Work Text:
It was time for their third university festival tour, one of Taesan's favorite times of the year.
He stretched his arms above his head after climbing out of the van, only a little stiff after the half-hour drive from the company building.
The eldest trio had been in the first car so they were already waiting at their designated spot while the three youngest lingered behind. Already Taesan could hear the sound of music and cheers reaching his ears. There was a certain kind of electricity in the air when they did university festivals and today was no different.
"Gachon~ Gachon~ Gachon University…"
He pushed Woonhak's shoulder lightly, snickering at the silly jingle the brunet was singing to himself, "Yah, are you gonna make one of those up for every school we visit this week? I hope you get a bit more creative than that."
Woonhak took the teasing in stride and bumped him back, rolling his eyes. "Maybe I will."
"I thought it was nice, Woonagi."
The maknae brightened up, front teeth on full display at Leehan's kind reassurance. Normally Taesan would tease him for that too, maybe make a comment about Woonhak getting his own boyfriend and backing off of Taesan's, but for the time being he decided to be nice and let it slide. There would always be more opportunities to rile him up later.
He slung an arm over Leehan's shoulders and pulled him close against his side, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "You're only buttering him up so he doesn't get mad later when he finds out you ate his last chocolate in the car."
"Shush!" The younger swatted at him, eyes narrowed warningly. He kept his voice low to avoid Woonhak overhearing them. "And besides, he finished the entire bag of gummy worms I bought the other day without even asking. We're even as far as I'm concerned."
Taesan chuckled. Petty Leehan was charming, especially because he only tended to get so over his favorite food: jellies.
"What are you two whispering about?"
"Nothing!" "Sex stuff."
Their voices stumbled over each other as they responded to the youngest simultaneously. Leehan turned wide eyes on Taesan immediately, jaw falling open at the older's retort. Taesan just shrugged casually, internally enjoying the reaction even as Woonhak started screaming at the top of his lungs and covered his ears like that could undo the last thirty seconds.
"I didn't need to hear that! What the hell, Dongmin-hyung?!"
Woonhak rushed away, hands still clapped firmly against the sides of his head. The behavior earned him a few looks from the staff hanging around which only increased Taesan's amusement.
"You're terrible, you know that?"
Leehan's words were scolding but his tone was amused, like he too was trying hard not to laugh at the youngest's reaction. When Taesan glanced at him, his boyfriend was biting down on his lower lip to try and hide his smile. He wasn't that successful.
Taesan shook him playfully and retracted his arm from around Leehan's shoulders. When he looked up curiously Taesan raised his eyebrows a couple of times and jerked his head towards the tents set up down the track. Leehan tilted his head, puppy-like and sweet, but Taesan could see the glimmer in his eyes that showed he caught onto his meaning. He looked up at him expectantly, waiting to hear the stipulations.
"Last one to our tent has to buy dinner the next time we go out and has to do whatever the winner wants for a whole day. On three. One… Two… Three!"
The words were barely out of his mouth before Leehan was gone in a blur of white and blue. Taesan felt a helpless grin break across his face as he gave chase, catching up easily thanks to his longer legs. They got to their tent in record time, close enough that honestly Taesan couldn't tell which of them had arrived first.
He leaned his hands on his knees, panting slightly as he looked towards Riwoo for a verdict. "Sanghyeok-hyung, who won?"
"Hm?" The older looked up from his nails. "Oh I have no idea, let's just say it's a tie."
Taesan's innate competitiveness flared up, a frown already creasing his face. Before he could voice a protest, an airy giggle distracted him and he turned to see Leehan standing next to him. His cheeks were flushed a light pink from exertion but his eyes were dancing happily, showing how much he'd enjoyed their impromptu race. Some navy blue strands had slipped free from the half bun his hair was in, framing his face prettily. Suddenly being the winner didn't matter so much.
He'd gotten a prize anyways.
⁺♬ ₊˚
Leehan loved university festival season.
There was such amazing energy at the venues, full of exhilaration and the heat of impending summer. It was especially flattering to see so many people around their own age jumping, cheering and sharing in their excitement. Over the last couple of years Leehan had become especially fond of water festivals.
And this year's was Yonsei.
"One! Two! You know what it is!"
The familiar chords of Earth, Wind and Fire hit like a freight train after Woonhak's introduction, the guitar vibrating in his bones. Water sloshed through the air in arcs from all directions as if on cue even though they'd decided not to coordinate anything for this part. Leehan knew after this was over his hair was going to be a frizzy mess but it did nothing to wipe the huge grin off his face. Any tiredness he might have felt was instantly washed away by the cold jolt of water hitting his skin and the renewed screams from the crowd. They jumped and danced and splashed each other with reckless abandon.
What felt like a tidal wave got him right in the face at the climax of the song.
Leehan wiped his eyes, already smiling because he was greeted with the sight of his boyfriend standing in front of him with two empty water bottles in hand. The sun was setting and backlit the taller man, making his six foot frame look larger than life. Taesan's hair was still damp from dumping water over his head at the start of the set. The droplets shimmered in the light. He looked impossibly gorgeous to the point that it took Leehan's breath away.
Taesan smirked at him, pulling his sunglasses down a little to wink flirtatiously like he always did whenever his back was to the crowd. Leehan's heart stuttered in response, a habitual thing even though he and Taesan had been together for over a year now. How was he meant to help it when his boyfriend was just that hot?
Sometimes he wondered why people often said he was the most handsome member of the group when there was a whole Han Taesan right next to him. In Leehan's opinion there was no one more suited to the title than his boyfriend. His striking features that looked like they were carved from marble, his sweet, childlike smile, his full lips that were always warm and just a little rough when they ki— Ok he might be getting carried away now.
Taesan smirked like he knew what Leehan had been thinking before he twirled around again to face the audience, mic already at his lips to belt out his next line with enthusiasm. Sungho sprayed some more water at him and Leehan's eyes helplessly followed the trail as it slid down Taesan's neck and disappeared under his shirt, which was clinging attractively to the older's broad shoulders now.
Leehan thought about the heat— both in the air and in Taesan's eyes— and felt his own answering smile stretch across his face. He picked up another water bottle and unscrewed the cap, spinning in a circle. Woonhak laughed when most of it caught him across the back and Sungho yelped as he got caught in the crossfire. It started another water fight between all six of them that had them all shouting and playing around without a care in the world.
As the song came to a close, Taesan and Jaehyun jump up and down like a pair of lunatics. Woonhak and Sungho moved down into the lower area to interact with the crowd with Riwoo hot on their heels. Leehan stayed back just watching them all in their soaked, chaotic glory.
Oh yes, he really loved water festivals.
⁺♬ ₊˚
"Wah! They do matchmaking events at things like this too?"
Taesan crouched next to Jaehyun as he made his awed observation, watching as the MC on stage loudly congratulated the couple that had matched just now. The whole thing was a bit silly but still cute. A fun event and a good memory to have, even if the relationships didn't actually go the distance.
"I want to get to know someone like that." Jaehyun's voice was emphatic but Taesan knew him too well to take him seriously. He rolled his eyes when the older looked over his shoulder to the person standing behind them and grinned. "Kim Donghyun, come up!"
And Leehan— bless his heart— just looked back at Jaehyun innocently, having not been paying any attention to their leader whatsoever.
"Donghyun-ah, will you have a meal with me?"
Jaehyun asked the question repeatedly, clinging to Leehan's shoulders as the younger looked around teasingly like he couldn't hear him. Taesan could see the smile curling at the corners of his lips.
Not one to be outdone— especially when it came to his boyfriend— Taesan affected his best Busan accent, not all that difficult after living with a native resident for the past three years and dating him for almost two, "Will you grab a meal with me? Let's grab a bite!"
The playful mimicry did the exact job Taesan had wanted it to: drawing Leehan's attention back to him. It was subtle and his eyes were hidden underneath the sunglasses he was wearing but Taesan felt it the second Leehan's gaze settled on him. He waggled his eyebrows at him, winking cheekily to make the younger laugh.
Jaehyun snickered at them from the sidelines, "Do you two want to go up on stage too? I'm sure you'd put all those other couples to shame."
Taesan stuck his tongue out petulantly in response. They all went back to watching the next matchmaking attempt unfold.
After taking a quick look around to make sure they weren't being watched, Taesan pulled Leehan away from the others behind one of the tents. Once they were safely hidden behind the canvas he reached out and took the sunglasses off of Leehan's face, tucking them in his back pocket for safekeeping. The younger didn't resist, the mild curiosity in his gaze melting into delight when he realized what Taesan was about to do. As Taesan leaned down, Leehan went up on his toes just a bit to meet him in the middle. Both of their mouths held the lingering flavors of the Hi-Chews they'd been snacking on earlier making the kiss candy-sweet and perfect.
Taesan slipped his hands under the jersey that hung loose on the younger's torso, smirking into the kiss when he felt the full body shiver that wracked his lean frame. In retaliation Leehan lightly tugged at his hair but smoothed the strands tenderly in apology right after.
Leehan giggled when they pulled apart, putting his hand flat on Taesan's chest when he tried to chase him for another kiss.
"We should get back. I think I just heard them call for us on the stage."
Taesan groaned and nuzzled into the crook of his neck, hugging Leehan tightly against his chest to keep him from moving. It earned him another bubbly laugh and more half-hearted attempts at pushing him away. Eventually he relented but only after stealing another kiss.
"I guess we should go. We can't keep the lovely people of Busan waiting, can we?"
The loveliest Busanite of them all smiled back.
⁺♬ ₊˚
They were at their final stop on the university festival tour.
As if in celebration of that fact, Inje University set off a massive fireworks display.
"Damn!"
Leehan didn't take his eyes off of the colorful sparks, though he did allow himself an amused grin when he heard Taesan let out the awe-filled shout. He heard the shuffling of footsteps and felt Taesan's familiar body brush up against him, his warmth immediately suffusing his entire being.
"Whoa! That looks insane!"
He leaned into the taller's side and snuck a glance up at his boyfriend. Shades of red, orange and yellow bathed his skin in their glow, his dark eyes shining with childlike glee as he watched the fireworks go off. He looked so handsome. Leehan's heart felt like it was close to bursting.
Unfortunately he couldn't spend the entire evening admiring his boyfriend in the idyllic setting because as fun as it all was, they were still technically there to work. So it wasn't until much later— after they'd flown back to Seoul and made their way to the dorms— that Leehan had the opportunity to be alone with Taesan again.
They were sitting on the roof of their apartment building. It was their own little getaway of sorts when they wanted a little alone time without straying too far from home. They sat side by side against the concrete wall lining the rooftop, so close they were practically on top of each other.
For once, it was Leehan who broke the companionable silence first.
"Do you think if we'd gone to university instead of becoming idols that we would have met at a festival like the one at Inje?"
"Probably not." Taesan replied bluntly, not a hint of hesitation in his voice as he gazed up at the empty sky.
A shocked guffaw escaped Leehan as he cocked an eyebrow at him, "Wow, okay. Tell me how you really feel."
"Let's be realistic, Donghyun-ah. You probably would've gone to school in Busan and I more than likely would have stayed in Gwangju. The odds of us ending up in the same town, let alone the same university, are next to impossible."
Leehan pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "You could at least try to be a little romantic about it."
Taesan hugged him close, craning his neck in an obvious attempt to kiss the pout off his face. Leehan didn't let him, choosing instead to hide his face in the older's shoulder so he couldn't reach his lips. Taesan's laughter vibrated under his ear, the sound rich and warm in the cool night air.
"C'mon baby, don't be like that. I'm not saying we wouldn't have met! It just wouldn't have been like that."
"Oh yeah?" Leehan couldn't help having his curiosity piqued as he peeked up at Taesan. "How would we have met then?"
"I dunno…" Taesan drifted off, staring into the distance as he thought about that alternate universe. "We'd be a bit older, I think. Maybe the ages we are now. You'd be a marine biologist and I'd be trying to get my foot in the door at a company like KOZ. I'd probably get frustrated about lyrics or something and go to Busan to clear my head or you'd come to wherever I am for something work related and we'd just meet."
"Like one of those cheesy rom-coms where we run into each other at a café or something?" Leehan rolled his eyes.
"Don't pretend you don't love those." Taesan elbowed his side playfully. "And why not? Our names are similar, I could totally see a barista calling out for my order and you mishearing them."
"Why am I the one who screws it up?"
Taesan kissed along his jaw, voice dancing with restrained humor, "Because you're the weird one between the two of us and you literally did that exact thing the last time we went for a coffee date. I guarantee, no matter what universe we're in you'd still be an oddball."
Leehan swung himself into Taesan's lap, forcing the older to have to look up at him. "Well you would still be the type of guy who pretends to be all chic and cool when really he's a big, soft-hearted dork. If I got your coffee by accident you probably would have made a whole production out of it before reluctantly taking it back, like you were doing me the favor." His eyes softened as he continued their little made-up timeline. "Then suddenly you'd just be everywhere and no matter what you'd find some way to tease me whenever we met. Probably spend the whole time flirting with me then too."
Taesan grinned up at him confidently. "It would work though. You'd still fall for me, wouldn't you?"
Leehan sighed and made a face like he was contemplating it, tapping a finger against his lips for show. Taesan dug his fingers into his ribs, relentlessly tickling him until Leehan was laughing and gasping for air as he tried to fend him off unsuccessfully. Taesan leaned in to kiss him again and this time Leehan allowed it, his giggles muffled as their mouths connected.
Taesan's hands migrated down from Leehan's sides to settle on his hips, just holding him. Leehan's slid into his hair, using the gentle grip to angle Taesan's head just where he wanted him. They stayed like that for a while, trading soft kisses under the moonlight.
This year, the next, a thousand more… Leehan didn't think he'd ever get sick of festival season, as long as he got to spend them with Taesan.