Archive of Our Own ^beta

Tell me how all this, and love too, will ruin us. 

— Scheherazade, Richard Siken

“You were made for a reason,” Minghao’s mother always said. “Look at your hand, Minghao. You were created for them.”

“Them?” Minghao learned to ask. “Why are there two? Why does everyone else only have one?”

Minghao’s mother never had an answer to that beyond a shaky smile and a soft “I don’t know, honey.”

She still said he was created for them. Them, as in plural. Them, as in the two people that Minghao would learn to tear his heart in two for. Then again, isn’t that what love is? Minghao doesn’t know, but all the stories about soulmates make it seem like it—step one, meet your soulmate. Step two, rip yourself open and hand over the shreds of what’s left. Step three, fall in love with what’s left of the other.

Minghao worries, is the thing. He worries that if he rips himself open and splits the shreds, there won’t be anything left of him to love. He feels small, feels little again every time he thinks of it. He’s only so big. He only has so much to give away.

Still, the strings on his finger pull him in two distinct directions. 

He very quickly learns that it’s easiest to not talk about it. He’s never been able to keep a friend once they find out that he’s a freak, so when he finds Seokmin and Mingyu, a soulmate pair, he opts for the easier path and decides to not tell them that he has two strings. It’s not like anyone else can see them. It’s not like they’d ever know. 

Until he finds his soulmates, that is, but he’ll burn that bridge when he gets there. If he gets there. His strings pull so far apart. 

“Minghao!” Seokmin calls across the lunchroom. Minghao is sitting on his own again, but he doesn’t mind. He knows that Seokmin and Mingyu will sit with him. He just has to wait. “Save us a spot!”

Seokmin yells it all the time, but Minghao never has to worry about that. Everyone thinks that Mingyu and Seokmin are freaks too—they’re soulmates, but they’re not together. “Not yet,” they always say. They’re waiting. High school isn’t exactly the prime time to start a lifelong relationship. Minghao thinks it’s very mature of them. Everyone else thinks they’re strange. Minghao is alright with it—it means he never has to ask anyone to move to save Mingyu and Seokmin’s spots. Removes the awkward situation before it ever comes about.

Minghao smiles when the two of them sit down across from him, relieved to see them. He hasn’t spoken to anyone today and his voice is a little rough when he tries to.

“Hey guys,” Minghao says. He clears his throat. “How are your days?”

“Too busy,” Seokmin sighs. “I’ve got theatre rehearsals later and I feel like I’ve already had a full day.”

“Mine’s pretty chill,” Mingyu says with a shrug. “Do you want to play video games after school? You can come over to my house. Seok, you can come over after if you want.”

“As long as we do our homework first,” Minghao says.

“Alright, mom,” Mingyu laughs. “We’ll do our homework first.”

Seokmin groans. “I wish I could just come home with you guys.”

“You love rehearsal,” Mingyu says.

“I love rehearsal,” Seokmin groans. “I’ll be over afterwards.”

“Good,” Minghao says. It works out—Minghao and Mingyu live close enough together that they drive to and from school together anyway. It’s kind of perfect for Minghao, who’s younger than anyone else in his class by far. Skipping a grade in elementary school really did him dirty on the driving front, but it means that Minghao can just hang out in the passenger seat of Mingyu’s car, so he can’t really complain.

He’s still not complaining about hanging out in Mingyu’s car when it’s the only place they can smoke during freshman year of college without setting off a fire alarm or getting fined to hell by an RA. 

“Do you think we’ll all be together when we die?” Seokmin asks.

“Way to kill the vibe,” Mingyu laughs. “But yeah, obviously. Why wouldn’t we be?”

“Minghao’s soulmate,” Seokmin says. “Maybe he’ll get in the way of us living together in the afterlife.”

“He can just join us,” Mingyu says. Minghao feels like he’s going to vibrate out of his skin. “We can take one more.”

“No one will even have to sit in the middle seat,” Seokmin says.

“Why are we in a car in the afterlife?” Minghao asks, his voice shaking. He can blame it on being too high, it’s fine. Someone is going to have to go in the middle seat. 

“Because this car is never going to die,” Seokmin says with a shrug. He takes another hit and coughs with it like he always does. “Maybe we’re never going to die.”

“No, I think we will,” Minghao says after a moment of silence for all of Seokmin’s brain cells. “No, I think we’ll definitely die.”

Seokmin looks like he’s thinking too hard. “Oh. I guess that’s fair.”

Mingyu is looking at Seokmin like Seokmin is the best thing he’s ever seen and it nearly makes Minghao laugh. Seokmin looks so stupid right now, but Mingyu is so in love with Seokmin that he looks stupid. Maybe that’s what love is at the end of the day—the willingness to lose all of your cool just for someone to look back at you.

Seokmin looks back when Mingyu is looking away, making some joke to Minghao that Minghao doesn’t really catch, but he nods along anyway. Seokmin always looks at Mingyu like Mingyu couldn’t be better, even when Mingyu is tripping over nothing on the quad. 

Minghao looks down at his strings. He wonders if they’ll ever look at him like that. He takes another hit and decides not to think about it. Not when there’s no middle seat for them in the afterlife. He looks back at Seokmin and Mingyu and tries to smile.

“Hao, when do you think you’ll find your soulmate?” Seokmin asks. “I feel like I’m waiting too.”

Minghao laughs. “I don’t know. It comes really late in life for some people, doesn’t it?”

Minghao doesn’t know what he’s wishing for—if he finds them now, Seokmin and Mingyu will realize he’s a freak and leave. If he doesn’t find them until later, he spends so much time missing them. He misses them already. He doesn’t know how much longer he can handle it.

“Yeah, but I bet that’s not you,” Mingyu says. “I bet you meet them in college. It’s only the second semester, you’ve got time.”

“I haven’t felt a pull when I’ve been on campus though.” 

“Maybe they’re younger than you and they’ll be here next year,” Mingyu says.

“Even younger than our baby?” Seokmin asks, appalled. “Say it ain’t so.”

Mingyu snorts, a completely unattractive noise that puts stars in Seokmin’s eyes. “He’s not that young.”

“I’m plenty old, thanks,” Minghao defends. “It’s okay if I don’t meet them here though. I’m fated to meet them sometime, right?”

“Right,” Mingyu says. He yawns and snuffs out the joint. “We should head back in. I’m exhausted.”

“I’m sleeping with you guys,” Seokmin says. “No way I’m going back to my prissy roommate while I reek of weed.”

Minghao laughs. “Fine, but you’re not sharing my bed. You and Mingyu can figure that out.”

Mingyu groans. “But you’re so little and I’m so… not.”

“Good luck,” Minghao says with a shrug as he gets out of the car. “I’ll be interested to see how this one goes for you.”

Minghao realizes he made the wrong decision around 2 am, when he can hear Mingyu and Seokmin whispering to each other in the dark while he feigns sleep.

“I’m just worried about him,” Seokmin says. “If we get together and he doesn’t have anyone—”

“You know he wouldn’t mind,” Mingyu says. He says something a little quieter and Minghao can’t make it out. “It’s not like we’re ditching him anyway. He’s our best friend.”

Seokmin sighs heavily. “I know. I just don’t want him to be lonely.”

Minghao turns over, still pretending he’s asleep, and the noise is enough to break the conversation. He’s grateful. He didn’t know how much more of their pity he could listen to. 

If he disappears in the morning before Mingyu and Seokmin wake up, that’s his business. He just needs some time to get used to being alone.

Seokmin and Mingyu hold out until the second semester of sophomore year, when Minghao catches them making out in his and Mingyu’s dorm room.

“Hey guys,” Minghao says nonchalantly, leaning in the doorway. 

“Minghao!” Seokmin says, jumping up and out of bed. He knees Mingyu in the stomach in the process and Minghao just watches it all happen. “We were just—”

“Kissing,” Minghao says. “I don’t know why you’re freaking out.”

“Because we were kissing and we haven’t told you that we’re kissing now and—” 

Minghao cuts Seokmin off with a hand raised. He looks at Mingyu. “How long has this been going on?”

“Us together? Um, about 20 minutes,” Mingyu says, his cheeks flaring bright red.

“That’s what I figured,” Minghao says. “You weren’t keeping anything from me, Seok. You didn’t have to run and tell me right after you kissed.”

“I tried to tell him that,” Mingyu huffs. “He wanted to.”

“But then you got distracted,” Minghao fills in.

“Then we got distracted,” Seokmin says. His whole face looks like an overripe tomato and Minghao doesn’t laugh, but he really wants to.

“It’s really okay,” Minghao tells them. “I promise. As long as you would have told me soon.”

“We would have!” Mingyu says quickly. “We would have told you today. Sorry you had to walk in on it.”

Minghao laughs. “Maybe we should figure something out about that one. It wasn’t my favorite thing to ever happen to me, I’ll admit. It’s not often that you watch your best friends make out.”

Seokmin shivers. “It’s kind of gross if you say it like that.”

“It’s kind of gross to see it,” Minghao says. “Sock on the doorknob, maybe?”

“It’s not like we planned for it to happen,” Mingyu defends.

Minghao sighs. “When it starts happening, just take a second, think of your good friend Minghao, and put a sock on the doorknob. I’m begging you.”

“We can do that,” Seokmin says. “Yeah, we can do that. I’m really sorry.”

“What are you sorry for?” Minghao asks.

Seokmin rubs at the back of his neck, clearly nervous. “I know it’s going to change our dynamic. I don’t want you to feel left out.”

Minghao debates whether or not he should be honest. He opts for it and hopes they don’t throw him out of his own room. 

“Of course it’s going to change,” Minghao says gently, sitting on his bed. “And of course I’m going to feel left out. But there’s always been something between you two that I’ve been left out of. It’s not a new feeling.”

“Minghao.” Seokmin sounds devastated. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

“It’s the nature of being part of a trio when two of you are soulmates,” Minghao says with a shrug. “I knew what I was getting into.”

“I still think you’re one of my soulmates in some way,” Seokmin says softly. “If there could be two strings.”

“Yeah,” Minghao says faintly. “If there could be.”

“Please let us know if we can do anything to help that feeling though,” Mingyu says. “If we’re ever doing something that makes you feel bad or anything.”

“Yeah, of course,” Minghao says. He’s lying, but it’s for their sake. He’s not going to ruin their fun because he can’t be on his own. “Thanks, guys. I’ll let you two get back to whatever you were doing.”

He gets up to go and Seokmin catches him on his way out, pulling him into a hug. “We love you. I love you.”

“Love you too,” Minghao says quietly. “Have fun being in love. It’s a good thing, Seok. I’ve been waiting.”

“We’re waiting with you too,” Mingyu says with a small smile. Minghao’s heart pangs. 

They’re all waiting for something—Mingyu and Seokmin are waiting for Minghao’s soulmate and Minghao is waiting for it all to come crashing down.

The strings join on a Thursday.

Minghao feels the tug on them and thinks that this is it, this is when he gets to meet them. This is when everything falls into place and falls apart. He goes to follow the tugging, but he stops in his place when he realizes: they’re both pulling at once, despite going in two directions.

But— Are they?

He watches in fascination and muted horror as the strings begin to pull together, all at once in the same direction until they’re joined, nearly overlapping. The tugging stops. The strings fall slack, still twined together. Minghao wants to be sick, wants to beg and plead with the strings to turn back time, to separate, because he knows.

He knows. His chest aches something awful and he knows.

It still takes him three months to admit it.

Seokmin finds him in bed after four days of radio silence, wrapped in blankets with tears dripping down his cheeks. Seokmin has to understand, he’s tried to stop crying, but he can’t. He just can’t. 

“Hao,” Seokmin says softly when he walks into Minghao’s bedroom. “Hey, where have you been?”

“Here,” Minghao whispers. He can’t speak any louder than that for fear of his voice cracking. “I’ve been here.”

“Oh, honey,” Seokmin says. He comes to sit next to Minghao and he runs a hand through his hair, cupping his cheek with one hand. “What’s wrong? You know you can tell me anything.”

Minghao can’t, but he does anyway. He already lost his soulmates. He might as well lose everything. Maybe it’s all he’s meant for.

“I have two strings,” Minghao says, staring at the wall behind Seokmin. “They’ve always been far apart. They joined together three months ago and haven’t separated. They’re together. They’re together without me.”

Seokmin brings Minghao into a hug, letting Minghao tuck his face into his neck and cry even as it soaks his shirt. “Minghao, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you’ve been holding this alone. I’m so sorry they’re together. It’s not fair, is it?”

“No,” Minghao chokes out. “No, it’s not fair.”

“They could still be waiting for you.”

“I’d never catch up,” Minghao says. “They’ve been together without me for three months. They’re soulmates, they’ve been happy. Why would they want to change that?”

“Wouldn’t you be waiting in their situation?” Seokmin asks.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to be together without all of us.”

“Oh,” Seokmin says. He holds Minghao tighter. “I understand. I’m so sorry, Hao. I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry for being a freak,” Minghao says. He still buries it into Seokmin’s shoulder, even as he braces himself for Seokmin to pull away. 

He doesn’t. “You’re not a freak, honey. It’s not your fault that you have two soulmates. There’s just so much love in you, they had to split it up. So much to love.”

Minghao feels the sobs tearing out of him and he can’t help it. He can’t. He can’t do anything, can he? He can’t help the way he rips in half. He keeps the shreds for himself. There’s no one to give them to.

Seokmin shifts them so they’re lying down and Minghao is on his chest, Seokmin’s arms around Minghao’s waist, and it’s not long before Mingyu shows up and curls himself around Minghao on his other side. 

“Hey, Hao. Seok texted me,” Mingyu says softly. “I’m so sorry.”

“Will you stay?” Minghao asks. Stay tonight, please, he wants to beg. Pretend you don’t have your own apartment to go back to. Pretend it’s still just the three of us, that nothing has changed. Pretend, just for the night. 

“Of course,” Mingyu says. “Of course we’ll stay.”

Seokmin kisses the top of Minghao’s head softly and Minghao laces his fingers with Mingyu’s and keeps the shreds to himself. He owes them that. He can’t ask for any more than this.

The three of them sit together at graduation and their families sit together and there’s cheering when Minghao walks across the stage, but Minghao can’t hear it. It rings empty. His strings stay slack.

Chat: $19.97? that was a great year

Mingyu: seokmin the chat name isn’t funny

Seokmin: i just said it to the cashier at the bookstore and they laughed

Minghao: they get paid money to laugh at customer’s jokes

Seokmin: :( 

Mingyu: fine, it was very funny

Seokmin: :) 

Minghao: are you two coming over for dinner tonight? it’s wednesday

Mingyu: my parents actually want to take us out, it’s almost our anniversary

Seokmin: rain check for next week’s dinner?

Minghao: sure

Minghao: have fun!

Minghao frowns at his phone and tries not to let it get to him. It’s just one week that they’re missing. They have dinner every Wednesday and they have since college. It’s fine for them to miss one every now and then. It’s sweet that Mingyu’s parents are taking them out.

Sure, he usually goes when their parents take them out. Sure, it’s usually all of them. That’s fine. It doesn’t have to be. It’s about their anniversary. It’s different.

It’s different. It’s been a little different since Mingyu and Seokmin got engaged, but that’s alright. They’re 25, they’re grown with their own lives. Minghao isn’t going to be involved with everything they do now that they’re planning their wedding and starting their own family. That’s okay. He can be okay with that.

He is. He’s okay with it.

He goes back to his apartment and makes the same meal he was going to, but he’ll just have leftovers to take to work. It works out in the end. He’s okay with it.

They miss the next Wednesday too, something about touring a venue for their wedding. They take a rain check. Minghao waves it off, tells Seokmin on the phone that he understands, it’s the only time the venue was available. He gets it. 

He’s okay with it. He is.

Minghao found a coffee shop to frequent a few months ago and his pseudo-friendship with Jihoon has finally developed enough for Jihoon to know what Minghao orders, so he’s considering it a success. 

He’s at the coffee shop working on his laptop and he’s debating packing up when the strings tug. 

He hasn’t felt it in four years, but there’s no mistaking it. There’s a distinct tugging on his pinky and when he looks down, the strings are taut again and they’re leading directly to the door where two men have just walked in. The two look down at their fingers and follow their own strings straight to Minghao right as he brushes past them on his way out the door. One of them calls after him, asks him to wait, but he keeps his head down and walks quickly down the sidewalk toward his apartment. He regrets not driving today. 

There are footsteps running up behind him and his strings tug and he wants to be sick. 

“Wait, please,” one of them begs, coming to a stop in front of Minghao. The other one jogs up and joins him. “Please wait. You’re our—”

“Soulmate,” Minghao finishes. “Yeah, I know.”

“I’m Junhui,” the first one says. “This is Wonwoo.”

Minghao gives him a small smile. The two of them are gorgeous, tall and willowy with hopeful smiles on their faces, and they look like everything Minghao has ever dreamed of. His smile fades.

“I should go,” Minghao says softly.

“Wait,” Wonwoo says. He puts his hand out, but seems to question it at the last second and drops it awkwardly. “What’s your name?”

“Maybe it’s better if we don’t do that,” Minghao says. He takes a few steps backwards. He’ll go the long way to his apartment, it’s fine. “I’ve seen the strings together for four years. It’s okay. I understand.”

“I don’t,” Junhui says, his face falling. He looks like he’s about to cry. Minghao looks away. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re excited now because we’ve never met before, but you don’t need me,” Minghao says gently. “It’s better if we just accept that to begin with. I can’t— I can’t. I’m going to go. It was nice to meet you both.”

“Wait,” Wonwoo says, but Minghao has already turned around. 

Junhui calls out again, some half-broken “please” that Minghao ignores, walking as quickly as he can away from them. He wipes at his eyes and is horrified to find out that he’s crying, that he’s probably been crying the whole time. The strings tug his hand behind him until they fall slack again. He loops back around a few blocks down, going back toward his apartment, and the strings don’t tug again.

Tears stream down his face and he wipes at them harshly, rubbing with his sleeve and trying to erase all of the evidence. It’s Wednesday. Mingyu and Seokmin will be over soon. He can’t— He can’t. He can’t tell them. They’d be so disappointed in him for running, but he knows it’s for the best. He knows it would be worse if he got to know Junhui and Wonwoo before they fell apart. It’s bad enough that he knows their names, that he’s almost certainly going to look them up tonight and punish himself with it.

He makes it through dinner with a few smiles and fewer words, but they’re used to him being quiet. They’re bickering about some song that may or may not play at their reception and Minghao lets them talk, lets it wash over him and soothe him. This is what he has, these are his people. It’s okay that when they asked him if he wanted to reserve two extra spaces at the wedding just in case, he said “no.” It’s okay. He’ll be okay. He has them. Mingyu finally breaks, laughing, and Seokmin laughs with him. Minghao laughs with them and it only hurts a little bit.

When Mingyu and Seokmin leave, Minghao lets himself look them up. He searches their location and, despite himself, searches their names together. The first thing that comes up is Junhui’s Instagram, covered in photos of him and Wonwoo. The pictures go back years, old photos from college graduation and a celebratory post about their new apartment. 

They’re happy. They’re in love and they’re happy. Minghao blocks both of their accounts and cries until he can’t anymore, until he’s falling asleep and dreaming of them.

“Minghao,” someone calls in the produce section of the grocery store. His strings tug like it’s the first time. They’re not supposed to do that. “Minghao, wait.”

Minghao turns around to find Junhui and Wonwoo, their hands laced together between them, and he wants to smile at how sweet they look together. He just can’t put one together. 

He knows he’s been cornered. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Junhui says breathlessly. “You’re here.”

“Just on my way home,” Minghao says, trying to hold himself together. He doesn’t know how to get out of this.

Wonwoo looks like he’s steeling himself to speak. “It’s been weeks. We haven’t been able to find you.”

“I didn’t want to be found,” Minghao says quietly. “I’m not sure how you know my name. You weren’t supposed to.”

“Jihoon,” Junhui says. “He’s one of our best friends. He knew who you were. You haven’t been back to the shop.”

“I figured you’d look for me there,” Minghao admits. “You two don’t seem like the accepting type.”

Wonwoo frowns. “We accept things when they make sense. You don’t.”

“He means to say that in a nicer way,” Junhui says. They speak for each other. Great. Minghao wants to die. “But he’s not wrong. You ran and didn’t even tell us why.”

“I did tell you,” Minghao says. “You don’t need me. I don’t know how to be more clear.”

“Of course we need you,” Junhui says. “We’ve been waiting for you. I’ve been waiting for you for my whole life.”

Minghao smothers the hope that flares up. “It’s sweet of you to say that, but you haven’t been. You’ve been living happily without me for years.”

“That doesn’t mean we weren’t waiting for you,” Wonwoo says defensively. Minghao tries to smile at him. It doesn’t work.

“It does,” Minghao says. He hikes his bag further up on his shoulder and puts the container of strawberries in his hands back. “I really don’t want to be here right now. I’m going to go.”

“Please don’t,” Junhui says. He’s apparently less afraid than Wonwoo is, because he untangles his hand from Wonwoo’s to take Minghao’s hand. “Please, Minghao. Please talk to us. Please talk to me.”

“We don’t have anything to talk about.”

“Yes, we do,” Junhui says. His face is set in a hard line and Minghao sighs. Junhui squeezes his hand. “Please just give us a chance. One chance to talk. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“It’s better if—”

“No,” Junhui interrupts. “No, don’t say that. It’s not better. Please, Minghao. I’m willing to beg.”

Minghao sighs again and runs his free hand down his face. “One chance. We’ll talk once and that’s it.”

“Thank you,” Junhui says, breathing out a heavy sigh. “Can we meet at the coffee shop?”

“I have time tomorrow,” Minghao says. They’re still holding hands. “After work. Around 6.”

“We can be free,” Wonwoo says. “Yeah, we’ll meet you there.”

“Okay,” Minghao says. He pulls his hand from Junhui’s and Junhui looks almost disappointed. “I’m going to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Promise?” Wonwoo asks softly. It’s too vulnerable of a sound. Minghao wants to vomit. 

“I promise,” Minghao says. “I’ll be there. Once.”

“Okay,” Wonwoo says. “Okay. Thank you. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

They don’t take each other’s hands again. Some ugly thing in Minghao is grateful. He doesn’t think he could quite handle it right now when he’s already made himself this vulnerable. He nods and walks away before they can say anything else, before he can say anything else, before he starts crying. He’s already cried in front of them once. He doesn’t need to do it again. 

He calls Seokmin on the way home and tries not to choke on his tears. 

“Hao? What’s up?”

“I met them,” Minghao says, his voice breaking on it. “I met them and I’m meeting them again tomorrow.”

“Oh, Minghao,” Seokmin says. “I know you weren’t looking forward to this.”

“They’re so— Insistent,” Minghao says. “I met them once before and I ran, but they found me again and they knew my name and… I don’t know. I promised I would have coffee with them tomorrow. I don’t know why I said yes. They were begging.”

“Honey, maybe they really have been waiting for you,” Seokmin says gently. 

“They wouldn’t be holding hands in front of me if they were,” Minghao whispers. He’s stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and he wants to double over from the pain in his chest. “They were holding hands.”

“I’m so sorry,” Seokmin says, sadness dripping in his voice. “Maybe their waiting just looks different.”

“Maybe,” Minghao echoes. “I don’t want to go, Seokmin.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I promised.”

Seokmin sighs. “Sometimes we break promises. I don’t think you should break this one though, Hao. This could be really good for you.”

“I’m not going to be with them.”

“Then think of it as closure,” Seokmin says. “I don’t know, Minghao. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just think you should go. Give them a chance to tell you who they are. Maybe it’ll go differently than you think.”

“Maybe,” Minghao says again. “I’ll go.”

“Good,” Seokmin says. “Call me afterwards, okay? Let me know how it goes. When are you meeting them?”

“6.”

“I’ll expect a call tomorrow night then,” Seokmin says. “Mingyu and I can come over after. Or just one of us, if that’s overwhelming.”

“You know I’ll always want both of you,” Minghao says softly. “Thanks.”

“I love you, Hao.”

“Love you too,” Minghao whispers. “Bye, Seok.”

Seokmin says his goodbye and hangs up. Minghao walks home and leaves the aching feeling of dread behind him when the strings finally go slack.

Junhui and Wonwoo are sitting at a small table in the corner with three drinks in front of them when Minghao walks into the coffee shop after work. Minghao sees Jihoon at the counter and they nod at each other, some unspoken “I’m sorry for giving away your name, but they’re my best friends” and “it’s okay, I’d do it too,” all in one.

“Hello,” he says quietly, setting his bag down next to the open seat. 

“Hi!” Junhui says a little too eagerly. Minghao hates how endearing it is. “We got your drink.”

“That was sweet of you,” Minghao says as he sits down. “Thank you.”

“Of course,” Wonwoo says with a small smile. “Thank you for agreeing to talk to us. We just want to, um, get to know you, if that’s okay.”

“I’m not really sure why,” Minghao says. He might as well be honest.

“Are we getting right into it then?” Junhui asks. “Okay. Why would you say that?”

“We’re not—” Minghao stops and tries to figure out how to say this kindly. He doesn’t want to hurt them. “This isn’t going anywhere. I agreed to meet you once, but that’s it. I don’t really want to get my heart broken more than I already have.”

Junhui looks devastated. Minghao doesn’t like that he can read him so easily. It only makes this harder. “What do you mean, more than you already have?”

“I’ve had to see that the two of you are together for years,” Minghao says quietly. He stares at the table. “Without me. I don’t think you understand what that’s like.”

“No, we don’t,” Wonwoo says gently. “I don’t really understand what’s going through your head at all.”

Minghao gives him a small smile. “It’s kind of a mess up there.”

“We can help you untangle it, maybe?” Wonwoo asks. “Talk through it. I just want to understand where you’re coming from.”

“It’s—” Minghao sighs, trying to gather his thoughts. They feel like they’re slipping from between his fingers the longer he looks at Wonwoo and Junhui. They just look so eager, so attentive, like they really care. It hurts more than Minghao wants to admit. “I’m not interested in being an outsider. You’ve been together for years. You have a dynamic, a settled life, your own thing. I’d change everything and I can’t stand the idea of you two resenting me or the idea of just being the forgotten third in a relationship that already exists. I don’t belong there. Although, I guess I’m assuming that’s how you want me. I’m assuming a lot, actually, that’s—”

“That’s how we want you,” Junhui says, cutting in. “That’s what we’ve been trying to say. We’ve been waiting for you this entire time.”

“You weren’t though,” Minghao says. “You got together.”

“Were we… not supposed to?” Wonwoo asks. He seems genuinely confused and Minghao’s heart aches with the resentment that’s lived in him for so long. They don’t even know what they’ve done. 

Minghao is so tired. “I wouldn’t have. I know what it’s like to be an add-on. I wouldn’t have done that to either of you.”

Junhui’s face crumples. “Minghao, that’s not— That’s never what we wanted.”

“I’m sure it’s not,” Minghao says softly. “I’m sure you never meant any harm. It doesn’t change anything for me.”

“You wouldn’t be an add-on,” Wonwoo says. “We’ve held a space open for you for all of these years. We’ve never been… complete, I guess. There’s always been something missing.”

Minghao shakes his head. “You can’t tell me you’ve been happily together for four years and haven’t been complete.”

“That’s what we’re telling you,” Junhui says. His voice is gentle, but it’s firm. “I don’t know how to prove that to you.”

Wonwoo is silent for a moment before his hand flexes on the table like he’s bracing himself for something. “We have three of everything. Any matching mugs that people have gotten us, we’ve gotten a third of. We have three hooks for coats in the hallway. We have three chairs at our weird little kitchen table. We’ve been making space for you for four years.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” Wonwoo says softly. “We’ve been waiting. Junhui isn’t a very patient person either. I can’t tell you how many times he’s talked about you even before we saw you, let alone since we met.”

“Hey!” Junhui yelps. “Let’s not expose me.”

Wonwoo gives him a soft smile that makes Minghao’s chest ache. “It’s for the good of our relationship, babe.”

“If it means we have one, that’s fine,” Junhui says, looking at Minghao. He looks hopeful. Minghao wants to cry.

“Maybe,” Minghao says after a moment. “That’s the most I can give you right now.”

“We’ll take it,” Wonwoo says immediately. “We can work with ‘maybe.’”

Junhui looks like he’s about to burst. His smile is so bright and it’s a little rectangular. Minghao likes it on him. “Can you tell us everything about yourself now?”

Minghao laughs and Junhui sucks in a breath. 

“You have a pretty laugh,” Wonwoo says quietly. He says most things quietly. It’s soothing. He’s soothing. “Very cute.”

Minghao knows he’s probably blushing and he hides his face in his hands. “Thanks.”

He feels someone take one of his hands and he looks up to see that it’s Junhui, pulling one of his hands down and lacing their fingers together. His grip is loose, giving Minghao a chance to pull away, but he smiles and Minghao doesn’t move. 

“Don’t hide, please,” Junhui says. “Not from us.”

“Okay,” Minghao says softly. “Um, I guess I’ll start with the basics?” Wonwoo nods. “I’m 25—”

“You’re younger than us!” Junhui says. “Babe, I told you.”

“You were guessing,” Wonwoo laughs. “I don’t know why you look like you won something. I never said you were wrong.”

“You never said I was right,” Junhui says.

“Stop it,” Minghao laughs. “I barely got through one fact. We’re going to be here all night.”

Junhui squeezes his hand. “You say that like it’s the worst thing possible.”

“I do eventually have to go home,” Minghao says. “My best friends are kind of waiting to make sure I don’t fall apart.”

Junhui looks too sad for Minghao’s comfort. “They were worried about that?”

“I don’t think we need to rehash the whole outsider thing again right now,” Minghao says.

Wonwoo hums. “No, not right now. We’re not done with that conversation though, Hao.”

Minghao feels his smile grow on his face despite the vague threat. “Sure. Anyway, I’m 25 and I’m in fashion design. Um, I don’t do too many interesting things, but I do have a cat.”

Wonwoo leans forward. “A cat?”

Minghao uses his free hand to pull out his phone and he shows both of them his lock screen. “Her name is Shrimp. I’ve had her since I got my own apartment a few years ago. She’s a terrible roommate. Never even pays rent.”

“Wonwoo’s wanted a cat forever,” Junhui says with a laugh. “I’ve always said not until—”

“Not until we knew if you were allergic,” Wonwoo says when Junhui falls silent. “Might as well tell you. Might help convince you.”

Minghao smiles and shoves down the way his heart flips at the statement. “Well, now you know I’m not.”

“Now we know,” Wonwoo says with a small smile. “Show us more pictures?”

Minghao does, which expands into showing photos of him with Seokmin and Mingyu, which expands into explaining that he’s best friends with a soulmate pair. Junhui looks at him knowingly, but he’s kind enough to not say anything. He’s still holding Minghao’s hand. 

“I should get home,” Minghao says an hour and a half later. “They’re probably already at my apartment and they both refuse to feed Shrimp her wet food.”

“Because it’s a little gross,” Junhui says, wrinkling his nose. “I’d do it though, for the record.”

Minghao laughs. “Noted.”

“Can we see you again?” Wonwoo asks tentatively. “Maybe separately? It might not be as overwhelming that way.”

Minghao doesn’t want to acknowledge that Wonwoo apparently knows him enough to know exactly what he was overwhelmed by. “Yeah, that would be good.”

“I’ll take you out first,” Wonwoo says right as Junhui opens his mouth. Junhui smacks him on the shoulder lightly.

“I was going to call dibs,” Junhui says.

“You’re holding his hand,” Wonwoo says with a shrug. “I get the first date.”

“Don’t call it a date or I’ll cry,” Junhui nearly whines. 

Minghao squeezes his hand. “It’s not a date. I’m not— I’m not there yet.”

Wonwoo smiles at him softly. “Not a date. Got it.”

“Can we get your number?” Junhui asks. “So we can plan. And so we can make a group chat, I’ll be honest.”

Minghao laughs and gives Junhui his number, letting him make a group chat. “I really should go now. I’ll see you both soon.”

Junhui runs his thumb along Minghao’s knuckles before he lets go of his hand. “See you soon, Hao.”

“Bye, Minghao,” Wonwoo says quietly, catching Minghao’s hand as he stands and squeezing it lightly before he lets go. “Let us know when you get home safe.”

“I’ll text you,” Minghao says. He nods at Jihoon as he walks out.

He texts them when he gets home, even as Seokmin and Mingyu jump all over him. He doesn’t hate it. He doesn’t hate any of it.

Wonwoo meets Minghao outside an art museum near Minghao’s apartment and Minghao wonders how he knew to put this together. 

“You seemed like the type,” Wonwoo says when Minghao asks. “Neither of us have to talk much if we don’t want to either.”

“Kind of my ideal,” Minghao admits. 

Wonwoo smiles. “In we go, in that case.”

Minghao will admit that he’s watching Wonwoo more than he’s paying attention to any of the exhibits—Wonwoo leans in to read the plaque for all of them, humming or making some small comment to Minghao if he likes it. Minghao nods along and adds his own commentary here and there, letting Wonwoo’s soft voice relax his shoulders and even his breathing out. It’s hard for Minghao to relax around people, but it’s easy with Wonwoo.

Wonwoo leads them to another wing and he offers his arm to Minghao, letting Minghao tuck his hand in the crook of his elbow and guiding him along. There’s a small smile playing on Wonwoo’s face and Minghao knows his face is a mirror of it, something shy and tentative. Minghao keeps his hand on Wonwoo’s arm and stands closer than before.

They end up in front of the strangest statue of a man Minghao has ever seen and for some reason, the positioning is what makes him laugh the hardest.

“What’s so funny?” Wonwoo asks. 

Minghao separates for long enough to imitate the position the statue is in. “This looks ridiculous. Who modeled for this?”

Wonwoo laughs. “Hold on, hold on, I have to show Junhui this. Stay there.”

“No, not the photo!” Minghao says, but he stays still anyway. “Now he’s going to think I’m ridiculous.”

“You are, little one,” Wonwoo says fondly. Minghao feels his cheeks go hot at the name. “Look. He loves it.”

Junhui: oh he’s so cute

Junhui: i’m dying

Junhui: i can’t believe you got to see that, this is a crime

Wonwoo: at least i took a picture for you, babe

Junhui: always thinking of me <3

“You are, aren’t you?” Minghao asks softly. “Always thinking of him.”

“Always,” Wonwoo says easily. “He’s constantly on my mind.”

“After so long?”

Wonwoo smiles. “I think it’s only gotten worse as the years have gone by. He’s part of me. You both are.”

“We’re different,” Minghao says softly.

“Yeah, you are,” Wonwoo says. “It’s a good thing. The world can only handle one Junhui. He’s perfect, but the world only needs one of him.”

Minghao smiles. “You love him.”

“I love him,” Wonwoo says. He hesitates before he puts a hand on Minghao’s lower back, guiding him toward the little cafe area. “Come sit with me. I can tell you want to ask questions. We can at least do it over tea.”

Wonwoo leaves Minghao at a table and goes to order, coming back with two mugs in hand and setting one in front of Minghao, nodding at Minghao’s quiet thanks. “Okay, now you can ask.”

“How did you two meet?” Minghao asks after a moment. 

“I work at a bookstore,” Wonwoo says. “He came in one day and we felt the strings pull. I don’t want to say it was easy from there, because it definitely wasn’t, but it worked out. We’re very different, me and Jun. It took us a little bit to find common ground, especially when we knew our dynamic wasn’t supposed to just be the two of us. For a few weeks, I was just hoping you would come along and make things fit.”

Minghao gives a stilted smile. “You figured it out though.”

“We did,” Wonwoo says. He takes a drink of his tea while he thinks. Minghao likes that about Wonwoo—he’s very intentional about everything he does. He does everything like he means it with everything in him. “I adore him. I’d never say that to his face because he’d tease me for it for way too long, but I do. Sometimes, the universe gets it really, really right. They got it right with him. They got it right with the two of us.”

Minghao hums. “I can tell. You look at each other like you’re the only people in the world.”

Wonwoo laughs. “You must not have noticed how Junhui looks at you already, because you wouldn’t say that otherwise.”

Minghao covers his face with his hands. “Stop it.”

“I’m serious,” Wonwoo says softly. “He’s enamored. He doesn’t shut up about it. He doesn’t shut up about most things, granted, but usually the topics vary more.”

“He sounds like a lot of fun,” Minghao says. “I’m excited to spend more time with him. I’m happy you were first though.”

“I could tell you were overwhelmed,” Wonwoo says. “I thought something like this might give you a good buffer and Junhui isn’t a big museum guy.”

“You were right,” Minghao says. “I’m not sure how you figured me out so easily, but I’m not mad about it.”

Wonwoo smiles. “I thought you might have been, honestly.”

Minghao laughs softly. “I haven’t been mad about any of this. I’ve been upset, sure, but mad is different. I’ve been more hurt than anything.”

“Because we got together?”

Minghao hums. “I resented you for years for it. You have to understand that it’s pretty hard to come back from that.”

“I can see that,” Wonwoo says. “For what it’s worth, if we’d known that you’d be hurt by it, we would have stayed friends and waited.”

“Four years is a long time to wait.”

“We would have waited forever for you,” Wonwoo says softly. “I don’t think you get that.”

“I just don’t understand why,” Minghao nearly whispers. It feels like a confession wrenched from deep inside him.

“You’re ours,” Wonwoo says. He hasn’t really made eye contact today, but he holds it now. “It’s that simple, little one.”

Wonwoo smiles when Minghao has to wipe at his eyes before the tears fall. “Oh. I’ve never— Um, my best friends are soulmates. There’s always been this wall, I guess, that I couldn’t cross to get to them.”

“That’s why you said you would have waited,” Wonwoo observes. “You’ve felt like an add-on before.”

“It sucks,” Minghao whispers. “Even when it’s good, it can still hurt. I don’t want that with you two. I don’t want it to hurt.”

“I hope you know that we’d bend over backwards to make sure it doesn’t hurt,” Wonwoo says. “You’re not an add-on. If we get there, you’d be the missing piece. Integral.”

“Thank you for saying ‘if,’” Minghao chokes out through tears. “I’m still a little overwhelmed. I can’t commit to anything.”

“That’s okay,” Wonwoo says with a wry smile. “We’ll wait until you decide.”

Minghao reaches out his hand and Wonwoo takes it, brushing his thumb across Minghao’s knuckles the way that Junhui did the other day. Minghao wonders if they do it to each other. The thought doesn’t hurt like he thought it might. 

“Do you want to go home?” Wonwoo asks. “I’ll take you.”

Minghao nods and Wonwoo takes care of their mugs before he comes back and holds his hand out again. Minghao takes it, intertwining their fingers, and lets Wonwoo walk him home, both of them quiet. When they get to his apartment, Minghao lingers outside his front door.

Wonwoo takes his hand away from Minghao’s and puts it on Minghao’s cheek gently. “Thank you for coming with me today.”

“Thank you for taking me,” Minghao says, his voice achingly soft even to his own ears. “Text me when you get home.”

Wonwoo smiles. “I will. I’ll see you later?”

Minghao hums and nods. Wonwoo’s hand shakes when he leans in to kiss Minghao’s cheek and he backs away quickly, smiling when Minghao’s hand comes up to his cheek.

“Bye, little one,” Wonwoo says before he turns around. Minghao watches him go before he goes into his apartment.

Wonwoo: home safe xx

Minghao: tell junhui i said hello

Wonwoo: he screeched

Minghao: loud of him

Wonwoo: gotta love him

Junhui is waiting outside Minghao’s office building after work one day, his hands in his pockets like he’s about to break into a whistle. “Hao!”

“Hi, Jun,” Minghao says as he walks up. 

“Hi, little one,” Junhui says with a smile. It’s different coming out of his mouth, but Minghao loves it from both of them. His cheeks go hot again. “It’s my turn.”

“Where are we going?” Minghao asks.

Junhui holds his hand out and Minghao takes it, lacing their fingers together and smiling when Junhui’s face brightens. “Ice cream. This way, please.”

Junhui talks about his day as they walk, telling Minghao all of his teacher gossip about his favorite students.

“And two of them got together recently, but I’m not sure how long it will last.”

“You don’t have faith in young love?” Minghao laughs. “How jaded of you.”

“No, I just don’t trust the boy,” Junhui says with a shrug. “Your laugh really is pretty, by the way. You giggle.”

“Ah, yeah, it’s not my favorite thing.”

Junhui squeezes Minghao’s hand. “Well, it’s my favorite thing, so we’ll have to agree to disagree.”

Minghao bites down his smile. Junhui pulls him into an ice cream shop, paying despite his protests and nudging him toward a table. 

“Sit, sit, tell me about your day,” Junhui says. “Got any office drama? I love office drama.”

Minghao sighs. “There’s this guy I hate.”

“Oh, tell me more,”  Junhui laughs. Minghao does, telling Junhui all about the guy in textiles, and Junhui laughs along with the story and it’s nice. It’s strangely domestic, he notes with interest. Minghao feels like he’s coming home after a long day to talk about it with his… what? His friend? His could-be boyfriend?

His soulmate, Minghao decides. Junhui throws his head back when he laughs and yeah. His soulmate.

When they’re done and Minghao has cleaned off the table, Junhui holds his hand out again. Minghao takes it. He thinks he’ll always take it. 

“Care for a walk?” Junhui asks. “There’s a cute park nearby.”

It’s later in the evening, meaning the park is empty, and they end up on the swings next to each other. 

“Can I ask you a question?” Junhui asks. Minghao hums, nodding. “What’s holding you back right now?”

Minghao takes a moment to think. “Fear, I think. I don’t understand why you’d want me around if you already have this life you’ve built together. I’m afraid that I’m going to let myself join it and then find out that I’ve ruined everything.”

“It doesn’t help when we just say we’ve been waiting on you, does it?”

“Not really,” Minghao admits softly. “Not when I don’t understand why.”

“Can I be honest with you?” Junhui asks. “I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

“You can,” Minghao says, looking over at Junhui. “Please.”

“I’ve loved Wonwoo for years and I’ve always known that there’s someone else that I’m meant to love too,” Junhui says. “I used to look at the string that led to you and pray that you would finally come because I missed you so badly. Now that you’re here… you have to understand that you’re better than anything I could have dreamed of. You’re sweet, you’re funny, you’re kind. Helps that you’re drop dead gorgeous. Literally drop dead. Sometimes I think I’m going to when you run your hand through your hair.”

“Stop it,” Minghao says, covering his face. 

Minghao can hear the smile in Junhui’s voice when he talks. “When I say I’ve been waiting for you, I mean it, little one. I’ve been incomplete for 27 years. It feels so different when you’re with me, when you’re with us. It feels like I’m finally not missing you.”

“Jun…”

“I know that’s a lot to put on you,” Junhui says. “I know you haven’t made up your mind yet. I understand. But please know that if you decide not to be with us, we’ll still be waiting. I’ll still be missing you. You’re a part of me, you’re a part of us. That doesn’t just disappear.”

“Okay,” Minghao whispers. “I believe you.”

“Wait, really?” Junhui asks, shock on his face. “You believe me?”

Minghao takes a deep breath and rips himself open. He hands over a shred, keeps the rest for later. “I’ve missed you for so long. I’ve missed Wonwoo for so long. I know exactly what you’re talking about. I believe you.”

“Honestly? I didn’t think you would.”

“I didn’t think I would either,” Minghao admits. “I wanted to, obviously, but that’s different than being able to. But when you said you missed me… I don’t know. That’s how I’ve always felt. That makes it different.”

“Well, I would have said that the first day if I’d known,” Junhui laughs. “In fairness, I was a little busy being heartbroken. You wouldn’t even tell us your name.”

“I thought it was better if I didn’t,” Minghao says softly. “Easier for all of us. Knowing your names hurt because it meant I could look you up later.”

“We figured you did when we found your Instagram and we were both blocked,” Junhui says. “You were quick with that. We found you the next day.”

“Damn Jihoon,” Minghao sighs. “I was trying to protect you both. I was trying to protect myself.”

“I hate that you thought you needed to protect yourself from us,” Junhui says like it tastes bad. “I’d rather die than hurt you.”

“Dramatic.”

“I mean it!” Junhui laughs. “You and Wonwoo both call me that.”

“It’s called being perceived,” Minghao says.

“I’m glad it’s you two, I guess,” Junhui says with a smile. “Ugh, you have no idea how long I’ve waited to say ‘you two.’”

Minghao smiles. “No, I think I get it.”

Junhui gets off his swing and comes behind Minghao, pushing him gently. Minghao laughs and looks back to see Junhui grinning, a little playful, and Minghao can see so clearly how he could fall in love with him. It would be easy, like breathing. Minghao hasn’t breathed the same since the strings joined. He hasn’t breathed the same since he met them. 

“Hey, Junhui?”

Junhui pulls Minghao to a stop with his hands on Minghao’s waist. “What’s up, little one?”

“Thank you for bringing me here,” Minghao says softly, looking up at Junhui. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

Junhui leans down and kisses Minghao’s forehead, a fleeting thing. “Always.”

Junhui walks him home when the sun goes down fully, swinging their hands between them, and they linger in front of Minghao’s front door. Minghao wonders when he’ll invite them in. When they’re all together, he decides. When it’s all three of them. 

He misses Wonwoo. The realization nearly doubles him over, but he stands straight and keeps a smile on his face. 

“What was that?” Junhui asks worriedly. “What were you thinking just then?”

“What do you mean?”

“You looked sad for a second,” Junhui says. “Are you okay?”

Minghao opts for honesty. Junhui has already given him so much of it. “I miss Wonwoo. It was kind of an intense realization.”

Junhui pulls Minghao into a hug and Minghao goes gratefully, tucking his head on Junhui’s shoulder. Junhui’s arms are tight around him and he drops a kiss on Minghao’s temple. Junhui is more physically affectionate than Wonwoo is—he does it like it’s easy. Wonwoo does it like it takes everything from him, but he’s going to do it anyway. Both of them are so special to Minghao that he wants to scream. 

“Let’s go out with all three of us next time,” Junhui says quietly. “How’s that?”

“Yeah,” Minghao whispers. “I’m still glad I got to go out with just you.”

Minghao can feel Junhui’s smile where it’s pressed to his temple. “Me too, little one. 

“Text me when you get home?”

“Of course,” Junhui says. He lets go of Minghao and it feels reluctant. He strokes a hand down Minghao’s cheek before he lets go entirely. “See you soon.”

“Bye, Jun,” Minghao says. He watches Junhui go.

Junhui: home safe!

Minghao: tell wonwoo i said hello

Junhui: he said a very quiet “hello” back

Junhui: it was pretty cute

Minghao: gotta love him

“So,” Seokmin says over Wednesday night dinner. “Your soulmates.”

“My soulmates,” Minghao says evasively. “What about them?”

“Tell us about them,” Mingyu says. “Please? You’ve been so cagey about all of this.”

“I haven’t wanted to ruin anything,” Minghao sighs. “I’m afraid of getting ahead of myself.”

“So there’s something to get ahead of?” Mingyu asks. “Pray tell.”

“Why are you talking like you died in the Victorian era?” Minghao asks.

“Don’t ignore the question,” Seokmin says. “What’s there to get ahead of?”

“I’ve been out with both of them separately at this point,” Minghao says.

“Like, a date?” Mingyu asks.

“Explicitly not a date,” Minghao says. “I wasn’t there yet when we made the plans to go out separately. Wonwoo took me to a museum.”

“So he nailed you down fast,” Mingyu says. “Interesting.”

“Very,” Minghao says. “Junhui took me out to get ice cream and we went on a walk. They’re… perfect. They’re perfect for me. I’m terrified.”

Seokmin looks so sad. “Why, honey?”

“What if they break my heart?” Minghao asks. “What if I fall in love with them and then one or both of them decides they don’t want me in this life they’ve created for themselves?”

“From what you said about them having three of everything, I doubt that,” Seokmin says. “It sounds like you’re already part of their life.”

Minghao sighs. “In the abstract, sure. They’ve held this space open, but it’s never been filled. It’s entirely different from what they’ve had before.”

“Maybe they want that,” Mingyu says. “They have a life, sure, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want it to change. It sounds like they really do want it to change.”

“I don’t know,” Minghao says. He puts his head in his hands. “I could fall in love with them so easily. I can already feel it starting. It scares me.”

“That’s being in love, honey,” Seokmin says. “It’s scary. You’re handing yourself over to someone. In your case, you’re trusting two people with yourself and that’s probably even scarier. It doesn’t mean it’s not right.”

“They’re your soulmates,” Mingyu says. “They’re meant for you. I know it’s scary, but you have security in that.”

“You’re right,” Minghao says. “I’m just… I’ve spent so long being scared of this. Even when they’re so sweet and are clearly interested and are so gentle with me, I’m scared.”

“That’s okay,” Mingyu says. “Let yourself be scared. Let yourself feel all of it, but let yourself be happy too.”

“Yeah,” Minghao says faintly. “Yeah, I know.”

“This is a good thing, Minghao,” Seokmin says. “It could be a really, really good thing if you let it.”

Minghao nods, but he doesn’t have anything else to say. Mingyu and Seokmin mercifully let the subject drop, shifting to talking about the wedding which is coming up quickly, until Seokmin brings it back up.

“We did save two spots,” Seokmin says gently. “Just in case. They’re open for them.”

“Thank you,” Minghao says. He means it. “I might— I might bring them. Are you sure it would be okay? People might be weird about it being three of us.”

“Then they can leave,” Mingyu says with a shrug. “You’re our best friend, not any of them. We’ve been friends for ten years. We’re not going to let anyone be weird to you about it. Bring them if you want. We’d be happy to have them.”

“We want to meet them anyway,” Seokmin says. “Might as well be on the happiest day of our lives.”

“Okay,” Minghao says with a nod. “I’ll think about it. I might ask them.”

“Ask them on a date too,” Seokmin says. “Try it, Minghao. Give it a shot.”

Minghao thinks for a moment before he makes his decision. “Yeah, okay. I’ll call them tonight.”

Both Mingyu and Seokmin smile.

Minghao calls Junhui when they’re gone, waiting patiently until Junhui picks up.

“Hey, little one. What’s up?”

“Is Wonwoo there?” Minghao asks. “I kind of want to talk to both of you.”

“Yeah, let me get him,” Junhui says. He sounds nervous. Minghao smiles despite himself.

“Hey,” Wonwoo says softly after a moment. “What’s going on?”

“Um, I know it’s a little out of the blue to call, but I wanted to ask you both something,” Minghao says. “Would you go on a date with me?”

Minghao hears one of them suck in a harsh breath before Junhui speaks. “Yeah, of course. Of course we’ll go on a date with you.”

“I was thinking that you two could come over for dinner,” Minghao says. “Keep it kind of lowkey.”

“Sounds perfect,” Wonwoo says, and Minghao knows he’s being genuine. Wonwoo isn’t exactly a fancy restaurant person. “We’ll bring something.”

“We can plan in the group chat,” Minghao says. He wonders if they can hear his smile. “I just didn’t want to ask over text.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” Wonwoo says.

“Thank you,” Junhui says. He sounds a little choked up. “Thank you, Minghao.”

“Yeah,” Minghao whispers. “Thank you for saying yes.”

“Always,” Wonwoo says softly.

“I’ll talk to you both later?” Minghao asks.

“Yes,” Junhui says quickly. “For the record, I’m really excited.”

“Me too,” Minghao says. They say their goodbyes and Minghao holds his phone to his chest after he hangs up. He lets himself feel it.

“You’re going to have to play it cool,” Minghao tells Shrimp a few days later. “I know you like new people. Please don’t be overwhelming.”

Shrimp doesn’t say anything because she’s a cat, but she stares at Minghao like maybe she understands. Minghao sighs. Dinner is ready, Wonwoo and Junhui are on their way, and all Minghao is doing is vibrating out of his skin and talking to his cat. It’s already going well.

There’s a soft knock on the door that must be Wonwoo and Minghao takes a deep breath before he opens the door. “Hi.”

“Hi, little one,” Junhui says softly. 

Minghao steps back to let them in and lets them take their shoes and coats off before he takes both of their hands and pulls them to the kitchen. He feels giddy with it, the feeling of both of their hands in his, and Junhui laughs, bright bright bright. 

“I finished dinner a few minutes ago, so—” They’re interrupted by a small meow and Minghao sighs. “I told her to play it cool.”

Wonwoo’s face lights up and he sits on the floor immediately to pet Shrimp. Junhui leans against the counter next to Minghao. Minghao rests his head on Junhui’s shoulder and they both watch Wonwoo, who looks like he’s never been happier while Shrimp twists around him and lets him pet her.

That is, until he looks up and sees them looking at him. His smile somehow grows.

“What a picture you two are,” Wonwoo says softly. 

Minghao smiles and moves to help Wonwoo up. Wonwoo’s hand lingers in his and the moment is sticky sweet, honey in the air. 

Junhui greets Shrimp and meows back at her and Minghao is so endlessly endeared. “I think we’re friends.”

“I think you are,” Minghao laughs. “Dinner is going to get cold though.”

That gets both of their attention and Minghao laughs again, pointing out where the plates are. They settle at his kitchen table and it’s horribly domestic, the way they all talk about their days. It’s a Friday night, so everyone has work gossip that makes all of them laugh and Minghao realizes with startling clarity that this is it. This is all he’s ever wanted. The thought should make him nauseous, nervous, but it settles him instead. This is all he’s ever wanted and it’s right in front of him. He can have it if he just asks. 

Junhui smiles as Wonwoo talks with his hands and Minghao aches with how much they love each other, at how much he could love them. Watching them together is enough to keep Minghao’s attention for days, the easy way they interact, the easy way they love each other. They’ve both commented on how different they are, but Minghao thinks that’s what makes it so special: they’re both different, even a little strange, but they let the other one be so unapologetically themselves. Wonwoo never asks Junhui to quiet down, never asks him to get back on topic when he goes on a tangent. Junhui never minds when Wonwoo speaks softly, just leans forward to hear him, and listens attentively while Wonwoo talks about the new video game he got recently like it’s the most interesting thing he’s ever heard.

Yeah, Minghao could love them. He really could. He thinks he might.

Minghao tells them to leave the dishes in the sink and they all end up in the living room, glasses of wine in hand. Wonwoo and Junhui sit on the couch and Minghao curls up in the chair across the coffee table from them, but he doesn’t feel far away. He doesn’t feel like an outsider, even when Junhui reaches out and takes Wonwoo’s hand. He just watches them together and lets his chest ache with it.

“Can I ask you guys a question?” Minghao asks when the conversation lulls. They both nod. “Did having two strings ever freak you out?”

“Absolutely,” Junhui says. “It took me a long time to get used to the idea of loving two people. It felt too odd at first.”

“I had a lot of people tell me it was wrong,” Wonwoo says. “I didn’t know anyone else with two strings, though I’d seen stories on the internet, but they made it hard to get used to. I don’t think I really understood until I was in college.”

Minghao hums. “I was always worried that I didn’t have enough to split between two people. Like there wasn’t enough of me. Seokmin once told me that I had two soulmates because there was too much love in me and that changed things.”

Wonwoo’s expression softens. “That’s a really good way to put it. I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it like that.”

“I was really scared when I first told him,” Minghao says. “I’d been called a freak so many times and I was worried he’d leave, but he said that instead.”

“He sounds sweet,” Junhui says. “Would we— Would we ever be able to meet them?”

“Actually, about that,” Minghao says. He braces himself for them to say no. “They’re getting married in a few weeks. Would you two want to come with me?”

Junhui’s eyes widen and Wonwoo sets his wine glass down, his hand flexing in that nervous way it does before he speaks. “Are you sure you want us there?”

“Yeah,” Minghao says softly. “Yeah, I’ve thought a lot about it. I want you both there as my— Um, as my dates. If that’s okay.”

“Yes,” Junhui says quickly. “Yes, of course that’s okay.”

“We’d like to go,” Wonwoo says. “If you’ll have us, yeah, we’d like to go.”

Minghao smiles. “They saved two spots even before we met. They’re excited.”

“Are you?” Junhui asks.

“Yeah, I am,” Minghao says. “I’m really excited. Two pretty dates? What more could I want?”

Wonwoo’s cheeks go red and Junhui covers his face with his hands.

“Really?” Minghao asks with a laugh. “That’s all it took? Like you’re not the two prettiest people I’ve ever seen.”

“Come sit with me or stop,” Junhui groans. “Stop looking at me when you say those things.”

Minghao laughs and sets his glass down, going to sit in the space they make between them. They turn in to face him and Junhui buries his face in Minghao’s shoulder.

“Okay, now you can keep talking,” Junhui mutters. Minghao laughs again and cards a hand through his hair, reaching out for Wonwoo with his other hand. Wonwoo takes his hand, twining their fingers together, and he brushes a kiss across Minghao’s knuckles. 

Minghao leans his head on Junhui’s. “It was the first thing that I noticed about both of you. You’re both beautiful. I almost couldn’t talk because of it. I haven’t stopped thinking that.”

Junhui finally looks up. “Look who’s talking. Did you know that we talk about it? How pretty you are?”

“How lucky we got,” Wonwoo says softly. “To have someone so sweet who’s also so beautiful.”

Minghao covers his face with his hands, even as one is still holding Wonwoo’s. It makes Wonwoo laugh and he uses their joined hands to turn Minghao’s face toward him.

“Are you alright with this?” Wonwoo asks. “We’re definitely flirting with you. Is that too much?”

“No, it’s not,” Minghao says. “I promise.”

Junhui moves quickly, pulling Minghao into his lap with his chest to Minghao’s back. “Good. Then can we tell you about how when we’re doing something lately, we always say it would be better if you were there?”

Minghao settles back into Junhui, relaxing into him. Wonwoo is still holding his hand and he smiles. “You can.”

“We miss you all the time, little one,” Wonwoo says, squeezing Minghao’s hand. “Our apartment feels a little emptier now.”

“You and Shrimp, to be clear,” Junhui says. “There’s room for a cat too.”

Wonwoo laughs. “You just want a cat, baby.”

“I do,” Junhui says. Minghao feels him shrug. “And now we have one available to us. Look how things work out.”

“We do have space for both of you,” Wonwoo says with a shrug. “Three chairs, remember?”

“I remember,” Minghao says softly. Junhui wraps an arm around his waist. “Three of everything.”

“Because there’s supposed to be three of us,” Junhui whispers into Minghao’s ear. “Always three of us.”

Minghao feels a shiver run down his spine and he looks up at Junhui before flicking his eyes back to Wonwoo. “Can I kiss you? Both of you?”

“Thought you’d never ask,” Junhui says. Minghao can hear the smile in his voice. “Wonwoo called first weeks ago.”

Minghao laughs and it takes him by surprise. “That works. C’mere.”

Wonwoo moves so he’s sitting on his knees and Minghao leans up to meet him when Wonwoo puts a hand on his cheek. Junhui’s arm stays around his waist and Minghao watches his free hand take Wonwoo’s. Wonwoo’s eyes move to Junhui.

“Go ahead, my love,” Junhui says softly. “You wanted to go first.”

Wonwoo kisses Minghao almost tentatively, like he’s not sure if he’s allowed, and Minghao slips a hand into his hair to pull him closer. Wonwoo tilts his head to the side and they slot together easy easy easy. It stays chaste, stays soft, and Minghao is enamored. His hand goes to Wonwoo’s on his cheek when he pulls away, lacing their fingers together. Wonwoo smiles at him and the look on his face is raw and tender. 

“My turn,” Junhui whispers. Minghao turns to the side and Junhui kisses him. It’s different, it’s so different, and it’s perfect too. Junhui kisses him with more confidence, like he’s pouring all of himself into it, and he smiles into the kiss when Minghao sets his free hand on the back of Junhui’s neck, holding him close. He feels Wonwoo move in closer, caging Minghao between them, and Minghao doesn’t know that he’s ever been happier.

Junhui pulls away and Minghao watches him kiss Wonwoo with a practiced kind of comfort, an ease that comes naturally, and Minghao knows that he’s never been happier. 

“Love you,” Wonwoo whispers. Junhui’s “love you too” is barely audible, the quietest Minghao has ever heard him, but Wonwoo still smiles. 

“Was that okay?” Wonwoo asks Minghao. 

Minghao nods quickly enough to make Junhui laugh. “More than. Kiss me again?”

Wonwoo kisses him less hesitantly this time, more of his open kind of vulnerability in it, and he leans forward so Minghao can settle back into Junhui as Wonwoo deepens the kiss. 

Junhui strokes his hand up and down Minghao’s side. “Pretty boys. So pretty together.”

Wonwoo breaks the kiss and nudges Minghao’s face to the side so Junhui can kiss him, untangling his hand from Wonwoo’s so he can pull Minghao’s mouth open. Wonwoo traces patterns on both of their thighs.

“You two,” Minghao says quietly when he pulls away. Wonwoo leans in to kiss Junhui, propping himself on Minghao’s thigh to do it. He’s not sure where he pulls the confidence from, but he keeps talking. “Beautiful. I love watching you two together. You’re both gorgeous, can’t believe you’re mine.”

Junhui tears himself away from Wonwoo and he looks at Minghao with wide eyes. “Yours?”

“If you’ll have me,” Minghao whispers.

“Yes,” Junhui says quickly. He looks up at Wonwoo, who nods with a bright smile on his face. “Yes, absolutely yes.”

Junhui kisses Minghao hard and Minghao smiles into it, smiles wider when he feels a hand that’s distinctly Wonwoo’s on his cheek again. He relaxes into Junhui and Wonwoo’s hand moves to his waist, readjusting him so he’s straddling Junhui, Wonwoo’s chest to his back. Wonwoo leaves a kiss on his shoulder and Minghao breaks the kiss with Junhui to give Wonwoo better access to his neck. 

“There you go, little one,” Junhui says softly, slipping his hand under Minghao’s shirt to rest on his waist. He brings his other hand up to Minghao’s mouth, thumb pressing down on his bottom lip. Minghao opens his mouth easily and Junhui sucks in a breath. “Wonwoo, look how pretty he is.”

Wonwoo pulls away from Minghao’s neck to look at Minghao, at the way Junhui’s thumb is still settled on his lip. “He’s a dream.”

“He’s ours,” Junhui says, still staring at Minghao. He pulls Minghao back into a kiss and Minghao feels Wonwoo’s hands go under his shirt.

“Do you want this?” Wonwoo asks in Minghao’s ear. “Need a clear yes if so, little one.”

“Yes,” Minghao says, pulling away from Junhui to look back at Wonwoo. “Yeah, I want this.”

Wonwoo smiles softly and runs his hands up Minghao’s chest, rolling one of his nipples between his fingers. Minghao makes some cut-off noise that he’s intensely embarrassed about, something that gives away how easily worked up he is, but Wonwoo just smiles again and Minghao drops his head back onto Wonwoo’s shoulder. 

Junhui’s hand comes back to Minghao’s cheek, prying Minghao’s mouth open to set two fingers on his tongue, pressing down. Minghao wraps his lips around Junhui’s fingers, sucking gently and making Junhui groan. Wonwoo takes his opportunity to gently twist Minghao’s other nipple. Minghao pulls Junhui’s fingers out of his mouth, lacing their fingers together, and says a soft “ah, like that.”

“Sweet boy,” Wonwoo says, his voice gliding over it.

“Baby, do we just want to get him off?” Junhui asks, clearly talking over Minghao even while his hand runs up and down Minghao’s side. “See him come all pretty for us?”

“Would you like that, little one?” Wonwoo asks. “Want us to pay special attention to you, keep our hands on you?”

“Yeah,” Minghao whispers. “If that’s okay.”

“Of course that’s okay,” Junhui says sweetly. “You’re ours to take care of.”

Wonwoo kisses Minghao’s cheek and it’s soft soft soft. His hand runs down Minghao’s chest and he tugs on the hem, helping Minghao out of his shirt. 

Junhui leans back to look at Minghao and Minghao knows he’s probably blushing. 

“Hi, beautiful,” Junhui says quietly. “God, you’re everything.”

Minghao twists to turn to Wonwoo, to kiss him instead of crying over the awe in Junhui’s voice, but Wonwoo stops him before he can kiss him.

“Let me look at you,” Wonwoo whispers. It’s so quiet in the living room, only broken up by their breathing and achingly soft voices. “Look at both of you, the most beautiful boys. So beautiful together. All I’ve ever wanted.”

Minghao knows they’ve had control of the moment, but he’s a little overwhelmed by Wonwoo’s words and he climbs out of Junhui’s lap to turn and kiss Wonwoo hard. Wonwoo laughs into the kiss and Minghao smiles and their teeth clink together and it’s perfect. Junhui laughs at both of them and pulls Minghao back toward him.

“Get back here, little one,” Junhui laughs. “Wonwoo can come with you, but get back here.”

Minghao laughs, that high-pitched one that he tries to keep in, and Wonwoo kisses him for it as Junhui pulls him back into his lap. Minghao is facing Wonwoo this time and it’s easier to kiss him like this, easier to lace his fingers in Wonwoo’s hair and pull him close. Junhui presses messy kisses to Minghao’s neck, his shoulders, runs his hands up Minghao’s chest and rolls his nipples in between his fingers. Minghao whines into Wonwoo’s mouth and Wonwoo pulls away with wide eyes.

“God, you’re gorgeous,” Wonwoo says quietly. “The fact that you’re mine, that you’re ours. The fact that you’re here right now.”

“Wouldn’t want to be anywhere else,” Minghao whispers. “Can I say something a little insane?”

“Of course,” Junhui says, muffled in Minghao’s shoulder. 

Minghao looks up at Wonwoo and puts a hand on his cheek. “I love you.”

Minghao feels more than hears Junhui’s sharp intake of breath and the way Wonwoo’s eyes widen as he waits. He holds his breath and waits, but he has a feeling.

“I love you,” Wonwoo says quietly. “I’ve loved you from the beginning.”

Minghao smiles, stroking a thumb on Wonwoo’s cheek. He turns so he can face Junhui, who already has tears welling up in his eyes.

“I love you,” Minghao whispers. “You’re easy to love.”

Junhui’s sob is a little cut off. “I didn’t think you would— I love you. I love you.”

Minghao leans in to kiss Junhui softly, something gentle to match the waver in his voice. It tastes a little like salt.

Wonwoo pulls on Minghao’s chin with a light touch when they break apart, pulling him into a kiss that feels like Wonwoo is cracking open his chest to let Minghao in. He hands over the shreds. Minghao loves him. It should startle him how true it is, how it only took weeks, but it settles in him instead.

Junhui’s touches are more lingering now, exploring, and his hand settles on Minghao’s hip. Minghao leans back with his head on Junhui’s shoulder and nods, tilting his head so he can brush a kiss across Junhui’s jaw. He takes Wonwoo’s hand and intertwines their fingers, bringing their joined hands to Junhui’s face to cradle him gently as Junhui flicks open the button on Minghao’s jeans. Junhui holds his hand up to Wonwoo’s mouth and Wonwoo spits into his palm.

“Good,” Junhui says quietly. Wonwoo smiles and Minghao smiles, but it drops as he moans when Junhui gets his hand around him. “There you are, little one. You sound so pretty.”

Minghao squeezes Wonwoo’s hand to pull him closer, the kiss going messy and lazy as Junhui moves slowly like he’s drawing it out. 

“Love you,” Wonwoo murmurs into Minghao’s mouth. “Wanna ask Junnie to speed up?”

Minghao turns his head again to nip at the soft skin under Junhui’s ear, making him gasp. “Please, baby.”

Minghao can feel the shiver that runs through Junhui. He’s easy like this, soft and sweet, and Minghao smiles even as he bites under Junhui’s jaw again. “Can’t call me that and expect me to not want to see you come immediately.”

“So do it,” Wonwoo says, urging him on with a hand on Junhui’s waist, slipping under his shirt. “Make him come, baby.”

Junhui speeds up his pace and Minghao’s head falls back on his shoulder again as he breathes through it. Wonwoo ducks down to bite a mark into his neck and Minghao whines, lacing his fingers in Wonwoo’s hair. 

He comes apart like that, Junhui’s hands and Wonwoo’s mouth on him, and Junhui whispers “I love you” into his ear as he comes with a choked off sound. 

“There you go,” Wonwoo says softly, stroking a hand up and down Minghao’s side. 

Minghao wrinkles his nose. “Didn’t think about how messy this would be.”

Junhui and Wonwoo laugh and Wonwoo gets up, disappearing into the bathroom before he comes back with a damp washcloth. “Sweet little one. Junnie, give me your hand too.”

Wonwoo cleans them both off and helps Minghao off the couch, sending him off to change clothes before he comes back to the living room and drops himself into Wonwoo’s lap. 

“Do you both want—”

“No, we’re good,” Junhui says quickly. “Just wanted to take care of you. Maybe later.”

“Are you staying, in that case?” Minghao asks. It sounds horribly vulnerable to his own ears. His cheeks go warm with it.

Wonwoo kisses Minghao’s temple and wraps his arms around Minghao’s waist. “If you’ll have us.”

Minghao nods too enthusiastically and Junhui and Wonwoo both laugh at him. Junhui goes so far as to pinch Minghao’s cheek and Minghao swats at him, laughing. 

They get ready for bed, Junhui and Wonwoo in Minghao’s most oversized clothes, and Minghao ends up squished between them, their hands intertwined over his stomach. He’s surrounded by them, shredded to pieces, his chest open and raw. They hold him carefully. He holds them carefully. He falls asleep, held carefully.

Wonwoo always knew the universe got it right with his soulmates, even when he was terrified of having two. They’re still his soulmates. He still knew.

He wakes up alone, but he can hear movement in the kitchen, can hear Minghao’s soft laugh and Junhui’s lower one. He smiles to himself, a small thing, because he knows. 

The kitchen smells like pancakes and Wonwoo registers that yes, it’s Sunday. Of course that’s what Minghao is making for brunch. It’s Junhui’s favorite. 

Junhui is latched onto Minghao’s back as they stand at the stove, Junhui’s chin propped on Minghao’s shoulder. Junhui has his arms around Minghao’s waist and Wonwoo can see where his hands rest under Minghao’s shirt—Wonwoo’s shirt, actually, one that Minghao must have stolen out of the closet. It drapes over his thin shoulders nicely.

They haven’t noticed him yet and Wonwoo watches, his chest warm, as Junhui leaves a kiss on Minghao’s cheek and murmurs something that makes Minghao laugh, bright and happy. Wonwoo still remembers too well when Minghao didn’t laugh like that around them. He cherishes it now.

“Hey, you two,” Wonwoo says softly. They both whip their heads over to look at him and Wonwoo knows they love him, he does, but the way they look at him would clear up any doubts. Both of their expressions soften and their eyes sparkle and Wonwoo loves them endlessly. “Pancakes?”

“Yeah, come here,” Junhui says, detaching himself from Minghao with a last kiss on his shoulder. He leans back against the counter next to the stove and lets Wonwoo cage him in. He kisses Wonwoo with the sweetest touch and says a soft good morning that Wonwoo returns. Wonwoo reaches out for Minghao, who takes his hand and brushes a kiss across his knuckles, his own good morning. “Minghao said we could eat some before we actually sit down. Isn’t he lovely?”

“He is,” Wonwoo laughs. He lets Junhui feed him small bits of pancake, because Junhui has a thing about taking care of people that Wonwoo is just going to indulge. He swaps off, feeding some to Minghao, who makes eye contact with Wonwoo when Junhui isn’t looking and rolls his eyes fondly. It seems they’re both indulging him this morning. “Let’s not eat all of them before we make it to the table, baby. Will you set it up?”

Junhui smiles and slips out from where Wonwoo has him pressed against the counter, leaving Wonwoo to take his own turn latching onto Minghao.

“You’re both ridiculous,” Minghao laughs when Wonwoo’s hands go under his shirt to rest on his waist. 

“Sorry we love you,” Wonwoo teases. “You’ll have to forgive us.”

Minghao hums, his little thinking noise. “Maybe. Jury’s still out.”

Wonwoo presses a kiss to the soft spot where Minghao’s neck meets his shoulders and feels Minghao shiver with it. “Can I do anything to sway the opinion?”

“You can—”

“Ah!” Junhui says sharply. “No cats on the table. Shrimp, you know better.”

Shrimp is definitely pouting as she slinks toward Minghao and Wonwoo, clearly seeking out their approval since she’s not getting it from Junhui. Wonwoo lets go of Minghao to pick Shrimp up, holding her carefully.

“Is Dad being mean?” Wonwoo asks her. “Did you get in trouble for something you know you shouldn’t do?”

“In her defense, she was the runt of the litter,” Minghao says. “Her brain’s a little off.”

Wonwoo gasps, looking back at Shrimp. “Two dads being mean this morning. How could they?”

Junhui laughs. “Put the cat down and come sit at the table, please. You’re already her favorite.”

Wonwoo does, thanking Minghao softly as he sets plates down in the middle of the table. They got a bigger one when they moved, even added a fourth chair, though it’s different from their three. Wonwoo likes it that way. He likes keeping some things to threes. 

They do what they do every Sunday at brunch: go over their weeks, talk about what they need from the others to get through them. It’s a check-in, time for them to just be together and make sure everyone’s happy before the week starts again. It’s Wonwoo’s favorite time. Minghao laughs at some stupid joke that Junhui makes and the cat tries to jump on the table again and Wonwoo’s chest is impossibly warm. He doesn’t think anyone was built to hold this much love inside of them, but he holds it anyway. He holds it dear.

After brunch, dishes left in the sink until later, Junhui kisses Wonwoo long and lingering in the kitchen, a hand on his jaw, and Wonwoo feels Minghao come up behind him. Junhui breaks the kiss to let Minghao kiss Wonwoo, his hand still a little controlling on Wonwoo’s jaw, and Wonwoo has an idea of what they were whispering about this morning. 

Wonwoo turns the moment honey sweet, slow and saccharine, by whispering “I love you” against Minghao’s lips. He feels Minghao smile and his “I love you” is somehow softer than Wonwoo’s. Wonwoo shifts back to kiss Junhui, chaste and light, to be able to whisper the same thing and hear Junhui’s voice slide over his “I love you.”

Junhui looks at Minghao expectantly, his eyebrows raised, and Minghao laughs that little giggle of a laugh before he steps around Wonwoo and brings Junhui into a kiss. 

“You know I love you,” Minghao says softly to Junhui, one hand in Junhui’s hair and one hand tangling with Wonwoo’s. 

“I know,” Junhui says easily. Wonwoo supposes it is easy. Junhui says his “I love you” to Minghao and it’s easy, the way they shift their attention back to Wonwoo and walk him toward the bedroom. It’s easy, the way they make Wonwoo feel like love is bleeding out of him. 

It’s easy, the way he loves them. Easy as breathing.