Requested by akitaasoundd

Loud hip-hop music rebounded throughout a dance studio. The sound of footsteps touching, stomping, and exerting themselves to leap followed the beat. Jeong Yunho was practicing for the fifth hour today. And he wasn't planning to stop anytime soon.

"No, no... Shoot." He walked towards his laptop, rewound to the beginning, and prepared again.

Dance meant a lot to Yunho. It was his major, after all. And the big exam was only a week away: the campuswide showcase . An overachiever thanks to the praise of his peers, Yunho went with the most complex song he enjoyed. And to match, he choreographed intricate steps that, to any non-dancer, looked virtually impossible to do.

But now it was a few hours before midnight, and he still couldn't complete the full thing without missing a step, slipping, or doing something completely wrong. Yunho would shout in exhaustion, rewind the song, and try again. After all, what was perseverance then?

Yunho didn't even focus too much on the mirror anymore. His body knew what to do, but eventually, his brain would hit a roadblock and cause him to mess up.

That was precisely why he didn't see the tall male standing by the door in the back of the room.

"Ugh!" Yunho sighed, treading to the laptop again. Clapping filled the room. So he stopped, turning his head towards it.

Mingi looked pleased. "That was great."

"Yeah, but I forgot some steps." Yunho turned to his computer. Mingi made his way toward him. When the music began, he bent down to pause it.

"What are you doing?" Yunho called out.

His boyfriend stared. "Have you eaten something?"

Yunho shrugged. "I'm not too hungry. I had a big breakfast, remember?"

"That was twelve hours ago."

"It's enough."

"Are you taking breaks?"

"..."

Mingi suspired. "Yunho... not again, love."

"I know. I'm sorry, Mingi. But I'm so nervous about this. It means a lot. You had your dance down two weeks ago! I'm still struggling."

Mingi took Yunho's hands and kissed his forehead. "I know how much it does. You love dancing. But you'll be even more energized to dance if you took breaks. And ate well."

"Yeah."

"Let me take you out. We'll come back, and I'll practice with you." Mingi cupped his cheeks. "Sounds like a plan?"

Yunho nodded. "Where are we going?"

"Ah. Just walk with me." Mingi shut Yunho's laptop and pulled the man out of the confined studio. Yunho followed him, hands intertwined, with a hint of curiousness over his face. Mingi caught it because he laughed as they approached the main street.

"You're cute when you're confused."

"I'm just nervous you planned this all to kill me." Yunho bit his lip. "You are... killing me, right?"

"Agh! I missed my chance," Mingi exclaimed as he shook his fist. Then he chuckled. "C'mon, Yunho. I would be a sobbing, depressed mess if something ever happened to you. Remember when I didn't hear your voicemail the night you stayed over at Seonghwa's?"

Yunho laughed. "Babe, it was only overnight."

"The worst night of my life, you mean."

Yunho couldn't help but sneak a kiss on Mingi's cheek. "You're cute."

Some minutes later, Mingi stopped by two electric scooters against a wall. "Hop on."

"Mingi, I've never taken one of these before."

"There's a first for everything."

Yunho didn't reply. He swallowed as Mingi paid the reader, and the motor kicked in.

"Follow me." Mingi kicked his foot and started on the road. A panicked Yunho followed. If they were getting hit by a car, at least they would be together.

"Love, you look terrified," Mingi beamed. His wolf-like hair flew nicely in the wind, and Yunho almost lost himself looking at the man he loved so much had it not been for fear of riding a scooter.

"I am."

"We're almost there."

"Are we going to the beach?" Yunho asked when he recognized the surroundings: small businesses still open at night and wide open roads.

"Oops. Surprise."

The two stopped near the beach's main entrance -- a beautiful purple archway looking down at the mesmerizing sand and glistening, tranquil waves.

"Can we be here at this time? We won't get in trouble?" Yunho pulled Mingi's hand.

"I don't know. Good question." Mingi tugged Yunho's hand anyway, heading down the stairs towards the sand.

Arguably, there were still some people scattered around the beachfront. Some were at small bars and restaurants, others were in friend groups huddled around campfires, and few -- like YunGi -- were taking a stroll along the coast.

Yunho was fascinated by the beach at this time. The unbothered waves calmly washed ashore. The stars in the sky became more prominent as they left the city's edge -- the entrance. And their steps trampling through the sand while holding hands spiked the romance in such an occasion.

"I've always wanted to visit the beach at night," Mingi confessed. "It's calming."

"Why haven't we?"

Mingi chuckled. "I don't know. College?" Yunho grinned. He was right.

"I love you," Mingi declared. "And I'm proud of you."

Yunho felt a tug at his heart. He didn't think Mingi's said that before.

"I could go on about how great you are, Yunho. You're so talented, so beautiful. When I see you dancing, I see you fully immersed and automatically know how much work you put into your pieces."

Tears grew in Yunho's eyes.

"And when I see you push yourself past your limit, my heart cracks little by little. Then I want to tell you all of that again. That I love you so much."

"Mingi..." Yunho croaked.

Mingi brought Yunho into a hug. His arms held the older's waist as he felt hands close behind his neck.

"No matter what mistake you make in your dance, Yunho, it will always look perfect to me."

Yunho didn't hold himself back anymore. He pressed their lips together, absorbing every drop of love Mingi had to offer.

"Don't doubt yourself, love. Because you're doing just fine."

Yunho clutched those words. He held them in his heart that night when he practiced with Mingi. He carried it with him in classes, then repeated them the next time he was dancing. Mingi's words became a part of him the night of the showcase, where he whispered them to himself as the curtain rose.

When Mingi sat in the very front, lovestruck eyes watching his boyfriend.

And Yunho performed the piece to his own standards -- not ones from others.