Chapter Text
1. SAERAN
Saeyoung was taking the day off work to hang out with Saeran. After everything that had happened, Saeran was doing surprisingly well, but with his preference to be away from crowds they usually ended up meeting at Saeyoung's bunker or Saeran and Minji's shared apartment. They usually ended up watching some show or movie that Saeran had never seen. Sometimes, though, they ended up just sitting together and talking.
Today was a talking day but it was also one of Saeran's not-bad-but-also-definitely-not-good days so the conversation was stilted, a bit awkward. Saeyoung wasn't sure what he could talk about without turning it into definitely-a-bad day, so he was letting Saeran lead the conversation.
"How's Vanderwood been lately?" Saeran asked and Saeyoung squinted at him. It wasn't like him, even on a day like this. If he wanted to know about a person, he would ask them himself.
"They've been good. Jumin's keeping the whole team busy, but they're still working from home after lunch." Saeran hummed and nodded, looking off to the side.
Almost as if the question had summoned them, Marion pushed through the door. Saeyoung was tempted to go and greet them, but Saeyoung knew them well enough to know that that particular combination of grumbly and glaring meant that he was to keep a wide berth from them for now.
"Hey, welcome home," he said, offering a soft smile instead of the usual enthusiastic kiss.
Mary grunted in acknowledgement, dropping their bag on the couch next to Saeyoung. Their fingers trailed down his arm to squeeze lightly at his wrist, part apology and part gratitude, before they stomped off to their shared bedroom.
Saeran raised an eyebrow. "Been good, huh?"
"Bad days happen to everyone. Generally good doesn't mean always good." Saeyoung said with a huff. Saeran just hummed again. "So, what did you really want to ask?" Saeyoung didn't want to push his brother, but since he had broached the subject first it was probably fine.
"You've been...weird lately." It wasn't a question and Saeyoung wasn't quite sure what to make of it as an observation.
"I've been-Aren't I always weird?"
"Yes. That's not what I mean, though. You and Vanderwood have been weird."
"Both of us? Have we been?" Saeyoung tried to think back on any supposed weird behaviour between the two of them, but couldn't come up with anything.
"You've been-" Saeran stopped, clearly thinking about how he wanted to say it, but ended up just waving his hand around in a way that probably wouldn't have made sense to anyone else, but Saeyoung could tell what he meant.
"Oh, yeah. I guess we have been." Saeyoung wouldn't say it was weird behaviour, but he could understand what Saeran meant. Despite the past few months he had to get acclimated to having his brother back and become used to seeing his baby brother dating, it was still strange to see him acting like a couple with Minji. He wondered if Saeran thought of him as still being 15, too, or if he thought it was strange because Saeyoung was with someone who wasn't traditionally feminine. Or maybe it was something else entirely.
"It's strange."
"In what-Do you hate it? Should I-" Saeyoung wouldn't be able to stop seeing Marion, he was already in too deep for that, but he could minimize Saeran's exposure to their relationship if he couldn't handle it.
"I didn't say that. It's just strange." And it was almost a relief, but Saeyoung still wasn't sure how he was meant to interpret it.
When they were young, he had always been able to understand exactly what Saeran meant. Even now he was able to catch on quickly, if not immediately, but this was the first time he was genuinely unsure. But Saeran had said he didn't hate it, so that meant it was fine, right? He didn't have to worry about his brother hating his partner? "Right. Okay." He wasn't sure if it really was okay, but at least it wasn't bad.
Before Saeran could either confirm or deny the okay-ness of the situation, Marion was grumbling their way back into the room. "You eat yet?" They got home late today, Saeyoung should have eaten by now. He hadn't. From the piercing look in Mary's eyes, they already knew but were daring him to try and bullshit his way through an answer.
Laughing nervously, he rubbed at the back of his neck. "Ah, well. You know-"
"Shut it, Zero Seven."
"Yes, Sir."
"And you?" They asked, eyes going a bit softer as they turned to Saeran. Saeyoung wanted to complain at the unfairness of it all, but he also knew that this was just how Marion was. And he loved how surprisingly soft they were for his brother.
"Not yet," Saeran said, sounding about as guilty as Saeyoung felt, as he began twisting the cuff of his hoodie sleeve.
"Hopeless, the both of you." They grumbled, turning their back on the brothers to make their way to the kitchen.
"Do you need any help, dearest?" Saeyoung asked in his most saccharine voice before they could continue on their way.
"You better keep your ass right there or the only thing you'll be having to eat is my boot down your throat."
"Completely understood, Madam." He set any ideas that threat might have given him aside to delve into later. When his brother wasn't right there. His brother who was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Dearest?" Saeran was a clear mix of judgement and amusement and Saeyoung couldn't help pouting.
"Shut your fuck, Saeran. They don't mind." He grumbled, the words just comprehensible enough for Saeran to snort at him.
2. YOOSUNG
Yoosung had been acting strange around him recently. He was the same as always when they were talking in the chatrooms, but as soon as he came over Yoosung acted as if he was walking on eggshells.
It was eerily reminiscent of how Saeyoung would behave around Saeran on his bad days. He had made a mental note to figure out how to do better because Saeyoung had been doing great recently and Yoosung's behaviour had still managed to make him feel on edge. He was sure it was even worse for his brother.
When Yoosung had messaged to say he didn't feel like gaming on the day he was supposed to be coming over to do exactly that, Saeyoung couldn't help but feel like this was Yoosung's way of gently breaking away from him. So, when the gamer had still showed up later that morning, complaining at the gate to just let him in, Saeyoung was understandably surprised.
"Yoosung, I thought you weren't coming over?" He asked as he manually opened the gate for the blond and then was a bit taken aback when he realized that Yoosung was struggling under the weight of two tote bags full of books and a backpack that didn't look much lighter.
Yoosung looked up at him, sweaty and red-faced from the exertion. "I didn't say that! I just wanted to reread this one series because the final issue's official translation was released! I still wanna hang out! I brought-I mean, if you don't want me here, I can go. I just-" Saeyoung took the bags from Yoosung before he could work himself up any more than he already had.
"Get in here," Saeyoung says, shutting the door behind him and settling the bags down by the couch as Yoosung throws himself onto it, tossing his backpack into the seat next to him.
"Oh my god, why are books so heavy?" Yoosung whines and Saeyoung can't help snickering at him, poking at the bags a bit curiously.
"How many volumes are in this series? Did you really have to bring them all?"
"Oh! Well," Yoosung's face goes a couple shades darker. "I just-I wanted to read, but I didn't want you to feel left out and you've only ever mentioned reading a few things so I brought a couple series that you have to read. I just thought, since you have more time now... But if you really don't like them, that's okay. I just-"
"Alright. What do you want me to read?" Saeyoung almost wanted to cry. Just half an hour ago, he had been convinced that Yoosung wanted nothing to do with him anymore, but here he was, continuing to be one of the sweetest people Saeyoung had ever met.
Yoosung beamed up at him from the couch, launching himself toward one of the bags and digging through it until he could unearth and present the first volume of a shoujo manga. It was a reading recommendation from Yoosung, so he wasn't all that surprised.
"From Us to Them! It's a classic! I wasn't sure how fast you'd get through it, so I brought the whole series! And a couple others..." He looked a bit sheepish, but he still held the book out until Saeyoung plucked it out from his hands and set it onto the coffee table.
"Okay. I'll get some snacks, then." Yoosung didn't waste any time cracking open a book from his backpack as Saeyoung made his way to the kitchen to gather up their usual array of snacking choices.
Saeyoung made himself read the first couple volumes of the series Yoosung had told him to read before deciding that it was a bit too... naive simplistic unrealistic soft for his tastes. "You said you brought a couple other series?"
Yoosung startled, purple gaze snapping up from where he had been laser focused on his own series of choice. "Oh, yeah." His eyes dart to where Saeyoung's hand was curled around the second volume and his face fell a bit. "Did you not like it? We can- I-"
"It's fine, Yoosung." It wasn't necessarily that he didn't like it. "It's just a little..." saccharine.
"Okay, well. I also brought-" he up-ended his other bag, pushing volumes aside until he found the one he was looking for. "Cherry Bucket! Or you could- You could read this," he lifted the manga he had been reading, "but, um. I'm not sure-I don't know how you would feel about it." Yoosung's face was almost as bright red as Saeyoung's hair.
"Oho? Is our sweet little Yoosung reading dirty comics in my good Catholic household? Yoosungie, are you recommending me porn?" He teased, knowing that Yoosung would never do anything of the sort.
"No! It's just- Um. You're, um. I know you're Catholic and I know how you are, but I don't- I don't really know how you feel about things like- Um, this is-" Saeyoung was enjoying watching the youngest RFA member squirm, but he also had no idea what he was trying to get at. Just as he was about to interrupt Yoosung's ramblings to ask for some clarification, Yoosung thrust the manga toward him, eyes locked on the ground.
Saeyoung slowly reached out to take the book, eyebrows furrowing as he tried to piece together what his religion had to do with how he might feel about Yoosung's reading material. He glanced over the cover and then flipped it over to read the synopsis and when that still didn't answer his questions, he looked up at Yoosung with a raised brow.
"And what does this have to do with Catholicism?"
Yoosung let out a soft "Oh," in realization as he glanced back up at the book in Saeyoung's hand. He turned and rummaged through his backpack to pull out another book, a later volume of the same series. He looked it over and nodded before holding it out for Saeyoung.
After trading the volumes, Saeyoung inspected it the same way he had the first and when he found nothing, he looked up to complain at Yoosung. "About half way in." The blond said before he could even open his mouth and he raised an eyebrow at Yoosung again, but he just fidgeted with his fingers, no longer making eye contact.
Clearly something about this series was uncomfortable for Yoosung to talk about and Saeyoung wasn't about to stop until he figured it out. He opened the book up to about the halfway point and started flipping through the pages. When he still found nothing, he let the frustration bleed into his voice. "Yoosung, you're gonna have to tell me what I'm supposed to be seeing here."
Flustered, Yoosung snatched the book from his hands, found the page he was looking for, and shoved it back toward him. It was obvious what panel he was supposed to be looking at and his breath almost caught when he realized what it was he was seeing. Yoosung Kim was recommending him queer romance comics. He never thought he'd see the day.
And then he realized the implications of the situation; Yoosung was concerned that he would be uncomfortable with gay literature. And was that not just one of the funniest things Saeyoung had ever heard?
"Yoosung." Saeyoung was doing his best not to laugh right now. "Yoosung, are you recommending me gay romance to read?"
"Is that- Do you- I know you joke around about Jumin and Zen sometimes, but do you actually...?" Yoosung trailed off, gazing up at Saeyoung with a look that was more scrutinizing than he had any right to be. "You seem fine with Vanderwood, but I wasn't sure if you-"
Suddenly, the situation didn't seem quite so funny. Not when put into context with things that could actually portray him like that. Not when Yoosung actually thought he might be homophobic. "I- Yoosung. Did you really think I was-"
"No. I don't know? I didn't think you were. But you- I know you joke around a lot, but I don't know. We never really talked about it before. And you- Sometimes with Jumin it's-"
Saeyoung had rarely ever felt so completely blind-sided.
"Yoosung." He cut him off, guiding him back down onto the couch and settling himself next to him. "I-" He took a breath, trying to decide where to start. "I know I joke around a lot, but I never thought that you- Okay, yeah, I guess sometimes I go a bit far when I tease Jumin. But I know that he'd never actually answer one way or the other so I didn't really think much about it. And with Zen it's- I know he hates the insinuation of being with Jumin, but I'm really only half joking. If he stopped with his toxic masculinity bullshit, I think they'd actually be good for each other.
"And Mary-" Shit. If Yoosung had thought he could be homophobic, did that mean he didn't realize they were dating? No, Yoosung had said that he knew Saeyoung was fine with them. So, then... Did he just think that as long as Marion wasn't a man, Saeyoung would be fine with dating them? "I mean. I'm not straight, Yoosung. So, I don't-"
"You're not?" Yoosung sounded surprised. Would he have been this shocked if he hadn't thought-
"No! You-I thought you guys all knew that. I wasn't-I mean, it wasn't a secret or anything. I've talked about people who weren't women before."
"I-I guess. But you- I didn't know you were serious." Yoosung said, paused, and then grumbled. "I really only remember you doing that with Vanderwood." Saeyoung blinked, really taking that in, and then laughed. Because, yeah. He had talked about Marion a lot before they had gotten together, he still did.
Really, he shouldn't have ever mentioned them at all. Sure, most of the time they had been brought up when Saeyoung had complained about being overworked, but he had definitely talked about how attractive he had found them even then. How had it taken him so long to realize they were dating?
After that, though, Yoosung relaxed. He didn't seem like he was trying to word things quite so carefully and Saeyoung would take that as a win. Even if Yoosung still seemed like he had something on his mind.
3. MINJI
Saeyoung had no clue how to interact with Minji. Marion kept telling him to just treat her like he always had, but that wasn't an option because before everything went tits-up, the only contact between them had been over the RFA app and Saeyoung had always been jokingly flirty. He couldn't act like that with his brother's fiancee. Even if they had a better relationship than they did, Saeyoung wouldn't have been able to do that.
So, when he's unceremoniously dragged into the kitchen after one of their monthly dinners, he immediately glanced at his partner for help. When they just raised an eyebrow and smirked at him, he wanted to pout, but he knew that they were just taking advantage of the situation to force him into talking with Minji without a buffer (and to get to know Saeran a bit better, but they would never actually admit to that), so he just rolled his eyes at them and followed along without much complaint.
They were about halfway through the dishes (she was washing, he was drying and putting them away) before she finally spoke. "Saeyoung, I know that none of this has been...conventional, but I'm- Is it just because he wasn't doing so well when we first got together? Or is it just me?" Her eyes were filling with tears and he fumbled a plate, just barely catching it before it could go careening to the floor, he set it on the counter. Slowly reaching out towards Minji, he rested a hand on her shoulder and wished for something, anything, to tell him what to do in this situation. "I just- I'm really trying, you know? And I don't-Did I do something? I'll try to fix it, but I-"
"Woah, now," he said as his brain finally kicked back into gear. "What's happening, Minji? I'm not sure I'm following you." He definitely wasn't. He could maybe hazard a guess, but really, he had no clue what she was talking about.
"I just," she sniffled, wiping away the tears that had fallen with still-wet hands. "I really love him. I love Saeran so much and he's been doing so good. He's made incredible progress considering everything he's been through." He still wasn't quite sure where she was going with this, but he nodded encouragingly and gently rubbed his hand over her arm in a way that he hoped was comforting. "But I-Saeyoung, did I do something wrong?"
She looked up at him with her wet eyes and trembling lower lip and Saeyoung didn't know who gave her that idea, but he was going to kick their ass. Minji had done so much for Saeran, she had been so staunchly supportive of him ever since they had first met. He wasn't sure that he would even be able to see his brother right now if she hadn't been around for him.
"Minji, no. You've been so great; you've done so much for him. Of course you haven't done anything wrong." If anything, it was almost suspicious how perfect she had been.
"Then, is it-Do you just think he shouldn't be dating?" Ah, so it was him. He was going to have to kick his own ass.
"Saeran can make his own choices about that." He replied automatically. "I-I don't know what you're thinking, but whatever it is, but I can guess and you're wrong. Saeran is lucky to have you, Minji, and I'm so glad he has someone who supports and loves him."
More tears spilled onto her wet cheeks and her voice sounded dangerously close to a sob. "So, you don't think I'm not good enough for him?"
"Of course I don't. Where did you get that idea?"
Minji nodded and sniffed again, picking up the towel he had been using to dry dishes to wipe off her hands before scrubbing them over her face again. Taking a deep breath, she retrieved the sponge from where it had dropped into the sink and got back to washing the dishes like nothing had happened.
"Great. Now, your turn to cry about your relationships." Saeyoung stared at her until she shoved another plate into his chest with a soft sound of disapproval at his suddenly lacking work ethic.
He took the plate and dried it, putting it and the one he had abandoned on the counter into their rightful spot in the cabinet. "I don't have any relationships to cry about right now."
"Hmm, none? Not even any questions or complaints?" She asked with a raised eyebrow and it felt like she was digging for something specific but everything had been going well for him recently. Everything had been basically perfect once he had finally realized that he was with Marion (though neither of them would acknowledge the sappy side of things).
He shook his head, then paused. "Well, actually," he started, grinning at her mischievously. She took the bait, leaning in with a glint in her eyes like he was falling right into whatever trap she had been trying to set. "My sister-in-law seems to think I hate her. Any idea how I can fix that?"
He could see the exact moment his words register because her face flushed a brilliant shade of red and her demeanor changed to a mix of bashful and grateful. "Maybe actually talk to her? If you're always acting like you're trying to avoid being in her general vicinity, she's going to assume she's messed up somehow."
"I'm just not entirely sure how to talk to her. She's the most important person to my brother now and I don't really know what to do with that." Saeyoung hadn't been expecting to have this conversation, especially not today, but he couldn't deny how much better he felt now that there was a new understanding between them.
"Just treat her like the rest of your friends? Or maybe," she paused, getting through two cups and a knife before continuing, speaking slowly. "If you don't mind it, you could just treat her like your sister. Because that's- Technically, that's what she is."
Saeyoung laughed and then gave a sheepish smile. "Ah, I suppose I should apologize for stressing her out so bad first, though."
"Hmm, I'm sure she forgives you. Just so long as it doesn't happen again."
4. ZEN
It had been almost a month now since he had seen Zen in person, so he didn't think much of it when the actor had messaged him asking to meet up for 'coffee and whatever sugar-bomb abomination you want to risk your health to consume'. He was actually looking forward to it.
So, he walked into their designated meeting place unaware and unprepared. He obtained his 'sugar-bomb abomination', found Zen waiting with his boring coffee, slid into the spot across from him, and offered a cheery greeting. He only noticed Zen's rigid posture and stony expression when it was too late.
"What's, uh, what's going on, Zen?" He asked with a nervous chuckle.
"Saeyoung." And oh, that was his serious voice. Something serious had happened. "This is an intervention."
Saeyoung blinked, took in the seriosity of Zen's entire demeanor, and couldn't stop the peal of laughter that bubbled past his lips. "Oh, is this a new role you're workshopping a character for? That was great. Script's a little cliche, though. 'This is an intervention', really?"
Zen grumbled and tried to hide the light flush creeping over his cheeks by taking a long sip from his coffee. "I was being serious, asshole."
"Oh, well. I guess you are a man of cliche." Saeyoung acknowledged with a soft hum, sipping at his drink-that-had-a-name-as-long-as-the-list-of-syrups-that-went-into-making-it. "So, what are we intervening today? Are we waiting for Yoosung to get him back into studying?"
"No. I am intervening you." Red met gold as their eyes clashed, Saeyoung confused and Zen determined.
"O...kay...? What are you interventioning me for?" Saeyoung really couldn't think of anything he needed an intervention for. He wasn't overworking himself, he'd been eating actual food, drinking actual water, sleeping a normal amount, and had cut back a bit on pulling pranks on Yoosung.
Zen whipped out his phone, already opened on a past chatroom and it only took Saeyoung half a second to recognize the slew of notes he had left his partner the very day Zen had asked him out for 'coffee'. "Aw, Zen are you saying I need to work on my game? I didn't think it was that bad." He pouted, eyes moving from Zen's screen to where his face was screwed up in distaste.
"No." He answered immediately and then paused and corrected himself before continuing. "Well, actually yes. That too. But I meant that you need to cool it on all the flirting in the chatrooms."
"This is discrimination! Saeran and Minji are always gross and flirty in the chatrooms and you haven't called them out on it!" And that wasn't even holding Zen accountable for his very present flirting when Minji had first entered the chatroom. At least Saeyoung wasn't throwing himself over some random person he had only just met in very suspicious circumstances.
"That isn't comparable on any level, but mostly because of the...explicity. And at least they're flirting with someone that's actually there." Zen had flirted with empty chatrooms before. This was all very hypocritical. Saeyoung should call him out for it.
"Well, that's not fair. Our personalities are different!" Ah. Now that he said that, he wouldn't be able to drag Zen down with him.
"A personality difference doesn't excuse public foreplay. And how does Vanderwood feel about you saying all that shit about them?" Saeyoung pouted, leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed over his chest.
"They thought it was funny." They had. In the way that they thought it was humiliating for Saeyoung to have been acting so desperately so publicly. Very much schadenfreude. But they had still let out one of their breathy little laughs (an actual laugh, not one of their huffed breaths of amusement) when they had seen the spam Saeyoung had presented to the entirety RFA about how much he loved and appreciated them. He'd even gotten a kiss for his troubles.
He could tell Zen didn't believe him. "Uh-huh. And what about the rest of us that don't want to be pulled into your weird courtship dance?"
Saeyoung snorted out a laugh. "Weird courtship dance? What is this? 1800s animal kingdom?"
"Saeyoung. We don't want to hear you talk about how you," he paused, clicking open his phone again (Zen really needed to set a lock. With the amount of hackers he spoke to on a regular basis, he really should know better [of course, Zen would argue that if a hacker really wanted into his phone they'd be able to get in with or without a passcode]) and reads out one of the messages, monotonous and pointed. "'Really miss all the leather they used to wear because it really gave dominatrix who would punish me until I was sobbing and begging for more.' I really didn't need to know that about you, Saeyoung." Emotion seeped back into his voice as he finally closes out of the messenger, but it was only pain.
Ah, yes. He did miss the leather. It really had looked so good on them. And the smell was soothing, melding in with his tobacco-cinnamon-coffee scent so well. (Though, the tobacco had become much milder recently, too. Apparently destroying the agency had alleviated their stress enough that they had a dramatic decrease in cigarette consumption over the past few months.) It had made a quick reappearance after that message, though. Maybe he should ask Marion to bring it out more often.
"Fine. I'll tone it down a bit." He wouldn't. He'd just make sure only his partner could access the logs that he decided to dedicate entirely to his worship of the swell of their muscle and the curve of their lips and just how ascendingly gorgeous their eyes were when they glared at him, especially when they had been lined with eyeliner.
"You'll tone it down a bit?" Saeyoung wasn't sure what emotion was taking precedence in Zen's tone right then but it very clearly conveyed that he thought Saeyoung was being intentionally obtuse.
"Oh! Are you feeling left out, Zen? I'll start dedicating chatrooms to you, too. Though, maybe not quite so intense. I wouldn't want my darling Miss Vanderwood to think I was cheating." After all, Mary might not act it, but they were a surprisingly jealous person. They knew Zen well enough to know that he would never want anything to do with Saeyoung physically or romantically and yet they had still got that glint in their eye when he mentioned going to meet the actor for coffee. Their parting kiss was rougher than usual and he was sure that if there had been more time, Mary would have left a trail of bruises down his neck.
"No, unbelievable." He said, more to himself than to Saeyoung. "Keep that shit out of the chatrooms."
"But, Zen," he whined, dragging it out much longer than necessary just to be obnoxious. "What if I think of a really good line and they aren't home?"
"Wait." And the way he had said it, so serious and uncompromising, left Saeyoung absolutely flabbergasted.
"No! Sometimes genius needs to be shared immediately."
"Why are you so insistent on posting that kind of thing where everyone can read it? Are you an exhibitionist or something?" Saeyoung's grin widened as Zen grimaced, realizing what he had just said. "Nope, absolutely not. Do not answer that. I don't want to know."
"Fine. But all bets are off if they're logged in, too. I just can't seem to stop my fingers from saying whatever they want around them." It was partly true. He would have a message typed out before he even recognized that his fingers had moved. But it also wasn't fair to completely block him out from flirting with his partner.
Saeyoung wanted to advertise his relationship everywhere he could, proudly displaying his partner. Mary wanted the soft intimacy of just being together and Saeyoung could appreciate that quiet kind of affection, too, but it didn't curb his urges to brag about how perfect Marion was. Especially knowing that Yoosung and Zen were still so desperate for a relationship.
He was already holding himself back because Marion was a subtle person. They had come to an agreement about how much Saeyoung was able to flaunt their relationship online and Saeyoung respected their boundaries. He understood the way Marion would always respond in person rather than in the chatroom if they were both online at the same time.
"Ugh. Just try to remember that your brother can see that shit, too." And didn't that just completely ruin Saeyoung's day?
Saeyoung opened his mouth to reply, closed it, opened it again, closed it again, and then glared at Zen. "How dare you remind me about that?" He could feel the regret clouding over any of the smug satisfaction he had knowing that his love had bothered Zen enough that he got an intervention.
Sure, he generally didn't mind being so open about his love life, but when he thought about everything that he had said and realizing he had said it indirectly to his brother? Saeran was a baby! And now Saeyoung was responsible for ruining his innocence! (Logically, he could recognize that Saeran's chastity was likely already compromised; he was in a committed, long-term relationship, after all. He was even engaged to be married. But Saeran would be forever 15 and pure in Saeyoung's mind.)
"You already know that, you mentioned him first in this conversation." Zen said dismissively, waving a hand until he saw the look on Saeyoung's face. "Wait, really? Is that all I had to say? God, I should have just started with that so I didn't have to-" he gestured at his phone.
"I hate you," Saeyoung grumbled, angrily drinking his half-melted cup of sugar as he resolved to ignore Zen for the rest of the day.
1 JUMIN
"God, why do we always have to host these fucking things?" Marion complains, rejoining the group from where they had disappeared into their bedroom just as Yoosung throws himself into the spot next to Saeyoung. Saeyoung tilts his head back against the back of the couch so he can take them in. They had pulled their hair back and changed into a soft pair of lounge pants and one of Saeyoung's old shirts, he can't help the tiny smile curling up the corners of his mouth at just how soft they look. (Not that he would ever tell them that, even on penalty of death.)
"Because, other than Jumin, you guys have the most space!" Yoosung calls out, not even bothering to offer a greeting before sassing Saeyoung's partner. His smile grows wider as he notices exactly how offended they are by Yoosung's lip.
"Yeah, well, next time find somewhere else." They gripe. Saeyoung knows that they've already resigned to the next RFA meeting being held at their bunker, too.
"Aw, babe. No need to be so pouty." He calls from his spot on the couch, sprawling out between Jaehee and Yoosung. Marion's glare is turned onto him and he can't help the shiver that makes its way down his spine. They should know better than to look at him like that when they have company. Then again, he knew what he was getting into before his mouth even opened to tease them. "Come sit with us?" He pleads, putting on his best puppy eyes and keeping any trace of mischief from his face. But Mary knows him better than he knows himself sometimes. He's sure they know just how much he wants them in his lap.
The rest of the group begins shuffling around; Yoosung and Jaehee both shift a bit further from Saeyoung, Zen presses himself closer to the arm of the couch he has situated himself on, and Minji scoots closer into Saeran's side, all of them making space for Marion to have their pick of seating. He knows that most of the shuffling around is unnecessary and, from the way Marion rolls their eyes, they do too. They push off from the wall they had been leaning against and cross the room.
Saeyoung knows they had accepted their fate of being his personal space heater when they drop down onto the couch next to Jaehee but already practically in his lap. Humming appreciatively, his arms wrap around their waist and pull them into his lap properly as he brushes a kiss against the nape of their neck.
"Oi, Saeyoung! Knock that shit off, you can't-"
"Shut it, pretty boy." Marion snaps at Zen, squeezing gently at Saeyoung's wrist. He knows that tone of voice well enough to know just how harsh the glare attached to it is. He almost feels bad for the actor. Then again, if he's going to complain about him cuddling with his partner when Saeran and Minji are right there doing the same thing, then Zen can get fucked. This is their house, dammit. If they want to cuddle during a friendly gathering then they will.
Saeyoung is going to lose his shit on Zen soon. First, he couldn't flirt with Marion in his own chatroom (though to be fair, he can acknowledge that maybe he went a bit overboard in that chatroom that Zen had brandished against him as evidence), and now he isn't allowed to cuddle with his significant other in their own home? This is the last day of Zen's puritanical tyranny.
"Since we're all here now, shall we begin?" Jumin asks, effectively cutting off anything Saeyoung might have said. Resting his chin on Mary's shoulder, he glares at Zen.
The meeting finally commences and Saeyoung allows himself a self-satisfied smirk as he thinks of all the things he can do to torture Zen with the knowledge that he is, in fact, a grown-ass man in a serious relationship with the person currently relaxing back into his chest. He squeezes his arms around them, nuzzling against their neck as discreetly as he can.
"Behave yourself, fuckface." Marion says, their voice low to not draw any attention. Saeyoung is sure that Mary has become able to read his mind at some point and that really isn't fair. When is he going to get his upgrade to be able to do the same?
"Hmm? I'm always behaving for you, love." He replies sweetly, feigning ignorance even though he knows Marion won't buy it. They twist around just enough to make sure he knows exactly how unamused they are with him in that moment. Sucking his lower lip between his teeth, he bats his eyelashes at them, knowing it won't sway them in the least. "Please let me fuck with Zen?"
They raise an eyebrow at him before turning their attention back to Jumin. "You know I don't care about that as long as you leave Jaehee out of it, Sae." And Saeyoung can't help but melt a bit.
Marion isn't an overly emotional person, but they can be so soft sometimes. The way that they immediately decided that Saeran was someone to care for and Jaehee was, if not a friend, at least someone they could commiserate with is so painfully endearing to him. Marion, a person that is even more emotionally closed off than Saeyoung was, met the only family he has and had taken to two of them right from the start. It nearly choked him with affection and every time they express any sort of fondness toward the rest of the RFA, the feeling only grows.
"I still haven't gotten him back for that fucking intervention," he grumbles and Marion huffs in that very specific way they do in place of laughter. Saeyoung loosens his hold on them enough to skim one of his hands down their side, playing with the hem of his shirt before sliding his fingers over the warm skin of their stomach.
"Oi! I said you could fuck around with the pretty boy, not feel me up in front of your friends." Saeyoung hums, his other hand finding their wrist and squeezing.
"I just wanted to feel you, babe." The words are muffled against their neck, he hadn't planned on more than this anyway. After all, his baby brother is still in the room.
Jumin clears his throat and Saeyoung finally looks toward the man leading the meeting that he probably should have been paying more attention to, finding his eyes already on him. "Are the two of you done?"
He flashes a playful grin at the man. "I'm never done with my babe," and is promptly awarded with an elbow to his gut. "That was a cheap shot." He whines, eyes turning back to Marion as he makes himself look as pathetic as he can. Judging from the disgust curling their upper lip, he had been successful.
"It wouldn't have been if you had been keeping up with your training."
"I don't even need it anymore!" He complains, falling into the couch and letting his hands skim along as much of their skin as he can on the way back.
"Should we enforce a rule to keep couples separate during future meetings?" Jumin asks, eyeing Saeyoung's brother who looks far more interested in playing with his fiancee's fingers than actually paying attention to the meeting.
Saeyoung likes to think he knows his friends well enough that he can generally guess how they will respond to certain stimuli, but the way that half of the room is suddenly shouting leaves him reeling. Had he missed something that warranted this response? Mary seems just as confused as him and Jaehee seems baffled with the other's reactions.
Everyone else has devolved into a mass of shouting, trying to be heard over the sudden cacophony. Each of them seem intent on demanding their answers from him and Marion, like they are somehow the cause of the chaos.
"Hey, now. What's all this about?" He asks, but his voice is lost in the fray. Saeyoung sits himself back up, hands coming to rest at Marion's hips, and that only seems to rile everyone up further. He can tell from how stiff they are and the way their fingers twitch that Mary would have been going for their taser if they had it with them. "Hey!" He calls out, loud enough to earn a glare from his partner and everyone else's silence. "What the fuck, you guys?" He asks, with feeling, as his fingers wrap around Marion's wrist to squeeze in apology.
"I apologize. I didn't realize it was supposed to be a secret, especially considering-" Jumin waves a hand toward them and before Saeyoung can ask him to elaborate, Marion clears up the confusion enough that he can piece together what had happened.
"Your friends are all dumbasses, except Mr. Moneybags."
"Babe, that's not nice. They're your friends, too." He says and then rephrases the sentiment for them. "Our friends are all dumbasses, except Jumin."
"Shut the fuck up. They are your friends," they say, flicking their fingers toward the majority of the room. "She is our friend and therefore not a dumbass." They gesture at Jaehee who looks both touched and a bit amused. "Don't worry, mouse. You're not included in this."
Saeyoung is confused before he notices the hurt on his brother's face fading. "Mouse?" Honestly, Mary has to stop being so ridiculously endearing. That is the cutest thing he has ever heard. "Hey, when did that happen? That's so unfair! You don't have a cute nickname for me!"
"Sure I do." They reply, not missing a beat, and before he can inform them that no, actually, they don't, they turn so their lips just barely brush against his ear. "You want me to start calling you angel all the time?"
Saeyoung can feel his face go as red as his hair. He isn't really sure if that counts, considering they only ever use it in bed or when they're particularly livid. (Maybe that's why his wires are so crossed when it comes to them? Though, he has always gotten uncomfortably heated when they got pissy with him, so probably not.) He knows how to pick his battles with Marion, though, so he clears his throat. "Okay, point made."
"Saeyoung?" He has never been so grateful to Yoosung, getting the conversation back on track and distracting Saeyoung from the less than appropriate thoughts that nickname has stirred up.
"Yoosung." It's all he can manage, considering he still has no clue how anyone in this room is confused about their relationship.
"You-Were you keeping it a secret? I don't-"
"We weren't. It wasn't a secret." He interrupts, not letting Yoosung fall into whatever spiral he is clearly on the edge of. "Like Jumin pointed out," he moves his hands to pointedly wrap his arms around Mary again, "we're not really trying to be subtle."
"He's annoying enough that I assumed you all had figured it out when he did." Saeyoung winces at the reminder and lets out a soft whine.
"That's so mean, babe."
"Did you deserve it?" Saeyoung doesn't think so, he had done his best to make up for it and has even been forgiven, but he knows the correct answer.
"... Yes."
"Um. Since when, exactly, has this been a thing?" Minji asks, clearly trying to keep the conversation on track. It isn't helping. Marion is only going to use this to their advantage to dig into him.
Saeyoung buries his face into his partner's shoulder, groaning. They don't take pity. In fact, they break his hold on them and slide out of his lap, taking up the spot Yoosung had vacated when he jumped to his feet in shock.
Jumin speaks and, at first, he thinks he might be able to get out of his public flaying, but then the absolute madman makes it worse. "Considering my observations, my best estimate would be about five months ago."
"Oh? Is that right?" There's a cruel amusement in Marion's voice, matched by the wicked smile curving their lips and the malicious glint in their eyes. (How unfair of them to be so gorgeous when they were dealing such devastating damage in the company of everyone Saeyoung cared about.) Saeyoung knows this isn't going to end well for him, but they're enjoying this too much for him not to go along with it. "Why don't you tell them?"
"The 18th of November." He says, rote, automatic. Once Marion had become aware of his...lack of realization, they had burned the date into his memory. He would have remembered anyway if they had just told him, but really, how can he forget when the punishment had been so worth it?
"Correct. And when did you realize?" They are truly a cruel mistress. His eyes fall to his lap, shifting as he mumbles. "What was that, angel? I don't think your friends heard you." Oh. That was foul play. They are really in for it when the rest of the RFA leaves.
"I fully realized that I was dating this lovely individual on the 20th of December." Saeyoung can hear someone gasp but his eyes are still on his partner. The vicious grin on their face is softening into something much rarer and more genuine, barely there, but noticeable if you know what to look for. Really, they aren't good for his heart, being able to look equally gorgeous while tearing into him and when giving him that secret smile.
"A whole month? Saeyoung, I didn't realize you were so dense." Saeyoung is pretty sure Zen isn't allowed to say that in this situation because he didn't know for six months. And he had to be told. Before he can voice that opinion, though, everyone else decides to chime in, eerily synchronized.
"I did." With the exceptions of himself, Marion, and Zen it's everyone in the room. Every single person.
"Traitors," he grumbles, and then turns back to Marion beseechingly. "I said I was sorry, love."
"Right, and that's the kind of thing an apology fixes?" If Saeyoung didn't know them so well, he might have thought they were angry, but he knows all of the anger has been teasing. Marion might have a short temper, but they don't hold grudges.
"Oh, come on!"
"They're right." Jaehee says, it is absolutely biased of her to take Mary's side, he knows that she is their go-to person to complain about him. Really, he would say that Jaehee has somehow become their best friend, even if they don't put much stock in such a title. To be fair, though, he is also pretty sure she is the only other person in the room to know that this isn't a serious disagreement and she is definitely just using this as an excuse to fuck with him. Maybe that's why Marion likes her so much.
Before he can even attempt to make anyone else aware that they really have already worked this out, that Marion is just messing with him, Zen is chiming in again. "You can't just brush them off like that when they're angry, Saeyoung." Very brave of him to interrupt what he thinks is an actual spat between lovers.
"They're not." "I'm not." They say at the same time.
"That's not their angry face. That's their 'Saeyoung did a stupid thing so I'm going to mock him' face."
"This is my angry face," Saeyoung glances over at them and yep. Yep, it definitely is. He swallows reflexively and tries to suppress the nervous giggle building in his chest. He isn't entirely successful. "What are you laughing about, Zero Seven?" They demand, their eyes pinning him in place and he holds his hands up defensively.
"Come on now, Mary. You know what that look does to me." They huff and roll their eyes, thankfully dropping the act.
"If this discussion is over, could we get back to the topic at hand?" Jumin interjects and everyone turns to look at him as though they have forgotten why they had all gathered. They all settle back down, Yoosung abandoning his commandeered spot to sit between Zen and Minji.
The day hadn't exactly gone as planned, but curling up on the couch together after their friends had left, his head in Marion's lap and their fingers combing through his hair, Saeyoung wasn't sure there was a better way for it to have ended.