Chapter Text
Juwon swallowed around the thick knot in his throat. Adjusted the bow tie around his neck, brushed his sweaty palms against the pristine slacks of his black tuxedo. He couldn't lift up his gaze.
Hyuk nudged him with his elbow. "Everything okay?" Then smirked teasingly. "Nervous?"
Juwon found the strength to roll his eyes at him. Actually, Hyuk was a good distraction from the endless somersaults his stomach did. If anything, Juwon was grateful for his cousin's presence. Of course Juwon would never voice it out loud, as it was the way their relationship was: full of teasing, prickly, a bit dented and torn from an outside perspective. In short, not perfect, but it worked.
Juwon looked up from his glossy shoes, trying his best to keep his back to the door. That's what they had agreed upon, tradition. Because they were a couple, like any other. And because Juwon had suggested it like the perfect idiot he was and now he was starting to regret not suggesting Dongsik that they should elope, to Jeju or even farther, just the two of them.
Juwon’s gaze crossed with Yu-yeon’s, standing a few meters apart from them. She smiled then frowned, closing the steps between them.
"Oh my, why are you sweating so much?" she said as she hurriedly dived in her purse, hair falling from her shoulders into her face.
By habit, Juwon tucked the strands of hair behind her ear, to which she smiled at him again, eyes crinkling fondly at the corners. Her and Dongsik had that same tenderness about them, about the gaze they casted over the world and over people. Probably a twin thing. Yuyeon finally fished out what she had been looking for, a handkerchief.
She carefully swabbed his temple "Nervous?" Her question had no tease to it, contrary to a certain someone, minutes ago.
"Mh." Juwon nodded, inhaling through his teeth. "Just a bit. Maybe it's just this whole..." he gestured vaguely at the room they were in, all the flower arrangements decorating it, the benches and the cream carpet between them for this makeshift alley. "Tradition."
"You're the one who suggested to go traditional though." Yuyeon chuckled, her eyes crinkling once more.
"Ah, yes…"
Juwon remembered that night, as casual as the many previous ones they had spent together, Juwon sitting on the sofa and Dongsik nestled between his legs, head propped on Juwon’s thigh, Juwon trailing lazy fingers in the hair falling on Dongsik’s neck.
How nervous he felt, perhaps as much as now, when he had made up his mind in between an ads cut in the drama Dongsik was following - a guilty pleasure of his - and how suddenly it had dawned on him that he wanted nothing more than to live this for the rest of his life. Dongsik in the morning grumbling through the kitchen until he had his first sip of coffee, Dongsik laughing with the usual culprits as they sat around in Jaeyi's small shop, soju glasses clinking and meat sizzling between them, Dongsik's fiery eyes piercing through him, hands pulling and tugging at Juwon’s shirt with urgency, Dongsik sighing and writhing beneath him, Dongsik hiding drunken giggles in the pillow as the morning sun spills on his face through the blinds, cheeks a light pink tinge, Dongsik’s fingers intertwined with his on the short bus ride home after work. Juwon wanted this, a lifetime, lifetimes even, with Dongsik as nothing could feel more exhilarating. So when Dongsik sat back in his previous spot between Juwon's legs just in time as the drama started again, Juwon was set on not wasting time.
And then when Dongsik sighed with envy, only half joking when saying it would be nice for them too to have something like that, official ceremony with friends and family gathered, when the bride appeared on screen - it was the last episode with its tiny bit telephoned happy ending - Juwon jumped into the water, confident he'll be able to swim even in the darkest currents.
"We should do it."
Dongsik’s hand stilled midway to the bowl of dry squids sitting on the coffee table. Then he twisted himself, looking up at Juwon upside down with the back of his head now on Juwon’s right thigh.
"Come again."
Carding a hand through Dongsik’s soft black strands, Juwon repeated "We should do it. Get married."
Dongsik blinked owlishly at him, stunned. Juwon bent forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead, thumb drawing squiggly lines on his cheek. Juwon’s lips twitched in a timid smile, heart hammering wildly against his ribs.
"Marry me, Lee Dongsik."
Dongsik's eyes were glossy with unshed tears "Yah, Han Juwon, if you're joking-"
"I'm not joking, doll." He scooted closer to the edge of the sofa. "I'm serious. Be my husband."
There was the owlish blinking again, Dongsik's brows narrowing just the smallest bit.
"Husband." he repeated, as if to try the weight of the word on his tongue, how the taste of it rolled in his mouth. "You really wanna do it? Even the until-death-do-us-part bullshit?"
Juwon couldn't help the fond laugh "Yes, even the death-do-us-part bullshit."
There was a moment of silence, in which Juwon’s treacherous brain tried to convince him Dongsik was about to turn him down, and then Dongsik’s lips were drawn in a thin line as he inhaled deeply.
“You’re sure you wanna do this? With me?” Incredulity was still hanging to his words.
It squeezed Juwon’s heart, made him want to kiss Dongsik silly, as if he could burst from all the feelings he was harbouring for this man and his soft smile and his mischievous eyes.
“With who else?” Juwon snorted, hoisting Dongsik up in his lap so they could be eye to eye. “Do you know another Lee Dongsik who lives here with me?”
“No, I don’t.” Dongsik conceded, voice quivering as he swallowed.
Juwon lightly bumped their foreheads, heart throbbing like a butterfly too close to a flame. “So, Lee Dongsik, will you marry me?”
Dongsik swallowed again, thickly, throat working fast and lashes fluttering as he faintly shook Juwon by the shoulders, pronounced a tentative “Yes?” full of contained smiles, hands petting Juwon’s face like he couldn’t believe he was real and there and quite frankly, Juwon would’ve been lying if he said he weren’t feeling a tad bit the same.
Juwon leant in, kissing Dongsik’s trembling lips, intending to be gentle but somehow the fervor his heart had been using to fuel the courage for his impromptu proposal was now serving as catalyst for all those bubbles of feelings his skin couldn’t contain anymore. Mirroring him for very likely similar reasons, Dongsik was ardently roaming over Juwon’s shoulders with his hands, pulling at his clothes. They quickly ended up back in their bedroom, Juwon carrying Dongsik while the man wrapped his legs around his waist, kissing like the next second was the last. Later, nestled against each other, Juwon’s cheek stuck to Dongsik’s chest, they talked a long time, about how they wanted things to be ideally and that was when Juwon had said he wanted something traditional like other couples: one of them should be wearing white and walk down the aisle, the bouquet throwing and all that jazz.
“Truly the romantic prince, now, aren’t you.” Dongsik teased, ruffling his hair.
“Shut it.” Juwon replied, snuggling closer to hide his fond outrage. “As if you’re not.”
But Dongsik agreed nonetheless, nodding with a giddy smile and an embarrassed laugh when Juwon suggested Dongsik should be the one in white. Although it hadn’t been easy, they did find ways as they couldn’t really have a wedding in a church. Their friends offered their help too, including Dongsik’s niece, Minjeong.
So here Juwon was, seven months later, standing in this room with a small gathering of their cherished ones. Hyuk was the sole family member present on Juwon’s side but he didn’t mind that much as he was the only one that mattered anyway. The rest of his new found family was already there, Juwon didn’t need anyone else.
And so here he was, standing in this rented reception room, where the benches had been arranged to loosely resemble a church aisle, floral arrangements kindly brought and offered by Yuyeon and her husband Jongje - he ran Manyang’s flower shop apparently to his mother’s deepest annoyance and chagrin - while she worked as a prosecutor in Munju. The Oh siblings were Dongsik’s colleague for the sister and partner for the brother; Nam Sangbae was their superior, all three diligent and caring friends of Dongsik, all taking Juwon under their wings the moment Dongsik glanced in his direction. Jaeyi held Manyang’s butchery, her mother helping when she wasn’t looking after her husband. Both of them offered the catering for the after ceremony. Minjeong was Dongsik’s niece, a fiery, reckless young woman who loved fashion and gave it her all as a student in a fashion school - when she wasn’t out and about clubbing - and she gently offered dressing both Dongsik and Juwon for free so long as she could document the process of creation for her book. Hyuk even took it up on himself to be their driver for the day and Juwon sure as hell saw him slipping an evelop in the gift box earlier. Juwon had never felt more at home and at the right place than on this day, with people who loved him and cared for him, probably more than if they shared blood. These people were his, his family. Dongsik was his home.
So there Juwon was, waiting with bated breath and heart hammering its way out of his ribcage, palms sweating again and just as the door clicked open at the other end of the room, Juwon’s heart clogged up his throat. Minjeong appeared, peeking in with a smile, slipping inside and holding the door closed, signaling to Jihoon that he could start the music. He heard Jihwa taking place behind the lectern, giving a couple of taps on the mic to make sure it was on. The wedding march began to ring in the room and Minjeong opened the door again, walking in quick tiny steps to get to her position in front of Dongsik and Chief Nam to throw flower petals.
“Breathe dongsaeng, breathe.” Hyuk squeezed his shoulder, the advice actually welcomed by Juwon who exhaled slowly, barely aware of feeling half stunned.
Dongsik looked stunning, wearing an all white tuxedo with a large tailcoat - its shape made to somewhat remind of the traditional wedding gown - instead of the usual vest, adjusted at the waist with an embroided corset, the delicate pastel and gold flower motif repeated on the lapels of the tailcoat, on the ascot tie and mirrored on Juwon’s lapels as well as the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket and the ends of his neckwear. Dongsik also wore white lace fingerless gloves and a veil, long enough to cover his face, his hand holding the bouquet visibly itching to put it up in front of his face.
Nam Sangbae took the hand Dongsik had on his arm, briefly clasping it between his, before sliding it in between Juwon’s with a solemn nod. Juwon’s heart tightened and he nodded back, soon after unable to tear his eyes off of Dongsik’s face. Jihwa went through a concise but touching speech, announced each turn for their vows - Juwon’s hands shaking so badly he had to fist them at his sides and Dongsik speaking in such a timid manner Yuyeon had to tell him to talk louder - and walked them through the usual standard wedding promises to each other. At some point though, Jihwa cleared her throat.
“Earth to the grooms?” There were some amused giggles behind them. “Earth to the grooms, the food will get cold at this rate.”
Hyuk nudged Juwon with his elbow, effectively shaking him out of his ecstasy, which in turn made Dongsik glance away, cheeks a charming crimson. Their friends laughed, fond, someone hollered jokingly and then it was time.
“We will now proceed with the exchange of rings.”
Jihwa gestured for the best man and best woman step forward, Yuyeon and Hyuk not missing a beat to bring them to the grooms.
“That’s it, we’re really doing the until-death-do-us-part bullshit bit.” Juwon murmured.
Dongsik nodded, fingers toying nervously with a leave about to fall from his bouquet, his out of character shyness even more endearing to Juwon in this instant. Jihwa’s voice called them back down from their little cloud nine. Three mere minutes later, following the quietest and most reverent vowed yeses, Juwon stood inches apart of Dongsik, lifting the veil with utmost care, left fingers cupping his cheek.
“I hereby declare you… husbands.” Jihwa’s voice cracked the tiniest bit. “You may now kiss the groom.”
When his lips touched Dongsik’s, Juwon understood why many newly wed couples said it was one of the most beautiful day of their lives. The ridiculous amount of bliss, rippling through him and finding echo in their friends’ joyous applause, in the smile that blossomed on Dongsik’s lips as they kept kissing, drunk on each other’s breath. And now, Juwon wanted nothing but days like this, for Dongsik, for himself. He was meant to be and fit in this exact spot, his hand was carved so his fingers would slot exquisitely when intertwined with Dongsik’s. Juwon’s very home in the palm of this man. Juwon belonged and somehow to him, it made the world a little more right and a little more bright.