttiest club outfit.”

“Um,” Hyunjin blushed, “I don't really go clubbing.”

“Oh! Sorry, I shouldn’t have assumed. Why don't you send me pics of some options? And I'll help you out.” He offered. 

“Yeah, okay, sounds good.” Hyunjin smiled a little bashfully. God, he was so cute. It really was unfair. 

“I'd help you out in person, but unfortunately I'm on my way to meet Eleanor Vanderwalt and her, I'm assuming, atrocious family after this.” He sighed, truly dreading it. 

Hyunjin laughed at him, “Jesus, that name is a mouthful, huh? Would you guys hyphenate? Park-Vanderwalt or Vanderwalt-Park?” 

Seonghwa shoved his arm, “Hush. I will not be marrying this woman. Mostly for my sake, but also for hers. I truly wouldn't wish marrying into my family on my worst enemy.”

“Who is your worst enemy?” 

“You, obviously, Hyunne. Who else?”

Hyunjin’s head tipped back in laughter, a very adorable habit of his, “Oh, right! How could I possibly forget! Enemies to lovers though, right?” He poked Seonghwa in the cheek. 

Seonghwa playfully grabbed the hand that was poking his cheek, stopping as they arrived at Hyunjin’s apartment, pulling him in close, “Yeah, something like that.” His eyes looked from one of Hyunjin’s, down to his lips, up to the other eye, his thumb rubbing over the back of the other’s hand. 

“Mmh, something like that.” Hyunjin echoed, leaning in to plant a sweet kiss on Seonghwa’s eagerly awaiting lips. He returned the kiss, dreading the fact that he had to cut it short, wanting nothing more than to follow Hyunjin upstairs and keep kissing him for hours on end. 

He pulled back, “I'll text you the details for tomorrow night, alright?” 

Hyunjin landed another kiss on his cheek, “Okay!” he was beaming. Fucking cute as ever, “Byeee!” He wiggled his fingers as he turned to his apartment door.

Seonghwa was so fond, completely endeared to the man in front of him, “Bye, Jinnie.” 

He was decidedly not fond of Eleanor Vanderwalt. That was, until she asked him to accompany her outside of the stuffy restaurant his parents had chosen for a cigarette, when her demeanor completely changed. He usually only smoked cigarettes when he was out drinking, but desperate times and all that. 

Eleanor had dark bobbed hair and kind eyes, and she was dressed much more edgy than Seonghwa had expected, or at least edgy for the people their families wanted them to be, no seersucker in sight, at the very least. Small blessings. 

She lit his cigarette for him, “I'm a lesbian. And I go by Nellie, by the way. My parents insist on Eleanor.” She said it like it explained everything. And really, it kind of did. 

“Ohh, got it. And your parents are hoping this fact will…?”

“Mysteriously go away and I'll bear them grandchildren. Yeah.” She finished for him. 

“I'm gay as fuck.” Seonghwa offered in solidarity. 

“Oh, Seonghwa,” she laid a hand on his arm, “I know.” 

He gasped, faking his surprise, “How did you possibly figure it out?!” 

“Dude, you literally got tattoos to get out of some wack ass arranged marriage.” 

“And it was working!” He defended himself. 

“I'm sure it worked on-”

“Sloane Greenburg.” He supplied.

“Right, Sloane Greenburg and her family. Mine honestly don't give a fuck about them. Sorry.”

“Well. Fuck.” He sighed. 

“Look, bro. I can make up whatever excuse we can think of, get us out of it for the time being. We can keep letting our parents try to set us up with rich douchebags. Or.”

“Or?”

“Or we can say fuck it. Personally, I am too used to this lifestyle to give up the money, as are you, I assume, otherwise why humor them. We can do IVF, produce an heir. Never have to touch. Date whomever we want in secret. I'm really tired of going on these weird arranged dates. This is year two of them for me… They're determined. And if your parents are anything like mine, they won't give up.”

“So… like a lavender marriage?” He thought he understood. 

“Exactly. Oldest trick in the book.”

“I'm not really sure that's a decision I can make right now.” 

Nellie put her cigarette out on the brick wall they were leaning against, “Well, think about it. I can keep my parents in a holding pattern for a little while.” She handed him her phone, “Here, give me your number.” 

Seonghwa couldn’t help but wonder on his Uber ride home, if Hyunjin would ever go for something like that. They weren't even dating officially yet but for the first time in a while, he felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. 

When he arrived back at his penthouse, as if on cue, he received five messages back to back from Hyunjin. Pictures of his outfit ideas for tomorrow night. One in particular was beyond what Seonghwa imagined he would have in his closet, black leather pants and a cropped fine mesh mock-neck shirt. 

He had to know how incredibly hot he was. 

Seonghwa took it upon himself to inform him, slightly tipsy still from drinks at dinner. He called rather than sending a text. 

Hyunjin answered on the third ring, “Hello?”

“Jesus Christ, Hwang Hyunjin. You’re ethereal. Seriously. Has anyone ever told you that?”

Hyunjin giggled, “Park Seonghwa! Stop it!” 

“No way,” he put his phone on speaker as he took his clothes off, down to just boxers, eager to climb into bed after the very informative night that had left him weary from bearing the weight of having a serious and impending decision to make, “I mean every word and I need you to know it.” 

“Well,” Hyunjin breathed into the phone, “Thank you.”

“Any time, lovely.” Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile. 

“I'm sending you one more option to look at. Let me know when you get it!” 

“Oh? Okay, will do.” He stared at their message thread eagerly but he was not prepared for the incoming picture in the slightest. 

Hyunjin stood in front of a fogged up bathroom mirror, condensation barely blurring out what was clearly his hard cock held in his hand. Fog wiped away just over the reflection from his lips down to the very end of his happy trail. It was very artfully done for a nude, he had to admit. It was so so hot. His dick agreed with him. 

“Oh, jagi. Look at you.” He was almost breathless. 

“I'd rather look at you,” Hyunjin shot back, voice syrupy sweet. 

“Mmh, magic word?” Seonghwa taunted him for no good reason other than the fact that he could. 

“Please?” Hyunjin simpered, voice slightly strained, and Seonghwa could hear the faint noise of movement on his end of the call. 

“Let me see…” he flipped through his locked folder of nudes on his phone, finding one of his very favorites: soft lighting, kneeling in front of his bedroom mirror, turned just so at the waist, where so you could see his ass but couldn’t fully see his dick, lips parted. He hit send without hesitation, reaching over to his bedside table to retrieve lube and his headphones so he could be hands-free. 

He waited, hand cupping his already intrigued and half hardened dick through his boxers. 

“God fucking damn. Seonghwa.” He whimpered. 

“Are you touching yourself, baby?” Seonghwa whispered, already knowing the answer. 

Hyunjin let out a soft moan, “Yes.”

“Good boy.” 

He heard something vaguely wet sounding on the other line. 

“I've been thinking about you.”

“Oh yeah?” Seonghwa freed his cock, now fully filled out, starting to stroke it slowly. 

“Yeah. Every time I've gotten off since we met, Hwa.”

“Fuck, Hyunjin.” He applied lube, finally. He wasn't going to last long anyways, not at this rate. 

“I've got my biggest dildo inside of me right now,” Hyunjin nearly choked on a moan, “But now that I've seen you,” a shaky breath, “Had you in my mouth… I know nothing will fill me up like your cock would.”

“God, I want that so bad. I've been thinking about you, too.” His pace quickened. 

“Want you to split me in half, Seonghwa.”

“Tell me more.”

“Wanna ride your dick. Want you to cum inside. Wanna feel you leak out of me. Don't wanna walk for days.”

“I'm so close, Hyunne.”

“Me, too. Fuck.” He was panting now. 

“Go ahead, jagi. Be good and cum for me.” 

“Seonghwa!” He called out some approximation of his name. It was all Seonghwa needed to finish as well, making sure to not hold back the noises he was making, so Hyunjin would know it was good for him, too. 

“Excellent job, darling.” He cooed over the line. 

“Mmh, I love when you call me nicknames. You have no idea what it does to my brain.” Hyunjin's fucked out voice was so sexy. 

“Duly noted, my sexy little minx.” Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile as he caught his breath. 

Hyunjin laughed lazily, “Okay, I like most of the nicknames. And thank you. For indulging me. That was… Whew.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” he chuckled, “No need to thank me, sweetheart. I'll see you tomorrow night. I'll pick you up at your place at 10?” 

“Sounds perfect to me.” He could picture Hyunjin’s rosy cheeks and how he imagined he was biting his lip at this exchange. 

“Goodnight, Jin.” 

“Goodnight, Hwa.” 

And that it was. A fucking great night. 

The Pink Pony Club used to be a seedy low lit gay bar uptown called The Dive, (somewhere in between Hyunjin’s apartment and his, but a little closer to his own) and was now a fully pink cowboy themed gay bar/karaoke bar/best bathroom in the area to snort coke off the countertops (a review Seonghwa had left personally, prominently featured on their website, with the words “snort coke” half-heartedly crossed out, for legal reasons or something). He would never admit to Wooyoung how much he loved it, but it was probably pretty obvious, regardless. 

He would, however, admit that walking in with Hyunjin on his arm had him on cloud nine. Walking on sunshine. Practically skipping. Heart soaring, full of pride. He looked even better in the outfit they had decided on last night in person than he had in the photo over text, with silver jewelry and a little makeup (smudged eyeliner, lip tint, blush) to pull it all together. Seonghwa had a fleeting thought that he wouldn't mind having to wash his sheets of that makeup if he was lucky enough to fuck Hyunjin senseless into them. 

They were the last to arrive, having taken time to take a hit or two from Hyunjin’s bowl before heading out. Pregaming. He was sure their red eyes and mindless giggling would give it away, but it wasn't like his friends would care.

They picked their way back to their usual booth in the back corner, Hyunjin gripping onto his arm for dear life so as to not get separated. 

Jeongin was the first person to spot them, waving animatedly, “Hyunjin! Seonghwa!” And he felt himself glow as the rest of the table turned to greet them. To his surprise, Hongjoong and Jongho had come alone. Wooyoung was squealing, “Oh my god! Hwa! Who is this poor sucker you've obviously paid to hang off your arm?”

“Ha ha,” he laughed sarcastically, “This is Hyunjin. Hyunjin, that's the head twink in charge, Wooyoung. His boyfriend San-” 

San stood up excitedly to shake Hyunjin’s hand. Hongjoong, Jongho, and Yunho followed suit, introducing themselves, ending with Mingi who immediately pulled him into a bear hug, whispering something Seonghwa couldn’t quite catch in his ear that made Hyunjin burst into laughter. 

They sat down and tequila shots were delivered, all of them taking the shots with varying degrees of ease. 

“A toast!” Jeongin raised his cocktail, “Here's to hell! May our stay there be as much fun as the way there!” 

It was cheesy as fuck, but the way he delivered it so genuinely, with a cheeky grin on his face, it was palatable. He could see what Yeosang liked about him. So far, all of Hyunjin’s friends were very likeable. He could only hope that by the end of the night, Hyunjin would feel the same way about his friends. 

They got caught up on each other's lives, only briefly lingering on Seonghwa’s situation, thankfully. He was pretty vague about it, just said he'd met a couple of women and their families so far and had avoided getting betrothed to one thus far. It wasn't a lie, just not really the full story. He felt his heart bloom with pride as they complimented his tattoos, praised Hyunjin for his work. Hyunjin was also glowing with the praise, Seonghwa reached over and placed a hand on his thigh, giving it a small squeeze and leaning briefly into his shoulder, which the other returned, making quick, knowing eye contact out of the corners of their eyes. 

Soon, they had broken up into smaller groups, carrying on several conversations at once. Hyunjin talking animatedly with Jongho, himself engaging in a debate with Yunho and Mingi, when suddenly Wooyoung announced, “WE’RE GOING TO DANCE NOW!” 

He looked over to Hyunjin, questioning. He knew Jongho wouldn't join them on the dance floor yet. 

“Jongho won't be hitting the dance floor until he's a few drinks deeper.” Seonghwa offered. 

“I think I'll hang back for now, too.” Hyunjin looked a little nervous, “But you go! Don't let me hold you back, Party Boy Park.” 

Seonghwa rolled his eyes at the stupid nickname the media had crowned him with years ago, “Are you sure? I don't mind staying.”

Hyunjin nodded reassuringly, “Go! I'm not offended, really. I'll join you when I'm ready.” 

“Okay then,” He smiled, turning to Hongjoong, “You coming?” 

Hongjoong shrugged, “Why the hell not!” 

He and Hongjoong had a long history of dancing with each other to attract the attention of others and they fell back into it easily, Seonghwa turning Hongjoong around so he was pressed up against his chest, the other’s hands around his neck as his own wrapped around his waist, moving languidly in time with the music. It felt pretty good to stretch those old muscles, he couldn't lie. 

Time passed quickly, he and Hongjoong having too much fun dancing together to be too cognizant of their surroundings. But soon enough, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye that made his stomach turn. 

Hyunjin was dancing in a different group, grinding on a guy that Seonghwa had briefly dated (casually, of course) a few years ago. He didn't see Jongho anywhere and assumed he was probably off doing karaoke with Mingi and Yunho. 

Hongjoong seemed to follow his gaze and they both said “Chris?” simultaneously, in completely different tones of voices. They looked at each other, confused. 

“That's the guy I've been seeing!” Hongjoong had to practically shout over the music. 

“What! He's kinda my ex!” Seonghwa replied, flabbergasted. 

“How the hell would I know that, Hwa? You never tell us about anyone you're dating!” 

“I'm not worried about that, I'm curious why he's dancing with Hyunjin like that!” He couldn’t help but feel jealous, despite the fact that he had been grinding on someone else half of the night. 

“Let's just go over there, don't jump to conclusions!” 

They pushed their way through, against the current of the waves of sweaty bodies. 

“HEY!” Hyunjin was red-cheeked, far more drunk than Seonghwa, “Look guys, it's my Seonghwa!” 

Oh. His. Seonghwa couldn’t deny how good the claim of ownership made him feel, any feelings of jealousy dissipating as quickly as they had come.

Two other men, who had previously been making out, all but fully having sex on the dance floor, broke apart to introduce themselves: Jisung and Minho. 

“Our other friend Seungmin is here too, he and Jongho are in some weird homoerotic pissing match over karaoke.” Hyunjin slurred as he released his grip on Chris and stumbled into Seonghwa's waiting arms, “This is Chan. Channie hyung. Chris. Whatever you wanna call him!” 

He and Chris made eye contact, immediately understanding that their history was a conversation for another time. Hongjoong blushed as Chris waltzed over to put an arm around his waist, introducing him to his friends, “This is the guy I've been seeing! Everyone, meet Hongjoong.” 

For a big city, it was starting to feel like a small town. 

Hyunjin was swaying on the spot despite half of his body weight being on Seonghwa, “Our friends are like all dating, Hwa, isn't that wild? It's so romantic! Don't you think it's romantic?”

Seonghwa was so insurmountably screwed. Besotted. Infatuated. 

“It's very romantic, baby. Let's get you home, yeah?”

He pouted, “I don't wanna go home!” 

Seonghwa kissed his cheek, “Okay then I'll take you to my place.”

He couldn't help but notice the eyes of Hyunjin’s friends on him, felt himself hope they approved of him. 

“Really?!” Hyunjin’s face lit up, “Can we have sex?” He gave Seonghwa his best puppy dog eyes. 

Seonghwa laughed, amused at the simpering mess Hyunjin had turned into under the influence of alcohol, “No, sweetheart, I'm not going to sleep with you like this.” 

Hyunjin stomped his foot and whined, “No fair! Can we make out?!” 

Seonghwa kissed the crown of his head, pulling him closer to his side as he turned them away from their friends, all of them waving bye, Chris grabbing his arm and mouthing “thank you” as they left. He nodded in response. 

“Yes, sure, angel. We can make out.” 

Seonghwa was sober enough to drive but didn't want to risk it, precious cargo and all, so he called an Uber for them. 

Hyunjin was babbling mindlessly the whole way home, and Seonghwa scooped him up into his arms like he was his blushing bride when they exited the Uber, carrying him into the elevator up to his penthouse. He tried to put him down once in the elevator, but the younger whined a mumbled complaint and curled into his chest, grip tightening around his neck. So Seonghwa held him until he deposited him softly onto his bed. 

His bed, which he had never shared with anyone before. 

Seonghwa made Hyunjin drink some water, refilling the glass for in the morning, placing a couple of Midol (the best thing for a hangover, a little trick Seonghwa had learned back in college) by the glass. Then he started to work on removing Hyunjin’s shoes and clothes, leaving him in his boxers, picking up his legs gingerly so he could tuck him into his fluffy duvet. Dashing off to the bathroom to grab some cotton pads he doused with micellar water to gently wipe away Hyunjin’s makeup.

He was about to go shower but turned around, a sudden stroke of genius, and shot off a text to Hyunjin, whose phone he had just plugged in to charge: 

Me

Baby, don't you dare disappear before I wake up. I owe you brunch.

He planned on sleeping on the couch but after showering and brushing his teeth, when he stooped down to kiss Hyunjin’s forehead (he couldn't help himself, he looked so peaceful), the younger woke up enough to glom onto his arm, muttering through sleepy lips, “Mmh cuddle me, baby. Please?” 

And how could Seonghwa refuse? 

He climbed into bed behind the man whom he was quickly realizing he was probably falling in love with, pulled him tight to his chest, stroking his hair, kissing his shoulder, whispering, “Goodnight, darling.” into his ear. 

“Night night.” Hyunjin mumbled contentedly. 

Every heartbeat in his chest as he drifted off to sleep seemed to percuss Hyunjin Hyunjin Hyunjin in a steady rhythm. He knew his heart was incapable of lying to him. And this was an issue for Tomorrow Seonghwa.

Until then, he remained blissful as his consciousness turned to dreams of rose petal lips, swirling ink, fluffy clouds, melodic laughter.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.4

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 5,305

ao3 link: chapter 4

IV: fuck it.

Seonghwa hated Sloane Greenburg and her family.

He wasn't even being dramatic. 

Okay, maybe he was being a little dramatic, but they were the epitome of everything he hated about people in the upper echelons of society. 

Self-involved, rude to staff, humble bragging about different charities they've donated to, pictures shown of Sloane doing “missionary work” in Guatemala (really just a poorly disguised excuse for a photo op with emaciated children), oh and she's an accomplished tennis player, too, Seonghwa, isn't that lovely?! 

It wasn't lovely, it was nauseating. 

He nursed his whiskey (“Oh my, it's a little early for something so strong, don't you think?” “No, I really don't.”) and leaned back in the overstuffed leather chair on the deck of the yacht, waiting for the perfect moment to take off his cardigan to show his tattoo, making bets with himself about who he thought would notice it first and what would be said. 

He was trying, as much as he was willing to, to not be a petulant brat about the whole situation. His parents would be angry about the tattoos, but those were permanent, whereas his attitude was something they still held the illusion of control over. 

Sloane, who was perfectly fine looking (if you were into women), slim and blonde and boring in her light blue seersucker dress and pearls, was droning on about the volunteer work she had done with her sorority chapter in undergrad, her dad interjecting every so often to elaborate on her stories (“Kappa was a life changing experience for our Sloaney!”), Seonghwa's parents were listening intently, and the sun happened to choose that moment to slip out from behind a cloud, so Seonghwa took the opportunity to finally free himself of his cardigan while everyone had their attention elsewhere. 

It all happened pretty quickly from there, though nothing was actually spoken aloud. Mrs. Park spotted it first, making meaningful eye contact with Mr. Park, who looked at Seonghwa sternly, obviously trying to telepathically communicate that he should a) put his cardigan back on and b) pray for his own sake that the tattoo was fake, an elaborate joke, and c) this isn't the last he would hear about this. Too bad for him, Seonghwa was suddenly so interested in what Sloane had to say! In fact, he really couldn't help but add to the conversation rather than meet his parents’ increasingly neurotic and harried eye contact, “I nearly rushed freshman year, but decided against it after joining Honors Society. Sometimes I regret it, but really, it was practically a fraternity in and of itself.” He took a long sip of whiskey to punctuate his remark, angling his body just so, guaranteeing eyes on his tattoo peeking out from under his short sleeve. Sure, some families might be okay with a tattoo that could be covered up easily, but not the Greenburgs. He was honestly lucky that his parents started with a family so straight-laced as this one. He knew he had succeeded just by the poorly disguised look of shock and disgust that passed over each of their faces. Before he knew it, excuses were made and the yacht was headed back to the marina. 

He was perfectly polite and charming the rest of the time, ensuring that his parents would know the other family's distaste was not from his personality. He knew that they knew anyone would put up with a bad personality for his wealth (and looks), but the tattoos were a permanent “blemish”, a “flagrant disrespect to their name”, and he was a “freak of nature”, a “deviant” for getting them. Now he was quoting his parents from their very one-sided conversation after the Greenburgs left, parting with empty promises of speaking soon, (“Perhaps a round of golf!”) the Parks very well knowing they would not be hearing from them any time soon.

Darn, can't believe those Greenburgs were so persnickety! 

Seonghwa agreed to wear something that would cover that tattoo next time. He left out the part where his next tattoo would be on his forearm and would most certainly be visible. 

Back at his penthouse, Seonghwa was two hours deep in a new Lego kit (sue him, he spent a lot of time alone and they're fun) when he got up to take a snack break and check his phone. To his surprise, there was a new DM from Hyunjin. It was a sketch of his next tattoo: the persimmon branch with the fruit would wrap around his forearm with the luna moth perched on top, wings spread wide. It was gorgeous. Naturally. His message read, “I had a cancellation for my last appointment of the day this coming Wednesday if you want to take it.” 

It was Sunday now, and his original appointment wasn't until Friday, so of course he said yes. 

He would love to tell himself it was because he was just anxious to get more tattoos faster, but really, he knew the way his pulse picked up and his heart felt like it was being squeezed by a boa constrictor, he was yearning for more time spent with Hyunjin. 

Fuck that guy for making him feel things. 

By the time Wednesday finally rolled around, Seonghwa had gotten off to different fantasies he'd made up about Hyunjin at least ten times. It was pretty pathetic. Historically, he would have hit up his normal haunts, gone home with a stranger (he never brought anyone home, didn't care for the idea that people would know where he lived), but it just hadn't appealed to him in the slightest. Instead, he had spent his time by rearranging his bedroom, cleaning out his closet, working out, watching every season of Love is Blind, and reading an entire book. He had even at one point on Tuesday, taken a career aptitude test. Despite it being advertised as free, there was an annoying $29.99 pay wall at the end of the test, which he begrudgingly paid, only to be told he was cut out to be an entrepreneur. 

Great. 

So helpful. 

It was finally Wednesday and Seonghwa got dressed in the outfit for his appointment, which he had picked and laid out for it immediately after receiving the message asking if he wanted the open slot. 

The drive over to the shop seemed to take forever, his palms were sweating and he was a little light headed as he hadn't been able to eat very much that day, which he knew would probably backfire on him, given his reaction to getting tattooed last time, but he was anxious and the food he had managed to get down had felt like wet cement. 

Nothing had changed in the tattoo shop except for one glaring difference: Hyunjin’s receptionist, Jeongin, was happily making out with Yeosang, who was perched on his lap in the office chair behind the desk. 

That was new. 

“Well, this is new!” he said as he walked in as a means to announce his presence, considering the fact that the noise of the door hadn't disturbed the pair. 

They broke apart and Yeosang buried his face in Jeongin’s neck, embarrassed. Jeongin, however, was not embarrassed in the slightest, “Oh, hey Seonghwa, thanks for introducing us, by the way!” 

Seonghwa couldn’t help but laugh, “Yeah, no problem. Glad you guys hit it off.”

Yeosang turned his head to face Seonghwa, “I guess I don’t have to tell you that I have a date to Twink Dinner now. Um, sorry.” 

Fuck. 

Seonghwa had almost forgotten about Twink Dinner. Named by their friends Wooyoung and San, the couple in question, it was a (roughly) quarterly tradition to gather as many from their friend group as they could to hit Wooyoung’s favorite club and get caught up. It wasn't a dinner at all, but the name had been coined junior year during undergrad and had stuck. Typically, since there were eight of them, Seonghwa and Yeosang had each other to pair up with since neither of them tended to have significant others. Hongjoong tended to show up with someone, as did Jongho, and Mingi and Yunho, though not together, were essentially platonic soul mates. But if Yeosang had a date, Seonghwa would be the odd man out. He wasn't mad at his friend, of course, he was truthfully happy for him, but he hated not having a default emotional support person at social gatherings. 

“No worries, Sangie, I'm just glad you're happy!” He said, smiling at his friend. 

Jeongin piped up, “You should ask Hyunjin!”

The man in question walked around the corner as if summoned, “Ask Hyunjin what?” 

Seonghwa felt his face flush red, “Oh, nothing don't worry-” 

Yeosang - sweet, oblivious Yeosang- cut him off, “Ask you if you wanted to go to Twink Dinner with Seonghwa since I'm bringing Innie!” 

Hyunjin smirked, looking at Seonghwa, “Do I want to know what Twink Dinner is?” 

Seonghwa shook his head, “It's just a quarterly check-in with our friend group. Wooyoung and San, well, mostly Wooyoung, but San can't deny his boyfriend anything, anyway, they insist on it. Usually Yeosang is my saving grace but it looks like I'll be the odd man out this time.” 

Hyunjin considered this for a second before finally saying, “Yeah okay. I'm in. Sounds fun.”

“Really?” The other three asked, to varying degrees of surprise.

“Yes, but with the caveat that Seonghwa has to volunteer at the soup kitchen with me for a day in exchange.” Hyunjin cocked his head, challenging, daring the other man to say no to the offer. 

How could he though? “Okay, fair enough. I'm in.”

Something inscrutable passed over Hyunjin’s face but then he smiled and said, “Perfect!” Before turning to Jeongin who was making pleading eyes at him, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Jeongin amped up the puppy dog eyes, “I was going to take Sangie to the skate park if um… If we can leave a little early?” 

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, “Yeah, yeah go ahead. This is my last appointment today anyways.”

Jeongin’s face split into a boyish smile, “Thanks, Jin!” And then he was depositing Yeosang onto his feet, pulling him out the door by his hand, only giving the other man enough time to give a sheepish wave on his way out. 

It was cute. They were cute. Seonghwa tried not to hate them for it. 

Hyunjin seemed to be following a similar train of thought as he stared after them, shaking his head, before turning to Seonghwa and asking, “Ready to get started?”

Seonghwa was glad that whatever tension had been between them after their kiss a few nights ago seemed to have dissipated.

He ignored the pang of guilt in his stomach at the discomfort he had caused. He also ignored the ghost of desire he felt towards the artist. 

He begrudgingly noted that he was having a harder time boxing away his feelings like he used to be able to do easily. 

In fact, the last time he had felt anything close to this way for someone was in the summer before eighth grade when his dad had hired a high school boy to clean their pool. They had spent the entire summer sneaking around together before getting caught making out in the pool house by Mr. Park himself. Seonghwa was sure his parents knew he was queer, they had just been willfully ignoring it, hoping it would go away or that Seonghwa would pick up on the social cues and simply intuit that it was an unspoken rule that he should Not Be That Way and would act accordingly. But when Mr. Park caught them in the pool house, and promptly fired Seonghwa's first love interest, followed it up by paying off the kid's family, ensuring the two boys could never have contact again, Seonghwa decided he would make his sexuality as big of a problem for his dad as he could get away with. 

He liked to think he's done a good job of upholding that promise. 

But back then, he had had to all but pretend like that summer hadn't happened, only letting the bare minimum emotions be let out of their boxes to fuel his hatred for his dad and keep everything else neatly packaged away. 

Back then, he didn't have any emotional attachment to the pool boy. Not really. 

Back then he was acting only out of physical attraction. 

Being attracted to someone for their personality was new territory. And try as he might, all of Hyunjin’s little idiosyncrasies and charms were peeling back the packaging tape from the insides of the boxes in which Seonghwa had been trying to store them in his mind. 

Or, maybe, Seonghwa forgot the tape in the first place. Maybe he was hoping they could make an easy escape, clutter up his mind. Take up so much room that he had to address his feelings head on. Move them out of the attic of his mind and make space for them in the house that was his life. 

Who knows. 

All Seonghwa knew right now was that Hyunjin smelled like cinnamon, cedar, ink, and rainwater, and he wanted to bury his nose in his neck and take him in fully, but instead, he sat stock still as the man prepped his forearm for his next tattoo, watched as the veins in his hands became prominent from use. Tried not to drool. 

“So, how often do you volunteer at the soup kitchen?” Seonghwa asked as Hyunjin was peeling off the transfer paper on his forearm. 

“I try to go once a week, actually. When is Twink Dinner?” the artist asked, gesturing for Seonghwa to take a look at the placement of the transfer ink again before he began tattooing. 

“It’s this Saturday. And really, you don't have to go if you don't want to-” 

Hyunjin chuckled, amused, “Hwa, at some point you'll learn that I don't just volunteer for things I don't want to do. I would have said no. I was going to ask you to volunteer with me regardless. I just thought it would be funny to ask for a trade. Can you go with me on Friday?” 

Seonghwa breathed a sigh of relief, “Oh. Okay. Well thank you. I really will feel better not um,” he counted in his head as he took a seat again, “11th wheeling. And yes, just let me know what time on Friday.”

To his surprise, Hyunjin handed him his phone, “Here, unless you want to continue only communicating on Instagram.”

Seonghwa smiled as he took the phone, entering his number, “I actually prefer Morse code but I'll make an exception. Only because I doubt you have a powerful enough flashlight to be visible from my place.”

Hyunjin laughed, “I know it's not accurate but I hope you know I do picture Wayne Manor when I think about where you live.” 

“How often are you thinking about where I live, Jin?” Seonghwa chided him, delighting in the blush on the other's face from this remark. 

“Shut up. I'm going to stab you with a needle now.” Hyunjin tilted his head down to look at the work laid out in front of him. 

Seonghwa pretty immediately regretted not having been able to get any food down all day. His ears started ringing and he could feel himself blacking out before he could even warn Hyunjin. 

Luckily for him, Hyunjin noticed immediately. 

“Ah, there he is.” He dabbed Seonghwa's forehead with a paper towel as he came to. 

Seonghwa's tongue felt thick and his mouth was sticky, his voice croaked, “I was too nervous to eat today, I'm sorry.” 

Hyunjin sighed, looking apologetic, “No, Seonghwa, I'm sorry that you felt nervous. We didn’t exactly leave things great the other night and that's my fault. I walked off while you were talking.” 

Seonghwa felt his eyebrows knit together, “No, really, it's my fault, if anything.” 

Hyunjin studied him for a second before finally saying, “Look, you need to eat something if you want this tattoo today. Please don't take this the wrong way, but I have a little set-up in my apartment. Let me cook you something and we can finish this,” he gestured to his forearm, “on my couch afterwards. It's way comfier anyway.” 

Seonghwa wanted that very badly and he was too weak currently to think straight, “Are you sure, I-” 

Hyunjin was already cleaning his station, “What did I just say about me not doing things I don't want to do?”

Seonghwa gave a shaky laugh, “Okay then, sure. Honestly I'm too woozy to push back anymore right now.” 

Hyunjin’s apartment was even more carefully curated and decorated than his tattoo shop. It felt so homey, cozy, warm, and inviting, and so very Hyunjin. Bordering on maximalist but neat and organized, lots of vintage and antique pieces, but it was cohesive and didn't look dated. And he had so many lush, green plants, which got plenty of light from the large window at the front of the building. His bookshelf was overflowing with books and his record collection was just as impressive. He was very adverse to overhead lighting and had lots of interesting lamps and lighting fixtures around, which he turned on as he gave Seonghwa a tour. 

It was small but Seonghwa immediately thought it might be his favorite place he'd ever set foot in. 

He perched on a barstool on the other side of the kitchen counter, nursing a Yoohoo (“I love these things, I don't care what anyone says” Hyunjin had defended himself in having his fridge stocked with them. Seonghwa loved them too) as he watched Hyunjin cook, after being scolded for offering to help. 

Hyunjin was just as careful and meticulous of a cook as he was a tattoo artist, but Seonghwa noticed he tended to get ahead of himself a lot, and ended up standing in the middle of the kitchen, brain buffering as he worked out what steps needed to go next. It was so endearing it made Seonghwa's heart hurt. 

It was very possible he was in trouble. 

He liked him. 

The chicken noodle soup was delicious, even better with the fresh bread Hyunjin had picked up from the farmer's market that morning. Because of course Hyunjin was a farmer's market guy. And of course he was an excellent cook. 

“Hyunjin,” Seonghwa said around a mouthful of bread, “this is delicious, thank you.”

“It's no trouble, really, it's very simple.” Hyunjin waved him off. 

“I never believed people when they said homemade food was better but I think they might be right.” 

Hyunjin’s face read as pitying, “You haven't had home cooked food?” 

Seonghwa laughed wryly, “Are you joking? Our kitchen growing up was purely decorative. We had people who cooked for us, of course. But it was always weird, overly healthy rich people food I guess.”

Hyunjin looked like he wanted to reach over from his barstool and comfort him, but thought better of it, “I can’t imagine. I feel very fortunate that my parents taught me how to cook growing up.”

Seonghwa hummed his agreement, mouth full of soup once more, “Mmh,” he swallowed, “yeah, it’s a great skill to have. Very impressive.” He dared to glance at Hyunjin out of the corner of his eye. Caught him smiling, proud of himself.

“Park Seonghwa thinks I’m impressive? Weeeellll I’m putting that on a sign and hanging it in our front window!”

Seonghwa played along, “‘Impressive. Four and a half stars. - Park Seonghwa.’ It will look great underneath your neon sign.”

Hyunjin gasped, “Only four and a half?!”

“Yeah, the artist is a little handsy.” He smirked. Couldn’t help himself. 

“HEY!” He shot his eyes sideways and shoved Seonghwa’s arm, “YOU kissed ME!”

“Yes, well, the people reading your reviews don’t know that, do they?”

Hyunjin scoffed, affronted, “I feed you and this is how you treat me? You’re lucky I take too much pride in my work or I’d give you shitty tattoos as punishment.”

“Oh, yeah, by the way, I want my next one to be Danny Devito on my ass cheek, you can do that, can’t you?”

A chunk of bread hit Seonghwa in the face as a reply, the two of them needing several minutes to recover from their laughter, before finishing their soup, not wanting it to go cold. 

Hyunjin’s couch was indeed much more comfortable than his tattoo chair downstairs, he had to admit. Between plenty of breaks, easy conversation, and Howl’s Moving Castle playing in the background, (and another Yoohoo), his second tattoo was going much smoother than it had started off. Seonghwa was almost getting lulled to sleep by the vibration of the needle and the warm blanket Hyunjin had provided. He found himself watching the artist intently yet again, trying to memorize every single microexpression on the man’s carefully carved face. 

When Hyunjin finally looked up, finished, he seemed surprised, “Were you watching me?”

Seonghwa blushed, “Oh um maybe. Sorry. I really like watching people work. I could seriously watch you do this for hours. I mean, I guess, I have been. But it’s completely enthralling to me. I’ll dial it back next time if it bothers you.”

Hyunjin smiled, and Seonghwa could have sworn he could see stars in his eyes, but they weren’t even outside, “No, no. It’s okay. I don’t mind. Just surprised it held your attention for so long.” 

Seonghwa shrugged, “Yeah, well, I’ve seen Howl’s plenty of times, but this,” he gestured at Hyunjin, tattoo gun still in hand, “This is all new to me.” He glanced down at his forearm, “And goddamn, Hyunjin. This is so beautiful! Thank you so much. Seriously.”

Hyunjin beamed at him, “I’m glad you like it!” He started cleaning up, then asked over his shoulder, “Um, do you smoke?”

“Definitely. Not like. Religiously. But yes.” Seonghwa thought he knew where this was going. 

Hyunjin was rustling around in an old jewelry box on top of one of his bookshelves, “I’ll smoke you out. If you want. If you have to be somewhere, that’s totally fine too. Just thought I’d offer, since you’re here.”

“I hardly, if ever, have anywhere to be.”

Hyunjin sat down beside him and placed the necessary supplies down on the table, “Sweet. You mind if I roll?”

“Please. I’m terrible at it.”

He watched Hyunjin’s nimble fingers roll the joint for them to share, willing himself not to picture those long beautiful fingers around his cock. In his mouth. Fuck. 

Hyunjin held the joint up and Seonghwa pinched it between his fingers, wrapping his lips around it, trying to keep his mind out of the gutter. The flash of the lighter somewhat snapped him out of it. He inhaled, letting the familiar feeling of the smoke curling around his lungs and smoothing out his brain relax him. Hyunjin followed suit, Seonghwa marveling at how plush and soft his lips looked. 

The high had hit them both and they were sunk back into the couch, Seonghwa painfully aware of how their thighs were pressed together, wanting nothing more than to touch the man beside him. He resisted as long as he could, but their conversation about the existence of aliens and ghosts was so good, and he was so, so high right now. Fuck it. 

He tested the waters, let his head fall onto Hyunjin’s shoulder. Hyunjin froze for a half second, then Seonghwa felt his arm reach around, landing on his waist, pulling him in closer, tracing lazy circles with his fingers, sending shivers of pleasure up Seonghwa’s spine. 

“Hwa?” Hyunjin asked, voice barely above a whisper.

“Hmm?”

“I know you’ve probably been told this like. Every day of your adult life. But you’re really pretty. I keep thinking about it. I’m really high. And all I can think about is how pretty you are.”

Seonghwa sat up to look at him better, “Hyunjin… Surprisingly, no one really tells me I’m pretty. Hot, sexy, sure. So thank you. You’re so pretty, too. So, so pretty. I was so surprised when I met you.”

“Well. You’re welcome. It deserves to be said.” He quirked an eyebrow at Seonghwa, “Why were you surprised though?”

Seonghwa felt his laughter bubble up from his stomach all the way up and out of his mouth. He was very high, “I found your Instagram and,” he paused to laugh some more, “I thought you would be some fuck ass hipster straight out of a Portlandian's wet dream with the, the mustache,” he giggled, tracing Hyunjin’s upper lip to demonstrate, “and the stupid hair and beard. But instead you're. Well. This. So fucking stunning. It's really not fair.” 

Hyunjin stared at him, eyes hungry, “Hwa,” he whispered, “I really want to kiss you right now.” His hand came up to demonstrate his yearning, tracing his thumb over Seonghwa's bottom lip, fingers skimming his jaw line before carding softly through his hair. Seonghwa lit up at the touch, feeling like every atom in his body was in desperate need to collide themselves with Hyunjin’s. 

Fuck it. 

“Fuck it,” Seonghwa said, voice hoarse with desire, “Kiss me, Hyunjin.”

It was slower than last time. Hyunjin’s lips barely touching his own, taunting, teasing. Seonghwa felt himself start to get hard already at the sensation, he leaned in, hand tracing down Hyunjin’s neck before the other man finally started to kiss him for real. He felt Hyunjin’s hand take hold in his hair, using the leverage to guide his head to the side as he ran his tongue across the seam of his mouth, tasting, then finally probing inside. He moved his own hand down to Hyunjin’s waist pulling him in closer, desperate to touch, tongues mapping out the inside of each other's mouths. Hyunjin bit and tugged at Seonghwa's bottom lip, pulling a moan out of his throat, which seemed to turn him on even more because before he knew it, Hyunjin was straddling his lap. He reached under the man's shirt, needing to feel his skin. Hyunjin drew a tantalizing circle with his hips, their already hard dicks rubbing together through the fabric of their pants. Seonghwa gripped his hips, holding him closer as his hips bucked again. Jesus Christ. He hadn't been so turned on in forever.

He broke their kiss to whisper, “Take what you need from me, Jin, I've got you.”

Hyunjin rocked forward a bit and Seonghwa took the opportunity to attach his lips to the exposed pulse point right behind his ear, sucking experimentally, only to be encouraged by the delicious whine it brought out of the other. 

They readjusted so Hyunjin was just straddling one of his thighs and Seonghwa helped guide his hips, flexing his thigh to provide better traction.

Their kisses turned sloppy, desperate, as Hyunjin rode his thigh, his pace quickening as he got closer to the edge. 

“Fuck, Hwa-” Hyunjin moaned. 

“That's right baby,” he whispered as he trailed kisses down Hyunjin’s neck, feeling him shiver at the pet name, “come on, you can let go for me.” He nipped at the junction of his neck and shoulder, soothed it with his lips and tongue. 

Hyunjin’s hips stuttered, his movements became jerky and uncoordinated, and then Seonghwa could feel a wet heat on his thigh, “Oh, there we go, good boy.” He pulled him into his chest, running his hands through the artist's hair, “You were so good for me, honey.” 

All Hyunjin could say in reply was, “Mmh, thank you.” 

They sat like that for a minute as they gained composure, and Seonghwa tried to will his erection to go down but with Hyunjin still on top of him like that, it wasn't happening, and when the other moved slightly, his hips gave an involuntary jerk. Hyunjin didn't miss it and began laying kisses up his neck, whispering, “Let me help you, too.” 

“Oh, you don't have to, really.” Seonghwa stuttered, obviously lying, given away by how his body was reacting. 

Hyunjin laughed, lips skimming his jawline, “Seonghwa, we've been over this. Let me blow you. Please. I want to.” 

Seonghwa felt the heat coil in his stomach, “Okay, yeah.”

Hyunjin dismounted his thigh, leaning over to kiss him again. It was messy, filthy, mostly tongue and god was it working for Seonghwa. 

Hyunjin made quick work of his pants, pulling them down just enough to access his now leaking cock. Seonghwa couldn’t believe he was about to have such pretty lips wrapped around him. 

He was big. Men typically had a hard time going down on him, most gave up pretty easily. 

Hyunjin’s eyes widened at his size as it was revealed, “Fucking hell. Look at you.” He licked his lips as he grabbed him by the base, leaning forward and licking the precum that had already leaked out. Seonghwa whined at the sensation, head tipping back to rest on the back of the couch, hand reaching for Hyunjin’s head, finding purchase in his hair. 

“You can pull it,” Hyunjin said, sliding his tongue up the underside of Seonghwa's length, “I like it.” 

And then he took him into his mouth. Seonghwa just about blacked out from the sensation. Hyunjin looked up at him through thick eyelashes, eyes starting to water as his throat was occupied. He gagged and Seonghwa ran his fingers through his hair, “Don't hurt yourself, baby.” Hyunjin hummed at the pet name, taking him deeper, spit leaking out the sides of his mouth. It was so hot. “Look at you, taking me so well.” Seonghwa gave an experimental tug on Hyunjin’s hair and got a desperate moan in response that just about sent him over the edge, “I'm gonna cum if you keep up like that, sweetheart.” 

Hyunjin gave an affirmative sound, lingering for a little longer, and Seonghwa had to restrict the motion of his hips, wanting so badly to fuck his face, but not wanting to hurt him. Then Hyunjin was pulling back and started working him with his hand, the head of his dick resting on his tongue. “Oh, fuck,” Seonghwa came like that, practically just from the sight of him. Hyunjin swallowed what landed in his mouth, licking his lips afterwards, head falling to Seonghwa's thigh to rest after the exertion. 

Seonghwa refastened his pants and gathered Hunjin up onto his lap, pulled him in for another kiss, “Thank you, Jinnie. You were perfect.”

Hyunjin smiled, tucked himself into Seonghwa's chest, “Thank you.” He gave a small laugh, “I'm a little embarrassed.” 

Seonghwa's heart ached, “No, please don’t be. It was hot.” A kiss to the top of his head, “So hot. You're so. Fucking. Hot.” He punctuated his words with kisses.

Hyunjin giggled, “Stop it.”

Seonghwa pulled him in tighter, “No way! I'm serious.” 

Seonghwa didn't know where this soft side of him was coming from. He was still high, yes, but there was also something about Hyunjin that just made him melt. He had the urge to take care of him, coddle him. 

If you would have told him last week that he could feel this way about someone, he would have been disgusted at the thought of it. Instead, sitting here with this gorgeous man cuddling up in his lap, he felt surprisingly content. 

Hyunjin had made their parting about as painless and un-awkward as possible, sending him off by making him promise he would text him when he got home safely, but that was the only thing he made him promise, all of which Seonghwa was grateful for. And he had followed through on it, which seemed to please the artist. Seonghwa went to sleep that night, alone in his bed, conflicted, but unable to ignore the overwhelming feeling of wishing he had Hyunjin curled up beside him.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.3

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 3,076

ao3 link: chapter 3

III: feelings suck

Seonghwa had to think on his feet when choosing a restaurant and happened to remember a spot he liked in the area that was in the basement of a Japanese fine dining restaurant, owned by the same company but much more relaxed, modeled after the post-war black markets in Tokyo. Dark atmosphere, overpriced cocktails, a large sake selection, and classed up bar food with a Japanese spin. 

Seonghwa had received the best head he'd had to date in one of their bathrooms a few years ago. Not that he would be telling Hyunjin about it. But really, the bathrooms were extremely nice. 

They sidled into a booth tucked into the corner, nearly private by design, and Seonghwa felt his mouth go dry at how stunning Hyunjin was in the low lantern light. 

“Um, order whatever you want, obviously, but unless you have a deadly allergy, we're sharing an order of their fries.” Seonghwa was not accustomed to feeling nervous around anyone or feeling the need to impress - he was Park Seonghwa, after all - and he was sure he could blame some of it on feeling out of sorts after so much of today spent with a needle barraging his skin, but if he was honest with himself, he knew it was because it was Hyunjin in particular he was trying to impress. He felt himself willing the waitstaff over for their drink orders. 

“What if I wanted the fries as my entrée?” Hyunjin asked, challenging him. 

“Then you'll get the fries as your entrée as well as half of the fries I'm ordering for us to share.” Seonghwa answered simply, feeling accomplished as he watched Hyunjin smile and roll his eyes at the answer he was given. 

Hyunjin looked at the menu, “Ooh Japanese sweet potato fries with miso mayo? You weren't joking, they sound so good.” 

“Hyunjin,” he fixed him with a stern look, “I never joke about food.” 

Hyunjin hid his face with the menu to protect himself from Seonghwa's serious expression, “Duly noted!” 

A waitress finally appeared to take their order as soon as Hyunjin returned from the bathroom, (“The bathrooms here are SO nice!” “Aren’t they?!”), and soon enough, they were three shots deep into a nigori sake in a pink bottle that Hyunjin had suggested. 

Seonghwa was quickly learning that Hyunjin had very good taste. 

And that he was an entertaining storyteller. He had Seonghwa in stitches talking about a cover-up job he had had to do of an extremely elementary portrait of Danny Devito someone had gotten on their ass cheek. 

“Honestly, Hwa,” Hyunjin looked at him earnestly, and Seonghwa felt his breath catch at the intimacy around the shortening of his name, “I almost would have rather left the portrait instead of covering it with what he asked for.”

“What did he ask for?” Seonghwa leaned forward, completely immersed. 

“You're never going to believe me.” Hyunjin was eating this up. 

“I already believed you that a man came in with Danny Devito on his ass cheek, come on! Tell me!” Seonghwa all but pouted. 

Hyunjin leaned in like he was telling a secret, “Prince.”

“NO.” Seonghwa was aghast. 

“Do you know how wrong it felt to essentially put Danny Devito in blackface as he became the artist formerly known as Prince?!” Hyunjin had obviously told this story before, but Seonghwa loved the theatrics of it. 

“You're better than me, I would have told him no.” Seonghwa said through laughter. His cheeks hurt. He hadn't had such a good time in, well, longer than he could remember. 

“I was a starving artist, what can I say?” Hyunjin sighed as he shrugged. 

They were briefly interrupted by their fries and food being delivered, and after Hyunjin somewhat reluctantly told him he was right about how good the fries were, (“Seriously, if these fries were a guy, I’d be going down on him in the fancy ass bathroom right now”, Hyunjin had joked. Seonghwa had briefly wondered if the man could read minds), Seonghwa finally mustered up the courage to breach the subject he had brought up earlier once more. 

“Tell me more about that. If you want, of course. But I want to know how you got started.” He propped his chin into one hand, elbow on the table. Eager.

He had pictured it before. In his mind, Hyunjin was a retired model or something along those lines. Too pretty to never have been paid for his looks before. Or maybe Seonghwa was just conceited and projecting. 

Hyunjin sighed and took another sip of his sake before speaking, “It’s not a story I’ve shared with very many people.”

“Oh, well don’t feel pressured to-” Seonghwa began.

Hyunjin cut him off, “No, I think I want you to know.”

Seonghwa didn’t know what to say, so he clasped his hands in front of himself on the table and gave Hyunjin a look he hoped conveyed his undivided attention. 

“My parents were always very supportive of me, like I mentioned, but we lived well below the poverty line. I moved out at 18, college was never an option, but I didn’t want to continue taking any resources from my parents, cost them any extra money. For a while I did okay on my own, had a few part-time jobs and could afford my apartment. But then my landlord raised the rent. I started to sell my art to help make ends meet but eventually…” his eyes looked down at the table, avoiding Seonghwa’s gaze, “I ended up living out of my car. I’m extremely fortunate it wasn’t for very long. I had grown apart from my friends after high school and I was too prideful to ask for help from anyone, but one day, the right person happened to take an interest in my art. George would come by once a week and buy a new painting from me. Eventually, he started putting the pieces of my story together, and before I knew it, I was agreeing to apprentice for him at his tattoo shop. He even let me move into his little apartment above the shop. When I finally got licensed and started making money, I tried to start paying him for rent but he refused. He was such a wonderful, kind man.” Hyunjin’s eyes started to well up as he told his story.

Seonghwa reached his hand across the table, taking Hyunjin’s hand in his own, stroking his knuckles softly with his thumb. 

Hyunjin swallowed and continued, voice a little thick, “He still is, it’s just not the same.”

“What happened?” Seonghwa asked, voice almost a whisper.

“He had a psychotic break. It was so scary… He was paranoid and thought I was out to get him. I had to take him to get him admitted to a psych hospital because he was threatening me. I found out there that it was very late for his first break, usually it happens before you turn 25. But I guess there’s always outliers. Anyways,” his eyes met Seonghwa’s again, and he wanted to reach up to wipe away the tear that was streaking its way down the man’s cheek, but didn’t think it appropriate at that very moment, “He lives in an assisted living facility now. He signed over the shop and the apartment to me as soon as he was lucid again after his first break. I still go see him… not as often as I should. I feel bad about that. But it’s hard. He’s rarely, I don’t know how to say it other than ‘himself’ but I don’t know. It’s been years and at this point, I’ve known this version of him for as long as I knew him before.”

“Hyunjin…” Seonghwa was always terrible at comforting people, “I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”

“It just. Sucks. It’s always the people who least deserve it it seems. Not that anyone really deserves that sort of thing, but you know what I mean. And then the worst people seem to get everything. Things just handed to them. Money. No health problems. Probably live until they’re 100.”

“Like my dad.” Seonghwa laughed wryly.

“Is he as bad as he’s made out to be?” Hyunjin asked and Seonghwa couldn’t help but admire this man who obviously wanted to give everyone the benefit of the doubt.

“Honestly?” Seonghwa sighed, still not quite believing he was willingly opening up with someone, “He’s worse. Despite how hard they may have tried, the tabloids didn’t have access to the inside of my house growing up. No one really knows how he treated me and my mom.” Seonghwa never talked about his family. Always played his upbringing off as some sort of joke to be made for shock value. 

But here Hyunjin was again. 

Cracking his ribs open and exposing the tender muscle encased inside. 

Beating red and real. 

“But I mean, can I really complain?” He tried to steer the conversation back away from himself, “I’ve never gone through anything like not knowing whether or not I’ll have a roof over my head or anything like that, I shouldn’t complain, I’m so-”

“Don’t,” Hyunjin cut him off, “don’t say you’re sorry, Hwa. It doesn’t do any good to compare the acuity of your trauma to someone else’s. Just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s less, or has affected you less.”

Seonghwa felt so fragile, vulnerable, and what’s worse is that he didn’t hate it. He was terrified, but not because he didn’t feel safe sharing with Hyunjin. In fact, it was the opposite. 

He was terrified because he did feel safe with the gorgeous man across from him. 

He didn’t know what to say so he just gave a small smile and said, “Thank you. For saying that. And for sharing.”

“Any time, Seonghwa.” Hyunjin squeezed his hand. 

Seonghwa ignored the butterflies that awoke inside his stomach at the man’s touch. 

He walked Hyunjin back to his apartment. He didn’t know what was getting into him, suddenly feeling the need to be gentlemanly or something. 

The conversation had turned lighter on their walk home, warm from the sake and the food and each other's company. Seonghwa noted how easy it was to be around Hyunjin. Noted it and then boxed it up and filed it away to examine later. 

Probably. 

There was a persimmon tree stubbornly still growing through the concrete sidewalk in front of the tattoo shop and Hyunjin stopped to examine it, checking to see if any were ripe yet. No luck in that department, but they both spotted something at the same time that felt even luckier, Hyunjin reached out to grab whatever part of Seonghwa was closest (his wrist) in order to grab his attention, “Hwa, look!” he exclaimed, right as Seonghwa spotted it, all but squealing, “Jin, look!”

They looked at each other briefly, smiling at how they were yet again perfectly in sync with one another. 

A giant luna moth was perched on the trunk of the persimmon tree, nearly glowing in the moonlight. 

“I know what your next tattoo is going to be.” Hyunjin whispered, and Seonghwa’s stomach clenched as the other’s hand traveled down from his wrist, finding purchase between his fingers instead, fitting together like they were made for each other.

“It’s perfect.” Seonghwa agrees, knowing that Hyunjin will turn it into a beautiful piece, probably to include the persimmons and the tree itself as well. 

“Oh yeah?” Hyunjin asked, as Seonghwa felt himself lean in closer.

Hyunjin did the same, and Seonghwa answered, “Yeah.” 

And before he could think better of it, his mouth was on Hyunjin’s. The kiss was searing, their lips fit together unimaginably easily. He sucked on Hyunjin’s lower lip, unable to resist, and it pulled a moan from the man’s throat that shot a bolt of lightning up Seonghwa’s spine. He reached up and tangled one hand in Hyunjin’s hair, the other on his waist, pulling him close, and Hyunjin followed suit, seeming to read his mind yet again, turning their heads to better access the insides of one another’s mouths. 

But no. No. He couldn’t do this. As much as it pained him, he pulled away, nearly stumbling back with the force that it took to break such a kiss. 

“I’m sorry, I-” He took a shaky breath, “I shouldn’t have done that.”

Hyunjin looked insanely beautiful with his flushed cheeks and spit-slick rosy pout, face confused and a little hurt, “Um. Okay? I mean. I guess I don’t really understand why we can’t…”

Seonghwa sighed, “I don’t really either. But I mean. I’m a client. We should probably keep things professional.”

It was a lie. He really didn’t care about that, and the look on Hyunjin’s face almost had him backpedaling.

“Oh, god, of course. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even think about that, I’m… I’m sorry. I guess I just got a little caught up.” He was embarrassed and all Seonghwa wanted to do was hold him until he felt better. Kiss his pain away.

The truth was that he knew he could never be with Hyunjin after he went through all this trouble to keep the money. If you had asked him before tonight, he would have said it was just the reasoning Mingi had fed to him, why he was hesitant to give into his developing infatuation with the man. But now, knowing his backstory, Seonghwa felt he should protect Hyunjin from himself. He deserved someone better. 

Someone brave enough to give up the money for him. 

Someone Seonghwa was too cowardly to be. 

But blaming it all on professionalism was much easier. 

“It’s okay, really. It was my fault, too. I just think it’s probably better if we do it this way. I really like your art and I don’t want to find a different artist and if we explored this and things went badly…”

“No, yeah, of course. I totally get it.” Tears were building in Hyunjin’s eyes again and it took every ounce of restraint Seonghwa had in his being not to pull him close.

“Good.” It wasn’t. “Glad we’re on the same page.” He wasn’t. “I’m sorry again…”

Hyunjin turned towards his apartment door, “I’ll see you at your next appointment, Seonghwa. Be safe getting home.” 

Seonghwa cried the entire way home.

To make everything worse, when he finally checked his phone after arriving safely back home, he had a text from his mom. 

Ma

Meet us at the marina at 11 o’clock. We’re taking the boat out with Sloane Greenburg and her family. Please do some research to make a good impression. Dress nicely.

Calling their yacht a “boat” was laughable and assuming he would dress anything but nicely was even more so. 

He tried to distract himself by researching the family he would be meeting tomorrow but after finding an article with a stuffy picture of Sloane in her graduation cap, Valedictorian at Brown, class of 2021, which turned out to be less about her research and more of an advertisement for the entertainment company her father owned, Seonghwa felt his eyes unfocus from the boredom. 

He was unable to think about anything besides how incredible his night with Hyunjin had been, his fingertips still felt like they were burning from the contact with the man’s skin. He felt like he needed to punch something with how frustrated he was at himself for being who he was as a person and being too afraid to really consider changing. 

Luckily for his pillows, he was never one for violence. 

Instead, he texted Mingi:

Me

I had dinner with my hot tattoo artist

Mingus 

idiot. how was it?

Me

It was so good. 🙁 Turns out he’s a fantastic person.

Now I have an even worse reason to not get involved.

Mingus

damn. did u at least fuck him before figuring this out?

Me

Worse.

Kissed him impulsively.

Stopped it and told him we should be professional.

Mingus

oh shit. 

u actually like him

rip buddy 

Me

Any advice?

Mingus

only the advice u don’t wanna hear, man

Me

Ugh. I know.

Mingus

love u bro. chin up. it’ll pass. 

Seonghwa knew he was right. Unfortunately, for the first time ever, he wasn’t sure he wanted the feeling to pass. 

He was too upset to do anything else, so he took a pre-rolled joint out of his stash in his bedside table drawer and went out on the balcony to smoke it, letting his worries float away in the air with each lungful of smoke he released from his mouth. 

Usually this helped. 

Tonight, it just had his imagination acting up.

He pictured himself and Hyunjin slow dancing in the living room of a small but stylish and comfortable home. A cat weaving its way in between their legs. Home cooked dinner baking in the oven, the smell wafting through the air. The peace this imaginary version of himself felt was all-consuming. 

He shook his head, trying to clear it, but he couldn’t get the thoughts to leave. 

He went inside when the joint was finished, stripped off his clothes, and headed to the bathroom.

Despite desperately craving the comfort of a hot shower, he instead punished himself with a cold one.  The shock of the icy water sobered him up. 

It also reminded him of how his dad had gone about “teaching” him to swim as a kid.  A shove on his back, a curt instruction as he fell to, “sink or swim.” 

Sometimes he wished he wouldn’t have learned. Taught his dad a lesson. But he had to remind himself, he probably wouldn’t have learned.  Knowing his dad, he would have buried Seonghwa and gone home to bury himself inside his wife, trying for a new victim immediately, all in the same day.

Somehow, thinking of himself as the only reason some other poor kid hadn’t been brought into this world to endure what he had - simply by him existing and refusing to die when he had the chance and refusing to not be a thorn in his dad’s side his entire life from then on - made him feel a little better. 

Even just for a moment. 

Mostly he still felt like shit. 

The promise of getting to show off his fresh, still-wrapped tattoo tomorrow, considering they would be on the boat and short sleeves would be appropriate, was the only thing that finally got Seonghwa to sleep that night.

[letsgoletsgetit08]

ink ch.2

summary: Park Seonghwa has been given an ultimatum by his parents: a year to marry a woman of their choosing with the end goal of producing an heir to the family fortune since queer party boy Seonghwa can't be trusted with it. His solution? Get absolutely blasted in tattoos to scare off his possible suitors and their families. But why did his tattoo artist have to be so pretty and kind? It's enough to make him question some things. Possibly, everything.

pairing: park seonghwa x hwang hyunjin

warning: mdni, barebacking, oral sex, public sex

total word count: 30,328 | chapter word count: 3,061

ao3 link: chapter 2

II: some solutions present their own problems

Mingi was not his first choice of friend (he would never tell him that, of course, the man is a big, jealous, 6ft tall baby) to meet up with to show his tattoo design mock-ups that Hyunjin had sent over Instagram a few hours ago, but he was available now, unlike his other friends, and Seonghwa couldn’t wait to show someone. 

Sue him, he was impatient. 

Mingi worked as a model and had become very sought-after a few months ago, finally catching his big break. But it meant that he was either jet setting and extremely unavailable or very, very available. And needy. And clingy. 

Seonghwa couldn’t lie though, he liked being needed. 

He had never been needed until he befriended Mingi. 

They used to hook up some in college and neither of them were the type to actually want a relationship but still Seonghwa found himself taking care of Mingi like they were together. It wasn't really reciprocated in the traditional sense but he had to admit, Mingi really had been there for him in his own Mingi way.

He was often surprised at the sage advice that Mingi always seemed to offer at just the right time. 

Seonghwa felt himself smile as he crossed the street, spotting his friend singing to himself as he sat down at a table in front of the coffee shop, a cup of espresso looking comically tiny in the man's big hands. 

He looked really good, Seonghwa had to admit. He was glad his agency wasn't one to force strict dieting, so Mingi looked trim but healthy, glowing from the inside. Seonghwa wondered if he had met someone. 

“What's up!” Mingi's goofy deep voice resonated as he spotted his friend approaching, standing up to hug him. 

Seonghwa used to shrivel into himself at the threat of physical affection, never having grown up receiving it. But somehow he had managed to befriend huggers. Now, he found himself missing it, sometimes even craving a hug from a friend. 

Pathetic.

“Hi, Mingi. Please remember that I do have to breathe in order to live.” He said into the man's shoulder as he was being squeezed affectionately. 

“Oh, my bad.” He chuckled as he let go. 

Seonghwa was suddenly nervous to tell Mingi his idea for some reason, the man was so practical that he was sure he would balk at the idea of spending (he's sure he would call it “wasting”) money on something so frivolous. 

He tried to stall, “How was Copenhagen?” 

Mingi laughed, “It was great, but you texted me to meet up so what's up?” 

Seonghwa took a deep breath, “Well my parents uh… you know what, I need a drink first.” 

Five minutes later, iced banana milk matcha in hand, Seonghwa sat back down in front of his friend, “Okay.” He cleared his throat, “Um. My parents gave me an ultimatum. Marry a woman of their choosing, or get cut off.” 

“Easy, put me in a wig.”

“Mingi, they've met you.”

“Yeah. Damn.”

“I only have a year.”

“You should run away.”

Seonghwa laughed dryly, “I already considered that.”

“Wouldn't work.”

“Nope, wouldn't work.”

“Damn. What are you gonna do, man? You're like very gay.” He said this so gravely that Seonghwa couldn’t help but smile. 

“Am I? I hadn't noticed.”

“I've literally been inside of you.”

“Ugh, I know. You ever miss it?”

“All the fucking time, man. You were the best dick I ever had, I swear.”

“Aw, Mingi. That means a lot.”

“You’re welcome. Stop stalling. How are you getting out of this?”

“Tattoos.”

“Tattoos?”

“Tattoos. What respectable family would let their daughter marry me if I get blasted?”

“I literally can't think of a single one.”

“Exactly.”

“But they're so expensive. And you're squeamish as fuck, bro. I saw you swoon at a paper cut one time.”

“Yeah but… like how else am I gonna get out of this?”

“You could legally change your name and get a real job.”

“I fear I don't have the right DNA for work, Mingi.” He sighed dramatically. 

“Your tattoo artist is hot, isn't he?” He raised an eyebrow, eyeing Seonghwa suspiciously.

“Okay, just because you're right-”

“I knew it!” He all but yelled. 

“But to be fair! I found that out after deciding to get the tattoos. His face isn't even on his Instagram page!”

Mingi chuckled, “I can't say shit, I'm fucking my manager.”

“I knew it!”

“How the hell could you possibly know that?”

“You're glowing, man.”

Mingi blushed, “Oh, well. I kinda like. Maybe am really into it. For real, you know?” 

“I really don't, but I'm happy for you. My baby's growing up, I could cry.”

“No you couldn't.” Mingi narrowed his eyes at him, knowingly.

“No,” Seonghwa laughed, “I couldn't. What's his name?”

“You’re deflecting again.”

“Fuck.”

“So, do you know what you're getting yet?” 

Mingi had scrolled back and forth through the sketches Hyunjin had sent at least 10 times now, his jaw open nearly the whole time. Seonghwa couldn’t blame him, Hyunjin had outdone himself. He had drawn Icarus’ fall from the sky with the sun, clouds, and feathers on fire raining down around the figure. From everyone else's perspective, Icarus was falling. But when Seonghwa would look down at it, it would look like he was flying. It was done in a sort of block print style with thin lines, detailed but not crowded.

“Bro,” he said, finally, “This is actually so sick.”

Seonghwa breathed a sigh of relief, “It's actually really good, right?” Almost bouncing with excitement.

“It's so good. You're telling me he's talented and hot?”

“So hot.” He moaned, leaning back in his chair.

“You can't fuck your tattoo artist.” Mingi said sternly.

Seonghwa pouted for dramatics, “But whyyyy? He's so pretty. Please can I? Pretty please?” 

Mingi rolled his eyes, “What if it ends badly and then you have this guy's art permanently all over your body? I'm assuming you're not stopping at a half sleeve?”

Seonghwa had felt a little silly after Hyunjin had informed him there was no way he could do a full sleeve all in one go. How was he supposed to know? Not that Hyunjin was rude about it or anything, Seonghwa was just easily embarrassed when he's found out to be uninformed about something.

Seonghwa slouched, “No, of course not, I have to get covered. And I know you're right but have you considered that I want to so bad?”

“I'm not one to take my own advice, obviously, but ink is way more permanent than a manager. Just. Be careful, okay man?” Mingi gave him a serious, sympathetic look. 

“I know, I know. I will. Fuck.” Seonghwa's head dropped into his hands. 

“I'm glad to hear it.” 

“Tell me about this manager who's dick is not as good as mine.”

Mingi looked bashful all of the sudden, “Um well. She doesn't have a dick actually.”

“No way! Song Mingi is dick sober?” He was astounded.

“Completely dick sober, bro.” Mingi nodded, barely containing a smile. 

“Did I know you were bi?”

“Probably not, I don't think we've ever really discussed my dating history and I happened to be on a long dick only streak there for a while so. Who knows.” He shrugged.

“You really like her though?”

Mingi was beaming, “I really, really do, man. She's a little older than me and ridiculously funny and super smart like she just says shit sometimes and I'm like that's the smartest thing I've ever heard, you know?”

“You're really smart, too, Mingi.”

“Thanks, Hwa. I mean yeah, I know I am, and I'm not saying she makes me feel dumb, actually she tells me I'm smart, too. But I just-”

“I think you're in love, dude.” He interrupted, already seeing the signs. 

“Probably.” Mingi sighed contentedly. 

“Well, let me know when the wedding is, if I'm not dirt poor and on the streets, I'll get you something nice.” Seonghwa offered dryly.

“Shut up.” Mingi shot back.

“Never.” Seonghwa answered impishly. 

“Thanks, man. I'm glad we got caught up.” 

“Me too, Mingi.” And he really was. He felt way better about things than he had prior to talking to Mingi. 

“I've gotta go, but I'll catch you later, okay? Send me pics of the finished product!” He stood up and started walking off, “And don't fuck your tattoo artist!”

“I won't!” Seonghwa called after him.

“You're a bad liar, Park Seonghwa! Later!”

Seonghwa was a horrible liar. 

The leather of the tattoo chair was cold on Seonghwa’s back. He had worn a flannel over his black tank top and reached back to gather it from behind him where he had taken it off to pull it back up over his left arm, leaving the right one exposed for what was about to come. 

Hyunjin walked around the corner, drying his hands off, “Do you think they're going to talk or just trade off trying to sneakily stare at each other the whole time?” He was referring to the fact that Jeongin was out in the lobby with Seonghwa's friend Yeosang.

Seonghwa laughed at how accurate it was - he had brought Yeosang along with him for moral support because he was a calming presence, and he happened to be available since Seonghwa’s appointment was in the late afternoon and Yeosang had gotten done with the Intro to Philosophy class he was a teacher's assistant for around an hour ago, but mostly the first reason. “Well, I don't know, mine's a Gemini so it's completely possible.”

Hyunjin sighed dramatically, “Damn, mine's an Aquarius. They're hopeless.”

“They're probably communicating telepathically.”

Hyunjun laughed, “Yeah but not to each other.”

“No, absolutely not.”

“To their home planets.”

“Probably neighboring home planets.”

“Yeah but they'll never figure that out either.”

They smiled at each other, savoring the ease at which they had friendly back-and-forth. All Seonghwa could hear was Mingi's voice in his head telling him not to fuck his tattoo artist. 

He could do it. 

He could be strong. 

He wouldn't seduce him. 

Probably. 

The care and precision with which Hyunjin was doing his job was fun to watch, almost intimidating. Seonghwa had always admired people who were good at their craft. It's probably how he ended up going home with so many bartenders and baristas. He'd start out genuinely watching them work and always seemed to forget that staring in such a way was easily perceived as flirting. But there was something so mesmerizing about someone who was confident and careful with their hands like that. This was no different. Hyunjin had already very cautiously shaved Seonghwa's upper arm with a razor and was now lining up the stencil with the transfer ink, hovering above the pen marks he had drawn on Seonghwa’s bicep and deltoid in order to achieve perfect symmetry and straightness, hovering millimeters above, hands steady as a rock.

“Remember, if it looks weird at all, please tell me. We can take it off and start over at this stage. I don't mind repositioning it 10, 15, even 100 times, but what I don't want is you to look at it tomorrow when it's in permanent ink and think ‘my shit is all crooked’, okay?” He pressed the paper down, smoothing it out carefully before peeling it off, “Okay go take a look in that mirror and tell me if it needs fixed.”

Seonghwa stood up and looked in the mirror. It was hard not to be excited. The piece looked even better on skin than it had on paper. He moved around, looked at it from all angles, flexed. It was perfect. Nailed it on the first try. 

“I think you actually did it perfectly on the first try.” He turned to Hyunjin, having a hard time hiding his smile.

“Sweet,” He winked, “Not the first time I've heard that.”

Seonghwa gave him a jokingly judgy grimace as he resumed his position on the chair, “What does that even mean?” 

Hyunjin snickered, “No clue. You ready?”

Seonghwa felt his heart rate pick up, nervous all of the sudden, “Um, yeah, I don't think I'll be more ready any time soon.” 

Hyunjin walked over with the ink gun in gloved hands, laying his left hand on Seonghwa’s shoulder gently, framing the transfer ink, and leaning in to get started. Seonghwa could feel Hyunjin’s breath on his bare skin and couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of warmth curling in his abdomen at the sensation. 

Which was quickly erased by the first bite of the needle on his skin. He's surprised he didn't flinch. 

Hyunjin seemed to read his mind, “Just tell me if you need to take a break, okay? Please don't try to be stoic.” 

Seonghwa grit his teeth. He was embarrassed by his low pain tolerance. But he also felt he wouldn't be able to hide his discomfort from Hyunjin, so he agreed, “Okay, will do.” 

Hyunjin had only gotten halfway through the outline of Icarus when Seonghwa started to feel woozy, palms cold and clammy, forehead beading with sweat, lightheaded. 

“Um, Hyunjin,” His vision was going black around the edges, “Can we uh, stop for a minute?”

Hyunjin pulled back immediately, “Oh, yeah of course,” then looked at him, “Jesus, I should have stopped sooner, I'm sorry.” He took his gloves off and reached for the paper towels, handing some to Seonghwa, who used them to dry his face. 

“No, no, I'm sorry. I was a little scared I'd pass out, this is honestly better than I assumed.” He gave a shaky laugh. 

Hyunjin smiled fondly, “You need something with sugar.”

Seonghwa nodded, “Yes, probably so. Unfortunately I did not plan ahead.”

Hyunjin was already digging through the drawer at his station, pulling out a candy bar, “Start with this and then why don't I send our odd little friends on a mission for boba down the street? I want some, too, this is mostly selfish, I promise.” 

Seonghwa took the candy bar, and bit into it greedily, immediately feeling better after swallowing his first bite, “Okay, sure, that sounds good. Thank you.” 

Hyunjin looked at him, amused, “Yeah, of course.” Then called over his shoulder, “YANG!” 

Two voices replied, one confused, “Yes?” And the other a bratty, “What?!” 

Seonghwa shook his head, “He thought you said ‘Kang'.”

Hyunjin's eyes became half moons and his head tipped back in laughter, “Can you both come here?” 

Hyunjin had finished the rest of the outline of Icarus by the time their friends got back with their drink orders - he had only made fun of Seonghwa a little bit when he needed to study the menu for the boba place before ultimately taking his suggestion for the “silly strawberry drink” he thought he would like. 

He was correct. 

Upon Seonghwa's request, Jeongin and Yeosang had pulled up chairs in Hyunjin’s studio - he needed a distraction - and were now playfully bickering upon Yeosang's insistence to tell them about how Jeongin had asked for the barista's number at the boba shop. 

Jeongin was blushing and pouting, defensive and embarrassed, while Hyunjin had to stop tattooing due to his and Seonghwa's laughter by the time Yeosang had finished the story.  

“And then, she finally understood what he was asking, she wrote it on the receipt-”

“STOP!” Jeongin whined

“- and he threw it away!” Yeosang finished

“Out of habit!” Jeongin defended himself. 

“You threw it away in front of her! In the trashcan right outside the shop!” Yeosang was not going to let his new friend off the hook easily. Arguably, calling someone out like that was not the way to make friends but it weirdly seemed to be working. 

“You fumbled.” Hyunjin and Seonghwa said at the same time, looking at each other in awe at their synchronization, then laughing again. 

Yeosang tucked a piece of hair behind his own ear (or, he tried to but ended up tucking nothing), looking at Jeongin with playful eyes, which was met with Jeongin sticking his tongue out, earning a blush from Yeosang. 

It went on like that until Hyunjin had to kick the other two out due to them turning into too much of a distraction and not wanting to be in a hurry to finish up at least the outlines during this appointment, planning to spare him from shading until next time. He paused every few minutes or so to drink his boba, or at least he was using that as a cover, because he seemed to be able to sense when Seonghwa was in need of a break by now.

Seonghwa couldn’t stop admiring his arm - even without shading and some detail work, it was beautiful. “Hyunjin, thank you. It's better than I dared to imagine. How did you learn, anyways?” 

Hyunjin smiled, a tinge of sadness behind his eyes, “You're very welcome. And that’s… a long story.”

Seonghwa smiled, “I have tons of time.” 

“I just tortured you for three hours and you want to spend more time with me?” Hyunjin smirked at him. 

“Call me a sadist, I guess.”

“Hey!”

Seonghwa laughed, “You're the one who called it torture! Come on, let me buy you dinner.”

He didn't know why he said it. He could still hear Mingi's voice telling him not to fuck his tattoo artist. 

But Seonghwa genuinely wanted to hear more about him. 

He was almost sick at the realization that he might actually be interested in someone as a person and not just for his looks. 

Hyunjin rolled his eyes, “Okay, fine. But just so you know, this is way out of the norm for a typical artist/client relationship.”

Seonghwa couldn’t help but feel proud of himself, “Are you saying I'm special?” he cheesed and blinked sweetly at him. 

“You're definitely something else.” Hyunjin finished wiping down the tattoo chair, “And you're lucky you're my last appointment for the day.”

Hyunjin stopped cleaning for a second to look at Seonghwa and he felt the same feeling as he did when he first met the artist, like he was being studied. But this time there was something else behind his eyes, darker, almost hungry. 

Seonghwa refused to let his brain believe it could possibly be attraction. 

“Noted. I feel very lucky, Hyunjin.” He said after his mind stopped whirling with excitement at his thoughts. 

What the hell was he getting himself into?