Work Text:
Here they were again, sitting in the bathtub just before a show. It was just like on the train. But this time, the stakes were higher. And, well, the bathroom was significantly less gross. Only about six months after getting off the train, they had landed an actual gig at a bar, something they’d get paid for, and there was a large crowd of people waiting for them to arrive. They weren’t playing for the sake of getting off the train anymore.
“Min, it’ll be fine, okay?” Ryan murmured, placing his hand on Min’s shoulder.
“What if it won’t, though? What if they know?” Min pressed the ball of his palms into his eyes, perhaps rubbing away some tears. He was shaking a little, Ryan realized.
"Know what, exactly?"
"You know...That we're, uh…" He trailed off, sighing. Couldn't even bring himself to even say the word. What good of a partner did that make him?
"Gay?" Ryan prompted.
Even just that word sent a pang of anxiety through Min's stomach. He didn't know why. It was who he was, something he shouldn't be ashamed of; yet he was, he was ashamed of it, he felt like an alien. Even though no one knew besides the two of them.
"Yeah. That." His voice was small, almost too quiet to be heard even in the secluded silence.
"It isn't…" Ryan reached for the right words to say, something that would comfort Min. "That isn't something anyone can see based on how you look. It's, like, your thoughts? Only you know what you're thinking. Same thing with being gay, right?" He smiled a little. "That is, unless you do something that's gay. So try not to kiss me on stage, okay?"
Chuckling and shaking his head, Min finally looked up at Ryan, and there was finally that smile on his face that he loved so much.
"God, you're such a dork." Min grinned. "Thanks, dude. I'm sorry-'' Before he could finish, Ryan cut him off with a tight hug. He was practically sitting in Min's lap. And honestly, it felt nice.
"Don't you dare say sorry," Ryan pulled back so he and Min could look at each other, hands on his shoulders. "It's not your fault. You think you're ready to go yet?"
Min nodded. "Soon. Just…five more minutes?" He snaked his arms around Ryan's waist, pulling him into a straddle-hug. They were alone. They could do whatever they liked, now, without the fear of being found out. It felt good.
After that night and the one on the train combined, bathtub chats became tradition for them. If either of them had something they needed to talk about, he'd hide in the bathtub until the other found him. Then they'd just talk. Sometimes only for minutes, and sometimes they lasted for hours. It was a good way to stay connected and keep their relationship going. Communication is key.
It worked. They worked. Eventually the band was renamed to Duet. They gained fans. As soon as gay marriage was legal, they got married. Ryan took Min's last name, to leave behind the baggage of his family.
They toured the world together as Ryan and Min-gi Park, sharing their experiences on the train through song lyrics, hoping to attract some people who had also been on the train. A few times, they did exactly that. They were happy. Really happy.