Archive of Our Own

After a tiring day of working late and facing the horrible smell of public transportation, all Taeil wants is to return to a peaceful home so he can take a long, hot bath and sleep in while wearing his soft pajamas. It’s a nice scenario in his head, one that brings a smile to his lips, but also that’s difficult to come through.

He opens the door of his apartment to be jumped on by an excited gremlin he calls his brother. It smashes any small hope inside Taeil for a silent night.

“Hey!” greets Donghyuck before Taeil can close the door behind him.

“Hey,” the older brother says back with a sigh.

“What did you do today? How was your day? Why are you having long hours?” Donghyuck asks, jumping at each question and making the next one faster than the one before it.

Taeil’s overwhelmed state caused by that ball of energy could almost make him forget that his job is so boring that whenever he tries to speak of it, his brother fakes snoozing. He doesn’t blame Donghyuck for it, who would want to know the intricacies of an insurance company and Taeil’s forsaken position that includes denying coverage to the poor beneficiaries. It is, however, quite suspicious that he’s suddenly so interested in his job.

An imaginary list appears inside Taeil’s head and he begins crossing things off it. School can’t be the issue because Donghyuck gave them a fake number once and they’ve since cleared it up. They would have called Taeil’s work phone if Donghyuck had gotten in trouble.

“What did you break?” Taeil asks, taking a quick look around the house. There’s not much to search, it’s a tiny two bedroom apartment with only enough space for them to breathe. He turns to his brother when everywhere his eyes land seems squeaky clean. “Or did you prank the neighbor again?”

“Neither!” Donghyuck screeches out defensively. Taeil is not convinced. His brother cleans his throats and comes closer, widening his eyes into big doe ones. “Promise you won’t be mad.”

“No,” Taeil says back, face blank.

Donghyuck groans under his breath and his eyes run to the clock on the kitchen wall. He breaks in a second.
“Fine! Get in the bath, you have a date in thirty minutes.”

Taeil opens his mouth but nothing comes out at first. He then gasps, flabbergasted. “Excuse me?!” His pitch is so high it could have broken glasses had they any that weren’t made of plastic.

“Twenty-eight minutes to be exact,” Donghyuck corrects himself, unaffected. Once he notices Taeil is stuck in the same place, he pushes him. “Hurry!”

They get inside their 15 square feet bathroom where Taeil gets undressed while Donghyuck turns on the shower. Before Taeil can protest in favor of a hot, long bath, he is driven under the cold water. While he soaps his body, Donghyuck explains, from the toilet where he’a sitting, that he created a Taeil a Grindr profile to find him a date.

“Hyuck!” Taeil exclaims, scandalized.

“Use the good shampoo, hyung!” Donghyuck says, handing him the expensive french shampoo they utilize on special occasions.

Donghyuck goes on, telling Taeil how he found a guy that’s just the perfect match for his brother: smart, a gentleman, rich, kind. His name is Johnny and he is dropping by in exactly twenty-four minutes and thirty-three seconds.

Taeil turns off the shower and sighs before wrapping himself in his towel. “Thanks for the company while I shower, Hyuck,” he says sarcastically while swiftly leaving the bathroom for his bedroom, “but that is not happening and we will talk about the consequences of this tomorrow.”

Taeil is about to slam the door and create the peaceful environment he needs in his room. No more devilish gremlin Donghyuck for the day — his brother should take care of telling this Johnny to fuck off if he actually shows up.

"Wait- uh!" Donghyuk sticks his foot in the door, stopping it from fully closing. The look on his face is too smug for a teenager that's about to be grounded for his lifetime. "Ask me how tall he is."

This little shit. Taeil is going to kill him.

"Ask,” he insists again in a husky voice.

Taeil rolls his eyes. “How tall?”

Somehow Donghyck’s phone has Johnny’s dating profile open. There, it lists all of his general facts previously mentioned but also his height. Taeil is infuriated to admit that yes, Johnny Suh is exactly his type. Over 6 foot. Hot. A good head of hair.

“You haven’t dated in so long, hyung…” Donghyuck whines, taking Taeil off his quick drooling session.

It makes Taeil more nervous. He hasn’t gone on dates in ages. Imagine kissing! His lips have certainly become fossilized. Without noticing, his hands go over his cracked lips. He could use some lip balm.

His distress must have been apparent. Donghyuck barges in the bedroom without further ado.

"Here, no stress,” he says, sitting Taeil on the bed. I'll pick out your outfit, and you're going to catch up on all that you and Johnny have talked about."

Taeil's head hasn't stopped spinning since he first got into the apartment. "How long exactly have you been talking to strangers on the internet on my behalf?"

"Shhhh..." Donghyuk opens the messages between him and Johnny and shoves the phone into Taeil’s hand. "Don't worry about it. Just read up."

Taeil starts scrolling down as Donghyuck dives into his closet. His little brother complains about how Taeil needs to go shopping but Taeil ignores him. There’s no need for new clothes and it isn’t the priority when extra cash is so little. That reminds him, how is he going to pay for this date? That problem is quickly resolved when he remembers he was called for extra hours next Wednesday.

One of Donghyuck’s messages suddenly catches his eyes as he fast-scrolls, “What do you mean by ‘I am very outgoing’? Do you even know me?”

His brother diverges by throwing him the clothes he will wear on the date. Say whatever negative you want about Donghyuck — and there is much to complain about — but he understands Taeil like no one else. Even though he hasn’t dated in a while, when charming someone Taeil subscribes mostly to what Donghyuck calls ‘feeling submissive and mayhaps breedable’ kinda look. Taeil scolds him for the language, he is only seventeen!, but the boy is correct in his assertion. For tonight, he has set aside tight pants, a simple white t-shirt and an oversized brown cardigan that matches Taeil’s golden skin perfectly. If only Taeil went out in the sun more, it’d look even better.

Taeil smiles at the set but as soon as he sees Donghyuck’s proud devilish smirk, he loses his good humor.

“Oh, you are so grounded this week,” he mutters while dressing up.

"You should be thanking me! You know how many losers I had to talk to before I settled on this one? I did all of the hard work for you."

"Oh god," Taeil says, feeling like a horrible guardian. He’s just finished putting on the cardigan when Donghyuck throws him a bottle of their fancy perfume. "How many- wait. Don't tell me. I'll deal with you later."

He considers whether perhaps he should install a spy bug on Donghyuck’s phone. For his entire life, he was in favor of giving minors some privacy. He remembers the endless fights he had with his parents, who clearly knew nothing of technology, and freaked out any time Taeil mentioned having online friends. Donghyuck has, however, forfeited that privilege once he made a profile on the nastiest dating website of the internet.

For a moment Taeil wonders if his brother has put his sex position in his profile. He wouldn’t… Right? He is too afraid to ask.

"It's not my fault!” Donghyuck defends himself. “Honestly this was all Mark's idea. He said you needed to put yourself out there, take some time for yourself. And I've heard that there's no true stress relief like getting -"

The apartment buzzer interrupts Donghyuck before Taeil can strangle him while yelling he knows it wasn’t Mark’s idea and that he is a pathological liar.

Johnny is here.

Donghyuck quickly stylises Taeil’s hair and gives some more puffs of the perfume. He also throws some lip balm at Taeil’s direction and winks while pushing his brother out of the door.

“Go get him!”

“Wait, Hyuck!” Taeil yells before his brother can close the door on him. “You didn’t actually post my sex preferences in that very public dating profile, did you?”

Donghyuck doesn’t even blink. “Duh! Don’t be shy about being a sub-bottom, it’s okay to be vanilla!”

“That’s not the issue!”

Donghyuck slams and locks the door. Taeil takes a deep breath and tidies his cardigan one last time before walking down the stairs.

It dawns on him what he’s doing: accepting a blind date his prankster brother has arranged. This must be a set up. Johnny must be Mark in a weird sort of prank that Donghyuck has planned. Perhaps he harbors a secret wish of seeing his best friend and brother together? Or maybe he wants both to be miserable. It’s more than possible that Johnny doesn’t even exist and Mark is down there with his phone up to record a TikTok video. Fucking TikTok.

When he opens his building door, he’s met with the same handsome face he’s seen in the Grindr profile. His hair is longer than in that selfie, almost shoulder length. Taeil wants to run his hand through it. Above all, Johnny is tall — so tall in fact that Taeil doesn’t know whether to look up at his face or at his large chest.

“Hi, I’m Johnny,” he says, a sweet smile on his lips.

Taeil feels his legs wobbling and says a faint “Hi,” back.

Johnny offers him his hand. That’s it. Take it or leave it.

Taeil bites his lips, now more hydrated and softening due to the lip balm, and takes Johnny’s hand.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

It’s hard not to accidentally exclaim “Woah” when Taeil sees Johnny’s car for the first time. It looks brand new from the outside and his suspicion is proven right when he enters the vehicle. Donghyuck had told him Johnny had money but now he wonders how much money. Taeil is sure this car is triple what he makes in a year.

They don’t talk much on the way to the restaurant. Johnny puts on some nice ambient music—Taeil recognizes it as bossa nova,—and keeps his eyes mostly on the road. Donghyuck hadn’t told Taeil where the restaurant was so technically Johnny could be kidnapping him right now and he wouldn’t know. Fortunately, before he can freak out over it, they arrive at a big rustic building in a quiet street.

He doesn’t have the time to blink before Johnny is opening the door for him and guiding him by his hand. When Donghyuck described him as a gentleman Taeil didn’t expect this, but he isn’t complaining. The place is cozy but chic with dim lighting that gives the environment an intimate vibe. Just by the looks of it, Taeil knows it’s expensive, but at least it’s not one of those tacky rich places.

Johnny has made a reservation under his name. The hostess seems to recognize him and Taeil wonders how many dates he has brought to this place. They are guided to a special corner of the restaurant and given the menu.

“Feel free to drink, I won’t because I’m on driving duties tonight,” Johnny says once the waiter leaves them with the wine selection as well.

Taeil knows shit about wine. He hasn’t had any alcohol in ages. “I think it’s best if I stay sober for tonight. I work tomorrow.”

Johnny nods at him and turns to the menu. Taeil becomes nervous. What is he supposed to order from here and how much does he have in his debit card to cover? God, he will kill Donghyuck for not scheduling a simple movie date.

He takes a quick look at Johnny who is focused on the food selection. He becomes anxious by the second until he feels a warm hand englobing his. Taeil looks at it to see his tiny hand disappearing beneath Johnny’s huge one. He looks up to find his date kindly smiling at him.

“This dinner is on me, as I said,” he states in his smooth voice. “Feel free to choose anything.”

Taeil has no recollection of Johnny texting that but maybe he didn’t see it because he scrolled so fast. There’s not enough energy in his brain to think this through, he is still stuck on how enormous Johnny’s hands are. He imagines them easily manhandling him in bed, putting him where he belongs.

“Taeil?” Johnny asks, tilting his head.

Taeil blushes. He has to make a good impression if he wants Johnny to take him to bed so it’s best to choose a meal quickly. The tips from his old university friends come back to mind: no one is pretty eating pasta and fish gives bad breath. He goes for a fancy chicken dish.

Once Johnny orders, he turns to Taeil with an attentive gaze. “How was your day?”

“It was fine,” Taeil replies nervously. Johnny eyes him curiously, seemingly asking if it was really fine. “Actually, my little brother stressed me a little.”

Johnny arches his brows in surprise. “Didn’t know you had a brother.”

“We live together and he gets on my nerves sometimes. I’m almost sure Donghyuck works for the devil.”

That statement earns him Johnny’s first laugh of the night. It’s so earnest and melodic, he hopes it isn’t the last.

“Poor Donghyuck,” he coos.

Taeil has not one ounce of pity for his brother tonight. “You say that because you don’t know him!”

Conversation flows easily between them from that point on. Taeil has never considered himself the most talkative but Johnny asks the right questions to keep him going. He tries to do the same for him but finds that Johnny is a naturally good speaker. Whenever Taeil is tired of talking, he takes a turn.

Better than how Johnny talks, is what Johnny talks about. He goes on length about his job as a gallery owner, his love for art and traveling. It never comes off as douchey or a show off, but simply him sharing about who he is and what he likes. Taeil is ashamed about his simple life for a moment. He’s never left the country or gone to an art museum but finds that Johnny likes hearing about his roadtrips and favorite blockbusters all the same.

“So you live alone with your brother?” Johnny asks after Taeil shares the last time Donghyuck almost burned down the kitchen. His muscles become tense.

“Yeah,” he replies shortly. An awkward silence falls between them. Johnny seems unsure if he’s overstepped and Taeil feels sorry for him. “Parents died some years back and I thought it better to take care of Donghyuck myself,” he explains further.

Johnny looks concerned. “What were they like?”

Taeil looks at his glass. He hasn’t talked about his parents to anyone other than Donghyuck in years. “Dad was very punctual and strict but he had a heart of gold. Mom was more of a free spirit and never judged a soul. They had their arguments but would always be understanding of each other.”

Johnny places his hand on top of Taeil’s and brushes his thumb across its back. “It must be hard to be the sole breadwinner of the house.”

He shrugs. “I make do. Hyuck deserves the best,” he states, closing the subject. Taeil doesn’t know if he can keep talking about this for longer without crying. It’s not even that he hasn’t healed from the loss but the question and Johnny’s genuine interest and care caught him by surprise. He slips his hand from under Johnny’s and immediately misses its warmth. “Hm, do you live alone?”

His date smirks. “Yeah, wanna visit my apartment later?”

It’s a joke, like many others Johnny’s made that night, and yet different. There’s a hint of seriousness to his invitation. Would Taeil be enough of a slut to open his legs on his first date? He imagines trailing his fingers underneath Johnny’s shirt as he fucks him hard against the wall. Taeil would beg him not to stop, becoming satisfied only after being filled up. Fuck. He can’t do this, he hasn’t prepped and he has work in the morning.

“Would you give me a tour some other day?” he asks, casually postponing the invite.

Johnny’s eyes sparkle with desire. “I’d love to.”

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

It seems like no time went by but it’s late at night when Johnny’s car parks again at Taeil’s apartment. Johnny moves towards opening the car door but Taeil stops him.

“Wait!” he says, a bit louder than he hoped. Johnny stops what he’s doing, alarmed. “Hm, I have to say this or else I might regret it.”

Taeil takes a deep breath. Johnny waits, looking concerned now. Taeil closes his eyes and explains about Donghyuck and the Grindr account. He opens his eyes to see that slowly Johnny’s worried demeanor gives way to an entertained one.

“I know this is wrong, trust me, he will get grounded until college, but he also did it with good intentions,” Taeil concludes, hoping his date won’t call the police on them.

“How so?”

Johnny catches him by surprise with that question. Taeil averts his gaze and murmurs, “He knows you’re my type.”

In response, Johnny laughs. Not in a mocking way but in a fond way. Taeil feels his tummy shivering. “It makes sense. Some things you said contradicted you through text,” he says. “Real life you is better.”

Taeil feels his cheeks warming. He doesn’t think he can stare at Johnny ever again.

“Just relieved I didn’t send him a dick pic,” Johnny reveals.

Taeil bites his bottom lip. “Did you want to?”

Once again, his date chuckles and gets out of the car. He opens Taeil’s door for him and takes him to his doorstep while holding his hand.

Taeil’s heart is beating so hard on his chest he thinks he might not make it. The end of the date might just be the worst or best part of it. He doesn’t want to leave but doesn’t know what to say.

“What do I do if I was, let’s say, in need of sending you a dick pic?” Johnny asks, while turning towards him.

“Give me your phone,” he demands, keeping a composure he doesn’t have. It’s the latest iPhone, of course. Taeil puts his number in it and gives the phone back to him. “There. But give the guy a warning first.”

Johnny pulls him by his hand. “Should I warn you I’m gonna kiss you?” he asks in a husky tone.

Taeil’s eyes widen and next thing he knows Johnny’s soft lips are pressing against his. Taeil kisses him back and Johnny takes that as a sign to deepen the kiss. It gets heated fast, the taller man dropping Taeil’s hand in favor of gripping the skin on his hips. Taeil wraps his arms around Johnny’s neck and sinks his fingers in Johnny’s carefully gelled hair. He would let himself be devoured in front of his own doorstep but Johnny breaks the kiss first.

His eyes are closed and he looks to be mustering the last of his strength not to continue kissing Taeil at this moment.

“Goodnight, Moon Taeil,” he bids, voice hoarse.

When Taeil opens his apartment’s door, he’s still lightheaded. He finds Donghyuck in the living room, smiling mischievously.

“How was it?”

“Bed. Now,” Taeil orders. Donghyuck groans but does what he’s asked. Once he’s closed the door, Taeil yells, “And no phone for two weeks!”

“Come on!”

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

Work is hectic and yet still boring. It’s one of the things of working at an insurance firm, lots of paperwork and long meetings. At least Taeil isn’t the one to tell people that no, the company won’t be covering the very important heart surgery their eight year old son needs. He just revises the paperwork that makes it possible. It kills his soul little by little every day.

Through the chaos of workday, he somehow still manages to send a couple texts back to Johnny. Ever since their date they’ve been texting everyday. Johnny is bad news. He’s taking Taeil’s focus from his stable job, but at the same time he is too hot and too big of a gentleman to be ignored.

After Johnny managed to get Taeil’s attention for ten minutes while texting about DJing in high school during work hours, Taeil decided it’s best to fuck him out of his system.

There are no dick pics attached in the texts making it impossible for Taeil to get ready for what will come.

They mostly talk about life. Johnny shares he inherited his gallery from his mom before she decided to travel the world with her fortune. He hasn’t talked to his dad in ages because of the divorce. Johnny confesses it was hard to accept his parents divorcing but his father’s reaction was unacceptable. There are not many details given and Taeil doesn’t push. In turn, Taeil talks about his strict boss and Donghyuck’s school issues.

It seems like the perfect cementation for a second date. Unfortunately, due to flu season, Taeil is too busy for a second date. Anytime Johnny asks, he stresses he can only do it next month. One time, after work, Johnny asks him if he’s home. Taeil is worried Johnny will just show up but decides to be honest. Five minutes later his cell phone rings. How old-fashioned of him to call.

Taeil picks up. When Johnny greets him, he can almost hear the smile on his lips. They talk about their day while Taeil gets himself ready for bed.

Once Taeil is tucked under covers, he complains, “You said you’d send a dick pic.”

“Oh,” Johnny exclaims, sounding amused. “I didn’t promise that.”

Taeil huffs. “So you will torture me.”

“Maybe I want to keep it a surprise for the future,” Johnny replies and Taeil can picture the sly smile that graces his lips.

“Yeah?”

Johnny hums and his voice goes tones lower. “You have no idea what I’d do to you.”

Taeil is too weak to think but he has to voice something or else he might think that he’s left the call. “What?”

Johnny goes into detail on how he’d kiss his skin, from behind his ears to under his ass, and leave love bites. After having appreciated Taeil’s entire body, he’d make sure Taeil is ready to take what he has prepared for him.

“Do you like that?” Johnny asks, once he is done.

“Yeah,” Taeil breathes out.

“Are you touching yourself?”

Ever since Johnny first started describing what he’d do to him, Taeil has his hands underneath his sweatpants. His cock leaks precome as he lazily strokes it, not wishing to orgasm too soon. Johnny makes the task hard. Just by that question Taeil’s hole clenches around nothing, begging to be filled up.

“Are you?” he asks back.

“I ask the questions here, babe,” Johnny says in an authoritarian tone that makes Taeil whine softly. “Now I’m going to repeat it one more time and you’ll answer me: are you touching yourself?”

Taeil forgets his previous resolution and strokes himself faster, needing to orgasm so bad. He’s about to answer Johnny when a smell of burning spreads through his room. Fuck, he’s so close to coming.

“I’m sorry but I have to go.”

Taeil turns off the call and runs to the kitchen, where he finds his brother trying to fan out the smoke coming from a pan on the sink.

Donghyuck smiles in apology. “Sorry.”

Taeil sighs. He is still hard and now he doesn’t have Johnny’s smooth voice to get him off.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

Against all odds, Johnny asks him out again. Their second date is even more intimate than the first. Johnny takes Taeil for a private dinner in one of his art galleries.

Taeil is obviously eager to get plowed by Johnny so there was no need for him to try so hard and yet he did. It’s flattering to say the least. Their plans tonight involve ending up at his apartment. Johnny’s loft is going through some reforms in the kitchen and he was very insistent that Taeil doesn’t see it until it’s done. It’s the first time Johnny annoys him. What sort of guy postpones having sex.

Fortunately, Taeil cleared his apartment earlier by kicking Donghyuck to Mark’s house. Tomorrow he has the day off and he’s prepped himself for tonight. He will fuck Johnny out of his system and stop drooling for his cock in no time.

Taeil’s just sharing about his university friend Yuta that’s back in Japan and keeps asking him to visit when Johnny asks, “What was your major?”

Taeil gulps. “Biology. But I didn’t graduate.”

Johnny is surprised once again. “You dropped out?”

He shrugs. “Had to pay the bills, parents didn’t leave much for us because of my uni expenses,” he reveals, looking away. Johnny remains quiet. Taeil wishes he’d say something. “Nowadays there are some online or night-time courses but I don’t think I have the time or money.”

That seems to bring a spark back to Johnny’s eyes. “You still dream of going back?”

“Sometimes,” Taeil reveals. He’s shocked by his own answer and shakes the thought away. “My main priority is getting Hyuck into one though.”

His date tilts his head. “Is that what he wants?” he asks. “Not to be rude but Donghyuck doesn’t seem like the type that’s crazy to continue his studies.”

“He’s a kid, he doesn’t know what he wants,” Taeil brushes him aside though he can’t help but be shocked how well Johnny read Donghyuck through Taeil’s rants alone.

“Must be hard to act as brother and guardian.” Johnny moves his hand on top of Taeil’s, appearing sympathetic. Taeil doesn’t want his pity.

“I make do,” he replies shortly. He was telling funny Yuta stories five minutes ago and somehow this became a pity party. Johnny always needlessly drives the conversation to sensitive topics that should be ignored. This is the second time he’s annoyed Taeil. “How is the current exhibition going?”

“Well, the curator is a friend of mine so it’s been an interesting partnership,” Johnny says, taking a sip of his wine. He arches one eyebrow. “Any work that has interested you?”

Taeil takes a look around. He cannot quite grasp what’s the main concept of the exposition. Perhaps something to do with flowers. Johnny must have told him but he knows so little of it that it’s pitiful. Last week, Johnny tried explaining color theory through text and it just made Taeil more confused. Finally, his eyes land on a sunflower painting. It’s so simple it perhaps could be deemed a sketch but there was some heartfelt earnestness to it that appealed to Taeil’s taste.

“That one.”

“It’s yours.”

Taeil turns at him with mouth agape and hesitancy in his tone. “Johnny…”

“What?” he asks back, ignoring how expensive that painting is. Johnny gets up from his table and walks to where Taeil is seated. He whispers in his ear, “Just take it.”

It's too much. This is supposed to be just sex with some romance sprinkled on top. Taeil needs Johnny to shut up so he turns his head and kisses him passionately.

Johnny is ready for his lips and kisses him back just as hungrily. He picks Taeil up from his chair to press him against one of the gallery’s walls as they kiss. The smaller man holds onto him by his neck and rubs his crotch area against Johnny’s, causing him to deepen the kiss. Johnny’s lips are delicious even when he kisses so hungrily. One of Taeil’s hands trails down to Johnny’s jeans but Johnny stops him before he can cup his cock. He ends the kiss, taking a look at how unraveled Taeil is and looking proud of it.

The drive home is fast. Taeil is sure Johnny slipped the driver some extra money so he can push the pedal. He doesn’t blame him, if there wasn’t anyone looking he’d probably suck Johnny off right in the car. Johnny’s large hands are permanently stuck on Taeil’s thighs.

When they arrive in the apartment, it’s as if they haven’t stopped kissing. Johnny doesn’t wait for them to get to the bedroom, putting him against his living room’s wall and devouring his mouth. While they kiss, Taeil’s fingers sink into Johnny’s soft black hair while Johnny grips him by the waist. One of his hands swiftly makes its way under Taeil’s shirt, causing shivers all over his spine. Johnny presses his crotch against Taeil and, for the first time, Taeil feels the size of his bulge. God, he needs it inside him right now.

Johnny bites his bottom lip and Taeil whines. His long fingers finally reach his nipple, causing a sensory overload in Taeil. He cannot do anything, just let Johnny handle him however he wishes. He is pinned against the wall, legs wrapped around Johnny’s crotch. Taeil feels like a doll for Johnny to play with while Johnny, Johnny is so strong and big and—

There’s a loud cough from the side and there’s Donghyuck eating chips on the couch, watching them with wide eyes, very entertained and clearly not not at Mark’s house. Taeil pushes Johnny away, frantically adjusting his messed up clothes and hair.

"Why aren't you at Mark's?!" Taeil asks, turning on the lights of the living room.

"He had to go to this thing with his parents that he forgot about so he brought me home." He puts another chip in his mouth, smirk barely suppressed and Taeil feels like tearing his hair out. "Have a good night?"

Taeil turns to him with blood in his eyes, thinking how to cover up a dead body, when Johnny says from behind him, “You must be Donghyuck.”

Johnny. Johnny’s still here. Taeil turns to him to find the man with an amused smile on his lips. The top of his shirt is undone, probably by Taeil himself earlier, he cannot quite recall, it was all so fuzzy and hot in his brain.

“Hey, Johnny,” Donghyuck says back in a cheerful tone. “What horrible things does my brother tell you about me?”

Johnny opens his mouth but Taeil yells, “Don’t answer him!”

Johnny quickly shuts it back again. He must think Taeil is insane by now. He could suggest they go to a love hotel but the ones Johnny goes aren’t probably in Taeil’s price range. If Johnny paid for them himself, Taeil would feel like a cheap whore.

“I’m sorry, Johnny,” Taeil turns to him, exhausted. Any mood they’ve built this night has been lost.

Johnny nods, seemingly understanding. He bids Donghyuck goodbye as Taeil walks him to the door.

“Rain check?” Johnny asks before walking down the stairs. Again, it catches Taeil by surprise. Why would he want to go out with him again after this mess?

Taeil wants to say no, a third date would mean things are getting serious and that was never his intention. Johnny stares at him with that charming and yet puppy-like expression. Taeil melts to it.

“I’ll text you about it,” he says, closing the door.

He watches Johnny leave from the peephole. It pains him to admit it, but he wishes Johnny had stayed even if they were just to cuddle in his single bed.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

The next day, Taeil wakes up to a bouquet of sunflowers on his lap. “Had a great time last night. From Johnny,” Donghyuck reads, a smirk on his lips. Taeil kicks him off bed and starts getting ready for work. Perhaps if he ignores this gift, Johnny will take the hint.

It doesn’t end at the flowers. Johnny sends the sunflower painting he had promised and a cardigan so soft Taeil could make it his pillow. There’s always a sunflower attached to the notes. They continue texting and Taeil never mentions the gifts, but when Johnny sends him a box of chocolates to his office, he crosses a line.

“Hey, Taeil,” Johnny greets him on the phone. Taeil doesn’t share his good humor.

“The gifts are a bit too much,” he says in a whisper. He’s working late hours and his boss has gone out for a smoke so he’s using the opportunity to make the call and air the grievance that’s been marinating in him.

“I know,” Johnny agrees. Taeil breathes in relief but there’s more coming. “Perhaps if you went out with me on other dates I’d give them to you in person.”

“I’m busy, Johnny.”

He doesn’t answer for a good few seconds and Taeil becomes annoyed.

“I’m not a business owner, I don’t decide on my hours and I don’t even have the money to eat out. Imagine giving expensive things to a man I know for less than a couple months!”

The call is silent. When Johnny speaks, his voice is composed, but hurt, “So that’s what we are? That’s all I am to you?”

Taeil sighs. He never wanted this. “I can return the gifts,” he says, though the cardigan had quickly become his favorite. He nervously runs a hand through his hair. “The flowers died, I don’t know how to take care of them, but—“

“There’s no need, Taeil,” Johnny interrupts. “When you have the time and feel like it, text me.”

The call is over. Taeil lowers his phone, angry at Johnny for making everything more complicated than it should be.

A week later he has a day off and decides to spend time with Donghyuck watching the latest movies on streaming services. They haven’t done that in a long time so it’s no wonder Hyuck is clingier than usual, wrapping his arms around his older brother’s tummy and resting his head there. Taeil caringly combs his hair with his fingers.

They have just finished watching a murder-mystery movie when Donghyuck looks up to him. “Why haven’t you been answering Johnny’s texts?”

Taeil is shocked by the sudden question but more so by the information it contained. “Did he tell you that?”

“Looked at your phone.”

“Hyuck!” Taeil exclaims. He is going to have to change his password again. “It’s complicated.”

He moves on to check other flicks on the catalogue, hoping the subject is over. Donghyuck isn’t as devilish as Taeil paints him to be but he knows quite well he’s enjoyed some flexibility from his guardian these last couple months because his head was busy with Johnny. Perhaps this was his plan all along. Now that Johnny is out of the picture, Taeil can fully return his attention to his brother, something he should have never stopped doing as he’s noticed Donghyuck’s grades dipping on these last exams.

“Doubt it. He’s a nice guy, Illie, let him care for you,” Donghyuck whines while taking the remote from his brother’s hand. “You like him, right?”

“I have too much going on right now, Hyuck, gotta save for your uni and take those extra hours.”

Donghyuck huffs. “I don’t wanna go to college.”

Taeil rolls his eyes. “Let’s not go over this again.”

It’s a perfectly good Sunday and he has missed his little brother. He has ruined it with Johnny but not with Donghyuck. He can’t go wrong with Donghyuck.

Donghyuck seems to notice his brother is fragile and lets it go. “Fine, fine,” he murmurs, curling up with Taeil once again. The next movie is another murder mystery. Taeil doesn’t complain, he likes how things are.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

During meeting days, Taeil needs at least two Cokes to stay awake. It’s barely noon and he’s already considering taking his third. He cannot sleep or even blink, especially today: the end quarter meetings, the most important of all.

They are going through a slide presentation to recall basic office relationship rules when Taeil receives a call in the middle of it. His phone is in silent mode but his boss, who is sitting nearby, side-eyes him. Taeil checks who the caller is and mentally curses in his head. He excuses himself to his boss and takes the call in the empty hallway.

“Hello.”

“Mr. Moon?” a womanly voice that Taeil is unfortunately too familiar with asks. “This is Donghyuck’s school and we are calling about an incident that happened earlier today.”

Apparently, and this is the gist of it because Taeil is buying his third Coke as she speaks, Donghyuck did something rude during an event with spokespeople from universities.

“In this case, an adult has to pick him up so we can have a conversation about his behavior,” the principal says.

Taeil sighs. This is the worst case scenario. “I see, it’s just I’m currently at work and I’m Donghyuck’s single guardian.”

“I understand the situation, Mr. Moon, but Donghyuck has misbehaved for far too long and we always have let it slide. This time we won’t,” she says, putting an end to Taeil’s excuses. “The school closes at 5.”

With that, the call is over.

“Taeil?” his boss calls. Taeil doesn’t know for how long he’s stood there motionless. “Let’s get back to it?”

Taeil gets in the room again. Now they are giving them training and it’s important for him to participate. Great, Taeil loves to learn in what other ways he can take money off of sick people.

The clock doesn’t stop rolling and neither does his brain. He considers faking sick but his boss has seen him take a call and can connect the dots. Besides, this meeting is important — or at least, important to the company. He has no one else to ask help to. There are no close living relatives and most of Taeil’s university friends are from other cities and countries. God, he knows he can’t fake being sick but now he really is feeling sick.

As soon as the presentation ends, it’s time for a coffee break. Taeil runs to the upstairs bathroom to call the only person who can help him.

It only takes one ring for Johnny to pick up his phone.

“John, I know I’m probably the last person you wanna talk to right now—“ Taeil starts word-vomiting but is soon interrupted by Johnny’s harsh question.

“What is it?”

“Hyuck,” Taeil’s voice breaks as he says it. His breathing becomes rapid and he wants to lock himself in this bathroom and never leave. This was what everyone around him warned it’d happen. He’d never be a good enough guardian for his brother, never would be there for him.

“Hey,” Johnny says, this time softer. “Deep breaths. It’s okay,” he reassures him.

Taeil manages to stabilize his breathing. He doesn’t have long. Coffee break ends in four minutes.

“He got in trouble at school and I can’t pick him up or I’ll lose my job,” he explains. “I know you owe me nothing—“

“Text me his school address. I’m on my way.”

Taeil finds it hard not to cry. He doesn’t understand why Johnny is so kind to him after everything he’s done but he has no right to refuse this time.

“Thank you, Johnny. Thank you, thank you, thank you—“

“Illie, just…” Johnny says with a hint of hesitancy to his usual sure words, “take care, okay?”

Taeil nods but cannot voice his response, choked up with emotion. He ends the call and tidies himself up. Coffee break is over.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

When Taeil gets home, he’s emotionally exhausted. Not wanting to waste any time or be asked to stay late, he runs to the exit and gets the first bus home.

The smell of food coming from his apartment surprises him. Donghyuck rarely cooks, always sticking to junk food. He opens the door to see Donghyuck and Johnny have finished their meals. Johnny is diligently taking off the plates from the table and putting them in the dishwasher.

Upon seeing Taeil, Donghyuck runs to the living room. Taeil wants to order him to get back but Johnny comes into his field of vision before he can do it.

“Don’t go too harsh on Hyuck, he was just being a teenager.”

Taeil purses his lips. “Is there anyone I should apologize to?”

“I already made him write a handwritten apology and sent it to the lecturer with some flowers.”

Johnny’s intention is probably to reassure Taeil but it only makes him feel worse. Add one more thing to the list after picking his brother from school and cooking them dinner. Taeil is sure that if he looks at the pan on his stove there will be food leftovers for him as well.

“You didn’t have to put your own money—“

“Don’t worry, Taeil,” Johnny interrupts him. “I just want to help, so just call me when something happens,” he says, going for the door.

Taeil didn’t expect Johnny to still be there, but does he have to leave so soon? He walks to where the taller man is.

“You can stay over.”

Johnny spares him a glance. “I think it’s better if you rest,” he whispers and leans closer.

For a moment, Taeil thinks they might kiss again. He lifts his head up to meet him halfway but Johnny’s lips find his forehead instead.

“Goodnight,” he whispers after planting a kiss. Taeil is static. Johnny leaves.

It is the most devastating blow of the day. Just now, Taeil saw what he could have had. Someone to lean on, who would cook and love him like no one did. A friend, a confidant, a lover. Not just any lover, but Johnny, who was rich and yet never petty. Johnny who was always a gentleman and, although talkative, always seemed interested in what Taeil had to add. Taeil misses Johnny’s large hands englobing his, he misses Johnny’s soft lips, he misses the way he carefully and strongly kissed him, how he paid the bill and never expected anything in return. Taeil has lost so much and he didn’t even know.

“Where’s Johnny?” Donghyuck asks, walking into the kitchen.

Taeil is quick to wipe the single tear streaming down his cheek and turns to his little brother. “Gone home,” he replies, trying to sound unaffected, but his voice comes out too weak.

“You’re just going to let him leave like that?” Donghyuck asks, sounding way too judgemental for a kid who has just been suspended from school. “Johnny likes you, Illie, he really does. Don’t throw it all away,” he says, more softly this time.

Taeil shakes his head. “Don’t talk about Johnny when we still have to talk about what you’ve just done.”

“Don’t use me as an excuse for you to avoid him.”

Uncertainty turns Taeil silent. He doesn’t know if he should be reckless like his brother and chase love in turn of duty for the first time. His heart begs him to do it and yet…

“I can always be grounded another day. Guys like Johnny don’t come by that often,” Donghyuck argues, a sly smile on his lips.

Taeil squints his eyes. “You’re so doing this to find your way out of this.”

His brother arches an eyebrow. “And if I am? Does that change your feelings for him?”

“Fuck,” Taeil curses. He knows the answer to that question already. “I don’t have his address.”

“Lucky for you, I do.”

“How—“

Donghyuck doesn’t let him finish. He knows Taeil too well and can tell his brother will change his mind any second. “I’ll text it to you! Now go!” he says, opening the door and pushing Taeil out of it.

Taeil has chosen his heart for the first time. He prays he doesn’t regret it.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

The doorman asks Taeil what’s the apartment number but he doesn’t recall or has the patience to look at the address Donghyuck has given him. Johnny’s name leaves his lips and the doorman is dialing up. In no time he’s been guided towards the elevator and the man clicks on the floor button for him. Penthouse.

The elevator doors open inside Johnny’s apartment and Taeil finds him waiting.

“Taeil? Is everything okay?” he asks, leading Taeil to his gigantic sofa. Taeil is almost swallowed whole by its comfiness.

“Actually no,” he says. “I’m sorry for how I’ve been treating you this last month.”

Johnny shrugs and looks down, embarrassed, “A guy can take a hint.”

He moves away from Taeil but is held to his place by tiny hands gripping on his loose sweatshirt.

“No,” Taeil says, louder and more confident this time. “I was afraid of my own feelings for you.”

Johnny is taken aback at first but his expression shows some disbelief. It hurts Taeil but he knows he’s hurt Johnny too. He tries holding his large hand in his.

“I’ve never told you in detail what happened to my parents,” he starts softly.

Johnny knows the strokes of it but Taeil takes his time sharing his parent’s car accident. He was in the middle of university when it happened, the memory of getting a phone call in the middle of lab class is still fresh on his mind. The grief was excruciating but having to find the money to pay the funeral bills made it all worse. Donghyuck would cry whenever he saw his big brother cry and so he refrained from it.

When it was done, Taeil got little money from their insurance policy. The government didn’t help much either even though Donghyuck was a minor who had lost both his parents. His brother was his responsibility now since both his father was a single child and his mom’s older sister was dead before they were born. They had never met their grandparents either. Though their parents were good people, no one offered Taeil any help, only condolences. When the bills started to stack up, choice had to be made.

The first one was to drop out of college. Taeil’s university friends were against it but had no arguments on how he could save money. He didn’t cry when filling out the papers, however tears streamed down his face when he had to sell the house. His entire childhood was there and Taeil knew the blood, sweat and tears his parents gave for that property. Still, he couldn’t maintain it for now and needed extra money for emergencies. He found a tiny apartment downtown. Donghyuck hated it but there was nothing he could do.

Lastly, he took the job in the insurance company. They were more than glad to hire a diligent worker without having to pay a good salary for a uni degree. Taeil hates himself for accepting the position, insurance firms had screwed him before, but he hopes to find a better job one day. One that he perhaps even likes and that doesn’t overwork him. He’s been stuck in that company ever since.

Then there comes the paradox. To take care of Donghyuck he needs a job to feed him but this same job keeps Taeil from being as present in his life as he should be. He tries his best and he knows Donghyuck doesn’t take it to heart, but it pains him to count how many school events he’s missed because he was needed at work.

“Donghyuck is my responsibility and yet I can’t give him the care he needs because I need to work,” Taeil concludes, wiping his tears.

Johnny has listened to everything attentively, only pausing for a moment to get Taeil a glass of water and some tissues. He holds his hand, massaging it gently. When Taeil has finished talking, he assures him he’s done his best as a guardian and Donghyuck is a fine boy who admires his brother very much.

Taeil scoffs. “How good a guardian am I if I don’t get him into any university?”

Johnny frowns. “It seems like you want him in uni because you didn’t finish it,” he says carefully.

“I want what’s best for him,” Taeil replies, quickly becoming defensive.

“He can figure that out for himself. He will be an adult in a couple months. Now, what is the best for you?”

Johnny’s attention on him is starting to get under his skin. Taeil tries to take his hand back but Johnny holds it tight. “That’s not the issue…”

“I think it is,” Johnny insists. He raises Taeil’s chin so their eyes meet. “I don’t think the best for you is to work in that soul-sucking job or to give up on your degree forever.”

Taeil doesn’t know what to say. He knows Johnny is right and that everything he says seems basic but, as someone who hasn’t been anyone’s priority in years, to hear this brings tears to his eyes.

“Let me help you,” Johnny says. Taeil takes a deep breath. “Let me take care of you.”

Taeil agrees with his head and his eyes drop to Johnny’s lips. They look even prettier now after saying such kind words to him. Taeil misses kissing them stupid.

Johnny’s eyes follow, but he still doesn’t close the gap between their mouths. His free hand goes for Taeil’s cheek, caressing it. Taeil closes his eyes for a moment, enjoying the warm brush of his thumb on his skin. He waits, expecting Johnny to approach him. Johnny’s hand moves to Taeil’s neck and he pulls him closer. Slowly, their lips meet midway.

It starts with a peck. Johnny opens his mouth and Taeil follows. He controls the kiss, gently biting his bottom lip. Usually Taeil waits for him to insert his tongue but Johnny is already parting their lips before he does so. Taeil pulls him by his sweatshirt and inserts his tongue into his mouth. Johnny is surprised for a moment but follows suit until he takes the reins back. He holds Taeil’s face, pulling him close as they smash their lips together. Taeil moves closer to sit on his lap and that’s when Johnny holds his head in place.

“You don’t have to—“

“God, Johnny, this is all I want now,” Taeil whines, voice heavy with want. His hand trails up Johnny’s thigh, dangerously close to his crotch. “The number of times I imagined getting impaled by your cock…”

“Fuck, babe,” Johnny curses, closing the gap between their lips.

This time around Johnny is the one that pulls Taeil to his lap. The smaller man gets comfortable, opening his legs to accommodate Johnny between them and wrapping his arms around his neck. He moves his hips as they deepen the kiss and can sense something hardening under his ass

Johnny sinks his fingers on Taeil’s hair and pulls it away. It hurts and that goes straight to his cock.

“I can be rough sometimes,” Johnny warns, a mix of a threat and worry in his tone.

“Please,” Taeil whines and rolls his hips in response.

Johnny gives another tug to his hair. “Do you know the traffic signal system for safewords?”

Taeil nods, missing his lips on him already. Johnny lets go of his hair and starts kissing his cheeks, moving to his neck as he undresses Taeil with his agile fingers. Taeil is still wearing his work clothes but Johnny doesn’t mind undoing each of the buttons and unzipping his pants as they make out. He’s even gentle doing so. Something tells Taeil this might be one of the last times Johnny’s hands are gentle with him tonight.

Once he’s completely undressed, Taeil’s hands move to Johnny’s sweatshirt. He slips his small hands under it, feeling Johnny’s toned body. He tries removing it so he can see his naked large chest but his hands are snatched away.

Johnny stops the kiss and takes a look at the man on his lap. Taeil feels smaller than usual, completely bare, small, chubby cock hard against his tummy, hair unraveled and eyes glistening with desire, with Johnny remaining impeccable as always. Johnny smirks and his hands grab a fistful of Taeil’s ass.

“What a fat ass, huh?” he asks, causing Taeil’s face to heat up. “Let’s get you a tour.”

He doesn’t wait for Taeil’s consent, easily picking him up bridal style and carrying the tiny man upstairs. The apartment is dark so Taeil can barely see a thing but once they reach a room, he can recognize it as Johnny’s bedroom. Johnny throws him on the bed and cages him there with his arms. He licks his lips as he watches Taeil from above, as if he’s ready to devour him.

Johnny gets up again and walks to his drawer. Taeil doesn’t dare move as he waits. When he returns, he demands Taeil to fold his legs to get a better access to his hole. Taeil can hear Johnny’s fingers dipping into the lube and becomes tense. Next thing he knows, a finger is entering him. Taeil breathes, trying to relax. It’s been a while but he’s done this already, it’s going to be okay. As Johnny opens him up, he kisses Taeil’s thighs. It’s hard for him to not touch his cock but he wants to last. Johnny inserts a second finger. They are long and reach deep inside him. In no time, he opens them as scissors to stretch Taeil’s rim further.

Johnny’s kisses rise to Taeil’s tummy. The smaller man whimpers under him. It’s unfair that he can only touch Johnny’s hair, he needs to see his body, feel his skin. Disobediently, he pulls Johnny’s sweatshirt away. His chest is godly. Taeil wants to kiss the entirety of it. Johnny seems to notice Taeil’s lustful eyes and smirks while adding a third finger without any warning.

Taeil whimpers immediately.

“Gotta get you ready for my cock,”Johnny explains, not sounding any bit sorry about what he’s done. Taeil can only sink his hand on Johnny’s hair. He doesn’t recall
the last time he's given so much control to someone else.

Johnny’s kisses reach Taeil’s chest and he starts sucking hickeys on his skin. “Have to mark you, so everyone knows you’re mine,” he murmurs, breath hot against Taeil’s skin.

Taeil’s hole clenches around Johnny’s fingers. He desperately needs more. Johnny senses his desperation.

“My fucktoy is so tight, hm?”

Fucktoy. Taeil feels more precome leaking for his cock. That’s what he is. Just when Taeil needs more, Johnny removes his fingers from inside of him. In desperation, his hands go to his cock, but Johnny slaps his hand away.

“That’s mine,” he says. His eyes are dark and domineering. Taeil had never seen him like this before and retreats his hands.

Johnny seems pleased by that. He throws the sweatshirt that is on the bed to the floor and swiftly pulls down his pants. He isn’t wearing any underwear.

Taeil whimpers at the sight of his cock. It’s fully hard, red and leaking precome. Best of all, it is veiny all over, with a head that’s gonna ruin Taeil’s hole forever, and so thick he’s gonna feel empty for the entire week after.

Johnny seems well aware that he’s endowed. He looks down on Taeil, picking him by the chin.

“How do you wanna take it, hm?” he asks teasingly. Taeil has no choice in this.

Johnny turns Taeil on his fours. He gets into position and Taeil is ready to be penetrated but it doesn’t happen. Johnny tortures him by slowly feeling his curves and ass. Taeil can feel his hard dick on the crack of his ass and wants to cry, he needs to be plowed so bad.

“Daddy,” he begs, not thinking before the word leaves his mouth.

Johnny’s hands stop right on its track. “Fuck, baby,” he curses before giving his ass a slap.

Taeil whines, wanting more. Johnny spreads his legs further and finally gets inside him. Taeil was right, Johnny’s cock head alone is wrecking him already. It’s too thick and even once it's past his rim, it enters him slowly to make way. Taeil can feel his breath being knocked out of him, giving way to Johnny’s length. He takes a deep breath until Johnny is inside him completely and he can feel his balls hitting his ass.

Johnny doesn’t ask for permission to start fucking. He sets a deep pace from the start. He’s so strong and thorough, Taeil’s arms give in in a couple of thrusts. Johnny doesn’t seem to mind, supporting one of his hands on Taeil’s neck. It’s surely going to leave a mark. With his free hand, he slaps Taeil’s ass cheeks.

Taeil takes it, crying on the pillow as Johnny reaches deeper inside of him. He’s certain he’s never had anything like this. Not only does Johnny have a monster cock, he knows how to use it well, reaching the right spots to bring tears to Taeil’s eyes.

Taeil was wrong from the start: there was never a way to fuck Johnny out of his system. He was bound to become addicted and want more and more. Even now as Johnny gets deep inside of him, Taeil can’t help but think of other positions and what else could Johnny do to him. Taeil would let him do anything he asks for if it’s as good as this.

His cock brushes against the sheets from time to time and Taeil badly needs to touch it but he knows he shouldn’t. He clenches his hole and hears a groan coming up from Johnny.

Johnny pulls him by his hair, bringing him close to his face to whisper in his ear, “Beg for daddy.”

“Daddy, daddy,” Taeil whines. Johnny drops him back to the matress and fucks him harder and faster this time. He slaps Taeil so hard the sound echoes through the room.

Without any further warning, Johnny pulls out. Taeil is ready to beg again, get on his knees if he has to. Perhaps he doesn’t even need to come, he’d be happy simply sucking Johnny off and tasting his warm come hitting his throat. Only thinking about sucking Johnny makes his mouth water, but before he can suggest that, Johnny manhandles him so he’s on his back, legs spread. Johnny gets inside of him again.

This time, Taeil can observe Johnny as he takes him. His long hair bobs just as he thrusts inside Taeil and some of it sticks to his forehead due to sweat. Johnny’s eyes are dark and possessive and Taeil wants to drown inside of them. His expression is determined to fuck Taeil until he is begging.

“Fuck, I’m close,” Johnny curses and, just as he says that, Taeil can feel his cock twitching inside of him.

“Breed me, daddy,” he begs, clenching his hole so he is filled up faster.

“You want my come so bad,” Johnny says. Taeil doesn’t even try denying it. He knows it’s all he needs for him to orgasm as well.

“Please, please, daddy, please,” he chants, almost deliriously.

It only takes a couple more thrusts for Johnny’s cock to twitch again. His thrusts are deeper and stronger this time and he stops deep inside Taeil.

“Fucking take it!”

Warm come fills up Taeil. He’s so overwhelmed by it that he comes on his tummy a second after. They both ride their orgasms. Johnny comes so much inside of him, some of it even leaks out while his cock is still inside of him. They ride out their high together.

Johnny falls over him, locking them on the bed. Taeil embraces him, trying to regain his breath.

Their heartbeats become slower. Their senses return to them. Taeil is brought back to reality by Johnny’s soft kisses and nuzzling.

“How was it?” he asks, voice hoarse and yet kind. Taeil feels his warm embrace all around him. He cannot speak.

When Johnny pulls back to meet his eyes, he sees Taeil is crying.

“Illie?” he asks, concerned.

Taeil smiles and leans his head so he can kiss him. Johnny grins while kissing him. It’s chaste and yet intimate. Johnny breaks the kiss and pulls Taeil up, carrying him to the bathroom so they can shower.

Johnny remains gentle during the shower, helping to clean out all of his come from Taeil’s hole and kissing the bruises he’s left just minutes earlier. Taeil can’t stop smiling. Perhaps he can get used to this.

☘︎ ☘︎ ☘︎

It doesn’t take long for Taeil to leave his job. Perhaps it’s a weird sort of nepotism — Donghyuck makes sure to call him nepobaby to get on his nerves — but Johnny finds him a position as secretary for one of his friends. The hours are more flexible and it pays more. At first, Taeil thought Johnny would be ashamed that he was still working but in reality Johnny never wished for him to stop, only for his conditions to be fairer.

Donghyuck doesn’t go to uni. Taeil isn’t as bothered as he thought he would be but he makes sure to tell him that if he’s not studying, that he must contribute to the household bills. Donghyuck picks up a few jobs on the way. He gets in trouble, of course, but Taeil is no longer his guardian to answer for him. Finally, he settles as a receptionist in a dance academy. He seems to enjoy the job as he gets free classes.

Since Donghyuck is working now and Taeil is getting paid better, he finally has extra money to finish university. He goes to night school and there’s only one year left for his major. It’s exhausting and he feels sorry for Johnny, who barely sees him, but he knows it will end soon. Besides, he practically lives at Johnny’s apartment during the weekends.

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny… Taeil has no words to express what Johnny means to him. When they started, he had no idea he could connect with someone so deeply. Johnny is his biggest confidant. Every ugly feeling and thought he has, he only shares it with him. Johnny listens and never judges him for it. He always says what’s on his mind and Taeil is glad for it. This theory hasn’t been tested yet, but it’s possible he can listen to Johnny talking for days and days.

Their companionship is truly nothing like Taeil has ever experienced before and it obviously finds resonance in bed. Sex with Johnny is… mindblowing. Sometimes, when Taeil is getting fucked hard against the mattress and can only think about Johnny’s cock inside him, he considers giving up on having a job and only living to be Johnny’s fucktoy. He doesn’t think there’s any position more suitable for him. Once they are done and reason returns to him, he knows that wouldn’t work out. Still, he is craving for another round.

Today is Donghyuck and Taeil’s joint birthday celebration. They were born only eight days away from each other so they’ve celebrated together since their parents died to save on money. It’s different this time. Taeil wants a simple dinner with his brother and boyfriend. After, Donghyuck plans to party all night long while Taeil has a romantic night with Johnny.

“So, when are you two gonna thank me?” Donghyuck asks after he’s done with his plate. There’s sauce all over his mouth and Taeil cleans it with a napkin.

“For what?” he asks, skeptic.

“For getting you two together!”

Johnny chuckles but Taeil squints his eyes at his brother. Donghyuck is unbelievable. “You got on Grindr as a minor!”

“It was for the greater good!” Donghyuck exclaims while gesturing with his hands. The younger brother pouts, acting sullen. “Now you two are moving in together and I’m left with no brother and no gratitude…”

Taeil turns to Johnny, eyes wide. “Moving in together?”

Johnny sighs, a hand going through his hair in exasperation. “It was supposed to be a secret.”

“Oopsie,” Hyuck says mischievously, not looking one bit guilty.

“I was going to ask you in private and—“

“Yes,” Taeil says, interrupting Johnny’s explanation.

Taeil doesn’t care. He cannot wait to wake up every day to Johnny’s kind eyes, to have foot massages before bed and to be cuddled to sleep. He pulls Johnny close to him to taste his lips.

It took him some time but Taeil’s finally learned how good it feels to be taken care of again.