bonus chap since i can't let this fic go yet

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"So, since Yunho's got a pacemaker in his chest, this means we can technically call him a cyborg, right?"

Yunho groans from where he's sprawled out on the loveseat big enough to hold his entire weight and height, and mumbles something incoherent that's further drowned out by the christmas movie playing on the TV. The colours shine over his faintly flushed cheeks and make his half-opened eyes sparkle.

"Right?" Mingi decides to give his hypothesis a go once more, low voice slurred as a giggle erupts from his throat right then. He begins to laugh -- at nothing.

Wooyoung watches from where he's seated at the dinner table, its sleek surface providing ample room for him and San to play their UNO game.

"Starting to think Mr Jeong and my mom letting Mingi and Yunho drink was a bad, bad idea," he says, but he's quite amused as well. "Drunk people look so funny when drunk."

"...So I look funny too?" San asks. He's donned in an ugly green christmas sweater that he somehow manages to make work. In fact, he's the one who bought it and a matching one for Wooyoung, half as a joke but the shorter had worn it on Christmas with him. But then San kept wearing his, even on today which is New Year's Eve.

And Wooyoung... he finds it really cute.

"Not really," Wooyoung makes a show of stroking his chin. "You didn't drink as much as Yunho and Mingi -- especially Mingi -- so you're good."

It's purposeful though, San's option to remain mostly sober, that is. As soon as he figured Wooyoung doesn't like how getting drunk makes him feel, he swiftly dialed it down with the drinking. Though he hadn't taken much, his face grew a little pink, and Wooyoung would be lying if he said San didn't look simply stunning like this.

"Really?" San questions, eyes wide. An upside to seeing the taller slightly drunk is how utterly adorable he becomes. He gets a lot more talkative too, more excitable. And it makes Wooyoung happy, because San needs this. Needs a moment where he's only in a good mood throughout with a smile on his face, because that's what he deserves after all that's happened.

"Turn that oooofff," Mingi slurs from his seat, his voice loud enough to even disrupt the conversation happening between Mr Jeong and Wooyoung's mother at the porch outside. "It's nearly New Year's and you're watchin' christmas movies? The fuck?"

"Language," Yunho's dad chastises, arms crossed like the teacher he is. But his gaze is fond, if not a little amused.

"Oops," Mingi laughs, "sorry."

"Shut up," Yunho speaks up at that moment.

"No you shut up."

Yunho throws some skittles at Mingi's face.

Mingi gasps and leaps to his feet with the grace of a foal embarking on its first steps, and Wooyoung is about to do some damage control in case he has plans of murdering Yunho when he makes a complete one-eighty and stalks over to the dinner table instead. He nearly knocks over a chair.

"Jesus fucking Christ," Mingi swears, then gasps, slapping his hands over his mouth. He casts a nervous stare the older adults' way, eyes large. "Did they hear?"

"Nope, they did not," Wooyoung replies, chuckling while San is on the brink of falling off his chair, in stitches.

"Yes!" Mingi cheers, then slaps himself, startling both San and Wooyoung, and probably the entire universe at this point. "Be quiet. Don't wake Byeol up."

San had brought her along earlier today after getting Mr Jeong's permission, stating how he 'wanted to spend this New Year's with the people that mattered most', only for the cat to knock out after a hearty meal that evening in her little bed by the livingroom. She's yet to wake up, even after Mingi's egregious shenanigans.

"She likes sleeping a lot, so don't worry," San tells him, fiddling with the playing cards in his hands. There's a jitteriness to his movements, which Wooyoung picks up on. Even Mingi, despite how drunk he is.

Wooyoung immediately springs to action, leaning in until his and San's faces are mere centimeters apart.

Another advantage of San getting a bit drunk tonight? How red in the face and wide-eyed he gets whenever Wooyoung publicly displays his affection.

"If you hadn't already told us you're aromantic I would've totally thought you're getting all hot and bothered right now," Mingi states, tone dead-pan. "Or maybe that's just called being asexual -- which you aren't, I think. Oh my god I am so confused."

"Shut up," Wooyoung presses, hoping to god his mother and Yunho's dad aren't hearing a thing right now.

"I know right?!" Yunho hollers from his loveseat. The suddenness of his words sends San into a fit of laughter, attracting Wooyoung's gaze. He's so beautiful.

San notices -- because he always notices everything when it comes to Wooyoung -- and pats his cheeks, lips forming a small pout. "Do I have something on my face?"

Wooyoung chews his lip, neck heating up at San so obviously staring at it. "Did you shave recently? You have some stubble."

"What?" San whines, rubbing his jaw. "I swear I did yesterday. I can't believe I forgot. This is so embarrassi -- Wait."

Wooyoung snickers into his palm, straight-up cackling when San shoves him. "Kidding! I was just kidding."

"Wooyoung!" San whines again, hitting him with his sweater sleeves. It's not rough however, because San would never risk hurting the younger. "Stop teasing me."

"I'm sorry, Sannie," Wooyoung coos, pulling the taller in for a tight hug. "So, so sorry. But you do have something on your face, though."

San stiffens in his hold, deep brown eyes narrowed and jaw hardened. "What?"

"Beauty, babe."

Someone barfs behind them -- or pretends to, fortunately, and it turns out to be Yunho, the inebriated male pulling out a seat for himself beside San. "This is disgusting."

Wooyoung blows him a raspberry, fully aware of how childish he's being. But he does not give a fuck. He's having a great time with all these people that he loves and holds dear to his heart, and he's so happy his heart feels close to bursting.

"Wooyoung tries not to simp over San challenge: failed," Mingi retorts, grabbing a deck of cards for himself.

"Aren't you two far too drunk for a game of uno?" San asks, taking a sip out of the soda can he'd opted for after engaging on his mission to stay as close to sober as possible.

"I might be and I possibly am also this close to throwing up," Mingi starts, using his fingers to demonstrate just how close he is, "but uno's mad boring with just two people. And I care about you and Woo way too much to let y'all suffer on New Year's Eve like this."

"Dramatic ass," Yunho tuts, rolling his eyes.

"Jealous ass."

Yunho's eyes widen, incredulous. "Jealous of what?"

"Jealous I love Woo and San more than you," Mingi replies.

"Well, I love them too. You aren't special."

Wooyoung glances San's way, panicking when he notes how the taller's eyes glimmer more than usual. His heart drops as San sniffs, a tear rolling down his cheek that he immediately wipes off.

"San..." Wooyoung whispers, reaching for the male's hand without a moment to spare. He'd wanted to avoid this, wanted to avoid San getting all sad and teary-eyed altogether as the taller's cried enough these past few weeks.

"Shit, San's crying," Mingi states, mouth agape. "Yunho, what did you do?"

Yunho shoots him a glare that soon turns worried as he focuses on San. "San, are you okay? Did something happen?" He meets Wooyoung's eye, and in a much smaller voice, asks, "Did I do something to upset you?"

San just shakes his head, dark hair falling over his eyes. It's grown a lot longer now, long enough to pull into a small ponytail. Wooyoung knows because he's tried it before.

"No, you didn't," San answers, fingers tightly clasping Wooyoung's. "None of you did anything. I'm just -- I'm just really happy right now. You guys make me so happy. I feel like I can call you guys my family."

"Really?" Mingi pumps a fist in the air and starts to clap while a sigh of relief escapes Wooyoung's throat. "Yay!"

"Why is Mingi clapping? Is it New Year's already?" Wooyoung's mom suddenly questions from the doorway, tender eyes taking in San's forlorn appearance. "Are you okay, San?"

Her words are careful, considerate. They've gotten like that since the freezing morning of December fourth, the day when San's mother passed. Predictably, San had taken it hard, in tears nearly everyday and in a depressive state so severe it seemed he'd never leave. Wooyoung made sure to never leave San's side throughout, with everyone else doing their part to cheer him up and look after him when he wasn't able to do so himself.

Things have gotten better, though. Not easier, but a little less hard to deal with. Wooyoung knows grief's a process, one that everyone deals with differently. He knows there will be more good days, as well as the days that aren't as good, and everything else in-between. But he's more than ready to share all of San's burdens and make them not hurt as much.

"I'm alright," San replies, dimples making a grand entrance when Wooyoung caresses the back of his hair. His gaze meets Wooyoung's, nose pink just like it always gets when he cries. "I'm more than alright, even."

"Okay I feel like I might literally throw up now," Mingi announces. "Or maybe I'm just a little queasy cause of all the grossness happening right in front of me."

"Please, not on the carpet!" Mr Jeong says, sprinting into the house right then. He helps a visibly upset Mingi up to his feet, before checking his wrist-watch. "Eight minutes left til New Year's. Now excuse me while I carry this kid to the bathroom."

"Daddy?" Mingi asks.

San almost spits out his drink.

"Kill me now," Yunho mutters once Mingi's been dragged to the bathroom, attempting to hide under the table.

Wooyoung wants to disappear, but luckily, his mom opens the fridge and puts the lemon cake they'll indulge in for New Year's on the counter, dwindling the awkward atmosphere. At this moment, Byeol chooses to awake and leaps onto San's lap, purring at his touch.

Yunho tries to stroke the cat as well, only for her to jump on Wooyoung's lap, avoiding his hand. He pouts.

"It's okay," San assures him. "She's just more used to me and Wooyoung at the moment. Even with Yeosang, it took a while for her to get close to him."

At this, Yunho's ears turn rosy, which Wooyoung definitely notices.

"You mean that hot as fuck older college guy that lives with you?" Yunho muses, the alcohol in his system removing all filters.

"Hot older college guy?" Ms Jung asks right then, and the sheer panic in Yunho's eyes is enough to send Wooyoung laughing until his ribs hurt.

San isn't laughing though, but only because he's too busy fawning over how cute Wooyoung looks when he laughs.

Yunho falters as if he's lagging. "Uh -- "

Mingi saunters in, Yunho's dad getting to work and handing him a cold glass of water. "What did I miss?"

Wooyoung's mother suddenly pipes up, searching for the TV remote and switching channels until she lands on one currently celebrating New Year's with them. "The countdown!"

"Countdown?" Yunho blinks. "But what about uno?"

"Listen to me, son," Mr Jeong beckons, placing his hands on Yunho's shoulders. His expression is one of utter seriousness. "There is a time and place for uno, always. But now...now is not the time. Okay, son?"

Yunho nods. "Okay."

Wooyoung points at the TV screen, heartbeat quick in his chest. He's so excited he can barely stay still in his seat. "It's starting!"

Ten.

Mingi's chanting along, a large smile on his face, and Wooyoung wishes he'll always find something to smile about.

Nine.

Yunho attempts patting Byeol for the second time, only to fail.

Eight.

Yunho attempts patting Byeol for the third time, just for her to dodge it once more and run off.

Seven.

Wooyoung sneaks a peek at his mom's side, smiling when she laughs at something Yunho's dad says, the two of them grinning at the screen. Brief horror encapsulates him at the possibility of him and Yunho becoming step-brothers -- but then realizes men and women can enjoy each other's company without any romance being involved.

Six.

Yunho gets up, brings the cake to the table before Byeol can get the idea to jump on the counter.

Five.

Mingi's feeding Byeol skittles -- Wait, what? Before Wooyoung can react the cat turns up her nose at it, hissing too. It scares the living daylights off of Mingi.

"What's up with Byeol?" San says.

Four.

"She's fine," Wooyoung answers, not wanting to reveal the fact that Mingi had gotten this close to endangering his beloved cat. He motions for the animal, and -- surprisingly -- she heads for him and relaxes herself on his lap.

It makes him so happy.

Three.

San looks at him as he rubs behind Byeol's ears, smile incredibly soft and joyful. He looks so pretty like this, eyes crinkled and happiness bursting out of him in waves.

Two.

Wooyoung kinda wishes he had his phone to take a picture of the taller right then and there.

One.

"What're you thinking about?" San asks, pushing up the shorter's glasses. Cheers erupt all around them, but Wooyoung can only focus on San.

Wooyoung shortens the space between them to whisper in San's ear. "You."

Then he kisses the taller's cheek, and San chuckles, the sound like music to his ears.

"And how much I want to spend this new year with you," Wooyoung continues, his voice still lowered. He doesn't care how cheesy he probably sounds right now. "My favourite person."

San makes a move of leaning in too, eyes warm and smile brighter than anything Wooyoung's ever seen before. "I can't wait for us to spend another year together, sunshine."

"Why are they so cute? They should really stop," someone says at that moment. It's Mingi, the brown haired male heading for the door. "We should walk a little down. I can hear fireworks."

"You guys can go watch them," Ms Jung says. "I'll cut up the cake before you return and look after Byeol."

"And you, dad," Yunho begins, gesturing at the befuddled man, "can hang out with both Ms Jung and Byeol. Because we four are adults. Grown, independent men."

"Please stop," Mingi shakes his head, while Wooyoung stands and reaches for San's hand. "Please stop. Again."

"Nope," Wooyoung laughs, unable to dial down his elatedness at how he can just hold San's hand and kiss him without any serious judgment from the people he cares so immensely about.

He literally can't believe his luck, can't believe how content he feels at this point in time.

Yunho and Mingi are soon running down the sidewalk, arms outstretched as they scream bloody murder that's luckily drowned out by the dazzling fireworks lighting up the early morning sky. They gleam and glitter, shooting vibrant colours in different directions.

San laughs at their antics, but it's clear the fireworks have him exhilarated as well. His eyes reflect off the sparks, smile nearly hidden under the black scarf wrapped around his neck.

"I think this would be the right time to say I love you," Wooyoung blurts. Heart racing, he rushes to correct himself. "But then again, that's kinda cliche. And it kinda pushes on the amatonormativity agenda even though I love you and care about you in several other ways that aren't romantic -- "

"Hey, chill," San tells him, lips curled into a smirk. "It's fine. Just keep telling me how much you love me and how hot and awesome I am. Feeds my ego."

"I hate you." That statement can't be any further from the truth.

San hums, all smug as he pinches Wooyoung's cheek. "I know. And I cherish you too."

Wooyoung's heartbeat stutters. "Cherish?"

"Yeah," San answers, eyes fond as he regards Wooyoung. "I like the way it sounds. And I think it describes how I feel about you pretty accurately."

Wooyoung squeals, grin nearly splitting his face in half. "Really?"

San nods, ruffling his hair. "Yup."

Wooyoung giggles at this. "Well, I cherish you."

San's smugness deepens. "I know."

Oh how Wooyoung cherishes him.

With that, they decide to run off to join Mingi and Yunho, eager to start off the new year under the radiant fireworks and with each other as company.

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final a/n: thoughts? i really hope you guys enjoyed this lil extra chap 💖