Chapter Text
“Your hands are so big.”
Jeonghan commented staring at the intertwined fingers. It was past midnight and the two of them were still awake, lying in bed as close together as ever. Jeonghan had one arm stretched under Joshua's neck while the other stroked his abdomen.
Joshua was never as comfortable as he was at that moment, feeling Jeonghan's calm breath against his hair and having his fingers intertwined with the man he had always been in love with. He could stay up all night just to continue feeling that sense of protection and peace that Jeonghan gave him.
“They’re not big”, Joshua replied quietly, “You’re the one who have thin hands.”
“Good point”, Jeonghan chuckled, leaving a quick kiss on the younger's bare shoulder, “I want to confess something, but I don't know if I should.”
“So you decide to make me curious?”, Joshua asked looking over his shoulder, seeing the shy smile forming on Jeonghan's lips, “You can tell me anything, Han. You know that.”
“I know, but...”, Jeonghan grumbled awkwardly, burying his face in the younger's hair.
“Jeonghan, say it at once.”
“It's just... I've never been like this with anyone else”, Jeonghan confessed making Joshua look over his shoulder at him with raised eyebrows.
“Never? Not once?”, Joshua asked seeing the older one shake his head, “Why not?”
“I never felt like it,” Jeonghan shrugged, “There were few people I slept with more than one night.”
“Was Seungcheol one of them?”
“Yes, why?”
“I expected”, Joshua laughed, squeezing Jeonghan's fingers between his, “So you never felt like cuddling with someone?”, Joshua teased listening to the older man's laugh against his neck.
“No. I ran away from it actually.”
“And how is your first time going?”
“Although it's not really a first time with you, since we're always like this.”
“Naked?”
“That's the detail,” Jeonghan pointed out making Joshua laugh, “But it's been perfect.”
The two were silent, just enjoying the delicious moment they were involved. Joshua had his eyes closed enjoying the caress he received in his abdomen, feeling Jeonghan's breath hit his shoulder. Every now and then Jeonghan placed a tender kiss on the bare shoulder, feeling the younger's abdominal muscles contract against his fingers, and that made him happy.
Jeonghan thought about all the time he was avoiding showing any kind of feeling, simply because he was sure it wouldn't be enough for Joshua. At the time to think that would be silly, but three days ago it was a totally valid thought.
“Have you ever imagined this?”, Jeonghan suddenly asked.
“What?”, Joshua asked sleepily.
“The two of us together. Have you ever imagined it before?”
“A few times.”
“Really?”, Jeonghan asked in surprise, seeing Joshua shake his head and turn to face him.
“You did not?”
“Maybe once in a while when I was drunk”, Jeonghan joked getting a pinch on the belly, “Yah! It's a joke!”
“It's not like I expected otherwise”, Joshua shrugged, lacing one leg between Jeonghan's.
“Hey, I imagined us together yes.”
“Last week?”
“Yes, but I figured”, Jeonghan smiled innocently, earning a sleepy laugh in response, “You're tired.”
“I have reasons for that”, Joshua smiled against the younger's neck, feeling the small nails caress his back.
“I didn't even demand much of you today”, Jeonghan said against his dark hair, hearing a wry laugh against his neck.
“Watch your words, Yoon.”
“Is this a threat?”
“A warning”, Joshua placed a quick peck on Jeonghan's lips and leaned his head back against his warm neck, “Sleep tight, Hannie.”
“Of course I will”, Jeonghan smiled, pulling the blanket to wrap the two of them, “Good night, Shua.”
Jeonghan couldn't see, but he knew Joshua was smiling against his neck. And if there was one thing he could say for sure, it's that he would do everything possible – and also the impossible – to keep that smile on the youngest's face.
It was a promise.
>>>>><<<<<
6 months later.
November 7th.
“Shua? Are you ready?”, Jeonghan asked putting his head inside the younger's room.
“Almost...”, Joshua replied with difficulty, trying to zip the suitcase on top of the bed, “Can you help me?”
“Okay sit down here”, Jeonghan approached and Joshua obeyed, balancing on top of the big suitcase, “What did you put in here? Bobby?”
“Just the necessary, Jeonghan”, Joshua replied confidently, noting the eldest's ease in zipping up, “I know you're going to forget something, so I've already put it here.”
“How do you know I'm going to forget something when you helped me pack?”, Jeonghan asked with an amused smile, resting his hands on Joshua's thighs.
“Because I don't trust myself either”, Joshua replied simply, wrapping his arms around Jeonghan's neck and flashing an innocent smile.
“If you say... Who am I to disagree, right?”
“You're my boyfriend! You can always disagree with me.”
“I love my life, thank you,” Jeonghan replied, moving closer, moving the hands up his thighs to his waist.
“I'm glad you know that”, Joshua chuckled, cocking his head to the side, “I think I'm done here.”
“No, you’re not. There's still one thing left.”
“What?”, Jeonghan's low teasing tone brought a wicked smile to Jeonghan's lips, and before Joshua could say anything the older man's lips covered his in a calm kiss.
It has been a common routine for the two since they decided to take on a relationship, and Jeonghan could safely say that he has never been happier than he has been in the last six months. Joshua's happiness was clear, it was as if he was even more radiant and handsome in Jeonghan's eyes, and knowing that he was the reason for that wide smile was enough to make him feel the same way.
“Now you're ready”, Jeonghan said with his lips still glued to the younger's, feeling the smile form and leaving a last peck before walking away, “I'll take your suitcase to the taxi. Do you lock everything?”
“Yes sir”, Joshua saluted and climbed off the suitcase, helping Jeonghan set it down, “I'll meet you downstairs.”
Joshua bit his lip to keep from laughing at Jeonghan's difficulty carrying the heavy suitcase out of the room. As requested, Joshua checked that everything was properly locked and confirmed that the tickets, his passport and documents were in the bag along with Jeonghan's, as he was absolutely sure that the eldest would probably forget them.
Like every time he looked at the passage, Joshua felt a tingle in his stomach and an automatic smile appeared, making him excited and anxious once again that month. It all went by so fast and he was grateful to all the Gods in existence for that, as he was quite capable of ending up with an anxiety attack.
He remembered like it was yesterday the day Jeonghan arrived screaming at his apartment, causing him not only a scare but also a possible heart attack.
3 months before.
“Joshua!”, Jeonghan's high-pitched scream almost caused Joshua to drop the entire packet of salt on the dinner he was preparing, “Joshuji? Babe where are you?”
“The apartment isn't that big, Jeonghan! And stop yelling!”, Joshua yelled back, listening to the older man's hurried footsteps towards the kitchen.
“You just screamed too”, Jeonghan teased taking off the coat he was wearing, “And it was really hot.”
“Why are you yelling so much?”, Joshua asked wiping his hands before hugging his boyfriend.
“Because it's easier to find you”, Jeonghan laughed amused leaving a kiss on Joshua's neck, taking advantage of his face there, “How are you? How was your day?”
“I'm great, and apart from the fact that I possibly went deaf, my day was great too”, Joshua replied narrowing his eyes as he saw that the mischievous smile didn't turn his lips pink for a moment, “Okay what did you do now and how much it will cost?”
“Why would I have done something?”
“You've got your grin that you've done something and it'll be left for me later”, Joshua replied simply, hearing the amused laugh again, “Come on, spill it.”
“Okay, but I think you'd better sit down first.”
“For God's sake, Han. What did you break this time?”
“I didn't break anything! But you might fall to the ground when I tell you the news”, Jeonghan laughed with the younger's suspicious expression.
“Say it at once!”
“Have you schedule your vacation already?”
“No, I was thinking about scheduling for the beginning of the year. Why?”
“Well, schedule it for November then.”
“Right... For what reason?”
“How's your English?”, Jeonghan asked and Joshua stared at him with boredom.
“Stop answering me with questions, Jeonghan!”, Joshua slapped his boyfriend's arm, hearing louder laughter this time.
“Just answer me!”
“My English? It's great”, Joshua replied simply, not holding back and laughing along with Jeonghan, “Why?”
“Because you're going to need it soon.”
“What you mean?”
“I attended a meeting with the agency's executives today. They said that in November we will attend an event in London, and as I am one of the official photographers I will have to travel with everyone.”
“So…?”, Joshua asked, feeling a strong shiver in his stomach.
“And then I'm entitled to an escort. So I thought, who should I take? But it has to be someone who likes fashion and London”, Jeonghan struck a thoughtful pose, holding back a laugh as Joshua widened his eyes, “And also someone who speaks English to speak for me, because I suck at it.”
“Jeonghan, you...”
“We're going to London, baby!” Jeonghan clapped his hands excitedly, covering his ears as Joshua let out a scream so loud he was sure his vocal cords were begging for help.
“Yoon Jeonghan!”, Joshua yelled, covering his mouth with his hands, “If this is one more joke from you, I'll end your life!”
“It's not a joke, Shua”, Jeonghan laughed pulling his boyfriend's hands so he could hold his face, seeing his brown eyes completely teary, “I'll take you to London and we'll have an amazing vacation!”
Joshua let out another excited little cry before grabbing Jeonghan, burying his face in Jeonghan’s warm neck and letting the tears of happiness fall without caring about anything else. Jeonghan laughed amused at the younger's reaction, not that it was a surprise that Joshua burst into tears, but it was fun, nonetheless.
That trip had come at the perfect time, so it would be even easier for Jeonghan to make the surprise he had been planning so much.
[…]
The drive to the airport was quick, considering that Joshua insisted on teaching Jeonghan some English phrases. It was fun to see the eldest fumble with words, and if they were alone Joshua was sure he wouldn't have controlled himself so much.
“Is everyone here already?”, Joshua asked, lacing his fingers with Jeonghan's free hand as they walked through the airport.
“Seungkwan and Hansol yes. Seungcheol is already coming, and in a bad mood”, Jeonghan replied, guiding Joshua to the departure gate, not taking long to find his friends in one of the waiting benches, “There they are.”
“Only Joshua to make you arrive on time”, Seungkwan teased leaning his chin on Jaejoong's shoulder who was more focused on the cell phone in his hands.
“I could even answer you, but my nephew is here”, Jeonghan placed a kiss on Jaejoong's forehead before throwing himself into Hansol's arms, “I missed you, Hansol-ah.”
“We went out together last week, hyung. By God...”, Hansol laughed as he returned the hug.
“He's been really needy lately”, Joshua joked as he sat down next to Seungkwan, earning an amused look.
“Are you on sex ban again?”
“Not this time”, Joshua laughed, poking Jaejoong's cheek, “You haven't even given me a smile yet, you know?”
“Sorry, samchon Joshua”, Jaejoong turned to Joshua with a pout, which made Joshua's eyes widen.
“My God! There's really no way you're getting more like your appa”, Joshua chuckled at their resemblance, “I'm sorry for that, Hansol.”
“I've already surrendered”, Hansol shrugged his shoulders in defeat, “What matters is that my son is beautiful and healthy.”
“You say that, but we know you cry at night”, Jeonghan teased causing both men to laugh, cringing as he felt a pinch on his arm, “Hansol-ah!”
“I'll throw you on the floor of this airport if you continue”, Hansol threatened, causing Seungkwan to burst out laughing.
“How have the consultations with the psychologist been?”, Jeonghan asked Hansol who still had his eyes locked on Jaejoong.
“Very good, Seokmin is great with him. I don't know why it took me so long to get him.”
“And has he made progress in preschool?”
“Oddly enough, yes. I talked to his teacher the last week of school, and she said he's been talking and even joking more with his classmates”, Hansol replied with a contented smile. Jeonghan could see the relief in his eyes as he said that.
“That's great Sol-ah! You can sleep peacefully now.”
“Good thing. Seokmin really is God on Earth for being able to make this boy interact with someone in his age”, Hansol replied causing Jeonghan to laugh and hug his neck.
Four months ago Hansol had come home excited, telling Seungkwan that he had met an old friend from college and that he might have figured out the solution for Jaejoong to lose his shyness and start interacting more with the kids at school. Lee Seokmin was a child psychologist who had taken some classes with Hansol in the first semesters of college, and when he found out that Hansol had a completely shy three-year-old son, he asked Hansol to take him to his office during the week for an appointment.
At the first appointment Jaejoong was shy and didn't respond much to Seokmin, but it didn't take much for him to get the boy to loosen up and get some words and even some smiles. Even Seungkwan was surprised by the dynamic and patience Seokmin had with his son, and that's what made him have more confidence and gradually lose the shyness among his classmates.
A few weeks after the first appointment, Jaejoong’s teacher invited Hansol and Seungkwan to attend the school for the afternoon, and if before the two were worried about what it could be, when they saw what it was about they were extremely relieved. The teacher proudly showed the group activity they were doing and the great evolution that Jaejoong had among the others, even jokes that made his classmates laugh he was doing.
That day Hansol didn't know whether to celebrate with his son teaching jokes to his classmates, or to try to calm Seungkwan's relieved cry.
“I'm really happy for him.”
“Could you please take your hand away from there?”, Seungkwan asked with a frown, patting Jeonghan's arm that was wrapped around Hansol's neck.
“Jealousy?”
“Yes. Now get out, hurry up”, Seungkwan replied angrily, earning an amused laugh from Jeonghan, “Look, Seungcheol is here. Go grab him.”
“Not me, look at his face”, Jeonghan pointed at his friend's closed expression.
“Jeonghan”, Joshua said in a warning tone, causing the boyfriend to close his mouth and not make any jokes, “Seungcheol? Is everything okay?”
“No”, Seungcheol replied putting the suitcase on the floor, “But still, hello.”
“I'm not going to ask what happened because I already have an idea, but if you want to talk I'm here, okay?”, Joshua asked pulling his friend to sit next to him.
“I know, thanks”, Seungcheol shook his head and turned around as he felt a small touch on his arm, finding Jaejoong's curious eyes staring at him, “Hi, little one.”
“Cheol hyung, do you know how to play?”, Jaejoong showed the cell phone with the game.
“Do I know how to play? I'm a master at it”, Seungcheol flashed a smug smile.
“Play with me?”
“Okay, I think I can play on time, or ten”, Seungcheol joked pulling the little one onto his lap.
“Only Jae to make his murderous mood pass for now”, Seungkwan said quietly to Jeonghan, receiving a kick in the leg.
“I heard that”, Seungcheol said without taking his eyes off the game.
In less than an hour the flight to London was announced, causing a sullen Seungcheol to get up again, promising to have a rematch with Jaejoong to make up for lost matches. This only opened the door for Hansol to make fun of his friend by saying that his son at least had his gift for games, making him angrier than before.
Inside the plane, Jeonghan was amused to see Jaejoong's surprised way, looking at everything with wide dark eyes and asking one question after another. The seats Joshua and he would be in were right next to the three of them and right behind Seungcheol, who no longer had an irritated expression but a hesitant frown. His eyes fixed on the cell phone in his hand, his lip between his teeth and Joshua could have sworn he was seeing several question marks on his forehead.
“What do you think about so much?”, Joshua asked leaning his arms on the back of the seat.
“Whether or not I should send a message. You know, just to clear my conscience.”
“’Clear my conscience'“, Jeonghan laughed amusedly leaning his head against Joshua's to face his friend, “That excuse is great, but outdated.”
“Oddly enough he's right”, Joshua strained to see his friend's cell phone screen, “What did you write?”
“'Hi, it's me. I just wanted to let you know that I'm already on the plane and I should be arriving in 10 hours. I wish you were with me... Take care. Love you'“, Seungcheol read the message low and hesitantly, avoiding stare at the two pairs of eyes beside you.
“Gay!”, Jeonghan pretended to cough, getting a frustrated grunt and a chuckled laugh from Joshua.
“It is bad?”
“No, it's great actually. Shows you care”, Joshua soothed, “Why haven't you sent it in yet?”
“I'm afraid he'll swear at me or not answer me.”
“I'll send it to you”, Jeonghan said simply, hitting the send button without even hesitating.
“Jeonghan!”, Seungcheol exclaimed, seeing the message being sent without him being able to delete it first, “My God, I hate you!”
“You yourself gave me a big lecture about being a coward!”, Jeonghan pointed his finger accusingly, “Spare me, Seungcheol.”
“They were different situations!”
“Teenager!”, Jeonghan scoffed, making Joshua roll his eyes in boredom.
“Are you guys done yet?”, Joshua asked looking at the two of them interchangeably, “Cheol, relax. Jihoon won't swear at you or anything. Just give him a break and he'll be fine.”
“See? That's real advice”, Seungcheol frowned at Jeonghan who just shrugged his shoulders not caring, “Okay Shua, I'll think about it this way and calm down a bit.”
“Turn off your cell phone and get some sleep, okay?”
“Okay... Thanks Shua”, Seungcheol managed a small smile before the two of them settled back into their seats.
“What happened this time?”, Jeonghan asked quietly so as not to be noticed.
“Jihoon and Cheol fought. Again.”
“They look like an old couple”, Jeonghan rolled his eyes, helping Joshua fasten his seat belt.
“That's the fun part”, Joshua chuckled, leaning closer so he could whisper, “What he doesn't know is that Jihoon is heading to London on the next flight.”
“Really?”, Jeonghan asked with an excited smile, “This is amazing! Seungcheol will be really happy. But why does he only go on the next flight?”
“To surprise you, Han. God…”, Joshua shook his head at the question, “I talked to him yesterday, and it looks like this time he's really gotten tired of all the games the two of you have been playing these months. “
“We're all tired”, Jeonghan twirled his finger, indicating Seungkwan and Hansol as well, “Our drama has been enough.”
“Your drama, isn't it?”
“You had a share too, Mr. Hong.”
“Yes, but I will never admit it”, Joshua flashed a smug smile, which made Jeonghan roll his eyes.
“Of course not”, Jeonghan tilted his head, running his fingers through his boyfriend's hair, “You look tired.”
“And I'm tired. You know, I had to run to pack my boyfriend's bag because he just forgot.”
“Really? How bad!”, Jeonghan faked an annoyed frown, earning a slow shake of his head in response, “How did someone like him get a man like you?”
“Oh he knows very well how to take care of me, you know? I can't refuse something like that”, Joshua opened a smug smile, feeling his boyfriend's fingers go down his neck, going towards the back of his neck and starting a slow caress that made him close your eyes almost automatically.
“I hope you don't mind, but I'll take care of you during the flight, Mr. Hong.”
“Oh I don't mind”, Joshua laid his head on the fluffy pillow Jeonghan had given him as a gift, listening to the older man's amused laugh.
“Sleep well, okay? When you wake up, we'll be in London”, Jeonghan left a peck on his pink lips, adjusting himself to continue caressing Joshua's hair.
That thought was so satisfying, Joshua was sure he'd go to sleep with a smile on his face. And that's exactly what happened, with Jeonghan taking care of him as he had said before.
>>>>><<<<<
It was dark when the plane landed safely at Heathrow Airport. The flight, although calm, was quite tiring, and combined with the bad weather, all the five men wanted was to eat something and sleep decently in a comfortable bed.
Jaejoong was so sleepy that he didn't even mind the many coats Seungkwan put on him to protect him from the cold, and hugging Hansol's neck he ended up falling asleep again all the way to the hotel.
In the other taxi, Seungcheol still had his head down when he saw that he didn't get any reply from the message he had sent hours ago, but what he didn't know is that Joshua – who was right next to him – had already spoken to Jihoon and knew that he would land in London in a few hours.
“Do you want to order something to eat in your room or do you want to visit the hotel's restaurant?”, Jeonghan asked as he left the bags in the corner of the room.
“What are the boys going to do?”, Joshua flopped back onto the bed, closing his eyes to enjoy the softness of the sheets.
“Kwan said that Jaejoongie is very sleepy and sly, so they'll order something to eat in the room and let him sleep”, Jeonghan replied climbing on the bed, getting on top of the younger's body, “Seungcheol said he's not in the mood for socialize, then stay in your room and rest for tomorrow.”
“He says that because he doesn't know who will be knocking on his door in a few hours.”
“How do you think he'll react to seeing Jihoon at his door?”, Jeonghan asked playing with Joshua's hair.
“Seungcheol can be pretty unpredictable at times, but I think he'll get static and then start crying like the big baby he is”, Joshua laughed, stroking Jeonghan's back under the hoodie he was wearing, feeling how hot his skin was, “Your skin is hot.”
“Baby, I'm hot”, Jeonghan scoffed, enjoying his boyfriend's eye roll.
“Convinced.”
“From your expression and body reading, we're going to eat in the bedroom. Am I right?”
“Huh... I don't know about you, but I'm going to eat here,” Joshua flashed a smug smile, dropping his hands to Jeonghan's thighs, loving to see the brown eyes widen in surprise.
“Jisoo!”
“Don't call me that!”, Joshua pinched the older man's thighs, listening to the laugh against his neck, “You've ruined the mood, congratulations.”
“I can bring him back really quick”, Jeonghan placed a kiss on Joshua's wrist point, feeling the skin prickling against his lips, “I saw that this hotel has a hot tub...”
“Yeah? That sounds interesting.”
“What do you think of the idea of taking a hot shower?” Jeonghan's low, slurred voice was making Joshua feel a familiar pressure build up in his underwear, resulting in a heavy sigh, “Next we ordered food in the room then we can cuddle under the covers. What do you think?”
“Cuddle under the covers?”, Joshua asked amused, “I never thought I'd hear that from you.”
“I'm a perfect boyfriend, babe. You should know that by now”, Jeonghan smiled smugly, leaving a tender kiss on the rosy lips, “What do you think of my idea?”
“I thought it was great, especially the food part.”
“Then let's go! There's a hot tub waiting for us.”
“I'm right behind you.”
“Whoever arrives last will be the sub and pays for dinner!”, Jeonghan snapped jumping out of bed.
“Yoon Jeonghan!”
>>>>><<<<<
“How do you not get tired of taking pictures all the time?”, Joshua asked standing next to Jeonghan who seemed to be concentrating on photographing the couple in front of him.
“It's something so natural that sometimes I don't even realize I'm photographing it”, Jeonghan replied with a smirk, bending down to get a better angle.
“Did they ask you to photograph them?”
“No, but I know they are enjoying this trip as a second honeymoon, even with Jaejoong here”, Jeonghan pulled the camera away and enjoyed the scene of his two friends laughing and hugging each other a little further on, “I want to take a little album as a gift to them afterwards.”
“As you are a good friend”, Joshua joked pulling the older one by his overcoat and adjusting the scarf he was wearing, “Seungkwan would be thrilled.”
“He'd make fun of my face, that's right”, Jeonghan grumbled, but then he cracked a smile and showed the camera, “Look! It looks really good, don't you think?”
“You're so good at this it makes me pissed”, Joshua said, flipping through the photos and only then seeing his boyfriend's surprised expression, “I'm kidding, Han.”
“Don't scare me like that!”
“Stop taking everything I say seriously!”
“As if that's possible”, Jeonghan chuckled taking the camera back, “Sit on the floor. I want to take some pictures of you now.”
“Han, the ground is covered in snow”, Joshua grimaced, but ended up rolling his eyes at the pout his boyfriend was making, “What I won't do for you...”
“You'll thank me later.”
Anyone who saw their interaction from afar could tell how easy it all seemed. And it really was, it always was. The way one always knew what to do without the other having to ask, it was as if they were somehow intertwined.
And maybe they really were.
“Oh like that!”, Jeonghan dropped to one knee on the floor, “It's great, babe.”
“Really?”, Joshua asked placing his hands on the floor and smiling at the camera.
“You're so pretty that makes me angry”, Jeonghan grumbled without taking the picture, which made Joshua laugh at the sullen tone of voice, “Stop laughing!”
“Stop taking pictures and come here!”, Joshua threw some snow on the youngest who ended up laughing and sitting on the ground next to him.
“Look, this is by far my favorite”, Jeonghan showed the photo where Joshua was with his hands on the floor and smiling so wide that his eyes were almost closed.
“You say that about every photo you take!”, Joshua laughed.
“It's not my fault if you're my favorite person”, Jeonghan replied, resting his arms on the snow-covered ground. Joshua took his eyes off the camera to stare at the man beside him, trying in vain to contain the smile that was forming, “What's up?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh no, Shua!”, Jeonghan grumbled, pushing the younger's shoulder playfully, “Tell me what it is!”
“It's a silly thing, Han.”
“It doesn't matter, I want to know.”
“It's just... I like it when you talk like that”, Joshua shrugged, expecting some reaction from his boyfriend who was just staring at him intently.
“Pff... That was really gay!”, Jeonghan said with a laugh, making Joshua roll his eyes and turn his attention to the camera, “Hey, it was a joke!”
“I don’t want to know.”
“Babe, I'm serious!”, Jeonghan settled next to Joshua who kept his expression closed, “I was kidding!”
“Okay.”
“Don't be like that with me...”, Jeonghan grumbled, wrapping his arms around Joshua's waist and resting his chin on his shoulder, “Sorry babe...”
“Say it again.”
“Sorry- Aish!”, Jeonghan blinked in alarm at the camera flash, followed by Joshua's laughter, “What was that?!”
“That was me capturing your face apologizing”, Joshua showed the picture where the boyfriend had a small pout on his lips and a regretful look, “Now that's my favorite picture.”
“I can't believe you tricked me like that, Joshua!”, Jeonghan took the camera from Joshua's hands and pushed him towards the snow, narrowing his eyes seeing that it made him laugh again, “Stop laughing!”
Joshua just shook his head, eyes widening when he felt Jeonghan's weight on his waist. Jeonghan rested his arms beside the youngest's head, staring intently into his eyes, which were filled with laughter. He could see the effort Joshua was making not to laugh, and that along with the cold was making his cheeks redden.
“I really hate how cute you can be without trying”, Jeonghan ended up laughing as he brushed some snowflakes out of his dark hair.
“I'm glad you think that without me making an effort, because if it were up to it you'd have left me a long time ago”, Joshua replied seeing his boyfriend shake his head.
“As if you were going to let that happen!”
“You have an important point”, Joshua pointed out. Jeonghan lay down in the snow beside him, lifting the camera to see all the pictures that were taken, “I like that.”
“Lying in the snow?”, Jeonghan asked confused.
“No”, Joshua chuckled at the question, moving closer to lay his head on Jeonghan's shoulder, “I like being like this. Not having to worry about anything but relaxing.”
“Actually this is really good”, Jeonghan took the chance to turn the camera and take a new picture. Joshua grunted at the click he heard.
“Jeonghan...”
“It was the last one!”, Jeonghan laughed, looking at the photo and smiling happily at the result, “This one deserves a painting.”
Joshua lifted his head to see the photo taken, flashing a happy smile just like Jeonghan's. He constantly complained about Jeonghan's spontaneous clicks, but it was just to stay in character as he loved those pictures. And he loved even more the smile his boyfriend opened with each picture taken.
And Joshua would never get tired of it.
“We can use it for our invitation”, Jeonghan said, going back through the photos. Joshua broke the smile instantly.
“What invitation?”
“From our wedding”, Jeonghan replied as if it was obvious. Joshua could feel a heart attack coming on.
“What do you mean?”, the shaky voice made Jeonghan look away from the camera, finding a pair of wide eyes staring at him.
“Shua, did you forget about our contract?”, Jeonghan asked putting the camera aside, “So you came up with the idea?! I'm disappointed...”
“Stop playing with me right now, you idiot!”, Joshua sat up, patting Jeonghan's arm and having no effect because of the thick clothes, “It's not funny, Jeonghan.”
“But I'm serious!”, Jeonghan laughed, also sitting up properly, “I thought I'd surprise you, but I'm not very good at it.”
“And so you decided to do this while we're lying in the snow?!”
“But it's in London!”, Jeonghan pointed out pointing to the London Eye in the background, “And you love London.”
Joshua opened his mouth to answer that, then closed it. He was taken aback by the spontaneity, but taking a second to think, he had no reason to be so surprised. Because it was that spontaneity that he fell in love with all those years.
“I thought maybe it was too soon and that we should get to know each other better”, Jeonghan started smiling amusedly, “But then I realized that I don't need to get to know you better. You know me better than anyone, and we've waited too long for that. .”
“Why is it, isn't it?”
“Shua, I'm trying here!”, Jeonghan whimpered. Joshua laughed, holding the older man's icy hands.
“Sorry.”
“I was really nervous before we left”, Jeonghan continued, internally thanking him for the warmth in his hands, “But it's different when we're together, because I'm not afraid to tell you what I think and feel anymore. And I don't see it anymore reason why we can't seal our story once and for all.”
“So... Do you really want to get married?”, Joshua asked. Stomach churning in anxiety.
“With you I want”, Jeonghan smiled, “My only exception.”
Joshua smiled, feeling his eyes watering and an absurd desire to hug the man in front of him. And that's what he did. Throwing themselves into Jeonghan's body they fell into the snow again, laughing and squeezing as if they weren't in public.
But none of that mattered.
Jeonghan felt something wet against his neck, and from that he knew Joshua was crying. He closed his eyes tightly, controlling himself as much as possible not to start crying too, even though it seemed impossible at that moment.
“I'm sorry I didn't do something special”, Jeonghan said quietly so only Joshua could hear.
“Don't apologize”, Joshua sniffled, lifting his head and then chuckling, “You're trying too hard not to cry, aren't you?”
“Of course I am!”, Jeonghan whimpered, taking a deep breath to hold back the tears, “I want to make this right.”
“Fine”, Joshua said, wiping his face, “We're not in a hurry.”
Jeonghan loved that. He loved all that calm Joshua exuded, plus all the confidence to follow through. And that was the main reason he was doing this, because he just couldn't imagine his life without having Joshua by his side encouraging him and holding his hand.
“Joshuji?”
“Yeah?”
“Will you marry me?”
It was as if a movie was playing in Joshua's head at that moment. With all the years of friendship, jealousy and unspoken feelings, his engagement to Mingyu and his fling with Seungcheol. It was all worth it, and he was more than willing to live through it all again, and wait that long, if in the end he was going to end up with Jeonghan asking him to marry him in London.
“Yes, I do.”
Whether it was possible to feel greater happiness than that, Jeonghan didn't know. He felt Jeonghan's soft lips touch his in a simple kiss, but one that had the greatest meaning of all the others they had ever exchanged.
Love.
And Jeonghan knew that was something that no other person would ever be able to give him.
“Are we really getting married?”, Joshua asked as he broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to the now-fiancé's.
“Yes, we are. But first...”, Jeonghan reached into his coat pocket and took out a paper, “We have to buy a frame for this here.”
“What is this?”, Joshua looked confused at the paper but opened his mouth in surprise when he saw what it was, “Hannie! Do you still have this?”
“Of course I do!”, Jeonghan said obviously, looking at the worn paper with time-faded words, “That's what started this whole story.”
“My first contract”, Joshua laughed, touching the paper, remembering the night he wrote it in that restaurant after yet another horrible date.
“They say the first contract is the most important.”
“Who said that?”, Joshua asked laughing.
“I did!”, Jeonghan smiled innocently and Joshua rolled his eyes.
“Maybe you're right, but I won't admit it.”
And really the first contract was the most important, and he was ready to sign another contract with Jeonghan. But this one, unlike the first, would have no expiration date.