#I SCREAMED WHEN THE READER SAID THEY DID IT BECAUSE THEY DONT WANNA KEEP THIBKING ABOUT HIM INSTEAD LIKE FUUUCCKK

[haedgaf]

this had no reason being this cute for do you want me to feel more single than i already am.. also being renjun’s roommate sounds AMAZING negl but also hell cos he gives me perfectionist vibes..

stupid, stupid face.

p: huang renjun x gn!reader | wc: 0.9k | g: roommate au, best friends to lovers, sliiiight angst, fluff | cw: brief mention of alcohol consumption | a/n: and they were roomates :0 js wanted to finish a short draft ^^

"I have no idea why you're acting like this right now,"

"He was too close, I didn't like him-"

"You don't even know him!"

It's a quarter past 1 in the morning, you and Renjun had just arrived at your shared apartment. Maybe you both had a little too much to drink, but this argument alone was enough to sober you both back.

"So what if I don't know him? It was so obvious he had other motives than just to hug you. Ugh, I could just punch his stupid face. Who the hell just hugs randomly, anyway?"

"Um, you, maybe? Or Haechan-"

"Hyuck is Hyuck! I know him."

Tired, you let out an exasperated sigh, dropping your shoes. "Look, Jun, I'm tired and extremely drained, so why don't we just head to bed, yeah?"

There's a sour look on Renjun's face, and you know he won't let this conversation end just like that. Though he clearly has a lot more to say, he follows behind you bitterly, stalking right after you into the living room.

"Look, Renjun," You say in a soft voice, which makes Renjun's head spin a little (but he'd rather blame it on the alcohol), "If it matters any amount to you, I genuinely don't think we'll see him again. Even if we do, I doubt I'll remember him."

"But... it hasn't been just him. It wasn't just tonight."

Puzzled, you stop in your tracks, turning around to look at him. "I don't understand-- there were other times?"

The look on Renjun's face suggests that he said something he shouldn't have. Wiping a hand across his face, he pauses— as if contemplating something— eyes searching for yours, then looking away when they meet.

"Renjun, what is it? What are you trying to say?" You ask, hand wrapping around his free wrist.

Your roommate is not the type of person to keep things from you-- you assume it's because he doesn't bother the effort, but really it's because he feels he can tell you everything-- so whatever he has to hide, it's something he hides from everyone.

Correction: it's something so obvious to everyone... except you.

"Renjun," You say, voice slightly upbraiding. At that, he folds. The boy holds his hands up in a sign of defeat, "Fine, fine! But what I'm about to tell you is frankly crazy, and I need you to stay calm. Stay calm!"

"You stay calm!"

"I'm trying!"

You really, really don't understand. What could possibly be so bad to the point where the cool-headed, calm Renjun that doesn't give a shit about his roommate does acts as stressed as he is now?

Renjun collects his thoughts and breathes slow, still letting you hold his wrist because believe it or not, it is giving him the slightest bit of comfort. He shifts his hand, fitting it into yours as he finally builds up the courage to look back at you.

"Y/N, the past year of being your roommate can't compare to what I've experienced the past 20 years of my life. It's really... ridiculous how much of my life you can change-- or did change." As he explains, Renjun can't help the small bashful smile that tugs on his lips when he sees you visibly stunned (in a good way).

"You've gone... on a lot of dates. And I've watched you come back every night. Sometimes you aren't really that fazed, and you're more excited to watch a movie or share a plate of take-out pasta with me than you are about the date. And, I guess, you gave me hope.

Hope for any chance that I am, by any means, better than the guys you've been seeing. And then you leave for another date on another night and I'm left in this really, really empty apartment feeling really, really lonely." The boy lets out exasperated huffs, fervent about the topic-- as if he'd been rehearsing this before.

Renjun looks straight into your eyes: but it's more than that. He looks past your flaws and sees your soul, raw and pure; he looks at the memories you'd shared with him in this small apartment, none of them a dull moment; he looks at all the stupid ideas you'd shared together about decorating the walls with graffiti, or hanging gummy worms up on the ceiling fan.

"Bottom line is: I'm insanely in love with you, Y/N," Says Renjun in a slight laugh, nervous and fidgety.

"What?" Your hands slip out of his, and his stomach falls. "Are you- are you serious?" Your voice suggests a small tone of relief, but you don't dare show it in the fear of this being some huge prank. But Renjun nods slowly, eyes growing more wary at the lack of a definitive answer from you.

"Renjun, the reason I've been going to all those dates was to get my mind off... of you."

The boy's eyes widen, mouth falling agape as he leans forward, taking your hands in his in a tight grip. "Are you kidding? Please don't tell me you're kidding."

"I'm not kidding, are you kidding?"

"I'm not!"

You stare at him for a moment, and he stares back. You search for any sign of facade or fraud, but you're left with your beaming roommate who stares back at you, a smile slowly growing on his lips. It's inevitable, the handful of laughter you both erupt into.

Falling into his arms, you both welcome each other in a warm embrace, your arms wrapping around his abdomen as you tuck your head into his shoulder, hot breaths fanning his neck as you let out another string of light laughter with him.

Renjun supposes he owes that guy tonight-- whatever his name was, he can't care enough to remember-- a thank you, and a good punch in his stupid, stupid face.

© hirokari, 2023