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1.
Sleep from time to time, has a nasty habit of betraying Geonwoo. It often leaves him bleary eyed in the mornings, everything moving fast for his exhausted self unless he downs coffee or some energy drink that would leave him buzzing and exhausted at the end of the day, which would of course, lead to more troubles sleeping.
It was a nasty cycle.
Which is why he finds himself bleary eyed and exhausted over the dining table, having finished his lunch (dinner). It was a good thing they have no scrims today, otherwise the coaches would surely grow new gray hair.
“You’re done already?” Minhyung asks in front of him, still shoveling food in his mouth. “It’s because you got me too many side dishes again.” The other complains under his breath. Geonwoo just grins in reply and pushes one of the plate closer to the other. Despite the complaint, Minhyung accepts it with a pretense of annoyance.
Geonwoo pushes his tray to the side and was planning to scroll through his reels when Minhyung suddenly started speaking. “Ah but seriously the queue these days,” he trails off, shaking his head. “Surely there’s a limit to how much I can be paired off with players like that. My lp is crying,” Minhyung complains all whiny and adorable.
It was said off-handedly, probably just a general complaint that he wasn’t expecting any reply to.
Geonwoo takes it anyway.
“Let’s not blame others Minhyung-ah.” Is Geonwoo’s immediate teasing reply, enjoying the affronted look in Minhyung’s face. “Just carry, isn’t that the job of ADCs anyway.”
“Ya Kim Geonwoo do you know what you’re talking about?” Minhyung asks, brandishing his chopsticks in front of Geonwoo. Geonwoo’s eyes glints with something mischievous, ah now this is more interesting than the reels.
“I played ADC a few times yesterday. Seems easy enough. You just need to carry harder Minhyungiee.” The pout was instantaneous. The thick eyebrows furrowing was amusing. Geonwoo wanted to put him in a bottle and shake him.
What was also instantaneous was the scolding that follows.
Geonwoo’s cheek leans against his palm as he plants his elbow on the table, taking the scolding good-naturedly and settling into it. He banters back just enough to get the other simmering, it was cute and wholly predictable. Minhyung’s buttons are easy enough to hit and amusing enough for Geonwoo to continue teasing him. It’s been his favorite past time recently.
His voice was good too, despite his angry scolding about Geonwoo not knowing the delicacy of being an AD Carry and how hard it actually is. It's a smooth baritone and Minhyung is eloquent in his words. He talks continuously without pause, articulate and silver tongued. He speaks with no hesitation, the shape of his thoughts already finished before it reaches his tongue.
And surpisingly, very familiar. Somewhere along the way, it was something Geonwoo had grown accustomed to. His cadence, the rhythm, the way his voices rise and fall.
His voice was something Geonwoo had bottled and had gotten used to. It’s a sound that elicits fondness in him.
Also he has a good talking voice.
So good in fact that later when something touches his shoulder, he jolts, his cheek slipping from his hand. He almost face plants on the table if he didn’t catch himself, blearily blinking from the bright lights. “Huh?”
“You fell asleep.” Minhyung says simply. By the looks of it he finished a while ago. Their plates not present in the table anymore, probably taken away earlier. “Didn’t wake you up because you looked like you needed it. Scrolled too many reels last night?”
“You scrolled too many reels.” Was Geonwoo’s mature reply.
Minhyung doesn’t bite it, sighing like Geonwoo is nine instead of his age. “I’ll tell Imo-nim to prepare chamomile tea for you.” He said maturely as he stood up from the table.
Just as Geonwoo thinks that’s the end of it, Minhyung turns back to him and said,
“Also I saw you liking reels last night, you were definitely scrolling through too many reels.”
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2.
Catching sleep is harder than catching a ray of light in your hand. So when it avoids him like plague, Geonwoo just sighs and gives up. He leaves his room with a yawn, stretching his arms over him and groaning when he hears a pop.
However, it seems that he isn’t the only one still awake when he came out of the living room.
He looks at the clock above the television that was playing a cooking show and notes that it's still pretty early (in pro-gamer time), no wonder Minhyung is still awake.
“What are you doing?” Geonwoo asks as he slides down to where Minhyung is fiddling with his phone, ignoring the tv.
His shoulder bumps into Minhyung as he does so, thighs pressing close to the other. He leans so close his head blocks half of Minhyung's phone. Effortlessly, he leans into Minhyung’s space as if it was an extension of his.
It was easy to do this now, the handful of months in constant proximity has worn away whatever distance and shyness they had when they first met, leading to an easy affection that makes them gravitate to each other.
Warmth spreads through his chest every time this happens. Though at his side Minhyung complains out loud, pushing Geonwoo’s head to the side. “Ya, your head is too big.”
“Let me see,” Geonwoo shoots back, going against the force in Minhyung’s hand to deliberately block Minhyung’s sight.
The ADC lets out a loud groan at this as he slumps back to the coach in exaggerated defeat, Geonwoo bites back a laugh as he successfully annoys Minhyung and takes his phone from him.
"Wow you suck at this." Was the immediate quip as Geonwoo takes his place and plays the tetris game that he'd stolen from Minhyung. This was a lie of course. Minhyung somehow had won every little game they played together. Truly a nerd, Geonwoo thinks fondly, more fondly than the short time they’ve been this close should allow
The ADC elbows him in retaliation but doesn’t take his phone away. He silently watched Geonwoo continue playing. The blocks stack unevenly at first, then worse, the falling pieces started going faster as the pace picks up.
“Ah,” Geonwoo silently curses as he drops a block wrong. It was downhill from there and soon a pixelated colorful ‘Game Over’ shows on screen.
Minhyung snickers, not even bothering to hold it back as he takes his phone back from a defeated Geonwoo. “Watch and learn from the master.”
“Just master? You’re pretty low rank then.” The look Minhyung sends him makes Geonwoo smile, but he shuts up and gets comfortable, watching Minhyung play.
“You have to make sure to keep it flat,” he begins, easily slipping into an explanation. “That way you have more options to put pieces down. Don’t stack more than two blocks high. But creating stacked blocks is inevitable. So if you do, try to bias it in the center,” Minhyung goes on, voice hypnotic as he somehow finds a way to wax poetic about playing tetris. His finger moves fast, ADC reflexes in show as he talks about block rotation and keeping his eye on it.
He speaks fluidly, each word falling into place as cleanly as the block he drops down. His tone stays even, cadence steady, inflection clear. He explains very well.
The sofa they were leaning back on was very well too. Comfortable. Very much so. And the temperature was a bit cool, but soothing. Settling just right against Geonwoo’s skin. And Minhyung’s voice-
Minhyung’s voice was calming, low, and grounding. He’s talking a bit about speed now, but the words slip in Geonwoo’s head, blurring before they can fully settle. They dissolve somewhere on the edges of his awareness, uncatchable.
Almost like catching light in between his hand...
When Geonwoo comes to it was with his mouth gaping, head pillowed into something firm but warm.
He feels better. Still far from having an 8 hour deep sleep but he feels lighter, like his fraying edges were taken off.
A confused incomprehensible noise leaves his mouth as he blinks awake. “Huhmh?”
“Awake now huh?” Was the question asked to him, entirely too close and startling his half-awake soul. He turns and-
Minhyung is right there.
Minhyung once told him to his face he had pretty eyes.
Geonwoo thinks that he’s only able to say that because he hasn’t seen his own from this angle.
This close, Minhyung felt so different from the bright star that he was in Zeka’s eyes three years ago. Not untouchable. Less unreal. Not a super star, human. All the more beautiful for it.
There’s a faint scratch on his glasses, probably from dropping it the other day, Minhyung cursing up a storm as it clatters far. A small red mark sits along his cheek, Geonwoo saw him scratching it earlier. His hair was a mess and his eyes were bright. Familiar and warm. Beautiful still, brighter than the silver in the Cup.
Minhyung’s lips curve upward.
His eyes follows the movement without thinking. Pink and soft and pretty. His whole face glows with the smile, something unguarded and easy settles in his face. Contentment is such a good look in him.
Geonwoo swallows, throat dry.
“Still under Lillia ult?” Minhyung teases lightly.
Geonwoo closes his eyes and lets his head fall back in Minhyung’s shoulder.
“Should have bought Mikaels.” he mumbles.
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3.
Geonwoo trudges in the common room once the scrim was over with weight in his steps. He had not slept a wink last night. His hand above his chest like it was still holding Minhyung’s warmth, eyes stuck on the ceiling.
He drops on the sofa with a sigh, Hwanjoong raising an eyebrow from the side. “You need an intervention.”
“We did that last year remember. Nothing worked.” Geonwoo grumbles.
“Hmmm, I’ve seen you taking more naps lately though.” Hwanjoong says, a glint on his eyes that Geonwoo misses entirely.
“Really? I never noticed.”
“You should replicate the conditions then in your sleep.” Hwanjoong suggests. Something was brewing here that Geonwoo can’t quite put a finger on. “What was the common variable during those naps.”
He remembers Minhyung scolding him one time.
Also that time the adc was lecturing him, ridiculously enough, about block stacking in tetris.
And ah, that one time Minhyung was playing League.
Geonwoo looks away from Hwanjoong, his phone suddenly seeming more interesting.
"I don’t know,” he shrugs. “Probably someone being there as a background noise.”
Hwanjoong arches a brow. “Nothing special happening during those times?”
Geonwoo’s fingers automatically opens his reels as he avoids Hwanjoong’s all too knowing eyes.
“Nope.”
Hwanjoong sighs. “Well go on, try to sleep.”
“I’m not a kid.” Geonwoo complains. However met with Hwanjoong’s stern look that was looking a little too close to Jaeha-hyung's, he follows suit.
He lays horizontal on the sofa, somehow fitting; arms crossed on his chest.
He closes his eyes, determined to prove that he can sleep at will. His eyes are heavy and exhaustion digs at him, gnawing at his heels. However, as stubborn as he is, his body stays awake. Sleep doesn’t come. It rarely does when he wants it to.
It’s a touch too cold in the room. Too quiet too with Hwanjoong probably doomscrolling in his own phone, and in the silence it feels like Geonwoo can hear the humming of the lights. Everything feels constricting. The quiet is too loud.
Thankfully the silence and the need to prove his ability to sleep at will was broken when someone enters the room.
“What are you guys doing?”
“Geonwoo is not sleeping for sure.” Hwanjoong answers dryly.
Minhyung raises an eyebrow as he walks to Geonwoo, tapping Geonwoo’s leg. “Move.”
Geonwoo shifts without thinking and Minhyung immediately takes the spot. “Here.” He pats his lap and Geonwoo rests his leg there before he can even process it
It makes his heart thud with the way Minhyung chooses to sit next to him when there are other spaces in the room. He likes it that Minhyung likes being next to him. Probably more than he should.
“Having trouble sleeping again?”
Geonwoo sighs with feeling. “Not everyone can sleep well and adjust well Mr. Super Star.” He replies, nudging Minhyung’s stomach with his foot.
Minhyung rolls his eyes and captures the foot, his hand clasped on Geonwoo’s socked ankle. “That’s because you have a horrible sleeping habit. You stay up too late scrolling through reels.”
Geonwoo squawked, using his uncaptured foot to nudge Minhyung’s thighs. “You always say that. We already tried fixing that. Sleeping late, sleeping early, it doesn’t matter.”
At Minhyung’s squinted suspicious look, Geonwoo turns to Hwanjoong. “Hey support-nim defend your midlaner. Tell him I already tried sleeping early.”
“He already tried sleeping early.” Hwanjoong says, unconvincingly. He gives them one amused look before he opens his own phone. He learned early in the year that leaving the adc and the midlaner to argue between themselves is the best course of action, lest they team up and gang up on you.
“You should try tea,” Minhyung suggests. “Last year when I was-” he falters. His grip on Geonwoo’s ankle loosens. “Last year I had trouble sleeping during some difficult times, I tried tea. Melatonin makes me groggy the next day, I don’t really like it. But the tea helped.”
“I really favored chamomile tea.” He continues. “It’s caffeine-free and it’s considered a mild sedative. I read that it helps in reducing anxiety as well. Or maybe that’s just placebo effect.” He trails off.
Ah Minhyung has such a good voice.
“But it did help me sleep better. Maybe it would work on you? There’s also valerian tea and passionfruit? Or was it passionflower tea? Maybe that can help. Though I haven’t personally tried it--”
Minhyung had such a good voice. It was no wonder that fans liked it when he streams or when he goes live. He speaks well, like words are already strung on his head before he says it and shares it with the world. His voice was good too. A smooth tenor, tone sweet and silky. Someone who you can listen to for hours and not get tired.
Which is kind of funny because Geonwoo is a bit tired.
Maybe he can close his eyes for a bit. He and Minhyung can buy some tea later...
“Geonwoo wake up.” Geonwoo’s lashes flutter but he does not wake up. Too comfortable and too deep in his sleep. He is formless, one with the abyss; nothing can ever rouse him. Specially not Hwanjoong who just let out a sigh.
“It’s okay Hwanjoongie.” Minhyung whispers, voice as sweet as always. “Let him sleep he needs it.” Despite being formless, Geonwoo can feel the warm affectionate tap-tap on his ankle.
“Are you sure? You don’t want to go back to the dorms yet?”
“Hmm, he needs it. I’ll wake him up earlier.”
Another sigh, exasperated and fond. “If you’re sure Minhyung.”
Geonwoo doesn’t hear what follows, going under once again.
When he comes to, it was at his own accord this time. Feeling better than he did in weeks. He yawns, stretching a bit, his feet propped up on something warm.
“Huh?”
He sees Minhyung scrubbing his eyes, probably waking up at the same time as him.
“What?” Geonwoo scrambles upward, almost kicking Minhyung. Something clatters to the ground and he almost falls as he picks up his phone. It cheerfully tells him that it was 10 something in the morning, his battery dying in the background.
“Ah Minhyungie you should have woken me up.” He says as he turns to the other stretching his neck. “That couldn’t have been comfortable for you.”
The adc just waves it away as he stands up, still stretching. “It’s fine. You needed that sleep more than I needed to move in my bed.”
“Still--”Geonwoo trails off, fussing a bit, watching his adc with worried eyes.
Minhyung notices.
He laughs, leaning down, he ruffles Geonwoo’s hair. “Calm down Zeka-nim. I’m fine, okay? At least you slept well this time, no?”
Geonwoo barely stops himself from gaping unattractively in front of Minhyung.
“Yeah.” He croaks out.
“I’m going to brush my teeth. You should too.” Geonwoo watches him leave.
Then Geonwoo clutches at his chest and falls back on the cushion.
His heart races like it ran mile. When he closes his eyes he can see Minhyung’s bright smile at the back of his eyelids, like it was seared there.
Good Lord Lee Minhyung smiling is a nuclear weapon. Too dangerous.
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4.
Once he’s finished complaining, typed and sent on Pop about his inability to sleep, Geonwoo stretches and drops his phone somewhere above his head. It lands with a thump, ignored.
He yawns, tired, but still unable to sleep.
He rolls on his side and shuts his eyes.
One, two, three...
He counts sheep on his head. It was boring, monotonous, and the numerous sheep soon blur together until they morph into cute poros in his mind’s eye, which leads his head to league, which then leads to the standings. 10th place. He sighs and rolls on his other side.
He doesn’t bother closing his eyes this time. His eyes feel heavy, his muscles tense, but sleep does not come. Scrims were on-going and there is a hundred and one thing more to fix, synergy to manage, rotations to tighten up.
One mistake in particular stands out, surfacing uninvited.
He sighs and pushes himself upright.
If he’s going to think about league, might as well play it.
He yawns the whole time he walks towards their communal practice room, groaning like he’s in his sixties instead of mid-twenties.
His brow climbs up his forehead when he opens the room and finds the light open, clicking and clacking sounds resounding inside.
He already knows the person inside without having to see their face.
That person turns around anyway in greeting.
Of course, it’s Minhyung. “Oh, it’s just you.”
“Just me? I'm hurt.” Is his answer as he boots up his pc, dropping heavily in the gaming chair.
He watches shamelessly. Minhyung had to flash a crystal arrow and side step the Sera’s encore, his Yunara dashes forward, a Lulu ult knocking up the enemy support who dies immediately followed by their adc. It was an impressive quick play despite being behind, and Minhyung knows it himself, turning to Geonwoo with a proud smile as if to check if he was watching.
Geonwoo can’t help but huff out a quiet laugh, giving the other a thumbs up. “Nice carry.” Minhyung turns back to his game, a smug edge settling into his expression. It was endearing.
Still, Geonwoo can’t help but to poke the bear. “Now if only Minhyungie plays like that when we get queued up together.” He adds.
The pout was immediate, and though Geonwoo was only able to see the side of his face, it was still as amusing and cute as ever.
Mood lifted up by teasing Gumayusi, he leans back on his chair and queues up, attention drifting from his screen and Minhyung’s game while he waits.
“Flash down Gunara in danger.” He narrates idly as a Pantheon ults in Yunara’s head, a Ryze appearing right after. It doesn’t take long for the Yunara to die. It ends exactly how Geonwoo expects it to.
Minhyung reacts with his whole body.
“This stupid jungler what the fuck are you doing in the other side of the map.”
“Gumayusi-nim let’s not blame other.” Geonwoo chimes in and nudges the Minhyung’s foot with his. He beams when he was given a glower.
“You saw that! That wasn’t my fault.”
“Should’ve backed earlier Gumayusi-nim.” He nudges him again.
“Well he shouldn’t have been there Zeka-nim. He should’ve been here, drag is spawning anyway.” Minhyung replies, nudging Geonwoo back with his foot.
Geonwoo playfully shakes his head as a queue finally pops up. “Ah, ADC and blaming others.”
Unfortunately, someone doesn’t accept it, the time counting continues. Geonwoo shrugs, unconcerned. There’s something more entertaining beside him anyway.
Geonwoo yawns as he eyes his teammate’s monitor.
The clicking of the A-key fills the room, constant and rhythmic, an ambient noise inside the practice room that he’s grown used to. It's something he had come to associate with Minhyung playing beside him. The clicking, the muttered complaints, soft grumbling that always seem to follow a bad trade or a bad rotation. It makes him smile. This, too, is Minhyung.
Geonwoo yawns again, reflexive tears springing in his heavy eyes. He glances at the queue timer and sighs. He’s in for a night.
He closes his eyes for a bit, the heaviness winning out for the moment. Relief washes over him instantly, easing the burn behind his eyelids. Beside him, Minhyung continues playing. A curse resounds, so Geonwoo assumes he’s been engaged on, furious clicking continues, both from the keyboard and the mouse. It continues for a few second, before a whispered “Carry...” resounds.
That’s the last thing he remembers as he descends into sleep. The continuous sound of Minhyung playing lulling him into sleep.
Something warm brushes against his cheek.
It was insistent. Patting him softly, trying to free him from the weighted anchors of sleep. Geonwoo tries to tell it to go away, but sleep has its firm grasp in him, comforting and dogged to keep him in its embrace.
“Geonwoo-ah, wake up.” It was a soft voice, the warm tenor penetrating the tendrils of sleep. “You should go to bed.” It was sweeter than his sleep that voice, familiar. It slips through the haze, threading through sleep’s warm embrace.
When he opens his eyes, it was Minhyung’s face greeting him from above. “Good morning.” He says despite Geonwoo being sure it was far from morning. The good part was true though, Minhyung’s face a sight to see first thing when he wakes up.
Something soft drops on his lap when he moves.
He touches the blue hoodie, confusedly staring at it. It’s Minhyung’s hoodie?
It was confirmed when Minhyung takes it, zipping it up. “You looked a little cold so I lent it to you.” He explains at the dumb look probably on Geonwoo’s face.
“Oh.”
“Oh.” Minhyung copies playfully. “By the way, you shouldn’t queue and sleep you know. I had to cancel it for you. Imagine the amount of people who wanted to play only for one person to not accept it. Have some mercy Geonwoo-ah.” He says poking Geonwoo at the cheek.
Geonwoo just stares at it dumbly, or at least attempts to, far too sleepy to react.
“Still Lillia ulted huh?” Another poke. “Wake up Geonwoo-yah, go sleep on your bed.” By the third poke, Geonwoo captures the finger in his hand.
“No Mikaels.” Is his answer, voice groggy with sleep.
For a moment neither of them moves.
Then Minhyung laughs, softer now. “Come on idiot, go to bed.”
He tugs lightly at first, then more insistently. Somehow Minhyung manages to pull Geonwoo on his feet. They walked back like that, a little awkward and definitely looking ridiculous. Geonwoo holding Minhyung’s finger and Minhyung entirely too willing to let it slide.
By the time they reach their floor, the sleep has mostly worn off. He doesn’t let go though, grip firm. He follows where he’s led. He had already held him this far it’s embarrassing to let go of him now. He tells himself. Besides, this isn’t so bad.
Geonwoo shifts his hand. Not to let go. His hand slides, adjusting until he’s holding into Minhyung’s palm instead. Minhyung falters, just for a step but he doesn’t say anything ahead of Geonwoo. From behind he can tell see the faint red creeping up his ears. It doesn’t take much for Geonwoo to imagine his red face.
He just doesn’t want to hurt Minhyung’s fingers. Is what he tells himself. ADC’s fingers are important you know. They’re really sensitive too, for kiting and spacing, very important. Which is why it’s good that Minhyung has very good hands, Geonwoo thinks.
It’s warm in his, dry too. And soft. This fact does not surprise him as much. He wouldn’t be surprised if Minhyung took particular care of them. Because it’s pretty too. Long and graceful, nails neatly cut, perfectly shaped. It’s like if the marble statues painstakingly carved by a master artist came to life.
Those perfect hands squeezes his twice, jolting Geonwoo out of his stupor.
“Your room.”
“Ah.” Was the eloquent reply.
Their hands part.
It lingers, for a moment longer than necessary.
Minhyung smiles at him. “Sleep well, Geonwoo.”
Geonwoo does not sleep a wink that night.
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5.
Geonwoo spends the next day floating somewhere just short of reality.
He only snaps out of it when Jaeha-hyung, instead of going in his room, holds Minhyung and Geonwoo’s wrist on each of his hand.
“Come on.” Jaeha pulls them along.
“Wait.” Jaeha ignored Geonwoo.
Minhyung doesn’t resist. If anything, he looks entertained, glancing sideways at Geonwoo as they’re dragged down the hallway.
Then and there he remembers Hwanjoong’s cheeky smile delivered towards him. “Sleep well Geonwoo-ah,"
Geonwoo can feel his eyebrow twitching. “That snitch.” He was ignored by their coach as he and Minhyung are all but frogmarched to Geonwoo’s room.
“Hyung there’s no need for this I’m fine.” Geonwoo all but whines to Jaeha who pushes them forward. He debates digging his heels in but Jaeha has a brand of look that makes you follow whatever he says so that thought of rebellion was immediately thrown away.
“Geonwoo.” Jaeha says flatly. “Don’t be stubborn. You need to sleep. The regular season is starting you need to be on your best form.”
Geonwoo scrambles for an excuse. “But what about Minhyung? He might not sleep well-“
“He sleeps fine everywhere, he adjusts well.”
Minhyung does not speak, just follows where he’s pushed, amused.
Geonwoo mumbles an excuse as he opens the door but has no choice but to go inside from Jaeha’s stern look. “Both of you go inside and sleep.”
“And don’t even think of escaping. I’m going to be right here to check on you.”
“We’re not five hyung.” Geonwoo whines, sounding exactly 5 years old.
The door shuts with a decisive thud.
Geonwoo shuffles to his bed and sits down on it stiffly like the whole room might give out over them if he moves too much.
Minhyung sits on the chair on his desk instead, turning it around so he can face Geonwoo. Geonwoo fixes his bed to give him some time before he had to talk to Minhyung. Unfortunately, there really isn’t much to fix and Minhyung does not storm out while he dilly dallies with scrunching and then stretching out the sheets.
Geonwoo sighs. “Come here. It makes me awkward with you sitting there.”
“I’m comfortable here.”
“You’re not.”
“I am.”
Geonwoo face palms. So stubborn.
“Minhyung.” Geonwoo says warningly.
Minhyung, all too ready to toe the line; “Geonwoo.”
Geonwoo grabs the pillow and throws it at him.
Minhyung catches it easily, grinning. “Violence? Really?”
“Come to bed Minhyung-ah” Geonwoo says, his words almost tripping at the end with how suggestive it almost sounds. He clears his throat. “Just come here.”
That’s what does it. Perhaps sensing something vulnerable in Geonwoo’s voice, Minhyung stands up and fixes the chair back. “Can we even fit there, you take too much space.”
Geonwoo doesn’t even bother arguing this time. He just sighs and pats the bed. “Then deal with it, just come here.”
Minhyung makes a show of it. He complains about Geonwoo’s choice of bedsheet, his pillow, and his blanket.
He’s silent though when he’s tucked in next to Geowoo.
Minhyung looks straight ahead, eyes locked on the ceiling while Geonwoo lays on his side, looking at Minhyung.
“... Why am I here again?” Minhyung asks after a beat, voice softer now, like they’ve entered a bubble of their own. The complaining disappears now, replaced with something more careful and aware.
Geonwoo lets out a small breath. “It’s stupid.”
Minhyung hums. Then he’s adjusting the blankets, lifting it a little as he moves to his side. Like this, Geonwoo and Minhyung is face to face. His glasses were a little crooked, but his face is earnest.
“You’ve seen me do stupid stuff. It’s only fair I know this about you too.”
Geonwoo hesitates only for a moment. Before he sighs,
“Your voice,” Geonwoo admits, voice quieter. “It helps.”
Minhyung blinks.
“What?”
“When you talk, or complain, or whatever. I don’t know. I just... fall asleep easier?”
There’s a beat of silence.
Then, Minhyung: “You’re saying I’m boring?”
Geonwoo lets out a breath, somewhere between a laugh and a groan. “That’s not what I said.”
“You literally said you fall asleep when I talk.”
“I said it helps.”
Minhyung clicks his tongue but there’s something light about him, almost pleased that he tries to hide under the complaining.
“Unbelievable,” he mumbles. “You invite me to your bed so you can use me as a background noise.”
Geonwoo rolls his eyes, amused, as he always is in Minhyung’s antics. “You can talk for hours Minhyung-ah, let’s put it to good use.”
An amused huff. “So what, you want me to... Talk you to sleep?”
Geonwoo shrugs, pulling the blanket up higher. “If you don’t mind.”
Another pause.
Minhyung shifts beside him. “About what?”
“Anything.”
Geonwoo can practically hear the slow turning of his thoughts. Minhyung moves back on his back again, eyes on the ceiling. It was unfair how good he looks in Geonwoo’s bed with his hair all mussed up from shifting around.
Then he starts.
It was quieter, lower, like he’s instinctively matching the atmosphere.
It was complaints mostly. About solo queue, scrims, weird picks he had seen. It’s familiar, easy to navigate, and Geonwoo finds himself laughing at the creative insults he had managed to string together for the ‘inting’ supports that he had in solo queue.
His voice is steady and unhurried, filling the space between them.
He can feel the tightness in his chest easing, his shoulder loosesning as Minhyung moves on from complaints to small random things. Imo-nim’s cooking earlier in the day, how cute Doongi is, fans he saw earlier while on a walk. That transitions into something quieter, almost whispers. His expectations coming to Hanwha, how new everything felt, the hope he carries with this team.
His voice is even as he talk, almost rythmic. Not harsh despite his earlier complaints. It was familiar. A comfort.
Geonwoo feels warm.
Minhyung’s words blur eventually, not because they don’t make sense, but Geonwoo finds himself unable to follow them. More listening to the tone than the sentence itself.
Geonwoo’s breathing start to slow.
Minhyung notices when the responses stop. He glances over, mid-sentence, expecting a sarcastic comeback, but Geonwoo’s eyes are already closed.
“Seriously?” He murmurs. Geonwoo doesn’t answer. Face soft, mouth a bit slack.
He shifts on his side, lips tugging up in a smile. “You fall asleep this fast?” He asks under his breath. Geonwoo just sleeps.
“Do you know how many people wants Gumayusi in their bed.” He asks teasingly. “Here I am in yours and you use me as a sleeping aid.”
He stills for half a second. Then he sighs fondly.
“So annoying.” He mutters.
But he adjusts the blanket from where it slipped in Geonwoo’s shoulder, tugging it up higher. His hand lingers for a moment before he pulls back.
He settles again.
"Sleep well.”
He doesn’t realize when his own starts to close.
⋆｡°• ☁︎ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁
+1.
Warmth slides across Geonwoo’s cheeks. He inhales sharply as his head turns to the side, trying to avoid the bright light laying on his lids, only to flinch back when something brushes his cheek.
“Hmuh?” A quiet incomprehensible noise leaves his mouth as he swims towards wakefulness.
For a moment he doesn’t understand where he is.
Oh.
The curtains.
The curtain wasn’t closed last night so the sunlight had the free reign to spill into Geonwoo’s room, draping everything in soft gold. The light skirts on Minhyung’s cheek, like a soft kiss on his tanned skin. His face is slack from sleep, soft and in peace.
It was Minhyung’s hand that nudged at him, as if reaching out at sleep.
Geonwoo can’t help own his fingers from reaching out, sweeping Minhyung’s hair to the side despite not needing to. It just falls right back from where he moved it, Geonwoo’s hand lingers there for a second.
He exhales quietly.
Geonwoo is in big trouble.
It was further cemented when Minhyung’s eyelashes flutters, his brows furrowing for a moment before he opens his eyes. Then he was greeted to a prettier sight. Geonwoo didn’t think that was possible.
Minhyung opens his eyes, dark eyes groggy and sleepy before settling into Geonwoo. Clarity slowly enters Minhyung’s expression before a bright smile lights up his face. Somehow brighter than the sunlight gracing his cheeks.
“Good morning. How would you rate Gumayusi-seonsu's service.” Were of course the first words out of Minhyung’s mouth. This ridiculous beautiful man.
Geonwoo closes his eyes so far gone and so out of his depth at the moment.
“Hit with Zoe E?” A poke lands on Geonwoo’s cheek, reminiscent of the last time he fell asleep in Minhyung’s presence. Ahri charm too. He thinks to himself as he opens his eyes and gets the full force visual of a recently awake Lee Minhyung.
“No Mikaels.” Was his weak asnwer.
“Hey Geonwoo, did you sleep well?”
“Hmm. I did.”
“Okay, that’s good.”
A beat of silence.
“Hey Geonwoo,” Minhyung says, almost casually. Like he’s going to ask about the weather. "What would you do if a teammate confesses to you?” Minhyung asks. He looks radiant in this light, in Geonwoo’s bed, flushing and perfect.
“Minhyung,” Then Geonwoo blinks.
“Huh?” His voice breaks.
“Wait what? Teammate? What teammate? Who confessed to you?” He pushes himself up, blinking the sleep out of his eyes.
Now it was Minhyung’s turn to blink in surprise.
“Was it Jinhyeok-hyung? Ah it couldn’t be Wooje- he wouldn’t. Hwanjoong? Did that guy lose it? Or was it hyung? Did he-”
“Geonwoo.” Minhyung’s voice cuts through him, his tone incredulous. “No one confessed to me.” He laughs. “It’s all hypothetical, what would you do?”
Geonwoo settles back, panic receding. “Me?”
“Hmm,”
Geonwoo tilts his head to the side as he thinks about it, calming his heart that was teetering in bursting from its fast beating due to laying side by side with the person you like to having a heart attack next second straight. “It depends on who asks. But I’d take it seriously. It’s not something to brush off.”
Minhyung doesn’t look away.
“And if you don’t feel the same?”
Geonwoo exhales slowly. “Then I’d be careful about it. I wouldn’t want to hurt them.”
Minhyung hums softly, like he’s filing that answer away. He huffs an amused breath. “Of course it’s their feelings you’d take into consideration first.”
Geonwoo’s brow furrows, head tilting to the side. “Isn’t that what that should come first?”
A mysterious smile. Geonwoo doesn’t get much time to think about that when-
“You should start considering my feelings then.”
“Huh?”
“Is it a rejection then?”
“HUH?”
Geonwoo doesn’t know how to react, reeling with how quick this conversation was spiraling out of control. Like being ganked level 1. And it might as well be, he just woke up after all. And of course, Minhyung would spring this to him first thing in the morning when his faculties were barely up and running. (He thinks, fondly still.)
But Geonwoo had always been adaptable. A messed up level 1 can still be recovered in laning and the subsequent trades.
“Minhyungie.” Geonwoo moves closer, his hand capturing Minhyung’s in his. He remembers holding it the other day. It was just as graceful and as pretty as he remembers. All slender lines and warmth. He clasps it in his, gentle. “It would be nice if you’re more direct.”
Geonwoo waits. Because if there’s something he has now, it’s time. His heart flutters, up to his throat. He feels like he’s going to throw up all over his bed. But Minhyung’s hand is warm in his, their fingers slot perfectly against one another. Like his hand is meant to be in Geonwoo’s.
Minhyung felt so far away back then, he’s in Geonwoo’s grasp now.
Geonwoo places his palm on Minhyung’s cheek, softly, like he’s holding something precious. His thumb brushes against his cheekbone as he leans forward. Minhyung’s lips part, his eyes getting a certain sort of focus in it as it drops down before meeting Geonwoo’s again.
He inches closer, “Can I?” He asks softly.
It feels like everything holds to a standstill. Nothing matters more than what comes from Minhyung’s lips. The world feels like it holds its breath with Geonwoo.
Before finally-
Minhyung nods.
Geonwoo’s lips presses against Minhyung’s.
It was the softest trade he had performed in his life, and yet it was all he could feel at that moment. A moment or two, Geonwoo can’t tell. How can you distinguish between time when all you can feel was the rushing of your blood and pounding of your heart, when warmth seemed to spill at the seams of Minhyung’s lips into his, when Minhyung’s heart mirrors his?
Minhyung pulls away, a shaky breath coming from his lips as he does. Geonwoo understands, he too feels breathless.
Minhyung was bright. The brightest thing Geonwoo had laid his eyes on. At first, it was something to admire. A light so beautiful but so far. Even in darkness it shines, specially so. But now. Something in Geonwoo’s heart tugs. Because that seems lonely. And human beings are not lights that are meant to shine indefinitely. Geonwoo wants to tuck him in his pocket, hide him away and give him rest. A ridiculous notion. And yet, how can you not when met with Minhyung. When you’re this close, when you see beyond the bright blinding lights. The admiration falls quickly then, replaced by something more. Something more tender, vulnerable. An urge to keep. To touch. Admiring from afar is not enough.
“Geonwoo do you like me?” Minhyung asks directly.
It was the easiest question he has ever been asked. There is really only one answer. “I do Minhyung.”
“Okay. That’s good.” He leans closer to Geonwoo, his forehead tenderly resting on Geonwoo’s shoulder, tucking himself there. Half-hiding, like he’s suddenly shy with the weight of his own words. It was ridiculously endearing. “I like you too.”
And that’s-
Geonwoo is overcome with feelings bursting in him. There are many things he wants to say. Thousands of words bubbling in his throat, at this culmination of years of admiration somehow bearing fruit despite him not expecting anything. They press against his throat, this years of wanting compressed down, suddenly with a place to go. And yet none of them are enough.
Because who would have known? What are the odds?
Geonwoo is a lucky man. And despite this answered prayer, contentment was the last thing in his mind. He feels greedy. Fuck. Geonwoo was given an inch, he wants more than a mile now. A greediness unbecoming of him, shameless and helpless. He wants to sink his teeth into Minhyung and never let go. He likes him, wants him, Geonwoo-
Geonwoo drops a kiss to Minhyung’s nape. “That’s good. Because I like you too.”
Minhyung laughs, with a thump he falls back in Geonwoo’s bed. He looks soft. He looks like he belongs there.
“I guess your sleep deprivation has some perks huh?”
Geonwoo follows suit dropping next to Minhyung.
“Hopefully I won’t need it again.”
Minhyung turns his head.
“Hmm?”
“Well, I’m expecting better services moving forward. Maybe a discount?”
The cackle Minhyung answers him with was filed away as another sound from Minhyung that he loves dearly.
Hopefully there will be more.
Geonwoo would have to make sure that there is.