Archive of Our Own ^beta

Hongjoong is still probably an hour from finishing his day when there’s a knock on his studio door. Whoever it is opens the door without waiting for him to answer, and there are only a couple people who do that, so when he glances over he isn’t too surprised to see Hansol standing in the doorway. 

“Hey,” says Hansol. 

“Are you coming in, or?” asks Hongjoong, gesturing at the open door. 

“I was actually hoping to get you to leave with me.” Hansol smiles at the skeptical look Hongjoong gives him. “I was hoping I could get you to leave in like fifteen minutes?” he tries again. “For dinner.”

Hongjoong hums. “Maybe.” He turns back to his computer. After a moment he looks back up at Hansol, who hasn’t moved. “In or out, close the door.” 

Hansol comes in. He shuts the door and sits on Hongjoong’s couch, watching him as he works. Of course Hongjoong is going to go to dinner with him. He might make Hansol wait a little longer than fifteen minutes, but it’s a compromise since he was planning on an hour. 

Hansol is comfortable with silence, even to a point where it can make Hongjoong feel awkward, but he’s focused enough that he doesn’t mind it now. He’s pretty sure not even ten minutes have passed when his phone vibrates. It’s a message from Wooyoung. hey, I’m having a never ending bad day and I don’t think I’m going to want to cook. Another one comes through as Hongjoong is looking at it. can we order dinner tonight? 

He frowns at the message and contemplates it for a second. If Wooyoung is asking if they can order dinner, it probably means he doesn’t want to be alone after his bad day. “Hey, sorry,” he says to Hansol. “Can we rain check? I just had something come up.” 

Hansol looks up from his own phone. “Sure, okay.” He stands up from the couch. His hand is on the doorknob when he says, “You’re not just trying to be polite about not wanting to hang out, right? If you don’t want to, it’s fine.” 

Hongjoong blinks at him in surprise. “What? No. I want to hang out. We can go to dinner later this week.” 

“Okay.” Hansol smiles. “I just wanted to make sure. It’s been a while.” 

Hongjoong sighs. “I know.” 

“It’ll have to be next week, but I’ll text you.” 

“Okay. See you,” says Hongjoong as Hansol backs through the doorway and pulls the door closed. 

Hongjoong looks back at his messages and replies, Yeah, whatever you want. Let me know, I’ll buy. 

He turns back to his work so he can get done with everything he wanted to do today. He can’t concentrate now, though. It’s silly. Why is he worrying about Wooyoung? He said he had a bad day. It doesn’t mean there’s anything to worry about. 

Still, Hongjoong can’t get his focus back. He gives it another twenty minutes or so and then wraps things up to head out. Wooyoung hasn’t said anything since Hongjoong responded, so Hongjoong messages again to see if he should pick something up. He still doesn’t hear anything, but he figures he can just order food if Wooyoung is already home. 

When he reaches the apartment, though, it’s empty and quiet. Just in case, he calls, “Wooyoung-ah?” 

Nothing. He pokes his head in Wooyoung’s room just in case, but Wooyoung isn’t here. 

He checks his phone right as Wooyoung messages back, Be there soon. Hongjoong bites at his lip and decides Wooyoung is not feeling particularly responsive this evening, so he’ll just follow his normal routine until he gets back. He takes a shower and changes into comfortable clothes, and then when he comes out of his room Wooyoung is in the kitchen.

Wooyoung is unpacking a bag of food. He must have gotten home a few minutes ago; he’s already changed into a hoodie and shorts. “Hi, hyung.”

“Hi.” Hongjoong frowns. “I said I would buy.”

“I knew what I wanted, it was on the way.” 

Hongjoong stands there for a second making a face, then shuffles over to the coat rack by the door to dig through the pockets of the jacket he wore today. 

“How much was it?” Hongjoong asks. Wooyoung mimes zipping his lips, so Hongjoong just pulls out several thousand won and holds it out to him.

“Nope,” says Wooyoung. “You can order for us later this week if you want, but I don’t want your money.”

Hongjoong is still and quiet for a moment, and then almost without permission his hand shoots out to stick the money in the pocket of Wooyoung’s hoodie.

Wooyoung is too fast. He grabs Hongjoong’s wrist and holds it out away from both of their bodies. “Oh my god, you are so stubborn,” he says. He tries to bend Hongjoong’s arm away from him.

Hongjoong makes a petulant sound and tries to twist his wrist out of Wooyoung’s grip. “And you’re a brat,” he says. “Always knew this about you.”

“I’m a brat for buying you food?”

Hongjoong stops short and lets a contrived severity take over his face. “I’m trying to pay for it right now.”

Wooyoung cackles, and Hongjoong doubles down. With his free hand he jabs a finger into Wooyoung’s ribs, and when Wooyoung shrieks and half-collapses, he frees his other hand. Wooyoung goes down on the ground and Hongjoong uses the opportunity to dart his hand into Wooyoung’s hoodie pocket.

“Noooo,” Wooyoung yells. He grabs Hongjoong’s arm again, but not before Hongjoong can drop the cash in his pocket. “You’re bad and mean,” he complains.

Hongjoong gives him a satisfied smile. He’s breathing way too hard for this minimal exertion. He sits on his knees, then stands and holds his hands out to Wooyoung. 

Wooyoung takes them and pulls himself off the floor. The look in his eyes is lighter, the ghost of his smile still on his mouth, and Hongjoong feels too proud to have made him feel better. 

“The food is gonna be cold, stupid,” Wooyoung says. He goes into the kitchen, and Hongjoong follows.

“Yah, I’m your hyung,” Hongjoong responds automatically. 

Wooyoung sticks his tongue out at him. His hands are busy unpacking what Hongjoong sees now is bibimbap. “How are you?” he asks. He opens a drawer and grabs two spoons and two sets of chopsticks. He puts them on the table with their dinner and then pours them each a glass of water. 

Hongjoong watches Wooyoung’s hand wrapped around the glass he’s filling. “I’m fine,” he says. He makes himself look away from Wooyoung’s knobby wrist and long fingers. “How are you?” 

“I’m fine,” says Wooyoung, and Hongjoong decides to let it slide for the moment. Over the time they’ve lived together, he’s figured out that as much as Wooyoung likes to externalize his thoughts and feelings, he doesn’t usually do so until he’s spent a fair amount of time with them inside. He’ll talk about his bad day in a little bit, probably.

Wooyoung sits, and at his pointed look Hongjoong follows suit. He starts mixing his bibimbap and tries not to look at Wooyoung too much. How much does he usually look at Wooyoung? 

Hongjoong keeps up their conversation throughout dinner. He’s fine doing this. It’s not an unfamiliar rhythm, although a lot of the time they have more of a back and forth thing going on during the week. Wooyoung will update Hongjoong on workplace drama, and Hongjoong will give the right reactions at the right times and eventually get way too invested in it. Wooyoung is a wellspring of gossip; there’s always something going on at the school where he works, and he always knows all about it. Hongjoong thinks his workplace probably has a fair amount of drama, but he keeps too much to himself to know any of it. If there’s ever anything big going on, he hears about it from Mingi.

“Do you want to watch something?” Hongjoong asks when they’ve both finished their food.

Wooyoung nods. He gets up and picks up his empty dish to take to the kitchen. He goes to wash their utensils, but Hongjoong grabs them out of his hand. “I’ll do it. You go pick something to watch.”

Wooyoung cuts his eyes suspiciously at Hongjoong. His teeth worry over his permanently chapped, cracked lower lip. He’s so silly. Hongjoong just wants to be good to him. He reaches out with his free hand and pets it over the back of Wooyoung’s head, coming to rest at the nape of his neck. He squeezes. He’s not sure he meant to do any of that, so he lets go and drops his arm. 

Wooyoung’s teeth free his lip and he lets out a little sigh. “I want to watch something scary. Or violent. Or both.”

“Uh, okay,” says Hongjoong. “Whatever you want.”

Wooyoung nods, seemingly more to himself than to Hongjoong. He goes into the living room and flops onto the couch, disappearing from view. Hongjoong washes the utensils and cleans up from dinner, then joins Wooyoung in the living room while he chooses a movie.

“Any suggestions?” Wooyoung asks.

“Your choice, I don’t care,” says Hongjoong.

Wooyoung settles on some dystopian movie Hongjoong hasn’t seen before. Hongjoong finds a comfortable position to flop into. The title sequence is barely over before Wooyoung says, “So, no more Yeonjun.”

Hongjoong looks at him. “What?” No more Yeonjun? So they broke up?

Wooyoung shrugs. “That’s it.”

“I’m sorry,” says Hongjoong. They’re both silent for a moment, and then he says, “So, I guess you don’t want to talk about it?”

“Not right now,” says Wooyoung. He turns his head, rested against the couch cushions. There’s a gentle expression on his face. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”

"Okay.” Hongjoong settles into his seat and watches the movie.

Both of them stay on the couch for a while after the movie ends. When Hongjoong goes to push himself up, Wooyoung makes a whining noise and reaches out for him. He grabs Hongjoong by the waist, hands locked around his middle.

Hongjoong grunts. “What do you want from me?” he complains.

“Don’t leave me,” Wooyoung whines. “Cuddle me. I just got dumped.”

Hongjoong can’t possibly argue with that. He lets Wooyoung pull him closer.

“It’s funny when you go all limp like that,” Wooyoung tells him, chin pressed to the back of his shoulder. “You feel like a big, heavy stuffed animal.”

“Thanks?” says Hongjoong.

“I like it,” Wooyoung agrees. Hongjoong allows it. “So, do you remember the whole stolen food, alleged cheating situation at work I told you about?” he asks, settling his chin on Hongjoong’s shoulder.

“Yeah, of course,” says Hongjoong. “That was months ago, is that still going on?”

“Well, we thought it was all resolved. It seems like the cheating thing was just a misunderstanding, but the stolen food thing came up again today.”

“What the hell,” Hongjoong says. “Can’t you people let things go?”

“Apparently not,” says Wooyoung. “I almost get it, though. Taking people’s lunch should be punishable.”

“True. Stealing food is pretty bad.”

They talk a little bit, though not about anything particularly serious and definitely not about Yeonjun. After a while, Wooyoung says, “You can go to bed if you want, hyung.”

“It’s fine,” says Hongjoong, trying not to fidget too much in Wooyoung’s hold. Over the months they’ve lived together, Hongjoong has gotten more comfortable with physical affection from Wooyoung, but he has to work hard not to let his thoughts wander. It doesn’t help when his squirming makes Wooyoung put a hand on his hip to still him. “Actually, I need to pee,” he says quickly, sitting up. “I’ll come back, though.”

Wooyoung watches him in amusement and sits up himself, watching Hongjoong as he pushes himself off the couch. “No, I’m gonna get ready for bed.”

“Okay.”

Wooyoung stands. He reaches out for a hug, and Hongjoong couldn’t possibly deny him, even with alarm still rushing through him about how he reacted to Wooyoung’s touch. Wooyoung’s arm slides around his back, and Hongjoong puts a slack, tentative hand to his shoulder, the closest thing his body can do to reciprocating in the split second before Wooyoung slides a hand into Hongjoong’s back pocket.

Hongjoong’s breath hitches. What the fuck is happening? Something hot and almost painful and delicious pangs in his stomach, and he curses it. He keeps letting himself believe he can bury this, his horrible, latent attraction to Wooyoung, but it’s still here, and now Wooyoung’s body is way too close to his. His heart pounds. He begs it to calm down and Wooyoung not to notice.

Wooyoung pulls away. He slides his hand out of Hongjoong’s back pocket and winks at him before slinking off.

Hongjoong just stands there a moment, his mind completely blank. Then his brain clicks back on. He reaches back to pat his pocket. He pulls his money out of it. “You brat!” he calls in the direction of Wooyoung’s room.

He hears Wooyoung’s laughter even as he goes into his own room and closes the door.

Hongjoong and Wooyoung have lived together for almost ten months, but they’ve known each other for about five years. 

Hongjoong remembers the day they met. It was thanks to Yeosang, but Hongjoong couldn’t be bribed to be mad at Yeosang, so he doesn’t hold it against him. They were playing laser tag for Yunho’s birthday, and Yunho invited Wooyoung through Yeosang—apparently everyone knew Wooyoung by then except Hongjoong. 

He didn’t particularly want to play laser tag, and he was planning on sitting out because they needed to pair up but thought they’d be an odd number. Hongjoong wanted to play it even less when he realized his friends intended to pair him with Wooyoung, not just to use him to get their numbers where they should be. He was so loud and touchy and friendly with everyone. He had this charisma he clearly knew about, and something about it put Hongjoong on edge. 

“We’re gonna win,” was the first thing Wooyoung said to him. He’s changed so much since then, yet somehow not at all. 

“Ugh,” was what Hongjoong said back to him. Then, “Not if I have anything to say about it.” 

Wooyoung looked surprised, but he wasn’t thrown off. He laughed, and when the game started and Hongjoong immediately turned on him he seemed almost like he was expecting it. Hongjoong was the first person to lose, and as soon as Yunho stumbled across Wooyoung their team was the first out. 

When they went to hand in their gear, Hongjoong watched Wooyoung look him up and down without shame. “Why haven’t we met before?” he asked. He was blatantly flirting, and even as Hongjoong’s body went hot he was half convinced Wooyoung was making fun of him. 

“Probably because Yeosang knew better,” he said. He had a flash of regret—that was a little mean, and Wooyoung probably didn’t deserve that. 

But Wooyoung just grinned. He said, “I like you, hyung, you’re cool.” 

Hongjoong was skeptical. He was grateful when some of the others finished and he could pass Wooyoung off to them. It mostly worked, but Wooyoung kept shooting him these looks that caused a flare in his stomach, the heat of interest and annoyance. It pissed him off that Wooyoung was hot, and that Wooyoung openly thought he was hot and, worst of all, knew that Hongjoong was attracted to him. Hongjoong knew from that first day, at ice cream after laser tag, when Wooyoung caught him staring. His legs were stretched out in front of him, and he was licking his ice cream, and he met Hongjoong’s eye and winked. 

Wooyoung didn’t go anywhere after that. He’s easy to get along with; Hongjoong appreciates that about him now, but looking back it was one of the particular things that bothered Hongjoong about him. He wasn’t satisfied with being friends with one or two or even a few of them. He needed to be friends with everyone, and friendly with everyone’s significant other, and Hongjoong thought it was all a little much. Wooyoung was loud and too familiar and full of this compelling charisma. He was also hot. 

He was younger then, too, early twenties and not settled in his body the way he is these days. He’s settled into his confidence the same way over the years, but it was there then, too. That, as much as anything physical, is probably why Hongjoong has been attracted to him this whole time. It wouldn’t be so bad if Wooyoung didn’t somehow know about it. 

Hongjoong used the annoying thing to keep some distance, for a while, and then over the years one or both of them would be seeing someone and the feeling would be mostly benign. They both got older. They grew up, and Wooyoung grew on Hongjoong, just enough. The annoyance was gone. Eventually, all that remained was a teasing distance that Hongjoong never quite let Wooyoung cross.

Work the next day slides by in more or less the usual way. Hongjoong spends the morning and most of the afternoon focused and undisturbed. He eats in his studio so he doesn’t have to break his focus, and everything is normal until someone knocks on his door around three. 

“Yes,” Hongjoong says, and he knows who it is before they even open the door. 

“Hey,” says Seonghwa. 

“Hi,” says Hongjoong. 

He expects pleasantries, because that’s just how Seonghwa is, but he just says, “I’m driving over this evening, do you want a ride? I can take you home, too. It might be kind of late.” 

Hongjoong blinks at him. “Sorry?” 

Seonghwa deflates. “The production team dinner. You really forgot? We planned this weeks ago.” 

“Oh, shit,” Hongjoong mutters. “Sorry, yeah, I remember. A ride would be good, thank you.” 

“Great. Mingi will be there, you get the backseat.” 

Hongjoong sighs, but he knew that would be the case. He takes his phone out and starts typing a message to Wooyoung. 

“What are you doing?” asks Seonghwa with that tone of voice that he takes on when he feels like he’s not getting the attention he deserves. 

“Just telling Wooyoung I won’t be home for dinner,” he says absently, still typing out his message. 

There’s a pause he really doesn’t pay attention to, and then Seonghwa is sinking delicately onto the couch. 

“What,” says Hongjoong with exasperation. Seonghwa seemed frazzled and busy when he came in. Doesn’t he have better things to do? 

“Are you expected for dinner?” 

Hongjoong can’t think of an answer that won’t cause more questions, so he doesn’t say anything. Is he expected for dinner? They didn’t talk about it, but they don’t usually talk about it ahead of time, anyway. Their agreement is looser than that. When he thinks about why he wants to let Wooyoung know, all he can think is that Wooyoung had a bad day yesterday. And that’s... that’s not a reason. That was yesterday. 

Wooyoung responds almost right away. you’re gonna miss gochujang jjigae... I’ll save you some if I’m feeling generous. 

Hongjoong feels a little silly for worrying at all. Why is he so stuck on Wooyoung’s day yesterday? On the breakup Wooyoung seems to be more pissed off than sad about? On Wooyoung’s chin hooked over his shoulder and hand on his hip? 

Almost as the thought occurs to him, it’s leaving Seonghwa’s mouth. “Do you like him or something?” 

Hongjoong stares at his messages. He ignores this question from Seonghwa, too, but mostly because he doesn’t know the answer. 

He’s long since accepted his weird, eternal attraction to Wooyoung. What is this? How long has it been here?

Seonghwa’s phone dings out loud, and as he digs it out of his pocket Hongjoong judges him for having his ringer on. “I have to go,” he says in a tone that makes Hongjoong think this conversation isn’t over. 

Seonghwa at least has the decorum not to ask about it again on their drive to the restaurant for dinner, probably out of a collective awareness that Hongjoong’s ex is going to be at the dinner they are headed to. Mingi is quiet about it too, but Hongjoong knows it’s not because Seonghwa hasn’t said anything. Seonghwa tells Mingi everything. He probably texted him immediately after their one-sided conversation ended. 

They arrive at the restaurant before the creative director and the rest of the production team. Hongjoong doesn’t think that was strictly necessary, but Seonghwa likes to have a sense of control over situations like these, so he’s not altogether surprised. 

Hansol and Seungyoun arrive together, and they stand to great them. “Hi, hyung,” says Hongjoong when Seungyoun steps closer to him. 

“Hi, Hongjoong-ah,” says Seungyoun. He smiles. He leaves a seat in between himself and Hongjoong that Hansol fills. Hongjoong doesn’t look at Seonghwa or Mingi, who he’s sure are looking at him. 

He sees Seungyoun a lot these days, so it’s really not a big deal. He was never going to be able to avoid him for long; it’s a small production team, and they work closely together. It’s nice, now that things are no longer fresh, to be able to see him and know he’s healthy and happy. 

The rest of their party arrives, and they start to order drinks and food. Hongjoong holds in a sigh and settles in. It’s going to be a long evening. 

Conversation around the table goes well enough that, by the time their meal is served, Hongjoong can feel Seonghwa relaxing next to him. Hongjoong is not so much tired, yet, but his brain is in sleep mode after his full day of work. He takes the lead talking about a song he and Mingi have been working on, and by the time Seonghwa transitions the conversation to Seungyoun, he’s feeling like he might not be able to say another word. 

He can tell Seonghwa is slipping into his element, though. Hongjoong feels a pang of gratitude toward him. He’s taken liaising between them and the rest of the team seriously, and Hongjoong knows they are being taken more seriously because of it. 

“Thank you,” he says under his breath as Seonghwa goes to get in the driver’s side of his car when dinner is finally over. 

“Hmm?” says Seonghwa. He heard Hongjoong, he just wants to hear him say it again. 

“Thank you,” Hongjoong says again, louder. “For this.” 

They’re quiet on the way back to Hongjoong’s apartment. Mingi and Seonghwa talk quietly between themselves in that vaguely nauseating way of people who have been together a long time. As much as Hongjoong worries they are going to know what he’s thinking about, he can’t help his thoughts turning to Wooyoung. 

Does he like Wooyoung? Why would he like Wooyoung? 

Even as he thinks it, a dozen reasons spring to mind. Wooyoung is kind and thoughtful and bright and warm, but all in a way that Hongjoong can absorb even as someone who can’t handle anything too sweet.

He’s playful and sharp. He gets Hongjoong’s boundaries, and he respects them. When he fucks up, he owns it. He loves his family and friends, and Hongjoong… Hongjoong is one of those now, for real. Does he like Wooyoung?

Somewhere between the third and fourth months after Hongjoong and Seungyoun’s breakup, Hansol convinced him to join him for lunch. Hongjoong almost never took a full lunch, but it was easy to talk him into it. After a while without talking much, and not at all outside work, Hongjoong wanted to see Hansol. He was ready for things to be a little more normal.

Hongjoong went to meet Hansol downstairs at lunchtime. He saw Hansol as he left the elevator, but his steps slowed automatically when he saw Hansol talking to Seungyoun. Hansol and Seungyoun saw him coming, though. Seungyoun smiled as he approached.

“Hey, hyung,” said Hongjoong.

“Hi, Hongjoong-ah,” says Seungyoun. “Sorry, I’ll let him go now. Hansol, you can stop by around three, if you want to talk more.”

Hongjoong watched as he went. Hansol looked at him. “You good?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” said Hongjoong, and thought it was mostly true. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen Seungyoun around. “You want to go?”

He made Hansol choose where they ate, and they did some idle small talk as they walked. “How have things been?” Hansol asked when they sat down to eat.

Hongjoong knew it was because he actually cared, and that it was a real question. That didn’t make him enjoy it any more. “Ugh,” he said involuntarily.

Hansol’s immediate reaction was one of surprise and confusion, which made Hongjoong feel a little bad. “I’ve been fine,” he added quickly. “I’ve been… well, I was going to say busy, but it’s the same. You know.” Busy had become such a loaded thing for him.

Hansol nodded. “I do know.”

“Yeah.” Hongjoong ate for an excuse to keep his mouth busy for a moment.

“Where did you move again?” Hansol asked as Hongjoong shoved a large bite into his mouth. “You said you moved in with… San?”

Hongjoong snorted. “Wooyoung.”

Hansol’s brows raised. “Oh.”

“Yeah, that was about how I felt about it. It’s really good, though.”

“Really,” said Hansol. “The times I hung out with you guys, I didn’t know if you and Wooyoung got along.”

Hongjoong shrugged. “Kind of.” He and Wooyoung were in that kind of friends space for a while, thanks to him. They picked at each other, and he’s sure that’s why Hansol wasn’t sure they got along. “Kind of a weird relationship, but we’ve gotten a lot closer.”

Hansol nodded. “Seungkwan used to think…”

“Think what?” said Hongjoong when Hansol didn’t finish his sentence.

Hansol looked at him like he was evaluating what he wanted to say. “Uh. Well, in his words, that you guys had something going on you needed to work out in bed.”

Hongjoong let out an incredulous huff. “Okay. Interesting.”

Hansol winced. “Sorry.”

Hongjoong took it in. For some reason, Seungkwan having noticed that makes it feel more real to him. Maybe uncomfortably real. He wondered how much it had changed since they moved in together, since they became closer. “It’s fine.”

Hansol changed the subject really obviously, but Hongjoong couldn’t pretend he didn’t appreciate it. They ate their food, and as their meal neared its end Hongjoong gave a little sigh and asked the question they were both waiting for him to ask. “How is hyung?”

He thought of Seungyoun back at the company. He looked good. He looked healthy and happy.

Hansol gave a faint smile. “He’s good. You know, you could start hanging out with us again. He would like that.”

Hongjoong gave a noncommittal shrug. He would probably like that, too, but he’s not sure he knows how to navigate being friends with Seungyoun again yet. At least now they can greet each other the way they did today. Hongjoong spent a few weeks after they broke up skulking around the company at irregular times to minimize his chances of running into Seungyoun. It was silly, because Seungyoun definitely knew he was doing it, and it was only a matter of time before they ended up having to work together on something.

That strategy only made sense the first little while, when Hongjoong was still getting to know the feeling of desperately missing someone you see daily. Now he could let Seungyoun smile and nod at him in passing, and it wasn’t so bad. It felt good to know he was good.

“I’ll come the next time you guys go out,” he conceded as they headed back to work.

“I’ll let you know,” Hansol agreed.

They parted ways, and Hongjoong went back to his studio. He focused back in, and he didn’t emerge again until the end of the day.

When he got home, Wooyoung was chopping vegetables in the kitchen. By this time, they had emerged into something resembling a pattern. They didn’t eat together every night, but when both of them were at home, they did. A lot of the time Wooyoung cooked, so when they ordered food Hongjoong always insisted on being the one to pay.

Hongjoong went to wash his hands and came up beside Wooyoung, holding his hand out for the knife. Wooyoung gave it to him and rolled an onion in his direction. “Chop, please.”

Hongjoong was still a little slow at this, but he could do it. Wooyoung taught him, early on living together, when he was feeling guilty about eating Wooyoung’s cooking all the time. He showed Hongjoong how to hold his fingers, curled so his fingertips were protected from the knife and he didn’t actually lose one. Hongjoong started with potatoes; onions were more of a learning curve.

Hongjoong chopped the onion, then some green onions, and then some kimchi. He watched as Wooyoung sauteed the onion and garlic. He had Hongjoong take over for a second while he got the pork belly ready. Hongjoong just did whatever Wooyoung asked, and soon the food was bubbling on the stove.

When they sat down to eat, Hongjoong said, “Thanks for cooking.”

The look Wooyoung gave him was a little weird—this was normal for them by now—but he just said, “Thanks for helping.”

Hongjoong gave an indifferent hum and took a bite of food. “Really good,” he said.

Wooyoung smiled. This hadn’t changed since the first time Hongjoong tried Wooyoung’s food. He was always so pleased to be complimented on his cooking.

As they ate, Hongjoong got a little lost in his head. “Saw Seungyoun today,” he said without even thinking about it.

Wooyoung tilted his head, looking at Hongjoong consideringly. “Do you see him much?”

Hongjoong shrugged. “Few times a week. We don’t usually speak, though.” He paused and thought for a moment. “He looks good. Hansol told me I should come next time they go out for drinks.”

“Will you?” asked Wooyoung.

“Probably.” Hongjoong pushed his food around for a second. “I used to spend a lot of time with them. Even before hyung and I got together.”

Wooyoung nodded. “Do you think it’ll be hard to start doing it again?”

Hongjoong thought about it. “I mostly think it’ll be weird,” he said. “but I think it might be the right time. I’d like to be friends with him again and I think we could do that now.”

“Just friends?”

Hongjoong blinked at Wooyoung in surprise. “Sorry. Did you miss the part where he broke up with me and it fucked me up so bad I couldn’t even find myself a new place to live?”

Wooyoung hummed. “Okay. So you don’t want to get back with Seungyoun-hyung.”

“I don’t want to get back together with hyung,” said Hongjoong. “I want to figure out how to be friends, though.”

“Makes sense. You do have to think about working with him. Maybe you look outside work for your next boyfriend.”

“I wasn’t looking for a boyfriend at work,” Hongjoong protested. “It just happened.”

Wooyoung leaned his elbows on the table, smiling. “You’ve never told me how you got together.”

“It wasn’t anything really exciting,” Hongjoong said. “He knew I was bi because Hansol and I talked about it sometimes. One time we were out and Hansol had to go, something with his boyfriend, and hyung and I decided to leave the bar and get food. We spent like the whole night together, talking and showing each other songs and stuff. It was like four in the morning, but neither of us wanted to say anything about it because we didn’t want it to end, and we just—I don’t even know who kissed first.”

“That’s really nice,” Wooyoung murmured.

“Yeah,” Hongjoong agreed. Talking about it made his chest ache a little bit. He’d replayed that night in his head so many times. The edges of it softened in his mind over time, but he remembered clearly how it felt to have Seungyoun crowding close to him, both their intentions clear, Seungyoun’s head bent so Hongjoong’s mouth could reach his.

They were in love. They had a home together, a life together. They shared so many things. Too many things, not enough things.

“Sorry,” said Wooyoung. “You look sad.”

“I’m not,” Hongjoong said. It was mostly true. “I’m good now. I think I just miss…”

He trailed off. What could he say? He missed a lot of things. He missed being in a relationship, being touched both casually and with intent. He missed coming home to someone, having someone to word-dump about his whole day to while he listened and watched with a fond little smile on his face.

He couldn’t bring himself to say any of that out loud, to Wooyoung.

Still, Wooyoung shrugged and said, “I get it. If I didn’t get it, I wouldn’t keep dating even though nothing works out.”

Now Hongjoong pressed his lips together in regret. “Sorry, Wooyoung-ah.”

Wooyoung shook his head, stuffing his mouth full of food.

When they finished eating, Hongjoong cleared the table but let Wooyoung take over cleaning up so he could go shower.

“Thanks for cooking,” he said.

“Of course,” Wooyoung said with an indulgent smile tilted in his direction. Hongjoong had enough of an intuition for him by now that he could see the hug coming. He leaned into it.

“Goodnight,” Wooyoung said. His intuition for Hongjoong clearly told him he wouldn’t see Hongjoong out of his room again tonight, once he showered.

“Goodnight,” Hongjoong said back.

Wooyoung is still up when Seonghwa and Mingi drop Hongjoong off at home. He’s playing a game in the living room. It’s late for him, Hongjoong thinks, for a random Wednesday night. Was he waiting for Hongjoong?

“Hey,” says Hongjoong, hanging up his jacket and kicking his shoes off without bothering to put them on the shoe rack.

Wooyoung pauses his game and looks over. He smiles and stretches out on the couch. “Hey. How was your dinner?”

“Fine,” says Hongjoong. He goes over and sinks onto the couch next to Wooyoung. “Long. Went well, though.”

Wooyoung hums. “Was it a production thing?”

Hongjoong nods. 

“Ah,” says Wooyoung. It’s an acknowledgment that he knows that means Seungyoun was there.

Hongjoong slumps down the couch. He gestures at the TV. “You’re just playing by yourself?”

“Mhm. I should really get to bed, though.”

“Same,” Hongjoong says, but neither of them moves. Hongjoong turns his head to look at Wooyoung and fails to keep his voice casual when he asks, “How are you doing?” 

“I’m fine,” says Wooyoung. “I’m good.” 

Hongjoong watches him. He waits to see if Wooyoung will say more. Wooyoung is in his pajamas and his hair is messy. He looks soft and cozy. Hongjoong registers an impulse to have his arms around Wooyoung, but he catches himself before he can follow it. Is that new? That’s new, right? “You cooked tonight.” 

Wooyoung smiles, and there’s a confused twist to it. “Yeah. What, are you sad you missed out? I told you I’d save you some.” 

“You said you’d save me some if you were feeling generous,” Hongjoong corrects. 

Wooyoung’s smile widens into a grin. “I’m always feeling generous.” He stretches out. His eyes go distant and preoccupied for a moment. “Today was kind of long, but cooking made me feel better, I think. I just wish you had been here to wash the dishes for me.” 

Hongjoong scoffs, even though he would have washed the dishes. “Well, that’s good, then. Sorry I wasn’t here. To wash the dishes,” he adds quickly. 

Wooyoung waves him off. “You’re busy. Me too. We should have dinner on Friday, though.” 

“Sure,” Hongjoong agrees. “Whatever you want.” 

“Yah.” Wooyoung’s voice is louder now, and he shoves at Hongjoong’s arm. “You keep being so nice to me, hyung, it’s weird.” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Hongjoong, and he slides off the couch. “Do you need the bathroom before I shower?”

“No, go for it.”

Hongjoong lets himself take his time in the shower, even though it’s late. He moisturizes and sighs at himself in the mirror, then goes to his room. He gets into his pajamas and gets in bed. He hears doors opening and closing, presumably Wooyoung also getting ready for bed. Hongjoong lies there with the lamp on, scrolling on his phone, until his door cracks open.

He looks up, raising his eyebrows at Wooyoung. Wooyoung comes over and flops onto his bed. “What are you doing?

“Lying here.”

“I see.” Hongjoong goes back to his phone. Wooyoung doesn’t move. After a few minutes Hongjoong says, “I’m going to shut the light off.”

Wooyoung grunts.

“Are you going to go to bed, or are you just going to stay there?”

Wordlessly, Wooyoung wriggles himself under Hongjoong’s covers.

“No—hey, stop that. Get out of here,” Hongjoong says.

Wooyoung snuggles under Hongjoong’s covers and holds the blankets to his chest. “I’m so comfortable, though.”

Hongjoong makes a noise of protest and Wooyoung crowds him up against the wall, stealing his space and wrapping his arms around Hongjoong.

“Hey,” Hongjoong protests. He struggles halfheartedly for a second. But he’s pretty comfortable too, actually, so he gives up. He lets himself relax. “This is not your bed,” he says feebly. Being pressed against Wooyoung is freaking him out, but it feels too good for him to put any effort into making it stop.

Wooyoung hums. Hongjoong can feel the vibration from it. “I know,” he says.

Hongjoong is more comfortable with Wooyoung touching him than he used to be, but they haven’t shared a bed before. Why would they? They live in the same place and have their own beds. Hongjoong is pretty sure that’s what’s happening now, though. Wooyoung is going to go to sleep holding him for no reason. Or—Hongjoong supposes, the reason is this thing with Yeonjun. The breakup.

Hongjoong tries to remember when Wooyoung first started going out with Yeonjun. It wasn’t that long ago, maybe six weeks. He was sitting in the living room on a Friday evening. Wooyoung, generally a busier and more social person than Hongjoong, often has something going on Friday evenings—something other than work. Hongjoong usually orders food, on Fridays, both when Wooyoung is there and when he’s out. That evening he was scrolling through delivery options when Wooyoung came out of his room.

Hongjoong looked up. He saw that Wooyoung was dressed to go out: his pants were much slimmer than Hongjoong was used to on him, and his collarbones were visible. Hongjoong asked where he was going, and when Wooyoung flashed him a grin and said, “On a date,” Hongjoong felt himself hit with an unwelcome disappointment. He cursed that ever present thing he has for Wooyoung. He didn’t really think, even subconsciously, that something might happen here, did he? Not now that they were roommates.

He met Yeonjun a couple weeks later. He’s pretty sure he’s still the only one of their friends to have met him. They weren’t together long enough. Yeonjun wasn’t even Wooyoung’s boyfriend.

Wooyoung isn’t dating Yeonjun anymore. That’s why he had a bad day yesterday. That’s probably why he was still up when Hongjoong got home, waiting for him.

Hongjoong can’t make Wooyoung leave, even if he has to keep reminding himself that he’s supposed to be relaxed. Eventually Hongjoong drifts off. He startles awake when Wooyoung says, loudly, “Fuck. Hey, what time is your alarm set? I need to be up by seven thirty. I left my phone in my room.”

Hongjoong grumbles and reaches for his phone.

At the end of their first week living together, Wooyoung said, “Let’s drink together on Friday. Chimaek.”

Hongjoong blinked. “Why?”

“Like a new roommate thing. We hang out and have dinner and drink.”

“But,” said Hongjoong. “Why?” Didn’t Wooyoung have better things to do on a Friday evening?

“So we can talk! And get to know each other more, hyung. We’ve never really hung out.”

He was right. He and Wooyoung had barely spent any time alone together, except the Saturday before when Wooyoung and San were helping him pack up and San left to go get more boxes, and that was a maximum of fifteen minutes. The next closest thing was the time San bailed on plans and Hongjoong was left alone with Wooyoung and Yeosang, who had a relationship Hongjoong wasn’t sure he wanted to know more about. Wooyoung had always been friendly and personable with him--maybe too friendly and personable--but Hongjoong never put in any effort. It was that particular combination of annoying and unbearably hot that Hongjoong couldn’t find it in himself to deal with. Even though the annoyance had faded, more or less, the “unbearably hot” part hadn’t. 

“Alright,” he said. “Chimaek on Friday.” 

Hongjoong picked up the chicken and beer on his way home Friday. Wooyoung was there when he got home. He was visibly freshly showered, tendrils of damp hair curling behind his ears. For all that he had always been unbearably attractive to Hongjoong, details like this that made him sweet were somehow worse. 

“Hi,” Hongjoong said awkwardly, weighed down by the beer in one hand and the chicken in the other. 

Wooyoung met him still in the doorway, coming over to free Hongjoong’s hands so he could take off his shoes. Wooyoung took the food and drinks to the living room and set them on the coffee table. “Want to shower before we eat?” 

Hongjoong considered the offer. Normally he would, but today he was very hungry, and the food was hot. He shook his head. 

“Great.” Wooyoung made himself comfortable on the couch. Hongjoong approached a little more hesitantly, not sure whether to sit next to Wooyoung or across the coffee table from him, on the floor. On the one hand, being across from him would put Hongjoong at less risk from proximity. But on the other hand, if he sat across from Wooyoung he would have to look him in the face. 

In the end, Wooyoung patted the couch next to him and Hongjoong had no reason to argue, so he sat. “So,” he said. 

Wooyoung smiled. 

“What,” said Hongjoong. 

“You’re just being awkward. You don’t feel less weird after living together for a week?” 

Admittedly, the week had gone pretty well. Wooyoung hadn’t done anything to annoy Hongjoong, and Hongjoong didn’t think he’d done anything to annoy Wooyoung, either. Really, Wooyoung had been better than he could have expected. 

He was thoughtful and he respected Hongjoong’s space. It had been a while since Hongjoong let go of “not liking” Wooyoung and he thought really, he and Wooyoung suited each other pretty well. It was a nice thought, but as soon as he thought it he knew he couldn’t follow the path any further. 

“I don’t feel weird,” Hongjoong denied. 

“Sure, you look really relaxed.” 

Hongjoong realized he was holding one of his legs tense so it didn’t accidentally bump Wooyoung’s. He gave Wooyoung a flat look, but made himself drop the tension. His knee didn’t touch Wooyoung, but they were only a centimeter or two apart. “Touch is different,” he argued. “I don’t usually… like, I don’t touch people.” Somehow he actually felt more awkward after trying to explain himself, so he shut up and grabbed his beer to take a drink.

Wooyoung hummed. “Yeah, I noticed that about you. It’s weird. I’m really touchy.”

Hongjoong shrugged. “Everybody’s different. And it’s not like I… I mean, with, in a relationship?” He looked at Wooyoung, begging him internally to understand without making Hongjoong explain.

Wooyoung raised his eyebrows. “You’re saying you touch people you’re in a relationship with? I mean, hyung, that’s not really any of my business, is it?”

He gave Hongjoong a shit eating grin. Okay, Hongjoong was wrong. He hated Wooyoung. “Whatever,” he muttered. “I think you get my point. You like to touch all your friends, I usually only touch people really close to me.”

“Of course I get it,” said Wooyoung. He opened up the chicken and gave Hongjoong a piece before taking one for himself. He made a pleased noise deep in his chest with his first bite. Hongjoong hated him. He didn’t look at him. Wooyoung said, “Good chicken. Thanks for getting it.”

“Yeah. I owe you for this week.”

Wooyoung opened his mouth to argue with that, but Hongjoong gave him just the right look to stop him.

“Also.” Hongjoong cleared his throat. “All your… help with all this. Packing and moving, and whatever. I know we’ve never been that close, and all of that happened really quickly, and you helped a lot.”

Wooyoung turned a little shy looking. He said, “Yah, Kim Hongjoong, you can really give a sincere thank you, can’t you?”

Hongjoong huffed incredulously. “Okay, whatever. I mean it, though.”

“It’s not like I didn’t get anything out of it,” Wooyoung said, averting his eyes. “I was gonna have to find a different random roommate or pay a second person’s rent without you.”

Hongjoong took another big drink of beer. “At least my breakup benefited someone,” he joked.

Wooyoung’s eyes widened. “Hyung! Bad joke.”

Hongjoong cracked a smile. “Sorry.”

“I just don’t know if I’m allowed to laugh at that.”

“You can laugh,” said Hongjoong.

A minute or two pass, both of them eating their chicken and drinking. Wooyoung asked, “Are you doing okay with all that?”

“Ugh,” said Hongjoong.

Wooyoung laughed. “Sorry. Just, it seems like you haven’t really talked about it. You’re okay, right?”

Wooyoung was right. He hadn’t really talked about it. It had taken a few days after it happened for him to even tell any of his friends about it. Something still roiled in the pit of his stomach when he thought about it. But the three weeks between breaking up and moving out had been almost worse than the breakup itself. He needed space, and he could tell Seungyoun needed space, and he knew it was going to be on him to move out, but he felt like he couldn’t move at all. Like there was a boulder on his chest pinning him still. He was pretty sure the truth was that without Wooyoung and San’s help, he wouldn’t have been able to get himself out of there. Without the room Wooyoung needed to fill before his new lease started, he had no idea where he would have gone.

“I’m gonna be fine,” said Hongjoong. He leaned back. “It’s weird, though.” He didn’t explain any further. It was weird, but he wasn’t sure he fully understood yet all the reasons why. He couldn’t begin to explain it to Wooyoung. There was a brief relief on being out of the apartment, out of the weird, tense atmosphere, but it still felt wrong and strange to go to bed alone and not to have someone to talk to about his day, about anything and everything. It was a level of comfort Hongjoong had really only reached with a few people in his life.

A hand patted his leg comfortingly. Hongjoong glanced at Wooyoung and realized only then that he had been lost in thought.

“Sorry,” said Wooyoung, moving his hand away. “You don’t like that.”

“It’s fine,” said Hongjoong, and realized he really didn’t mind it. It was weird. Maybe their week living together made him more comfortable than he expected.

“How long were you guys together again?” asked Wooyoung.

“Two and a half years. Or a little more,” said Hongjoong. He got embarrassingly emotional at each fresh realization like that. He shut his mouth against it.

“I really liked him,” Wooyoung said. “He was really nice and fun every time he came around. I’m sorry.”

Hongjoong gave a little laugh. “I liked him too.” He wanted to talk about something else, but no subject came to his frustratingly blank mind. He cleared his throat. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Oh. Of course. How’s unpacking going? Did you get your room put together?” Wooyoung asked.

“Uh,” said Hongjoong. “No, not really. I put all my clothes away, and I know where my extra sheets are, so the important stuff is done.”

He knew what Wooyoung was going to say before he said it. “I can help you unpack,” Wooyoung said. “I’m good at following directions. You can just tell me what to do.”

Hongjoong looked at him. The hint of a smile played at Wooyoung’s mouth, but it was more obvious in his eyes. “That’s not something I’ve ever thought about you.”

Wooyoung leaned back against the cushions and drained his beer. “Maybe you just haven’t tried, hyung.”

Hongjoong didn’t know what he was asking for, and asking for clarification didn’t seem safe. He reached for the beers and opened Wooyoung a new one.

“Oh, thank you,” said Wooyoung. He took the beer. “Really, I can help.” Hongjoong opened his mouth, but before he could say anything Wooyoung said in a voice that made it clear it was an imitation of Hongjoong, “‘No, you’ve helped enough already.’”

Hongjoong glared. That was what he was about to say.

“Mhm.” Wooyoung looked way too smug. “See, you’re already predictable. Anyway, we’re friends, aren’t we? And we live together now. You think you’ll never help me with anything?”

“Ugh,” Hongjoong complained. He wasn’t good with accepting help in general, but he still wasn’t sure he was over the wriggly feeling inside from when San and Wooyoung helped him finish packing and move. On top of that, Wooyoung had been cooking for both of them, and obviously making an effort to be a good roommate, asking Hongjoong to spend time with him. “Okay. Can I help with yours too?”

“I’m done,” said Wooyoung. Of course he was. “Do you want me to think of another way you can help me out, hyung?”

Hongjoong gave him the nastiest look he could manage. Wooyoung just grinned. This was familiar; he used to do it before Hongjoong was with Seungyoun, long before the roommates thing. He liked to remind Hongjoong that he knew.

This time when Wooyoung softened and said, “Sorry, I’m joking,” Hongjoong knew it was because of the breakup.

He rolled his eyes. “Whatever.” He remembered this problem was at its worst when Wooyoung was a casual third with a couple Hongjoong vaguely remembered he met through work, right before Hongjoong and Seungyoun started going out. He remembered thinking Wooyoung might try to sleep with him then. Hongjoong had dropped off the radar for a little bit by accident, in that new relationship space he thought he was too smart to fall into, and when he started seeing the others again regularly the couple was no more. “Hey, whatever happened to that couple you were seeing?” he asked now. He remembered this was almost three years ago and hurried to say, “I just—I randomly thought of that.”

Wooyoung blinked, almost confused, before his expression cleared. “Oh! Wow, I haven’t thought about that in a while.” He shifted his body to face Hongjoong better, relaxed and comfortable. “That was fun. It was only a couple months. We still hang out occasionally, but I stopped sleeping with them because they have a really intense dynamic. They’re obsessed with each other. There wasn’t enough room for them to be obsessed with me.”

Hongjoong laughed out loud. “Right. And what else could you want from a relationship?”

Wooyoung looked at him with amusement on his face. “What? You don’t want someone to be obsessed with you?”

Hongjoong didn’t want to take the question seriously, but he couldn’t help it. He thought about it. “I don’t think so,” he said finally. “I just like… sharing my life with…” he cleared his throat.

“Ah, you didn’t want to talk about this,” said Wooyoung. “Well, anyway. That’s what happened. I wasn’t really dating them, anyway, just hanging out with them and sleeping with them.”

“Sounds…” Hongjoong didn’t know how to finish the sentence. He wasn’t sure he’d ever consider casually seeing a couple.

“It was fun. I wasn’t looking for anything serious.”

Hongjoong nodded. “I don’t think I’ve tried casual in… a few years.”

“That guy you were seeing around when we met, that was more casual, right?”

Hongjoong was probably as surprised that Wooyoung remembered that as Wooyoung was that he remembered the couple. “Yeah, I guess. It’s more like, we kept hanging out for a while after I realized it wasn’t going to get serious?”

Wooyoung nodded, but he looks like he might not fully understand. That was fine. Hongjoong got a little anxious in the quiet, so he finished his beer and got himself a second one, too. Wooyoung watched him. He got himself some more chicken and gave Hongjoong some without Hongjoong asking. Hongjoong almost refused it just to mess with Wooyoung, but he wanted the chicken, so he took it.

Wooyoung told him about his week at work. Hongjoong was beginning to learn there was way more drama among teachers than he realized, or maybe Wooyoung’s fancy performing arts school was just like this. It seemed like there was always some saga happening at Wooyoung’s school, and he always knew all about it. It was fun. Hongjoong was getting invested.

They finished their second beers and each had another. Hongjoong didn’t usually drink more than casually these days, so he got fuzzy and happy. He twisted himself around on the couch until he was draped over the back in a position that was comfortable but not sustainable. Wooyoung watched him in amusement, his legs pulled up and curled into the corner of the couch.

“Do you think we need a TV stand?” Hongjoong asked, looking at the TV from upside down. It was on one of the kitchen chairs, which belonged to Wooyoung.

“Yeah, probably,” said Wooyoung. “What if we want to have two people over for dinner? What will we do then?”

He was joking, but Hongjoong just hummed. He said, “The TV stand was technically mine. But how can you take the TV stand and just leave the TV?”

“That might be worse than just leaving it,” Wooyoung agreed.

“Right,” said Hongjoong, nodding to himself. Wooyoung got it. “It would seem petty.”

“And you’re not petty,” said Wooyoung, smiling.

Hongjoong narrowed his eyes and felt the way the blood had rushed to his head. He struggled to push himself up. “Not now,” he said. “This is not a petty situation.”

Wooyoung hummed. Hongjoong had circled close to this topic again, even though he said he didn’t want to talk about it and Wooyoung was respecting that. After a moment he asked, “Do you want to be petty about it?”

Now Hongjoong had his legs thrown over the back of the couch, head resting on the seat. He looked at Wooyoung. For a beat he really considered it, which he blamed on the beer. He said, “No.” Then he said, “I don’t feel petty. Mostly sad and… embarrassed.” Such a strange feeling to be embarrassed to admit his embarrassment. He was sure it was obvious, with how it took him days to even tell anyone about the breakup.

“Hyung,” said Wooyoung. “Embarrassed? Why?”

Hongjoong wanted to tell himself to stop talking even as his mouth opened and he said, “I thought everything was normal and fine. I didn’t… know.”

Wooyoung’s face was serious. “I don’t think you should be embarrassed, hyung. Sad is normal. Embarrassed is… Well, I think mostly we have to learn from relationships that end and take that with us when we move on.”

Hongjoong flung his arm onto the cushion between them. The back of his hand hit Wooyoung’s shin. “Are you trying to give me sage wisdom?”

“Is it working?” Wooyoung smiled down at him. Hongjoong felt like a stray cat that was just realizing it got too comfortable with a human it didn’t know. Rolling around on the ground, accepting belly rubs, then snapping to its feet. Hongjoong didn’t move as fast as the cat. He sat up with some effort and pulled his knees to his chest.

He picked up his beer and realized it’s empty.

“You want another?” asked Wooyoung.

Hongjoong shook his head. “Did we finish the chicken?”

There were two pieces of chicken left. They had one each. They said goodnight shortly after.

“We can talk about the TV stand,” Wooyoung said before he headed to his room.

Hongjoong nodded. He raised his hand in lieu of goodnight.

Hongjoong is not surprised when Wooyoung asks for chicken and beer on Friday. It makes Hongjoong feel like he knows what’s coming when he leaves work and stops to grab the food.

Wooyoung is freshly showered when he gets home, wearing shorts that hit mid-thigh and a big t-shirt. He shakes out his wet hair as he meets Hongjoong in the living room, barefoot and at ease in a way that makes something stir in Hongjoong’s belly. “Hi,” he says with a smile from under his lashes and a few strands of wet hair.

“Hello,” says Hongjoong, holding up the food as an offering.

Wooyoung claps and comes to take it from him. Wooyoung pours beer into glasses for them while Hongjoong goes to his room and changes quickly. He puts on shorts, too, which he usually would not think much of, but now he’s thinking of his bare legs and Wooyoung’s bare legs, and when he goes back into the living room Wooyoung has one knee bent toward himself, shorts riding up his thigh. When he sees Hongjoong coming, he shifts his legs so there’s room on the couch.

Hongjoong swallows. He approaches the couch, trying to hide his trepidation. He can’t believe he’s nervous to be close to Wooyoung. They’ve lived together for months. He’s used to Wooyoung touching him. Wooyoung hugged him to sleep the other night, for god’s sake. He’s going to be fine.

He sits down.

Wooyoung scoots closer to him and hands him one of the beers. He picks his own up too, and holds it out to Hongjoong. “Geonbae,” he says.

Hongjoong echoes him. They both drink and then start in on the chicken.

It’s normal for a little bit. Wooyoung tells him about his week at work and Hongjoong talks about the song he’s working on. Then Wooyoung drains his beer, pours another one, and says, “I want to talk about it.”

Hongjoong doesn’t have to ask. He nods. “Okay. Tell me.”

Wooyoung blows out a harsh breath. He says “I’m mad.”

Hongjoong nods again, although it’s not exactly what he was expecting.

Wooyoung yells.

“Oh,” says Hongjoong. “Okay.”

Wooyoung shoots him a look. He wants Hongjoong to match his energy. Hongjoong sets his glass down and wipes his fingers on a napkin. He looks at Wooyoung to indicate he is ready, and when Wooyoung yells again, Hongjoong yells with him.

Wooyoung yells louder and longer, but when he runs out of breath and stops he’s smiling. He leans onto Hongjoong’s shoulder, head resting in the crook of his neck. “He said he thinks I ‘don’t have space in my life for a serious relationship right now,’” he says.

Hongjoong frowns. “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m too busy.”

That hits Hongjoong in the chest. He lets out an incredulous huff.

Wooyoung is still talking. “What do you even say to that? Do I just drop part of my life for a relationship?”

Hongjoong shakes his head. He thinks about Wooyoung changing his life around someone, and it doesn’t make a lot of sense. “I think you’ll find someone you fit with,” he says absently. 

“Maybe,” says Wooyoung, and he looks kind of intensely at Hongjoong for a moment.

Hongjoong averts his eyes and drains his beer. Wooyoung wordlessly pours him a new one. He clears his throat. “You know,” he says. “That’s basically why my relationship ended, too.”

Wooyoung makes a questioning noise. He slides a hand onto Hongjoong’s knee, rubbing gently at his skin. “With hyung?”

Hongjoong hums. “Like, that our relationship had stopped going anywhere. Because I didn’t have time.” He thinks about what Wooyoung said, Yeonjun’s words. “Didn’t have space in my life for our relationship?” It settles heavily in his stomach, just thinking about it. He can look back on it with clear eyes now, and he knows Seungyoun breaking up with him was the right thing for both of them, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel bad to think about it.

Wooyoung hums thoughtfully. For a few minutes he’s quiet, absently running his fingers over Hongjoong’s knee.

“What,” Hongjoong begins. “What are you doing?”

“Real question,” Wooyoung says. His fingers are wriggling their way up Hongjoong’s thigh. Does he realize he’s doing that? 

Hongjoong makes a questioning noise. 

Wooyoung’s fingers squeeze at his thigh. That answers that question, Hongjoong thinks, hot all over but with not a thought in his mind to move. “Do you think we’re soulmates?”

Hongjoong lets out a nervous giggle that he is surprised to hear from his own mouth. “You said it was a serious question.”

“It is serious,” Wooyoung whines. “It makes sense!”

Hongjoong does not know if it makes sense. He doesn’t respond; he can’t, because he turns his face and Wooyoung’s face is very close to his.

“I think we should find out,” Wooyoung says. His breath ghosts over Hongjoong’s mouth.

Hongjoong flounders for a second. “I—if you want to kiss me, just say so.”

He’s trying to joke, trying to tease out Wooyoung’s joke, tease out Wooyoung’s teasing.

“I want to kiss you,” says Wooyoung immediately.

His fingers are still warm at Hongjoong’s thigh. Hongjoong is at a loss to respond to that. “You’re drunk,” he manages, even though he knows Wooyoung is not. Wooyoung is leaning close to him, and he leans away automatically. He has to brace himself against the couch with one arm.

“No, I’m not,” says Wooyoung. “Neither are you. I want to kiss you.”

A beat goes by. Hongjoong’s mind is horribly, beautifully blank. “Okay.”

Wooyoung blinks. His mouth curves into a smile. “Okay? I thought you’d be more…”

Wooyoung thought. Wooyoung has thought about this. “Be more what?”

But Wooyoung doesn’t answer. He leans the rest of the way down and kisses Hongjoong.

Hongjoong’s stomach does this unbearable wriggly thing. His arm strains where it holds him up. The first press of Wooyoung’s lips is so gentle, almost not there at all, and with his free hand Hongjoong grabs him by the back of the neck and kisses him harder.

Wooyoung makes a surprised sound, but he responds fully and eagerly, and one of his arms comes around Hongjoong’s back. It takes the pressure off Hongjoong’s arm, and he relaxes it a little, but then Wooyoung is lowering him onto the couch, adjusting to crawl over him.

Hongjoong makes a little noise in his throat as he finds himself on his back.

“Do you wanna stop?” Wooyoung is breathless. His chest heaves unevenly with the question. One of his hands finds Hongjoong’s hip.

Wooyoung. It’s Wooyoung leaning over him, putting his hands on him. Hongjoong is well aware of how interested in this his body is, but it insists on telling him anyway.

He shakes his head, and then Wooyoung’s mouth is back on his.

Wooyoung is a pretty easygoing person. It’s part of what makes him get along with everyone he meets and why everyone likes him right away. But under the surface he possesses a fixedness and intensity that not everyone sees. Hongjoong has seen it, and right now… right now, this kiss, Wooyoung’s intensity has shown up.

He holds himself up on his elbows. Hongjoong curls his fingers into Wooyoung’s hair at the back of his neck, and Wooyoung lets out a hiss against his mouth. Interesting. Hongjoong tugs at it and finds himself content, even smug, at the noise Wooyoung makes against him.

Wooyoung murmurs against his mouth, or tries to. Nothing word-shaped comes out. Hongjoong uses his grip on his hair to pull him away enough to say, “What was that?” 

But Wooyoung lets out a little moan, his mouth dropped open a little. Hongjoong feels like he’s on fire. The sound echoes in his brain in Wooyoung’s bright, familiar tone. It’s Wooyoung. Wooyoung is on top of him. It’s Wooyoung whose neck he’s forcing into this position, hovering over Hongjoong and looking at him, eyelids heavy.

“I said, how’d you know I’d like that?” says Wooyoung. The corners of his mouth tick into a smile.

Plenty of answers rise to Hongjoong’s mind. Instead, he gives another little tug and watches a puff of breath leave Wooyoung’s mouth, his eyelids fluttering. “Jesus,” Hongjoong murmurs. His gaze catches on Wooyoung’s red lower lip.

Hongjoong allows it when Wooyoung goes to dip back down and kiss him, loosening his grip and flattening his hand against the back of Wooyoung’s neck, sucking the lip into his mouth and taking it none too gently between his teeth.

Wooyoung’s hips jerk, and one of his hands tightens its grip on Hongjoong’s hip. He is no longer soft, though not entirely hard, either. Hongjoong moves a hand to skim down Wooyoung’s back, and when it comes to rest at his hip he feels how much he’s straining to hold himself back. The muscles in his ass clench. Hongjoong’s hand is at his flank, and Wooyoung pants as he moves it to skim over his ass.

Wooyoung’s hips twitch again, like he’s keeping himself from grinding forward into Hongjoong and from pressing back against his hand. Hongjoong wouldn’t have expected him to hold himself back like this, and he takes it upon himself to put a stop to it. He gets a grip on Wooyoung’s ass and uses it to pull their hips together.

Wooyoung groans into his mouth. Hongjoong can feel him, stiffening quickly against the the soft space next to his hip bones. They’re so close, so close, and with their hips pressed together Hongjoong isn’t faring any better than Wooyoung, sensitive and spurred on by the feeling of Wooyoung’s dick against his. He moves his arms and lets them hang limply around Wooyoung’s neck. His back arches involuntarily, and his own mouth drops open in a sound humiliatingly much higher than any of the ones Wooyoung has made. Wooyoung takes the opportunity to lick into his mouth. He brings a hand to Hongjoong’s face and tilts his chin for a better angle.

They’re so close, and Hongjoong feels himself growing desperate to be closer. He wriggles one of his legs out from beneath Wooyoung and raises his knee. He lets it rest against the back of the couch. With his hips further open, Wooyoung takes the opportunity to push himself up closer, further between them. Hongjoong shifts, and the drag of Wooyoung’s dick against his punches another little sound out of him.

Hongjoong is pretty sure he’s the one who starts rolling his hips first, but as soon as he does, Wooyoung is letting a punched-out whine into his mouth and moving hard against him.

“Ha—” Hongjoong tries to bite back the sound, but Wooyoung pushes harder against him and pushes his legs further apart. Their shorts are thin, and Hongjoong’s are riding up his thighs. It makes it easy to feel Wooyoung’s dick against him, but at the same time Hongjoong has a distant, frantic need for there to be less in the way.

Wooyoung makes a noise like Mm into his mouth, an agreement he follows up on with a filthy grind of his hips. He starts rocking back and forth, Hongjoong’s legs on either side of his hips. Hongjoong is struck with the image of Wooyoung fucking him, and he feels like he’s been set on fire. There’s no way Wooyoung isn’t thinking the same thing, the way he hitches Hongjoong’s leg up until Hongjoong wraps it around him. Wooyoung pulls his mouth away from Hongjoong’s and says, “I want to make you come, hyung.” 

He punctuates it with another drag of his hips, and a moan punches out of Hongjoong. “Uh huh,” he agrees. “You too.” 

Wooyoung looks down at him with a grin that’s sharp at the edges. “Well, you won’t leave me hanging, will you?” He leans back down to kiss Hongjoong again. 

Hongjoong stops him with a hand on his chest. “Wait, here?” 

“Hmm?” 

Hongjoong tries to speak again, but Wooyoung’s mouth is on his again and he sinks into the kiss, the heat in his lower abdomen bubbling over. He’s so hard. Wooyoung sneaks a hand between their bodies and presses his palm against him. 

Hongjoong lets out a whimper at the feeling of Wooyoung’s hand against him. Oh, no one has touched him in so long. 

Wooyoung moves his hand away and Hongjoong makes a pretty pitiful sound of protest. “Sorry, bad angle,” Wooyoung says. “It’s better if I can...” He gets his knees under himself so he can shift his weight off his arms. He puts his hands on Hongjoong’s hips. His thumbs slide under the elastic waist of Hongjoong’s shorts and press into his skin. 

Hongjoong grasps his arms without really intending to. He feels himself throb at the idea of getting Wooyoung closer, more skin against skin. He lifts his hips automatically and watches Wooyoung’s smile change, his tongue catching between his teeth as he slides Hongjoong’s shorts down his legs. 

It gets complicated quickly, Wooyoung still between Hongjoong’s legs and in the way of getting the pants off his legs. He scoots himself back. Hongjoong has to wriggle around and move his legs, and he nearly kicks Wooyoung in the face. He sputters when Wooyoung gets up to lose his own pants. 

“That could have been a lot less complicated if you—”

“Shhh,” says Wooyoung. He kneels back on the couch. 

Hongjoong slaps his thigh as punishment for being disrespectful, but it doesn’t accomplish anything other than making Wooyoung laugh and distracting Hongjoong with the smooth skin and taut muscle under his hand. He sits up, following an impulse, but Wooyoung stops him with a hand on his chest. 

Hongjoong glares at him and slaps the hand away. Wooyoung sits back on his heels, and when Hongjoong sits up the rest of the way he slides his hands up Wooyoung’s shirt, over smooth, warm skin. 

“You want me to—?” says Wooyoung, reaching for the hem of his shirt. 

“I got it,” Hongjoong bites out. He pulls the shirt over Wooyoung’s head. Wooyoung ducks his head and holds his arms out, and when Hongjoong tosses the shirt aside he looks at him, biting at his lips. 

“You should say something,” Wooyoung tells him. 

“Say what?” asks Hongjoong, sliding his hands back over Wooyoung’s waist now that he can see where he’s touching. 

“You should tell me I look good,” he says, and then shivers when Hongjoong moves his hands to his chest. 

“I’ve seen you without a shirt before,” Hongjoong tells him to be difficult. He and Wooyoung have seen each other in various states of dress, by nature of sharing a home and in particular, a bathroom. It’s never been for Hongjoong before, though. Or—it probably has, but not in a way where he’d let himself look, much less touch. 

“Hongjoong-hyung,” Wooyoung nearly whines. Hongjoong pinches at a nipple, and it makes Wooyoung gasp and jerk under his hands. He says, “I’m not even sensitive there.” 

“Hmm.” Hongjoong slides his hands around Wooyoung’s waist and holds them at the small of his back. It’s hard to get Wooyoung much closer in their position, but Hongjoong tugs him so their mouths almost touch again and says, “You know I think you look good.”

He doesn’t give Wooyoung a chance to respond before kissing him, and Wooyoung makes a little noise into his mouth. Wooyoung moves forward, pushing Hongjoong back down on the couch. Their chests press together, Wooyoung’s bare skin against Hongjoong’s t-shirt.

“Yeah,” Wooyoung says after long enough that Hongjoong can’t remember what he’s responding to. “And you know I think you look good. Don’t you want me to tell you, though?”

Something twists in Hongjoong’s belly. He tries to give an indifferent shrug.

Wooyoung sits back enough to hitch Hongjoong’s thighs up over his hips. His hands aren’t particularly gentle as he slides them from Hongjoong’s knees to his hips and says, “You look good, Hongjoong-ah. You’re so sexy. I wish you were naked right now.”

Hongjoong can’t stop the sound he makes. He feels the effect Wooyoung’s words have on him, and he knows Wooyoung can see it.

“You’re so pretty,” Wooyoung goes on. “So handsome. It makes me want to sink my teeth into you.” Even as he says it, he leans down and bites at Hongjoong’s shoulder over his shirt.

Hongjoong cries out in surprise, but his hips jerk. Wooyoung tugs at the neck of his shirt, and when it’s far enough aside he bites Hongjoong again. “Fucking—” Hongjoong’s hand goes to his hair, fingers tangled in it again. He feels Wooyoung smile against his skin, and then his lips and some tongue soothe over where he bit.

“Okay, I get it,” Hongjoong breathes. “You look good, Wooyoung-ah. You’re really pretty, really sexy. I want you to—I want you.”

Wooyoung looks almost surprised by that. “Yeah,” he agrees after a beat, and then his mouth crushes against Hongjoong’s again.

Hongjoong never stood a chance, but now Wooyoung doubles down and he can barely keep his head above water. They’re breathing heavily against each other, and Hongjoong clumsily tries to meet each grind of Wooyoung’s hips, but when Wooyoung works his hand into Hongjoong’s underwear there’s nothing he can do but clutch at Wooyoung and lie there, his legs shaking. It takes an embarrassingly short time for him to come, making groaning, whimpering sounds into Wooyoung’s mouth.

Wooyoung keeps moving his hand until Hongjoong makes a sound of discomfort. Then he removes his hand, wipes it on Hongjoong’s shirt, and reaches into his own underwear.

Hongjoong makes a face, but he almost doesn’t care about the discomfort as he watches Wooyoung touch himself. “Fuck. I—let me—”

He reaches his hand out, but Wooyoung shakes his head quickly. “Almost there. Can I just—I want to—” He pushes the hem of Hongjoong’s shirt, exposing his belly.

“Oh, what the fuck,” Hongjoong breathes. Wooyoung’s hair hangs in his face, and his eyes shut tightly. He comes on Hongjoong’s belly, groaning and slumping over him.

Hongjoong brings an arm around Wooyoung’s back. They are both still panting, even though Hongjoong has hardly moved. “Wooyoung-ah,” he says after what could have been one minute or ten. “Wooyoung-ah. I feel gross, let me up.”

Wooyoung murmurs something unintelligible against his shoulder. Hongjoong pats his ass, and Wooyoung lets out a little groan, then sits up. Hongjoong slides out from underneath him. He makes a face at the mess on his belly, but he doesn’t try to keep it off his shirt, since Wooyoung already made a mess of that, too.

Wooyoung just tucks himself away. Hongjoong gets up, and his legs are, predictably but embarrassingly, a little shaky. He stumbles in the direction of the bathroom, and Wooyoung follows him. “Are you taking a shower?” he asks.

Hongjoong nods. He turns on the water and pulls off his shirt.

“Can I use the sink while you do?”

“Uh huh.” Hongjoong looks at him, biting and licking at his lips. They must be dry. Wooyoung’s lips are always dry. Hongjoong opens the drawer on his side of the bathroom counter and digs around until he finds a lip mask, which he holds out wordlessly.

Wooyoung takes it with his brow furrowed, but then his face breaks into a little smile. “Thanks.”

“Turn around,” Hongjoong tells him, hands at the waistband of his underwear.

Wooyoung snorts, but he does. Hongjoong can barely see him use his pinky finger to put the mask on his lips. He doesn’t turn back around until Hongjoong is safely behind the shower curtain.

After his shower, Hongjoong finds Wooyoung back in the living room, cleaning up the remains of their dinner, thankfully wearing a shirt now. Hongjoong wordlessly goes to help. He finds he’s not sure what to say, and when their glasses are washed and trash thrown away, he says, “I’m gonna… go to bed?”

He doesn’t mean for it to come out like a question, but it does, and Wooyoung smiles. “Okay.”

In his room, Hongjoong gets in bed and he can hear Wooyoung in the bathroom. The sink turns on, then shuts off. He listens for a few minutes, but he’s not sure what he’s listening for until his bedroom door opens and Wooyoung slips in.

Wooyoung watches him closely as he comes in, closing the door behind him, and pushes Hongjoong’s covers aside to get in next to him.

“This is not your bed,” Hongjoong says.

A smile plays at Wooyoung’s mouth. “I’m comfortable, though.”

Hongjoong reaches across him to turn out the lamp. Wooyoung doesn’t move until he’s lying back down, and he turns on his side so they’re facing each other. He places a brief kiss to Hongjoong’s lips.

Hongjoong can’t get himself to shut his eyes with Wooyoung looking at him, so finally he turns over. Wooyoung is too far to be touching him, but close enough Hongjoong can feel the heat of his body.

The noise in his head is mostly indistinct buzzing. He thinks he hears, in Seonghwa’s voice, do you like him?

The next week passes normally—too normally, maybe.

Wooyoung and Hongjoong do all the usual things. They have dinner together when they’re both home. Wooyoung cooks, and Hongjoong helps where he can. Wooyoung chatters to him about work and his family, gives him all the gossip as he always does.

Wooyoung doesn’t say anything about the kissing and… whatever, so neither does Hongjoong. That doesn’t mean he isn’t thinking about it, though. He keeps losing himself looking at Wooyoung’s mouth. When they sit next to each other, he is acutely aware of the distance—or lack of distance—between them. How easy it would be for Wooyoung to kiss him. For him to kiss Wooyoung, even.

It’s not like Hongjoong didn’t know that he wanted to kiss Wooyoung, but before, he was able to hold it back discreetly. Before, it was the draw of chemistry he’d been ignoring for years. Now, he can’t deny to himself the tenderness he feels when he sees Wooyoung first thing in the morning or late at night or fresh out of the shower. In their kitchen, cooking. Wooyoung is part of his life, and they fit together. 

Now he knows what it feels like to kiss Wooyoung, and feel Wooyoung’s body against him, and have Wooyoung’s hands all over him. They fit together then, too. Hongjoong knew what Wooyoung would like. Wooyoung knew how far he could push Hongjoong. Wooyoung knew what it would do to him, to openly compliment him and draw compliments out of him in return. Hongjoong knew Wooyoung was going to slip into his room and into his bed before his door even cracked open. 

Fuck. He does like Wooyoung.

He wonders when exactly that happened. After they moved in together, certainly, but when? Hongjoong knows Wooyoung so well now. Did some switch flip, at some point, that he didn’t notice?

By the end of the week, Hongjoong is in something like a crisis. He’s doing his best not to be jumpy around Wooyoung, but it’s not working. Wooyoung clearly notices, but he keeps his mouth shut and his hands to himself. It’s almost worse that way, weird and out of character.

They cross paths only for an hour or so on Friday. Wooyoung is getting ready to go somewhere. Hongjoong orders dinner and waits for him to be done in the bathroom so he can shower.

Wooyoung finally emerges with dazzling, mesmerizing makeup. “You look nice,” Hongjoong says. It comes out a little croaky. He clears his throat.

“Thank you,” says Wooyoung. Hongjoong expects him to keep making his way out, but he comes to sit next to Hongjoong on the couch.

“You’re not leaving?”

“No, I am,” says Wooyoung. “I just wanted to ask if you’re busy tomorrow evening.”

Hongjoong looks at him. “No, I’m not busy.”

“Okay. Do you want to go to dinner?”

For a moment Hongjoong just looks at him. “Dinner?”

“Yeah, I think we should have dinner tomorrow.”

Hongjoong catches a glimpse of that intensity on Wooyoung’s face. He weakens in the face of it. “You sound like you’re asking me on a date,” he tries to joke.

“I’m asking you on a date.”

Wooyoung leans against the back of the couch. His chin tilts back and his arms are crossed over his chest. He looks casual and at ease. His leg betrays him, shaking back and forth. They meet eyes, and his legs stop moving.

“I,” Hongjoong starts, but his brain doesn’t supply anything else.

“You’re thinking too hard,” says Wooyoung. “Just go on a date with me. We can talk about it then.”

“We can talk about going on a date while we’re on a date?” says Hongjoong.

Wooyoung just looks at him, unimpressed and still waiting.

“Yeah,” Hongjoong says. “Okay.”

Wooyoung grins. He sits up. “I really have to go, sorry. We’ll talk later.”

Hongjoong nods, feeling almost out of his body as Wooyoung gets up to leave. “Your food is here,” Wooyoung calls on his way out. He brings it into the kitchen, then blows Hongjoong a kiss and leaves.

As it turns out, going on a first date with someone you already live with is weird. Hongjoong peeks in at Wooyoung to see what he’s wearing, and Wooyoung catches him and grins to himself. Hongjoong takes longer getting ready, and Wooyoung comes into his room and sits on his bed to watch him finish.

It makes Hongjoong self conscious and flustered, which he hides by resolutely ignoring Wooyoung. That works until he looks at himself in the mirror, and he can see Wooyoung behind him. Hongjoong meets mirror-Wooyoung’s eye and looks away quickly.

When he’s satisfied, Hongjoong turns around to face Wooyoung.

“Ready?” says Wooyoung. His eyes drift over Hongjoong’s body. He takes his time looking. Hongjoong feels hot inside, and now he knows what it feels like when Wooyoung touches him. It’s much worse than before.

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

“Is it okay that I picked?” Wooyoung asks as they leave the apartment. “You can if you want.”

Most of the time, Hongjoong would like to choose where they go. Today, he doesn’t think he minds. He is already waiting to see where Wooyoung will take him. “It’s fine.”

Wooyoung brings him to a restaurant not too far away. It’s not a place Hongjoong has been to. It’s pretty nice, but the vibe is relaxed and cozy enough so as not to put him on edge. Wooyoung chatters lightly to him the whole way, and then Hongjoong finds himself rambling a little about his day, too.

When they have drinks and are waiting on their food, Wooyoung says, “So.”

Hongjoong waits, but Wooyoung doesn’t say anything else. “So,” he repeats.

“You wanted to talk about it,” says Wooyoung.

“I want you to talk about it,” says Hongjoong. ”I don’t know what’s going on.” 

Wooyoung gives him an amused look. “Well, we’re on a date. I think we should date.” 

Hongjoong stares at him. “Was it that good?” he jokes weakly. 

Wooyoung looks unimpressed and maybe a little disappointed. “Hongjoong-hyung.” 

Hongjoong’s throat is dry. He takes a drink of his water. He licks his lips. “Isn’t it a little crazy?” he asks finally. “Dating when we live together? We could end up with a fucked up living situation, not to mention…” 

Something in Wooyoung relaxes. “It’s not that I don’t get what you’re saying. I just think there’s not as much to worry about as you think. We’ve known each other for years, and I’ve only grown on you.” His lips press into a smile and he waits to see if Hongjoong will contradict him. Hongjoong doesn’t. “Even since we moved in together. Maybe especially since we moved in together.” 

Hongjoong can’t argue, because Wooyoung is right. “What if spending so much time together makes us hate each other?” 

“Well, we already spend a lot of time together,” says Wooyoung. “And aren’t I pretty good at giving you space when you need it?” 

He is. Hongjoong has to ask for space sometimes, or just take it, but a lot of the time Wooyoung gives it to him without making him ask at all. 

“You’re not saying no, hyung,” says Wooyoung. “Just so you know. You haven’t said no.” 

“I’m not done asking questions,” Hongjoong says. 

He’s still not saying no, and he knows Wooyoung notices. Wooyoung gestures for Hongjoong to go on. 

“Just,” Hongjoong starts. “The busy thing, you know?”

Wooyoung nods. 

“It’s not that I think you need to change, or I need to change.” Hongjoong pauses. “Well, maybe I need to. I don’t know.” 

Wooyoung cracks a smile. “I mean, I think we both have stuff we’ve learned from past relationships.” Hongjoong nods in acknowledgment “But also, you said you thought I would find someone who fit me. I think you fit me.” 

Hongjoong did say that. He doesn’t know that he thinks Wooyoung is wrong. He messes with a straw wrapper. He folds it into smaller and smaller pieces. Finally, he asks, “Did you just figure this out?”

Wooyoung blinks. He squints his eyes at Hongjoong, uncertain.

“Because I did,” Hongjoong clarifies. “I just realized.”

“Just realized…?” says Wooyoung.

They’re at an impasse for a moment. Hongjoong breaks first, and says, “That I…?”

“That you what?” There’s something a little frantic in Wooyoung’s voice. “That you like me?”

They stare at each other. “Yeah.” It drops out of Hongjoong’s mouth almost without permission.

“No,” says Wooyoung. “If you mean did I just figure out that I like you? No.”

“But you… do?” says Hongjoong.

“Yeah.” Wooyoung looks at him in amusement.

Hongjoong tries and fails not to ask. “How long?”

Wooyoung shrugs. “A while. I always kind of liked you.”

“What do you mean always?” asks Hongjoong, dismay rising in him.

“I mean since the day we met,” Wooyoung says, like it’s obvious.

Hongjoong opens and closes his mouth a couple times in search of a response. “You’re crazy,” he says finally.

Wooyoung laughs out loud. Their food comes at that moment, and he turns to be charming to their server as he places their dishes in front of them. When he turns back to Hongjoong he says, “I feel like it was fairly obvious. It was just a crush for a long time, though. Nothing big or serious. You didn’t—I mean, I thought you were probably attracted to me, but, like…”

He looks a little flustered, so Hongjoong says, “Yeah, I was.”

“I know,” says Wooyoung, and the self consciousness may as well not have been there at all, the way he grins at Hongjoong. “I’m gonna be honest. There were a lot of times I wanted to try to sleep with you. I almost did. I thought you would be into it.”

“I would have,” says Hongjoong. He expects more of a reaction than he gets; Wooyoung just nods.

“I’m kind of glad we didn’t,” says Wooyoung. “I feel like it never would have been anything serious, but maybe now it could be?”

Hongjoong sees a hint of a younger Wooyoung in him for a moment. The air of confidence he wears is a little too big on him. “Yeah,” Hongjoong agrees. He has to break eye contact.

Wooyoung nods again, and he looks surer. “I think you take me more seriously now.”

Hongjoong is surprised enough that he knows it shows on his face. But Wooyoung is right, he thinks. Maybe he never would have felt this way if they didn’t move in together, and he didn’t get to see the way Wooyoung lives his life. “I… I’m sorry,” he says.

Wooyoung waves it off, but Hongjoong can see how this kind of worry weighs on him. “I do take you seriously,” he says.

“I know,” says Wooyoung. A little smile plays at his mouth. 

Hongjoong holds out a bite of food, and Wooyoung’s mouth opens for it automatically. “Okay,” he says. 

He shouldn’t have thought the mouthful of food would stop Wooyoung from talking. He straightens up. “Okay?” He swallows, then takes a gulp of water. 

“Yeah,” says Hongjoong. “I like you. I think you’re right.” 

Wooyoung grins. “I know I am. And you want to sleep with me.” 

“Stop,” Hongjoong complains. “I care about you, and I like spending time with you. I... want to be with you.” He shuts his mouth. His face is on fire. 

Wooyoung’s smile is more gentle now, and he says, “Good. I think this is going to work.”

Hongjoong finds he does, too.