Archive of Our Own ^beta

"No! I'm not going!"

Taehyun grunted as he wrestled his grandpa into the back seat of the taxi.

"Mom said she's worried about you staying up here in the middle of nowhere all by yourself, so get in the car old man!" 

"This is not the middle of nowhere!" his grandpa hissed, holding onto the doorframe of his front door. Taehyun yanked again on his waist, the old geezer somehow still strong even though he's in his 70's. Where did he pack all that strength? 

"If you don't stop making a scene, the neighbors are going to think I'm kidnapping you!" Taehyun growled through clenched teeth, smirking when he won and managed to yank his grandpa from the door.

"That isn't a bad idea. Help! Help! He's hurting me!" Grandpa Kang thrashed and yelled, no doubt trying to get the attention of anybody nearby. 

Luckily for taehyun, his grandpa owns a very pretty cottage style home with a decent amount of yard and trees all around, so the space between him and his neighbors was quite wide. They were close enough to see each other in the distance, but far enough to give each other room to breathe. It was much different from Taehyun's beachside city he grew up in down south near the ocean where everyone was cramped together like a can of sardines. 

Oh how he misses his ocean. 

"That isn't going to work old man," taehyun said with confidence, bracing his arms against his grandpa in a bear grip and shoving him into the backseat of his car rental. He laughed when he succeeded. 

"You are just as rotten as your father, that ungrateful child of mine," his grandpa complained, lunging to get back out of the car. Taehyun blocked his path, bare arms crossed over his chest. Admittedly, he shivered. It was just a tad bit chillier up north than he was used to back home. He should've prepared warmer clothing, his skin tight black T-shirt doing nothing to stop the wind. 

Although, the chilly breeze could be the result of his grandfather's sour mood. Who knows. 

"Wrong, I'm much nicer than Dad and you know it. He would've dragged you from the house by the ankle. That's why mom sent me instead," he said with a smug look on his face. 

His grandpa pouted, not contradicting him. His dad was just as stubborn as this old mule in front of him. Both his father and grandpa butt heads constantly when they are in the same vicinity of each other, so ultimately it was a good thing taehyun's dad packed up his family and moved south right after he was born. He stayed long enough for his father to witness the birth of his first grandson, and then they were gone, leaving behind dense forest and gloomy clouds for a more golden and warmer environment. 

Not that Taehyun could blame his father for packing up and leaving the small northern town. His father inherited his gifts from the maternal side of the family; there is no place for a sea witch in the middle of a forest far from the ocean. Taehyun's dad wasn't happy, so he left. His grandpa was super pissed by that, insisting on staying here where the family roots are, but in the end he let him be (though he still gave his dad hell whenever they had family get-togethers). Well, the stubbornness doesn't fall far from the tree. Nobody would doubt for a second that taehyun was his father's son, and his grandfather's grandson. What can he say, the Kang men were all a force to be reckoned with. 

Taehyun's paternal grandmother was a sea witch and left his grandpa a few years after his father was born. She wasn't happy either. But instead of compromise like normal married couples do, she remained selfish and decided to travel the world. She didn't want to be tied down by a family. His grandpa was left alone to raise his only son. 

But then taehyun's father's gifts began to appear, and it turns out he took after his mother. It was a 50/50 chance which gifts you would get if the two parents were different types of witches. His grandmother was a sea witch, and his grandfather was an elemental witch, wind being his specialty. Naturally, his father would hear the call of the sea and want to leave and live closer to it. Taehyun gets it. He too hears the sea's call, a beautiful song that resonates in all the hearts of a sea witch. His grandpa would never understand them, the wind being always with him wherever he goes. 

Taehyun can still feel that calling, pulling him in the direction of the nearest sea. It's such a heartbreaking feeling deep in his chest. 

Anyways, long story short. His grandpa is getting too old to stay up north all by himself, and after having an ugly fall down the stairs last month, his mother (bless her beautiful heart) sent taehyun up here to bring grandpa back home down south where he is to live with his parents in taehyun's old room. His dad was not happy at all, but would never abandon his own elderly father like that and reluctantly gave in. Plus taehyun's mom was scary when she didn't get her way, so both boys of the house silently nodded in agreement with her. 

So here taehyun is, fighting the stubborn ox into the car so he can drive him to the airport where his father is waiting. His grandpa and dad will take a plane back down south, and taehyun is to remain up here in the middle of nowhere so he can arrange to sell the house in the next few months, maybe sooner if he's lucky and gets a potential buyer. 

He wasn't happy at all to hear that he will have to abandon his precious seaside apartment for a while and live during the winter months up in the north. But he isn't a total jerk and will gladly help his grandpa out by taking care of everything before eventually returning to the ocean and beach.

Taking a gloomy look around the quiet street canopied by huge barren trees, it was safe to say that taehyun is going to high tail it out of here as fast as he can. 

"Which will it be old man? We can do this the peaceful way or the hard way," taehyun warned. He knew his grandpa was going to be a challenge. Again, it runs in the family. So he was fully prepared for a battle getting his grandpa out of his own home. He would feel a little bad for the poor old man, forcing the guy to leave the only place he's known his entire life, but then his grandpa got a good elbow jab into his ribs about 10 minutes ago that will surely leave an ugly bruise, and all sympathy went with the wind. Pun intended. 

His grandpa grumbled, sitting in the backseat of the car. "Fine," he glared in defeat. "I'll go with you to the airport. But on one condition."

Taehyun internally frowned at that. He needs to hurry up, the flight back home being in 2 hours. 

"Alright, what is it? Tell me quickly," taehyun relented, blowing his black hair out of his eyes. 

"I want to say goodbye to Beomie. I'm not leaving without seeing him," his grandpa smiled up at taehyun. 

Taehyun leaned against the side of the car, looking at his grandpa in confusion. "Who is Beomie?" 

"My neighbor, and a much better grandson than you will ever be," his grandpa flicked his head in the direction of the left side. "Go get Beomie and bring him here. I won't go otherwise."

Taehyun sucked on the front of his teeth after hearing that. A better grandson? Did someone seriously try to steal his grandpa away from him? Who the fuck is this Beomie, and why the hell does his grandpa like him so much? His grandpa hates everyone. Usually. 

"No, that's stupid. I'm not bothering your neighbor just so you can cry for help and claim I'm kidnapping you again. Don't think you can fool me," taehyun squinted his eyes in suspicion, answering with a petty tone. Okay so he was a little jealous of his grandpa supposedly liking someone more than him, even though he was pretty sure his grandpa was half joking about him being a bad grandson.

His grandpa rolled his eyes at his idiotic grandson. "I'm not going to scream again. I really want to see the little lad before leaving. It's my one condition." 

Taehyun studied him for a few more seconds, trying to find any deceit in his eyes. Finding none, he sighed and gave in. 

"One moment. But if he's not home, we are still leaving."

His grandpa smiled wider, true joy on his face. "Trust me, he's home. He will hear you loud and clear if you knock."

Taehyun turned and shut the car door, locking it to give his grandpa a warning not to run away while he was gone. He sent him a death glare just in case, his grandpa giving him a cheeky grin and a little wave back.

Trudging down the long driveway and across the grass, taehyun made his way towards the next house over. It looked dead quiet, no sign of life anywhere inside. 

He stomped up the front porch steps, and raised his hand to knock.

Being an obnoxious little shit, he started hammering on the door without care. 

It took a good minute or two of continuous knocking, but finally the door opened up.

Taehyun smirked when he noticed the figure was half asleep, yawning and trying to adjust his eyes to the bright light outside. He was wearing a hoodie and had half his face covered with the hood up. 

"Ouch, why are you knocking so loud?" He whispered. 

"I'm soooo sorry to wake you. But is there a Beomie that lives here?" Taehyun drawled, not sorry in the least.  

The boy in front of him blinked a few times, and then took off his hood, ruffling his black fluffy hair. 

"Beomie? Only gramps calls me that," he mumbled, his voice deep and husky with sleep. He lifted his head and stared at taehyun straight in the eyes. "Why do you want to know?" 

Taehyun leaned up against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest again. His eyes wandered up and then down, and then back up, clearly checking the boy out shamelessly.

Huh.

This guy was cute. Like, really cute. In a baby bear sort of way, all fluffy and swathed in comfy clothes. 

He licked his lips. Beomie was just his type, upon first inspection. 

"So you're the boy that stole my grandpa and replaced me as his grandson," taehyun teased. Yeah, he wasn't angry or jealous anymore. "Can't say I blame the old geezer. You're a pretty little thing."

Beomie's eyes widened, and then he flushed slightly under taehyun's intense and heated stare. 

"Did you just hit on me?" He asked.

"Nope, I'm only stating facts," taehyun grinned, but he made a show of checking the guy out one more time. The poor little thing tightened the hoodie around himself better, making sure no skin was showing. Not that it was before, but just in case. 

However, taehyun took pity on the cute baby bear boy. He was a flirt, not a creep. 

Standing straighter, he got down to business. "So my grandpa refuses to leave this old house without saying goodbye to Beomie. Can you please come out here and tell him to knock it off so he can make his flight on time? The stubborn ancient bat is giving me one hell of a workout getting him out of here," taehyun explained, all teasing and flirting gone. 

The cute boy glanced at taehyun's arms, which looked pretty damn good all flexed across his chest and in his black shirt, he's gotta admit. Taehyun was quite proud of his physique and knew how to showcase it very well. 

It didn't take long for him to answer, much to taehyun's relief. The boy nodded his head, the fluffy hair from sleep flopping a bit in his eyes, and oh shit, taehyun wants to do something cheesy like tuck the hair behind his ear. 

"Okay, give me a minute to get my shoes," he agreed. He politely closed the front door in taehyun's face with a small smile. 

Taehyun let out a huge exhale once he was alone on the porch again. 

Oh wow, he hasn't seen a looker like that in all his life. And trust him when he says he's seen many beautiful people. He lives down where the sun never sets and the fun never stops. Beach parties daily, surfing, swimming, hot bodies running across the sand all sweaty and wet. He's been in the center of it all, and yet...who knew there was this hidden little gem all the way up here, thousands of miles away from the ocean.

Now that taehyun has a moment to replay the last few minutes in his head, he finds the boy even more gorgeous. With dark and long lashes framing his pretty chocolate brown eyes, matching dark and silky hair that contrasted so nicely with his pale milky white skin, that all leads down to a pair of full lips light pink and rosy in color. The difference between him and taehyun was astounding. Taehyun has eyes and hair that constantly change color with the sea, and golden skin showcasing the amount of sun he clearly gets an abundance of back home. 

He was torn from his admiring thoughts by the front door opening again. The boy walked out in his plaid pajama pants and hoodie, along with converse shoes. 

"I heard Gramps was going to be moving soon. I'm sad to see him go, but it's nice that he has family to take care of him." He smiled at taehyun, gesturing for him to lead the way. 

Oh wow. He's known this guy for 5 minutes and already he felt his heart skip a beat from that smile. Taehyun was such a sucker for pretty boys, it was downright pathetic. But if anyone else saw this baby bear up close, they would immediately understand where he was coming from. 

Was he taken? Surely someone like that would be taken. Taehyun is going to have to find out. 

"Mom was really worried about him, and she argued with him on the phone last month after his fall. It was decided he will come live down south with my parents, and I'll stay up here to handle the house for a bit until I can sell it," taehyun explained as they walked across the grass and down the driveway again. 

"I know, he complained about it for a whole week," baby bear giggled behind a hoodie paw. Why doesn't he just take taehyun's heart right now and save him the trouble? 

"So uh...Beomie, how long have you been stealing my grandpa?" Taehyun snickered, being playful. 

"Beomgyu," the boy answered. "My name is Choi Beomgyu, and this has been my family home since I was born. I've lived next door my whole life, minus the years I spent away at university, but my parents are now travelling and so I'm living back home and taking care of the house while they're away. I like to talk to Gramps sometimes whenever I get bored," he shrugged.

Taehyun pursed his lips. Curse his grandpa for hogging this boy all for himself. If he'd known such a sweetheart lived next door, he would've begged his father to have the family holiday gatherings up here in the cottage rather than fly his grandpa down south at their beach home. 

"I really didn't steal your grandpa," he giggled. 

Taehyun waved him off. "I'm just joking. Plus you can have the old dinosaur, it would save me a lot of trouble." He was kidding of course, he really does love his grandpa, but it was just in the nature of their family to constantly bicker and argue. That's their love language with each other.

"I heard that you horrible grandson," Grandpa Kang grumbled. He was out of the car, not to taehyun's surprise. 

As they got closer, taehyun watched beomgyu's entire face light up. 

"Gramps!" He half jogged the remaining distance, opening his arms up for a big hug.

Should taehyun feel jealous or disturbed that this random boy supposedly has a better relationship with his grandpa than he does? 

Maybe, but that's not what he's feeling right now. Because the soft look on beomgyu's face as he gave the old man a big hug did something to taehyun's heart. Someone like that needs to be coddled and loved unconditionally. 

So the Kang men were romantics at heart, sue him. He blames his father's genetics. 

His grandpa laughed loudly, cupping Beomgyu's face in his weathered hands. It was such a fatherly gesture. 

"How have you been, my boy? Not staying up too late, I hope."

Beomgyu shook his head, his cheeks plushed up from the grip on his face. "It wasn't too bad last night. I got most of my work done so I went to bed around 4am."

"That's better than 10am, I suppose," his grandpa nodded in approval. "I'm going to miss you. Stay healthy, you hear?" 

Beomgyu smiled again. "I'll miss you too, Gramps. I'm glad your family is taking such good care of you."

His grandpa rolled his eyes. "That son of mine is going to drive me crazy."

Beomgyu patted his hand gently. "You love him, you can't fool me. It will be fun living in some warmer weather, admit it. Your old bones will like it."

"Now you sound like my grandson," grandpa Kang growled in annoyance. 

"He said it, not me," taehyun chuckled. 

"Quiet you." 

Grandpa Kang gently patted beomgyu's cheek once more before letting go. "How I wish my little Beomie was my grandson instead," he sighed. He was obviously joking, but he loves to rile his grandson up with such comments. 

Taehyun smirked. "That can be arranged, if you want. How do you feel about little Beomie joining the family?" 

Grandpa Kang barked out a huge laugh, grinning over at taehyun. "You've got good taste, my boy. This one's a keeper. It's so nice to know you have eyes, unlike those clueless peers in your generation." 

"Oh trust me, you old crow. I've got eyes," taehyun grinned back.

"Uh, I feel like you two are teasing me," beomgyu blushed, stepping away from grandpa Kang so he could get back into the car. "It's clear you both are related." 

"Anyways, visit anytime you want. You're always welcome in my family," taehyun's grandpa smiled down to beomgyu. "Tell those ditzy parents of yours to call home more often and check up on you, yeah?" 

Beomgyu gave him a watery smile. "Next time I manage to contact them, I'll let them know."

Taehyun watched quietly as they exchanged some more goodbyes. Clearly there was a story here, and he wants to know it.

After watching beomgyu waddle his way back up the drive and head over to his house, taehyun finally got in the car and began to drive his grandpa to the airport.

It was silent for a while, only the occasional bump and rocking of the vehicle a source of sound. 

"I know you're only here for a few months at most, but try to keep an eye on him, will ya?" His grandpa finally spoke. 

Taehyun thought about that for a moment. "Sure, but why?" 

His grandpa continued to look out the window, a grim expression on his face. He still wasn't happy leaving his hometown, despite the comedic display earlier. 

"I consider him just as much of a grandson as I do you. Poor thing doesn't have anyone watching over him, always leaving him alone. That can't be good for a little lad like that, especially since he's a year older than you." 

"But what about his parents?" Taehyun glanced over at his grandpa real quick before returning his eyes on the road. 

His grandpa sighed heavily, more out of annoyance than anything else. 

"Those ditzy lovebirds can't be considered true parents. Don't get me wrong, they are very lovely people, I never had a problem with them living next door. They love each other so much, it's sickening. They also love their son very much too. But they are selfish and childish at heart."

"Huh?"

"They are so wrapped up in their love for each other that they sometimes forget they need to pay attention to their only child from time to time. Instead of extending that love to beomgyu, they simply remain in the honeymoon phase forever," his grandpa tried to explain. "Only someone with a child would understand what I mean." 

"So they neglected him?" Taehyun said in a colder voice, his eyes changing colors to stormy gray like the waves rolling on the sea.

His grandpa flicked his arm, sensing taehyun's change in mood. It was easy to do for sea witches. They were temperamental like the sea.

"No, they didn't neglect him. They took good care of him growing up. They supported his choice of career, and showed up at all of his school functions to cheer him on. They praised him and made sure he was well fed and had everything he needed. But children sometimes need more than that." 

"So where are they now?" Taehyun asked, still not understanding completely what his grandpa was trying to say. He sort of gets it, but also doesn't. Maybe because he's never had a child, obviously. 

"Who knows? Travelling somewhere fun, probably. As soon as Beomie was old enough to leave for university and take care of himself, they closed up the house and left. Haven't seen them since. They sometimes call."

"That's a shame. He shouldn't be alone up here all by himself in the middle of nowhere-"

His grandpa pinched his arm. 

"Ow! Watch it old man, I'm driving. You want to crash-"

"No funny business from you," his grandpa glared at him. "I mean it taehyun, I know what a little player you are down by the beach. If you aren't serious about a relationship, then don't bother, especially when you plan on leaving as soon as you can." 

Taehyun gave him a grumpy pout. "But he's pretty," he whined like a child.

"Yes, and deserves someone who will cherish him. So no fooling around," grandpa Kang smacked him on the shoulder.

"I deserve someone too, you know," taehyun grumbled around his pout. 

His grandpa rolled his eyes. "Yes you do. But you have no problems bulldozing your way through life being shameless. He's a shy kid. I'm just looking out for him. Now I extend that onto you while I'm gone."

Taehyun sighed. "Fine, fine. I get it. I'll behave." Somewhat, he grinned internally. 

His grandpa smacked his head this time. "I know what you're thinking, you can't fool me."

"This is called child abuse, you dusty corpse!" Taehyun complained.

"No it's not! Children don't talk back to their elders!" 

It continued like that the entire way to the airport. 

~

Despite being highly attracted to his new neighbor, taehyun actually listened to his grandpa. He didn't make a move like he normally would back home. That still didn't stop him from openly and shamelessly flirting every chance he got though. 

Organizing his grandpa's house was going to be tough. First, he had an appraiser stop by to see how much he could get for the house as it is. 

Turns out there was good news...and bad news.

Good news is that the house was beautiful, the location very nice. So finding buyers wasn't going to be hard in the long run. 

Bad news was that the house desperately needed up keeping. No inspector was going to pass it for sale without at least some touch ups and upgrading things like the flooring and whatever else has worn away over the many years of use. 

All in all, taehyun was stuck here for 6 months at least. And during the majority of the winter months, much to his dismay. It was getting colder by the day. He could feel it in his bones.

The one good thing about this small town was the fact that they needed a lifeguard and swim teacher at the local recreation center. 

Taehyun got hired within 5 seconds of his interview.

Hellooo? He's a freaking sea witch. Water was his thing. They would be stupid not to hire him. There was literally no one safer to watch over people in a pool than him. 

Sure it wasn't the ocean, and yeah he's going to miss the waves, the saltwater in the air, the surfing, the golden sun beating down on his bare back. But this was the best he's got up here where there were dense trees instead of a vast ocean, cobblestone instead of sand, and hoodies and boots rather than sandals and swim shorts. 

He starts his new job right away on Monday. They didn't even bother testing him or certifying him, because nobody dared question a sea witch if they can swim or not. That's an insult. 

The entire town was a sweet little place tucked away up here near the north. It was one of the original towns the witches inhabited back in the old days, and it stayed that way as far as he could tell. Rarely would you see a pure human live around here, unlike the major cities taehyun was used to down south where witches and humans mingled freely. 

The two races got along quite well nowadays. Naturally there are places that accommodate only to witches, but those were rare. Everybody just sort of mixed as the centuries went by. If you had gifts as a witch, great! If you didn't, oh well! It doesn't matter. 

Of course there are jobs that prefer to hire witches over humans if they have a specific advantage over a normal powerless human. Like witches who could levitate things, which saves money on machines and manpower. Or the witches who can manipulate the elements or nature. They make for great gardeners and farmers. So, animosity does happen from time to time, and if you're like taehyun's family who prefers to avoid the drama of society, you kind of don't talk about your gifts as a witch unless specifically asked. 

Taehyun's was easy to hide, and he likes it that way. Back at home, only yeonjun knows about his abilities since yeonjun was a witch himself. His human friends just know him to be a really good swimmer. He can hold his breath longer than most people, and the water never throws him off balance. So he just lets them believe he's human and shrugs it off.

He can see why his grandfather loved living in this old town. He doesn't have to hide who he is, and it's sort of a nice feeling.

Taehyun starts his day by getting a sweet drink from the local cafe, usually a milk tea made deliciously by the kitchen witches who run the place, a set of three sisters named Chaeryeong, Chaeyeon, and Chaemin. Then he walks over to the recreation center, where he spends the next hour working out. 

From noon to about 3pm he takes a shift as the indoor pool's lifeguard. It was a nice area, very clean, very big. They had a separate pool in the back that was much deeper for diving and jumping. 

From 3pm until 6pm he teaches various swim classes depending on the age and experience level. He was good with everyone, ranging from small children of 5 years and older, all the way to the elderly. 

After that, he showers and heads home where he spends the next hour trying out a new cooking recipe from the internet, determined to expand on his common house skills. 

From 8pm until around 11pm, he focuses on one thing he can fix at a time. This week he's been improving the kitchen, so it won't be uncommon to hear him hammering or grunting while he replaces cabinet by cabinet, shelf by shelf. Oh, and he also rants on the phone to his mother or father while he does this about what a bitch it was to fix everything up by himself. His grandpa would sometimes be in the background arguing with him about how his house is a classic blahblahblah. His father promises to come over when he gets a break from work. It wasn't easy taking time off during the surfing season, and he's one of the best surfing instructors their large beachside city has to offer. Of course, his father may cheat from being a sea witch, but nobody needs to know. 

All in all, taehyun has developed an easy routine, and soon a month passes by. 

The town also has their talkers, gossip floating as fast as the wind through the entire place. It wasn't hard to notice that he's the center of the latest news, especially when people started to stop by the pool and introduce themselves, or when girls giggled as he leaves the cafe, or the steady increase in people signing up for swim classes just to check out the new hot lifeguard. 

Much to his dismay, the cute baby bear neighbor next door is super quiet. In fact, he probably would have never noticed him living there if it wasn't for his grandpa's fiasco when he first came here. 

The house is usually dead silent, like it was abandoned or something. Lights are never on and he hasn't seen beomgyu leave the place once. Granted, he's gone most of the day, but still, not even on his days off. It was a stark contrast to taehyun's house, which is always open or lit up whenever he's home, mostly from all of the dust and wood chips he's gathering around the place while he fixes it. 

Once the town got hold of his story, about how his grandpa moved out and taehyun is only staying temporarily to modernize the home then sell it, tons of townsfolk made it their mission to stop by his place and properly welcome him over the past month. They brought fruit baskets, bread baskets, candies, drinks such as wine or champagne. It was all quite unnerving to taehyun on how friendly they were. Back in the city, nobody usually cared and went on with their day as if you didn't exist. People come and go constantly, so taehyun wasn't used to being... known. 

Still, he's a social person and always loved having a chat with whoever decided to walk on up his drive and pop in. Usually during his off days when the front door was wide open and he was up on a ladder hammering some drywall or something. 

Today it was changbin, telling him about the latest football game, animatedly detailing every significant moment that happened. Taehyun was half listening as he reached up into the ceiling to fix the electrical wires to his new kitchen light. Changbin was super nice, a little bit aggressive, but otherwise fun to talk to. He's the local fitness trainer at the rec, so taehyun sees him on a daily basis while working. They even workout together now, along with sunghoon, chan, and on occasion seungkwan. 

Once changbin was gone, it was quiet again. Taehyun hates the quiet, always used to the white noise of the ocean waves and wind to fill his head. He briefly glanced out of the kitchen window towards his neighbor's house, frowning. 

He didn't feel like finishing the light fixture right now. And his grandpa did say to make sure to check in on beomgyu from time to time…

Taehyun hopped down from the ladder and grabbed one of the bread baskets with homemade jam he has piled up on the countertops, then made his way out the front door. He shivered at the chilly wind blowing by, noting how the days are getting colder quite fast. 

Two minutes later he's knocking on the front door, slightly nervous. He's never been nervous before, especially when it comes to flirting with new people. But for some reason beomgyu makes him want to impress him, or at the very least get himself noticed. 

He waited, and waited, and almost turned around to go back, when to his joy the door opened. 

And what came out of the house nearly made him drop the basket and cover his ears. 

Tons of music, loud music, blasted out of the house making taehyun almost go deaf. 

"Hey!" Beomgyu greeted with a smile, quickly closing the door behind him. As soon as it clicked shut, the entire area was quiet again.

What the hell?

Music that loud should be blaring down the street. Why can't he hear it anymore? 

"Everything alright?" Beomgyu asked, tilting his head in concern at taehyun.

The other boy blinked out of his stupor, trying to shake the slight ringing in his ears. 

"No," taehyun joked. "I think I went deaf. What was that?"

Understanding dawned on beomgyu's face. "Oh! That's right, you're new here. I'm a sonic witch, sound is my thing," he grinned cheekily. "I don't want to bother anyone while I'm practicing so I keep the noise strictly within the limitations of my house. You know, sound manipulation and all that. Nobody can hear me from outside as long as I don't open a door or window." 

Oh. Ohhhhhh. That's why taehyun never heard a peep coming from the house. Here he thought his neighbor was dead in a coffin, but he was just simply manipulating the sound waves so nobody can hear him. That totally makes sense now.

He's got to get used to people openly using magic around here. That's not something he sees much of back home, unless yeonjun is in a foul mood. 

"Makes sense," taehyun replied, finally lifting up his basket. "So I..need some help," he smiled sheepishly. "The town insists on feeding me, and there's no way I can eat all of this by myself. Wanna join me for some daily snacks?" 

Beomgyu snorted. "Yeah they're nosy like that. Sure, you can come right in."

He turned and was about to open the door. This time taehyun was ready and started to bring his hands up to his ears when suddenly beomgyu snapped his fingers. Then he opened the door and everything was silent. Taehyun breathed out a sigh of relief. 

Ok, that was totally cool, even though taehyun can pretty much part the great sea with a wave of his hand, but yeah, beomgyu was pretty so he's allowed to admire him. 

Walking in, taehyun noticed beomgyu's house was pretty warm and cozy. It was simple, with basic furniture and a picture here or there. They made their way to the kitchen, which was almost identical to taehyun's except for the fact that the walls were a very light cream color instead of the ugly yellow his grandpa has going on there. Taehyun cringed. Yeah, he's going to have to repaint the whole place too. It feels like he's in a dungeon half the time.

Taehyun gently placed the bread basket onto the table while beomgyu got them both a plate and knife for the jam. 

"So what do you do? You know, as a job," taehyun asked, admiring the way beomgyu easily took over and started unwrapping the loaf of fresh bread. It was dropped off by a pretty girl earlier today. Yeji something or other. The jam is made from strawberries homegrown from her own backyard. Taehyun loves strawberries. 

Slicing a piece, beomgyu glanced over at taehyun. 

"Music, as cliche as that is. I'm in a band, but I'm also trying to become a producer so I write lots of music and send them out. I'm up half the night either practicing or composing or producing. I make sure no one can hear me though," he gave taehyun a little wink, then focused back onto the bread. 

Taehyun stared at his hands while he popped open the jar of jam then moved to the counter to get some butter. He expertly smoothed both onto the pieces of bread, and yeah taehyun was definitely thinking what it would be like if those hands caressed every inch of his body. God, he'd let beomgyu touch anywhere he wanted, his hair, arms, abs, maybe scratch lightly across his back and chest-

"And how about you? I would ask you what you do, too, but the whole town has been talking so I'm not gonna pretend," beomgyu continued. 

Taehyun snapped out of his daze, trying to focus. For heaven's sake, all the boy was doing was cutting bread and he's turned on. What the hell was wrong with him? Usually he's not this easy-

"Yeah they've been whispering everywhere I go," taehyun laughed while grabbing the piece of bread offered to him. He carefully sat down at the warm wood kitchen table. "But I like my job as a lifeguard, anywhere near water is practically paradise for me, being a sea witch and all."

Beomgyu hummed in acknowledgement and cut an extra piece of bread. 

"It must be tough being away from the sea, no?" 

"Duh!" Taehyun grinned. "But a few months won't hurt me. It's not like I can't live without the sea, it's just lonely if I do." 

Beomgyu glanced up through his bangs, at taehyun.

Pretty. He was just so pretty. Taehyun was slowly losing it. 

Without responding, beomgyu gave out a short but loud whistle. Taehyun blinked in surprise and watched as the other boy held out his arm and waited.

He was about to ask what the hell was he doing until he heard a bird's wings flapping. 

A gorgeous green Amazon parrot came flying in, easily landing on beomgyu's waiting hand. 

"Alright you little shit, I saw you peeking around the corner like a creep. Here's your piece," beomgyu laughed, booping his nose against the parrot's beak. The parrot reciprocated the gesture and pecked lightly against beomgyu's nose, then shuffled up his arm and started picking through his dark hair, almost like the thing was nuzzling him and messing his hair in affection. 

Taehyun just stared in curiosity. Holy fuck, this baby bear was too cute, and sweet, and now taehyun kinda wants to kiss beomgyu's nose too, and maybe his cheeks, then his forehead, and finally his lips-

"This is Toto," beomgyu introduced, letting the bird hop down from his arm and watch as he took his piece of bread in between his beak. 

"Like, a witch's familiar?" Taehyun asked dumbly, still mesmerized, and yeah, totally in love with the boy in front of him.

Beomgyu giggled again, and taehyun wondered what it would sound like if he did that same giggle on a breathy moan, making the boy laugh while he kissed and sucked his neck and chest. Was he ticklish? Taehyun wants to find out, with his tongue-

"No, it's my pet parrot," he snickered some more, taking a bite from the bread to stop himself. Taehyun should be humiliated, but really, he would be the source of beomgyu's amusement for as long as he wanted. 

"Oh," taehyun shrugged, also eating his bread. 

It really should be awkward after this, but it was hard not to snort when the parrot went all angelic and full of etiquette one second, and then the next he was tearing the bread into tiny pieces and dancing around the poor corpses of his food. He smacked his little claws on the kitchen table and bopped his head as he did it, ripping and shredding over and over.

"He's a bit…" taehyun began.

"Wild?" Beomgyu supplied, laughing and looking at Toto with affection. "I like my pets a bit on the wild side."

I can be wild for you, taehyun almost let slip.  

"I was going to say possessed and demonic, but sure, that works too," taehyun grinned. The bird looked at him like he could understand, and he probably could. "But how is he able to handle all of the...loudness?" 

Beomgyu brightened up. "Simple! I just leave him in another room and create a sound barrier around myself and the rest of the house. That way I don't hurt his little ears with the volume level." 

He was an angel from up above, taehyun almost teared up. Some people don't care about their poor animal's ears while practicing music in the same place. Of course this baby bear wasn't like everyone else.

Beomgyu started making another slice of bread with jam and butter for the both of them. He looked down sheepishly and taehyun immediately wondered what flitted through his mind to change his demeanor so fast.

"I also...can hear very well. Like, extremely well. I can't help it! And your daily rants about fixing the place up or arguing with Gramps on the phone have been hilarious. Sorry for eavesdropping," he looked up through his lashes shyly. 

Taehyun's heart basically stopped beating at that look. He wants him to look up at him like that in a much more intimate setting, preferably where beomgyu is on his knees and mouth open wide waiting for taehyun to thrust forward-

Taehyun glanced out of the kitchen window, which was facing the long walk over to his own stone covered house, past a few bushes and trees in the front yard, way down the long driveway. 

"Wait, you can hear me from all the way over here?!" He said incredulously. 

Beomgyu kind of scrunched in on himself, feeling guilty. "I always hear other people around me at an amplified volume. I just thought I should let you know, for privacy's sake. You know, in case you have people over…" he refused to give eye contact at that last part. 

Was taehyun reading that right? Did beomgyu think he was going to invite partners over to have some fun in the sheets? He guesses that's a reasonable thought, and beomgyu was being polite to let him know just in case during the next few months taehyun decides to get down and dirty with a friendly townsperson. 

Oh how he's wrong though. Taehyun has seen almost everybody in the town by now, and still nobody compares to this precious boy in front of him. Yeah no, the only company he's going to have is his hand. Actually, he would much prefer it to be beomgyu's hand, but he promised his grandpa he wouldn't fool around aimlessly with such a sweetheart.  

A devilish thought came into his mind with this new tidbit of information about his sexy and cute neighbor.

"I don't mind," taehyun smiled, leaning forward to accept his second piece of bread with jam. "I won't blame you for accidentally listening in on me while at home. In fact, you can listen all you want." 

Beomgyu blinked at him with wide eyes and dark lashes. He was clearly confused by what he meant. 

Maybe it was time for taehyun to be a little more vocal with his naughty thoughts at home, especially if a certain someone was listening in. 

"Okay, as long as you aren't mad. I know some people might find that annoying," beomgyu answered, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully. He seemed to relax with how chill taehyun was being. 

It was a comfortable silence while Taehyun zoned out, staring at the corner of beomgyu's mouth. Actually, it wasn't silent at all because Toto was still playing in his bread crumbs, clicking his beak and flapping his wings every now and then. But not even that could distract taehyun away from the sudden urge to wipe that small bit of jam off beomgyu's plush lip. He wants so badly to lean forward, lick it up with his tongue, maybe trace the rest of beomgyu's lips afterwards, and messily tangle both of their tongues together in a wet kiss. Would he taste just like the strawberries in the jam? Would he let taehyun delve even deeper into his mouth, sucking and biting and swallowing any moans that might escape-

"Do I have something on my face?" Beomgyu asked, tilting his head in curiosity. 

Just perfection-

"Yeah, just-" taehyun leaned over the table, taking his thumb and swiping the very small amount of jam. Really, it was barely even a smear, barely even there. Then he gave beomgyu a heated look while licking his fingertip. "You had some jam on your mouth," he smiled sweetly, almost innocently, when there was nothing innocent at all about him.

And right on cue, beomgyu flushed a slight pink across his cheeks. Taehyun bets the tip of his ears are an equal shade of color, but his silky hair was covering them currently. 

"Oh, t-thanks," he stuttered a little. Taehyun hummed in reply while taking another bite of his snack, deciding to save the poor boy from a heart attack. This was enough for today, he can flirt with the baby bear again tomorrow-

Suddenly beomgyu leaned over the table and quickly ran his own fingertip right across taehyun's full bottom lip, collecting up jam that he obviously was going to easily lick off once he was done chewing. Then he popped the finger into his mouth and licked it clean, releasing it with a loud suck. 

"You had some on your mouth too," beomgyu commented with a shy voice, looking through his bangs again. 

Taehyun stopped chewing, the bread a mushy ball in the back of his throat. If he swallowed, he was definitely going to choke. 

Did he just see that right? Did his baby bear just play back? Was he now officially madly in love with this sexy boy?

All of these were very good questions. 

For once in his life, taehyun was tongue-tied, and the tips of his ears began to flush pink. Thank God his hair was currently black, otherwise it would have been so obvious. 

It took everything in him to stop himself from launching over the table, pinning beomgyu to it, and exploring every inch of his body with his tongue. He wants to suck marks on his creamy skin, making them the same color as the strawberry jam they were now eating. Or better yet, take some of that jam, drizzle it all over, and lick it right off his stomach and chest, maybe a nipple-

His pants were growing harder, and he basically needed to get out of here. His heart was beating right out of his chest. Could beomgyu hear it? How good was his hearing anyways? Can he hear the stutters in his breathing too? 

"You're so thoughtful," taehyun tried not to wheeze out, remembering that a few seconds have passed while he was in his existential crisis. Their eyes were still locked on each other.

Squawking started to erupt next to them, making beomgyu break from their heated eye contact. Thank fuck for that bird, because it was just the distraction taehyun needed to basically run away. Or strategically waddle away if he doesn't get his boner down in the next 30 seconds. 

Beomgyu made a few clucking noises from his tongue, trying to shoosh Toto. Taehyun remained rooted in his spot, thinking about the quickest escape route. 

"You're not getting another piece of bread," beomgyu argued with his bird, trying to pet the cute little green head. Toto glared at him, the implication obvious he wasn't happy by his words. "Don't give me that look, it's not my fault you mauled the piece I already gave you. No, stop it, the cold shoulder won't work on me-" he said sternly as Toto turned around and gave him his back, his head still tilted so he could glare at beomgyu over his wing. Beomgyu went to pet his wing to try and placate him, but Toto hopped out of reach. "Yah! You little brat," beomgyu spat.

The scene was cute and comical, and just what taehyun needed to cool down from his momentary problem earlier. He snorted at the two still fighting, then pushed his plate with his half eaten second piece over to the bird as a peace offering. 

"Here, you can have mine," he told Toto, watching as the bird's eye glinted and then he was on the bread and breaking a piece off in record time. Then he flew up and perched himself onto taehyun's shoulder, happily eating his piece while avoiding eye contact with beomgyu.

"Traitor," beomgyu stuck his tongue out at Toto. 

"I see you have your hands full with him," taehyun said with a grin, petting Toto's head carefully like he saw beomgyu do earlier. The bird made a happy sound from the back of his throat. 

"He's like family," beomgyu agreed, watching taehyun interact with his pet with a small smile on his face. 

Twenty minutes later, taehyun was happily skipping back to his house, empty basket in hand. He just got to spend a nice afternoon with the love of his life and managed to get his number. Taehyun is going to keep talking and interacting with him because he deserves to be worshiped and loved, obviously. And he was the only one who can properly worship and love beomgyu in his eyes. Yep, he's claiming that spot. 

He kicked off his shoes at the front entrance, danced dramatically towards his couch, did a little twirl, and then fell against the cushion with a giggle, crossing his legs and pulling out his phone. 

"Yeonjunnnnnn!" He said loudly once the line picked up. 

"Taehyun, thank fuck. It's so boring down here without you," yeonjun breathed into the phone. "When are you coming back?"

"Hyung, I've met an angel-" taehyun sighed dreamily. He watched beomgyu leave right after him, so there was no chance his neighbor could hear him right now. Beomgyu said something about having to meet up with a friend at the garden center. 

"Huh? You getting some good action up there already? It's been barely a month," yeonjun laughed. "Which reminds me, wooyoung is going to have another party at his beach house, super grand scale-"

"No, I didn't get any action. I don't want any action unless it's from my baby bear next door," Taehyun cut him off. Once upon a time he would've been excited to go to wooyoung's party, they were massive and oh so fun. He didn't throw the tacky college parties that most people go to. No, no, no. He had a nice outdoor tiki bar loaded with fancy and expensive alcoholic drinks made by their personal bartender, the music was amazing, the ocean was his own backyard. They danced, they surfed, they cheered with their drinks. It was a classy and fun time in the sun, and yeah sometimes things got spicy between the party goers. 

Taehyun could just imagine it now. He would take his baby bear to the party, show him off in something nice, a little bit of skin but not too much. Nobody would be allowed to touch, they would all be jealous of taehyun as he settled his hands on that perfect waist he knows is hidden underneath all those hoodies and pajamas, then he would sway them to the music or the ocean, whichever, pressing their bodies close so the heat was unbearable between them. And he would whisper naughty things in beomgyu's ear, get him to blush or giggle. Then when the sun went down, he would lead them far away from the crowd, use his magic to move back the ocean waves to reveal a hidden little alcove behind some rocks, and slowly make love to beomgyu right there on the beach with only the moon and ocean as their audience. 

"Hello? Who are you and what have you done with taehyun?" Yeonjun called into the receiver. Taehyun snapped out of his daydream. Right, where was he?

"He's perfect, yeonjun. So sweet, and a little shy sometimes, but I know he's got a naughty side, and did I mention his voice? What a husky voice that would definitely sound great saying my name over and over-" 

"Okay calm your tits," yeonjun laughed. "Who's this *gag* baby bear you're obviously thirsting over?"  

"His name is beomgyu and he's going to be my future husband," taehyun said with a grin. 

"Ok wow, you really have fallen head over heels, what the fuck dude," yeonjun sounded thoughtful. This was the first time he's heard taehyun sound like a lovesick fool, waxing poetry harder than Shakespeare. "Is he hot?" That was the most important question in yeonjun's book. 

"More than hot. Beautiful," taehyun breathed into the phone. 

"Alright this is kinda creeping me out," yeonjun chuckled, but he sounded fond. "In all seriousness, it's about time you found someone worth being long-term with. I was starting to worry you would forever be a 'playa' like you see on those barely one star reality shows," he snorted. 

"I wasn't a total player," taehyun pouted. "I just...couldn't settle for anyone. There's nothing wrong with having fun-"

"Hey, hey, hey, I wasn't judging," yeonjun interrupted. "I'm doing the same thing, hoping maybe someone interesting will show up at one of wooyoung's many parties. All I'm saying is that I'm glad you're finally taking an interest in someone." 

"I consider all the other flings practice for when I pleasure my baby bear, make him feel so good he's screaming and whimpering for more," taehyun sniffed in triumph. He wasn't ashamed of his past flings. It was him enjoying himself and discovering other people. There was nothing wrong with that. Now he can take all that experience and put it to full force on what truly matters: loving the hell out of the boy next door. 

"You know, I was going to ask why you keep nicknaming him 'baby bear', but I really don't want to know anymore," yeonjun replied thoughtfully. "You won't catch me calling anyone cheesy pet names. I'm not weak like you apparently are."

"Yeonjun, his eyes kind of sparkle like the moon reflecting off the black ocean at night, and his smile lights up-"

"We've lost another brother," yeonjun sighed dramatically, rolling his eyes as he listened to taehyun gush about his crush for the next 35 minutes. He was subjected to the same thing last year when Wooyoung got together with San. It must be a disease. 

~

"Soobin, you're signing up for swim classes at the rec," beomgyu hissed, startling the older boy and almost causing him to drop an empty flower pot. 

"Huh?" Soobin scrunched up his face, balancing the pot against his hip. He was wearing a cute pale green apron over his clothes that comically barely made it to his thighs since he was so tall. It was all the garden center had, which is where soobin works. 

"Sign up for taehyun's swim classes. He has them for your nonexistent experience level every Tuesdays and Thursdays," beomgyu harassed him. 

A suspicious brow slowly raised up on soobin's face. "And why exactly are you randomly bringing up my dark past of never learning how to swim? Did you choose violence today?" 

Beomgyu scoffed, affronted that soobin would imply he had an ulterior motive. "Because I worry for your safety. It's always good for everyone to learn how to swim, don't you agree?"

Soobin rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you just lied to my face. So you're gonna tell me that this has nothing to do with the swimmer boy everyone's talking about?" 

Beomgyu scowled, making a scrunched up face at soobin. "It's been a month now, when is everybody going to stop fawning over him?" 

Soobin placed the plant pot up on the shelf, dusting off his hands against his work apron. "He's hot, so I heard. And he's new. And did I mention people think he's super hot?" He laughed when he saw the look on beomgyu's face. "I get tons of customers gossiping about him while ringing them up at checkout. Apparently they like to watch as he walks around shirtless by the pool, and he does not disappoint." 

He was just adding fuel to the fire, but beomgyu asked for it when he brought up his inability to swim. 

"I didn't even get a look yet," beomgyu mumbled with a pout. 

Soobin sighed. "I'm not signing up for swimming lessons just so you can creepily stare at the new guy's abs for a few hours like some pervert. Go ask him out if you want him so badly, but leave me out of it."

"You're the worst best friend ever," beomgyu fake sniffled. 

"I know," soobin smiled cheekily at him. "Now scurry away from whatever sewer you came out of. I have to take care of the plants and your sour mood will ruin it." 

Beomgyu grumbled as he left the garden center. Normally he would love to stay and watch soobin do his magic on the plants. Being a green witch has its perks at the garden center; their flowers were the best in town and always sold out for special occasions. Soobin gets paid double time for his work in upkeeping the nature in that place. It was his dream to start his own landscaping business-

Beomgyu smiled cutely at that thought. He's just gotten a good idea. 

~

Taehyun looked up when he heard a knock on his open front door. Only a screen separated him and the gorgeous person standing outside it. 

"It's open!" He called. He was currently standing up on one of the top steps of a ladder, paint all over his hands and spattered across his skin. The kitchen ceiling needed a fresh new coat of white, so his entire kitchen now consisted of plastic covered appliances and buckets of paint with brushes laid all over the floor. 

Beomgyu stepped carefully into the chaotic house, noting all of the obvious work taehyun has done in the past month. He's been in here tons of times with Gramps, so he can point out everything that the other has accomplished. 

The kitchen was almost finished. Bright new wooden cabinets replaced the old dingy ones, new appliances, the floor's grimy tiles were switched out for a modernized style, and currently taehyun had half the ceiling repainted. By the looks of the buckets on the ground, he planned on painting the walls next, a pretty pale green that would allow more light to reflect in the kitchen and brighten the place up. 

His eyes finished roaming the new transformed room and wandered up to land on the sexiest sight he's ever seen. 

Taehyun was wearing a sleeveless muscle tee, with the arm holes stretching down and showcasing glimpses of his bare torso and sides. He had on sports shorts that hung loosely around his hips, and everything was just so... hot. His golden skin had a sheen of sweat sticking to the surface, and his hair was a mess in his eyes. Surprisingly, his hair was a purple color, completely vibrant compared to the dark black he had the other day. Oh, he must have dyed his hair.

Beomgyu swallowed, trying not to think about pushing that shirt up and kissing down, down, down until-

"What's up?" Taehyun asked, making him jump slightly. 

"Hey, so I know how you're fixing the place up and just wanted to offer any help you might need in the future," beomgyu smiled up at him through his dark bangs. 

"Dressed like that?" Taehyun asked, tilting his head to run his gaze slowly up and down beomgyu's figure. 

Was he checking him out? He totally was, wasn't he? Beomgyu tried not to squirm under his heated stare, aware of the obvious attraction his new neighbor seemed to have towards him. He could hear the way taehyun's heart picked up beat whenever he was around, and the slight intakes of breath whenever their eyes meet. He's gotta give the guy credit, he's quite good at playing it off. 

Oh, right. He can't stay long. 

He tried to convince himself he dressed up extra good today for his gig, but really he wanted to impress taehyun even just a little. His long hair was tied into a half pony, and he wore super skin tight black jeans with rips up high around his thighs that lead down to his knees. Actually, the jeans were so ripped, it was barely hanging onto his legs. He was going to regret walking in the cold later that night, but whatever. He had on a really small and tight grunge t-shirt with a faded denim grey jacket over it. It was almost a crop top and showed a bit of skin whenever he lifted his arms slightly. Finally he had on combat boots, you know, to complete the rocker look. 

"Well, not tonight," beomgyu answered quietly, hyper aware of taehyun's eyes changing from a normal brown into a blue-grey color. That always oddly happened whenever he was around him. But they were so pretty, like an ocean at the beginning of spring. "I have to go play at the local pub and will be out till late."

Oh right, he's in a band. Taehyun looked at him with interest, stepping carefully down from the ladder. And yeah, beomgyu snuck a peek at his ass quickly. "You're playing tonight?"

"Yeah, it's a town festival thing we have every winter. Battle of the bands and all that. Tonight are the preliminaries. The top ten bands go to the next round soon after. We almost won last year," beomgyu smiled cheekily. "You should come...if you want to." He quickly averted his gaze because of how shy and awkward that sounded. 

Taehyun frowned. "When does it start?" 

"In twenty minutes," beomgyu replied with an apologetic smile. 

Fuck. Taehyun won't be able to make it. The ceiling is drying fast and he needs to finish the first coat, plus he's got paint all over himself and next to nothing to wear, only bringing a small suitcase with him. His daily outfit was usually his swim shorts and a pair of athletic joggers, so he never really had a reason to shop while in town. 

"Ah, I would love to come, but I can't tonight," he said regretfully. His heart basically shattered at his baby bear's slight look of disappointment. This was worse than death. "Also I don't really know anyone from town…" he trailed off. It was the truth. He might be a social butterfly back at home, but that was because he grew up in that city, went to school with those people, and had yeonjun as a buffer. Yeonjun was a people magnet. 

"That's okay!" Beomgyu reassured him, bless his heart. "I play every Friday night, so you can just come with me if you ever feel like it. Anyways, this is actually not why I stopped by. I wanted to ask if you needed help with the yardwork at some point, since you're remodeling and all."

The switch in topic caught taehyun off guard, but he thought about it for a second. He's got a point; the yard was also a mess, vines crawling all over the small garage in the back, the flower beds in the front totally destroyed and overgrown. 

"Now that you mention it, I'll need help with the yard when I finish up the inside. But I'm not very good with plants since my backyard has been a sandy beach all my life," he chuckled. 

Beomgyu brightened up at that. "Perfect! So I have a friend, soobin, who is a green witch and eventually wants to open up his landscaping business one day. He works over at the garden center in town, and would be more than willing to have you hire him as his first unofficial project. Kind of under the table, so he can showcase his stuff on the internet. Would that be okay?" 

"Hell yeah," taehyun smiled brightly. "That works out great."

Beomgyu's mind stuttered a bit at the wide smile taehyun gave him, and oh dear was that a little dimple in the side of one cheek? 

"Good, h-he would be glad to hear it! Maybe he can stop by sometime this week to talk to you about the details?" 

Taehyun brushed some of his hair off his forehead, the muscles on his bare arms tensing up, and beomgyu could feel his knees grow weak. He wants those arms bracketing around his waist, keeping him still while he experiences how flexible those hips are against him.

He tried to blink the lust out of his eyes, hoping taehyun wouldn't notice. By the looks of it, he doesn't think so. Taehyun seemed deep in thought. 

"Hmm, I work all week, but Tuesdays and Thursdays I get off early after my swim classes. Nobody has signed up for the beginners class yet, if your friend can make any of those days."

Fuck you soobin, beomgyu cursed in his mind. He's definitely going to get him to sign up for those swim classes one way or another. 

"I'm sure he can!" Beomgyu smiled. "I'll give him your number and you can contact him whenever you're free."

After exchanging the number and saying goodbye, beomgyu really needed to go, much to taehyun's disappointment. He's going to have to start showing up at beomgyu's gigs and supporting his baby bear from this week on. 

Truth be told, he hasn't tried very hard to get to know the townspeople. He figured why bother since he's leaving soon anyways. But this house project seems to be taking much longer than he anticipated and maybe it wouldn't hurt to make a few friends along the way. Everyone in this place seems to know everyone, and they have all been friendly enough with him over the past few weeks. 

Mind made up, taehyun went back to his ceiling paint, imagining what it would feel like to peel those skimpy clothes off beomgyu one by one and leave pretty marks all over his smooth and bare thighs. He got hard thinking about everyone seeing him up on stage all marked up and taken, no one allowed to touch where he's touched. 

And maybe later that night, when he knows beomgyu must be home and working on music or whatever he does instead of sleeping, taehyun may have jerked himself off slowly to the thought of his neighbor, not trying at all to be quiet and keep his groans in. 

He smiled after he finished, breathing loudly and hoping beomgyu heard every moan loud and clear. He considers this payback for showing up at his door looking so good, innocent, and fuckable, as if he didn't wear those jeans ripped up to almost his crotch on purpose. 

~ 

"When are you coming home?" Yeonjun sighed through the phone. Taehyun had him on speaker while he painted the kitchen walls a bright pale green three days later. 

"Never now because you asked," taehyun replied cheekily. 

"I need my side chick taehyun! You are my side chick! I can't be going to these parties without backup, I look so uncool all alone," yeonjun whined. 

Taehyun barked out a laugh. "As long as I gotta fix up this house and my baby bear lives next door, I'm not going anywhere. At least for a few months. I only finished the kitchen, but I still have the rest of the house, especially the bathroom, and then the roof and landscaping-" 

A knock sounded on his front screen door, right on time. Speak of the devil. 

"Hello?" Someone called into the house. "Is this Kang Taehyun's place?" 

"The door is open!" Taehyun called back. 

"Who's that?" Yeonjun asked, done with his dramatics for now. 

"Beomgyu got his friend to help me with the yard outside. He's a green witch aspiring to start a landscaping business," taehyun replied as soobin walked through the house and into the kitchen where taehyun was seated on a stool with a paint roller in his left hand. His nose wrinkled at the strong fumes of paint permeating the room. 

"Hey! Thanks for coming!" Taehyun greeted. 

"That's pretty cool how everyone in that old village is a witch and doesn't hide it," yeonjun said, his voice loud and unapologetic. Taehyun glared down at the camera, giving him a reprimanding look. It was a video call, so yeonjun got the message quickly. 

"We're actually a town. It's pretty common up here in the north since we have mountains surrounding the land and separating us," soobin replied from across the room, correcting yeonjun. "Don't make it sound like we're some kind of ancient people who haven't seen a cellphone before."

Taehyun sighed. There goes yeonjun, running his mouth and accidentally insulting people again. 

"He's an idiot, just ignore him," taehyun interrupted, dipping his brush in paint and moving onto the next section of wall.

"Clearly," soobin snubbed his nose. 

"Hey! What the hell?" Yeonjun shouted. 

"Anyways, thank you for letting me take on this project. If you don't mind, I would like to walk around the perimeter of the house and scope out the land and flower beds to see what we can do with it," soobin continued professionally. 

Taehyun took a glance at him. The boy was tall in height, not far from the top of the doorway. He had reddish hair and lips that curved upwards. His eyes were sharp, and when he wasn't smiling he looked a little intimidating. 

"Sure," he said over his shoulder. "I'll be right here if you need anything," taehyun replied. 

"Also would it be okay if I took some pictures, as a foundation to go on?" 

"Not a problem with me," taehyun smiled, painting away. 

Soobin nodded his head and walked out the back kitchen door into the yard beyond. 

"What a jerk," yeonjun scoffed.

"Actually no, you were the jerk first. And don't ruin this for me, he's friends with my baby bear," taehyun chastised him. 

Yeonjun groaned into the receiver, making big breathy sounds. "God, you and this neighbor of yours. You sound like a little school girl with a crush. Just ask the guy out!" 

Taehyun pouted. "No, I'm not staying here permanently and a long distance relationship wouldn't be fair."

Yeonjun snorted. "Or worse, he's already in a relationship."

Taehyun frowned at that thought. "Well that would be awkward, considering the little shows I've been giving him the past few days."

Spluttering sounds could be heard through the phone, and when taehyun glanced at the screen, he could see yeonjun choking on the soda he spit all over himself. 

"What the hell does that mean?! " 

Taehyun shrugged. "He's a sonic witch. He can hear really well from way out yonder, and I might think about him a little too much at night," he smiled cheekily, his dimple popping out. 

"Kang Taehyun, you didn't?!" yeonjun laughed. 

"You would understand if you saw beomgyu in those jeans he wore when he last stopped by," taehyun sniffed. "They were all ripped and showing his entire naked thighs, making me just want to prop him up on a table and spread them wide open. I bet my hips would fit perfectly between them-"

He heard someone clearing their throat behind him. 

Taehyun turned around, not bothered in the least for getting caught talking about his secret fantasies out loud. 

"You do realize that you're talking about my best friend, and I can hear every word you're saying right?" Soobin declared, giving taehyun a reprimanding look. 

"Yeah so? Did I stutter?" Taehyun answered back in a slightly bratty tone. He was just joking, but clearly the soobin guy wasn't finding it funny.

"Let me rephrase that: he's my best friend," soobin repeated. 

Taehyun tilted his head in confusion. "Are we flexing best friends? Because mine is still on the line and loves a good challenge." 

"Hold up, is a fight about to start? Taehyun, angle the phone better so hyung can watch," yeonjun cackled, not helping the situation at all.

"I don't appreciate overhearing your...desires about my friend," soobin continued. 

Fair enough, but taehyun wasn't going to apologize. He lifted a brow. "Tell me he didn't wear those jeans on purpose before stopping by my place. I'll wait."

Soobin shifted uneasily on his feet, looking away guiltily. 

Taehyun slowly gave a huge wide devilish grin.

"I take it by the silence, that your feelings are not unrequited after all," yeonjun spoke through the thick awkwardness of soobin's inability to come up with a quick reply. 

"Hah! I knew it! At first I thought I was imagining it, but my baby bear seems to be naughty minded. Thanks a bunch for the help soobin, you're the best," taehyun stomped his feet cutely on the floor, throwing the paint brush back into the bucket. 

Soobin was panicking. "Now listen here, I didn't say he likes you back-"

"Nice try buddy, but you fell into the ditch already," yeonjun laughed. 

Soobin glared over at the phone. "Why are you even still here?" He snapped, walking over closer to the phone.

"Excuse me?! I have every right to stay on the line and listen to you crash and fall-"  

Soobin bent down so he could finally be seen in the camera frame, sending his notorious glare through the phone at this little shit. 

"Oh, oh my god," yeonjun whispered, his previous rant cut off. "Who are you?"  

"Did you just stroke? I'm still soobin, beomgyu's best friend," soobin scoffed at him. 

Yeonjun was silent, staring at him with wide eyes and a slight flush. 

"Are you broken?" Soobin asked, confused by the fish look this yeonjun guy was giving him. 

"Taehyun," yeonjun called out weakly, his eyes still glued to soobin's face through the camera. 

"Yes hyung?" Taehyun responded, smirking behind soobin's back.

"I gotta go. I'll see you later." And then the line clicked off and taehyun's home screen was back. 

"What the hell?" Soobin muttered, standing up straight. He looked to taehyun for some sort of explanation.

"He's weird like that," taehyun shrugged. "Yeonjun is quite moody, it comes with his magic. Weather witch."

Soobin's face filled with understanding. "Ah, that makes sense." Everybody knows a weather witch was unpredictable and a little crazy minded. "Anyways, I took a few quick photos, but it doesn't look like I can start on the yard for another few months until late spring or early summer."

Taehyun's face dropped in surprise at that. "Wait what? Why?" 

"The ground is going to freeze up in the next week or so. I can't work on the soil or plants when everything is dead," he chuckled, as if taehyun was silly. The smile on his face really brightened the room. 

"But, you're a green witch, right?" Taehyun argued weakly. He's going to have to stay here for almost a year the way things were going. It took him a month just for one room, and now he finds out his yard is untouchable until spring at the earliest. 

Soobin rolled his eyes playfully. "Yes I'm a green witch. But the earth has its cycles. Winter is necessary, and I'm not going to change that. Soon the cold is going to come in and everything will be buried in snow for a good while. Welcome to the north," he smiled. 

Taehyun clicked his tongue, not used to the change in seasons. Sure it sometimes dropped a little bit in temperature during the winter months down south, but not enough to get anywhere near freezing temperatures. He never had to worry about his yard in that way. 

He sighed in defeat. "Okay, that's fine. Thank you for taking on the project anyways. I assume you will let me know when it's good to start landscaping?" He has no idea when the weather will be nice enough to start a big project like this. He's completely at the mercy of this northern born green witch.

Soobin laughed softly. "Of course! I'll contact you when everything is all good and clear, don't worry about a thing. It's so cute seeing you all confused about seasons and weather," he giggled. 

"I'm not cute," taehyun grumbled, looking away shyly. "I'm just not used to the cold weather." 

Soobin patted his shoulder in comfort. "You'll get used to it after a year or so. The snow is actually really pretty."

Taehyun rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say."

Then soobin clapped his hands. "Okay! I'll leave you alone to finish your remodeling. Again, thank you so much for letting me design your new yard. You won't be disappointed, I promise!" He looked so excited talking about this small project, his eyes all sparkly and happy. Taehyun smiled at his enthusiasm. 

"Of course, I'm putting complete faith in you. And also soobin?" He paused sheepishly, a slight flush now on his cheeks which piqued soobin's interest. "Sorry about what you...overheard. With yeonjun. I didn't mean to sound like…" he trailed off.

"Like a pervert?" Soobin supplied unhelpfully with a knowing smirk.

Taehyun covered his ears which were bright red and he made a little cough sound from the back of his throat. "I really do like beomgyu a lot, and I'm not gonna apologize for the things I want to do with him. Romantically!"

Soobin laughed, surprising taehyun. He wasn't mad? For basically saying he wants to defile his best friend (romantically!)?

"He will kill me for telling you this, but I don't think he would mind what you have planned for him."

Taehyun froze in his spot, his heart beating double time at the implication.

Soobin turned and headed back towards the front door, letting that sink in for a moment. 

"Bye for now! Oh and taehyun, he isn't in a relationship."

Soobin smirked, and then he was gone. 

Taehyun thinks he's the best and coolest person ever from this day forward.  

~

Hueningkai smirked as he sipped his iced tea. 

"The stars have told me a certain Sagittarius has loose lips this week. Know anything about that, soobinnie hyung?" 

Beomgyu gave a confused glance to his right where soobin was seated. The cafe was crowded this time of day, but it's been a while since they've seen hyuka so he didn't mind it. He was finally back in town for the winter, the cosmic witch always looking forward to the northern hemisphere skies where he can see and feel the energies from the aurora borealis the closest. 

Soobin looked up from his bite of powdered donut, chewing slowly. 

"What did you do this time?" Beomgyu chuckled, sipping his iced coffee. Yeah, iced coffee in winter. Welcome to being a northerner, where the cold doesn't bother anyone anyway. 

"I told yeosang that the only plant who could survive him was a cactus?" Soobin supplied unhelpfully, flicking his gaze back down to his donut and trying to make all 185 centimeters of his body disappear. 

Hyuka clicked his tongue, tsking at the blatant lie. 

"Really? Because I could swear I saw your planet align with that of an Aquarius recently, and yeosang is a Gemini, now spill traitor," hyuka kicked him under the table with a laugh.

"I really hate when you do this," soobin muttered under his breath. 

"Do we know anyone who's an Aquarius?" Beomgyu asked, making the situation way worse than it needed to be. 

"Nope! No one specific," hyuka grinned. "Unless anyone new came to town that soobin has spoken to recently?" He tapped his chin in faux thought. 

"You're the worst," soobin hissed around his donut. "Thank God you're gone half the year." He was joking, but seriously, hyuka's uncanny ability to know things based simply off the stars and astrology was sometimes nerve wracking. 

Beomgyu's eyes lit up. "Oh yeah! We've got a new lifeguard! He's a sea witch from the south and the grandson of Gramps." 

"And beomgyu's new crush," soobin grumbled. "They've been flirting like dorks for over a month."

"We haven't!" Beomgyu defended with a slight flush, choosing to sip more of his coffee. He didn't dare mention the sleepless nights he's had, horny as all hell after hearing taehyun...take care of himself. 

"Interesting," hyuka drawled, looking like the devil incarnate. "When's his birthday? Just curious, of course."

Beomgyu furrowed his brows. "I don't know," he replied truthfully. 

Soobin slumped in relief. 

"But let me ask!" 

Then soobin dusted off his powdered fingers, having a bad feeling about this. "Well, it was nice seeing you again hyuka. I hope an asteroid comes down to flatten your existence on this tiny earth-" 

"February 5th! He just replied to my text," beomgyu smiled cutely at hyuka. "Are you gonna do a reading for me? Do our astrology birth charts match or something?" 

"Huh," hyuka began.

"Don't say it," soobin warned.

Hyuka smiled while showing teeth, his eyes full of utter joy. "I guess that makes him an Aquarius. Fancy that."

Beomgyu's smile fell. Wait a minute...soobin met up with taehyun the other day, for the landscaping thing. His head whipped to soobin's face and the other boy tried to look away innocently.

"Alright fish lips, what did you say to the hot Aquarius?"

"Uhh, nothing much," soobin said, but beomgyu wasn't buying it. 

"You've got five seconds to tell me," beomgyu warned in a low voice. 

"Yeah tell us!" Hyuka laughed. 

"Well...he sort of, was uhhh, wondering if beomgyu was taken. And I replied back with a no, he isn't in a relationship. Or something like that," soobin coughed while sipping his boba tea. 

Hyuka barked out a laugh. "Typical Sagittarius, they always have their foot in their mouth!" 

"Rude," soobin gave him a scrunched up face. 

Beomgyu's deadly face changed back to a cute one. "Oh! That's not so bad." He went back to his coffee. 

Hyuka studied soobin's face a little longer, and then shrugged. 

"So about my astrology reading for me and taehyun," beomgyu hinted, wiggling his eyebrows to hyuka. "C'mon give me a free analysis! Do the stars say we're perfect for each other?!" 

"The stars have nothing to do with love. If you like the guy, just ask him out instead of pining like an idiot," soobin grumbled. He got another kick in the shin from hyuka.

"Excuse you, for your information astrology really does help in love. Don't talk down to my profession. I get big bucks off these suckers." 

Soobin rolled his eyes, skeptical as always. 

"I'll even do yours really quick, give me a second," hyuka continued. He shut his eyes and stayed silent from then on.

"No, you really don't have to. I honestly could care less," soobin reassured him, shifting uneasily in his seat.

"Why? You scared you gonna get someone gross?" Beomgyu snickered into his sleeve. 

"No, I just think love is overrated, I'm more focused on my upcoming business. And taehyun was nice enough to let me do his yard under the table, so he gets a pass in my book-"

"A storm's coming your way," hyuka said excitedly, clapping his hands. "Whatever that means," he shrugged, making beomgyu snort into his drink. 

"A...storm?" Soobin looked bored.

"Yep! Hurtling straight for you. Your planets are shifting and wrapping around another alignment. I'll know more if I have time to really meditate and study it," hyuka nodded. "It's a cosmic storm! How pretty!" 

"Right, back to me. What about me?!" Beomgyu pleaded. 

Hyuka waved his hand in dismissal. "Oh, you're fine. Aquarius and Pisces being one of the perfect matches of the horoscopes, blahblah. Just go for it." 

Soobin let out a huff of air from his nose, which sounded suspiciously like an obnoxious snort.

"That was the worst reading ever," beomgyu pouted. "You're a jerk."

"I know," hyuka grinned. 

Soobin glanced at his watch, noting the time. "Shit, I really do have to go. My shift at home starts soon."

"Have fun!" Beomgyu smiled sweetly, knowing soobin absolutely hated working at home. His family owned a huge bed and breakfast, and he's forced to come back and take shifts whenever his parents need him. He can't stand serving breakfast and cleaning rooms all day- being cooped up in the house makes him uneasy- which is why he got a part time job at the garden center and is saving up for his future landscaping business. He's all over the place right now, so the other two just leave him be. 

Once soobin was gone, beomgyu turned to hyuka.

"So...how do you feel about taking swimming lessons?" 

Hyuka snorted into his drink. "Pass."

"I hate you both."

~

Taehyun startled when his front door slammed open. 

He was currently taking down old paintings in his grandpa's living room and debating whether to throw them out or sell them. 

"I'm hereeeee!" Yeonjun declared, suitcase in hand and sunglasses perched on top of his head. He shivered, the weather drastically different from where he left. A T-shirt and skinny jeans was so not the right attire for the small town this time of year. 

"Yeonjun? What the fuck?" Taehyun spluttered, holding on to the top of the ladder and peering down at his best friend. 

"I'm here to stay as long as you're here!" Yeonjun smiled up at him, his dark hair a little messy and damp from the chilly wind and slight rain outside. It was not his usual wet hot boy surfer look he had going on at the beach back home. 

Taehyun gave him a confused look. "Really?" 

Yeonjun nodded his head like a puppy. "Yup! I missed you so much, and I would never want you to be lonely up here, pining like some widow who lost her husband at sea, and I figured I would keep you company."

Taehyun raised a brow. He's known yeonjun for forever, their parents being best friends that extended to the next generation. So without a doubt, yeonjun was bullshitting him. 

"Oh how thoughtful," taehyun drawled. 

"Anyways, where's that baby bear of yours? Might as well meet the man that stole my taehyunnie's heart." 

Taehyun pouted. "Not sure. I think he went to go meet up with some friends. He texted me asking me to come see him perform tonight. They are also announcing the winners of some band competition today and he's super excited, so naturally I'm going to go support my future husband."

"Awesome. And I take it that best friend of his is going too?" Yeonjun said, quickly not caring about beomgyu's schedule and taehyun's pining. The way they flirt, you'd think they lived in Victorian times. 

"Hah!" Taehyun jumped down from the ladder. "You little shit! You don't care about me one bit, you just came up here to flirt with soobin!" 

Yeonjun scoffed, insulted taehyun would even suggest such a thing. "I did not! I thought I would stay with my bestie-"

"You didn't seem to care about coming up here for a whole month and a half while I've been here," taehyun accused. 

"I was busy.." yeonjun weakly defended.

"Yeah so busy you called me up almost daily, bored out of your skull," taehyun rolled his eyes, arms crossed over his chest.

"He's annoying, but he was super cute!" Yeonjun finally blurted out. "I had to come up here and check him out. You know I can't resist a pretty face!" He continued to wail. Then he launched himself at taehyun, hugging him tight, using his slightly taller stature to his advantage.

"Why do you get all the action up here? I wanna join too!" 

Taehyun sighed. "If you haven't noticed, I'm not getting action. If I was, my neck would have like, a million hickies and bite marks all over it." Then he gasped. "You think my baby bear is a biter? Fuck, that would be hot-"

"Let me stay here! Please! I even got jongho to cover my shift at the bar while I'm away," yeonjun ignored taehyun's thirst thoughts. 

"No, you can't stay here," taehyun told him, patting his back in return of the hug. 

Yeonjun leaned away, gripping onto taehyun's shoulders, looking hurt. "What? Why?" 

Taehyun glanced around the house, which was an absolute mess. Plastic, paint, tools, wood and many other remodeling things littered every surface. The furniture was covered to protect them, and the kitchen was out of commission. He's been eating at the local diner daily until he has a functioning oven again. 

"I literally don't have any space for you."

"Aw come on! You can't leave me on the streets!" Yeonjun complained, shaking taehyun a bit. 

"If you wanna stay, you gotta help me remodel," taehyun gave him an ultimatum with a smirk. "I don't take freeloaders." 

Yeonjun made a scrunched up face, disgusted with that idea. "Yeah no, I'm not helping you... hammer things."

"Trust me, I hate it just as much as you do. The only thing I want to be hammering into is beomgyu's-" 

Yeonjun covered his mouth. "We need a filter for you. I don't know how much more I can take of this," he laughed. "Just ask the guy out!" 

Taehyun licked his palm, causing yeonjun to release his hand with a gross ew. 

"I want to take things slow, let him know I'm interested and see what he wants to do. I don't want to scare him away," he frowned. "Beomgyu is kind of shy like that, I can tell." 

Yeonjun's face softened. "Aw, you really have it bad for him, don't you? That's so sweet." 

Taehyun grinned. "I know, because I'm a gentleman."

Yeonjun snorted. "Yeah no, you aren't a gentleman with all those kinds of thoughts running through your head, but I'll let it slide." Then he put his hands on his hips with a huff. "So where am I supposed to stay then? I didn't come all the way here just to turn back!" 

Taehyun rolled his eyes. "I'm pretty sure the town has a bed and breakfast. Just go there. They serve you food to your room-"

"K bye," yeonjun said, already turning around and abandoning taehyun. Whenever food is involved, he's gone. 

"Wait! Hyung!" Taehyun called out before he could reach the door.

Yeonjun turned back.

"Would you...come with me tonight? To the pub? Beomgyu's band is going to play and I don't really know anyone here…" he asked shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. 

Yeonjun rolled his eyes with affection. "Duh! Since when have we ever gone to a party without each other? I'll be back here after I'm finished settling into a room."

Taehyun smiled as he watched yeonjun walk out, arriving like a storm and quickly leaving like one.

~ 

Soobin knocked on the door to the guest room, located on the second floor down the hall. His parents own a huge three floor bed and breakfast, but unfortunately no elevator, so he was grateful the rooms haven't filled up yet onto the top floor. He hates stairs. 

"Sir, your food has arrived," he announced, balancing a tray of food in one hand and holding onto the door knob in the other. He waited for permission to enter.

"Come in!" 

He stepped inside, and almost nearly dropped the entire damn tray onto the floor. His mother would slaughter him; these were some of her favorite sets of dishes, with little rose buds painted across the white porcelain. 

Standing near his bed unfolding tons of clothes from a suitcase was none other than the friend taehyun had on the phone just last week. He would never forget a face like that. 

The male stood up, hands on his hips while contemplating something. Obviously he was into high fashion since there was no way soobin would own even a single article of clothing he had displayed on his bed. 

"Where should I put this, sir?" He cleared his throat. Best to get in and then get out as fast as he could. He can smell trouble from this one a mile away.

"On the desk is fine," he answered, not looking up again. 

Well, rude. Soobin took two steps to his left and set the tray of food down onto the white painted wooden desk, an exact copy to all of the others found in each room. 

"Hmm, which shirt screams hot but isn't too flashy for a village gathering?" He muttered under his breath. 

Soobin looked up to the ceiling. Lord give him the strength.

It wasn't uncommon to come across rich snobby people who stay here on a business trip for a few days. You would think they've never seen what a lawn mower looked like. Actually, they probably haven't. So they assume his town is set in prehistoric times, where the people hunt and gather for their food instead of just going to the local grocery store like any other normal town up here in the north. The closest major city was located a few hours away by car, so they built a small community here over the many generations. 

"For the last time, we aren't a village, we're a close community with well over twenty thousand people. And I assure you, anything you wear on that bed will be flashy around here. If you haven't noticed, the weather is way too cold for Gucci and St. Laurent," soobin replied to the admittedly cute male. He crossed his arms over his chest as he studied taehyun's friend's profile. 

What the hell was he even doing here? Doesn't he have some cushy condo to go stay in with a balcony view of the beach? 

The friend, what was his name again? Yeonjun? Turned around with a gasp.

His eyes widened as he looked up, up, up to where they finally landed on soobin's face. 

"Oh my gosh, it's you!" He said with delight and a really bright smile, which totally threw soobin for a loop. Wasn't this guy supposed to be snobby and rich, scoffing at soobin's worker's boots and lack of name brand products? 

Still, soobin was a distrustful man. Nothing can get him to drop his guard around outsiders. Because that's what yeonjun was: an outsider. Not even his pretty face, plump lips that belong in a cosmetic commercial, and cute singular freckle located just under his mischievous but adorable eyes could get him to cave. 

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Soobin asked, which was a blatant lie and obvious attempt at cutting ties before anything could form between them. They were mere strangers passing by, not even granted the title of acquaintances who know each other through friends-

Yeonjun's happy face fell. Why did soobin feel like he just kicked a puppy? 

"Come on! You've gotta remember me! Hello? I'm the best friend! Of taehyun, we spoke on the phone just last week," yeonjun attempted, waving his arms around in a very expressive way. Everything he does is expressive and just a little flamboyant. 

Soobin closed his eyes and then opened them, sighing. Fine, he will play nice. For now. Plus his dad will kick his ass if he upsets a paying guest...so he tells himself.

"Ah, I remember. You're the city boy who thinks we live under a rock," he sniped coldly. He likes his town, he likes the people in it, and he won't tolerate being looked down on, so yeonjun can go suck it-

Yeonjun pouted. "I don't! I think it's super cool how everybody knows everybody. And oh my gosh, I was walking into the building earlier and someone actually held the door open for me! Can you believe it?" 

His eyes were sparkling from..what? Common manners and decency? Goodness, what goes on in this boy's life? 

Soobin was learning quickly that yeonjun likes to jump from topic to topic. 

"I'm going out with taehyunnie tonight to the local pub, and I wasn't sure what to wear. Would I look too stupid if I show up in a pink sweater crop top and light denim jeans? That's too bold right? Everyone would think I'm dumb, since I'm not from around here." He frowned at his bed, debating what to wear. 

Soobin blinked. Oh. He was just nervous about standing out too much. That makes sense. 

And no, he would most definitely not look stupid in a pink crop top and tight denim jeans. Soobin gave him an appreciative once over. The guy was lithe and of smaller build, but model worthy. He wouldn't doubt if yeonjun modeled back home, because wow, nobody he's met looks like this. Was it the water down south? Something in the food? Do they all look this mouthwatering? Because yeonjun's legs went on for miles-

Soobin has now come to the realization that he's a leg type of guy. 

"I don't think the crop top would work around here," he said, relenting and deciding to help him out.

Yeonjun looked up with sad puppy eyes. "I knew I look stupid in them-"

"It's too cold this time of year," soobin cut him off. "You would freeze your ass off." He almost said pretty ass, but he still wasn't in a trusting kind of mood. 

Yeonjun's eyes took on a stormy light gray, the color almost that of snow. They were chocolate brown a second ago.

What the-

"Oh, you're right! A storm is coming. Probably early in the morning," yeonjun said, having this kind of thoughtful look on his face.

"Nothing in the weather reports said anything about a storm," soobin argued, but then yeonjun tilted his head to the side cutely, almost like he was listening for something. 

He was creepily silent for a few moments, and then shook his head. "Nope! Definitely a storm on its way. It's going to pass over the lake quickly and hit this town straight away." 

Soobin was about to argue, but then shut his mouth. Oh right, yeonjun was a weather witch. If anybody would know for sure, it's him. That's kind of handy, especially for this town since the weather was always super unpredictable and crazy. He made a mental note to get up early tomorrow and shovel snow. 

"Well all the more reason you should bundle up tonight. We go for practicality here instead of looks," soobin shrugged. "We're close here, so we don't mind what people wear. Just go for something warm but stylish if you really want to look good."

He sucks at fashion advice, so that's the best yeonjun was getting from him. 

Yeonjun brightened up at the advice, and did something unexpected. He launched himself at soobin and gave him a big hug, bare arms wrapped tight around soobin's neck. 

"Thank you! You're the best! Also you have to sit with me and taehyun tonight, because we don't know anybody-"

He continued to ramble off happily, but soobin was a little too stunned at his boldness to pay attention. His arms sort of gently held the other boy in place so he wasn't completely hanging from his neck, his only thought in the moment being-

"You're kind of short," he said out loud, noting how nice yeonjun's frame fit inside his own. It sort of came out more blunt than his original intentions...

That seemed to be a taboo thing to say because next thing he knew, he had a very flabbergasted and indignant weather witch in his arms.

A cloud began to form above their heads near the ceiling of the room, and soobin had just enough time to look up and blink in awe before he got pelted on by rain. 

Inside the room.

Because apparently yeonjun was in a bad mood, and bad moods equal freak weather wherever he goes. 

"I am not! You're just gigantic!" Yeonjun yelled, stepping away in time before his rain drenched him. 

He was like an angry child, which was sort of cute in a way. Soobin was too stunned to do much else but stand there and let the water soak his clothes. 

He briefly thought he's gotta go get a mop after calming down the weather witch. 

~

Taehyun shivered as he knocked on the front door. He was beyond excited for tonight, getting a chance to spend some real time with beomgyu. 

The door opened, and he stood there with wide blue-green eyes. 

Beomgyu was wearing the cutest fluffy coat. It was half brown with white mixed in, and had a little hood. He looked exactly like a-

"Baby bear," he said out loud, his heart skipping a beat when beomgyu tried to fluff up his hair and push it out of his eyes. He was also wearing fluffy white mittens to protect his hands from the cold. What rockstar wears this before performing at a pub?

But who cares, because taehyun thinks he's perfect. 

"What did you just call me?" Beomgyu asked, stepping out and turning to lock up his house. He had to take a mitten off and taehyun diligently held it for him like the whipped boy he was. 

And oh no, he's never called beomgyu his unofficial name of endearment to his face before.

"Uh," he stumbled, his ears turning red. Thankfully his hair was still blue-green from his shift earlier at the pool and not the silver-blue it was quickly turning into. "You look adorable like a baby bear?" He ended the statement on a question.

Beomgyu retrieved his mitten and looked at him with a slight blush. "Oh, thanks," he said shyly. "It must be the coat."

"Actually, you are so cute like a baby bear all the time, but yeah, the coat adds to it," taehyun replied cheekily. This was super awkward, but also very nice. Obviously his flirting sucked when it came to beomgyu. He swears he wasn't this bad back at home. 

But those people were just casual and fun. Never serious. This right here is him being super serious, and he's a wreck.

He shivered again as they made their way down the street. The pub was just a few blocks away, so walking there would be reasonable. Only, the wind was vicious and cold, piercing right through his thin long-sleeved jacket and black shirt underneath. He had on some dark cargo pants and boots to go with it. Fashionable, casual, but not warm at all. 

Beomgyu obviously must have noticed. 

"Where's your winter coat? The weather is supposed to be getting pretty shitty in the coming weeks." He seemed concerned, which warmed taehyun's heart. Metaphorically. 

"Don't have anything better than this," taehyun answered, his teeth sort of chattering. 

Beomgyu giggled. "You're such a southerner. Never prepared for the cold. You should have told me and I could've lent you a thicker jacket."

"It's too late to turn back," taehyun noted. He would die if they hiked it back down the street. Plus beomgyu would be late, and taehyun would never make him late. 

"True," beomgyu puffed his slightly red from the cold cheeks in thought. "Then I'll just stick to your side and we can power walk there," he concluded.

Yeah, freezing his ass off was so worth it. Because now taehyun has a beautiful boy clinging to him and pressing his entire body into his side. The little mittens were tucked nicely under his arm, and oh boy taehyun just wants to instead wrap his arm around beomgyu's waist and bend him backwards a little from a very passionate kiss right on the mouth. Cliche, but it's a classic and very effective. 

Thankfully yeonjun wasn't here. Not that taehyun didn't want him to be here, but this was a golden opportunity to get closer to beomgyu. Besides, yeonjun apparently had a mishap with soobin earlier and now he's going with the green witch separately. That will be a story he'll have to hear when the night is over. 

"So...how's your parents doing?" Taehyun asked, curious about how it's going for beomgyu at home alone. His parents surely called by now, right? Checking in on him occasionally…

Beomgyu stiffened at the mention of them, and taehyun clearly noticed because of their proximity. 

"I think they are somewhere on a cruise ship right now," he said nonchalantly. 

"They called?" Taehyun looked over at the top of beomgyu's head, which was very close to his ear. 

"No, not for a while," beomgyu mumbled. 

"What? Seriously?" That sort of pissed taehyun off. Who in their right mind would leave this precious boy home alone and not even have the decency to check up on him-

"I know why you're asking," beomgyu continued in a soft voice. He didn't seem to be mad that taehyun was sort of prying into his personal life. "Gramps asked you to keep an eye on me, didn't he?" 

Taehyun didn't respond right away, which was all the confirmation beomgyu needed. He looked into taehyun's now silver eyes as they walked, nodding his head. "I figured he did. It's okay, you don't have to go out of your way to watch over me like a babysitter. I'm totally fine on my own." He gave a small smile to somehow reassure taehyun he's good.

Taehyun scoffed, which surprised beomgyu. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting.

"Yeah I won't lie to you, the crusty old bagel asked me to check up on you every now and then. But that's not why I'm doing it. I like talking to you and knowing you're ok." He shrugged to make it seem casual, but inside his heart was basically beating at the speed of light. 

They continued to stare at each other for several moments, their steps slowing. 

"Oh," beomgyu said quietly, his voice a little breathless. 

Taehyun pulled his arm closer into his body, beomgyu easily going with it since he was still hanging onto him. He was about to lean in and maybe get a small taste of beomgyu, he could feel his warm breath hitting the cold skin of his cheeks that's how close they were-

But then a very freezing gust of wind blew by and taehyun majorly shivered.

"We need to hurry up," beomgyu said, intentionally breaking the moment by turning away. 

No, what he needs is his mouth connected to beomgyu's and his tongue down his throat-

Taehyun wanted to groan. 

"Right, it's cold out here," he replied instead. 

"By the way, why do you keep dying your hair different colors?" Beomgyu continued to talk minutes later like that intense moment didn't just happen. Their gazes were so heated, he was worried they'd have sex right there in the street. 

"Huh?" Taehyun stupidly said. "What are you talking about?"

"Doesn't it fry your hair changing the color almost daily? I noticed it when you first moved in. First it's black, then it was kind of purplish? Then silver, blue-green, back to black. It's never one color-"

Taehyun started softly laughing. 

"Hey!" Beomgyu tugged on his arm. "What's so funny?!"

 "I don't dye my hair," taehyun snorted, bringing up his free hand to run it through the strands. From what little he could see, they were completely silver now. 

This time beomgyu said dumbly, "huh?"

Taehyun glanced over at him as they walked quickly. The pub was in sight.

"Whenever I'm around water, my hair and eyes change color. But it depends on what the water is."

"Like how?" Beomgyu was fascinated. He's never met a sea witch before so he didn't know.

"When there's no water nearby, my hair is black. The day we met it was black because I just got off the plane, and there was no water around. The day was chilly and windy, but that's it. When I go to the pool, it turns blue-green because of the chlorine and how clean it is. When I'm in the water outside at sunset, it ranges from red to orange to purple. Yeonjun loved it whenever we surfed at sunset because it changed color so quickly. And of course, right now it's super cold and a little rainy which means my hair is…"

"Silver," beomgyu supplied helpfully, an adorable little 'o' taking shape on his lips. Taehyun swallowed, desperately trying not to think about whether beomgyu would make that same cute little o when he's coming. 

He nodded. "Yep, it's never been silver before. We don't get snow or ice down south, so it's sort of cool for me," he grinned. 

"That also kind of sucks though. You can never truly dye your hair a different color" beomgyu noted.

Taehyun thought about it for a minute. "I don't mind. My hair is always a different color anyways. It was bright blonde during the sunniest and hottest day last summer. And one time I fell in swamp water, and it turned a murky brown. So I've seen it all on me." 

"That's also so cool though!" Beomgyu said excitedly, quickening his steps through the parking lot of cars so that they could enter the pub. He didn't want taehyun to freeze anymore. 

"Sure," taehyun shrugged. He was so used to it that the excitement kind of wore off over the years, especially since it happens to his dad too, but he loves how much beomgyu was enjoying it. 

Once they stepped onto the wooden planks leading up to the door, beomgyu reluctantly detached himself from taehyun's side. Taehyun internally frowned, wanting to keep touching the other in some kind of way. 

"When we get inside, I have to go around back to set up. Will you be okay?" Beomgyu asked worriedly, biting his bottom lip that was a major distraction to taehyun.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Yeonjun is in there somewhere with soobin," taehyun reassured him. 

Beomgyu nodded with a small smile, looking relieved. "Good, it gets very packed in there, so I don't want you to get lost." He gripped taehyun's hand with his little mittened one, and led him through the two wooden front doors. Taehyun easily followed. 

He could obviously hear the music outside, but once the doors opened it became fifty times louder. He momentarily worried about beomgyu's hearing since he basically has supersonic hearing, but beomgyu seemed to be fine. Maybe it was another one of his gifts or something, being able to control the volume of sound waves that pass through his ear drums. He'll have to ask later. 

The place was cramped and crowded, but not in an awkward way. Everyone was either cheering, or conversing, or passing around drinks and beer from the bar. People were ordering food and crowding the tables. The band currently playing was over to the left on a stage, there were pool tables in the far back, TV's mounted on the walls showcasing whatever sports game was going on and people excitedly yelled for their favorite team. 

Overall, it was a very warm and pleasant place. Almost everybody knew each other, so they didn't worry about fights or shady people. Some even brought their children and let them roam around and have fun. It was basically a family oriented pub and sports grill. A place to let loose and have some unhealthy but delicious food and maybe wind down from work with a beer.

"I like it!" Taehyun shouted to beomgyu, hoping he could hear him.

Obviously he did, maybe even better than taehyun could hear. He turned and smiled as they battled their way through the crowd.

"I'm glad," he said, but really, taehyun read his lips more than he actually heard it. 

"Where are we going?" He asked this time in a normal volume, his voice getting drowned out even in his own ears. 

Beomgyu backtracked and leaned in close to his ear, making taehyun practically want to faint from the closeness. 

"Soobin saved us a table, he called us over just now when he spotted me walking through the door," he said in a clear and deep voice. His lips brushed the shell of taehyun's ear as he talked, and tingles of pleasure ran down taehyun's spine. 

Was he doing that on purpose, or was it just accidental because of how loud it was? Taehyun will never know. 

He nodded in reply, and wordlessly followed beomgyu again. He didn't hear soobin at all, obviously, so he trusted the sonic witch. 

Sure enough, they approached a booth with yeonjun and soobin already seated with food. Someone with cute mint colored hair waved to taehyun and beomgyu.

"Hi guys!" He said happily. 

"Taehyun, this is my other friend hueningkai. He's a cosmic witch and only stays here for half the year," beomgyu explained. 

"Hi, it's nice to meet you," taehyun smiled politely. 

Immediately hueningkai's eyes wandered down to their still joined hands. He smiled at what he saw, and taehyun tried really hard not to flush at the realization that he was still glued to beomgyu's side with his cute mitten wrapped around his own hand.

Instead he focused on the two pigs who didn't even look up from their plates once.

"Really? You're here not even a day, and already stuffing your face?" Taehyun said to yeonjun with a scoff. 

Yeonjun looked up with a mouth full of mashed potatoes. "Yeah, the food is amazing here!" He said with glee. Gone was the cool fashionista, replacing him with a boy who loves to eat. 

"He's not wrong," soobin commented, snagging some of yeonjun's fried chicken. They seemed to be sharing a variety of plates scattered all over the table. 

It would appear they are getting along now. Bonding over food like a bunch of wild animals. Taehyun rolled his eyes. 

"Come sit next to me!" Hueningkai patted the booth. "And let's order some beer!"

"Hyuka, I'll have it sent to your table. Sorry guys, but I gotta go now," beomgyu said, letting go of taehyun's hand and waving goodbye as he disappeared in the crowd.

Soobin waved back, not even looking up from the Mac and cheese he was devouring. Taehyun reluctantly watched him leave until he could no longer see his cute fluffy coat anymore. Then he turned back to the table and scooted in next to hyuka. 

"So how are you liking the town?" Hyuka asked, giving him that same smile that still hasn't left his face, which was a little creepy if taehyun was being honest. 

"It's nice, I like it," he replied. "Different from what I'm used to, but nice." 

"You gonna stick around now that you're used to things?" Hyuka continued.

Why does taehyun feel like he's getting interrogated? 

"That's the plan," he nodded. "I'm renovating my grandfather's house, so I'll be here a while."

"What about after you're done renovating?" Soobin butted in after taking a momentary pause from eating to drink his soda and wash the food down. 

"I was going to sell it…" taehyun trailed off, looking to yeonjun for some help. He was being tag teamed.

"Huh, I thought you would stay up here permanently since you're with beomgyu and all," hyuka studied his nails, his voice casual but for some reason the atmosphere was deadly.

"Wait, taehyun isn't with beomgyu," yeonjun piped in, sensing the danger. 

"He would like to be though," soobin argued. He obviously knows about taehyun's small (humongous) crush. 

Taehyun flushed a little at the attention on him. 

"Well yeah, but also it's up to him," he gulped. Why was he so nervous? It almost seems like this hueningkai and soobin we're acting like his parents-

Oh. Ohhhh.

Someone has had to look out for him all these years. Well...two someones it would seem. 

Hyuka nodded. "He's right. It's up to beomgyu to decide. Nothing is set in stone, his future is constantly changing direction. How exciting!" He clapped with glee. 

Taehyun relaxed a little once soobin shrugged and began eating again, and then their drinks arrived. 

He sipped his beer, exchanged some sarcastic jabs with yeonjun, laughed at how soobin and yeonjun started bickering over which Avengers was better, and overall had a decent time. Oh, and he kept glancing over at the stage, wondering when beomgyu was coming on to play.

"He's the third band to play," hyuka chuckled. 

"Noted," taehyun mumbled, turning back around in his seat, facing away from the stage. Yeah, it was so painfully obvious he was searching for the pretty boy. 

Hyuka leaned on his hand, frowning at the stickiness of the table. "You know, it's not easy catching the attention of an Aquarius," he said casually.

"How'd you know I was an Aquarius?" Taehyun asked in surprise and curiosity.

Hyuka waved his hand around flamboyantly. "I'm a cosmic witch. Of course I know."

Soobin snorted into his beer, coughing a bit. Yeonjun reached over and tapped his back, not once looking up from his pizza. 

"Wow, I'm impressed you can tell just by looking at me," taehyun nodded, being sincere.

Soobin coughed some more.

"Got something to say?" Hyuka hissed. 

"Nope," cough, "Not at all," cough, "You're just soooo talented at guessing people's birthdays," cough.

"I hope you choke," hyuka humphed, going back to taehyun with his freaky smile again.

"Anyways, what was it about beomgyu that made you take notice?" 

"Are we seriously going to talk about this?" Taehyun groaned. 

"Yes. Because I'm bored, and these two seem to be hitting it off pretty well," hyuka sighed, kicking soobin under the table. "Plus astrology fascinates me. I always get giddy when things work out."

"Astrology is just a person's excuse to justify liking someone," soobin voiced with sarcasm. "Oh my gosh, I'm a Libra and he's an Aries! Opposites attract, it was meant to be!" He mocked.

"Seems like a good reason to me," yeonjun said, shrugging when soobin glared at him. 

"See! There really is proof that astrology works!" Hyuka defended. "Not everyone is a disbelieving grump like you."

Soobin sighed loudly and rolled his eyes. "Do you believe in it taehyun?" 

"I don't know much about astrology and the stars, but it seems interesting," he answered. Then he leaned closer to hyuka. "On a scale of 1-10, what are my chances with beomgyu, astrologically speaking."

Hyuka grinned. "Nothing's perfect, but I'd say very high. He's whimsical and beautifully mysterious, and full of pleasant surprises. You probably like that shit, which is why you're subconsciously attracted to him. He keeps you guessing, keeps you curious, and you absolutely love to be curious." 

Taehyun turned back to soobin. "Yeah, I believe in it now. Works for me." 

Hyuka gave soobin a triumphant and smug look. 

"You're just saying that to get into beomgyu's pants," soobin said, having his foot in his mouth again.

However, taehyun wasn't easy to insult.

"Nope, you couldn't be more wrong. He's a precious boy that deserves to be worshipped. But I won't deny I like to get freaky in bed," he smiled sweetly. 

Soobin was about to argue, but he was quickly cut off. Yeonjun cackled next to him, smacking his back. "Oh shut up. You lost this round buddy! I don't know why you're so uptight, but you know what would help? More beer."

"I'll get it," taehyun offered, standing up and stretching his legs. Plus he just needed a breather from his interrogation. He wasn't opposed to having attention on himself, but things were getting a little too intimate. Next thing he knows, he will be asked what sexual positions he likes based off the planets in each house or something equally crazy like that. 

"Soda for me!" Hyuka called out as he walked towards the bar. 

"And barbeque ribs!" Yeonjun added. 

Taehyun waved them over his shoulder, indicating he heard. Then he carefully maneuvered through the crowd to the bar, placing his orders.

He leaned up against it as he waited since there were no more available stools. It was going to be a while since they were super busy. 

The crowd near the stage cheered as a new band walked up, and suddenly taehyun's eyes were glued to the guitarist on the left. 

Beomgyu looked amazing up there, cheeks flushed from excitement, dark hair swept into his eyes, movements fluid and confident. Gone was the somewhat timid personality and shy smiles. Instead there was a very sexy boy who knew his way around a guitar, body relaxed and so sure of himself. Taehyun was entranced. 

Maybe hyuka's observations about himself were truly spot on. Beomgyu's entire being had layer after layer that taehyun wanted to peel back and find out for himself. He wants to know all of him, and he got giddy just thinking about it. 

Maybe it was thirty minutes later when beomgyu's band finally ended their performance, thanking the crowd and getting off stage. Taehyun didn't move a single step from his spot against the bar. He could see the stage so much clearer than if he was back at his table with the others. Yeonjun's food finally came out, and the beers and soda were prepared, sitting next to him on the counter. But yeonjun and them can wait, because right now a gorgeous boy was making his way through the crowd, body clad in skin tight black pants and a silky long sleeve navy shirt that really accentuated the outline of his collarbones and broad chest. His neck had several delicate necklaces hanging from it. 

Taehyun sighed dreamily, everyone else around a complete blur compared to beomgyu. Yeah, he's all for beomgyu flaunting those curves and beautiful body up on stage for everyone to admire. The only objection is that he wishes he had a claim to him, touching him and kissing him as much as he wants when nobody else could. That would be absolutely perfect.  

He stood up straight and waved to beomgyu to get his attention. It didn't seem to work, there were just too many people sandwiched together in the place, the night at its peak. But then taehyun remembered beomgyu can hear really well, so he called out to him the best he could over the loud guitar riffs from the current band playing. 

It worked and beomgyu's eyes immediately landed on taehyun's. He changed course, presumably heading toward their table before noticing taehyun at the bar. He carefully made his way past the many bodies separating them like a sea.

Finally beomgyu was close enough, but accidentally got bumped into by someone excitedly passing by. He stumbled a little into taehyun, balancing himself on taehyun's shoulders. And he blushed a bit when taehyun instinctively wrapped a secure arm around his waist, the shirt hiking up a bit so he could feel taehyun's warm fingertips on the small sliver of skin near the waistband of his pants. 

"Hi," he breathed near taehyun's lips, their eyes locked on each other. 

"Hi," taehyun replied back, involuntarily bringing him closer to his body. The other boy seemed to have no objections.

The crowd erupted into tons of cheers, causing them to momentarily look away. Taehyun still had his arm around beomgyu's waist, craning his neck to see what the commotion was all about. 

"They're announcing the winners of the second round of competition. The top ten moves on to the final round to win a prize and the winning song gets produced and promoted," beomgyu breathed near taehyun's ear so he could be heard.

"Do you think you're gonna make it?" Taehyun asked.

Beomgyu gave him a sexy smirk full of smugness. "Oh yeah. I don't want to be cocky or brag, but we definitely made it." 

They stayed in that position, beomgyu steadying himself against taehyun's body and shoulders, and taehyun holding onto him as they both listened to the announcer list off the names of the top bands. 

The entire place erupted into huge cheers and chatter, everyone jumping up and down with excitement. They got jostled a bit, so taehyun turned so that beomgyu's back was hitting the bar counter and his body was blocking most of the people around them. 

"Congratulations," taehyun said, their faces super close, noses just barely touching.

"Told you we'd make it," beomgyu smiled widely, beyond ecstatic that he was qualified with his band. His eyes dipped down to taehyun's lips, liking the fact that he was all snug up in taehyun's personal space. 

Taehyun could swear he's reading the moment right. He slowly leaned into beomgyu, tilting his head so he could fit their faces together perfectly like long lost puzzle pieces, and just before his lips could brush against beomgyu's the other boy turned away, dodging the kiss. 

Oof, well that stung like a son of a bitch. 

"We should find soobin and the others," beomgyu said, avoiding eye contact with taehyun. He seemed nervous, and there was still a blush on his face. 

Taehyun backed away, letting his arm slip from beomgyu's waist. He nodded, silently grabbing the food and a drink, turning to go and face the crowd. Despite being upset, he still gently gripped beomgyu's hand, relieved that he didn't pull away, and barreled through the endless wall of people. He was careful not to lose beomgyu or abandon him, as well as balance the ribs and beer. Beomgyu thankfully had the other two drinks. 

So he should be mad, right? That was a flat out rejection if he's ever seen one. Trust him when he says he's not used to rejection at all. Thousands of questions swirled in his mind. Maybe he did read the signs wrong, maybe this was only one sided the whole time, maybe beomgyu was just too nice and shy naturally and taehyun misunderstood that as attraction, on and on it went. But even though he was disappointed, he still should apologize. Later, when it's more quiet. He doesn't want beomgyu to feel guilty for not wanting to go further with him. Beomgyu did nothing wrong. Taehyun still thought he was the sweetest most precious boy ever, and that won't change. 

The drop dead weight and horrible feeling in his stomach along with the shattering of his heart will just have to be dealt with later, alone in his house while he wallows in self pity. Maybe yeonjun can stop by and bring ice cream or something. 

"Finally! What took so long?!" Yeonjun yelled, indignant that he didn't have his ribs like, twenty minutes ago. 

"Oh shush, just be grateful I got them," taehyun said, handing the food over to soobin who gladly took it with greedy fingers. Then he and beomgyu set the drinks down, and they joined the table to eat and talk some more. It was a little awkward, especially since beomgyu avoided taehyun subtly, but nobody else seemed to notice and taehyun tried his darndest to remain neutral and happy. 

Finally, it was time to leave. The place was still crowded, but it was getting late and taehyun had an early start in the morning for work. Soobin as well, needing to open up the bed and breakfast before heading over to the garden center. 

They went their separate ways, and at long last the moment came that taehyun had been dreading. 

"Thanks for coming," beomgyu said quietly, stepping up to his front door. Taehyun followed him, just to be sure he was getting in okay, and also to avoid standing out in the freezing snow. Small flakes started to fall from the sky, perfect for taehyun to wax poetry about how his heart has frozen over since he doesn't have a chance with this gorgeous boy-

"I really enjoyed myself," taehyun smiled despite the pain. Aside from getting rejected, he really did enjoy himself. Now he's gotta apologize.

"Well, goodnight," beomgyu said, about to get his key out.

Taehyun gently brushed beomgyu's wrist, his hands back in his cute mittens, body wrapped up in the fluffy white and brown bear coat. 

"Wait, I uh…" he trailed off, and beomgyu looked at him expectantly, his hair holding small droplets of water that used to be snowflakes moments ago. 

Taehyun rubbed the back of his neck in nervousness, his heart beating wildly like a butterfly's wings. 

"I wanted to apologize, for earlier. I misunderstood and read the atmosphere wrong-" he began. 

"No you didn't," beomgyu whispered, interrupting his carefully prepared apology he has been writing in his head on the silent walk back home. 

If taehyun's brain could be described as a sound effect, it would probably be the scratching of a record player right about now.

He furrowed his brows. "Wait, what?"

Beomgyu stepped forward and pressed himself into taehyun's chest. "You didn't misunderstand. I wanted you to kiss me but…" he looked away, and if he pressed his bare hand (which was impossible with the mittens) to taehyun's heart right now, he would feel it thumping harshly in his chest. 

"But?" Taehyun prompted, his voice quiet and husky. He held his breath, waiting for beomgyu to continue.

"But if we initiated something right now, and then you leave later, in a few months, or a year...I don't want that. I want something more permanent, and so, it would be a good thing not to do this…" he trailed off quietly, his gaze a little wide with want but also sadness.

Taehyun backed him against the front door, crowding his body. He brought a cold hand up to his cheek, studying his beautiful face, so earnest and trusting. He was too kind for the world. 

"I want something permanent too," he replied, making beomgyu hitch in a breath. "With you," he added, just to be clear. 

"But what about selling the house and-" 

Taehyun pressed a finger to his lips, shutting him up. 

"I'm not sure yet. Hell, a few hours ago I didn't even have a reason to stay. But things are quickly changing and now other options for the future are popping up. We can take it one step at a time?" He suggested, his voice laced with hope.

Beomgyu thought about it for a second, studying taehyun's eyes, trying to see if he's sincere or not. Then he nodded. 

Taehyun continued to cup his face, treading a thumb across his cheekbone and then tracing it around the outline of his lips. Beomgyu boldly parted his lips and licked at the tip of taehyun's thumb, his gaze heated. Taehyun froze, his thumb pressed right there in the middle of beomgyu's plush bottom lip. He groaned when beomgyu sucked it a little, the implication quite clear.

He pressed into beomgyu's body even more, their faces impossibly close. 

"Don't do that," he whispered hoarsely, making beomgyu shiver in pleasure at the sound. 

"Why not?" Beomgyu said, his hot breath hitting taehyun's thumb.

Taehyun leaned in so their foreheads we're touching, squeezing his eyes shut to try and control himself.

"Because you're making me hard, and unless you plan on helping out with that, I'm going to have to go and take care of my problem all by myself," he said in a raspy voice, the vocal cords strained. 

Beomgyu softly laughed, letting his nose brush against taehyun's. "Like you did all those other times?"

Taehyun smiled. "So you heard me?"

"Sonic hearing, remember?" Beomgyu reminded him.

Taehyun tsked, opening his eyes to gaze into beomgyu's. "Now you see, I have a little theory about that. I got to thinking while you were performing earlier."

Beomgyu wrapped his arms around taehyun's neck loosely, keeping him close while they talked outside on the porch. 

"Oh? And what's that?"

Taehyun's smile deepened, showcasing a dimple. "Wouldn't it hurt your ears if you had extreme hearing while playing guitar, and all those people shouting? If you can control the sound waves for other people and animals like Toto, so they can't hear you, then surely you can easily do the reverse for yourself so you can't hear others. Right?"

Beomgyu froze, looking away guiltily. 

Taehyun knew he was right. He was worried earlier about beomgyu having a headache or a hard time being in loud places, but the other boy seemed to be perfectly fine all night at the pub. Which means…

"You can easily block out noises. So why didn't you when you obviously heard me pleasuring myself every night with a hand?" Taehyun whispered near his ear, making beomgyu melt in his arms. 

"I…" beomgyu tried to say, but his voice got stuck in his throat. 

"Pervert," taehyun playfully accused with another whisper. "You liked hearing it, didn't you? What I sound like when I come?" 

Beomgyu's arms tightened around him, and he buried his flushed face into his neck to hide. His breath quickened and taehyun could feel it on his skin. 

"What were you thinking about, while you…?" Beomgyu asked quietly, his lips brushing against taehyun's neck while he talked. 

Taehyun was definitely enjoying this. "Why? Were you hoping I was thinking about you while I jerked myself off and came all over my hand?" 

Beomgyu whimpered near his ear at his blunt words. "Yes," he admitted. 

"Did you get off on the thought that I was imagining I was with you instead?" Taehyun breathed out, his body pressing beomgyu even harder against the door, his hands holding onto his hips with a harsh grip. 

"Yes," beomgyu choked out, nibbling on taehyun's earlobe gently. "I wanted to hear you call out my name." 

Taehyun leaned away so that they could look each other in the eyes again. He brought his face closer to beomgyu's, and beomgyu was so ready to be kissed and maybe shoved inside to really hear what he just spoke of when-

A gentle kiss landed on his cheek, and then taehyun stepped away, leaving him cold to the wind.

"What..?" Beomgyu stuttered out, holding a palm to his cheek where taehyun sweetly kissed him.

"I think I can manage that tonight," taehyun told him cheekily with a smirk. "Goodnight, baby bear. I gotta go and take care of my problem before it becomes too painful." Then he winked and began to turn away and step off the porch.

"What?" Beomgyu repeated. "You're leaving?" Yeah, his voice was laced with disappointment and obvious frustration.

"Yep!" Taehyun laughed. "Consider it revenge for rejecting me and breaking my heart earlier," he said evilly. 

"But…" beomgyu blubbered. "But wouldn't you want my lips tonight instead of your hand?" 

That made taehyun stumble momentarily, and beomgyu almost smirked when he got him where he wanted him-

"Oh most definitely," taehyun groaned. "But you won't win this one, I'm stronger than that!" 

"I look great on my knees," beomgyu tried again, pulling out all of his cards. 

Taehyun's face was almost pained, and he looked like he was about to crack. "I have no doubt you do," he said with a strained voice. 

"I'll let you paint my face in cum," beomgyu continued, his eyes wide and innocent, contradicting his crude words. 

"Fuck," taehyun cursed, stepping onto the lawn. "You're gonna be the death of me." 

"I like to suck on things!" beomgyu called after him. Taehyun was trying to sprint away before he gave in to all of his wildest fantasies. 

"You're pure evil," taehyun said, making it down the driveway. 

"Jerk!" Beomgyu pouted, angry he didn't get what he wanted. 

Taehyun chuckled before the sound of his front door opening and closing vibrated in beomgyu's head. 

Well, at least he won somewhat. As promised, taehyun moaned out his name repeatedly that night. 

~

Taehyun woke up that night about twenty minutes before his alarm due to the old windows rattling harshly with the wind. 

He glanced at the clock, noting it was almost 5am. He's got work early today, plus his morning workout. His back cracked when he sat up, rubbing his face to help wake up. 

Contemplating whether he should just try to go back to sleep for the remainder of his time, or getting up now that he's awake, his attention was brought back to the window with another gust of wind.

What the hell was going on out there? Was it a storm? 

Taehyun curiously got up out of bed and shivered when his feet hit the cold wooden floorboards. He made his way over to the window and looked outside.

It was...white.

Everything was white, even the dark black sky had a slight whitish glow to it, making it more of a dark purple gray color. 

This was his first time seeing so much snow, and it piled everywhere.

It hasn't even been that long since he went to bed! He remembers crunching onto the frozen and dead grass, running away from beomgyu's attempts to seduce him (attempts that would have worked if he didn't have to get up so early), and feeling the cold rain against his face as he slammed his door shut. That was about 11pm. 

Before getting ready for bed, he put on a little show by popping out his very hard and aching dick, and jerked himself to climax, imagining he was with beomgyu instead. He made sure to not hold back a single sound, getting turned on even more knowing beomgyu was listening. Was he equally as hard now? Would they come together like this? He fell back onto his mattress, panting and coming down from his high, wiping his hand on his t-shirt. This time, he didn't stop himself from calling out beomgyu's name every time he felt especially good from a particular twist of his fist. His baby bear was so adorable earlier, admitting he wanted to hear taehyun moan out to him. 

Anyways, it's been about 5 hours and already his driveway was buried in snow. There was no way he was going to be able to walk to work, even the streets were covered. And the wind was vicious mixed with snow, beating at the window panes that he really should replace because he could feel drafts of cold air coming out of them causing him to shiver. Yeah, wearing his t-shirt and shorts to bed isn't going to be enough in this weather. 

His grandfather kept a truck in the garage in the back, covered under a dusty old sheet. He saw it when he was bringing tools out of there to help him fix up the house. It looked like it was still in very good shape; you don't really need a car if  you're able to walk everywhere you need to go, so taehyun hasn't tried it out yet. He feels like today would be a great day to take it to work. 

Shit, he's going to have to start shoveling the entire driveway to get that truck out. And trust him when he says it's a lot of driveway. He groaned, cursing under his breath. He has two hours to get to work, and even if he shoveled at the speed of light, he knows he's barely gonna make it there on time. 

Dressed in the warmest clothes he could find, which was an old parka from his grandpa and thin gloves, along with his sweatpants, he trudged out into what he has deemed the apocalypse. 

He's seen snow through photos, tv shows, and online. Of course he knows what it is, in theory. But those images of snow were beautiful, it looked cozy and majestic. A winter wonderland. Everyone looked like they were having fun, smiling and cuddled up in their warm outfits. 

This was not, in fact, fun. This was hell. If hell ever froze over. 

The wind attacked his face, the snowflakes feeling like little icy bullets against his skin. The gloves he was wearing somehow made his hands ever colder, and his tennis shoes were no match for the two feet of snow already piled at his back door. He stepped into the puffy whiteness that mimicked cotton candy but really was the devil in disguise, and got a whole sock full of it, melting rapidly against his ankle and making everything wet. And not the good kind of wet he wishes he was feeling between him and beomgyu right now at this moment. 

Sighing at his impending doom, he trudged his way to the back where he would hopefully find a shovel in his grandpa's garage. 

About 30 minutes later, after much cursing, slipping, and fumbling in the snow, taehyun looked up at his progress.

Or...rather lack thereof. 

He managed to shovel a small patch from the garage down the driveway. He felt like he was miles from the street, and the little bit of work he did manage ended up getting covered in another few inches of snow. It was falling faster than he could shovel. 

All the working out he does didn't even help much in his situation. He knows for a fact he won't need to work out today. This heavy labor was way harder than the usual weights he lifts each morning. 

Another 30 minutes later, he decided to just end his life, falling back into the snow. His chest heaved, everything was numb from the cold, and honestly he kind of missed his sandy beach and bright sun. 

The snowflakes covered his eyelashes as he stared up at the still dark sky. Despite having a horrible first impression of the snow, he somehow felt a little bit at peace when he wasn't battling his way through it. It was quiet, and once you ignored the discomfort from being too cold, it was actually kind of nice in an odd sort of tranquil way. The fat flakes floated down on top of him, and he just took a moment to admire them. 

He doesn't know how long he laid there in the mountain of snow, probably only a few minutes, but soon he was taken out of his weird meditative state by the soft crunching sounds of someone approaching him. 

One second his sight was nothing but dark purple and gray sky, and the next he was looking into warm brown eyes and a bright smile. 

"When I didn't hear you cursing anymore, I thought you collapsed or something," beomgyu softly laughed, peering down at taehyun's disheveled state.

"There's just too much snow," taehyun pouted, his heart kick starting in his cold body at the sight of beomgyu wrapped up in a cute dark navy puffy coat and wearing what appeared to be heavy duty ski gloves. He also had on snow pants and winter boots.

Yeah, it was clear who obviously lived here his whole life and who didn't. 

"I know, that's why you shouldn't be shoveling," he said with a knowing grin. 

"Huh?" Taehyun asked. "How the hell am I supposed to get out of my driveway if I don't shovel?" 

Beomgyu rolled his eyes, holding out a hand for taehyun to take. "Come on surfer boy, I'll help you. Let me show you how we do it up north." 

"My hero," taehyun joked, grabbing beomgyu's gloved hand and hoisting himself out of the snow.

"Actually, I was having a blast watching you struggle for like 45 minutes. I even took a funny video of you slipping all over the place and falling," he giggled. He started to brush the snow off of taehyun as he talked. "But then I decided to take pity on you. Aren't I so kind?" 

"If I wasn't so cold and miserable, I'd push you into the snow right now," taehyun grumped. He let beomgyu move on to brushing the flakes out of his bangs before they could melt and make him even more wet than he was before. Normally he would be offended by someone having such joy at the expense of his own misery, but beomgyu seemed so cute smiling with his pink cheeks and happy eyes, teasing him. 

"That seems fun, but maybe later," beomgyu replied. He admired taehyun's face and eyes for a second, causing taehyun to flush. Well, he would have flushed if his entire face wasn't numb and frozen. "Your hair and eyes are a really pretty ice blue color." He stayed close to taehyun, letting his touch linger.

"Probably from all of this frozen water," taehyun shrugged. "This will be the first time they ever changed to that color, since it doesn't snow where I'm from."

Beomgyu continued to look right into taehyun's irises, his face getting closer.

"Does that mean I'm the first person to see it?" He asked softly. 

"Yeah." Taehyun wanted so badly to grip beomgyu's arm and drag him even closer, but he stayed put, letting the snow fall all around them in fat flakes. 

Beomgyu seemed to snap out of his daze, clapping taehyun on the shoulder. 

"In times like these, my dear student, we don't shovel the snow. We snow plow it."

"Snow plow?" Taehyun asked stupidly. 

"Yep! It's like a lawn mower, but it blows the snow out of the way instead. Everyone's got one, you won't survive a winter here if you don't."

Taehyun breathed out a breath in relief. "Great, and then I can take the truck to work."

Beomgyu paused, his eyes widening in panic. "Oh no, no, no. You're not driving in this weather," he said with a stern voice.

"I know how to drive, hyung," taehyun chuckled. 

"Yeah, but have you ever driven in snow, taehyun? There's no way I'm letting a newbie like you take a truck out on the snowy roads." Beomgyu was dead serious about this.

Taehyun seemed a bit affronted that he was treating him like a child. 

"Uh, yeah I am. I'll be careful, I swear-" 

"No."

"Yes," taehyun stubbornly argued back, crossing his arms over his chest and standing his ground, metaphorically. 

Beomgyu rolled his eyes. "Did you even check to see if the summer tires were changed out?"

Blink. Double blink. Taehyun stared at him like a fish.

"Summer tires?" 

A sigh, then a giggle. Was their first fight over with already? 

"Yes taehyun," beomgyu began, explaining like he was a teacher. Taehyun was fine with it though, because he liked hearing him call his name. "We switch out our tires every winter and put on snow tires. They help us drive better on slippery roads. Plus you have to know how to break properly on the ice, where to switch the traction off on the truck in case your tires can't grip onto the road underneath the snow, and-"

"Okay, okay!" Taehyun interrupted him, holding up his hands in surrender. "I won't drive on the roads."

Beomgyu's muscles relaxed in relief. "You promise? I'm serious about this."

"Yes! I promise," taehyun reassured him. He felt a little warm at the fact that beomgyu cared about him so much to the point he had to make a commotion about this.

"Good! Then let's get going! I'll drive you to work once we clear out the driveway."

Beomgyu led him to the back of his grandpa's garage, rummaging around some things like he knows the place as well as the back of his hand.

A minute later he was pulling out a machine taehyun would have never recognized, and he wheeled it out onto the small clear patch he managed to shovel earlier. 

Beomgyu frowned at it for a second, then messed around with some of the parts near the engine. 

"You know what you're doing?" Taehyun asked, curiously watching the other expertly handle the machine. He would've never guessed his precious baby bear, with pretty and soft hands, could fix and handle himself perfectly fine. Which was a stupid assumption, he has to admit, but just look at beomgyu. He was so cute and needed to be protected at all cost-

Beomgyu snorted, full of confidence. "Yes, beach boy. I know what I'm doing. I had to flush some air into the gas line first because it's been a while since I last used this. I only needed it once last year." 

Taehyun wasn't even going to pretend like he understood that first part. "You used my grandpa's snow plow before?" 

Beomgyu nodded, his coat crinkling with the action. "Yep. I clear the drive every year for Gramps. I was worried he'd slip and fall or something, but don't tell him I said that. He's very prideful."

Taehyun smiled softly, letting beomgyu do what he needed. 

"Thanks," he said quietly. "For watching over the stale cracker. If I'd known, I would've come up here more often. He never told us though, even when my mom continuously called and asked how he was doing."

"I know," beomgyu laughed while looking up at taehyun. "You guys have your hands full with that one."

"So did you learn all this by yourself or…?" Taehyun wondered, tucking his cold hands into his pockets. Now that he wasn't moving anymore, he was freezing twice as much as earlier. 

"My dad is a tinkering witch. He loves machinery and electronics. He got me my first set of computer software I can use to hook up to my instruments and record music," beomgyu explained while revving the motor to the snow plow. 

Taehyun would've answered to that, but the roar of the motor drowned out all other noise and made it impossible to speak or hear. He glanced worriedly at beomgyu, because of his extreme hearing, but eased up when he saw beomgyu didn't mind the loud noise at all. This just further proved his theory that the sonic witch could control sound waves all around him. He smirked at that thought. 

Taehyun helplessly trailed behind beomgyu like a puppy in awe as he watched the snow plow suck up the snow and blast it out of the way. Beomgyu slowly went down the driveway, then adjusted the machine and turned around going back up in lines. 

About 20 minutes later, he stalled the motor and shouted so taehyun could hear him. "We have maybe two more rows and then the drive will be cleared! Did you want to try it out yourself?" 

Oh, he's going to teach taehyun. That was so nice of him. 

"Uh, okay," taehyun said with some hesitance. But he wasn't one to back down from a challenge, plus he hates feeling useless. 

For the next 10 minutes, beomgyu explained all the parts and how to use the snow plow, then he walked slowly side by side with taehyun as they made their way down the drive, blasting all the snow out of the way. 

He put the snow plow back into the garage, refilled it with some gas just in case they needed it again, and then dug around under a workbench for a minute. With a grunt, he pulled out a huge plastic bag that was half open.

"Alright workout maniac, time to put those sexy muscles to use," beomgyu heaved, slamming the bag down on the cold concrete of the garage. 

"What's that?" Taehyun asked, already bending down to pick up the bag as instructed. Jeez, were they rocks? It's got to weigh at least 32 kilograms. 

"Rock salt," beomgyu huffed, blowing some bangs out of his eyes. "We gotta spread it all over the drive to help melt the ice that will definitely form later once the snow stops." 

Yeah, taehyun didn't know about any of this. The most he's ever done in a catastrophe was board up some shops whenever a tropical storm was close to hitting their city. 

"You hold that for me," he grinned, "and let me throw it all around." 

So that's what taehyun did, once again trailing after beomgyu, trying not to slip in his tennis shoes as the other boy grabbed handfuls of the rock salt and scattered it all over the drive they just plowed. 

Finally packing everything back up, beomgyu nodded with approval. "That should do until tonight, when we gotta do this again."

"Again?" Taehyun groaned, stretching his stiff arms from holding fucking rock salt for 15 minutes. 

Beomgyu patted taehyun's back with mock sympathy. "Yep! Every 4-6 hours if the snow doesn't stop. Welcome to the north!" 

Taehyun kicked off his shoes at the backdoor, scowling at how soaked and ruined they were. It would take at least a day for them to dry completely. 

"We're gonna have to get you some proper boots," beomgyu noted as he followed taehyun inside his house. He threw his gloves down at the small table and kicked off his own boots so he wouldn't track in snow and water. "Can't survive this weather without them." 

Taehyun waddled in discomfort to the kitchen because of his wet sweatpants. The kitchen was now complete and looking extremely nice, beomgyu would have to admit. Taehyun unzipped his parka and hung it on the back of a chair, then began to take his pants off, right there in the middle of the kitchen.

Beomgyu's eyes widened once he realized what was happening. 

"Wha-" he said a little breathlessly.

Taehyun threw him an apologetic smile, for once not trying to be inappropriate or flirty.

"I don't want to track water through the hallway to my room. There's fresh drywall all over the place. 

Beomgyu slowly nodded his head in understanding, his eyes trained on taehyun's bare legs and boxers. He could feel his face flushing and his pulse stuttering.

"You know, usually people turn away out of common courtesy," taehyun drawled, pulling his hoodie over his head so he was just in a t-shirt and boxers. 

"Yeah, they do," beomgyu agreed, nodding his head while his heated gaze remained on taehyun's body. He got a slight peek of his toned golden stomach when he lifted his arms up. 

Taehyun smirked, enjoying beomgyu looking at him like he wanted to eat him up. Then his eyes slid to the clock on his wall, and he gasped.

"Shit, I'm gonna be majorly late," he hissed, breaking the moment and turning on his heel. He quickly made his way down the hall and to his room, missing the way beomgyu tilted his head to watch him go, admiring the view. 

Throwing on fresh clothes and grabbing his gym bag with his swim trunks and everything else he needed, taehyun was back in the kitchen minutes later.

His hair was still damp from the melted snow, and his cheeks now flushed red from his face warming up from the numbing cold. 

"The roads are super bad. We aren't going to make it in time no matter how fast we move," beomgyu reminded him. 

"You're right, maybe I can call ahead, or…" taehyun thought for a minute, debating what to do. He won't be there for another 30 minutes at best. 

Beomgyu walked a few steps forward, his snow pants making a swishing sound as he got closer to taehyun who was still mumbling to himself in thought. Reaching a hand out, he started to comb his fingers through taehyun's bangs, straightening his hair out to look a little presentable. 

"I know! I can just call yeonjun to fill in for me for like an hour or so!" He said happily, whipping his phone out to call him. He didn't even notice or mind that beomgyu was still fixing him up.

After a few dials, he was surprised to get an answer.

"Yo," yeonjun said, sounding awake and alert. 

"What the hell are you doing up so early?" Taehyun asked first. Usually he has to call yeonjun like ten times in a row if he wants him to be up this early for something.

"Admiring the view," yeonjun hummed. Taehyun couldn't see him at the moment. He was currently leaning up against his window sill, watching a tall and handsome male snow plow and shovel the drive to the bed and breakfast before the guests wake up. 

"Ok well, great! I need your help," taehyun ignored yeonjun's weird behavior. Beomgyu pressed both of his palms to taehyun's cheeks as he talked, warming them up with his hands. He smiled cutely while doing so, and taehyun tried not to get distracted.

"Ugh, what?" Yeonjun sighed, removing his gaze from soobin. 

"Can you fill in for me this morning? Just an hour or two while I try and make it there?" Taehyun pleaded.

"Wait, you mean be a lifeguard?" Yeonjun asked. "Taehyun, you do realize I'm not certified like you?" 

Taehyun rolled his eyes. "Yeah but you are an excellent swimmer, as good as me. Tell them you know me and they will have no problems letting you fill in, trust me." He chuckled. This town didn't have a lot of very athletic swimmers, and taehyun and yeonjun both qualify way more than them anyways. He wasn't bragging, but growing up in the ocean with his best friend has some advantages. Yeonjun can more than handle a 5 foot deep pool for an hour. 

"Please? You are literally down the street from the rec," He pleaded again. His cheeks were now normal temperature thanks to beomgyu still pressed up against him.

"Fine," yeonjun grumbled. "Our drive is perfectly clear anyways."

"What? How did you clear it so fast?" Taehyun asked incredulously. 

"Soobin got up at like, 3am to start clearing the snow. He's just doing the porches and sidewalk now and then he's done."

Beomgyu heard that through the receiver. "How the hell did he know there was going to be a lot of snow? Not even I knew about it until I saw taehyun struggling. The weather reports didn't say anything about it either." 

"Oh! I told him yesterday about the storm coming in," yeonjun replied happily, like it was nothing.

Beomgyu gave taehyun a questioning look.

"He does that a lot. Senses weather patterns days in advance," taehyun shrugged. "Weather witch stuff." 

"Nice," beomgyu nodded.

"Bitch, you didn't think of telling me this last night so I can also get a head start?!" Taehyun hissed. 

"I was distracted," yeonjun defended himself. 

Beomgyu snickered behind his hand. Taehyun decided to just hang up on him.  

"Alright you," beomgyu said with a smile. "Let's get you to work. And since we don't have to rush, we might as well be hella late and get some coffee on the way." He fumbled with taehyun's new hoodie, zipping him up and making sure he was all set to go. 

"Yeah, that actually sounds good right about now," taehyun agreed, reaching down for beomgyu's hand and holding it as they bundled back up and made their way to the back towards his grandpa's truck. 

"The truck will be better than my parents' old ratty car," beomgyu explained as he checked the tires. He seemed to approve, and they hopped in. "Gramps let me use it when I went grocery shopping for the both of us."

He expertly swiveled out of the garage and skidded down the driveway.

All taehyun can say was, damn, beomgyu was right. There was no way in hell he could've driven safely in this snow storm. Even with decent tires and an expert driver, they slid and swerved through the unplowed roads all the way to town and into the parking spaces for the coffee shop. 

Once they got their drinks and beomgyu safely dropped taehyun off at the rec center, he grabbed taehyun's hand before he could leave the truck.

"I'll pick you up when your shift is over. Just call if you need anything," he said sweetly to him. 

"Thanks," taehyun replied, grateful he had help this morning. He would've had to call off if it wasn't for beomgyu.

"C'mere," beomgyu muttered, pulling him closer. He leaned in and softly gave taehyun a kiss on the cheek with a slight flush. "Bye sweetie, have a good day," he said teasingly, letting taehyun go. 

Taehyun was momentarily stunned, wanting more, wanting to see beomgyu blush all the time, wanting... this. He gulped at what that meant. 

"Bye my baby bear," he replied, shutting the door after retrieving his bag and stepping aside so beomgyu could pull out. He waved as he entered the rec center, preparing for his long day of swim classes. 

"Oh thank God you're here!" Yeonjun exclaimed. "Some brats thought it would be fun to play chicken in the pool and I had to break them up."

Taehyun rubbed at his hair as he flung his towel onto the back of the lifeguard's chair. 

"For the record we are grown men at the age of twenty seven and you're no fun," one of the men said from the pool. The other one waved happily to taehyun.

Taehyun snorted. "Did you just call Taehyung and Jimin brats?" 

Yeonjun shrugged, unapologetic. "Anyways, I thought I should let you know that the administrators asked me to be a permanent lifeguard on payroll once they heard I'm friends with you. So yay! I'll take your off days, three times a week." 

Taehyun raised his brows in surprise as he took a sip of his iced caramel macchiato. "Really? That's cool. Maybe I can get you to teach a few of the swim classes." 

"Whatever, I'm gonna go and bother soobin now. I have lots of food to order-"

"That won't work. He's over at the garden center most days, only helping out at the bed and breakfast whenever his parents need him," taehyun interrupted, smiling around his straw. 

Yeonjun brightened up, perking up at that tidbit of delicious information. "Excellent," he giggled. 

Taehyun rolled his eyes. "K bye, I have a swim class starting in five minutes." 

Yeonjun happily skipped away, with taehyun sternly reminding him not to jog around the pool or he'll slip. 

~

Beomgyu scowled when he entered the pool area. He looked a bit ridiculous still dressed in a winter coat, gloves, and boots, but he's been waiting for over ten minutes and wanted to see what the hold up was all about.

Turns out taehyun's swim class had to run a little late due to a sign up problem, and so he's just about to finish up. Beomgyu didn't mind, so he ventured out into the rec center and over to the pool to let taehyun know he was here. Obviously taehyun left his phone in the lifeguard's office and not by the poolside. 

Hyuka was trailing behind him because he needed a ride to the antique store across town, something about a new batch of crystals he wanted coming in. 

Normally beomgyu would be admiring the view. His mouth watered at the sight of a sexy lifeguard, shirtless and all wet in the pool. He had golden skin, and holy fuck his muscles and body were so toned and delicious looking. He wanted to touch everywhere with his hands, lips, and tongue, feel all that wonderful warm bare skin against his own. And whenever taehyun brushed a hand through his now dark blue-green hair, beomgyu seemed to melt a little on the spot. 

It would appear he wasn't the only one who noticed taehyun's extreme hotness. 

There were currently five people in the pool, all there for a swim class. 

"Like this?" The girl's voice rang out and seemed to echo and bounce off the tiled walls to the room. Or maybe that was just beomgyu's extreme hearing tuning in to every word being spoken. 

"No, you need to spread your arms out wider, and cup your hands, like this," taehyun showed her, reaching over and lining up the female's arms with his own, skin on skin. Her breath hitched, but beomgyu doubts taehyun could hear it. Yet he could hear it, and it was clear the girl was messing up on purpose just so taehyun would pay more attention to her.

"Can we go now?" One of the other girls asked, clearly wanting to leave since class was pretty much over.

Taehyun looked up at the time, then nodded. "Yes, class is over. See you guys on Friday!" 

"Do you mind finishing showing me the proper form before we end this?" She batted her lashes at taehyun. "If you don't have another class, that is." She gave him a friendly smile, one that was very pretty, beomgyu would have to admit.

"Yeah I can spare a few minutes. So you bend to the front like this, with your arms straight out in front, and then cup your hands and spread out like an eagle, circling the water back under and repeating the motion, like this," he offered a demonstration. She attempted to copy him, but cutely pouted when she knew she did it wrong.

Taehyun chuckled softly, kindness in his eyes, and then swam to move behind her, leaning his entire body over her and positioning her arms again. "Let's do it together-"

"He seems to be a good teacher," hyuka commented over beomgyu's shoulder, chomping obnoxiously on some gum. 

"Too good," beomgyu agreed. "Everyone apparently wants to suddenly learn how to swim now." His voice held venom in it.

"Jealousy is an ugly emotion," hyuka laughed, clapping beomgyu on the shoulder. "But I do admit it makes you look hot." 

Finally taehyun looked up from his spot in the pool. "Okay, I think we can end this here-" he paused when he caught sight of beomgyu by the door. But before he could say hi, beomgyu turned abruptly around and left. 

Hyuka waved cutely to him, and followed his friend out the door.

"I don't need the stars to tell me how upset you are," he snorted as they made their way to the lobby with vending machines. 

"I'm not upset."

"Yeah you are. You're probably overthinking a million things now, that's just what a pisces does," hyuka shrugged. "But naturally you're gonna bottle it all up inside and seethe and let it simmer until you lose sleep, so let's talk through this before taehyun showers and comes out."

Beomgyu grumped as he sat down, his puffy coat burying him and making him look tiny. He hates it when hyuka goes all psychoanalysis on him. 

After getting them both a pack of gummies from the vending machine, hyuka sat down across from him at the tiny table.

"Alright, first, it's clear that taehyun is a true professional swimmer. Don't you agree? There was no flirting on his part even though the girl clearly tried to catch his attention."

Beomgyu nodded, munching on a gummy cutely. 

"Second, he obviously likes you. Right?" 

Beomgyu nodded again. "I think," he mumbled. "He hasn't outright said it to me though."

Hyuka rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Anyways, and third, he only has eyes for you. Especially after accidentally getting caught saying it by soobin."

This caught beomgyu's attention, just like hyuka knew it would. "Huh?" He asked, sitting up straighter. 

Hyuka smirked evilly. "I made soobin snitch. Apparently he overheard taehyun talking to yeonjun about things he wanted to do to you."

Beomgyu looked down at the table with a slight flush while pushing his gummy packet around. "What kind of things?" He asked casually. 

"I'll let you find out later," hyuka winked. "in the meantime, there's nothing to worry about. I'm pretty sure taehyun is smitten for you. So don't feel bad whenever someone tries flirting with him. I can't really blame them anyways since he's shirtless and wet half the day." 

"He does look really nice," beomgyu agreed while mumbling into his jacket. 

"And just think, if you two weren't being pining idiots you could've left a couple of very obvious marks on him before he came into work today. But nooo I have to sit and watch this slow burn happen."

"Leaving marks on him would've been nice," beomgyu mumbled again, agreeing easily. He was feeling way better thanks to hyuka. "Should I make a move?"

Hyuka waved it away. "Whatever works for you. Honestly this is pure entertainment for me. That and seeing soobin's annoyed face every time yeonjun throws a cheesy pick up line at him. They are just perfect for each other." 

"You're the best, hyuka," he smiled, half of it covered by his coat.

"I know," the cosmic witch sniffed. 

"There you are," taehyun called as he entered the lobby. "Sorry you had to wait," he apologized, shaking his damp dark blue hair out. "One of my swimmers couldn't get the breast stroke right, so I stayed after to help." 

"Oh I'm sure," hyuka said with sarcasm. 

"Anyways, you ready to go?" Taehyun said to beomgyu, ignoring hyuka's weird remark. 

"Yeah, do you mind if we drop hyuka off somewhere first?" Beomgyu said, standing up and immediately walking over to taehyun. He fixed his coat, zipping it up and making sure he was bundled before exiting out into the freezing cold.

"Not at all, I'm free the rest of the day," taehyun replied, letting beomgyu fuss over him again. He liked having beomgyu's hands on him.

"Perfect!" Hyuka clapped, getting ready to head out first, rolling his eyes at the way beomgyu and taehyun were looking at each other as if they held the stars in their eyes, pun intended. 

Beomgyu frowned at taehyun's wet hair. "Your hair is going to freeze like that, you should've blow dried it first."

"I'll be fine," taehyun reassured him, holding out his hand for beomgyu to take.

"Sure," beomgyu sighed, knowing taehyun probably has never gone outside with damp hair before when it was freezing cold out. He flinched remembering his own hair frozen and crunchy when he showered and walked to soobin's. 

Five minutes later, and taehyun's teeth were chattering as he hovered near the heaters to the truck. 

"Told you," beomgyu softly laughed, starting up the truck and backing out. 

Taehyun has concluded he is like a baby deer in this new northern world. 

Once they dropped off hyuka, taehyun walked beomgyu up to his front door.

"Hey," beomgyu called out, easily letting himself be pushed against his door. This seems to be a common occurrence between the two of them, but he wasn't complaining. He liked the thought of taehyun not wanting to leave him just yet. 

"Hmm?" Taehyun hummed against his skin, his lips trailing softly along his neck. Beomgyu angled it so taehyun had better access. 

"Will you come to my band competition this Friday?" He asked breathlessly. Taehyun unzipped more of his coat so he could kiss down the column of his throat.

"Definitely," taehyun breathed out, sucking and licking a mark right there on his adam's apple, causing beomgyu to moan quietly. 

"We can go together," beomgyu continued, his mind a haze as taehyun kissed his way back up to just under his jaw. He still hasn't kissed him on the lips yet, and beomgyu was waiting in anticipation. 

"Sounds good to me," taehyun murmured, his hot breath a stark contrast to the cold wind around them. He lightly scraped his teeth and licked just under his ear, causing beomgyu's knees to go weak.  

"Maybe we should take this inside-" beomgyu attempted to say, but was sadly cut off by the sound of his phone ringing. 

He was going to ignore it, but it could be a company calling him about his demos or something equally important. So sighing, he was forced to end whatever it was they were doing and dig out his phone. 

Taehyun reluctantly left beomgyu's neck, giving it one last suck, this one a bit harsh so it would leave a mark, and stepped aside.

He watched as beomgyu's eyes widened in shock.

"It's my parents, I have to take this," he said, a bit shaky. 

Taehyun immediately nodded, patting beomgyu's cheek with affection and stepping off the porch. He decided to head back to his house and get ready to tear out the old tiles in the bathroom for the remainder of his night. Fun. 

"Hey mom-" beomgyu said hesitantly, stepping into the house and locking up. Once taehyun was satisfied he was in, he walked back to his own place. 

A little over an hour later, taehyun heard his phone beep with a text. He paused what he was doing, setting down the crow bar he's been using to rip the tiles off the wall, and wiped his hands on his pants before opening up his phone.

It was a text from beomgyu asking if he could come in. He's at the back door. With a rapid fire text back answering sure, taehyun heard socked feet coming down the hall and pausing at the door.

"Hey," beomgyu greeted, looking a little glum. 

Taehyun was immediately worried, but he didn't want to smother beomgyu with concern.

"Everything alright?" He asked casually, going back to his tiles while he waited for a response. 

"I guess," beomgyu sighed. "You mind if I just chill here and watch you work? I kinda don't want to be by myself."

"Fine by me," taehyun smiled softly, brushing some of his now sweaty silver hair out of his face. The snow continued back up right before he got into the house and it changed color. 

Taehyun obviously wanted to bombard beomgyu with questions, find out the source of his sadness, and make it go away. But he could tell that's not what beomgyu wanted, so he remained silent and patient while getting back to work. 

Grunting under his breath from a stubborn tile, it was ten minutes later when beomgyu finally spoke up.

"My parents extended their trip and won't be back until maybe the middle of next year," he said quietly.  

"Wow, that long?" Taehyun asked, gathering up all the broken tiles on the ground and putting them into a bucket to pitch later. 

"They're having a fun time on some island resort I guess," beomgyu shrugged even though taehyun's back was to him. He was currently sitting on the floor in the hallway just outside the bathroom, watching taehyun crouch down and work on the renovations. 

"Oh," was all taehyun could say. "That's nice. It's pretty sunny out there, my kind of weather," he joked. 

Beomgyu remained awkwardly silent the next five minutes, and taehyun was internally freaking out thinking he said something wrong, or maybe he needs more comfort, or-

"My mom's a lover of adventure so she really likes those places. She likes it here as well, especially during the spring, but yeah. She's a sonic witch too, and always comes back and tells me about the different sounds of the world in every unique place she's visited with my dad. They both are enjoying each other very much."

The rest of his sentence wasn't spoken, but it was heard loud and clear.

Without me.

Taehyun sat back on his calves staring at the blank wall. A realization just occurred to him. 

When he first came here, he missed the sea. That was a given. He could hear the ocean calling to him, begging him to come back. It's a pretty melody deep in his heart, in every heart of a sea witch. But lately...lately he hasn't heard that melody anymore. All he can think about is the boy sitting out there in his hallway, every cell in his body attuned to him instead of the ocean. 

It kind of both awed and scared him. He has no idea what it means. 

But what he does know is that he suddenly wants to travel. He wants to see the seven seas, spin the globe and land on a spot, anywhere will do. Then he wants to go there with a certain beautiful boy on his arm. Let him experience amazing sights and sounds that he only knows about from stories from his parents. 

Before this moment, taehyun didn't really have a set goal in life. Continue lifeguarding and surfing the sea down south once he finishes up here? Or maybe work in something aquatic, like marine biology? Who knows? Before it was all grey, and he drifted in limbo just living day by day. Now he has a goal, well the start of a goal. He wants to do a lot of different things in life, and he wants to experience it with beomgyu. That thought alone made his heart flutter with excitement. The possibilities were endless, they could go anywhere.

But before he gets ahead of himself, has to make sure.

"Do you want to travel?" Taehyun asked, not looking behind him at beomgyu. 

Beomgyu shrugged, not expecting the sudden question once they both went quiet. 

"I'm not opposed to it. My mom always talks about how lovely the world is. But I don't want to necessarily always live life on the road like my parents. I like being able to come back home. So my kind of travelling would be more like many vacations to see stuff and then have a home base as a foundation, ya know?" 

So he just wants to travel as vacations. Taehyun can work with that. In fact, that's a better idea. He can picture it now, purchasing a beautiful home near the beach where they live most of their days with their friends and family, and then randomly take off to go see the world, coming back a few weeks later with their own stories to tell. 

He smiled to himself getting back to work on the renovations. 

"Why?" Beomgyu wondered when taehyun didn't reply. 

"Just wanted to know, that's all. I think it would be nice to vacation every now and then," taehyun replied nonchalantly. 

With you. He didn't say.

"Oh," was all beomgyu answered, his voice a little sad. Why was it sad? 

He remained there with taehyun until late in the night, silently watching him work until he actually got sleepy and headed back over to his house. 

~

The snow cleared up, a few days went by, and beomgyu was sort of avoiding taehyun a little bit. Well, he also had some work piling up, and practice with his band, so it wasn't entirely his fault, but yeah…

"I don't think this is going to work. He said he wanted to go travelling," beomgyu sighed, plopping his legs up on a coffee table in the lobby of soobin's bed and breakfast. It's the only place he won't accidentally run into taehyun since they have similar schedules and live next door to each other. 

"Ok, so?" Soobin asked, mindlessly wiping down the big front display windows. "Travelling sounds nice. Why is that a problem?"

Beomgyu pouted, burying his face into his hoodie. "Because let's say I do give us a chance and start dating him, and then he decides to go traveling for whatever reason and leave me at home?" 

Soobin paused in his window cleaning. 

"Oh, I get it. You're afraid he will just leave you behind like your parents."

"You don't have to say it so bluntly," beomgyu mumbled cutely.

"Then just talk to him about it before starting something serious with him. Communication is key!" Soobin tried to cheer him up. "And if he's a jackass, me and hyuka can just beat him up and abandon him in the woods. The poor city boy wouldn't know how to survive ten seconds surrounded by trees." He chuckled evilly. "Maybe we can throw the best friend out there with him-"

Beomgyu rolled his eyes. "I see you're getting along nicely with yeonjun."

As if on cue, soobin's pager beeped, letting him know that one of the guests needed something. He glanced at which room number it was, and then pocketed the pager, going back to his window wiping. 

"Was that him?" Beomgyu grinned. "You've been ignoring the pager since I got here."

"If I pretend he doesn't exist, maybe he will go away," soobin grumbled, scrubbing particularly hard on an invisible spot. 

"He seems to be persistent with you. Honestly I don't know what he sees in an old grump like yourself-" beomgyu let out a high pitch laugh when soobin threw the dusty rag at him. 

"Shut up! At least I'm not thirsting over a surfer boy!" 

"But doesn't yeonjun surf too?" Beomgyu gave out an ugly cackle, quickly getting up from his spot so soobin couldn't attack him with the dirty rag again. 

"There you are!" Soobin's mother came quickly stepping out into the lobby. "Room 211 keeps calling the front desk asking for you. Take care of it."

Beomgyu snickered behind his hand as soobin groaned.

"There has to be a way to get rid of him," he mumbled. 

"Or just give him a shot? Hyuka thinks your complete opposite personalities aligns perfectly with each other-"

Soobin threw the rag back at him while walking by. 

~

Thankfully the weather was still clear by the time the next weekend rolled around. Taehyun waited patiently by his parked truck for beomgyu to come out of the house so he could drive them to the pub where his band was going to compete tonight.

Beomgyu has been a bit distant, and taehyun didn't know why. He could just feel it. He still replied to his texts, sometimes they got coffee, and they even all five went out to eat at one of the nice diners the town had to offer. But there was just something about beomgyu's aura of sadness that made taehyun become alert. He wants to know what's wrong so he can fix it and make his baby bear feel better. 

When he heard some crunching through the snow approach him, his attention was immediately on the gorgeous boy heading his way.

And yeah, a huge dorky smile took form on his face at the first glimpse of beomgyu. Also his heart made a huge thud inside his chest and his stomach fluttered a bit. But it's nothing, or whatever.

"You ready to win?" He asked, holding open the front door.

Beomgyu smiled in thanks. "Hell yeah!" 

"Nervous?" Taehyun teased, cranking up the heat before he pulled out. 

"Obviously," beomgyu said with a big exhale. "A lot of people are going to be there."

Taehyun hesitantly reached for beomgyu's hand while driving. When he gently made contact, he was relieved beomgyu didn't shake him off. In fact, he held on tight. 

"You're gonna do amazing. You look so good up there, they would be stupid not to pick your band as a winner." 

Beomgyu looked out of the window shyly, not used to all the praise. "It's my own original song we're performing, so a lot is on the line," he said quietly. Taehyun squeezed his hand back in reassurance. 

An hour later, taehyun was a nervous wreck with the others. All four of them anxiously waited near the stage within the crowd to watch all of the bands play.

"They suck, beomgyu totally has this in the bag," yeonjun whispered childishly to soobin. 

Taehyun chuckled, glad that his best friend seems to really like beomgyu, because yeah, this wasn't just a small crush or attraction at first sight. This was serious, and if taehyun ever has his way in the future, beomgyu was going to be a big part of the rest of his life. So it was nice knowing his best friend since birth also approved. 

"Agreed," soobin nodded back, for once siding with yeonjun. Everyone was used to the two constantly pushing and pulling at each other, mostly pushing on soobin's side so this was a nice change. 

"Oops, that guy missed a note," hyuka cringed, glancing at the judges off to the side evaluating each performance. 

"Aw, what a shame," yeonjun replied with mock sympathy, stumbling a bit from being pushed in the large crowd cheering on their favorite performers. He casually hooked his arm through soobin's...So he wouldn't get separated in the crowd. 

Hyuka snorted behind his hand, bumping yeonjun harshly. "Stop, you might anger some fans. We don't want to get into a bar fight."

"Okay, he's next," taehyun hissed, digging his hands into hyuka's arm almost painfully.

"Yah, watch my delicate skin-"

"Shush," soobin said, equally nervous for his best friend. He involuntarily clung to yeonjun in anticipation. 

"Traitor," hyuka stuck his tongue out. "Plus I did about five readings before we came here. Beomgyu's horoscope says that this week is a great week for opportunity. Plus he's consciously in tune to anything musical. It's another Pisces thing so I'm not worried."

"Or it's because he's a sonic witch who loves music," soobin grumbled under his breath, ever the doubter.

"And I'm a cosmic witch so there!" 

"Shut up," taehyun glared, probably more stressed than beomgyu. He was on stage setting up, waving to the crowd happily. 

"Rude," hyuka sniffed, then happily waved back to beomgyu when he caught his eye. 

Beomgyu gave them all a wink, and taehyun almost felt like he was gonna faint. Yeah, consider him a major fanboy. 

They happily jumped up and down to the beat of the music as a small huddle, and taehyun was very upset when it was over. Out of courtesy, they remained for the rest of the performances, everyone's hearts nearly stopping when it was all over and the results were yet to be revealed.

"He won, right? Hyuka do some weird mumbo jumbo with the stars and check to see that he won," soobin rambled, biting his bottom lip. "My heart can't take all this waiting." 

"I read star patterns, not tell the future," hyuka snorted. 

"Isn't that the same thing?" Soobin argued. Hyuka just sighed heavily. 

"Guys shut up, someone important looking is talking," yeonjun nudged soobin. Then he turned and wrapped his arm around taehyun's waist, equally just as nervous as the others. 

Taehyun zoned out, not caring about the pleasantries being said blahblah. And then a pause, and then beomgyu's band's name, his original song being the winner. It was going to be produced later this year and-

The cheers were so loud, especially next to him thanks to yeonjun and hyuka jumping up and down. He got tossed left and right, and everyone either celebrated or went back to their seats and the bar.

Hyuka dragged them over to the bar to get a drink while they waited for beomgyu to come back out. He probably had a lot of things to discuss with the judges, set up future meetings, and all that important stuff. 

"Now we can add this to the list of successful songs beomgyu will produce," soobin said confidently, downing a shot of soju for his nerves. "He's wracking in the big bucks now. I gotta get his signature before he becomes super famous."

"Wish his parents were here to see it," hyuka said quietly. "The prize money alone is enough to live off for a good few years. They would be so proud."

Taehyun scoffed. "It doesn't matter, because we're here to celebrate with him."

"Damn right! I want another round of drinks!" Yeonjun called to the bartender. He easily listed off how he wanted each drink for everyone, talking some kind of foreign language only bartenders would know.

"How does he know all that?" Soobin wondered. 

"He was an excellent bartender back at home. Ran one of the most popular bars on the beach," taehyun answered easily. "He's not much of a drinker himself, but he loves coming up with new drinks for the public. He even had them featured in some of the local social media." 

"That's so cool!" Hyuka clapped. 

"Describe to him what you like, and he can come up with a perfect drink for you," taehyun shrugged proudly. Yeonjun's made a lot of money as a successful bartender. Taehyun was nothing to laugh at either. Their families did well down south. 

Just then a lot of cheering could be heard from the stage. Taehyun craned his neck and saw that beomgyu and the other performers were exiting from backstage. They shook hands, hugged, and thanked everybody as they made their way through the crowd. 

Hyuka waved super big for beomgyu, using his height to his advantage, and pretty soon taehyun was making eye contact with bright and happy eyes.

Beomgyu hurriedly walked towards them, ignoring everyone else around him and never once breaking his gaze from taehyun. With a big smile he launched himself at taehyun, hugging him tight like a huge puppy, almost vibrating with excitement from his win.

"Did you see me? Did you see my song win?!" He asked taehyun, shouting over the loud music and people chattering. 

Taehyun hugged him back, his arms wrapped around his back and waist. He had a big smile on his face too, showing all his teeth and dimple. 

"Of course! You were the best, and I'm not saying that because we are all biased, I'm being objective here, the others had no chance against your song-"

He was momentarily stopped by a soft peck to his lips, his eyes widening in surprise. It was a pleasant surprise though. 

Beomgyu leaned away, blushing from his bold move. 

"Thanks," he said quietly. "For being here."

"You know we're here too-" soobin said sarcastically, rolling his eyes. 

Yeonjun hit his arm. "Shut up and don't ruin their moment."

"No! I can do whatever I want," soobin said childishly. 

"Then I'll also shut you up with my lips," yeonjun threatened. 

"I'd like to see you try," soobin scoffed.

Yeonjun launched himself at soobin, taking the challenge for what it was. But soobin easily held out an arm and kept him at a distance. "You gotta try harder than that shortie," he cackled.

"I told you, I'm not short! You're just a huge long asparagus-" he puckered his lips to try and reach soobin's.

"This is so entertaining," hyuka sipped his drink.

Meanwhile, taehyun and beomgyu barely noticed the chaos happening a few feet next to them. 

"You can't just kiss me like that and not let me kiss back," taehyun warned, his warm hands tightening around beomgyu's body. 

"I was really happy and I couldn't help myself," beomgyu explained. He didn't back away when taehyun angled his face so their noses wouldn't bump each other, and then softly placed his lips back onto beomgyu's. His breath hitched, causing taehyun to smile.

It was gentle, and sweet. Taehyun moved his lips lightly back and forth, humming when beomgyu followed his lead. His hand moved to the back of beomgyu's head, cupping it so he could kiss a little deeper, go a little harder, greedy for more. It was like his entire body was waiting for this moment, waiting for this person, and now that he has a taste he won't ever let go. Beomgyu must have felt the same, with the way he cupped taehyun's cheek in a warm palm, licked slightly into taehyun's partially open mouth, and chased his lips when the kiss was broken and ended.

"I wasn't done," beomgyu complained, trying to catch his breath. "Come back here." He tugged on taehyun's hair. 

"No more kissing," taehyun harshly said with a breathless voice. His chest was heaving from lack of oxygen. It wasn't even an extreme kiss. 

"Oh, sorry, I thought you wanted to go further-'' Beomgyu began to say shyly, wanting to back away but couldn't because he was still wrapped up in taehyun's embrace and pressed to his body like glue.

"Oh I definitely did," taehyun cut him off, leaning in to whisper near his ear and lick at the skin right under it. "But if we continued any longer, it was about to get very dirty very publicly."

"It was?" Beomgyu sighed out when taehyun sucked on a particularly good spot. "Like what?"

Taehyun took his time in answering, bringing a hand up to lightly pull away beomgyu's low cut shirt so he could leave wet kisses all over his collarbones. They were pressed so close together nobody would notice what he was doing. 

"Like bend you over this bar counter and let everyone watch me pound into you," he muttered in a low tone, making beomgyu shiver at his words. He was being half serious, which kind of thrilled him.

"Oh," was all beomgyu could reply with, liking the feeling of taehyun's tongue dragging across his collarbone to the other side and sucking. 

"But I won't. Because I still don't know what you sound like when you come, and I get jealous easily with other people around," taehyun reassured him, satisfied with his small red marks he left on his skin, gently putting the shirt back in place.

"We should get out of here then," beomgyu suggested, biting his bottom lip.

Taehyun glanced over at his friends still fighting, yeonjun winning with a loud smack on soobin's cheek with his beautiful lips. Soobin held his cheek like he just got slapped, but the slight flush on his skin told everyone that he wasn't totally unaffected by yeonjun's charms. Hyuka was laughing while dragging yeonjun away before soobin popped a vein. 

"Yeah let's go," taehyun gulped, excited and very horny now. Having a gorgeous boy rubbed up against you can do that to a guy. 

"Bye guys!" He said shamelessly, dragging beomgyu through the crowd.

Beomgyu waved goodbye and noticed hyuka give him a thumbs up and a suggestive eyebrow dance. He smiled shyly behind his hand as taehyun got him out of there in record time.

The drive home was peaceful. Taehyun was playing some soft music from the radio, and with all of the excitement and loud sounds gone, beomgyu felt sort of sleepy.

The adrenaline was leaving his body, and suddenly he was crashing. He yawned a few times, resting his head against the window while taehyun drove. 

"I'm so happy for you," taehyun told him quietly, trying not to ruin the calm atmosphere. "We all are."

Beomgyu gave a soft and lazy smile. "Thanks for coming. Seeing you guys in the crowd made me relax and enjoy myself." 

"So when do you meet up with the company?" 

"Tomorrow morning," beomgyu replied. He scrunched up his face in distaste. "Bright and early."

Taehyun snorted. "That kind of sucks, but it's also amazing so we can't complain."

Beomgyu warmed up at the fact that taehyun said we. Like he wasn't alone in this small journey he's about to take. It was stupid, but he likes it a lot. 

"There's actually something I'm sort of worried about," he said hesitantly. He wanted to talk to someone about it, but didn't want to ruin the good mood back at the pub.

"Sure, I'm all ears," taehyun replied, glancing at beomgyu worrying his bottom lip before placing his eyes back on the road. They were turning down their street, almost home.

"The company met up with us in the back and...said they just wanted to see me tomorrow. Like...by myself."

Taehyun's eyes lifted in surprise. "Not the entire band?" 

Beomgyu shook his head. "No. At least, I don't think so. They said something about the differences in everyone's talents, and they really just need a music producer and composer on board, not a band. When they found out it was my original song…" 

"Well that's even more amazing! You have a chance to become a high quality producer!" Taehyun exclaimed. 

"But should I?" Beomgyu mumbled quietly.

Taehyun parked in beomgyu's driveway, shutting off the ignition and properly turning to him.

"What's the matter? Why are you doubting yourself?" He reached forward to take beomgyu's hand in his, always craving the touch but also wanting to comfort.

"I feel guilty about it. Won't I be abandoning the others in the band? Won't they be mad at me for going ahead with the deal without them?" 

Taehyun thought about it for a minute, studying beomgyu's face. His eyes were downcasted onto his lap and he seemed sad.

"I think you should go for it. You can't hold yourself back like this. You worked your ass off making good music, and you can't let an opportunity like this pass you by. I know you're up half the night working, barely getting sleep. I know you basically run on caffeine and sugar to do what you love. If your bandmates were true friends, they would understand the situation; the company wants a producer and songwriter, not a band. It might be cruel to say this, but you have to really focus on yourself for once. Besides, was your band even serious? Did you guys make some kind of promise to each other to make it big?" 

Beomgyu shook his head. "It was just for fun. I barely knew them, we sometimes got together to practice, then we'd perform at the pub. We grew popular in the town, then I thought it would be cool to sign up for this contest. They agreed, but that was it. We lived our own lives outside of the pub."

Taehyun nodded in finality. "Was it any of their lifelong dreams to be musicians?"

"I don't think so," beomgyu answered softly, focusing on the warmth from taehyun's hand.

"So here's what I think you should do. Give them equal portions of the prize money for your song. Thank them for spending time together and making good memories with you, and if the deal looks good tomorrow sign up for the company. Don't waste your talent just because you think it might be a little unfair to the others. These are the serious decisions we all must make as we grow older. We all go through it."

Taehyun got out of the car and walked around to open beomgyu's door. He helped him out and took his hand again to walk him to the front door.

"Even you? What types of hard decisions have you had to make?" Beomgyu wondered, pausing by his door to look Taehyun in the eyes. 

Taehyun looked him up and down, and for a moment beomgyu was confused. 

"I'm making a hard choice right now," he said in a low, quiet tone. 

"You are?" Why does beomgyu feel hot all of a sudden? Why was taehyun looking at him like that, with such raw possession and determination.

"Yeah," he breathed, holding up a hand to cup beomgyu's jaw. "Like what the hell should I do about my living situation up here. Should I stay or should I leave?"

Beomgyu's eyes deflated at that, his heart about to squeeze tight in his chest with sadness-

"Because I want you in my life no matter what, so it's a bit uncertain for me right now," taehyun finished, his other hand also cupping Beomgyu's jaw so that he was cradling his face close. "So many possibilities, but all of them have to have you in it," he said on a whisper. His eyes held beomgyu's gaze, his face dead serious about this. 

Beomgyu blinked rapidly, trying not to tear up. His entire insides were a mess of emotions, and he didn't know whether to laugh, or cry, or blush. So instead he wrapped his arms around taehyun's neck and kissed him hard on the lips. 

Taehyun backed him up against the door, his hands now on his waist, and their mouths pressed tight to each other. Beomgyu's fingers dug into his pocket for his keys, and without breaking the kiss he tried once, twice, three times to unlock the door. He succeeded, and it swung open causing him to almost stumble across the threshold backwards. Thank goodness taehyun's arms were still wrapped around his waist for support. 

Taehyun kicked the door closed, his tongue wrapped around beomgyu's as they both tried to messily slip off their shoes. Unfortunately they had to break for a second to take their jackets off and throw them to the floor, but beomgyu was quick to reconnect his lips desperately to taehyun's. 

He pushed at taehyun's chest, leading him around the corner to the living room, and they stumbled to the couch. Beomgyu landed in taehyun's lap with a giggle, breaking the kiss again to get some air. He straddled taehyun's thighs, and he took a second to just admire taehyun's face, letting his fingertips gently trace all over his skin. 

"You're so beautiful," he whispered to taehyun. 

"I should be the one saying that," taehyun grinned, kissing beomgyu's fingertips that were now tracing his lips. His hands found their place on beomgyu's hips, rubbing circles on the small sliver of skin peeking out from where his shirt rode up a bit. 

Beomgyu happily dipped his head down and kissed taehyun again, his tongue this time getting a chance to explore. His hands made their way into taehyun's now black hair, tugging as he dug his knees into the couch cushions and pressed his hips up into taehyun's body. Taehyun's grip on him tightened, the kiss becoming more intense, their breaths escaping in pants each time they changed positions. 

They made out on the couch like that until it became too much for the both of them. Taehyun's hands were now under beomgyu's shirt, greedily roaming around and claiming every inch of skin he could with his warm touch, and beomgyu kept periodically grinding down onto taehyun with small whimpers. He was hard in his jeans and the friction against taehyun's legs felt really nice. 

Breaking from the kiss with a loud smack and small trail of saliva, beomgyu braced his hands on taehyun's shoulders as he readjusted himself so he was straddling just one thigh. 

"Stay still," he breathed against taehyun's lips as he dove back in for another round of kissing. Taehyun was incredible at it, licking and sucking in all the right places, devouring his mouth like he completely owned it. 

"Why?" Taehyun managed to get out in between breaths. His hands wrapped around beomgyu's waist under his shirt, lightly scratching with his nails. 

"Wanna use you to help me come," beomgyu explained in a needy voice. Then he bucked his hips forward so he could rub his crotch against taehyun's thigh. 

"Fuck that's hot," taehyun swore, sucking on beomgyu's jaw. He felt how hard he was through his jeans, his cock going back and forth with the rhythm of his hips. 

Beomgyu kept it up, burying his flushed face into the crook of taehyun's neck as he humped and grinded against him. Taehyun's skin became damp with his breath, but he didn't care. His hands stayed put on beomgyu's hips, feeling them move against him making him extremely hard in his own jeans. 

"Almost there, almost…" beomgyu heaved out, his voice whispy and full of lust. He was about to pick up the pace when suddenly he stopped. 

Taehyun didn't even realize his eyes were closed, enjoying the feeling of beomgyu rubbing up against him and shamelessly using his leg to get off. So when it all stopped, he snapped them open in confusion.

Beomgyu moaned quietly in agitation, resting his forehead against taehyun's. "Wait," he breathed out, his skin slightly damp with sweat.

"Something wrong?" Taehyun asked, his voice hoarse with how unbelievably hard he was just from seeing beomgyu like this.

"Yeah, hold on," he said, taking a deep breath so he could focus. He was so far gone a moment ago, he's surprised he got himself back to reality. 

Taehyun watched beomgyu snap his fingers, turning his head to listen for something and then nodding in content.

"Toto is loose and locked up in my room," beomgyu sheepishly explained, kissing taehyun lightly on the lips a few times.

"Uh.. huh?" Taehyun hummed out, confused but not really that invested when beomgyu started to move his hips again.

"I can't have him hearing what I sound like when I come and then flying around mimicking it," he giggled into taehyun's mouth. "So I blocked all sound from my room. He won't be able to hear a thing."

Taehyun let his words process in his brain as beomgyu ducked down to suck harshly on his neck. 

"Yeah, that would be extremely creepy," he cringed, just imagining it. "Good thinking."

"Now where was I?" Beomgyu whispered, picking up where he left off. "Ah that's right, about to come on your thigh." 

"Yeah, you were," taehyun agreed, his hands roaming to the back of beomgyu's jean-clad ass and gripping tight. He helped push beomgyu a little more forward against him, hearing a low moan release from the boy on top of his lap.

Beomgyu kept eye contact with taehyun, his brows scrunched up in pleasure and his lips slightly parted. He humped harder on his thigh, hitting just the right angle for friction, and finally his muscles tensed as he released with a deep moan escaping his throat. Then he fell forward on taehyun's shoulder, trying to catch his breath. 

"That was pretty," taehyun complimented him, still aching in his own jeans, but his mind was instead filled with the look on beomgyu's face as he came. All relaxed, with his eyes taking on a far distant look and just letting everything go as he spilled in his jeans. He can't wait to see the same look when he's naked. But not today, they can save that for later. 

Beomgyu rolled slightly to the side, most of his body off of taehyun and pressed against the couch cushions. Only his other leg was left across taehyun's lap. His eyes came back into focus, and they were half lidded. 

"You're so gorgeous," taehyun leaned to the side to kiss beomgyu's cheek. He received a sleepy smile at the praise. 

"What about you? You want me to take care of it?" Beomgyu asked, eyeing the huge bulge in taehyun's jeans. 

Taehyun thought about it, then shook his head. "No, you just relax while I handle it."

"You're going to leave?" Beomgyu asked, his face dropping in disappointment. 

Taehyun quickly shook his head again, smiling sweetly at beomgyu as he brought a hand up to gently brush the sweaty dark strands off his face and behind his ear. Then he kissed beomgyu's lips lightly, licking and tasting them once more because he's become addicted. 

"Not at all. You're gonna sit there and watch me give myself a handjob, thinking about all the things I would rather be doing to you instead." 

"Oh," beomgyu breathed out, his face and body heating up at the thought of it. He licked his lips in anticipation.

Taehyun angled his face to the side so he could watch beomgyu watching him. Then his hands trailed down to his jeans, slowly unzipping them until they both could see his cock hard inside his boxers. 

Beomgyu watched with hungry eyes as taehyun slipped the band of his boxers a little past his hips until his cock was freed from it's constraints. Then his hand came up to play with the tip, swirling the large amount of precum around before he got going, engulfing it in a tight grip. He moved up and then down his shaft, his breath stuttering at the wonderful feeling of finally relieving some of the painful pressure he was feeling ever since beomgyu humped in his lap and came against him. 

He had a pretty decent pace going quickly, his hand jerking up and down and speeding up as the minutes ticked by. Beomgyu's eyes were glued to his cock, watching mesmerized, and he squirmed every now and then whenever taehyun groaned at a particular good twist of his hand. 

Taehyun bucked his hips into his hand, the pressure building inside his abdomen. "Do you want to know what I think about when I do this?" He grunted, hips rising and falling. 

"Yes," beomgyu replied in a small voice, squeezing his thighs together as he continued to watch. 

"You would look so amazing riding on top of me, letting me push my hips up into you just like this," he moaned out, bucking his hips into his hand harshly. "I'd spread your legs wide across my lap, make sure I can go as deep as possible inside of you, make sure you feel so good." 

Beomgyu whimpered, imagining it with taehyun.

"Would my baby bear like that?" Taehyun asked, his eyes hooded as he continued to masturbate in front of beomgyu. 

Beomgyu nodded his head yes frantically, pulse racing and tingles fluttering all over his body. 

"Or instead, I could have you down on your knees right here on the ground in front of me, letting you take care of me however you want. Your pretty mouth was just made for giving blow jobs. But you're only allowed to suck my cock. I want to see your lips wrapped around me and your throat bobbing each time I push into it." He flung his head back against the couch just thinking about it, his eyes closed in pleasure and his thumb playing with his slit. More precum escaped the tip. "Shit, I'm making a mess," he muttered, aware of the slick sounds his hand was now making as he was getting closer to climax.

"I can clean it up for you," beomgyu offered breathlessly, licking his lips at the thought.

"Nope, you're gonna just stay there and watch until the end," taehyun teased, grunting again as he could feel tingles run down his spine towards his cock. 

That must have did it though, just the dirty thought of beomgyu licking his shaft like a lollipop and swallowing it all. Taehyun moaned beomgyu's name as he came all over his hand and slightly on his shirt and jeans. 

He sucked in a few breaths, opening his eyes to see beomgyu's flushed face near his, eyes taking on a hazy far away look. He glanced down at beomgyu's hand stuck between his thighs which were tightly pressed together, and he smirked.

"Did you just come again from watching me?" He asked, his voice low and sexy, and beomgyu can't handle this right now.

"The sounds...you sounded-" he couldn't finish his sentence, his mind still fuzzy from a second orgasm. 

Realization dawned on taehyun. "Oh I get it," he smirked. "My baby bear has a major sound kink, doesn't he? You liked hearing all those filthy noises I was making, didn't you?" 

Beomgyu flushed even more, the answer very clear. He squeezed his eyes shut tight shyly.

Taehyun chuckled, leaning in to give him a sweet kiss on the lips. "That's why you wanted me to call your name every time I come. Who would've thought my baby bear was a major pervert?" 

Beomgyu whined, trying to pull away and cover his face to hide. 

"Don't be shy with me, I don't mind. In fact, I'll be sure to not hold back a single sound, just for you," taehyun carded his (clean) hand's fingers lovingly through beomgyu's hair. 

"Like right now? Can we go to the bedroom and do more?" Beomgyu asked eagerly, straightening up on the couch into a comfortable sitting position. He unzipped his soiled jeans to give himself some relief even though he wasn't hard anymore. 

Taehyun's eyes darkened and beomgyu felt a pulse of excitement thrum through his body. 

"No, not tonight," he replied sadly.

"You don't want to?" Beomgyu asked, his confidence going way down.

Taehyun tucked himself back in his jeans and rolled so he was almost on top of beomgyu, hovering. 

"Of course I want to, in fact I want to make love to you so badly it's almost painful. But you're tired and have to get up early for your big day tomorrow, so I'll hold myself back just a little longer. You should try to get some decent sleep, god only knows you haven't for at least a week." Then he leaned down to kiss beomgyu's forehead. "Okay?" He made sure beomgyu could see how much he means it. 

Beomgyu gave him such a precious smile, and it made taehyun's heart beat like crazy. "Okay," he responded. 

Taehyun forced himself to detach from beomgyu, and then got up from the couch, walking over towards the hallway. 

"You're leaving?" Beomgyu asked, voice a little frantic.

Taehyun didn't catch the uneasiness that beomgyu tried desperately to hide. 

He snorted. "I'm not going anywhere," he said. "Not until you're cleaned up and resting under the covers."

Beomgyu almost cried at that, holding the tears back. Taehyun doesn't realize it, but his simple words struck him with such an impact he wouldn't be able to comprehend.

I'm not going anywhere.

"Show me the bathroom, and I'll help you shower," taehyun turned to him from the hallway, smiling with his dimple. 

Beomgyu swallowed the lump in his throat and hid behind sarcasm.

"Who are you fooling, you just want your hands all over my naked body."

Taehyun shrugged unapologetically. "I won't lie, that is part of the reason. But also I wanna take care of you."

Who was beomgyu to argue with that?

Taehyun got his wish, he waited outside of the shower for beomgyu to finish, then he held up a towel and wrapped him up with it when he stepped out. He helped dry him all over, giving sexy looks of heated want every time he wiped the towel over beomgyu's flushed naked skin from the warm water. 

Beomgyu dressed in some comfy pajamas, and sat down on the edge of the bed as taehyun blew dry his hair and brushed it. Then he laid back as taehyun tucked him under the covers. 

They stared at each other for a few moments, taehyun bringing a hand up to softly caress beomgyu's cheek. 

"Get some sleep, okay? I'll be right next door. And call if you need anything. Let me know how it goes with the company tomorrow when you get back." 

"Okay," beomgyu mumbled cutely, his voice blocked slightly from the blanket. 

Taehyun was about to leave, but beomgyu looked so damn cute and fluffy, he couldn't help it. He stepped closer to the bed again and leaned down, smothering his face with tons of kisses all over, earning himself a very adorable giggle. Then he brushed his lips over beomgyu's, initiating a very deep kiss that went on for a good minute. 

"I like you very much, my cute baby bear," he whispered against beomgyu's mouth once they parted. 

He actually felt more than like for beomgyu, but he didn't want to scare the poor boy off with how strong his feelings have quickly become. So he will save those words for a little later. Right now was enough.

"I like you too," beomgyu replied back with a sweet smile. 

Taehyun painfully broke away from beomgyu and made his way to the bedroom door. He shut it softly, waving goodbye to Toto who was perched up on the dresser watching him. 

Then he walked to his own house, showered and changed for bed, his heart extremely happy and full. 

~

Beomgyu happily skipped into an herbal and crystal shop with taehyun the next late afternoon. They were holding hands, and he was bursting with excitement.

"Hyuka!" He called, knowing the other boy would be here. He works as a part timer whenever he's in town, offering his vast knowledge on all cosmic types of crafts. 

Hyuka was behind one of the rows of shelves, hanging up some kind of crystal and stone mobile as a display near the window. "Here!" He answered.

Beomgyu dragged taehyun around the shop, locating the source of hyuka's voice easily.

"I did it! I signed on as a songwriter and producer!" He squealed, jumping in hyuka's waiting arms. 

"Pshh I knew you would get it," hyuka laughed smugly, hugging back. "The stars never lie."

Taehyun has gotta admit, he's right on that one. 

"Do you have to move?" He asked sadly, rubbing beomgyu's belly.

Beomgyu shook his head. "I can work remotely, and only need to come to the company's headquarters on occasion whenever a song is finished and ready to be released. So I can live wherever I want!"

Hyuka released a sigh of relief. "Good, I didn't want to never see you again in case you had to locate somewhere else."

The sky was dark and stormy again, obviously a big snow storm rolling in fast. It already hit the surrounding mountainous area early this morning and was just about to dump snow on the town soon.

"Where's soobin? I tried calling him earlier to tell him the good news, but his phone was dead," beomgyu asked, pouting that his best friend wasn't here to celebrate with him. "If we hurry, we can make it to the pub with a round of beer before the storm hits." It would be perfect to stay indoors all cozy while they ate and celebrated over beomgyu's good news.

Hyuka shook his head. "Not sure, he said he was going over to the lumbar company to pick up some wood the garden center needed to build new indoor flower beds, but that was around noon. He should be back by now-"

Hyuka suddenly dropped the stone he was about to place on the display, and watched it crash to the floor. He studied it for a moment, his face taking on a sick and pale look. 

"You okay?" Beomgyu asked, bending down to pick up the chunks of stone that was now ruined. Taehyun helped.

"Don't touch it!" Hyuka shouted, causing beomgyu and taehyun to look up in worry. 

"Hey hyuka, you're scaring me. What happened?" Beomgyu said calmly, trying not to panic.

"The stone, don't you see the way it broke? Turquoise is the birthstone of a Sagittarius, which means something bad is going to happen," hyuka frantically explained, leaving the stone where it is. He quickly made his way to the back room so he could put on his coat and boots. 

"What? Something bad to soobin? Are you sure?" Taehyun asked, already pulling out his phone. Maybe yeonjun knows where he is since they are practically glued to each other now. 

"Yo!" Yeonjun said into the receiver. 

"Hyung, where's soobin?"

"My precious Binnie bunny? He told me to go away earlier while doing stuff for the garden center, why?" Yeonjun answered easily. 

"How long ago?" Taehyun asked.

"I don't know, like around noon? He went into a truck with another garden center employee and said he'll be back a little after lunch. I was going to go bother him when his shift ends," yeonjun pouted, not liking the fact that soobin has been ghosting his texts all day. 

The clouds looked so black up in the sky and taehyun gulped. It was almost 3pm, soobin has been gone for at least 4 hours.

"Are you sure he's at the garden center?" He asked specifically.

This time yeonjun was more alert. "Why, what happened?" 

"I don't know," taehyun bit his lip, his heart starting to hammer from fear. "But hyuka got a bad sign from some stone, I don't have time to explain, but meet me at the garden center to check on soobin."

"Sure, I'll be right over." The line went dead and beomgyu was already grabbing his hand to head to the truck.

"It's just a fluke, right?" He said nervously, hopping into the driver's seat. Taehyun didn't even argue about it since beomgyu was clearly the better driver, especially if there was gonna be a bad snow storm soon. "Hyuka probably read the stone wrong, right? Or maybe soobin was clumsy and fell from a stool or whatever at the center."

"I hope so too," hyuka said with a wobbly smile as he hopped into the back of the truck. 

"We won't know until we check," taehyun said calmly, remaining focused.

"Stuff like this happens sometimes," hyuka rambled in the back, wringing his hands together. "We get bad storms, sometimes our houses become damaged, or we get snowed in. So it's always better to be safe than sorry."

"Hey, hey, I get it." Taehyun reassured him. "It's the same for us by the ocean. We get hurricanes and bad tropical storms."

Beomgyu stepped on the accelerator, turning a corner sharply. Taehyun held onto the handle above him for dear life. 

They made it to the garden center in record time. But yeonjun was faster, living really close by at soobin's parents' bed and breakfast. 

"He's not back yet with the other employee," he said with wide scared eyes. "The center called the lumbar company and confirmed they already purchased the wood and left a while ago. It's about an hour drive from here, so if the center didn't hear back from him before soobin's shift ended, they were going to go out and look. The storm is almost here, and has already hit the bottom of the mountain where the lumbar company is located just outside the town."

"Shit," beomgyu swore. It was time to get authorities involved just in case. 

While he called on the phone to let the police know they might have an emergency, taehyun unlocked the door for yeonjun to hop in. 

"So now what? Are we just gonna wait until the police come and check it out? Or…?" Yeonjun asked, his eyes reflecting the same color as the storm above. 

"Hell no, I'm heading there first. By the time the police come, they could be snowed in or something," beomgyu ended his phone call, putting the truck into reverse.

"Good thing Gramps loves his cars," taehyun muttered, thankful the truck was heavy duty enough to handle big snow drifts.

Beomgyu chuckled, almost a little crazily. Taehyun was discovering new sides to his baby bear each day.

"Dad loves to race, taught me a few things, so this will be no problem for me," he told the others, expertly spinning the wheel and swinging the truck out of the parking lot. 

"Buckle up," he said seriously, putting the truck into drive. Hyuka was already snapping his seat belt into place, knowing perfectly well what's going to come next.

Yeonjun stared in awe at beomgyu for a moment, then turned to taehyun. "Why the hell are these village kids so cool?" 

Hyuka barked out a laugh, and taehyun shrugged.

"Watch and learn, city boy. This storm might be a bad one, but we've had way worse," beomgyu answered him, pumping the breaks and skidding through a stop sign. No one was on the road anyways, everyone locking up early for the day due to the snow. 

Yeonjun glanced up nervously at the sky. "Yeah, this is a bad one," he whispered.

Hyuka flicked his gaze over at him, pursing his lips into a thin line grimly. If anyone would know, it would be yeonjun.

~

About 45 minutes of crazy driving out of town and beomgyu finally made it onto the dirt road that led up towards the lumbar company. It was a well established place, with proper equipment and large wooden lodges built to accommodate all of the wood they sell. They ship their logs and wood all over the country, so it's not a ghost town that everyone assumes when they hear the words lumbar and forest. Carpenters, architects, gardners, landscapers, and just the average homeowner stop by to pick up wood they might need throughout the year. This was an area of very self-sufficient people. 

The storm was in full force, causing very little visibility in front of them, the wiper blades going a mile a minute.

"Looks like it's a white out," hyuka told beomgyu. 

"Yeah, there's no way I'm going to be able to make it much farther up the road," beomgyu gritted his teeth, trying not to jostle the truck too much. He can't see if there is anything on the road he might need to avoid.

"What's a whiteout?" Taehyun asked.

"The snow is so bad that all you see is white. Kind of like a blackout when the lights go off but the opposite," hyuka explained from the back. 

"We won't be able to look for soobin in this shit," yeonjun mumbled, staring out of the window. 

Another ten minutes of driving, and they were completely blanketed in snow with forest all around them. 

Beomgyu gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles were white.

"Hyuka, how sure are you that something bad might happen to soobin based on the omens you saw?" 

"Pretty certain," hyuka whispered, biting his lip in nervousness. His source of gift wasn't usually conventional among the other witches, obviously. 

Beomgyu stepped on the break and shut off the truck.

"Are we going to go outside and look?" Taehyun asked, everything dead silent besides the wind and blizzard on the other side of the truck. 

"No you guys stay here. Maybe if I can take a listen I might be able to hear where they're at," beomgyu said. 

"With the heavy winds? There's no way you're gonna hear them in this," hyuka argued.

"Plus I'm not letting you go out alone while I stay here like a princess," taehyun added in. 

Beomgyu rolled his eyes. "Come if you want, but you have to stay silent. I only have a few minutes to do this before the police come and start causing a ruckus." 

Taehyun nodded, hopping out of the car with him. Immediately his face was attacked with prickles of snow, which felt like little pellets of ice against his skin. He squinted his eyes to try and see. 

"Any car tracks will be covered by now," beomgyu noted, tilting his head to listen around them.

"This is the only road to the lodges, right?" Taehyun asked him, wandering a bit further to take a look around.

"Yeah, there's a few back roads, but it's not really productive to take them since it would go out of your way." Beomgyu glared up at the sky, not picking up on anything nearby despite trying his best to cancel out the loud wailing of the wind. 

Yeonjun noticed the frustrated look on beomgyu's face as he observed from the truck. 

"Hey, hyuka?" He asked, staring up at the sky.

"Yeah?" Hyuka responded, nervously waiting for taehyun and beomgyu to get back in the truck. Snow was piling up on the idle car.

"I'm going to try something with the snow storm, but you gotta promise me not to interfere, okay?" Yeonjun told him seriously.

Hyuka stared at him with wide eyes. "What are you going to do?"

"Calm the storm a little so beomgyu can hear better."

"Is that even possible?" Hyuka whispered. All witches have gifts for certain things, but they weren't gods. They can just do parlor tricks at most, a small advantage they have over others in this world. He himself can't change the stars and planets, taehyun can't stop huge waves or tsunamis, soobin can't save a dying forest, beomgyu can't manipulate frequencies to go faster than the speed of sound, and yeonjun definitely can't stop a huge storm from hitting them. 

"It's gonna take a lot out of me so don't be shocked if I'm sleepy after this. But it might help, yeah?" Yeonjun replied, looking confident even though hyuka doubts he could pull this off safely. "Go tell beomgyu and taehyun what I'm about to do."

Hyuka nodded, getting out of the car and battling his way towards taehyun. He touched a hand to his shoulder. 

"Yeonjun hyung is about to calm the storm. It might help beomgyu a little," he dutifully relayed the message.

Taehyun had a grim facial expression, knowing his best friend was going to overexert himself, but he trusts yeonjun to take care of himself and know his limits, so he nodded and together walked closer to beomgyu. 

All of them faced the truck, where yeonjun sat there like he was a moment ago. Only this time his eyes reflected the same milky grey color as the clouds and his lips were moving like he was whispering to himself.

The wind started to die down and settle, the snowflakes falling slowly to the ground. The small area around them began to quiet and become stagnant. 

"How long can he keep that up?" Hyuka whispered nervously, but immediately shut up when beomgyu spun in a circle in the snow, listening carefully.

"Birds in the trees, rabbits buried in the ground, a deer in the forest, I can hear them all breathing," beomgyu whispered, closing his eyes so he could focus more. "Yeonjun's heart beat is slowing, his breath quickening, I can hear hyuka wringing his hands and taehyun grinding his teeth," he continued. Taehyun worriedly glanced over at the truck, torn between helping yeonjun and finding soobin and the other employee. 

"Two more breaths, both slow," beomgyu muttered. "Farther out, down the road, to the left." 

"How far?" Taehyun asked, ready to head back to the truck. 

"Not far," beomgyu answered, opening his eyes to reveal pure white irises, it was almost creepy. He gave a dramatic gasp as he brought his hands up to his ears, blocking out the sound, everything becoming too much all at once. 

"Yeonjun doesn't look so good," hyuka said, noticing how yeonjun had a sickly pale sheen to his face.

"Okay that's enough, let's go," taehyun called it, gently leading beomgyu back to the truck. "You okay?" He asked as he noticed beomgyu head back to the driver's seat.

"Fine, just a bit dizzy with all the sounds bombarding me," beomgyu reassured him.

"Hyung, that's enough, you can stop now," hyuka said, touching yeonjun's arm. His eyes were still distant and he coughed a little.

"Keep going, I can hold on another minute or two," yeonjun wheezed. "It'll be easier to drive this way."

Taehyun was about to argue, but the look yeonjun gave him told him otherwise. He nodded and glanced at beomgyu who already had the truck started and shifting gears. 

"Just a little farther," he muttered, stepping on the accelerator and wincing when the wheels skidded in place from all the freshly fallen snow around.

"Can't you like...move the snow out of the way?" Yeonjun heaved out, his chest rising and falling rapidly. He sent the question to taehyun. "Isn't snow water?"

Taehyun glared at yeonjun, playfully scoffing.

"Bitch do I look like Jack Frost to you? I can't manipulate snow and ice, that's a completely different element-"

"You kind of look like Jack Frost though with the hair and eyes," hyuka laughed awkwardly. His eyes widened when he saw some blood trickle from yeonjun's nose and immediately started searching for a napkin or tissue. There weren't any, so he used his sleeve instead.

"Hyung you can stop now," taehyun finally said, ready to put his foot down. He was sitting sideways in his seat, half looking out of the windshield and half watching yeonjun in worry.

"This storm's a fucking bitch," yeonjun laughed with a hoarse voice, silently sending a smile to hyuka for dabbing at his nose. 

"Up there!" Beomgyu yelled, seeing what appeared to be the back end of a truck sticking out of a deep slope. 

"They must have veered off the road and crashed," taehyun muttered, already jumping out of the truck before beomgyu could put it in park. 

"Can't hold on anymore," yeonjun muttered, burying his face into hyuka's sleeve. He let go of whatever control he had on the storm above them and immediately passed out. "Time for night night."

"Sorry hyung, I'll be back for you," hyuka patted his cheek, hopping out of the truck with beomgyu to go and check on soobin's own vehicle.

"They didn't go down far, but we definitely are going to need help towing them out of the steep ditch!" Taehyun yelled over to them. The storm was back in full force, wind sending shivers down his spine.

"How are they? Are they hurt?" Beomgyu asked, already heading to one side of the crashed truck and sliding down the snowy slope. Taehyun and hyuka took the other side. 

Carefully they worked to peer inside, maneuvering around the snow and hanging onto the door handle to keep their balances. 

"Soobin's unconscious!" Beomgyu yelled to them, trying the door handle to get it open. Naturally they were locked. 

"Same with this guy over here," taehyun told him. 

"That's Jake! He's a fire witch but works with soobin at the garden center," hyuka said, pressing his face to the window to get a better look inside.

"It looks like they hit their heads pretty badly," taehyun noted, worrying his bottom lip. The entire front end of the car was smashed, thankfully the snow softening their fall slightly. But soobin and Jake still must have smacked their heads on impact.

"I don't see any other problems. Now we just wait for the police and ambulance to come," beomgyu called to them.

"You go ahead and lead them down here, it'll be quicker," taehyun told him. "Hyuka, call the police and tell them we got here before them and found soobin and Jake. Also mention about yeonjun, I want that nosebleed checked out." He was in full lifeguard mode, for which beomgyu was thankful for. "I'll stay here and watch over them in case they wake up."

With a nod, they all split up.

Another thirty minutes later, and taehyun, beomgyu, and hyuka were watching soobin and Jake get taken by a stretcher into the ambulance. Soobin was up, and seemed to recall what happened. His head hurt, but otherwise he seemed fine. He was going to get a thorough checkup with Jake at the hospital. 

Yeonjun was still passed out, sleeping like a baby in the back of the truck. The ambulance also took him in with them, making it a tight squeeze with three patients and the emergency medical team. 

"Wait, what's wrong with yeonjun?" Soobin asked right before the doors were shut and they were on the road. The storm was still going strong, so they had to be careful going back.

The people working the lumbar company were fine and staying put in their company's lodges until the snow passed. 

Beomgyu, taehyun, and hyuka all told the police what happened, the tow trucks came in to pull the crashed truck out of the ditch, and finally all three were seated into their own truck and just taking a breather for a moment.

"Well, that was exciting," hyuka laughed awkwardly. 

"Thanks hueningkai," beomgyu smiled as he turned behind him in the driver's seat. "Because of you, we were able to find soobin faster. Honestly, I would've still been back in town wondering where he was if it wasn't for your gifts."

"Yeah, we didn't thank you properly with all of the commotion," taehyun said, holding his hand out to grip hyuka's in a tight squeeze. 

Hyuka flushed a little, waving it away. "It was nothing," he muttered shyly.

"No, don't say that. Even though soobin and Jake weren't seriously injured, they still could've been trapped in the car all night and froze to death or something," beomgyu argued. 

"Does this happen often in the north?" Taehyun asked.

Beomgyu shook his head. "Do we have car crashes and people sliding all over in the snow? Of course, but usually those are just minor accidents. Sometimes we have frozen water pipes that burst, and people getting snowed into their houses. Or we have a case like this one where you hit a patch of ice and go off the road into a ditch. But the townspeople are always careful and quick to act just in case. You don't want to mess with the cold." 

Taehyun nodded, understanding. The south also has their fair share of accidents and problems with weather.

"Should we go and check up on soobin and the others?" Beomgyu asked, putting the truck into drive and heading back into town.

"Yeah, yeonjun will give me an earful if I'm not there when he wakes up," taehyun complained with a fond smile on his face.

"So now that everybody is out of imminent danger, can we talk about how worried soobin was for yeonjun? Are their stars finally aligning?" Hyuka wiggled his eyebrows from the back, causing the others to laugh. 

"Let's go find out and tease him about it," beomgyu smirked.

~

After soobin was all checked up and lying in a hospital bed with the other two nearby in their own beds, taehyun hesitantly knocked on the room door.

"Hey, can we come in?" He asked politely.

Beomgyu rolled his eyes and pushed taehyun out of the way. "I'm his best friend, I don't need permission."

Soobin smiled, his entire back and head propped up by pillows. He looked sleepy.

"That's an ugly gash you got there," beomgyu said worriedly, coming to the side of the bed and gently touching the bandage on soobin's forehead. 

"It's not as bad as it looks," soobin reassured him. 

Jake was up and sipping on some juice while flicking through the television channels. Yeonjun was still sleeping, the dried blood from his nose bleed all cleaned up now. 

"You guys need to be more careful when driving in the storm," hyuka reprimanded them. "You gave us a scare. I lost at least ten years off my life."

Soobin had a guilty look on his face. "It was my fault. I didn't see the patch of ice on the way back with all of the snow. We swerved, the truck top heavy from the wood in the back, and then slid down the ditch."

"I'm just thankful you didn't hit a tree," beomgyu sighed, running his fingers through his hair. 

"We'll stay with you guys until everything is fine," taehyun promised, bringing a chair over to yeonjun's bed so he could watch over him. 

"Thanks," Jake mumbled around his straw. 

"I gotta make sure sleeping beauty here doesn't get stupider from brain damage after what he tried to pull back there with the storm," taehyun smirked. "I worry about his two brain cells."

"Is insulting me while I sleep your new hobby?" Yeonjun whispered, his voice hoarse. 

"Oh, you're awake. Perfect timing," taehyun laughed softly, running his fingers through yeonjun's messy black hair. 

"Can't sleep with all you gossiping old hens making so much noise," he muttered, his eyes still closed. 

Taehyun smiled wide. If yeonjun was insulting them, then he most likely was fine.

"The doctors said they want to keep the three of you here overnight to monitor you just in case. You'll be released tomorrow. Don't worry, we're staying with you," taehyun explained. "So go back to sleep. We'll keep it down."

"M'kay," yeonjun said, happily rolling over onto his side towards taehyun.

Taehyun removed his hand from his hair with the motion. Then he watched as yeonjun's hand slapped around on the bed aimlessly until he found what he was looking for, grabbing taehyun's wrist and placing it back on his head. 

"Did I tell you to stop?" He asked in a childish voice.

Taehyun rolled his eyes and continued to comb his fingers through his hair as yeonjun went back to sleep. 

"What happened to him?" Soobin asked quietly, staring at yeonjun with worry.

Hyuka glanced at taehyun, wiggling his eyebrows. Taehyun chose to ignore it, instead explaining how yeonjun helped them find him and Jake.

It was a quiet but long night at the hospital.

~

Once they all made sure soobin, Jake, and yeonjun were okay the next day, it was time to finally head home. 

Soobin and yeonjun were taken back to the bed and breakfast, soobin's parents setting them up in side by side guest rooms so they could sleep the rest of the day. His parents were nice enough to feed everyone a gigantic meal for lunch. 

Jake got picked up by his best friend sunghoon and was good to go back home. 

Hyuka was dropped off and the storm was still going strong even in the early afternoon, all stores closing early due to the snow and cold. 

Beomgyu drove them back home and soon taehyun found himself being led into beomgyu's bedroom, plopping down on his bed.

He watched beomgyu find a pair of pajamas for the both of them, handing it to him so he could change.

"I'm dead tired," taehyun yawned, up half the night and all morning.

"Me too. Will you stay and sleep with me?" Beomgyu asked quietly, turning his back so he wouldn't see taehyun's face in case he said no.

"I mean sure, but I prefer to call it making love to you. You deserve the romantic way-"

Beomgyu threw his shirt over at taehyun, rolling his eyes. "You know that's not what I meant." However his face was slightly flushed, so taehyun grinned wide, knowing what beomgyu was thinking about. 

All jokes aside, they got changed, taehyun itching to have his hands on beomgyu's soft skin as more and more clothes were being removed. But he held back, climbing into beomgyu's bed and getting warm under the covers. His toes were freaking freezing from the cold hardwood flooring, and he didn't hesitate to tuck them under beomgyu's thigh once the other boy settled in next to him.

"Yah! Get out of here," beomgyu complained, moving his thigh. 

Taehyun wrapped his arms around beomgyu's entire body frame and dragged him closer so that he could cuddle him. "No, you're warm," he hummed, closing his eyes and burying himself into the blankets even more. 

Beomgyu smiled, getting himself comfortable in taehyun's hold and drifting off.

"Night Toto," he mumbled, earning himself some clicks of a beak somewhere in the room, even though it was actually mid afternoon. 

They both fell into an exhaustive sleep until nighttime. 

~

After some dinner, the lights went out.

Taehyun and beomgyu sat there in the dark for a few moments, processing what just happened.

"Let me guess, sometimes the power goes out during bad storms, right?" Taehyun asked, using his phone as a flashlight.

Beomgyu sighed. "Yeah, I kind of half expected this to happen since the storm wasn't letting up at all today."

"We're going to have to snow plow and shovel again, aren't we?" Taehyun cringed. He has concluded that's his least favorite thing to do in the snow. It's all fun and pretty until you gotta clear it. 

"Oh definitely," beomgyu snorted. "But what worries me more is the heat. No power means no heat, and soon it's gonna get really chilly in here."

Taehyun glanced down at his feet, currently bundled in fuzzy wool socks thanks to beomgyu. He's used to walking on scorching hot sandy beaches, so this was a hard adjustment to him. 

"Come on, let's start up the fireplace," beomgyu got up, heading for the back door. "You know how to start a fire?" He asked.

Taehyun grinned, for once not feeling helpless in the north. "Now that, I can do. We have bonfires all the time on the beach."

Beomgyu smiled, "Good, then you can use that hot summer bod you got going on and help me carry in some wood."

Taehyun grunted, holding a good bundle of wood in his arms as beomgyu loaded him up.

"We don't want to keep coming back out in the cold, so we have to take as many as possible," he explained, a little apologetically at overloading taehyun. The wood pile was located at the back of the house under a tarp so the snow wouldn't get them wet. It looks like they were split into nice sized pieces so they stacked easily in the fireplace. 

They made their way to the living room, and together they got a fire started. Beomgyu shut the door to the fireplace and disappeared into his bedroom, bringing out blankets and pillows for the both of them.

"Here, we might as well sleep in the living room tonight so it's warmer." He settled a blanket down on the couch, and a pillow. He was glad his parents splurged and got a huge sofa a few years ago, because it would fit the both of them perfectly. Actually, it might be a tight squeeze, but beomgyu wasn't complaining about being pressed to taehyun for the majority of the night. To preserve warmth and all.

Taehyun shrugged, climbing to the inner part of the couch and stretching out. He held open the blanket for beomgyu as he made his way in, letting him settle so they were spooning, taehyun's chest to beomgyu's back. Then taehyun draped the blanket over beomgyu's shoulder so that they became a human burrito. 

They both watched the fire flicker and light up the entire living room, and taehyun glanced nervously at the windows rattling outside.

"This is a bitchin storm," he muttered near beomgyu's ear, causing the other boy to flinch slightly in his arms. "Will Toto be okay in your room?"

"Yeah he's fine. He's got a lot of material in his cage to stay warm. He prefers to make his own nest, instead of letting me help him." Taehyun couldn't see it, but he could hear the pout in beomgyu's voice.

"He's a strong independent parrot," he joked.

They stayed quiet like that for several minutes, the atmosphere peaceful. 

"This is nice," taehyun commented, burying his face into the crook of beomgyu's neck. He gave a light kiss to the skin there, enjoying the way beomgyu shuddered at his touch. 

Beomgyu didn't tell him to stop, so he continued giving light kisses up and down his neck and near his ear, any skin he could touch. Then his hand came around and smoothed up and down beomgyu's shirt, eventually wandering down to the curve of his ass and back up.

The touches and kisses were gentle, light, just loving caresses without any real meaning. But it made beomgyu squirm until he finally huffed, rolling over so he was facing taehyun with lust in his eyes.

"If you're going to start something, you better finish it," he said, rolling his hips into taehyun's crotch. 

Taehyun raised a brow in surprise. "You're semi-hard just from some simple touches?" His heart sped up when beomgyu flushed and bit his bottom lip, grinding into taehyun again.

"I want your hands all over me," he admitted shyly. 

"Oh," taehyun breathed out, admiring beomgyu's face half lit from the fire behind him. "I can help with that."

He dove forward to kiss beomgyu harshly on the lips, earning himself a cute giggle in-between breaths. Beomgyu humped into taehyun a few times, desperate for more, and he got what he wanted when taehyun's hands were soon under his shirt and down his pajama pants. He moaned into his mouth as Taehyun made it his mission to touch everywhere. 

Soon taehyun was rolling on top of him, his tongue down his throat and loud wet sounds coming from their sloppy kisses. They rolled their crotches together, getting harder and harder the more they touched. 

Taehyun broke the kiss, gazing down at beomgyu's beautiful and flushed out face below him. He was equally as much of a mess, and he sat back onto beomgyu's thighs. 

"We're going to need to prep a few things first," he said, his voice hoarse and strained from wanting to just fuck beomgyu already.

Beomgyu laughed, sitting up and making taehyun move off of him. "I think I can help with that," he winked. 

The firelight flickered off taehyun's skin, bathing it in golden light. Beomgyu's hands roamed over his bare back, wanting to touch, touch, touch. 

The snowstorm outside continued to beat against the windows, but inside it was scorching hot between their bodies. 

Taehyun's lips were greedy, softly caressing creamy skin as he went down, down, down. They found the inside of beomgyu's knee, his hand wrapped tight around a naked thigh and holding a long leg up. Wet kisses trailed from his knee to his inner thigh. Beomgyu sucked in a huge breath, his entire abdomen heaving at the fluttering sensations. He bit his lip as his hand searched for taehyun's hair, this time black, and he tangled his fingertips in the strands. 

Then taehyun's lips were back on his, claiming them and ruining them softly, like he had all the time in the world to savor the taste of them. 

Another sound of rattling, the windows straining to hold in the winter wind. 

Beomgyu flung his head back, just missing the arm of the couch. He gripped a hand behind him, hanging onto the fabric for dear life. His lips were parted wide, eyes scrunched together and brows furrowed in pleasure. Taehyun tucked his head into the crook of beomgyu's neck, breathing heavily as he moved on top of him. Both of his hands dug into the soft flesh of beomgyu's thighs, keeping them securely wrapped around his waist as his hips repeatedly thrusted forward. 

This was heaven, being here, just the two of them, with their bodies completely rubbing against each other and their heart beats syncing up together. 

Beomgyu could hear it so much more than taehyun, and his brain short circuited every time taehyun moaned into his ear, licking his neck with sloppy kisses and wet sucks. He flushed even hotter, a sweet feeling tingling and swirling in his abdomen. 

"I love this," taehyun stuttered on a whisper in beomgyu's ear, causing beomgyu to moan loudly. "I love making love to you."

Tears of pleasure gathered in the corners of beomgyu's eyes, and he clenched around taehyun the more he kept whispering into his ear. 

"I can tell you like this too," taehyun said with a smile, his strong hands moving from beomgyu's thighs to circling his waist. He never let up on his mind blowing pace in and out of beomgyu. 

The whispers kept turning him on even more, the sounds from taehyun's vocal chords, all husky and full of passion, being too much.

Taehyun's lips trailed from his neck to just under his jaw. "You feel amazing. I can't get enough," he moaned, dragging slowly out of beomgyu and then thrusting hard back in, scooting him up the couch slightly. 

Beomgyu was hyperventilating, his chest heaving violently with how good everything felt. "I can't...I can't breathe," he choked out, his eyes hazy and desperate for taehyun's lips back on his. He gripped the back of taehyun's neck and dragged him back up so that their tongues could collide and tangle together. 

Taehyun broke the kiss, nipping beomgyu's ear lobe with his teeth, swirling his tongue near the shell. "I can feel how greedy you keep sucking me back in."

Beomgyu whined. Taehyun knew what he was doing to him. It wasn't that hard, considering he was now bucking his hips up for more, squeezing his thighs tight and nails digging into his skin each time he spoke softly to him. 

"I want you to come around me," taehyun chuckled, groaning when beomgyu scraped his nails down his back. Well, those will be hard to hide during work. He grinned at the thought of everyone seeing. He picked up his pace, bending beomgyu's legs forward so he could go in at a much more delicious angle. Beomgyu's eyes rolled slightly from that.

"Taehyun, hah, I can't take anymore, i-it's too much, I'm gonna-" beomgyu said with a slight sob, still trying to meet taehyun's thrusts. He now held onto taehyun's arms. 

"Look at me, gorgeous," taehyun demanded, pressing his sweaty forehead to beomgyu's so that their noses were touching and they breathed in each other's gasps of air. 

Beomgyu forced his heavy lids to open and he tried to focus on taehyun's face so close to his. Taehyun let go of one of his thighs, shoving his hand between their hot bodies and helping beomgyu tip over the edge of pleasure. 

He captured beomgyu's loud whiny moan with his lips, his hand moving fast between them, warm and wet stickiness coating both their abdomens and spreading across their skin the longer he kept thrusting and rubbing their bodies together. 

Beomgyu separated from the kiss, breathing harshly. He let out a groan as taehyun kept going, almost there. 

"I'm going to come inside you, is that okay my baby bear?" Taehyun asked, whispering into his ear again, licking the side of his neck. 

Beomgyu released another moan at the pet name and sobbed, his body trying to come again so soon from the constant onslaught of everything that was taehyun, dribbling a little more cum from his tip. He nodded frantically, messing up his dark and sweaty hair, giving taehyun permission. 

Taehyun was so cruel, making sure his mouth was right by beomgyu's ear and letting all types of sexy noises escape his throat while he came so hard and so long inside of him. 

"F-fuck," beomgyu released a tear of pleasure, letting it roll down his flushed and hot cheeks. The vibrations from taehyun's voice sent even more pleasure throughout his entire body and his senses were overloaded to the point he couldn't even think about anything but the boy on top of him, still gasping for breath while they came down from their highs. 

Taehyun didn't say anything yet, not quite into words. But beomgyu got the message loud and clear after their first night together.

He decided nothing beats the feeling of being loved and being fucked at the same time.

~

Taehyun cracked an eye open at the bright sunlight filtering in through the window. 

The fire was cooling in the fireplace, and everything was silent. No more storms, so it must have finally stopped. 

His nose was cold from being out in the open air, but his naked body was all warm and cozy, pressed tight against beomgyu's under the covers. The older boy was sleeping curled into his chest, both of them on their sides and facing each other. 

He took a minute to admire beomgyu's face, all peaceful. His lips were a bit bruised and pouty as he slept, something taehyun was not sorry for. He tightened his arms around beomgyu's waist, the one being crushed under his weight starting to go numb. But taehyun didn't want to disturb him while he was sleeping so he sucked it up and ignored the pinpricks and tingles traveling up his arm. 

He closed his eyes, trying to go back to sleep, or at the very least wait until beomgyu woke up. They both had a very passionate but also endless night together, so he wasn't surprised to find him conked out until late in the morning. 

His heart fluttered at the memories of last night. It was perfect, and amazing, and taehyun was completely a goner for beomgyu now, if that wasn't obvious before. 

He had a fleeting thought as he lay there. Usually his heart would yearn for the sea, but now that yearning was completely turned around and aching for beomgyu instead. He was so lost as to what that meant, but he didn't worry about it for now. 

Right now he will just replay all the filthy things they did hours ago. Like when beomgyu turned around and let him pound into his ass from behind, loving it when he was pushed into the blanket and cushions underneath him. Or when he flipped them and beomgyu rode his cock slowly on top of him. That was taehyun's favorite part, because half of beomgyu's body was lit golden by the fire, and his face was all flushed with hazy eyes, a happy and lazy smile taking shape on his lips. He held onto taehyun's shoulders as he rolled into his pelvis over and over, coming all over taehyun's stomach and a little on his chest. They took a small rest after that, until beomgyu wanted more, crawling down the couch until his mouth was level with taehyun's cock. Then taehyun was subjected to a slow and torturous suck as he took his time, playing with him and licking him for many minutes. Still, just watching beomgyu bob up and down on his dick was enough to make him come, extra hard since he felt beomgyu's throat swallow around his tip and watched him drink everything his mouth was filled up with.

After another last round of hard fucking, they finally fell asleep. Which brings taehyun back to this moment, trying not to grow hard in-between their bodies. But it was really difficult not to since beomgyu looked so precious while he slept, contradicting the slutty moans and facial expressions he had when taehyun was balls deep inside him. 

He really hopes beomgyu wakes up soon, trying not to buck his hips and now hard dick into beomgyu's abdomen. 

His agony ended about ten minutes later when beomgyu started to stir awake. He sighed a few times, squirming against taehyun which made the younger flush with need. But he wasn't a jerk, he'll let beomgyu wake up first before railing him again. 

"I can hear your heart beating really fast," beomgyu mumbled, his voice deep with sleep. "What are you thinking about?" 

"You," taehyun whispered in response, not trusting his voice to not crack. He seriously loved beomgyu a lot, and it was getting to be too much. 

Beomgyu blinked his shining eyes open, focusing on taehyun's face inches from his own. 

"What?" He asked quietly even though he clearly heard him. 

"Just how much I want to be with you," taehyun corrected, still a little nervous about admitting his feelings. Beomgyu clearly wanted serious commitment, and he was willing to give him that. But he was afraid about scaring him off if he spoke so soon. Is it too soon?

"Oh," beomgyu's breath hitched. 

The way beomgyu was looking at him, all round eyes with warmth and affection, the way they were pressed close together, the way they shared their night-

Maybe it was okay now to say it.

"Hey, baby bear?" Taehyun breathed out, trying to ignore his heart going in double time that beomgyu can definitely hear and feel, especially since his hand was now right over it on his chest. 

"Yeah?" Beomgyu asked, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"I love you," taehyun whispered, almost like his voice failed him. "Would you go out with me? Officially?" For forever, he didn't say. 

Beomgyu's smile grew larger and lovelier, and taehyun's heart seemed like it was going to stop. 

"Yes, I would love to be with you. And I love you," beomgyu replied, moving so his arms were wrapping around taehyun's neck, albeit a little awkwardly since they were still on their sides facing each other. He leaned in to kiss taehyun, mouths moving automatically into a perfect rhythm. 

Taehyun's hand smoothed up and down beomgyu's side, over his hip, around the curve of his ass, and back up. His nails lightly scraped at the soft skin, and beomgyu pressed more into taehyun, a silent plea not to stop.

They broke the kiss for air, taehyun burying his other hand into beomgyu's hair and yanking back so he could kiss at his neck. 

"I know it's early and you just woke up, but I want you so bad…" he admitted in a deep voice near beomgyu's ear. He was cheating, and they both knew it.

"Then take me," beomgyu laughed softly, closing his eyes at the feel of taehyun's lips all over him. 

Taehyun didn't hesitate to reach down to the ground to retrieve their lube, and soon beomgyu had his face hidden in taehyun's neck as he was fingered and stretched gently open. 

"Want me to roll over on my stomach?" Beomgyu asked, breathing out and moaning at a particularly good spot getting touched inside him. 

"No, stay just like this on your side so I can watch you while I'm fucking you," taehyun told him sweetly, kissing his temple. 

Beomgyu groaned. "God I love it when you talk like that." 

Taehyun grinned, slicking up his dick and wiping his hand on the blanket under them. Then he gripped the fleshy part of beomgyu's thigh, hooking it and his entire leg over his hip. He wiggled slightly to fit between beomgyu's now slightly parted legs, and lined up. 

They both held their breaths as taehyun sunk deeper into beomgyu's hole, the glide nice and easy until he was filled to the hilt. 

"Eyes on me baby bear," taehyun demanded, slowly sliding in and out of beomgyu to get started as he adjusted. 

Beomgyu brought his face out from taehyun's neck, staring right into his eyes. He already had a slightly fucked out look, but he was still focused as taehyun continued to rock into him. 

Taehyun's grip on his thigh tightened, and his hips moved faster. Beomgyu propped himself up on an arm to better fuck himself on taehyun's cock, loosely holding onto taehyun's neck and shoulder as they moved together. He leaned away slightly to look between their bodies, growing harder at the sight of taehyun fucking into him over and over, his hole stretching to accommodate his size. Taehyun wasn't super big like how some other people want it, and he wasn't unnaturally small either. His dick was slightly above average, thin and long enough where he fit inside him perfectly, hitting all the right spots but also not stretching him too much to being painful. It was mind blowing and beomgyu was quickly becoming addicted. 

They stayed like that for many minutes, making love as they kissed over and over, hips rubbing against each other and beomgyu flinging his leg over taehyun's hip as much as he could so they could be impossibly close. This position didn't allow taehyun to go as deep as he was able to, but beomgyu liked the intimacy of it all. 

"I love you," taehyun muttered, wrapping an arm tight around beomgyu's naked waist. Those words sent beomgyu over the edge, spilling between them and even spurting up towards taehyun's chin. The soft clenching around taehyun's cock made him tense and release all over beomgyu's insides, both of them holding onto each other tightly as they let the feelings of pleasure wash over them. 

"You came so much in me," beomgyu giggled, wiggling around and feeling all of the sticky wetness down below. 

"And you came on me over and over," taehyun countered, his softening dick slipping out. His hand roamed beomgyu's thigh still propped up on his hip. 

"That was hot, I like my cum covering you," beomgyu admitted, ducking his head to suck on taehyun's chest. "It means I'm the only one who can do that." Taehyun hummed in agreement, closing his eyes as beomgyu left marks all over his neck and chest, groaning a bit when he sucked and licked a nipple. 

"Gonna paint your pretty face with my cum as retaliation," taehyun gasped out, digging his nails into beomgyu's thigh as his other nipple was sucked on.

"In a little bit, you can do just that," beomgyu smiled against his skin, face still hidden as he continued abusing taehyun's round buds. 

"I'm wondering if I have to show up to work today," taehyun moaned out, tangling his hand into beomgyu's hair and pulling up so he could devour his mouth.

"No, haa ...level 3 emergency means everyone off the roads until they, mmmm, clear them up, plus still no power," beomgyu explained in-between kisses, loving how taehyun thrusted his tongue in and out of his mouth harshly, sucking on his lips. 

"Oh, good then. It means we have all day to lay here and fuck," taehyun said happily, detaching from the intense kissing with spit slicked lips. Beomgyu's chest was heaving as he looked back with hooded eyes. 

Taehyun removed himself from beomgyu's naked body, much to his dismay, and left the warmth of their blanket cocoon. He shivered at the icy coldness overtaking the room now that the fire was just a bunch of embers. 

"Where are you going?" Beomgyu pouted. 

"Gonna get something to clean you up with," taehyun said, jogging buck naked to the bathroom. The hot water didn't work, so he was forced to wet a cloth with icy water.

He came back and hurriedly dove into the covers, landing on top of beomgyu with a grunt. 

"This is going to be uncomfortable at first," he warned, trying to warm the cloth up in his hand. "Spread your legs for me, sweetheart."

Beomgyu did as he was asked, and shyly hid his face under his hands as taehyun wiped out all of the cum from his puckered hole. He was gentle, and it was kind of embarrassing having your lover dig inside to get all the gross stickiness out of your ass. But taehyun didn't seem to mind as he wiped down beomgyu's inner thighs as well, smirking at the many marks he made there the night before.  

"There is no way in hell I'm showering under that mountain ice water, so this will have to do until the heat comes back on," taehyun declared.

He ran back to rinse the rag, his knuckles turning red from the cold water, and then came back to gently wipe down beomgyu's stomach and his own stomach, lots of evidence of what they did all dried up and not pleasant to look at. Finally he wiped down both of their crotches and threw the wet cloth near the fireplace. 

"Up, let's switch blankets since we soiled the hell out of this one," taehyun said with almost a prideful tone in his voice. The more the blanket was ruined, the more proof he had that beomgyu most certainly enjoyed their time making love. 

"But I'm so warm," beomgyu complained, not wanting to get up. 

"Unless you want to sleep on our dried cum, off," taehyun tugged the blanket, yanking beomgyu halfway off the sofa. 

Beomgyu groaned, rolling off the couch and standing there in all his naked glory, shivering. Taehyun quickly switched them out, and then grabbed beomgyu's hand so they could plop back down on the couch. 

Beomgyu was just about to settle in another blanket burrito when taehyun got up again.

"Wait actually, let's start another fire." He pulled on his boxers and went to go stoke the embers and add more wood to get another fire going. 

Beomgyu sighed happily when taehyun was back in their makeshift bed, pressed up against him.

They dozed off for another two hours, waking back up when the power finally clicked back on. 

However, taehyun made no move to get off the couch just yet, not even when they both were hungry. Because right now beomgyu was yanking his boxers off once more and getting ready to stare prettily up at him with shining eyes as he sucked his cock. He laid back and relaxed as he watched beomgyu enjoy himself. Then he got his revenge by gripping the base and tip right before he was about to climax, and made beomgyu sit there at eye level with his cock as he came all over his face, moaning and spurting a little more when beomgyu licked the cum off his lips and blinked some of it off his lashes. 

He fell back on the sofa, heaving at how fucking filthy but wonderful that image was. 

"Can you help me now?" Beomgyu pouted cutely, wiping some of the cum off his face so it wouldn't drip everywhere. 

"Anything for my precious baby bear," taehyun said with a hoarse voice. "Come here and ride my face, love."

Beomgyu flushed and giggled, enjoying the constant pet names and endearments that endlessly leave taehyun's lips. He climbed up until he had both thighs bracketing taehyun's head, the position a little awkward since they had limited room on the couch. But taehyun made it work, sucking beomgyu's cock and bringing him over the edge. 

Afterwards, the hot water was working and they showered, with taehyun hoisting beomgyu up against the tiled wall and fucking him for the who knows how many times by now. Beomgyu hung on, his nails engraving themselves down taehyun's back, over the scratches from the previous night.

"You're doing that on purpose, aren't you?" Taehyun laughed softly against beomgyu's lips. "Because of all the people at my swim classes trying to flirt with me."

"You noticed?" Beomgyu moaned, loving the wet sounds their bodies were making as his back was pressed harder into the shower wall. "When?" 

"Yeah, the last time you and hyuka picked me up and didn't say hello, instead stomping off. It was kind of obvious my baby bear turned into a little grizzly, all mad and jealous." He thrusted harder into beomgyu, sucking on his neck. "But I liked it though. I thought about fucking the jealousy right out of you that night, making sure you had nothing to worry about. They got nothing on you, not when you take my cock so well," he emphasized that with a few more rough thrusts, making sure beomgyu felt it to his core. 

Beomgyu clenched around taehyun, loving it when his hole got abused like this. "They're gonna have to look somewhere else, because you're mine now," he raked his nails across the back of taehyun's shoulders and then came around to the front to do the same to his chest. Taehyun must have some sort of perversion for beomgyu marking him up and being possessive, because he exploded inside of him without warning. 

Beomgyu yeeped cutely in surprise at being filled up suddenly, but he wasn't too far off, grabbing taehyun's hand and wrapping it around his cock so taehyun could jerk him off until he's coming, the white liquid being washed away down the drain. 

Taehyun gently set beomgyu down as they finished washing up, slightly wincing when the soap hit his scratches. 

"Sorry," beomgyu said sheepishly, feeling a little bad about getting out of hand.

"Don't be," taehyun gave him a sweet kiss. "Think of them as payback for the bruises I gave you on your waist and thighs." He was not gentle at all as he held beomgyu in place while pounding into him the night before. 

They changed, and dried their hair. Then they went to the kitchen to make some late lunch.

About an hour later, taehyun got a call from yeonjun.

"So, do you know of any witches who can erase memories? Because soobin's parents might have sort of caught us fucking under the covers after I snuck into his room last night," yeonjun said casually. 

Beomgyu shot up from his comfy spot in taehyun's side. They were about to watch a movie. "No way!!!!" 

"Sorry, can't help you there buddy. Rule number one, always lock the door," taehyun snickered into the phone. 

"I'm so embarrassed, tyunnie!!! These are my future in-laws! And they heard me basically grunting into soobin's ear as I rutted into him like a wild animal. I can't face them ever again!" 

Beomgyu died of laughter, yeonjun clearly hearing it through the phone. 

"I fucking hate it here," he pouted, clicking the phone off. Taehyun shrugged and tossed his phone aside. 

"Seems like they are getting along," he told beomgyu.

Beomgyu was still releasing ugly snorts.

~

A few days later taehyun called up his dad.

"Hey dad, can I ask you something?" 

"Sure, what's up kid?" His dad asked, sounding distracted.

"I don't hear the ocean as much anymore. The calling is gone," taehyun just came out and said it. 

"Uh huh, okay," his dad muttered, then, "there he is, the old bag."

"Dad, what the hell are you doing? I'm kind of having a mid-life crisis here," taehyun huffed into the phone.

"Spying on your grandfather. I think he's got himself a lady friend."

Taehyun's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh shit, really? Good for him."

"It's not good for me. I'm gonna have myself a new mom," his dad complained into the phone.

"You're also like, 50, so I don't see how this matters. Now back to me," taehyun rolled his eyes. 

"Right, right," his dad mumbled, still spying on his father from the window like a creep. "Did you fall in love?"

Taehyun froze in his spot. "Huh?" 

"Is the northern air making you stupid?" His father snapped. "I mean like, seriously fall in love. Not a silly crush or infatuation like you have all the time down here as the local frat boy. But like, they are my everything and entire world kind of love, or-"

"Yes," taehyun said a little breathlessly. He cleared his throat and repeated himself, momentarily embarrassed and grateful his dad couldn't see his flushed face and tease him about it. "Yes, I did. He's amazing, and we just got together. How did you know?"

"The sea witches hear a calling to whatever they love the most. For all of us, it's the ocean, but sometimes some of us find something even more precious than the great waters. We start to wrap our entire existences around that instead, so the melody of the sea doesn't affect us anymore. Happened to me when I met your mother. Unfortunately it didn't happen to your grandmother, and she left old pops there for the sea. She chose the ocean over him." 

Taehyun felt even more sad for his grandfather. He knows it was long ago and his grandpa was clearly over it, especially since he's supposedly starting up a relationship with another, but still. He couldn't imagine picking the sea over beomgyu no matter how much he loves the former. 

"Ok well, thanks for that. I thought I was going crazy or something," taehyun sighed out in relief. "I guess I'll let you go now dad. Tell mom I said hi."

"Bring him home to introduce us, will ya kid? You know how your mother loves this type of stuff."

Taehyun smiled, knowing his parents will absolutely love beomgyu. "Yeah, and tell Gramps that Beomie is going to be a part of the family after all. He will know what I mean. Oh, and yeonjun has someone too, I think." 

"Well that sounds nice." Then his dad gasped. "Oh my Lord, he kissed her on the cheek. Ok ew, I don't need to see them basically doing the ancient equivalent of making out in public on the beach."

Taehyun laughed. "Bye dad!" He hung up with a wide smile on his face. He can't wait to go home and show beomgyu off to everyone, including their casual friends. They would all be so jealous he was his to keep. 

~

"I can't believe you talked me into this," soobin hissed, stepping foot onto the cool tiles that surrounded the indoor pool.

"You should learn how to swim. Who knows, you might need to know later," beomgyu smiled secretly. 

"I like my forest, and grass, and dirt-" soobin complained until he got to the edge of the pool. Thankfully no one else was in there to witness the hilarious scene. 

Except taehyun. 

He happily jumped down from the lifeguard chair, wrapping an arm around beomgyu's slim waist. He gave a quick kiss to his cheek.

"Your swim lessons start in about five minutes, so why don't you go warm up in the pool?" Taehyun suggested, smiling easily. 

Soobin relaxed, nodding. Then he glared at beomgyu. "You're gonna be here the entire time, right?" He hissed.

Beomgyu held up his hand. "I promise I won't leave the pool area without you."

Soobin puffed his cheeks and then headed over to the step ladder down into the pool. 

Taehyun checked the clock up on the wall, and then saw someone entering the pool area from the locker rooms. He smiled, this time a little more devilishly.

"Ok, well I'm going to go on break. I'll be right over there in the lifeguard break room, so holler if you need anything!" Taehyun said happily, gripping beomgyu's hand.

Soobin paused in the water, the level ridiculously barely hitting his waist. He was over 6 feet in the 3 feet shallow end.

"What? What about my swim lessons? Was this a prank-"

"Nope! I've got someone to take over my shift. He's very capable, as good as me-"

Just as taehyun was finishing his sentence, yeonjun popped in, all showered and ready to go.

"Okay I'm here to teach my Binnie bunny how to swim like a mermaid!" He laughed with a nasally sound.

Soobin groaned, his face flushing. He's been avoiding yeonjun ever since they embarrassingly got caught the day after his accident. He was only grateful they were covered under the blankets, so his mom didn't actually see yeonjun pounding him into the mattress, but it was pretty obvious what was happening. And she was nice enough to quickly close the door in a split second, after telling them to stay safe. Yeah, he swore never to speak to yeonjun again. 

He covered his chest dramatically, as if he was caught undressing or something equally ridiculous. 

"Don't be shy, it's nothing I haven't seen or had my lips on before," yeonjun winked. 

"I'm drowning myself," soobin said with a deadpan expression. 

"See you in an hour!" Taehyun waved, quickly making his escape to the break room.

He shoved beomgyu inside, closing the door behind him.

"Rule number one, always lock the door," taehyun muttered. Beomgyu snickered out a few giggles at that indirect burn to soobin and yeonjun. Then he hopped up on the desk, shoving some of the papers aside. 

Taehyun turned and gave beomgyu a heated gaze. He looked very sexy with his blue-green hair from the pool water, dark blue swim trunks, and skin tight black short sleeved swim shirt. 

The last article of clothing was a recent add on for a number of reasons. First, because taehyun looked too damn good while shirtless, and it was a popular topic among the peers coming to get swim lessons just so they could eye fuck taehyun all day while in the pool. And second, the most important, was that beomgyu really likes to leave marks all over, with his lips and tongue and nails, so it wouldn't be very professional of taehyun to show up with tons of hickies in some very questionable places all the time. It went way past his back and chest, and if his swim trunks fell a little bit low on his hips everyone would see even more marks going past the waistband. 

However, the way beomgyu eyed taehyun up and down as he came closer, he concluded that the swim shirt really doesn't help all that much. Because now he can see every ridge of taehyun's pecs and muscles and abs as it clings to him like a second skin, and he just wants to rip it off and touch everywhere. 

Beomgyu happily spread his thighs, letting taehyun step into the space between them as he leaned back on the desk. 

"I feel a little bad," beomgyu pouted, running his finger up and down the middle of taehyun's abdomen. 

"Why?" Taehyun asked, letting beomgyu's sneaky fingers grip the edge of his swim shirt and slowly pull up. His other hand pressed against his warm stomach and smoothed up while taehyun's hands busied themselves on his hips. 

"Because I signed up for swim lessons even when I don't need them, and we're in here about to do inappropriate things," beomgyu explained, getting taehyun's shirt up to his neck. Taehyun easily helped him take it off, setting it on the rolling chair behind him. 

"But I am giving you swim lessons," taehyun smirked, gripping beomgyu's waist and pulling him closer so they were chest to chest. 

"How?" Beomgyu breathed out, his face coming even closer to taehyun's lips. 

"We are going to work on your breathing exercises," he said, letting his lips brush against beomgyu's briefly. "Let's see how long my baby bear can hold his breath."

Beomgyu gasped as taehyun cupped his jaw, keeping him still while he kissed the hell out of him, not letting up for a long time. 

They made out like that for a while, beomgyu making some cute noises in the back of his throat and taehyun quickly swallowing them up so they wouldn't get caught. 

They finally had to break apart when they heard bickering and splashing from the pool. 

Beomgyu let go of taehyun's bottom lip, dragging his teeth briefly over it before sucking and releasing with a pop. He glanced down at the dark bruises on taehyun's chest and stomach from yesterday, the other ones from earlier that week already fading.

"Oopsie," he giggled, swirling his finger against a particularly large one. "Maybe I went overboard last night." He didn't sound sorry at all.

More arguing could be heard outside the door, and taehyun sighed. "Looks like our fun is over with." He turned to grab his swim shirt again, and looped it over his head.

Beomgyu patted his shoulder, helping him put the material back on. Then he hopped down from the desk.

"No worries, I have another lesson on Thursday," he said happily. 

Taehyun laughed, kissing his cheek before opening up the door.

"You're abusing your power as an instructor!" Soobin yelled, splashing yeonjun.

"Am not! Just because I accidentally brushed a hand over your abs doesn't mean I'm feeling you up!" Yeonjun splashed back, a small little black cloud forming over his head. 

"Accidentally my ass! And I don't want to be taught by a shortie like you-"

"Taehyun is literally the shortest of all of us!" Yeonjun thrashed in the water, launching himself at soobin. Rain started to pour down on them in the pool. 

Beomgyu laughed behind his hand, and taehyun sighed.

"Hi guys!" Hyuka waved to them from across the pool. He was sitting in a chair near the edge, watching with a bag of chips.

"What are you doing here?" Beomgyu called over.

"Soobin asked me to come rescue him. But this was way more entertaining," he shrugged. 

"Hyuka! Save me!" Soobin spluttered, going under the water with yeonjun and then popping back up. He held out his hand for hyuka to take and hoist him out of the pool. Yeonjun clung to his back like a koala.

"Drown, you peasant," hyuka said with a deadpan expression. 

Soobin gasped in betrayal, and then sputtered under the water again.

"He does know that's literally 3 feet deep, right?" Taehyun asked beomgyu.

"If there was a fish bowl, soobin would find a way to drown in it," beomgyu shrugged. 

Taehyun let yeonjun have his fun for another minute, the older boy laughing as he got tossed from soobin trying to buck him off his back, and then he rolled his eyes. They were going to get reprimanded if they were caught.

He waved his hand and the water around yeonjun and soobin immediately parted and surrounded them, leaving them standing on dry pool tiles. 

"Alright, out of the pool before I get fired," taehyun told them in a bored voice. "Soobin, you're 6 feet tall, have some dignity. Yeonjun, stop harassing the poor boy and ask him out officially already, hyuka no snacks in the pool area." 

Soobin froze, letting yeonjun slide off his back. He sniffed but accepted when yeonjun offered to help hoist him out. Hyuka had a chip going to his mouth and then pouted. 

"Did you even learn anything while you were here, or did you both argue the whole time?" Taehyun asked.

Yeonjun beamed up at him from the pool. "Actually, he can do the back float now!"

Taehyun nodded. "That's progress. Keep it up. Soobin hyung, if you honestly don't want yeonjun to teach you how to swim, I will switch us back and teach you myself. Beomgyu really was serious about wanting to help you learn how to swim."

Soobin glanced away shyly. He tried to avoid the puppy dog eyes yeonjun was giving him. "No, it's okay. He can stay," he muttered quietly, but beomgyu heard loud and clear. He grinned from behind taehyun. 

Yeonjun clapped, a wide smile on his face as he laughed cutely. 

"I might as well sign up since I'm bored and have nothing better to do," hyuka shrugged. "Watching soobin suffer is always a fun hobby."

Soobin glared at him. Hyuka grinned adorably.

~

"So what are you going to do about gramps' house?" Beomgyu asked, sitting up on a work table as he watched taehyun repaint the living room walls a soft cream color. He and yeonjun have diligently helped taehyun in redecorating the house, much better at interior design than taehyun was. 

Taehyun paused in his painting, slapping the roller down into the tray and swiping the sweat off his neck. Beomgyu's eyes watched with hunger as he brought his shirt up to wipe off his face, showcasing his abs that he was very familiar with. 

"So I've been thinking," taehyun started, and beomgyu tensed in anticipation. This was the moment of truth. Was taehyun going to leave him behind just like his parents? 

"I think I'm going to keep the house," he stated, tilting his head in thought some more.

"Huh?" Beomgyu was confused. Was taehyun going to live up north? There was no way he would be happy staying here permanently so far away from the ocean. Even if he did it for beomgyu, which is super sweet, but beomgyu wouldn't feel right forcing a sea witch to live in snow-

"As a vacation home," taehyun nodded, like he finally decided. 

"Wait what?" 

Taehyun turned to beomgyu, a smile on his face as he walked closer. As usual, beomgyu opened his legs up so taehyun could stand between them, his hands automatically going to his thighs to pull him closer. They fit together perfectly, and taehyun leaned in to give him a quick peck.

"Let's keep this as our vacation home. I know you will miss this place if I just up and take you away, and I know you will come with me without complaint because you probably feel guilty keeping me from the ocean for so long-"

Beomgyu glanced away briefly, confirming taehyun's suspicions. 

"Plus soobin and hyuka are still here, and I would never make you leave your friends. But I also don't want to live anywhere without you," beomgyu swallowed the lump in his throat at that, "so I was thinking we can compromise. You come live down south with me for half a year, and then we come live up here for half a year. I'm sure the old stale chip would gladly let us live here. He didn't want to get rid of the house anyways, and it would be such a waste after I'm spending all this time remodeling it…"

Beomgyu started to smile wide, reaching out to wrap his arms around taehyun's neck.

"Also grandpa absolutely loves you so he would be happy to see you every year. But he's annoying, so it would be nice to get away from it all and stay up here where it's quiet, and we can sit by the fireplace, just the two of us." Taehyun nuzzled his face into beomgyu's neck, breathing in deeply. 

"That sounds really nice…" beomgyu trailed off, closing his eyes as taehyun left soft kisses on his neck. 

"We can set up a studio in both homes, for your music and for Toto. He can come too. And I want to take you travelling. I want you to see all the places you should've seen with your parents," he said that last part with a little bit of animosity. He doesn't care how nice and lovely beomgyu's parents might be, he won't forgive them for essentially abandoning their child.

Beomgyu tightened his arms around taehyun, hugging him close. "I always felt like a third wheel with them," he admitted quietly for only taehyun to hear. He's never spoken those words before to anybody else. "They were good parents, and I don't hate them, but I always felt...left out."

"No child should have to compete for their parents' love," taehyun wrapped his arms around beomgyu's waist. "I don't care how much they love each other, they should've given you the attention you clearly needed growing up."

Beomgyu wrapped his legs loosely around taehyun's waist. "It's all in the past now. There's no reason to feel negatively about them."

"Fine, I'll just have to make up for all the years you lost with them third wheeling you," taehyun promised. 

Beomgyu buried his face into taehyun's shoulder. "Don't say stuff like that, it makes me fall in love with you a little more."

Taehyun grinned. "I think I'll have to say it more often then. I'm going to spend every moment with you, telling you how much I love you. We're going to dance on the beach, swim in the ocean, lay by the fireplace, watch the snow fall, and do everything in-between. When we both have days off from work, we're gonna go on vacation and travel and let you experience the different sounds of the world. And naturally we will annoy soobin, yeonjun, and hyuka whenever we want."

Beomgyu leaned away to look into taehyun's face, cupping his cheeks in-between his palms. "You're starting to sound suspiciously like you're proposing to me," he said with sparkly brown eyes. 

Taehyun smiled knowingly, kissing beomgyu softly on the lips.

"If you want it to be. In fact, anything you want, it's yours." 

Beomgyu smiled as he kissed him back. "Oh I would definitely want that."