by astree(pluiestivale)

Choi 'Beomgyu's not my type' Yeonjun is born on October 27, 2022, at exactly 17:49 KST.

At that moment, no one had any idea that this day would mark the beginning of Yeonjun's descent into Hell.

Surely not Sunhi and Minseo, two MOAs who are then in the front row to watch the live Weverse of one of their five favorite boys.

Both casually lying on her bed, Sunhi watches her best friend type a question on her computer keyboard, even as Yeonjun says something about cute adult stomachs.

"Is he drunk?" she asks slowly. It's not even said with an ounce of mockery. From the beginning of the live, Yeonjun has literally been putting on quite a show at MOAs, squirming and giggling like a hormonal teenager. He also talks about the most random topics, like cute adult stomachs - who the hell thinks stomachs are cute? - and Sunhi seriously wonders as she sees the boy snicker once again if he's really not drunk. Or at least a little tipsy.

Minseo only replies with a sly smile before pressing the "enter" button instead, sending her question into the chat. She almost immediately drowns in the middle of the other messages, all of them heartbreaking explosions and declarations of love in languages that neither of the two friends understands.

Sunhi nevertheless has time to read the question before it disappears altogether, and she immediately lets out an outraged grunt:

"Why do you always have to ask after Beomgyu? He's not even here."

"Well, he's my ultimate bias. Now a caring fan is not allowed to ask about her idol?"

Out of the corner of their eyes, they both see Yeonjun leaning towards the camera, his eyes scanning the phone screen for a new question. They barely pay attention, too busy bickering.

"It's disrespectful. This is Yeonjun's live, you-"

"How about Beomgyu, Yeonjun?"

"Oh! That's my question! That's my question! Yeonjun noticed me! Quiet!"

This is enough to immediately silence their argument.

Of course, they both scream, and begin to squirm on Sunhi's bed half holding hands, half hitting each other with excitement.

On the computer screen, Yeonjun moves away from the camera and back to his original position. He frowns. Confusion appears on his face and for a moment he looks so lost that he seems to be searching for the answer to the Navier-Stoke mathematical equation.

"Beom... Beomgyu... is good."

Sunhi and Minseo freeze simultaneously, their hands still tightly bound.

For half a second - which seems to stretch to infinity - the two girls stare at Yeonjun in silence, as he staring at the camera with the most troubled expression ever seen on a human face.

Beomgyu is good ?

It wasn't really the question they were both expecting.

"Beomgyu is wha-" Sunhi starts to repeat, but she doesn't have time to go any further before Yeonjun follows up, making the next few seconds his own end.

"Beomgyu isn't bad."

Sunhi's jaw drops as she sees the wide smirk that appears on Yeonjun's lips, even as the boy begins to confidently move his head and giggle, all with such a bizarre attitude for such a context that Sunhi can almost see the question marks appearing above her head.

"What is he talking about."

"Well... he's not my style, but he's not bad."

What the fuck.

Even behind his computer screen, Yeonjun is so obvious (and he's thinking so hard) that Sunhi and Minseo can clearly see the scenarios unfolding in the boy's head.

It's really, really not the answer they expected when they asked that question.

Already, the chat starts to flare up with comments of all languages and forms, and Yeonjun doesn't see anything because he is too busy imagining God knows what ungodly situation.

"Oh my god," Minseo murmurs, covering a hand with her mouth.

"Not at him just coming out on live" mumbles Sunhi, still stunned.

"We need to tell him we were asking him how Beomgyu is doing, not what he thinks of Beomgyu!"

But already, a wide smile stretches Sunhi's lips, and the young girl visibly stifles a huge laugh as still watching Yeonjun doing his thing that only he understands.

"The way he didn't even try to deny that he is interested in men! Yah, Choi Yeonjun!"

She almost howls with laughter at this. Her friend slaps her shoulder, clearly not amused, while Yeonjun leans back into his phone screen to read the comments.

"Ah, you mean his health?!"

Sunhi's laughter echoes so loudly that it swallows up Minseo's desperate whimper, as well as the hasty response Yeonjun gives the fan in an attempt to make up for the mistake that will likely follow him for the rest of his life.

Yeonjun knows that he made a cruel mistake when the members watch his Live, and all burst out laughing at the scene of "Beomgyu's not my type".

It's not even something they usually do. Usually, when one of them is doing a live, the others only watch it when they have a few minutes of free time to spare, or when they really want to tease their teammate in front of the MOAs. They don't usually go and watch each other's live after they are over.

But here's the thing. In Yeonjun's case, it took the MOAs' betraying him, and forcing him to answer the question "Yeonjun, how about Beomgyu?"

To which Yeonjun babbled like a confidant gay that Beomgyu is not bad - and then had to hastily make up for it by adding that despite this, Beomgyu is not his type.

Don't judge him. He panicked, okay? He couldn't decently admit to the camera that Beomgyu is the most gorgeous person he's ever seen. He's even more beautiful than Yeonjun himself, which means a lot, because God knows Yeonjun's self-esteem is high, very high.

He couldn't admit to his hundreds of thousands of viewers that he thinks Beomgyu is absolutely unreal, that he's as sexy as he is cute, that his narrow waist makes his head spin and that the way he can go babygirl so comfortably has the power to short-circuit Yeonjun's brain in the most delightful way.

That's why he had to invent this mediocre and rather pathetic excuse of Beomgyu not being his type, while everyone with eyes can see how Beomgyu is definitely Yeonjun's type.

Damn, Beomgyu is everyone's type. He's so much the world's type, that the last time Yeonjun opened his Weverse app, the first thing that greeted him was a comment proudly saying, "Dude, Beomgyu is totally my type, and I'm lesbian."

Yeonjun's life is, like, a joke.

And it's terrible, because not only can he not even go on Tik Tok anymore without coming across those cursed edits of him valiantly stating that Beomgyu is not his type, followed by those endless compilations where Yeonjun just happens to look at Beomgyu with that totally melted look, so obvious that even he can't come up with an excuse to defend himself anymore.

God, he looks so whipped.

He doesn't even do it on purpose. God, he never even realized that every time he lays eyes on Beomgyu, he looks at the younger one as if he were literally an angel fallen from heaven.

(Well, maybe Yeonjun has already noticed. Of course, he's not blind: he's already intercepted all those looks when he reviews some of their To Do episodes, with the very professional and critical purpose of picking up the good and bad points of his performances in front of the camera.

His reactions to Beomgyu, however, have never been classified as good or bad, since generally Yeonjun is a coward and decides not to see the long, longing looks he gives to the younger.

Not like he could control them, anyway.

The whole part of his brain dedicated to dealing with the consequences of Choi Beomgyu's existence in his life is a place Yeonjun can't handle. It's like, pathological.)

MOAs will never leave him alone with this. Not now, not even in a hundred years.

And now he finds himself surrounded by his members on the living room couch, all four of them cackling like hyenas as Soobin takes an almost perverse pleasure in replaying the "Beomgyu's not my type" session over and over again.

The worst is not even Soobin and Taehyun who laugh maniacally next to him, slapping their hands while the scene replayed tirelessly before Yeonjun's tired eyes.

The worst part is not Kai trying (very badly) to cheer him up (he can't do it at all), trying to suppress a smile (Yeonjun sees his smile, as he already sees the mockery that will rain down on him for the next ten decades) as he gently pats his knee, assuring him that it's going to be okay (it's not), it wasn't that bad (it was).

No, the worst part of this whole situation is Beomgyu himself.

Unlike the other members, he doesn't make fun of Yeonjun, doesn't giggle like a little devil while throwing biting teasing that will surely offend the elder.

Yeonjun wished he had. At least he would have known how to react to the situation. He would have crossed his arms against his chest, and sulked like a child, complaining that he was the eternal victim of TOMORROW X TOGETHER and that his dongsaeng definitely didn't respect their hyung.

Because instead, Beomgyu is curled up against his side, half sitting on his lap as he silently watches the fateful moment over and over again. For once, he is calm. A soft smile floats across his lips, and Yeonjun honestly can't register much of what's going on around him as he's cruelly aware of Beomgyu's body pressed against him, his hand absentmindedly fiddling with Yeonjun's earring.

Yeonjun can clearly feel his brain functions fading every time Beomgyu's fingertips brush the shell of his ear.

He has hardly the strength to gather a word to put off Soobin, who continues against everything to make fun of him.

"Damn hyung, I can't believe you really said that right to the camera" Soobin almost chokes on his laughter. Yeonjun wants to give him a dirty look, but he barely manages to take his eyes off the spot on the wall he's been staring at for a good fifteen minutes.

Beomgyu's fingers are still too close to his ear, and the gesture seems so domestic that he just wants to die.

"Shut" is all he manages to spit out, and again it doesn't even sound as threatening as he would have liked.

Just pathetic.

"Look, the fans have even come up with a nickname for you," Taehyun adds, waving Soobin's phone under Yeonjun's nose.

Everyone else leans over to take a look, but Yeonjun remains motionless. Let him be buried at this point.

"Fondjun. If that isn't adorable!"

At this point, even Kai joins the 'All against Yeonjun' league, and the three demons collapse at the same time on the couch (and on the floor, for Kai) crying with laughter.

Once again, Beomgyu is the only one who spares Yeonjun's pride. Or at least, he doesn't attack him by making fun of him.

Instead, the younger one rests his chin on Yeonjun's shoulder, turning his adorable face towards the older one. He's so close to him that Yeonjun can feel his breath on the side of his face, and man, he's not sure if he's honestly still alive after this.

At least, if this gesture didn't kill him, then Beomgyu's next words certainly do.

"You really think I'm not your type, hyung?"

Yeonjun's brain stops working completely.

He can only stammer unintelligible words, until his voice dies out completely in his throat at the moment when Beomgyu's fingers, still busy playing with his earring, lightly pinch his skin.

He doesn't know if he wants to strangle Beomgyu or throw him off the balcony. The younger one has no right to do that to him. Hell, does he even know the effect he has on Yeonjun? Of course, Yeonjun is a man after all. He is sensitive to pretty things, and undeniably, Beomgyu is one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen in his short life.

He feels that it is normal that his heart weakens sometimes, in front of some actions of the younger. But damn, Beomgyu should not enjoy it.

However, any desire to kill on Yeonjun's part fades away when Beomgyu's hand finally slips from Yeonjun's ear, only to give him a small, quiet smile.

"Okay hyung."

Then he puts his head on Yeonjun's chest as if nothing happened, and immerses himself in the conversation of the other three - still busy making Yeonjun's life miserable.

If Yeonjun is dumbfounded for a few seconds, he can't help but be relieved to no longer feel the younger man's touch on such a sensitive part of him.

He decides to ignore what just happened, and instead inhales deeply - both to keep patience and not to strangle his members, and also to keep the few braincells he has left while Beomgyu is still leaning on him.

He should have known that the sparkle in Beomgyu's eyes would only bring him trouble.

Yeonjun is seriously considering sending his resignation letter to HYBE.

No, because he loves his life, he loves his fans, and even though the ups and downs of being an idol are often painful, he knows that all the wonders his job offers are worth overcoming some obstacles.

But this. Yeonjun doesn't remember signing up for this.

You see, Yeonjun is a simple man.

Sure, he often appears on camera as a diva, plays an extravagant role for his fans when he performs in front of them, and yes, maybe there is a part of him that likes that extra side, is weak for expensive and eccentric clothes and makes sure he always looks like a stylish rock star when he goes to an event.

But otherwise, Yeonjun is a simple man. With simple desires, very simple needs, and even simpler triggers.

Like, a pretty boy. A pretty boy like Beomgyu, able to melt him down to a puddle with nothing more than a smile.

Hey, again, Yeonjun is just a man. And he is sensitive to pretty things.

He is also sensitive to the people wearing his clothes. You see, as said before, Yeonjun has high self-esteem. He knows that his sense of style is impeccable, and if you were to ask him, he would honestly say that he is the most fashionable member of his group.

But then again, there's a difference between self-proclaimed style king and being singled out as a model by someone else. That's why seeing his members wearing his clothes always fills him with pride: Yeonjun personally interprets it as a victory every time, as if the mere fact of borrowing one of his clothes and showing it off to everyone is indeed a proof of the older man's incomparable sense of style.

Insert now Choi Beomgyu wearing Yeonjun's clothes.

Yeonjun is pretty sure he's losing his mind the moment he notices Kai's live notification, clicks on it, and the maknae appears on his screen - next to a Beomgyu stuffed into a soft sweatshirt, which looks twice as big for him.

Yeonjun stumbles foolishly in the middle of one of the company's corridors, earning long, suspicious glances from a group of staff who were passing by.

He bows quickly to apologize, and hurries off in the opposite direction before turning his attention back to the live show.

The sweatshirt is actually so big that Beomgyu's fingers don't even reach the end of the sleeves, and Yeonjun involuntarily coos when he sees the younger man's sweater legs. Beomgyu is curled up in his seat next to Kai, so much so that the sweatshirt seems to swallow him whole, and makes him look ridiculously tiny.

Yeonjun is so touched, that it takes him a good ten minutes to realize that this sweatshirt is cruelly familiar to him.

Then, two thoughts come to him at the same time.

He looks so babygirl, is the first one that comes with a painful twinge in the heart.

The second one arrives in a scream.

THIS IS MY SWEATSHIRT?

"Isn't that Yeonjun-oppa's sweatshirt?" Kai says at the same time, probably reading the comment from a fan. "Well, that was what I was wondering too. Beomgyu-hyung's sweatshirt looks very similar to the one Yeonjun-hyung wore last time. Has he started buying clothes for you again?"

Beomgyu smiles softly at the camera, blinking gently.

Yeonjun has to restrain himself from catapulting his phone against the wall in front of him, then rolling into a ball and sobbing like a loser.

"It's actually Yeonjun-hyung's," Beomgyu replied quietly. "I haven't worn his clothes for a long time. I don't know, I wokeup this morning and I was feeling like this. I think I missed it. They are still warm and comfortable, just like I remember. And then I like the smell."

Yeonjun is almost sure that his heart stops beating.

"And how does it smell? Does it stink?" laughs Kai.

Yeonjun thinks briefly to make him regret this sentence later, when they return to the dormitories. However, this thought fades away quickly as he thinks he detects a hint of nervousness in his laughter, surely because the maknae already sees the catastrophe coming from miles away and tries as best he can to keep up appearances.

Unfortunately for him, Beomgyu clearly don't understand the message. He doesn't respond right away. Instead, he sinks a little deeper into the cursed sweatshirt, so deeply that the bottom of the hood soon covers half of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.

And yet, Beomgyu's loving smile is so bright that any blind person could see it.

"It smells like Yeonjun-hyung."

Obviously.

And yet, the groan that Yeonjun unwittingly lets out at this statement is so desperate that it makes him want to slap himself.

He's so fucked up.

On his screen, the smile that Kai displays is both embarrassed and panicked, and the maknae's gaze keeps going back and forth between Beomgyu and a point in the field off camera, surely looking for help of any kind from their manager.

The scene lasts a few seconds, and obviously their manager seems to be satisfied with seeing Kai in a crisis situation because the live show continues. Beomgyu is now playing with his sweater paws, that same stupid expression still stuck on his face (Yeonjun thinks it's the most adorable expression in the world, leave him alone) as he buries himself further (if that's even possible) in Yeonjun's sweatshirt.

Immediately, Yeonjun's mind is flooded with visions of Beomgyu wearing his clothes, and the sense of urgency he feels at the need to go and capture Beomgyu to lock him in his room and dress him in his clothes is so overwhelming that he is momentarily dizzy.

Finally, Kai leans over to the phone, surely looking for a new comment to respond to. Out of curiosity, Yeonjun also glances at the live chat.

And he immediately feels sorry for the maknae, because the chat is only filled with comments about Beomgyu and Yeonjun. The messages scroll by at the speed of light, and soon there are so many - all dealing with the same thing, them - that it becomes impossible to continue pretending.

Kai takes a ridiculously long time to choose a comment, biting his lower lip and looking so desperate that Yeonjun doesn't know whether to laugh at him or really feel sorry for him.

"That's right, the weather is nice today!" he exclaims hastily, although Yeonjun hasn't seen any comments dealing with the weather. Kai's smile to the camera looks more like a distress signal than any relaxed smile, and honestly he looks so panicked that Yeonjun can't hold back a chuckle this time.

His smile fades as Beomgyu leans towards the comments. Obviously, he takes care to choose one that can only embarrass them more.

"Yeonjunnie and Beomie have been looking close lately," he reads before turning a bright smile toward the camera - not the tortured smile of Kai, who looks like he's about to cry next to him. "It's true! Hyung and I have been getting a lot closer these days. Before, we weren't very close; I mean, everyone knows we have more of a Tom & Jerry kind of relationship. Of course, I still tease him, and he teases me too, but it's not just that anymore. He's softer, right now. Like a soft teddy bear. If I had known he was this nice to cuddle, I would have done it much sooner. Now I don't think I can do without it."

"What the fuck ?!"

Yeonjun doesn't realize that he actually yelled those words, until he realizes that he is now standing in the middle of the company hallway, bent over his phone, and that an entire class of trainees has just interrupted their practice to look at him like he's crazy.

Once again, Yeonjun mumbles a hasty apology (which the trainees obviously don't hear, since a glass door separates them), bows once more before running away like a coward.

He has just enough time to hear an "I see..." from Huening Kai (although the expression on his face clearly indicates that he doesn't see anything at all) before Yeonjun leaves the live, his mind reeling and his heart doing somersaults.

Beomgyu and Yeonjun don't cuddle. Or it happens, like, once every seven years. Sometimes they have light, innocent, almost fraternal touches, but real cuddles? No, or at least not in this timeline.

You see, Yeonjun is a pretty tactile person. However, his cuddle partners are usually Soobin (mostly because they were paired up because of that ridiculous fanservice story) or Kai, the maknae being particularly nice to cuddle (and maybe Yeonjun has a soft spot for Kai. Everyone has a soft spot for Kai).

Not Taehyun, because he and Yeonjun are too manly to cuddle each other. And certainly not Beomgyu, for obvious reasons.

First, because Beomgyu is not nearly as tactile as he is. The only person Beomgyu is willing to cuddle is Kai (because again, everyone has a soft spot for Kai). And Taehyun, when they still have to do that damn fanservice, or just when Beomgyu is in the mood to cuddle Taehyun.

(This never happens).

Second, well, because Beomgyu is Beomgyu. Yeonjun already has a hard time staying sane when the younger one is in the same room with him. So cuddling him? He would certainly remember, if he had ever voluntarily cuddled the younger one. As if that's even possible. Surely his heart is too weak to handle such an act.

Honestly, he's not sure that a universe in which he would cuddle Choi Beomgyu is one in which he would ever agree to let go of the younger.

But then, why would Beomgyu lie about it? Why would he tell thousands of people that he and Yeonjun often share moments like this?

Was it a subliminal message? Was it some kind of secret request? Does Beomgyu want to cuddle Yeonjun?

Does Yeonjun want to cuddle Beomgyu?

Hell, yes.

But for the moment, he must try to understand what game Beomgyu is playing.

When Beomgyu comes back to the dorm at night, Yeonjun is waiting for him standing in the middle of the living room.

He actually stands right in the middle of the living room, so that he could be sure that Beomgyu could not avoid him when he will come home and tries to sneak into his room.

Unexpectedly, running away like a coward and letting Yeonjun marinate in the ocean of scabrous scenarios that are currently unfolding in his mind doesn't seem to be in Beomgyu's plans at all. On the contrary.

"Choi Beomgyu, don't even try to-" is all Yeonjun has time to say when Beomgyu walks through the door of the house, before the younger man's attention is all on him.

"Oh, Yeonjunie-hyung! Hi!" chirps Beomgyu as he rushes towards him.

Yeonjun doesn't have time to understand what's going on before two hands slip into his, making his brain short-circuit once again (it's starting to become problematic).

The next thing he knows, Beomgyu's lips are pressing against his cheek in a chaste, delicate kiss.

What.

The innocent and bright smile that floats on Beomgyu's handsome face as he walks away should not be allowed to make him look so pure, even though Yeonjun is convinced that this little monster is working with the sole purpose of giving him a heart attack.

Before he can react in any way, their manager appears behind Beomgyu. He doesn't take off his shoes, a sign that he doesn't intend to linger, but the look he gives to Beomgyu and Yeonjun indicates that he surely has some news to share with them.

When several minutes pass with the two boys still stuck in their own world, he is finally forced to loudly clear his throat to get their attention.

"Oh," Yeonjun immediately reacts as he leaps away from Beomgyu's mesmerizing gaze. "Sorry, hyung. Do you have something to tell us?"

"Actually, yes. It won't take long, but I need to talk to both of you. Yeonjun, I don't know if you've seen Beomgyu and Kai's live show... well, if you haven't, I urge you to watch it after I leave. Beomgyu talked about you two guys, and you should know that the reactions were great. Good job," he adds to Beomgyu, who immediately smooths out under the compliments.

Yeonjun just wished he doesn't look so proud while his hand is still holding Yeonjun's, and their two bodies are pressed so tightly that Beomgyu's head almost rests on Yeonjun's shoulder.

Oh, my goodness. He can even see their manager squinting as he takes a long look at them.

"Ah" is all Yeonjun manages to answer stupidly.

"In any case, the fans have gone absolutely crazy. They love this new aspect of your relationship, and the company thinks they'll surely want to see more. So, whatever is... that (he waves a hand to point at both Yeonjun and Beomgyu, practically wrapped around each other, and honestly Yeonjun doesn't know how he doesn't die on the spot petrified with shame), keep it up."

"Keep it up how?" the words escape from his mouth before Yeonjun even realizes it. "How are we supposed to act? In front of the camera, I mean? Should I just stop hitting him and take a deep breath when he tries to wake up my inner demon, or-"

The absolutely blasé look that his manager gives him dissuades him from finishing his sentence.

"Not like that! Stupid hyung" Beomgyu laughs, and Yeonjun feels his heart weaken as Beomgyu presses his forehead against his shoulder in the process. "What hyung means is that we need to act more affectionate around each other. Hugs, touches, maybe holding hands..."

The exact recipe of the cocktail "How to finish Choi Yeonjun in 0.1 seconds".

He can't possibly let that happen.

"The fans will never believe it," he tries desperately. "Come on, think about it. Our dynamic has been to annoy each other for years, and vice versa. MOAS already love it. They'll think it's weird if we suddenly act all honey and love around each other."

"Well, it won't exactly be as sudden as you claim, since it's been a while since you've been aggressive towards me," Beomgyu argues, batting his eyelashes. "All the fans actually say that you've been softer on me since the Sugar Rush Ride era. You didn't hit me once, you were gentle and considerate the whole time, and you always looked at me with that fond look. They won't be that hard to convince, I think."

"They'll probably call it the 'Beomjun honeymoon era' or whatever silly name they give you. Whatever it is, it will still be better than the 'Beomjun divorced era' of Blue Hour era."

Their manager has hardly finished speaking these words when Yeonjun feels Beomgyu immediately stiffen against him.

Right away, he lets go of Beomgyu's hand, and his arm wraps around the younger man's shoulders as he pulls him closer.

The frown he directs at his manager is so bad that for a moment the air seems saturated with the young man's anger.

It is common knowledge that the Blue Hour era was a particularly difficult time for Beomgyu. Everyone knows that the young man had gone through a very depressed phase, and the mere memory of that time is enough to break Yeonjun's heart again. He had hated to see the younger one like this: suffering alone in his corner, closing himself off from others and enduring all his bad thoughts all by himself even though the members would have wanted to help him through that dark period.

That is the reason why they are a group. To help each other. To never have to go through even the most difficult things alone.

Although Beomgyu's condition fortunately improved afterwards, talking about this period is still a bit of a taboo within their group. All of them hate to remember how hard that period of their lives was.

Yeonjun in particular hates the fact that he and Beomgyu had grown so far apart.

He doesn't realize that he has started to lightly scratch the back of Beomgyu's neck, until their manager speaks up again and breaks the awkward silence that has set in.

"Well, that's all you needed to know. I'll let you discuss it among yourselves."

"Thank you, hyung. We'll let you know if we have any questions," Beomgyu answers for Yeonjun and him. The smile on his lips doesn't reach his eyes.

Even when the door closes behind him, Yeonjun can't quite relax.

At least, until Beomgyu faces him again, his arms wrapping around the elder's neck to press himself closer to him. Out of reflex, Yeonjun's hands fall on Beomgyu's waist, and it seems to him that his heart misses a beat when he suddenly realizes how tiny Beomgyu's waist actually is.

However, this thought is pushed into a corner of his mind when he sees the little pout on Beomgyu's face. Yeonjun's moods can wait: he is unable to think of anything else when he realizes that something is bothering Beomgyu.

"Are you okay?" he asks, tilting his head to the side.

Beomgyu's hands slip off Yeonjun's neck. Instead, they grab the cords of the older man's own sweatshirt, and start playing absentmindedly with it.

"M'okay," he says in a tone that doesn't reassure Yeonjun at all.

This one feels his fingers tightening on Beomgyu's waist. He obliges himself to loosen them, wanting everything except to wound the younger, and instead his hands come to take in cup his face, rocking it gently.

Beomgyu lets out a small sound of contentment as Yeonjun gently strokes his cheeks with his thumb. His eyelids flutter, almost closing, making him look sleepy and cuddly. Seeing him like this, Yeonjun can't help but feel a slight twinge.

Since when did they become so touchy about each other? Not that Yeonjun doesn't want it more than anything. But until then, he always had to be satisfied with intertwined legs only during the group's movie nights, or close hugs when one or the other was sad.

But such affectionate and random touches like the ones they have right now, it's not something he's used to.

(He loves it. He thinks he could get used to it, if Choi fucking beautiful babygirl Beomgyu doesn't kill him first)

"He shouldn't have said that. He knows that no one here likes to talk about it," Yeonjun mutters, even as he almost drowns in the contemplation of the younger man's absolutely unreal face.

"It's okay, hyung. I'm not made of glass. I'm not going to break because of this" the younger chuckles.

His answer sounds more honest this time, and Yeonjun only lets out a little hum, too busy marveling at the softness of Beomgyu's skin under the pad of his thumb.

This one obviously realizes it, and throws him a teasing smile.

"So," he begins. "Are we going to do it?"

"It's not like we have a choice. But next time, I'd like you to warn me before you do something like that. That I have a say in it too, you know."

"So, I guess you've already seen the live," Beomgyu observes with pride.

It's terrible how Beomgyu can read him so easily.

Yeonjun grunts in response, which only makes Beomgyu feel better instead of more intimidated. Even though he is only a few inches taller, Yeonjun still dominates Beomgyu, which is why the younger man has to stand up slightly on his toes so that his face is completely in front of Yeonjun's.

He brings his face close to his, so close that Yeonjun almost has to squint to keep looking into his eyes.

"What did you think, hyung?" he asks, batting his eyelashes again.

Yeonjun feels his throat dry up at the sight.

Yet, he tries to gather his wits, and pinches Beomgyu's side as a gesture of revenge.

"I think you're taking too much liberty. Are you taking my clothes again now? At least before, you used to ask before taking it. Young people these days, you have no respect for your elders."

"I wanted to get your attention," Beomgyu confesses in a breath. The sudden confession makes Yeonjun tremble, and seeing Beomgyu's charming expression, his big doe eyes surrounded by thick black lashes, the strands of brown hair falling on his forehead and his beautiful half-open lips, through which a warm breath escapes, Yeonjun suddenly feels a dangerous feeling stirring inside him.

He doesn't realize they've moved, until Beomgyu's back hits one of the living room walls, Yeonjun's body preventing him from going anywhere.

Almost contemplatively, Yeonjun pushes aside the rebellious strands that fall in front of Beomgyu's eyes, and feels his own heart racing as Beomgyu's breathing suddenly stops.

"Baby bear, there were other ways to get my attention."

Beomgyu hums, a shiver running through him from the pet name. However, just as Yeonjun thinks he's going to give in to the gentle caress of the elder's fingers on his face again, Beomgyu opens his eyes, an indescribable expression on his face.

"Let's do it, hyung. You're not one to turn down a challenge, are you?"

It takes Yeonjun a while to connect the dots, but when he does, he nearly bursts out laughing.

So that's it. So that's why Beomgyu made that whole show in front of the camera, why he pretended to get close to Yeonjun in a way that he knew very well is not true.

He sort of tried to trick his hyung, and Yeonjun must admit it: Beomgyu totally succeeded.

Damn, he's so whipped for this boy.

He wraps his arms around Beomgyu's waist, pulling him closer as the younger man's teasing smile reappears on his face.

"Besides, it shouldn't be too difficult for you. You don't risk anything, since after all I'm not your type."

"God, Beomgyu," complains Yeonjun.

He doesn't continue his sentence, and instead, he puts a light kiss on Beomgyu's forehead. To prove him that indeed, he is not the kind of person to refuse a challenge, especially not if this challenge is proposed by Beomgyu.

And he is ready to do anything to show him that he will indeed win the challenge.

"Okay," Beomgyu murmurs, locking his arms around the older man's neck again. "Let's give them a show."

(Soobin freezes completely when he enters the living room a few minutes later, to find the two of them stuck in the most domestic and sickening position ever. He stares at them with all the judgment in the world for long seconds, and when Beomgyu sticks his tongue out at him, he finally rolls his eyes and mumbles something about "the strangest flirtation ever."

He bumps into Kai as he turns around, and when the maknae tries to glance over the leader's shoulder, he screams dramatically before fleeing).

Yeonjun is seriously starting to regret accepting this.

For a moment, he had been blinded by the competitive side of his personality, accepting the challenge directly and completely forgetting who he was fighting against.

Choi Fucking Angel Beomgyu.

Now he's thinking more and more that maybe, just maybe, he needs to start writing his will now, because there's no fucking way he's going to manage to stay alive long enough.

He swears that he loses his mind a little more every time he sees Beomgyu in one of his outfits, which lately has actually been happening just about every day. Beomgyu actually puts on a real show, and Yeonjun swears he's never seen the younger so invested in something even as he struts around in front of the camera, complimenting Yeonjun's clothes on how comfortable they are and how nice they smell, asking his hyung all the time how he likes it in his clothes.

Yeonjun's brain freezes almost every time, and all he can do is mutter about how beautiful Beomgyu still looks in his clothes before the younger one curls up against him, demanding hugs and proud of getting praise from his hyung.

There's that, too. He and Beomgyu are much more tactile in front of the camera, and honestly Yeonjun didn't think it would be so easy to fall into that dynamic with Beomgyu.

It becomes so easy, in fact, that he quickly gets into the habit of always having the younger next to him, of having his arms wrapped around Beomgyu's waist, his chin resting on his shoulder, or playing with his fingers.

Even at the dorms, they quickly become inseparable, almost always attached to each other's hip. Beomgyu says it's practice, so that their interactions on camera don't look strange or awkward. Yeonjun accepts the excuse.

If his heart beats a little faster with each of his weekly cuddle sessions with Beomgyu, that's his (and the feelings he tries to bury under a layer of denial's) business.

So he pretends that he's perfectly fine on one of those movie nights at the dorm, and they cuddle while waiting for the other three members who are currently bickering in the kitchen. Yeonjun casually sitting on the living room couch, Beomgyu comfortably sitting on his thighs and his chest resting against Yeonjun's. The younger man's legs have managed - who knows how - to wrap around Yeonjun's waist, and if Beomgyu finds the position uncomfortable then he says nothing about it.

Instead, he sinks further into the older man's embrace, occasionally rubbing his cheek against Yeonjun's while they are both looking at the compilations that fans have made about them.

"Fuck, the reactions are crazy," Beomgyu bellows as he scrolls through the videos. "MOAS talk almost all about us."

Yeonjun hums absentmindedly in response. Well, they're not really both watching the fan compilations. The truth would be more like Beomgyu watching the aforementioned compilations, while Yeonjun...

Well, Yeonjun is totally lost in his own universe, now too busy keeping his face stuffed against Beomgyu's neck to pay attention to anything else. He feels too dizzy from the younger man's scent, and feels light years away from any reality. Damn, Beomgyu smells so good. He's addicted to the younger guy's scent. It's something floral and fresh, blending with the boy's own natural scent.

Yeah, that perfume smells divine. He makes a mental note to himself to buy the younger the exact same scent, and rubs his nose against the uncovered skin to get more of his scent.

Yeonjun loves it. It almost makes him want to eat Beomgyu, here and now.

His fingernails lightly scrape Beomgyu's back through the fabric of his clothes - another one of Yeonjun's sweatshirts - his hands making long, repetitive up and down movements. Several times, Beomgyu shivers in his lap, and Yeonjun can almost feel him arching under his touch.

Interesting.

At one point, Beomgyu is obviously tired of talking into the void. His free hand catches Yeonjun's face in a slice, forcing him to dislodge himself from the place where he kept his face buried. The older man stifles a groan of protest, and frowns as he notices Beomgyu's satisfied smile.

"If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you seemed obsessed with me," the younger man teases.

Yeonjun can't help but roll his eyes. "You wish."

He still bites the younger man's neck in playful retaliation, which triggers Beomgyu's clear laughter.

It is exactly this moment that Soobin and the maknaes choose to arrive in the living room, arms full of popcorn. When Kai sees them, he almost falls on the floor and makes all his popcorn fly away. He is caught just in time by Soobin, who sends Yeonjun and Beomgyu a frankly exasperated look while Taehyun lets out a heavy sigh.

"NO!" Soobin exclaims before either of them could say anything. "Enough! I'm tired of my life looking like a side character in a bad romantic drama. I can't even come and sit on my couch in my dorm anymore without feeling desperately single."

"Beomjun, or the power to make an entire room feel like a third wheel," Taehyun also mutters." How long have you even been into this kind of crap?"

"You little shits," Yeonjun hisses, tightening his grip on Beomgyu's waist. The latter immediately reacts by pressing his head against Yeonjun's temple, and the older man feels the butterflies fly in his stomach. "This is called fanservice."

"For who? We're literally the only ones here," Taehyun protests again. And we don't need to see you all dripping with love around each other, thank you very much."

Yeonjun struggles as he can to catch a cushion, and throws it right on Taehyun's face. He avoids it so easily that it is ridiculous, his face perfectly impassive.

"We're not all dripping with love. We're practicing!"

"You're traumatizing our child," Soobin informs, crossing his arms, a clear pout on his face.

"I'm traumatized," Kai agrees immediately. "Hyung, can you imagine if manager-nim asks us to do this kind of fanservice too? I don't think I'll be able to do it like Yeonjun-hyung and Beomgyu-hyung."

"No one is capable of doing what those two idiots do," Taehyun says. "It's not even fanservice when they literally put on a show for themselves. And now get out of my way. I want to watch my movie in peace, without waiting for your noises that are going to make me want to vomit every two minutes."

Yeonjun wants to throw more cushions at them, but the others are too far from where he is, and he doesn't want to disturb Beomgyu.

He has no choice, however, when Taehyun literally dislodges Beomgyu from his lap, and he's ready to fight with his younger member if Soobin's reproving look doesn't stop him just in time.

He reluctantly accepts his fate, finding himself caught between Beomgyu and Taehyun, who is watching them with a dirty look. Kai and Soobin huddle at the foot of the sofa, the living room becomes silent when the leader starts the movie.

(Yeonjun continues to sulk until his head rests on Beomgyu's shoulder. Then he feels the younger man's fingers playing with his hair, and he finally allows himself to relax when Beomgyu's delicate hand locks with his own.

Needless to say, he manages to record barely four percent of what happens in the movie).

There are some moments when Yeonjun wonders if he might be a little too invested in this fanservice thing.

As for example during this live, where Soobin seems to be close to kill him and Beomgyu.

Okay, the manager asked them to be more tactile in front of the camera. They had talked to the members about it, so that the other three wouldn't freak out when they will see Yeonjun and Beomgyu literally acting like a newlywed couple, but fuck, no one expected that.

Yeonjun himself didn't think he could have pushed the vice this far, and he absentmindedly wonders if he's going to get in trouble with the company, even as he tightens his arms wrapped around Beomgyu's waist, lips busy dispensing a dozen kisses into the younger man's hair.

It wasn't really his fault. How was he supposed to hold back when Beomgyu just looked like a gift from nature, fresh and smelling so good and all to Yeonjun?

The company had literally asked them to do this. If anyone was to be blamed, then Yeonjun would blame them.

"Beomgyu-ssi is not here?" Kai had asked as he read a comment. "He will join us in a few moments. I think he's taking a shower."

"We've had a busy day today," Soobin says, leaning forward. "MOAs, everyone here is very tired, but seeing you gives us all renewed energy!"

Soobin launches into an endless monologue, telling the fan the gist of their day. Kai is snuggled up on the floor next to him, while Taehyun is sitting on the arm of the couch, busy scrolling through an app to order food.

As for Yeonjun, his body is thrown carelessly across the sofa, completely dead from fatigue.

He loves his fans, but right now all he wants to do is roll around in his blankets and get a well-deserved night's sleep. They've spent hours and hours in the studio, followed endless dance practices that have only just ended. His body throws him painfully, protests with every move he makes. He's not sure he'll be able to get up from the couch once the live is over. It's as if his body is merging with it.

He is lying on his back, one arm over his tired eyes, when he hears noise coming from the living room entrance.

Knowing full well that Soobin, Taehyun, and Kai are here with him, it only takes him two seconds to straighten up, his arm dropping from his face to watch the last of his members join them.

And damn, Yeonjun almost chokes on the live feed. He is about to die, to give up his soul right here and now, and he absolutely wants to have CHOI BEOMGYU's name on his death certificate.

His heart stops beating as his eyes fall on the boy, who walks towards them with a sleepy look. He looks awfully tired, more so than any of them. His hair is still wet from the shower he just took, and Yeonjun finds himself wanting to run his fingers through the brown strands that point in every direction.

But the worst (or the best, it depends on the point of view) is the outfit in which Beomgyu decided to change.

Another one of Yeonjun's clothes, except this time it's not a sweatshirt. Of course, that would have been too easy.

No, this time Beomgyu is wearing one of Yeonjun's shirts. A simple white oversized shirt, maybe a little too big for Beomgyu judging by the way the fabric hangs over the younger boy's shoulder, revealing his milky white skin and beautiful collarbones.

Yeonjun closes his mouth again as he becomes aware of the wetness at the corner of his mouth, and tries to wipe the drool more or less discreetly.

It doesn't help that the shirt Beomgyu has chosen is just long enough to cover the shorts he wears with it, revealing his long legs and - damn it - part of Beomgyu's thighs.

Does this jerk even realize how sinful he looks in this outfit. That, coupled with the sleepy expression on his round face, makes him look like a real angel.

Yeonjun is not sure he can handle it.

Yet, he still wriggles on the couch, managing to sit up on his elbows even as Beomgyu reaches his level.

"Come here," he whispers as he reaches out a hand toward him, at exactly the same time that Kai happily exclaims, "Say hello to MOA, Beomgyu-hyung!"

Beomgyu's head turns in random directions, probably looking for the camera. He must be so tired that he must have forgot they have a live scheduled for tonight, and Yeonjun coos at the action.

When he finally manages to find it, Beomgyu raises his hand in a sleepy greeting. Yeonjun, quick as a flash, takes the opportunity to lock his fingers with his, and draws the younger man against him before he even has time to figure out what's going on.

Beomgyu crashes into him with the delicacy of a beached whale, and even though Yeonjun lets out an "oof-" of pain, the feeling of contentment that overcomes him the next second, even as he finally hugs Beomgyu for the first time all day.

He clearly hears Kai gasp dramatically a few meters away, and a glance in the direction of the other members allows him to see Soobin also taking his head in his hands, while their manager - of course, he's always there when they're doing a live - gets up from the chair he was sitting on in the corner of the room.

Taehyun, for his part, just closes his eyes.

Because he needs a second to calm down and not scream, or to pretend he's blind to the domestic scene that's literally taking place on the other side of the couch, Yeonjun can't tell.

He honestly doesn't care.

All he cares about right now is the way Beomgyu snuggles into his embrace, burying his nose against the side of his neck as Yeonjun's arms close firmly around him. He buries his nose in the younger man's hair, barely batting an eye at the wetness on his face as he inhales the boy's scent deeply.

Exotic fruits. Like Yeonjun's shampoo.

"You look tired" he points out directly to Beomgyu's ear, and Beomgyu shivers. "Besides, aren't you cold? You should have dressed more warmly, Gyu-yah."

The answer takes a few seconds to come. And when he hears it muffled against his neck, it takes all the will in the world not to just get up, throw the youngest on his shoulder and leave the live with Beomgyu.

"I know. It's because I wanted you to warm me up."

Then he slightly raises his head from where he was hiding, and asks with puppy eyes that Yeonjun can't refuse, "Hug me?"

Holy shit.

From that moment on, Yeonjun completely forgot about the rest of the world.

He forgets about the other members, the manager, the live, the thousands of fans and the millions of spectators who will probably see this video later.

All that matters is that he has the most beautiful boy in the world in his arms right now, and he's begging for his attention.

Who is Yeonjun to refuse?

He doesn't even realize he's crossing the red line as his hands slide under Beomgyu's shirt, brushing the soft skin with his fingertips as he lazily traces the line of Beomgyu's shorts.

He pauses for a moment, as if silently asking for his consent. Beomgyu's breathing is slow against his neck, deep as if he is about to fall asleep. However, the younger one is not yet fully asleep despite his closed eyes, and the soft humming sound he makes as he feels Yeonjun's hands on his bare waist tells the older one all he needed to know.

As if he's going to die if he holds back a second longer, Yeonjun slides his hands completely under Beomgyu's shirt (his own shirt, damn it), and runs up the boy's back with languid gestures.

He feels so much emotion, so much affection that he could explode. He tries to channel himself by pressing kisses into Beomgyu's hair. First one, then two, then three... He barely realizes that he is gradually migrating south, his lips following a very precise line of Beomgyu's forehead, before kissing his eyelids, his cheek, his nose, and finally...

He barely hears the hasty screams of the other members as they say goodbye to the MOA (the fuck? The live has just started), Kai panicking with big gestures, Taehyun throwing himself at the computer to close the screen with a loud slam, while Soobin and their manager literally swoop down on him like raptors.

Oh.

Yeonjun almost kissed Beomgyu.

On live.

On the lips.

And he is now fully aware of his actions as their manager literally froths with rage in front of them, alternately yelling at Yeonjun for being a jerk who doesn't think about the consequences, and then at Soobin for always being the leader of the group and how he should have been more attentive to this.

Meanwhile, Kai and Taehyun wait on the side, silent. Not a sound comes out of their mouths as they watch the storm from afar, clearly distressed. They may claim that Yeonjun and Beomgyu's exaggerated skinships make them sick, but that doesn't mean they wanted their hyungs to be in such a situation.

Beomgyu is on the other side of Soobin. He looks perfectly awake now, the screams having surely succeeded in bringing him out of his drowsy state. He stares at his feet with a little pout on his face, and despite the situation, Yeonjun would like to have him close to him now more than ever, to hug him and breathe his smell.

He feels a painful migraine coming on, even as their manager continues his interminable sermon.

"What's wrong with you? Kissing Beomgyu live? Really? Cuddling and holding hands is still one thing, even if I think you guys have taken it way too far, but kissing one of your members? Do you have any idea what people will say about you?"

Yeonjun doesn't know how he still has the courage to open his mouth and throw such shit.

"Isn't that called fan service?"

The manager raises both his hands in the air, as if he is holding back from twisting Yeonjun's neck.

"Are you kidding me?"

"Yes," Yeonjun prefers to say, because he's pretty sure that if he answers 'no' the manager will surely murder him tonight. "Sorry."

Next to him, Soobin pinches the bridge of his nose. He probably thinks his hyung is stupid. That's good, because Yeonjun thinks so too.

"You are getting a live ban. Both of you."

"Again?!"

The evil glance that the manager throws to Beomgyu has at least the effect to make the young man blush.

"At least until I manage to make things right. God, I'm going to have the marketing company on my ass. The whole company, in fact. I need a fucking vacation."

Yeonjun should probably feel sorry for their manager.

He should feel responsible for the frustrated look that now adorns Beomgyu's features, he should feel responsible for the absolutely pitiful state that Soobin is in (he's probably wondering if it's too late to stop being the leader of this group), and for the worried looks on the faces of the two maknaes.

Yet all he can feel in this moment is the perverse joy that less time spent on camera pretending = more time cuddling Beomgyu in private for real.

Then Yeonjun understands, and the shock of the realization feels like hitting a brick wall.

He is deeply, desperately, absolutely addicted to Choi Beomgyu.

(Damn.)

Yeonjun swears that he hates his life.

All he wants is Beomgyu. Hell, he's always wanted him. It's always been him. His teammate, his happy, energetic Beomgyu, his Jerry, his precious baby bear. He can't believe he could spend so much time denying his feelings, so much time pretending he wasn't interested in Beomgyu like that, when all his body language even spoke for him.

He spent too much time just watching him from afar, too much time secretly dying from within every time Beomgyu even breathed.

Now he realizes how much he loves this boy. He likes his teasing, he likes the way he is always so loud and hyper, he likes the way his voice gets deep as he speaks in Satori dialect. He likes Beomgyu's sensitive, artistic side. He loves how perfectionist he is. How he always gives one hundred percent to everything he does, how passionate he is.

He loves the way he can so easily charm those around him, without any effort.

He loves his hugs, he loves playing with his fingers, he loves the touch of Beomgyu's skin against his.

He loves his round head, his tiny butts, his even tinier waist.

He fucking loves Beomgyu.

Since day one.

And he wants to spend the rest of his life showing his that.

Unfortunately, the universe is against him. The company is against him. His own friends are against him. Soobin, his best bro, his brother from another mother, his partner in crime, is against him.

When the manager said that Yeonjun and Beomgyu were getting a live ban together, neither of them expected that this would actually apply to any activity they would have from then on.

The staff doesn't pair them up for photoshoots or interviews anymore, they hardly have any time together. Hell, even the members make sure they are never alone, whether in the practice rooms or even in their own dorms, always making sure there is someone between them.

It's been two weeks now, and Yeonjun feels like he's about to implode.

He's barely been able to have a conversation with Beomgyu since the live fiasco, and they've barely been able to look at each other long enough without a member crashing in between them.

Yeonjun doesn't really blame them: he knows it's the orders the company gave them. He knows how much the members hate it: Kai almost cried with nervousness last time, even though he was once again in charge of playing the anti-romantic between them.

They end up getting a special group program: a three-day vacation in Busan, during which they will basically be filmed around the clock (except when they sleep, because it's not something very interesting anyway). Their manager reads them a list of the many exciting activities on the agenda, but all Yeonjun can remember is that, once again, he doesn't get any with Beomgyu.

It's not a big deal. Yeonjun decides that this trip is his chance.

He will get Beomgyu back to him, no matter what he has to do to get there.

The travel is done in good mood, except that they are both in separate cars. Okay, his plan to find his proximity with Beomgyu doesn't really start well, but Yeonjun tries to relativize. They arrive in the early evening, and discover the place where they will stay for the next three days.

The bungalow is nice. Large and spacious, it obviously has five rooms, so no one has to share. That's nice. Anyway, Yeonjun sincerely doubted that anyone here would let them share a room.

On the first day, he barely has time to visit it. He is dragged out of bed at first light, and paired with Soobin for his very first activity. From what he understands after the comatose fog that still clouds his sleeping brain, they will have to visit the city and accomplish various missions, while the three younger ones will stay at the bungalow.

And man, this is like one of Yeonjun's worst experiences.

Before that, he didn't realize how addicted he was to Beomgyu. Almost like a drug. And the problem with drugs is that when you're suddenly taken off the stuff, the consequences can only be catastrophic.

This is pretty much what happens to Yeonjun (and incidentally Soobin, who spends his day suffering from his teammate's emotional despair).

At least before, Yeonjun could still see Beomgyu. He barely had a chance to talk to him and every time he got two minutes of conversation with him, he had to make a superhuman effort not to touch him (because he knew that if he did, he would probably get slaughtered by their manager).

But today, Beomgyu is not even here. And not having him in his field of vision, not knowing him near him is a torture. He sees him literally everywhere, on every street corner, behind every car and under every tree. He mistakes a totally random passerby for the younger, and he almost bursts into tears when he sees a teddy bear in a store window.

Soobin tries as hard as he can. He's really trying.

But he swears he loses what little patience he had left when his hyung becomes a sobbing mess in the middle of the sidewalk, crying about how much he misses Beomgyu and how incomplete he feels without him and all the disgusting crap a dramatic, needy Yeonjun can say.

"You look... upset," Kai observes as they finally walk home at the end of their program, and Soobin simply raises a hand to interrupt the maknae. Kai exchanges a look with Taehyun, sitting next to him on the soft living room rug.

"I... fuck, I don't even know what to say. I don't want to talk about it."

"Okay," Taehyun replies. "I'll ask the big vein pulsing on your forehead, then."

Soobin gives him the most hateful look he's capable of, before literally stomping out of the room, mumbling something like "something needs to be done about these two stupid loverbirds," "just let them be together for the sake of my sanity," and "I hate my life."

They don't have time to ask themselves more questions.

The next second, Yeonjun bursts into the living room like a rocket, his eyes bloodshot and looking completely delirious.

"Where is he?" he asks without even bothering to say hello.

"Who? Soobin-hyung?" retorts Taehyun, raising an eyebrow. "Well, he just leave something like ten seconds ago, but honestly I don't think he-"

"You punk, did I ask? I want to know where my baby is, my half, my Bam-PD, my..."

They are obviously tired of trying to separate them against all odds, as Kai immediately extends a finger to the right. Yeonjun doesn't need any further clarification to rush in the indicated direction, as if he carries all the despair of the universe inside him.

Kai watches him disappear from his field of vision with horror, while next to him Taehyun simply makes a gagging sound.

(Yeonjun hears it, of course. He'll make sure to make him regret it later. For now, he has other things to worry about).

He bursts into the next room with the delicacy of a tornado, which happens to be the kitchen. It only takes 0.3 seconds before he spots his target: Beomgyu is there, sitting on the worktop, all innocent and unaware of what is about to fall on him.

He turns his back on Yeonjun as he talks to the camera, occasionally pecking at a bowl of strawberries. Yeonjun watches his lips wrap around the younger man's favorite fruit, and his heart plunges into his stomach as Beomgyu swallows, making his Adam's apple twitch.

He is so beautiful like this. The light of the setting sun clings to his profile, bathing his face in a soft orange light, even as his brown hair is haloed with golden highlights.

Yeonjun has to lean against the wall not to fail.

Then he remembers that he probably has little time before someone appears and drags him away from Beomgyu, so he decides to act quickly.

Before anyone could even blink, Yeonjun slips into the space between Beomgyu and the cameraman, and he can't hold back a groan of relief when he finally (after two long weeks of formal prohibition) locks his arms around the younger man.

His nose finds its place against the boy's neck, and he inhales his scent deeply, filling his lungs with the distinctive perfume he has grown to love.

"Hyung" Beomgyu sighs.

He drops his bowl of strawberries on the counter behind him, and he doesn't waste another second before wrapping his arms around Yeonjun's shoulders, pulling him as close to him as possible. Yeonjun lets out another groan as he feels Beomgyu's legs wrap around his hips, and he finds himself firmly pressed into the younger man's embrace.

They both ignore the distressing sound of the cameraman behind them, too busy absorbing themselves in each other. Beomgyu lets out an absolutely divine little noise as Yeonjun rubs his nose against the bridge of his jaw, before returning to his neck to press his lips against the warm, throbbing skin of his pulse.

"My Beomgyu," Yeonjun whispers between kisses. "Beomgyu, Beoms, Beomie. I missed you so much."

Beomgyu chuckles softly, and Yeonjun feels the vibrations from where his face is pressed against his throat. He lifts his head when he feels the younger man cup his face, bumping their foreheads together. They are so close that their breaths intermingle, and Yeonjun is almost about to cry when Beomgyu rubs his nose against his.

The wet snort he lets out makes Beomgyu laugh again.

"Aw, hyung," coos Beomgyu as he places a kiss on the tip of his nose. "My crybaby. I missed you too."

Yeonjun knows that Beomgyu will probably laugh at him later. However, he can't help but let out another sniffle, struggling hard against the tears burning his eyes.

He was serious, when he said that he missed Beomgyu. Honestly, it's been the longest two weeks of his life. He didn't expect the whole fanservice thing to make him so addicted (more than he already was), but now that he has Beomgyu in his arms again, he feels so overwhelmed by so many feelings that he could burst into tears.

(He's always been an easy cry anyway, so don't judge him).

Instead, he kisses Beomgyu on the cheek, just at the corner of his lips, then presses another kiss near his collarbone before burying his face against his neck again.

Beomgyu giggles again. His fingers play with the hair at the base of Yeonjun's neck, and the older man clutches at Beomgyu's thighs as Beomgyu tightens his legs a little more around his waist.

"We're going to be in trouble" Beomgyu whispers in Yeonjun's ear. "We should leave quickly before someone catches us here."

Yeonjun nods, forcing himself to regain his composure. His hands slide under Beomgyu's thighs, and he manages to lift him effortlessly off the kitchen counter. He's rewarded with another kiss on his nose, and he nearly runs into the cameraman (fuck, he's still here?) as he tries to sneak out of the kitchen as quickly as possible.

They manage to escape just as they hear footsteps echoing from the other entrance to the room.

"Bathroom" Beomgyu orders, and Yeonjun swears that he could just lie on the floor and let this man step on him.

He manages to find the bathroom, and they both rush in without running into anyone. Once the door is closed and locked, Yeonjun puts Beomgyu on the floor again.

His breath gets stuck in his chest when Beomgyu gives him a sweet smile...

And takes off his shirt.

He hastens to imitate him when he feels the younger man's fingers on his own clothes, helping him to pull it over his head. They both undress without a word, too busy drowning in each other's gaze, melting into every touch.

When they are totally naked, Beomgyu drags him into the shower cabin. Yeonjun follows meekly, as if bewitched.

They've already taken showers together. All five of them. It's something that's inevitable in idol life: sometimes, when everyone's just woken up and you have to be downstairs for a program in less than ten minutes, you have to share.

But it was never like that.

Here, they don't need to rush. Here, they bathe in an intimate atmosphere, even as Yeonjun leans over Beomgyu's body to turn on the shower. The water hits them both like a summer shower, and the long moan of well-being Beomgyu lets out at the sensation causes Yeonjun to lock his lips just below the younger's jaw.

It's nice. It's sweet. Yeonjun likes it.

He lets Beomgyu wash his hair, making little noises of pleasure as Beomgyu's long fingers expertly massage his scalp. His forehead is pressed against the younger man's shoulder, on which he traces a series of small kisses. His hands are firmly clasped to Beomgyu's hips, offering him a grip and preventing him from collapsing, crushed by all his feelings.

Beomgyu playfully bites his chin when Yeonjun pretends to drown him under the water jet, and in revenge, Yeonjun bites his collarbone, before sucking a piece of skin between his teeth and-

Beomgyu gasps.

They both freeze at the sound.

When Yeonjun raises his head, when his eyes meet Beomgyu's, he swears that something changes in the atmosphere of the room.

Maybe it's because of the red mark that now blossoms at the base of Beomgyu's neck - or maybe it's because of the way the younger man stares at him. Eyes full of love, adoration, and something more. Something indescribable, something that makes Yeonjun melt and want to press himself against Beomgyu, to lean over him.

Something that makes his heart race - and the moment his lips touch the younger's, this something explodes inside him.

Finally, Yeonjun thinks as Beomgyu sinks against him, his fingers clutching and sliding over the older man's wet shoulders.

Yeonjun's fingers dig into Beomgyu's waist, pulling him closer as he deepens the kiss, desperate to have Beomgyu all to himself. It's his lips against his, his body pressed between him and the shower glass, and the younger man's caresses everywhere at once. This is all Yeonjun ever wanted.

Finally, finally. Finally.

He can't believe that he could live so much without Beomgyu's touch, without kissing him like this. He now thinks that he would not be able to live without it. The way their breaths mingle, the way Beomgyu's fingers tangles in his hair, tugging at it hard enough to wring a groan from Yeonjun.

Caught by a sudden impulse, Yeonjun wraps an arm around Beomgyu's waist, and gives a sufficient push to lift him up. Understanding the message immediately, Beomgyu hooks his legs around Yeonjun's hips, wrapping himself around him like a koala.

The older man feels himself losing all of those cerebral abilities when Beomgyu nibbles lightly on his lower lip, pulling on it before pulling away altogether. Yeonjun wants to protest at the loss of contact, but then he feels Beomgyu's lips working on the side of his neck, and the next thing that passes his lips is a groan as Beomgyu sucks a mark in a particularly sensitive spot.

"My hyungie," the youngest hums between kitten licks of his tongue. "Tell Beomgyu again how much you missed me. Was Jjunie-hyung sad without Beomgyu?"

"Yes," Yeonjun immediately gasps, because he has no shame and is so weak for Beomgyu. "I was so desperate without you, baby bear. Damn Beomie, if you knew what you do to me, if you knew the effect you have on me..."

Beomgyu only chuckles in response, then sucks another mark in a prominent spot just below Yeonjun's ear. Hell, they're going to have so much trouble.

Yeonjun can't be bothered.

Not when Beomgyu works so well to make him feel like this. Yeonjun quickly feels his limbs become as soft as jelly. He is forced to shift all of Beomgyu's weight onto just one of his hands, using the other to lean against the transparent shower wall, fighting the water that makes everything more slippery.

Even then, he can't help but marvel at how small Beomgyu's butts are for him to manage to carry him one-handed. The younger man arches his back against him, making Yeonjun half delirious.

Choi Beomgyu will really cause his death.

"I'm so lucky to have you" he blows just before he ravishes Beomgyu's mouth again, in a sloppy, desperate kiss. "I'm so lucky, my Beomie, my angel..."

Beomgyu moaned into the kiss, spreading his lips further apart and allowing Yeonjun to slide his tongue against his.

And just like that, they both slip.

Yeonjun doesn't have time to understand what is happening before the water under his feet makes him lose his balance. With a small strangled cry, he topples forward. His chin hits Beomgyu's chest as he sprawls out, and Beomgyu lets out a cry of pain as his bare buttocks hit the shower floor without delicacy.

Yeonjun manages to stand up to intercept the younger man's expression of shock and pain, and immediately he feels the panic surge through his veins.

"Sorry," he begins to apologize hastily. "Gosh, Beomie, I'm so sorry..."

He pauses when Beomgyu bursts out laughing.

"It's okay. I'll probably get a huge bruise on my butt, but it's okay hyung. I promise."

Before he can apologize or protest that it's not okay (he has just hurt his baby), Beomgyu pulls him in to press a chaste kiss on his lips again.

Yeonjun lifts them both up. He turns off the water jet before pulling them out of the shower stall, wrapping them both in thick towels. He takes great care to dry Beomgyu's hair (so that his baby doesn't get sick), and he can't resist the beaming face that Beomgyu makes, all smiles and looking so babygirl in his towel - and holy shit, are those two little teddy bear ears Yeonjun sees on that towel?

Yeonjun is so whipped. He kisses him again. Once, twice, ten times.

They kiss until their lips are numb and Beomgyu starts to shiver from cold, and Yeonjun has to reluctantly detach himself because he really doesn't want Beomgyu to get sick.

(They check to see if anyone is on the other side of the door, ready to pounce on them, before rushing to Yeonjun's room. He makes sure to dress his baby bear in warm, comfortable clothes, then presses him against the bed to steal some long overdue kisses again.

There are two weeks they have to catch up, after all.)