wooyoung's birthday night was long.

music relayed across the floor until sunrise, stomps of thrill and celebration kept far too many fellow students up in bed, and a shockingly large pile of burnt barbecue perfumed the accommodation. it was magnificent, the boys thought, vivid and exuberant — and very loud.

the next morning, the easily detectable stench of cheap vodka and (again) bad meat lingers between the walls of san and mingi's dorm. when san wakes, he groans into his pillow at the strong whiff that unpleasantly fondles his nostrils, but, bringing the warmth resting upon his bare chest closer to himself, he grins lazily at the reminder of the beautifully memorable night they've just had. just him and his wooyoung and the kissable rays of the early sun. celebrating his lover might just be san's favourite day of the year.

his heart soars whilst flashes of glistening, honey skin dally through his mind, pressing himself further and impossibly further into the boy tucked between his tired arms. eventually, san's conscious arises amidst his sleepiness and—

as if frightened, he jerks back from the unknown, non-human-like fabric scratching his cheek. scowling at the discomfort, san begrudgingly stretches his eyes open. his brows scrunch at the pile of plushies stuffed in his hugging arms. more so, when his eyes flicker to the neon pink post-it note pasted to his phone.

morning, sannie, the cutely scribbled words call at him. a doodle of a heart accompanies it. plz don't worry, i didn't run away from you. put a shirt on (loser) and find me! i'll be somewhere

san grins. flushing red, he swings his legs off the messy covers of his bed and, unable to find his shirt, he picks up one of wooyoung's.

he only hopes the latter remembers.

when san finds wooyoung, he is huddled with his limbs close to himself upon the kitchen counter, san's sleeves engulfing his arms. so that's where it went.

san smiles at wooyoung's wide, distracted gaze, thinking he looks just adorable.

"hi."

wooyoung jolts, just hardly, at the delicate envelope of san's voice. "sannie. hi." he smiles bashfully — at what, san might be able to guess.

though, he wouldn't mind if he turned out to be wrong, because the curve of wooyoung's sculpted cheeks bloom into a faint pink and san's heart would leap excitedly either way. "hm." he cocks his head, stands before wooyoung. san's palms reach for the latter's knees, a silent prompt for wooyoung to swing his legs down, let san cosy into him. the pink curve of san's lips reaches his dimples as he shimmies close. "what are you doing in here, baby?"

wooyoung hums a short but happy tune, before nodding to the glass of water by his side. san's fingers dance up wooyoung's thighs.

"hydration? impressive."

wooyoung scoffs at san's meaningless teasing, fighting off the giggle close to emitting from his throat; the squint of his eyes, the pink of his ears, the stretch of his lips are far too overwhelming, however. frankly, he doesn't find san largely hilarious, wooyoung is just so happy to be with him again. despite the hours of precious time they spent together, indisputably inseparable the previous night, it doesn't appear to be enough for the giddy couple — not enough glances, touches, kisses. not anywhere close.

finally, wooyoung mumbles a grudgingly petty "shut up" that clashes with the clingy gesture of his fists tugging san into the embrace of thighs pressed to hips. closer, san's lips slot against the plush heartiness of his own and, shameless, wooyoung is, as he hums quietly, breaths of pleasure into san's mouth. he can't help it, when san is so pliant, letting him have his way at anytime and at anyplace. "m'good—" wooyoung's teeth nip at san's lip. "—morning," he musters, ever so polite. then, he pecks the corner of san's mouth.

san breathes, a speechless chuckle. his eyes sparkle in satisfaction. "morning, darl'." another kiss. and another. "how do you feel?"

wooyoung draws away from his desires now, at san's loveliest sincerity, tips his head back just slightly. "mm." shyness overwhelms him suddenly. "... nice."

san is smiling. "nice?"

"yeah. i feel..." the crinkle of san's nose brings a smile, brimming with love, to wooyoung's mouth, too. his heart beats. "feel warm."

"oh— but—" san blinks, laughs lightly. "warm? it's winter, wooyo, 'n the heating in this building sucks ass."

"no, yeah. it does suck, actually, i— i just mean... i meant—"

wooyoung pauses. his fingers consider momentarily before seeking for san's; they intertwine, squeeze, thrilling, and wooyoung brings them to his chest.

"—here. i feel warm... here." pressing hard, until san's knuckles dig into his clothed skin, all he is aware of, wooyoung musters a whisper, "...safe." 

wooyoung himself feels the trembling exhale from san's lips, the look in his eyes, heartfelt but almost devastated. his lips part once more, but fall shut when san's arms snake around him to hold his waist, hug him close. tranquil and satisfied, wooyoung sighs, frame slipping into san's. perfect, they are perfect, in the most cliche of senses — like a lock and key, a pair of missing jigsaw pieces, like ying and yang. wooyoung would be nothing less of stupid if he ever doubted so again. he hopes, in some other universe, that he is able to melt into san, sit, for eternity, with his insides. he'd like to live there, build shelter and seek food, sleep to the rhythm of his breath as a nightly lullaby. in that universe, wherever it may be, however far, wooyoung would like to graze his fingertips over san's beating heart. maybe he will feel it beat faster at his touch. maybe it will glow.

none other than san's voice, sweet and low, pulls him out of his... daydreaming? — whatever category it falls under. "my wooyo..." san squeezes wooyoung, the dip where his hips sit, their gaze interlocking.

"i hope to keep you safe until i die," san says so solemnly, eyes wonderfully sparkling and lips beautifully swollen, a sculpture of love, venus in all her might and glory. the look of utmost love across san's features suggests more than a romantic gesture; he means it, every word that grazes across his tongue. it's a promise, an oath, a sacred vow.

wooyoung can't recall when exactly his palms reach to hold san's face between them. but when he next blinks, he is, pressing his warmth into the latter's cheeks. san's stunned gaze sparkles, and the sight alone is magical — from the heavy blaze that thorns the corners of his own eyes, wooyoung assumes that his expression is likely close to identical. he breathes, and again, and "sannie." his voice is seeping with only love.

"i think— i—" he pauses. thinks. "i read something, somewhere — a while ago — that made me think of you. you were the first person, and only person, i thought of and it was so — just — instant, and—" wooyoung brings their heads close, together, touching. "i feel like we are... soul tied."

san blinks. when he smiles, it is nothing but fond — in awe. "soul tied," he repeats.

"mhm."

"soul tied," again.

wooyoung is giggling, now. "yes, sannie, that's what i said."

"sorry, it's just— it's pretty. so pretty, beautiful—"

"like you."

"—shush." the thumb which san grazes over the flesh of wooyoung's lips definitely does shush his flirty interjection. the touch follows across wooyoung's jawbone. "it's perfect," san sums up with a grin. "perfect for us, especially. i love it. really and truly... almost as much as—"

"i love you," wooyoung sings along with san's corny, predictable line.

but his mocking tone is paired with the sparkliest teeth and the widest smile — and his laughter has never sounded brighter than with san's harmonising along with it.

###

typical suburban neighbourhoods in korea remind wooyoung of his childhood. memories spark, as san's car pulls up into the driveway of his mother's home, of playing volleyball with his classmates after school; eating supper around the dining table as a family; sneaking unto his father's work computer to browse compilations of street dancing that fascinated him as a nine year old; cuddling into his mother's arms every night befo—

"wooyoungie, darling..."

a delicate palm is massaging his nape when wooyoung jolts.

"are you okay?" san's sweet voice inquires once more.

"oh," wooyoung says. "yeah— yeah, i'm okay." san's gaze doesn't move, paralysed upon him out of worry. "really, sannie, i'm okay. no need to worry."

"you sure?" san resumes the slight caress of wooyoung's neck. "i promise, we don't need to do this today. we can wait till the next time you visit, or the next — whenever you feel that you're ready."

"no, no, no, i— sannie—" wooyoung is shaking his head profusely. "i want to."

"yeah?"

"i want to. i really, really do. i'm sorry, i just— got lost in my head for a moment," he confesses truthfully. "but i am ready. and your mom — she sounds adorable. i'm glad she wants to see me."

"oh, wooyo," san says in disbelief, grabbing the nervous hand perched at the edge of the passenger seat. wooyoung's eyes flicker to their interlocked fingers. "she's been dying to meet you, you have no idea. all she does is ask about you, i swear, it's like i'm not even her son anymore."

wooyoung's lips squeak a giggle. "well, can you really blame her, sannie? i'm just so fabulous."

san rolls his eyes, smiling, regardless. "sure, you are." he squeezes wooyoung's hand. "let's go, then, yeah?"

"mhm!"

wooyoung is absolutely and definitely not as confidently chirpy as he appears to be. it's a wonder san doesn't pick up on his disgustingly clammy palms, or the glistening of sweat across his neck, or just about his entire posture as they leave san's teensy car — jittery and desperate. desperately afraid of bringing shame upon san, his sweet, deserving, boy, desperately eager to please his mother, despite her faults that wound san's heart, but desperately excited to seal his and san's... thing with something as meaningful as this.

the idea chokes wooyoung with a throttle of hope and suddenly he's picturing the hazy image of him and san, forever.

wooyoung swallows the feeling down, hard. the thought retreats.

though, not far enough. the remaining slivers of hope cling, desperately, like wooyoung himself, onto every shred of expectation it can: the nuisance notices how san uncomfortably uses his left hand to flick the knock of his childhood front door, instead of his right which is occupied with wooyoung's; how san caresses his trembling knuckles, soothingly, back and forth; how, upon the faint sounds of scurrying footsteps, san shuffles forward slightly, as if to ease wooyoung's mind with his protection, and— oh, wooyoung thinks he is losing his mind. this is it, he's gone utterly mad.

perfect timing, he thinks, cynical, and the pale yellow of the door before him is pulled quickly away.

wooyoung sucks in a breath, as san's mother gasps. the lady is quite short, shorter than him, face crinkled as her lips press a sweet smile — just like san's is, admittedly, wooyoung's first thought — and her greying hair pulled into a typical, low bun.

"oh, my sannie!" she exclaims warmly, pulling the taller boy into a limb-crushing hug. san yelps, startled but with glee.

wooyoung has to force the reminiscence of his own mother from creeping into his mind once more.

the woman pulls back, patting san's elbows. then, oh too fast, she is turning to wooyoung, smile nothing less but thrilled.

instinctively, wooyoung's panic prompts his eyes to san's — they're fixed on him already, light and encouraging, accompanied with an almost noticeable nod, and—

"ms choi..." he murmurs uncertainly at the bright face, only hoping that he's smiling just as hard. another thumb grazes across the back of wooyoung's hand. so, loudly, this time: "i'm wooyoung! it— it's really nice to be meeting you, finally. i hope sannie has talked about me well."

once finished, he bows his head bashfully, until a cupped palm urges his gaze up. wooyoung's next breath is caught in his chest, when san's mother is pinching his cheeks in what appears to be... adoration.

oh.

she coos, almost, pitch high. "oh, san-ah, he is pretty." she turns to san when she says this, eyes drooping into a proud frown. wooyoung is speechless. his eyes are wide when the woman returns to his gaze, blinking slowly as she then pats his red face, like dough. "what did he offer you, hm?" she interrogates sternly. for a moment, wooyoung is afraid that she's serious. "or did he build you in a workshop?"

wooyoung's laughter fails to dwell within him; it erupts louder than he would like, higher than he would like, but san's mother is laughing, too, then, and maybe it's not so bad.

san told his mom that he's pretty. san thinks he's pretty.

still giggling bashfully, wooyoung finally answers, "of course, not. san is, like, perfect — did you build him in a workshop?"

his laugh is nervous, then, arms jittering by his side. wooyoung has realised now that restricting his social circle to solely his roommates and a few friends who live across the world is not entirely efficient in the long run. but, thankfully, san's mother just beams in response, shaking her head.

"come on in, boys," she encourages, fondness twinkling her eyes. as she turns her back to the pair, her voice drifts vaguely away, "i made..."

before wooyoung can move to the door, san's fingers jump to his sleeve. their eyes lock, and wooyoung purses his lips. "what did you think?" his voice is fretful, raspy with heavy breaths. "that was okay... right, sannie? like, i—"

"angel."

wooyoung's breath trembles.

cradling both of his hands now, san rubs the pads of his thumbs over wooyoung's knuckles — the motion of his fingers mirrors the shape of a heart, a myriad of hearts, etching onto wooyoung's skin, a replica of san's love. "it was perfect, my wooyo, you did perfect," san reassures with the warmth of his chest. "i promise you, she loves you. this is all she wants for me, see." a sincere pause. "a boy so pretty he was made in a workshop."

fits of giggles enthral the couple,  wooyoung hitting his palm to san's torso. "shut up."

"why should i?" san challenges with a tilt of his head.

snaking from san's chest to his neck, wooyoung's fingers curl around the latter's nape. he squeezes tenderly, a gesture san mirrors but at his hip, as their lips meet into a gentle kiss. the butterflies have never left the pit of wooyoung's tummy — if anything, they've found home there.

san is grinning wildly when he pulls away. "i know you want to kiss me, like, all the time, but you've gotta meet byeol, remember?"

another slap at his chest, alongside a glare. playfully shoving san away, wooyoung tugs them inside, much more assured of himself now. eyes privately marvelling the cosy and dainty decor of the home, wooyoung beams. "now, where is my baby?"

san calls for the house cat, with a long, melodic whistle and an adorable call of her name, until the pretty pet is contently strutting to their feet. she purrs into san's loving palm, stroking her fur against him.

quietly, wooyoung observes his lover. perhaps forever is more imaginable than he first thought.

###

a/n: hai ☺️

IDK WHAT TO SAY i'm so scared holy shit um hello hai sing me to sleep comeback ❤️

i truly do think the universe hates my guts bc every time i plan to write or sit down to write some awful terrible thing has to happen that just takes over my life or demotivates me to the point where i just Can't and it makes me so so upset each time. i'm really so sorry that it took me like forever to get this out but i do hope it was somewhat worth the wait (i'm just saying this i know that it was Not). thank you all for being ever so patient with me i appreciate it lots with all of my heart 🌟🌟🌟 i do wish that i can get kind of back on track soon but i am going on a family holiday in three days so idk how or if that will work! but. fingers crossed i guess

no matter what writing will forever and always be one of my few passions and i could never just give it up. writing versions of this over the past few months have been stressful but so so enjoying and fulfilling and comforting so i do hope that you feel something similar whilst reading it too <3

i love you all very much thank you for everything you have given me and my works. i absolutely do not deserve this much but i will cherish it now and forever. i've missed u little queers so talk to me in the comments!!! about ur thoughts on this chapter or literally anything else eva i will read it all attentively :3

and lastly thank you to my sweetest S4NS1RS for proofreading for me again ☹️🤍 i love you more than i love anybody i hope i can give u this task foreva my one n only

oki byebye i lov u i come back soon! i hopes

next chapter last chapter btw ha 🤓