Archive of Our Own

Seungmin is indifferent toward interviews.

Sure, it's part of his job. It's a thing that comes with the idol package, something that he has learned to deal with. Media training has helped him a lot, and he's certainly grown to be more professional, yet there are certain moments when he…

He spaces out.

He doesn't do it on purpose. It just- happens. One minute, he'll be sitting on the stool, on the couch, wherever he's been seated for the interview, and the next, his mind is static. Empty and voiceless.

He remembers the first time it happened in front of the cameras. He's fairly certain that the interview was never even released. It was just a year into their career, back when they weren't nearly as big as they are now. 

He remembers that they were lined up in two neat little rows, Changbin and Felix on either side of him. The interviewer was an older woman with brown hair and a big smile. She was friendly, and the things she asked them were all decent – nothing out of the ordinary, nothing that crossed any boundaries. Maybe that's why the interview didn't get uploaded; there was no overdramatic flair to it, no juicy questions that made them squirm. 

Seungmin was being as attentive as possible, just in case the next question was directed at him. The older members took care of the more open-ended questions, which helped significantly, but he still wanted to be able to carry his own weight if it came down to it. However, no questions were coming his way, and the lights shining down on him were warm and bright…

That was when it happened.

The noise around him turned to static. Chan's voice melted into a pleasant hum in the back of his mind, and his eyes lost focus. He didn't feel dizzy or anything – he just felt eerily calm in the way he would sometimes back in class on a particularly boring subject.

He doesn't know how long it lasted. He tends to lose track of time when he spaces out. All Seungmin knows is that he could feel nothing, and then all he could feel was a hand at the small of his back.

The touch was faint through his clothes, barely even a tangible thing. Just gentle pressure paired with a few soothing, circular motions. 

He turned to Felix first, since he had always been the most touchy member. But his hands were both in his lap, his eyes flickering from the interviewer to whoever was speaking. Naturally, that only left one other option.

He tried to be discreet with it since the cameras were rolling, but his eyes found Changbin regardless. He was staring ahead, a pleasant smile on his face. Seungmin’s gaze trailed down his arm, almost all the way to the point of contact between them. He’d leaned into it subconsciously, as if reaffirming its existence.

Changbin didn’t acknowledge it. His hand stayed there, and the rest of the interview went by without another hitch.

Seungmin doesn't know why his mind latched onto that moment. Changbin has made many more impressive and objectively attractive gestures. He can sing and dance well, his rapping is exceptional, and he’s overall a genuine person. Kind, yet not a pushover. Honest, yet without being blunt.

However, that specific moment replayed in his mind for days. It carved its memory into the forefront of his mind, and every time Changbin came into his field of view, it rang a little bell.

And the bell kept ringing. Every time Changbin came near, every time he reached out to him, every time he initiated contact. It rang and rang, and Seungmin hasn’t known peace since. For the past seven years of his life, he’s been living with a constant headache, and its name is Seo Changbin.

He's come to terms with what that might mean for himself, but he hasn't told anyone yet – not even Chan. As much as he loves and trusts their leader, these feelings are not something he wants to add to his already-full plate. Besides, he's been dealing with them on his own well enough. Seungmin has even taken to dropping hints here and there. Felix would be proud of him for taking the initiative. 

It's small things, like the phone calls when he's eating and the poking when they're side by side. And it's nice. He gets Changbin's attention, they bicker, and the bell in his heart rings happily.

Except that Changbin has never brought up any of it. 

It’s the only fault in his plans so far. Which is ridiculous, because Changbin is smart, academically and emotionally. And, even though he keeps trying and trying to make his advances known without it being too obvious, Changbin just- doesn’t see any of it. 

So now, Seungmin is stuck. And he can’t get out of it without outright confessing, so he’s been stuck.

“I see! Then, what about you, Hyunjin?”

Seungmin is indifferent toward interviews; however, he never knew that one measly interview would be enough to bring forth a notable change in his life.

He urges himself to snap out of his thoughts and focus on the present, on the interview that he is on right now and is still underway. He hadn’t been paying close attention, but it seems that Hyunjin is the one answering another question right now. 

“Even though I miss spending time with everyone else, living with our producing unit was… a challenge. Seriously, they all work too much.”

“You still live with one of the 3Racha members, though, right?” The interviewer asks.

Hyunjin smirks at that. “Yeah. Well, lucky for Changbin-hyung, right?”

And, really, Seungmin is not clueless. He might not be as connected to social media as some of the other members, but he knows the fans enjoy interpreting their relationships. It’s very often that they play it up on stage, too, just to cater to that type of fanservice. For some, it’s more real than others – he thinks Minho and Jisung have made that obvious enough, but it’s also another part of their job. He doesn’t take that stuff too seriously.

However, their living situations are another thing. That’s very much real.

Don’t get him wrong, he loves his apartment with Felix. He’s the personification of sunshine, and living with him brightens up Seungmin’s days in more ways than one. Plus, he’s given free rein on the famous brownies whenever he bakes.

It’s not the living situations that bother him, not exactly. It’s the fact that they’ll sometimes bring the fanservice to that private part of their lives, and the ease with which Changbin and Hyunjin joke about it being something more. Something not even Seungmin has access to, because it is their place.

He knows nothing is going on between them. If there was, he would have known. Minho and Jisung are already together, so Changbin and Hyunjin would have no reason to hide it.

But still…

“As of recently, 3Racha have been spending the most time together,” Changbin says, completely and utterly clueless to Seungmin’s twitching muscles in his hand. “We’re working on our comeback, and generally the studio has become my second home.” He turns to Hyunjin, wiggling his brows. “My and Hyunjinnie’s dorm? It’s my actual home.”

And- huh.

The bell that’s usually happily singing playful tunes whenever he’s next to Changbin goes quiet. All he can hear are the coos from the other members, the laughter of the interviewer and the mess in his own head. 

He thinks he’s smiling, but that’s just media training doing its work. On the inside, something ugly awakens.

The rational side of his brain tells him that it’s nothing, that it’s just Changbin playing things up for the cameras. And yet something about his words just doesn’t sit right with him. 

Because Changbin has said something along those lines before. To Seungmin.

They were in the studio, just the two of them, after a long day of practice. Even though they were tired after a full schedule, they still had to record tracks for the new album. A normal day in their lives, truly.

Seungmin had just finished singing one of his parts. It was soft and gentle, unlike the high notes, where he requests multiple takes due to his own perfectionism. The pointers written on the paper in front of him were swirling in his mind: make it breathy, but not sexy. Sweet and innocent, like a confession.

He lifted his eyes to Changbin, waiting for his opinion. But Changbin was just sitting there, behind the glass, staring at his monitor and doing who-knows-what.

“So?” He’d asked, worry starting to chew on his bones from the inside out. “Hyung?”

Changbin finally lifted his eyes from the screen in front of him and leaned back in his chair. He ran a hand through his hair and then reached for the button with a smile.

“Seriously, Minnie, that voice of yours…” He’d muttered. “It feels like I’m coming home after a hard day every time I hear it. Good job.”

To Changbin, it probably meant nothing. A stranded remark that he’d made after a taxing day, which got him more emotional than usual. But Seungmin…

Seungmin never forgot.

He’s okay with Changbin being an oblivious idiot. It kind of adds to his charm. But this, this crosses the line. It’s a line only he’s drawn, but it’s one drawn with Changbin’s own words.

Seungmin feels the itching need to reclaim the title, to make it his and his alone. 

Thankfully, they’re sitting close enough to slip his hand between them and around Changbin so that it’s resting on his back – a memory brought to life once more, except this time, their roles are reversed. Just because he doesn’t do it as often, it doesn’t mean that he can’t play the fanservice game too.

“Let’s not gatekeep now.”

“Pfft. Is the puppy getting jealous?” Jisung butts in, always too eager to tease him. 

Seungmin rolls his eyes. “I’m not. I meant that about 3Racha’s work. Changbin-hyung shouldn’t tease the fans about new songs when they’re not available yet.”

He knows that the arm around Changbin tells another story, but he’ll leave that up to the fans. They always figure out things they shouldn’t, anyway.

Speaking of the position of his arm, his contact with Changbin grants him access to new information he hadn’t thought of before acting. His back muscles grow more tense than before, and while it may not be visible to others, Seungmin can feel it. 

A strange sense of satisfaction blooms in his chest, and the bell rings. He’s always happy to have an effect on Changbin, even if it’s as tiny as this.

Seungmin leans back, a pretence of a stretch that’s probably going to get cut by having the camera zoom in on another member. He knows these loopholes by now well enough to use them. He inches a bit closer to Changbin’s ear, his words quiet not to get picked up by the mics.

“Don’t get used to this.”

And there is that.

The interview goes on as the interviewer latches onto the topic of any new releases. Chan gives a tiny spoiler, not able to reveal much more, and the subject shifts again. They move on from personal matters, to Seungmin’s delight, and the interviewer directs a question towards Jeongin this time. 

Throughout the rest of their time on set, Seungmin doesn’t pull back his hand.

When the interview ends, they thank everyone for their hard work, directing their gratitude to the managers and the filming crew. It’s clockwork at this point, and they’re making their way back to the changing rooms before Seungmin even realises it.

“What was that, hyung?”

Hyunjin’s voice causes him to look up, eyes flitting toward the sound of his voice. Changbin and Hyunjin are walking a few steps in front of him, chatting.

“What was what?”

“The thing about the dorms. You made me sound like a housewife!”

Seungmin can’t see Changbin’s face, but he knows he’s smiling. He hears it in his voice when he says, “Aw, do you not like hyung? I can be a good husband.”

Hyunjin laughs, gently pushing Changbin away from him. “Seriously-!”

Seungmin’s jaw snaps shut.

All things have a limit.

Even immovable objects can break under an immense output of force. Even water can kill you if you drink enough. The dose makes the poison, or so scientists say. Seungmin isn’t a scientist, but he feels comfortable saying it as well, because he is experiencing it right now, first-hand. All things have a limit, and he's just found out his.

His body moves before his mind catches up to it – it tends to do that a lot when it comes to Changbin, and only him. Usually, Seungmin is much less impulsive, much less prone to rash behaviour. His parents and teachers used to commend him for it, praising him for being mature.

Seungmin thinks he’s been mature for long enough. He grabs a fistful of Changbin’s shirt and tugs on it a bit harsher than he would have liked.

Changbin turns to him, confused. He looks like he’s about to ask him what he needs, and Seungmin rushes to stop him because he doesn’t trust his mouth not to betray him and blurt out a desperate “you”.

“Come with me,” he says, and he spares Hyunjin no second glance before he’s pulling Changbin away. It’s unfair and rude, but Seungmin can’t be bothered with that right now. He might apologise later. Might.

He drags Changbin to one of the spare rooms and closes the door behind them. Then, he immediately leans against it. His breaths come and go in short bursts of air. Alarms ring in his head, and it is different from the bell in his heart.

What did I do? What did I just do?

His mind is frenzied. Why did he allow himself to do this? Why didn't he stop for a moment to figure out an escape route? A mess. He’s a mess right now, and he never wanted Changbin to see him like this, and-

“Is everything okay, Minnie?”

Changbin's voice is soft. Seungmin usually likes it when Changbin talks to him like that, but now it irks him. Does he look okay? How blind can a man be?

“No.”

“What are you-”

“You really love fanservice, don’t you?” Seungmin spins around, facing him. His fists clench at his sides, because even now, the bell – the traitorous little thing – doesn't cease its persistent ringing. 

Changbin’s brows furrow. “Huh?”

Seungmin feels like a glass that’s overflowing. He doesn’t seem to be able to shut his mouth, no matter how hard he tries. “Or is there something you two haven’t announced yet? I won’t tell. For now.”

“You mean Hyunjin and me?”

“Who else?” He shoots back, and it comes out exasperated and childish. He hates it. He hates the way he’s acting right now, but he can’t stop.

“No? There is nothing?” And poor Changbin looks genuinely perplexed. “You’re acting like it’s the first time we’ve flirted on camera. I guess fanservice is the word, but I don’t get how it’s any different.” A small pause. “Does it look like it?”

“Are you seriously asking me that-”

“Or is Seungminnie a bit jealous?”

Seungmin’s eyes widen. He tries to take it in, to process the question, but he can’t. This isn’t like the easy interview questions; media training didn’t- no training prepared him for this. 

In the midst of his tiny breakdown, he notices that Changbin is grinning, having the audacity to appear smug. 

And really, what is there for him to be so smug about? Guessing this particular feeling out of everything else Seungmin has thrown in his direction? Finally causing the calm member of their group to lose their composure? 

Seungmin doesn’t know, and frankly, he doesn’t care anymore. 

He starts walking toward Changbin, his steps swift and purposeful. He crowds his personal space with intent, like he’s done so many times before. However, this time, he’s not aiming to simply tease.

He places a hand on his waist, right where he’d been holding him earlier, and he grabs the collar of his shirt with the other. Changbin has fallen silent, staring up at him with a shocked expression, the grin wiped off his face.

But it’s not enough. 

If Changbin can’t read between the lines, then Seungmin will just have to spell it out for him.

His lips clash against Changbin’s with fervour. He doesn’t try to make it gentle or soft; it’s not what he’s feeling at the moment. He’s frustrated, and angry, and- fuck, yes, he’s jealous. 

He has no right to be, but he is. He’s wanted Changbin for so long. Of course he’s jealous when his advances are ignored, and his emotions are toyed with. 

He almost pulls back when Changbin doesn’t respond, afraid that he’s ruined everything for good. But then, Changbin’s hands come to grasp at his shoulders for balance, and something in his chest soars. Because, if anything, it must mean that Changbin wants this enough – wants Seungmin enough – to kiss him back.

“Fuck-” He gasps against Changbin’s mouth, teeth dragging on his bottom lip and gently biting, seeking a taste of something he’s only fantasised about. And Changbin responds to it because he has to; he’s always been argumentative like that, and a sound dangerously close to a moan is fed into Seungmin’s mouth.

It goes to Seungmin’s head, rendering all other functions useless. He can only focus on Changbin’s lips, his warmth, the stolen breaths between them.

Their kiss grows messier, wet with saliva. Seungmin moves his hand from the collar of Changbin’s shirt to the back of his head, tugging on the soft, styled locks. He gets a small whimper as a reward, and Seungmin’s mind is barely lucid enough to hold onto that tidbit of newfound information.

They break apart for air eventually, both panting from the exertion. A string of spit snaps between them when Seungmin licks his lips, savouring the flavour. 

“Nothing to be jealous of anymore,” he mutters, his eyes finding Changbin’s.

“Seungmin-”

His hold on Changbin’s waist tightens a bit.

He… He needs a moment. His brain hasn’t caught up to everything yet, and he still feels the need to explain himself, just to make sure that Changbin won’t miss anything. Again.

“I’ll say it once and for all – I’ve had enough.” He makes sure to punctuate the word. Then, the rest of it flows out of him. “Have I not made a fool of myself enough by being obvious to the fucking moon? I dropped every hint imaginable – not-so-subtly, might I add – that I want you, hyung. I want more- so much more. It’s not surprising I had to get it myself-” He halts his rambling for a second, still feeling a bit breathless. “Or did you know all this time? Changbin-hyung, you could’ve-”

“I had no idea, Min.”

Seungmin’s breath stutters, and he has to swallow the knot in his throat. He searches Changbin’s eyes for any hint of insincerity, but he knows that it’s useless. Changbin would never lie to him like this. 

His shoulders slump slightly. “Really? You had no idea the whole time?”

Changbin shakes his head with a small smile.

“… But you feel the same, right?”

“Yah, Kim Seungmin, what do you think?!” Changbin’s volume increases, his smile turning a bit wider. “That I, what, just go around letting other men kiss me for no reason?!”

“I’m sure you’d let Hyunjin, since you two are so close.” Seungmin rolls his eyes, a smile beginning to form on his face after everything, too. Changbin’s joy is as infectious as the common cold.

He's sick with it.

“I thought you said that there was nothing to be jealous of anymore.”

“Ah, I lied. It might take a few more kisses for me to reach that point,” he says, leaning down to place his forehead against Changbin’s. He closes his eyes, takes a deep breath. “Say it.”

“Hm?”

“Say that you like me.”

“Do you want me to pair it with some aegyo? Since you care about my fanservice-”

His tone turns into something more serious than before, “Hyung.” He tugs on Changbin’s shirt where his hand is still fisting its fabric near his waist. He needs this. Before they decide to take the next step, if and when they do, he needs to hear it.

Changbin smiles again, this time sweeter. He brings two hands to either side of his face, holding it gently. His eyes are full of something Seungmin’s only ever noticed when he’s singing on stage and accidentally catches Changbin staring.

Oh.

Oh. 

Maybe they’ve both been a bit stupid.

“I like you,” Changbin says quietly, even though it is just the two of them in the room. “I’m sorry for not noticing your feelings sooner. I want you too, Seungmin. I do.”

Seungmin nods his head and casts his eyes downwards, but he doesn’t say anything else. He can’t find the words. He’s so happy, yet so overwhelmed. He’d been waiting for this for so long, and now it’s all happened so suddenly and so fast. Briefly, he thinks he might be delirious. Is he dreaming?

No, hyung’s touch feels too real to be a dream.

He lifts his eyes from the ground, something akin to hope taking root inside of him. “And now?”

Changbin shrugs, his hands sliding down to Seungmin’s shoulders again to rid them of their tension. “You could come over and find out.” He suggests, as if discussing something as simple as friendly dinner plans. As if they didn’t just completely change the entire course of their relationship within the past ten minutes. “You could find your answer on my bed.”

Seungmin is not about to let him gain the upper hand now.

“Oh, hyung, let me in your dorm, and a bed won’t be the only thing I’ll get on.” He makes sure to match the other’s nonchalance in his tone, choosing his words carefully. “I hope your shared home is not too sacred. Is it?”

“Don’t worry about it, Minnie,” he says, and then he leans in to leave a peck on Seungmin’s lips, and Seungmin can’t not smile when he’s finally being given the type of attention he’s longed for after years of waiting.

“We'd better go, the others are probably looking for us.” 

Changbin nods. “The quicker we leave, the quicker we’ll get home.”

-

“I’m going to Changbin’s tonight.”

Felix doesn’t look away from his phone as they keep walking down the hallway. “Okay, I guess? Have fun.”

“I also kissed him.”

“I already told you- wait, what?!” Felix suddenly stops and turns toward him, eyes blown wide. “You did?! How did it go?!”

Seungmin clears his throat, toying with the hem of his sleeve. He doesn’t know why he feels flustered now, after the hard part is over.

He never exactly told Felix about his feelings, but he was always sure that the blonde somehow knew. Well, he supposes that it’s hard to hide certain parts of yourself from another person when you share a living space. Plus, the fact that brownies were conveniently waiting for him every time Seungmin was in a sour mood because of a certain someone’s cluelessness was suspicious enough on its own. 

“I told you I’m going to his place, didn’t I…” Seungmin trails off, warmth creeping up his neck. 

“Oh, I’m so happy for you!” Felix pulls him into a side hug, and Seungmin lets him. “Please don’t be as gross as the other two, though. I’m going to puke on stage one of these days.”

“I don’t think anyone can beat that.”

“Good,” he sighs. “You get one sexile pass per month.”

“A-A what?”

“Guys, we’re leaving!” Chan’s voice rings down the hall. Felix gives him a quick pat on the back, paired with another one of his bright grins and goes on ahead. Well, whatever. Seungmin can ask him what he meant another time.

He gets inside the van, and they leave the filming location behind them.

The entire duration of their way back, he can’t seem to bring himself to calm down. Even though his headphones are plugged into his phone and music is spilling out of the earplugs, he still nervously fidgets with the sleeves of his sweater, staring out the window. And yet, there is something else entwined with all the nervousness, a tingly feeling that has his chest buzzing.

Fortunately, they’ve always been a pretty tight-knit group. Even with the previous living arrangements, they’d made sure that their apartments were only a five-minute walk away from each other. It’s the same now, too. 

The van with Minho, Jisung, Felix and him drops them off somewhere in between. They part ways with Minho and Jisung, and Felix gives him a wink when he begins heading off in the direction opposite to their building.

Changbin and Hyunjin’s place is only a few minutes away. Changbin is only a few minutes away.

Seungmin increases the volume of the song playing through his headphones, shoves his hands in the pockets of his coat and begins walking.

The sound of the bell ringing in his chest is somehow still audible underneath the music.

He gets to their apartment and inputs the code of the front door. They all know each other’s code numbers by heart at this point. He skips the escalator, hoping to buy himself a few more precious seconds. When he reaches their floor after a long flight of stairs, he pauses right in front of the doorway. His finger hovers near the bell.

He’s trembling.

This is so weird. Even performances don’t get him this pent up anymore. Changbin already told him that he likes him, so why..?

Seungmin takes a deep breath and holds it in. It’s one of the vocal exercises he indulges in before he gets on stage, one that calms his pre-concert jitters. He holds it until all of the air inside of him is used up.

He rings the doorbell on the exhale.

There is some noise on the other side, and then the door opens.

Hyunjin is the face that greets him first. “Seungminnie? What a visit! You actually left your dorm for once,” he says, leaning in to give him a short-lived hug.

“You could say there’s an occasion.”

“Oh, really?”

Seungmin’s eyes flicker to Changbin, who’s standing over by the couch. He hasn’t budged from his spot yet, hasn’t made any move to acknowledge Seungmin’s presence in any other way than just staring.

He presses his lips into a thin line. This is… a bit awkward. Where did the guy that propositioned him earlier go?

Hyunjin chooses now to suddenly become perceptive. He looks at Seungmin, then over to Changbin, and it’s like a lightbulb lights up above his head. “Ohh. So that’s what’s going on here.”

Changbin runs a hand down his face. “Hyunjin-ah…”

“No, I get it. That’s why you want me to leave. You want the whole place for yourselves, huh?”

“I mean, you don’t have to leave if you have soundproof headphones or something. How thick are the walls here?” Seungmin tells him. Coming face to face with Hyunjin, Changbin's main object of flirtation, has an unreasonable part of him thrashing, sending his anxiousness out the window.

Changbin’s head snaps up in his direction once he hears his response. “Hey-!”

Both Hyunjin and Seungmin ignore him. “Not too thick,” Hyunjin says. He crosses his arms over his chest, tilting his head to the side. “I didn’t expect you to be loud.”

Seungmin raises a brow. “Who said I’d be the loud one?”

“Okay, enough!” Changbin moves between them, and Seungmin doesn’t miss the redness climbing up his neck all the way to his ears. There it is. “Hyune, please? I’ll make it up to you.”

Hyunjin lets out a chuckle. “I don’t think the puppy would like that very much.”

“He’s right, I wouldn’t.” He pulls Changbin closer by tugging on his fingers until he can wrap two arms over his shoulders, his chest pressed to his back. “You have to make it up to me first.”

He can feel Changbin tense up at his touch, his ears turning even redder.

Now this is why he got hooked on it; teasing his dearest hyung and evoking these reactions, that is. Changbin will never shy away from it, never not give him what he wants if Seungmin asks for it in the right way.

“And that’s my cue,” Hyunjin sighs. “I guess I’ll go over to Lixie’s, since I’m assuming you’ll stay the night.”

Seungmin doesn’t look away from Changbin’s face when he speaks. He’s magnetised to the flushed hue of his skin – tearing his eyes away is too grand a feat, and he’s feeling particularly weak. “Mhm. You can go.”

“Rude, but good for you both. At least let me get my stuff before you start sucking each other’s faces off.”

He waits until he can hear Hyunjin’s footsteps retreating down the hallway before leaning in and nipping the tip of Changbin’s ear.

“Seungmin-ah-!”

“What? I didn’t kiss you.”

Changbin lets out an incredulous huff. “Can I ask you to wait until we’re alone, or is that too much?”

“Depends on how long Hyunjin will take.”

“I’m leaving, I’m leaving, God,” comes Hyunjin’s voice from behind them. Seungmin looks up this time to see him carrying a bag with clothes still peeking out. He probably shoved the first things he found in there without a second glance. “I’ll be back tomorrow at noon to get ready for our afternoon schedule. Is that enough time for you?”

“More than enough. Thank you,” Changbin says.

“As if I’d want to stick around to hear my friends going at it. As much as I love you guys, I’m not into that.” He puts on his shoes, grabbing his keys from the table next to the door. “Have fun.”

Seungmin tightens his hold on Changbin. “We will.”

With one last, dare he say fond roll of his eyes, Hyunjin shuts the door behind him.

The sudden silence is deafening. Seungmin swears he’d be able to hear a pin drop – hell, he can hear both of their breathing, yet he can’t hear his thoughts. They’ve gone quiet for once, his brain focused on the muscles of Changbin’s back against his chest. His body is warmer than Seungmin’s.

Changbin uses his hands to somewhat lift Seungmin’s arms momentarily, just to turn around in his hold. They end up facing each other again, chest to chest and heart to heart. Seungmin’s lips part as he takes it all in. 

“So…” Changbin drags out the word, hands coming up to his waist.

“Can I kiss you now?” Seungmin blurts out.

Changbin opens his mouth to answer, but Seungmin doesn’t let him. 

He’s kissing him before he knows it, already addicted to a sensation he felt for the first time about an hour ago. 

To his credit, Changbin doesn’t wait this time. He kisses back instantly, as soon as their lips meet. He matches Seungmin’s pace and even gives his waist a small squeeze in doing so, and it feels good. It feels even better knowing that they’re all alone, that Seungmin can get away with so much more than just kissing.

He brings his hands to his shoulders and guides Changbin backwards, gently pushing him until they’re up against the nearest wall. Their mouths disconnect briefly as they regain composure, but Seungmin isn’t intent on stopping any time soon. 

However, it seems that Changbin might be.

“S-Seungmin… We should talk about this,” he mutters, breaking the kiss by turning his head to the side. 

Seungmin uselessly chases after him. “Do I look like I want to talk right now?”

“No, but this is our first time. I want it to be good for both of us-”

“It will be if you shut up.”

“Min-ah… ngh-!”

Seungmin gives the spot behind Changbin’s ear another soft nip, a ghost of teeth along skin more than anything. He supposes it’s done its work well enough if it makes Changbin cease his blabbering.

He moves lower, urged on by the sound that leaves Changbin’s lips. He presses his lips against his pulse point for a moment, feeling the rhythmic rush of blood in his veins. The reassurance he gets from it is intoxicating. He likes it a bit too much, if he’s being honest.

“Stop thinking so much, will you?” He breathes into his skin, taking on the role of temptation. “You want this, right?”

“I do-”

“Then what is it?” He presses closer, bodies melting into one, and lets Changbin feel it, feel all of him. Seungmin hears his breath hitch, and he hooks his chin over his shoulder, closing his eyes and burying his nose in the crook of his neck. “What is there to talk about when this is the effect you have on me, hyung?”

And really, Seungmin thinks he’s won after this. He thinks he’s got Changbin finally caught in his clutches.

He thinks he does.

“Kim Seungmin.”

“Really-?” He lets out an exasperated groan and pulls back, almost tearing himself away from him. He would have, had Changbin not been holding onto his waist with such an iron grip. Seungmin rolls his eyes at his indecision. “Make your choice already- What do you want?”

“I want you to stop being a brat for once and listen to me,” Changbin says. His voice is deeper than usual, a bit hoarse. It sends a shiver down Seungmin’s spine. “I don’t know about you, but I plan on taking this seriously.”

He raises a brow. “Me too.”

“Good. Then you’ll stand still-” His words are cut off by a choked moan as Seungmin rolls his hips forward, slow and purposeful. He gives Seungmin a half-hearted glare. “Okay, let’s try again. I said, you’ll stand still for a second so that we can clear some things out.”

Seungmin can tell when he’s fighting a losing battle. His shoulders slump as he sighs, giving up for good. “Fine.”

“Thank you.” Changbin rewards him with one of his sweet smiles. It’s barely sufficient for what Seungmin is missing out on, yet his heart skips a beat. “If I do anything you don’t like, stop and tell me immediately. It won’t ruin the mood, I swear. You know, nothing sexier than concent.”

“I know that already. And it goes both ways.”

“I mean it, Min.”

Seungmin wants to roll his eyes again, but Changbin’s tenderness must be actively softening him up, because he finds his fingers lost in his little curls at his nape, nodding along. “I know you do. But I trust you. There’s no need to worry; it’s just us.”

Changbin chuckles, slightly bitter. “That’s exactly what’s making me so anxious, the fact that it's us.”

Us. It sounds so good coming from Changbin’s lips. This is them, Changbin and Seungmin, at their rawest. No surveillance, no cameras, no other members. Just them.

Seungmin will be damned if he lets this opportunity go.

“You talk like we don’t know each other,” he says, brows furrowing slightly. “If anyone could say that they know me better than my parents, it would be you. And I like to think that I know you, too. I’m not overlooking your concern, but…” He snorts, and a hand slides down his chest. “I’ve seen you naked before, hyung. You’re giving yourself too much credit.”

“You do not want to go there with me, Seungmin. I’ve seen you staring.”

“Are you sure you weren’t hallucinating?”

“Yes-!”

His hands slide even lower, down to Changbin’s stomach. “Then think of this as… intense stretching before practice. Would that be easier for you?”

Changbin’s breath stutters.

“Although, from what I remember, you’re not that flexible-”

“Listen here, you little-”

Seungmin’s fingers latch onto the belt loops of his pants, bringing him in for another feverish kiss. He rolls his hips against the steady grip he has on Changbin’s groin once more. They get lost in it for a few precious seconds, and Seungmin’s heart lurches in his chest as things finally appear to be getting more heated. Finally.

“What was that, Changbin-ah?” Seungmin mutters when they part, still struggling to catch his breath.

“I’ll-”

He dives in for another taste. “Hm? Can’t quite hear you, sorry.”

“Oh, I’ll make sure you-” Before Seungmin has the chance to cut him off again, Changbin grabs his shoulders and switches their positions. “I’ll make sure even Chan-hyung hears you, brat.”

Seungmin tilts his head with an unimpressed look. “Still so much talking and no action. Will you- ah!” 

A small yelp leaves his lips when Changbin picks him up like he weighs nothing to him, arms wrapping around his thighs as he lifts him off the ground. He knew that Changbin was strong – the strongest out of all of them, really – but this display of strength is affecting him in an entirely different way. His brain has been rewired.

“Hyung-ah-”

“Watch your mouth.” 

The words are paired with a tight squeeze on his thigh, bordering on the line of his ass. Seungmin gasps, Changbin’s touch as hot as burning iron. He wishes it’d brand his skin like hot iron, too – Seungmin would handle the pain, would take it.

“No take-backs, Seungminnie.”

He feels Changbin kick the door of his bedroom open. He thinks he says something, but his heartbeat is far too loud, and the bell is ringing far too much. He even parts his lips to speak, but he can’t. Changbin, that burly idiot, managed to render him speechless with one grab of his thighs. 

Since when was Seungmin that easy?

“Seungmin?” Changbin softens his tone, probably concerned by his lack of response. Seungmin kind of wants to punch him. He’s always so caring, so effortlessly himself. 

He places Seungmin down on the mattress, and Seungmin glares up at him through his lashes. He knows how he looks right now, he can feel how warm his face is, how hard he is in his pants.

Changbin’s broad shoulders lose some of their tension when he discovers the truth behind Seungmin’s silence by simply glancing down.

“Pfft, you’re melting at the barest display of strength. How cute.” He grins, wiggling his eyebrows cheesily, that dork. “Did our gym sessions turn you on too, then?” 

“Shut up and get on with it.”

Changbin grabs one side of his face, both desire and tenderness in his eyes. “You know I can’t say no to you.”

Their mouths connect, and Seungmin lets out a pleased little hum. He tugs on Changbin’s shirt, his tongue brushing against his lips hungrily, and he’s granted access almost immediately. He takes it as a sign to ask for more, to search for new buttons to push. His hands slide down, and he undoes the zipper of Changbin’s jeans as fast as he can while his mouth remains otherwise occupied. He gets a soft groan, one that resonates throughout both of their bodies.

“God, I could kiss you forever,” Changbin whispers when they part. They’re both heaving, eyes heavy with tension. 

While Seungmin really likes that thought, he'd also love to put his mouth on something else. “Me too… just not tonight.”

“Well, then.”

Changbin readjusts his position, practically climbing into his lap. His thighs bracket Seungmin’s waist, trapping him between them in the best way possible. Seungmin brings his hands on top of them, appreciative of his hyung’s hard-earned physique.

“So strong… and for what?” He mutters, observing the shifts in Changbin’s expression. He leans closer to get a better look at his face, palming him once, twice. Then, he wraps delicate fingers around him through his briefs. Before he even adjusts his grip to do anything else, Changbin’s hips rock forward ever so slightly. 

Oh, he’s sensitive.

He doesn’t know why he expected otherwise. This is Changbin, his sweet Changbin-hyung, who acts so tough yet gets emotional so easily. Of course he’d be sensitive in more ways than one.

“I just- carried you down the hallway,” he retorts.

“Doesn’t matter if you’re only strong when it’s time to show off.”

“Min, please-”

“‘Please’? You were talking so big a few moments ago.” He pauses as his eyes drink in the sight of Changbin’s lips parting on a silent moan. “You don’t even know what you’re begging for. You just want anything that I would give you, don’t you?”

He gives his clothed erection a squeeze before he moves his hand up, then down. He sets a slow pace, revelling in the slow drag of the fabric and the reaction it gets him. Seungmin has found out rather quickly – in the last few minutes, to be exact – that he loves watching the pleasure tugging on Changbin’s facial features. It’s there in the twitch of his brow, the flutter of his eyelashes, the tremble of his bottom lip. 

It’s there, and the best part is that Seungmin is the one responsible for it. He’s the only one who gets to see this. 

“Say what you want, love. It’s yours,” he mutters into Changbin’s ear, itching to get even more of a rise out of him. 

The body in his lap grows tense. “What did you just call me?”

Seungmin slows down the repetitive motion of his hand, coming to a halt. He gulps the sudden doubt that gathers in his throat, but not all of it goes down in one swallow. Did his plan backfire? “If you don’t like it…”

“Say it again.”

“Huh?”

“Say it again… please.”

His confidence, along with his smirk, returns. “What, ‘love’?”

Changbin’s dick flinches in his grip.

“Never expected you to be a pet name guy, hyung.”

“Min…”

“Sorry, sorry. Love.”

Changbin’s head tilts back when he pairs the pet name with a stroke of his hand this time, tightening his grip slightly. It exposes the long line of his neck, and Seungmin dives in to shower it with attention. He kisses and nips, wishing he could leave a necklace of marks for the world to see. However, the makeup noonas would find ten different ways to murder him by only using a brush if he did, so he doesn’t. 

“Now, what do you want?” Seungmin asks again.

“Stop. Don’t- Don’t let me finish,” Changbin sighs, gritting his teeth. Seungmin pauses his ministrations, guiding his hand to rest on Changbin’s hip while he catches his breath. “Fuck, I want so much right now.”

Greedy. “There is time for everything,” he says. “What do you want the most?”

He expects Changbin to stutter his way through his answer, a suggestion more of an actual request. He’s been so pliant up until now, so eager to let Seungmin take. He expects him to perhaps be shy about it, to-

“I want you to ride me.”

Not that. He did not expect that. Seungmin’s brain blanks out. 

“Are- Are you sure?”

Changbin nods. “Never been more sure of anything.”

Seungmin blinks a few times, eyes wide as he stares up at the man in his lap. His heart skips several beats – he might be having a heart attack – and his own erection twitches with interest. He thinks Changbin feels it because he hears him let out a little huff of laughter.

“Get off me, then,” Seungmin tells him, giving him a little push. Changbin barely budges.

“You need to hit the gym more,” he says.

“We’re not having that conversation right now. I’ll leave.”

“No, you won’t,” he laughs, but he gets off Seungmin’s lap anyway.

Yeah, he won’t.

Changbin props the pillows up against his headrest and lies against them, nudging Seungmin to come closer with his foot. It’s silly, but Seungmin goes. He’s nearly found a new seat in his lap when Changbin stops him.

“Wait. Can I take your clothes off?” He asks, his fingers already sneaking under Seungmin’s shirt.

“Won’t we do that anyway?”

“Yes, but I want to take my sweet time.” Changbin props his chin up against his chest, palms splayed on his back to pull him closer. “I want to see you, all of you.”

Seungmin licks his lips, thinking they’re dry even though they aren’t. He’s not as confident in his body as Chan or Changbin are. He doesn’t have much to flaunt, not much to offer. 

“Minnie.” Changbin snaps him out of his thoughts with a kiss on top of his heart. “You’re so pretty.”

“Hm?”

“You are. You’re beautiful, love.” Another kiss, right into the dip of his collarbone. 

“You’re stealing my ideas now?”

“I guess I am a pet name guy after all.” His hands slide a bit higher, raking up Seungmin’s shirt with them, and Changbin pauses to look for confirmation in his eyes.

Seungmin bites down on the inside of his cheek. He nods.

He’d like to say that Changbin pulls his shirt off in one smooth motion, but that’s not it. Seungmin’s arms get stuck, and his hair gets all messed up when his head slides through the neck hole. Changbin straight up giggles when Seungmin stares him down through the strands falling in front of his eyes, and he messes them up even further to the point that Seungmin has to slap his hand away.

“Your turn,” he tells him, pulling at the collar of his shirt.

“Mhm. Whatever my Seungminnie wants.”

Seungmin flushes at the added prefix in front of his nickname. “Now, too.”

Changbin smirks up at him and lets go of him to take his shirt off. He throws the discarded article of clothing on the floor, refusing to look away from Seungmin the entire time.

He doesn’t wait for Changbin to give him the green light; he already knows he has it. Seungmin’s hands find his pecks, giving the muscle an appreciative squeeze. Then, another. He’s been wanting to do this for ages, ever since Changbin started bulking up.

“Good?” Changbin asks.

Seungmin can only nod, too transfixed by the supple skin under his palms. He lifts himself off Changbin’s lap to shuffle his way a bit lower on the bed before he brings his lips to his neck and starts working his way down to his chest.

Changbin lets out a sigh under his breath as Seungmin litters his upper body in kisses. He holds onto his shoulders gently, fingers twitching whenever Seungmin lingers on a spot for long enough to get a bit rougher. They both know that he can leave marks there, that while neck hickeys are off bounds, anywhere else, less visible is a different story. Seungmin doesn’t give him what he wants yet. He pauses as though he’s considering a bite, but then moves to a new, untended inch of skin. 

That is, until he gets to his nipples. When he gets there, he takes the sensitive peak into his mouth and laves his tongue over it, sneaking a glance up at Changbin through his lashes. 

He almost regrets it when he sees the look on Changbin’s face. He looks wrecked and awed at the same time, as if Seungmin has hung up the stars in his sky. His breath hitches, and Seungmin feels his dick twitch against his stomach.

Seungmin wants to swallow him up. 

He sits up on his knees and brings himself back to Changbin’s lap again, without sitting down. 

“Take my pants off,” he demands, his own hands limp at his sides. 

Changbin obeys so easily, so compliantly. He pushes the waistband of Seungmin’s pants down as far as it can go, and then he looks back up at him, waiting for the next order that will fall from Seungmin’s lips.

“Go on.”

He nods, and Seungmin’s breath catches as the wet spot on his boxers drags against his length before he’s completely exposed. 

Changbin’s thumb brushes against his hip bone. “You’re pretty here, too,” he mutters. He leans down to give Seungmin’s leaking tip a peck, and Seungmin has to hold back from jutting his hips and driving himself straight into his mouth. They’re not doing this today. Changbin asked for something else, and Seungmin is eager to give.

He lifts one leg after the other, sliding down his clothes and kicking them off the bed. “Do you have lube and condoms?”

“They’re in my sock drawer.”

He scoffs. “Of course. You’re so unoriginal.”

He gets out of bed to grab the items from the dresser, his knees slightly shaky. He can feel Changbin’s eyes roaming over his naked body and revels in the attention, even though it’s making his neck and cheeks burn hot. When he turns around again, Changbin has also freed himself from the confines of his underwear, his flushed cock lying against his abdomen.

Seungmin swallows lest he drool at the sight.

He climbs back onto the bed, back on top of him, and grabs a condom out of the packet. He brings it to Changbin’s mouth, poking it against his bottom lip until Changbin gets the hint and tears the wrapping off with his teeth. Seungmin then takes his dick in his hold and rolls the condom over it, making sure to tease him by being “extra careful”. 

He picks up the bottle of lube next, pouring a generous amount all over Changbin as he begins stroking him to full hardness. It’s not something he has to concern himself with for long, because Changbin is already pent up enough by the constant, sneaking touches. He crawls up higher, stabilising himself with a hand on Changbin’s stomach while the other guides his cock to his rim.

“Wait-” Changbin gasps, grabbing onto his hips. “You won’t prep yourself?”

Seungmin shakes his head. 

“It’s going to hurt-”

“That’s the point.”

“Fuck,” Changbin murmurs. “You’re going to kill me, Minnie.”

“Not yet. Not until you fuck me.”

With that, he sinks down slightly, letting the head slip inside of him. Changbin’s fingers on his hips twitch, and Seungmin’s nails dig crescents into the plush of his stomach. The stinging pain he gets from the stretch is exhilarating, sending shockwaves throughout his body. He allows gravity to do its work and pull him lower before he gets too used to it, gasping every time he takes in another inch.

It isn’t until he’s taken in all of him that Seungmin lets himself relax and get accustomed to the feeling of Changbin inside of him. He feels so full. Changbin fits there so well, as if they were made to be connected this way. He doesn’t know why they hadn’t tried this out sooner. 

“I’m going to move now,” he says, voice already broken. 

“Take it slow. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

Seungmin furrows his brows. “Don’t tell me what to do.”

Before Changbin can respond, Seungmin lifts himself up, just to fall back down on his dick. Both of them let out a groan of pleasure in unison.

“That feel good?”

“Yes- Yes, felt so good-”

“Yeah?” 

Changbin bites on his bottom lip, scrunching his eyes shut. “Mhm!”

So he does it again. He does it again and again, setting a nice, even pace that makes his eyes roll back and sounds from their mouths fill the room. Changbin matches his motions, putting those muscles to work. He’s loud, but Seungmin knew he would be. There was something about him that just gave it away. He doesn’t mind it – he kind of loves it, actually. He loves knowing that he’s making this good for both of them.

If only they’d talked sooner. 

“Fuck you-” He groans, getting irritated at the mere thought. He wouldn’t have had to wait all this time. They could have-

“W-What?” Changbin tilts his head down to look at him properly.

“I said, fuck you.” Seungmin increases the pace. “Fuck you and your big, fucking cock. You could’ve- You could’ve fucked me ten times over-”

“Min- ngh!”

“I would’ve let you fuck me. I wanted you to, hyung, so many times.” A choked sob tears its way up his throat on a particularly successful thrust. He presses his lips together, swallows. “But you- you had to be an idiot about it. Made me wait. Made me beg for it.”

“I-I’m sorry- I’m sorry-”

“Are you even really sorry? Bet you would have loved me on my knees, wouldn’t you? Filling up another hole instead.” The visual his mind conjures has his dick responding in turn, a spurt of pre-come leaking from his tip. 

“Yes, no- Fuck, you feel so perfect, Seungmin-ah-” Changbin looks lost, lost in the questions and lost in the pleasure. 

Seungmin wants to wreck him. 

“T-That’s right,” he rasps. His knees are starting to grow weaker already. Maybe Changbin had a point when he said he should go to the gym more. He’s practically only rutting on top of him now, chasing after that earlier heat, when-

“Let me make it up to you.”

He inevitably slows down, looking at Changbin through his sweaty bangs when he stops meeting his movement. “H-Huh?”

Changbin pushes himself up, and Seungmin flinches at the sensation it causes inside of him. He could pull out, but he doesn’t, and Seungmin’s whole body twitches with every tiny movement. Two arms brace his back as he’s maneuvered onto the mattress and laid out where Changbin had previously been. 

Seungmin blinks away the moisture that had collected in his waterline. The blurry film over his vision slips away just in time to see Changbin leaning in to kiss his tears away.

“Let hyung make it up to you, okay?” He whispers.

Seungmin sniffles. “W-What are you gonna do? Do you even know how to use that stupid cock of yours properly- hn!” The sudden new angle has his body shrinking into itself and his chest expanding at the same time.

“I might know a thing or two,” Changbin brags, and Seungmin can hear him smirking before he sees it. This guy-!

“You’re so-!” 

But Changbin pushes into him again, and Seungmin’s brain melts away. His legs are pushed up on Changbin’s shoulders, nearly bending him in two and making the thrusts deeper every time. It’s so much better, so brain-numbing in its debauchery. Seungmin can’t come up with any more clever insults, so all that falls from his lips alongside the moans that are ripped out of him are curse words, all of them directed to the man hovering over him and however many inches inside of him.

“Jerk-!”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Yeah, ngh! Y-You-”

“Hm? I what?”

“You a-asshole! Mngh- fuck!”

Changbin leans close to his ear, lips brushing over the shell as he mutters in a low register: “Talk to me dirty, Seungminnie.”

It’s enough to finally send him over the edge, paired with a thrust that nails his prostate head-on. He spills all over his stomach, white ribbons painting his chest and stomach.

Yet Changbin doesn’t stop. He hasn’t finished yet, and so he keeps going, thrusting in and out in quick succession. Seungmin’s back arches off the mattress at the feeling of overstimulation, at the feeling of the quick drag of Changbin’s cock inside of him. He grasps at the bedsheets, nudges Changbin with his legs, tries to lift himself on his elbows; anything to get away.

“C-Changbin-hyung!” He gasps.

Changbin answers by grabbing onto his thigh with one hand, effectively keeping him close, while his movements grow even more frantic. Seungmin’s dick twitches, lying on his navel and already spent with nothing else to give. 

It takes Changbin just a few more snaps of his hips to finally finish as well, spilling into the condom. Seungmin feels the warmth of it before he comes to a halt, and he’s subsequently hit with a wave of both relief and pleasure.

It’s quiet for a while, both of them catching their breath. Changbin pulls out, and Seungmin flips to his side with a groan, bringing his knees together.

“Are you okay, Minnie?” Changbin asks.

“Mhm.”

He hears Changbin lift himself off the bed. His feet patter against the floor as he leaves the bedroom, only to return moments later. He gently nudges Seungmin’s shoulder to flip him on his back and then runs a wet towel all over his front, cleaning him up.

“Hm.”

“Feel nice?”

“Yeah…”

Changbin hums, placing a kiss on top of his nose before he leaves again. Seungmin blinks in his direction, staring at the door until he comes back.

“Lie down with me,” he demands, barely giving Changbin the chance to cross the doorway.

“You’re so impatient.”

“You like me.”

And Changbin just chuckles, kissing him one more time before lifting him from the bed bridal style and moving him to the office chair by his desk. Seungmin watches as he replaces the dirty sheets with clean new ones, a peaceful lull of silence taking over. He feels his fight seeping out of him as Changbin places him back in bed. He lies next to Seungmin, draping a blanket over them both and smoothing out the creases. 

“There. Is the puppy happy?” He mutters, their pillows side by side and pressed together as one, as if the gap between them is too devastating to handle. 

“Turn.”

Changbin turns to face him.

Seungmin shakes his head. “No, other side.”

Changbin raises a brow before doing as he’s told and turning his back to him. Seungmin slips his arms around his waist and pulls his body flush to his own, pressing his forehead on the back of Changbin’s neck. He bathes in the softness of the moment, the tenderness of it. He presses a kiss between his shoulder blades just as Changbin laces the fingers of their hands together. 

“You didn’t answer me.”

“What?” Seungmin mumbles against his skin. He feels Changbin shiver slightly.

“Are you happy?”

Another kiss. “Mm. Very.”

“Not jealous?”

“I won’t be if you promise not to flirt with the others.”

“What about fanservice?” Changbin asks. “I can tone it down if it bothers you, you know.”

“It’s fine,” Seungmin says. “You’ll just have to make it up to me again. And again. And-”

“I got it!” His stomach shakes under Seungmin’s palms as he giggles. “I feel like you’re just looking for excuses.”

“I told you, I’ll take whatever you give me. Including your c-”

“I think we should sleep now.”

Seungmin holds himself back from laughing, instead snuggling to the body next to him, if that was even possible. “Yeah, we should.”

It doesn’t take much more for his eyes to fall shut. He’s bathed in a pleasant wave of exhaustion, one that engulfs him with contentment. It settles over them both and creates a barrier between them and the outside world. Here, Seungmin knows he can rest. 

So, he does.

-

The next day welcomes him with a surprising sight. 

Changbin is facing him, having turned around at some point while sleeping or after he woke up. His features are soft, puffy from sleep, and he’s just… staring. He doesn’t say anything when Seungmin blinks his eyes open, nor does he react.

“Morning,” Seungmin mutters, voice raspy from disuse. 

It seems to snap Changbin out of his trance. His eyes refocus, and he smiles. “It’s around noon,” he points out, briefly checking his phone.

Seungmin’s nose scrunches up as he rubs his eyes with the back of his hands. How long had they been sleeping for? “How’s that possible?”

“Not weird for me.” Changbin shrugs. “Maybe I’m just that influential.”

“That’s not a good thing in this context.” He frowns. “Half of our day is wasted already.”

It’s a known fact that Seungmin has somewhat of a strict routine, one that he tries to stick to as much as he can in the chaos of their lives. It’s what provides him with the balance he needs to keep himself on track, to keep going.

Yet, as Changbin places a peck on his forehead and whispers, “which means the other half is waiting for us,” Seungmin resigns himself to accepting this little disruption.

They get out of bed, eventually. Changbin practically smothers him with more kisses while cupping his face, as Seungmin pretends to be upset while sporting his widest smile. His lashes flutter under the attention, and so do the wings of the butterflies in his stomach.

Changbin gives him a change of clothes, one that’s ten times more comfortable compared to anything Seungmin has ever worn. The sweatpants may hover at his ankles, yes, but he doesn’t care. The waistband slips low enough to make up for it anyway.

While Changbin is pulling a shirt over his head, he decides that he can afford to catch a glimpse. 

Seungmin’s movements stutter, and he fumbles with the string of the sweatpants as he tries to tie it into a loose knot. 

There, on Changbin’s stomach, are red lines, skin flushed and irritated, drawn by his very own nails.

He averts his gaze, but it’s too late now. That image is part of him. Kim Seungmin will forever be burdened by the sight of Seo Changbin’s stomach bearing his personal signature.

It’s too early for this, he thinks to himself. 

He follows Changbin to the kitchen and stands to the side as he navigates through the cabinets, pulling out a pair of cups and a box of coffee. Seungmin tries to focus on the sounds coming from outside, on the dishes left on the drying rack, on the smell of fresh coffee being brewed. 

His eyes keep ending up on Changbin. Changbin and his broad back, his shoulders that shift under his shirt with his every movement. Now that he knows what’s underneath, that he’s felt it, he can’t go back. It’s like his brain has been infected with an undiscovered illness.

Seungmin pushes himself off the counter. He walks up to him, tugs Changbin’s chin in his direction and lands a kiss right on his lips, hushing an exclamation.

If he can’t make his head shut up, he’ll just have to give in to what it wants.

“What is it?” Changbin chuckles as he gently pushes Seungmin back a bit.

“Nothing,” he says, and dives back in.

He wraps his hand around Changbin’s neck, making sure he won’t be pushing them apart again. The kiss begins as a languid dance, and it evolves, taking the shape of something more passionate as Seungmin shuffles closer, backing Changbin against the counter. The coffee machine hums in the background, and it melts with one of Seungmin’s quiet sighs.

Hands find his waist, naturally so, hiking up the hem of the hoodie to his hips. Seungmin rewards them with a break. 

“Seungmin, please, it’s-”

“If you say that it’s too early for this, I’ll drink your coffee,” he says, never mind the fact that a few minutes ago he was telling himself the same thing. That was Past Seungmin – Eight-minutes-ago Seungmin, to be exact. Present Seungmin is a changed man.

“You won’t.”

“Are you challenging me?”

“You wouldn’t dare-”

Seungmin rolls his eyes and dips down to suck on a spot on his neck, interrupting their silly argument. Usually, he would encourage such banter just to get a rise out of Changbin, but now he’s found a much quicker way to do that. And since they’re alone, it means that said way is very much acceptable, and-

“Seungmin-ah-”

“Oh my god, of course.”

His head snaps up, his eyes meeting Changbin’s before they both twist their necks at the sound of another, extra voice. One that belonged to someone whom Seungmin hadn’t even noticed, up until now.

Hyunjin stands near the couch, a conflicted look on his face. Somehow, he looks both incredulous and unimpressed, his arms crossed over his chest. He clears his throat, which forces Seungmin to look away in embarrassment. It’s different when he’s making a show out of flustering Changbin in front of others, and when he’s caught being the needy one. 

“Hello, Hyunjin,” he hums.

“Hello, my dear Seungminnie. It’s good to see you so cheerful,” Hyunjin replies, lighthearted sarcasm lacing his greeting. He perches himself on one of the high chairs by the counter, letting out a sigh. “I’m happy you two got most of the sexual tension out of your system, but I’d like compensation for the trauma of seeing you suck on hyung’s neck like a snake. Money – cash preferably – is welcome.”

Just like that, his embarrassment fizzles out. 

“You’ll forget it,” Seungmin spits out. He puts some safe distance between himself and Changbin, refusing to let the gap widen too much.

Changbin, finally, finds his words. “How was it at Lixie’s?” He asks, diverting the conversation. But Seungmin knows better; his neck is red, fingers flexing before he pours them both a cup of coffee.

Hyunjin goes on to talk about his outing with Felix. Seungmin sips on his coffee once, he gets burnt, and chooses to let it cool down a bit before drinking again. He sneaks a hand around Changbin, rests his head on his shoulder, and listens to Hyunjin and Felix’s shopping adventure as the mug’s hot porcelain causes the tips of his fingers to sting.

The bell in his chest rings, yet the headache is long gone.