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To Live Amongst Men

Chapter 2

Summary:

'“You, uh … you okay, Yuta?” Of course, it was Yuta – a, Taeyong knew the kitchen like he knew the back of his hand and b, only Yuta could curse that proficiently in Japanese.'

Notes:

IM COMING BACK

i'm trying to deliver now because i am going to be SO BUSY over the next two weeks, it's not even funny. i will have, like, NO TIME to write because i'm busy studying and taking exams. but it's FINE totally FINE (it's not)

anyway TRIGGERS! not any this time, but there is mention of low/middlekey racism (its just natalie being a BITCH but no slurs are used bc im not doing that no way)

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

jisung pwark @dancerman

i miss the hyungs :( the dance class are so rowdy now that taeyong hyung isn’t here to scare them all

 

[REPLIES]

 

not a furry @meowyong

@dancerman yah jisung is that all i mean to you?

 

luhluh @richle

@dancerman HA have fun herding SANHA hyung

 

jisung pwark @dancerman

@richle shut up

 


 

Taeyong was furiously typing away at his laptop when the door opened, Yuta sidling in and quietly dropping his bag off by the entrance. He could make out the distinct sound of shoes being toed off, keys deposited on the rack, and Yuta’s steady gait as he made his way into the living room.

“How is he?” For once in his life, Yuta was actually quiet; he had just gotten back from when Lucas had grabbed him and knew that the situation didn’t call for loud Yuta. Taeyong motioned down to the head in his lap, a sleeping Johnny taking the space.

“He was just coming down when I got to him, so I brought him back here with the others and let him just cuddle me for a while,” Taeyong explained, eyes turning back to his laptop. “He’s not going to any of his other classes today; I called up and made sure the professors knew. I …”

Yuta could see the unsureness of Taeyong as he trailed off, nodding and sliding down next to the male. There was a space just behind Taeyong, and he immediately leant back against Yuta and closed his laptop to take a moment and relax.

“It’s fine, Yong. I’ll look after Johnny this afternoon, I know you have that important biology class to get to.” Yuta lazily draped an arm around his best friend and pulled him close, closing his eyes and enjoying the ambience of the situation.

It was truly a sight – three grown men, way too big for the couch they were on, cuddling as close as they could. One had dried tear tracks on his cheeks and was curled up around the smallest, who looked like he was about to pass out from exhaustion. Yuta was the last male, who held Taeyong close and kept him grounded, for Johnny at least.

It was an interesting dynamic, one that many couldn’t truly come to understand, but the three were fine with that. Sometimes, it really was just them against the world.

 


 

small bird @morklee

[sent a photo] hes such a DUMBASS

 

[REPLIES}

 

vocal god @hyucknation

@morklee taeyong hyung is wild

 

Taeil M. @MoonTaeil_

@morklee Wow. @meowyong What’s going on?

 

not a furry @meowyong

@morklee DELETE IT BITCH

 


 

Johnny woke up to loud, Japanese cursing and the smell of smoke. The fire alarm soon went off and thuds could be heard in the kitchen, before a vocal (and English) FUCK! echoed throughout the apartment.

“You, uh … you okay, Yuta?” Of course, it was Yuta – a, Taeyong knew the kitchen like he knew the back of his hand and b, only Yuta could curse that proficiently in Japanese.

“Just fine, buddy!” Yuta did not sound fine, and that prompted Johnny to get up and sluggishly pad over to the doorway. He was greeted with a sight that neither shocked nor surprised him – Yuta was frantically waving at a smoking pot, water bubbling over the sides, and he looked a mess. The fire alarm finally died down and wasn’t piercing Johnny’s head anymore, but that did not take away from the fact that Yuta had destroyed the kitchen …

Again.

“You – where’s Tae? Why isn’t he cooking?” Johnny mused, walking over to the younger and taking the pot off him. He dumped it into the sink and began to wash up, letting Yuta slowly move around to clean up.

“I wanted to surprise him – he had to go to a biology class today, and you know that teacher hates his guts.” Yuta was sighing as he spoke, swiping up various spices and ingredients. Johnny nodded as he listened, the faint tendrils of anger coiling in his stomach as well. “He’ll be so tired tonight, and I wanted to make all of us something nice.”

It was common knowledge between the three that Taeyong’s biology teacher was Satan on Earth – the first day that Taeyong had gone to any classes, four years ago, the teacher immediately singled him out and waged an unspoken battle on the Korean male. Johnny and Yuta both had to sit through countless complaints, rants and breakdowns from Taeyong, to the point that they grew furious at the mere mention of the man.

“We could just order food?” Yuta glowered at Johnny, but it was a fair point. Only Taeyong knew how to cook well – Johnny could barely fend for himself, and Yuta had no domestic skills whatsoever. It was a failed mission from the beginning.

(The thought counts, however)

“Just help me clean up, dumbass. I’ll order some Korean later.”

 


 

breanna @bre_anna

[sent a photo] throwback to winning the soccer cup wt this talented sack of talent

 

[REPLIES]

 

Natalie <3 @NatNatNatty

@bre_anna Is that the anime guy?

 

ty is a furry @yutasenpai

@bre_anna talking about yourself, you talented goalie you

 

ty is a furry @yutasenpai

@bre_anna @NatNatNatty my name is YUTA, you little bitch

 

big bird @jhonnysuh

yuta hates this white girl so much HAHAHA

 

[REPLIES]

 

doyoung kim @kimrabbit

@jhonnysuh i know EXACTLY who you’re talking about, hyung, and its not unfounded

 

ty is a furry @yutasenpai

@jhonnysuh @kimrabbit the only time we’ll agree but YES. she’s so RACIST and annoying

 

small bird @morklee

@jhonnysuh lololol i know who you’re talking about. she’s in my mathematics class and barely knows what she’s doing.

 


 

Taeyong was tapping away at his phone, having just got out of biology. It was past seven pm and darker than he’d like it outside, but Taeyong knew he had to get home soon to get dinner started and (hopefully) miss the window and not get mugged.

Hyung!

Taeyong turned out just in time to see Mark Lee, grin widening and arms opening for a hug. The younger barrelled into his arms, pulling the older close and holding him tight. It was always great to see Mark around – he held a special place in Taeyong’s heart, and he knew he’d always look out to protect the male like he was his own brother.

Which he was.

Mark was Taeyong’s half-brother, born to his father only four years after Taeyong’s own birth. It hadn’t been too hard – Taeyong was only four when his father suddenly up and left, but he still remembers the heartbroken sobs of his mother and how he would clamber up onto her bed to hold her tight.

All those years, and Taeyong’s mother never remarried or found love again. She was too busy loving her son instead.

Without a father, it had been hard – income from a single parent was barely enough to sustain Taeyong and his mother, especially when his father never sent any help. Luckily, the Lee’s guardian angels came in the form of another family. The Nakamoto’s.

Taeyong’s mother was childhood best friends with Yuta’s mother, and when the Nakamoto’s moved back to South Korea they reconnected. From there, Taeyong grew up knowing both the Nakamoto’s and his own house as home, and Yuta as his own brother.

He’d never known life without Yuta (and Johnny, who came only four years later) and he never wanted to change that.

Hyung?” Taeyong snapped back to attention, looking down at Mark in his arms. (So young and innocent – he knew he’d do his best to be a big brother. The one Mark deserved) “You okay?”

The sudden switch from Korean to English threw Taeyong for a loop, but he pulled through and nodded. “I’m great, Mark. I’m just going to head back to the dorm – have you got someone you’re walking with, or do you want me to come?”

Mark shook his head, pointing down the hallway to where a figure was rushing up.

“Xuxi’s going to walk with me. I’ll be fine, and we’re only five minutes away. Are you okay to get home alone?” Taeyong nodded, getting ready to leave as Lucas approached.

“I’ll let you two go, then. Bye!” Taeyong waved as they walked past, fighting back a smile as Lucas kept pestering Mark until finally linking their arms together.

Puppy love – the sweetest of all. (Something Taeyong had yet to experience)

 


 

University of Cali @UofCali

[sent a video] Are you all prepared for this weekend? The Cali CROCs are up against the North LIONs! Come and show your support? Captain @jae_hyuunz is summoning all Cali’s to come!

 

[REPLIES]

 

vocal god @hyucknation

@UofCali @jae_hyuunz AHAHA JAEHYUN

 

nononoah @donegenz

@UofCali @jae_hyuunz i’m only coming bc free food

 

ty is a furry @yutasenpai

@UofCali @jae_hyuunz oppa thinks hyunie is cute kyaaa~~~~

 

clout king @jae_hyuunz

@UofCali @yutasenpai SHUT UP YOU’RE SO ANNOYING

Notes:

the real antagonist of this is natalie.

Notes:

IMPORTANT:
underscore and italics is KOREAN (also normal underscore in dialogue and thoughts is korean too)
bold and italics is JAPANESE
bold, underscore and italics is THAIbr />
everything else that isnt indicated is in ENGLISH. (so, like, normal italics in text and normal words in dialogue and narrative)
(when i find one for mandarin, itll go there)

first of all, it's great to be back.
second of all, sorry to anyone named natalie you're all probably awesome.
third of all, if the plot is like MESSY or not there, it's because im not all here.

i may be on and off because a girl is graduating this year, and has graduating exams NEXT WEEK as i post this.

wish me luck please, and remember that yujohntae is awesome.

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