Work Text:
Se-jin couldn’t quite believe what she was seeing.
Young-min had been in an accident. Thankfully, nowhere near as severe or life-threatening as the previous, but requiring medical attention nonetheless. How he’d managed to break his arm remained a mystery, but naturally, she was the first to be called to his side once he’d arrived at the hospital.
Painkillers had been administered on the trip over, no doubt by Professor Cha himself-- but it would appear he’d made an error of judgement in the strength and dose, leading to… interesting circumstances.
“Where’s my husband?” Young-min asked with a mild slur. He pouted, eyes darting around the room. “Where is he?” He repeated, now staring at the woman beside him.
“Husband?” Se-jin blinked, wondering if she’d heard him correctly. “Professor Cha, you’re not married.”
Unless… no, he couldn’t be-- she’d know if he was. Wouldn’t she?
“Yes I am,” Young-min replied, eyes half lidded, smiling dumbly. “He works here… can’t be far…” He stared at the door, waiting impatiently.
Se-jin wasn’t buying it. Young-min wouldn’t make up something like that. Not unless the drugs had caused him to become delusional.
Then as if on command, the man in question appeared-- with Soo-jung close behind.
“Young-min!” Seung-tak gasped, rushing to the professor’s side.
“There you are.” Young-min grinned, voice softening to what could only be described as loving. “Seung-tak…”
Se-jin was taken aback by the informality of Seung-tak’s address; her expression reflecting that fact. Seung-tak picked up on it, realising his mistake, and quickly doubled back.
“...Professor Cha.” Seung-tak cleared his throat, avoiding eye contact, instead immediately searching the other man to identify his injuries. “An arm fracture. You had me worried. Alright, Professor Cha, let’s get you--”
“Look at this. Look at you…” Young-min ruffled his hair affectionately, tracing his fingers down Seung-tak’s cheek. “The cutest curls… Have I told you how pretty you are today?”
Seung-tak batted his hand away with a suppressed sound of frustration. “Stop it, Young-min. We’re at work. Pull yourself together.”
“No fun, Seung-tak.” He pouted again with his best kicked-puppy expression. “Why are you so mad at me?”
“I’m not mad.” Seung-tak sighed, reading through his chart. “Can’t believe they gave you such a strong dose.” By the time he looked up again, he noticed nearly all the current staff were hoving by the room, eyeing them curiously. “Everyone’s staring. We’ll talk about this later.” Seung-tak promised, becoming more nervous the longer he stayed.
“Please…” Young-min started, tugging on Seung-tak’s coat. “Just one kiss?”
“Professor Cha,” Seung-tak said in his sternest voice. “I need to prepare for your surgery. I’ll see you soon, okay?”
Pulling his arm free, the young doctor exited the room in a hurry, leaving Young-min alone in Se-jin’s company. Soo-jung left shortly afterwards, dispersing the crowd and insisting they get back to work.
“He hates me… doesn’t he?” Young-min practically sobbed, staring at Se-jin. “I don’t wanna get a divorce…”
Se-jin reached over, placing a hand over his in a hope to comfort him. “I’m sure that’s not the case, Young-min. He’s here to help.”
Young-min merely mumbled something in response, turning his head away like a hurt child. Taking that as a cue to leave, Se-jin couldn’t help but wonder if what she’d just seen was true.
And the curiosity was getting the better of her.
Seung-tak completed the surgery sooner than expected, but nerves had remained high throughout. Young-min had trained him well ever since he’d recovered from his long stay as a coma ghost. But now, even with the knowledge to complete a surgery like this on his own-- it was still Young-min, his co-worker, his partner, his husband--
One slip-up and he’d never hear the end of it.
Even now, a year later, it was hard to believe how much their relationship had changed since the day they met. It was only natural that spending so much time together had led to a deeper bond developing between them.
Seung-tak shook his head, placing his face in his hands. Letting out a groan, he realised now how exhausted he was. Adding on to the fact that their secret relationship was no longer secret, he wasn’t sure how he’d ever face his coworkers again. Which was why he was currently hiding away-- sitting upon the bed that had become nearly a second home as of late.
The shuffling sound of the door gently opening and closing pulled Seung-tak from his thoughts, and he knew it would only be one person.
“There you are. I’ve been looking for you,” she said, taking a seat beside him.
“Crystal.” Their eyes met briefly before he glanced away. “How is he?”
“He’s fine, but I’m sure you knew that already.” Soo-jung let out a sharp breath, hoping to capture the man’s attention. “Seung-tak--”
“It’s true,” he interrupted, turning to her with a grimace. “Guess I can’t hide it anymore.”
“Hide what?”
“What happened before, you know…” Seung-tak stared down at his hand, twisting the ring on his finger that wasn’t there moments ago. He only wore it when he was alone. “That we’re… married.”
“Oh. You and Professor Cha, you mean?” Soo-jung cocked her head to the side, hand on her chin in a thoughtful manner. “I already knew,” she added gently.
“It just kind of happened, you know? After everything we went through together, and then when Young-min finally woke up after the surgery, we--” Seung-tak cut his rambling short, lips parted as his brow began to furrow. He turned slightly, cheeks flushed as he stared at Crystal. “What do you mean ‘ you knew’?” He asked incredulously.
She failed to stifle a laugh. “You’re both far more obvious than you realise. It’s alright Seung-tak. I understand. We all understand, but…”
“What is it?”
“You’re tired, I’m sure. He’ll want to see you when he wakes up. Get some rest, and we’ll catch up later, yeah?”
Seung-tak nodded with a yawn. “Thank you Crystal. For understanding.”
“Of course. You can always count on me, you know that.”
With a smile, she was gone-- and Seung-tak realised there was only one place he wanted to be-- and it wasn’t here.
Young-min groaned as he gradually roused from sleep, blinking away the fog in his eyes until the ceiling came into view. For a moment, he almost panicked, unable to regain his bearings-- before realising that he wasn’t at home. No, this was the hospital, and by the looks of it…
Ah, of course. Now he remembered. Staring at the cast on his arm, they must have moved him into surgery rather quickly, as everything else leading to the current moment was a fading blur of events.
More curiously, Young-min found him in his husband’s company.
Seung-tak sat close by, awkwardly hunched over the bed with his head resting over his crossed arms. He was asleep, breathing softly and appearing exhausted nonetheless. Young-min wondered if he took the lead in his surgery, and wouldn’t be surprised if Seung-tak refused anyone else to complete such an important task.
He chuckled to himself, taking a moment to enjoy the rare occasion of having his husband so quiet and calm.
But Young-min couldn’t resist; gently bringing a hand to Seung-tak’s face, and delicately running his fingers through his soft, scruffy hair. Somehow, the action caused the previous day’s events to clear, coming back to Young-min in a flurry of blurred memories, clearing now. What he said, how he’d reacted, what he’d asked of Seung-tak-- he couldn’t help but cringe.
“Young-min?” Seung-tak asked, rubbing his eyes and stretching out. “You’re awake…”
“I’ve made a fool of myself, haven’t I?” Young-min asked sincerely. “I’m sorry for embarrassing you like that, Seung-tak.”
“You didn’t do anything like that. It was only a matter of time. In fact, I’m… glad.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, now… we don’t have to hide it anymore. Us, I mean.” Seung-tak shrugged; a grin spreading across his face. “Turns out that everyone already knew and was too polite to say anything.”
Young-min’s eyes went wide, shocked by such a revelation. “You’re joking,” he said, unable to fathom how he’d slipped up without realising.
“We’re too obvious, apparently.” Seung-tak shook his head. “They even had a bet going on for which one of us would slip up first.”
“Of course they did…” Young-min mumbled, rolling his eyes.
Seung-tak glanced around, finding the room empty, the two of them in only each other’s company. “I… can take you up on that request now, if you like.”
Young-min blinked. “Request? What…” A sudden, foggy memory emerged-- something he’d asked of Seung-tak in front of half the hospital. “Oh… I can’t believe I said that in front of everyone. You must have been mortified.”
Seung-tak smiled, leaning in a little closer. “I’ll forgive you, this time. But remember-- we need to act professional at work, yeah?” His voice was barely above a whisper now.
Young-min simply nodded, eyes focussed on Seung-tak’s lips, and the urge to be closer. “Promise,” he replied, bringing his uninjured hand to his husband’s neck, fingers curling into his hair.
Their lips found each other, warm and gentle, both sighing into the kiss. Considering the circumstances, it would only be proper to part shortly afterwards-- but Young-min found himself unable to resist, deepening the kiss, slipping his tongue past parted lips. Seung-tak felt himself relax with a soft moan, losing his balance as he was drawn closer to his husband. But the moment finally caught up with them when his weight fell upon Young-mins injured arm, causing them to part with a pained hiss.
Seung-tak panicked. “Careful--”
“It’s fine. I’ll be fine,” Young-min insisted, recomposing himself. “And thank you, Seung-tak. For operating. I know it wasn’t easy.”
“Yeah, yeah. That’s the benefit of marrying a doctor.” Seung-tak grinned, glancing away with a shrug of his shoulders. “Just don’t complain if the stitches aren’t pretty enough.”
“As if I ever could. Here…” He was keen to remain close, petting the space on the bed beside him. “It’s the middle of the night. Let’s get some rest.”
Seung-tak faltered, turning to look at the door for a moment. “But what if--”
“Let them see. I don’t care.” Young-min reached far enough to capture Seung-tak’s hand in his own. “You’re my husband and I want everyone to know.”
“I…” Seung-tak licked his lips, swallowing thickly, trying his best to rid himself of lingering doubts. “Alright. I’d like that.”
After an awkward shuffle, Young-min managed to make enough room for his tired husband to lie down beside him, snuggling in close. Seung-tak fell asleep as soon as his head was on Young-min’s chest, and he felt not too far behind.
With an arm wrapped tightly around the younger man, his lover, his husband-- Young-min drifted off into comfortable, painless sleep.