Archive of Our Own ^beta

THURSDAY

Kihyun’s hair is tied back into a messy, small ponytail today. Strands of his hair have slipped out to frame his face. The grey looks lovely against his skin, a nuance lighter than gunmetal. He's got highlighter over his cheekbones and he's sporting light eyeliner. And he's wearing glasses, thin wire frames, and a red sweatshirt under his apron. It's a little loose on him, the sleeves are rolled up to his elbows. Hoseok notices a small tattoo along the side of Kihyun's forearm: a black outline of a rose. It's small and dainty and so pretty. Perfectly suited to Kihyun, Hoseok thinks. 

“You're staring again.” 

Hoseok looks straight ahead at Changkyun, who's sitting in front of him, across the coffee table. He's cradling a mug between his hands, steaming with hot coffee, and he's grinning against the side of his mug. His laptop sits on the table, the screen pushed down halfway.

Hoseok picks up his own drink and sips at it. It's hot mocha, topped off with a big swirl of whipped cream and a sprinkle of chocolate shavings. Hoseok still remembers how Kihyun had smiled at him when he'd told him his order. It had made Hoseok's toes tingle with warmth. 

“I'm not staring,” he answers. His cheeks feel warm, and he tells himself it's because of the coffee, and not the pretty barista he's so enamoured with.

Changkyun scoffs softly. “Hoseok, all you do is stare at him every time we come here. You take five years to order, because you make him tell you all the specials and you don't even ask for anything out of them,” he says, rolling his eyes.

Hoseok shifts in his seat. He glances over at Kihyun, who's still at the counter, smiling bright and big. He's speaking with a new customer now, a boy, someone he seems to know. There's an empty coffee cup in his hand and a sharpie in the other, and he’s writing down the boy’s name, laughing. He looks perfect. 

When Hoseok doesn't answer, Changkyun swings his leg forward, digs the toe of his boot into Hoseok's shin. Hoseok’s coffee lurches slightly in his mug and he hisses quietly at Changkyun.  

“You're doing it again,” Changkyun sings, triumphantly. He grins even wider when Hoseok slumps back into his armchair. “You’re staring at him like he’s the love of your life.”

“God, shut up. He’s not the love of my life. Stop hassling me,” Hoseok whines and takes a particularly big sip of his coffee. There’s a little bit of foam over his lips when he draws away from his mug and looks at Kihyun again. 

Now, Kihyun is pressing a lid onto a coffee cup now, his tongue poking out from between his lips in concentration. One of the other baristas - Jooheon, Hoseok remembers - takes the cup into his own hands and tuts. He’s blonde and soft-faced with the brightest of smiles, and he has a sleeve of coloured roses tattooed over his arm. Kihyun jabs the side of his ribs, and Jooheon laughs heartily, swats at Kihyun’s hand and turns away.

Across from him, Changkyun sighs and pushes his laptop screen back up. It casts a dull, grey glare over his face, makes Changkyun seem tired and a few years older. With one hand, he taps slowly at the keyboard. He had lugged Hoseok here after class again, insisted he wanted to type up the essay he’s got due next week. Changkyun frequents the café often, Hoseok had learned. He sits around until late sometimes, till after someone flips the door sign to closed. And he had brought Hoseok along with him a few days ago, ordered him a coffee and introduced him to Kihyun, Jooheon and Minhyuk. Hoseok hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Kihyun ever since. 

“You could just ask him for his number, you know?” Changkyun states simply with a shrug. He keeps his eyes trained on his laptop screen.

Hoseok shakes his head and stares down at his drink. The chocolate flakes have melted into the cream and milk, making messy, scattered shapes. One of them resembles a heart. And Hoseok feels a little fluttery at the sight, and he wonders how surreal it would be if Kihyun sprinkled cinnamon or cocoa over his drink in the shape of a heart.

He looks up again, trains his eyes on Kihyun and watches as Jooheon nudges him lightly. And Kihyun turns his head, glances around a little before settling his gaze on Hoseok, their eyes locking, and smiling. It’s a shy smile, a fond smile. Kihyun’s eyes twinkle softly and he twists a napkin around in his hands. He blinks once, twice and bites his lip. Hoseok feels his face grow warmer, and Kihyun just laughs quietly from far away as Hoseok turns back to Changkyun. 

.

“He's looking at you again,” Jooheon says, standing next to the espresso machine with a big grin on his face. Kihyun simply shakes his head, holding a sharpie cap between his lips and scribbling a name onto the side of a cup. Jun <3, he writes, and thrusts the cup at Jooheon.

“Aren't you gonna, I don't know, talk to him? He’s been coming here with Kyunnie for three days now, and he’s been lovestruck ever since,” Jooheon presses, taking the cup from Kihyun. He rolls the sleeves of his shirt up higher, the colourful sleeve of tattoos on his arm peeking out from underneath. When Jooheon had gotten it done, Kihyun was all over him, staring at the ink, touching it. Jooheon had laughed and promised to take Kihyun to get one done, too. He got a rose, just a black outline, along the side of his forearm. And he loves it, wants another along his collarbone.

The café is busy today, buzzing with people. It’s mostly students from the nearby campus, milling in after class, hiding away from the cold outside. There’s a storm stirring, big, fluffy clouds blocking the sun and cold wind whirling fallen leaves around over the pavements. But even through the throngs of people, Kihyun can see Changkyun eyeing him, mouthing at him and motioning towards Hoseok.

As of late, Changkyun has started frequenting the café with one of his friends in tow, whom Kihyun has come to know as Hoseok. He’s the sweetest boy Kihyun has ever come across, baby-faced and a little shy, but sweet -- terribly so. He’s big and wide, completely dwarfs Kihyun when he stands across him at the counter. But he’s an even bigger sweetheart. He wears big sweaters and loose sweatpants, pulls a beanie over his head sometimes, and Kihyun truly thinks he resembles a soft, fuzzy bunny. Every time he looks over at Kihyun, shy and careful, or stumbles over his words when he orders, Kihyun only wants to hold him close. Cup his face and cradle it against his chest.  

Kihyun smiles softly, glancing at the table where Changkyun and Hoseok are seated. Hoseok is cradling his mug between his hands, and there’s a thin line of foam over his lips. It’s adorable, makes Hoseok seem softer and cuter than he already is. It makes Kihyun want things. Big, warm hugs, cheek kisses, knowing what wearing Hoseok’s fluffy sweater would feel like, wiping the foam off Hoseok’s mouth, kissing it away. He hums quietly, and says, “I mean, he's the one looking at me. o he should come talk to me, too.” 

Jooheon scoffs, and slides the coffee cup over the countertop, back towards Kihyun. It’s now brimming with coffee and steamed milk. “You're unbelievable,” he answers, fold his arms over his chest and watches as Kihyun sprinkles cocoa over the coffee. “He looks starstruck every time you smile or even blink. It's disgusting. Like watching a teenager being in love.” 

“He's not in love with me, Jooheon. Calm down,” Kihyun says simply. He glances back at Hoseok, and smiles tightly as the boy gapes at a grinning Changkyun. He picks up a lid and tries pushing it down onto the cup before Jooheon snatches it away. 

“He's in love with you. You're the love of his life,” Jooheon teases, and Kihyun jabs at the side of his ribs. 

Kihyun feels a little fuzzy inside, a little warm and tingly, like someone made him down a shot of whisky. He gently pushes at Jooheon’s shoulders, nudging him towards the other baristas. 

“Stop talking to me. And Tell Minhyuk to go give Jun his coffee before Kwangji yells at all of us,” he says, wondering how Hoseok is looking at him right now. If his cheeks are a little rosy from the warm chocolate, or if his  eyes are sparkling the way they always do. And, God, does Kihyun want to look back. 

.

FRIDAY

Minhyuk looms over Kihyun’s shoulder, peers down at where Kihyun is sprinkling cinnamon over a cup of hot chocolate. He works diligently, his tongue poking out from between his lips in concentration, his hands moving slow and steady. Minhyuk watches with quiet eyes and he smiles knowingly when Kihyun finishes dusting the drink with cinnamon. In the shape of a heart.

“Oh, my god,” Minhyuk breathes, glancing from at Kihyun and then at the chocolate. “Is that for him?"

Kihyun licks his lips and peers up at Minhyuk. He sees Minhyuk grinning back at him, and assumes it’s because his cheeks are a little pink. Kihyun is open and flirty, he doesn’t decorate people’s drinks with cinnamon hearts. But it’s different with Hoseok. Hoseok makes Kihyun want to be careful and sweet and gentle. 

Kihyun chews at his lip, glances up to look at Hoseok. He’s sitting at a table near one of the windows today. His hair is tousled and messy, and he’s wearing a big, fuzzy sweater, like he’d just rolled out of bed. Hyunwoo had been with him earlier. They had been studying together, Kihyun assumes. Hyunwoo looked worn-down and tired when Kihyun had gone up to them with their drinks, two large coffees, and muffins on the house, because Kihyun insisted. Hoseok didn’t say much, only smiled tiredly at Kihyun and muttered a soft thank you. But Kihyun missed the way his face fell when Kihyun turned to Hyunwoo, squeezed at his shoulder, rubbing up and down his arm before leaving.

But Hoseok is alone now, a textbook sitting wide and open on the table in front of him, a highlighter in his hand. He's been downing cups over cups of strong coffee since he came in, and he just asked for another one a few minutes ago. Kihyun has already placed Hoseok’s drink on a small tray. Hot chocolate, instead of the triple-shot cappuccino Hoseok had asked for.

“Yes. Yes, it’s for him,” Kihyun admits quietly, rubbing a hand over his face. “He asked for his eighth cup of coffee now, and, yes I’m a little concerned, so I just made him this instead,” he says, gestures to the hot chocolate, watching the brown and white swirling together. The heart looks pretty, he decides. It curls into a little hook at the end, and it’s a little lopsided. It looks like it’s been handcrafted, carefully, and Kihyun’s heart swells a little at the thought. 

Next to him, Minhyuk hums. He shakes stray pieces of his hair away from his face and pulls a hair tie off his wrist. “Who knew you could be so cute,” he teases, chuckles when Kihyun rolls his eyes and leans a hip against the counter.

Minhyuk gathers his hair up into a small, messy bun at the back of his head. He’s been letting his hair grow out a bit, it brushes over his jaw now, an inch or two longer than Kihyun’s hair. “But what about my suggestion? Did you write down that pickup line?”

“A pickup line. You should obviously use a pickup line, Kihyun. It’s the barista classic. Don’t disgrace your kind,” Kihyun remembers Minhyuk saying, easily, with a mouthful of muffin. They had taken their break and Kihyun had asked Minhyuk for advice on wooing Hoseok. He remembers Minhyuk handing him a napkin, urging him to write something down, and he remembers leaving it on the tray next to Hoseok’s drink. Flipped over, blank side up. 

“Minhyuk,” Kihyun calls, glancing back over his shoulder as Minhyuk walks away to fix together another drink. Minhyuk hums in response, a piping bag in hand now as he swirls whipped cream over a tall, iced mocha. “Are you sure about this? The pickup line thing, I mean?"

Minhyuk sighs, sets the piping bag down and turns, full body, to face Kihyun. He rests a hand over his hip and breathes out slowly, seeming a little tired. Kihyun can see a smudge of chocolate near his nose that he wants to wipe off. There’s worn-down eyeliner around his eyes and his bangs are clipped back with bobby pins, Hyungwon’s doing. Hyungwon had swung by at noon before class to pick up his coffee. Minhyuk had beamed, big and bright, at him and tipped over the counter to catch Hyungwon’s kiss on his mouth. Kihyun agreed to get him his coffee, so him and Minhyuk could talk and he remembers seeing Hyungwon reaching into his pocket, pulling out a few bobby pins and carefully pinning Minhyuk’s hair back. 

“Kihyun, just do it,” Minhyuk says, shrugging. “Honestly, I don’t know why you’re so scared of using a pickup line. You can go along and throw yourself at guys without a second thought, but you can’t throw a pickup line at someone? And you’re not even saying it, you’ve written it down. What’s the big deal?”

“And anyway, you’re already playing your I care about you and I can be sappy about it card with that hot chocolate,” he adds, motioning to Hoseok’s drink. 

Kihyun bites his lip, stares long and hard at the napkin and huffs. Minhyuk grins, preens like a proud cat, as Kihyun picks up the tray and walks right over to Hoseok. His heart is pounding loudly in his chest, his fingers are trembling and he feels like his knees might buckle under him. 

“Hey,” he chirps, his lips curled into a smile. Hoseok looks up at him, his eyes big and so brown, Kihyun thinks he’s drowning. He balances the tray on one hand, sets Hoseok’s chocolate and the napkin, blank side up, on the table with the other. He tucks the tray under his arm and pushes his grey fringe away from his eyes.

Kihyun watches with a small smile as Hoseok looks at the drink, his eyes twinkling and cheeks turning a soft pink when he notices the heart. “I noticed you like sweet things, so I got you chocolate. I'm not good with the cinnamon, foam, cocoa art, or whatever, but I thought you've had enough coffee for today,” he says, shifting his weight from his left foot to the right.

Hoseok gives him a small, tired smile and rubs at his eye with a balled fist. It’s adorable, and Kihyun wants to lean down and kiss Hoseok’s cheek. “Thank you,” Hoseok says quietly. His voice is husky and low, like he hasn’t slept all night. “You’re really so sweet. I didn’t think you’d noticed the coffee overdose,” he adds with a soft chuckle. 

Kihyun shakes his head, waving his hand. “It’s really nothing. You kind of seem to notice when you see someone ordering their eighth cup of coffee,” he says, and Hoseok laughs a little louder. The sound is like a sweet hum in Kihyun’s ear, warm and smooth, like honey. 

“You look tired. Did you get enough sleep?” Kihyun presses, his head tilted to the side slightly. Hoseok rubs at his forehead, his thumb and index pressed to his temples. Kihyun bites his lip, his fingers itching to reach over and card through Hoseok’s hair. It’s ruffled and messy, sticking out in all directions, and Kihyun wants to smooth it down and play with it. Lull Hoseok to sleep like that.

“A little,” Hoseok answers. If Kihyun looks closely, he can the the sleep clouding Hoseok’s eyes and the dark crescents under them. His skin looks a little grey, bleak, like the colour has been drained out. And it tugs at Kihyun’s heart. 

He’s about to tell Hoseok to get some rest, tell him to put his head down for a while, take a break, but Hoseok’s phone lights up, buzzes, where it’s lying on the table. Hoseok gives Kihyun a small, slightly sad smile, and reaches for his phone. Then he’s standing up, gathering his books, pushing his laptop into his backpack. He grabs the napkin, too, tosses it in, and Kihyun’s breath hitches a little. He can’t slip it away now, can’t throw it in the trash and pretend it never happened. 

“I’m sorry, I, um. I need to go,” Hoseok says. He runs a hand through his hair, a little frazzled, and picks up his drink. Kihyun doesn’t know why he’s sorry, but he smiles anyway and nods. 

He lets out a breath, feels a little empty as he watches Hoseok rush out the café door. 

.

Hoseok pulls a chair out and settles into it, in front of Changkyun. They’re in the library on campus, and it’s relatively empty for a late Friday afternoon. Hoseok had rushed here after he got Changkyun’s text. He sets his books down on the table, along with his hot chocolate. It’s untouched, still a little warm, and Hoseok feels his heart flutter when he thinks of the heart Kihyun had made for him. He misses Kihyun a little, feels a little empty after running out like that. He had wanted to talk, wanted to ask Kihyun to sit down with him, ask him about his day, tell him he looks pretty, ask for his number and maybe a date. But he’s got essays due, and he’s been running on four hours of sleep, and he needed Changkyun’s help. 

Hoseok unzips his backpack, tugs his laptop out, and a crumpled piece of tissue slips out along with it. The one he’d tossed into his bag before leaving. It’s unused and there’s tiny traces of black over it, like inky scribbles. Changkyun eyes it quietly as Hoseok pushes his laptop screen up, and then reaches over to pick it up. 

Hoseok is plugging his headphones in when Changkyun thrusts the tissue at him, his eyes wide and lips curved slightly. “This is Kihyun’s writing,” he says, wiggling the napkin in front of Hoseok’s face until he takes it in his own hand.

“Kihyun’s writing?” Hoseok mumbles under his breath. He holds the napkin delicately between his fingers, careful not to tear at it, and eyes the tiny, cursive writing on it. It’s been written with a pen, he notes, scribbled a little messily. Maybe even in a hurry, and his heart flutters at the thought of Kihyun hunched over the countertop, hastily scrawling something over a napkin for him. 

You know, I’ve bean thinking about you a latte. I’m really soy into you (lame, i know, but what’s a boy to do? have to get your attention somehow), it reads and Hoseok’s belly swoops. He feels light and fuzzy, like he’s floating.

In front of him, Changkyun chortles, hiding a grin behind his hand. “I cannot believe he wrote that. I’ve bean thinking about you? I’m soy into you? I have never seen or heard of Kihyun using corny pickup lines on someone.”

Hoseok carefully runs his thumb over the ink, the napkin soft and plush under his fingers. He wonders if Kihyun’s skin would feel as soft. If Hoseok held onto Kihyun’s hand, would his skin feel like petals and soft grass. He wants to hold Kihyun’s hand, press softly over his knuckles and kiss over his fingers, one by one. Smiling, Hoseok licks his lips. He says, “I think it’s cute.”

“That’s probably why he did it,” Changkyun answers through a grin, twirling a pen around over his fingers.

Hoseok presses the napkin down onto the table. He places his phone over to weigh it down, keep it from flitting away. He looks at it again, his smile coming out in full colour now and reads it over again. A part of him wishes Kihyun had written down his number as well. “What do I do now? I should do something. I want to talk to him. Properly. Not while waiting for him to get me coffee or when he comes over to give it to me. I want to sit down with him and have an actual conversation.”

“And you will. You’ll go there tomorrow, go up to him and ask him when he’s taking his break. And then you’ll ask if he would like to spend it with you. It’s sweet, it’s simple, like a pilot date,” Changkyun says easily, reaches for one of Hoseok’s textbooks and flips it open.

Hoseok thinks about Kihyun spending his break with him, looking ruffled and perfect and smelling like coffee and something sweeter. And he feels warm all over. 

.

SATURDAY

Kihyun does smell like coffee, Hoseok realises the next day when they’re sitting at one of the corner tables in the cafe, near a window. And the something sweeter is a mix of cocoa and brown sugar, and something so Kihyun. He looks perfect, too, always does. The sunlight looks so pretty, spilling over his face like this. It catches in his eyelashes, his hair and in his eyes. Makes them look so bright, and Hoseok thinks he can see tiny stars in them. Kihyun is wearing a printed t-shirt today, over a dark-coloured flannel, and jeans that are ripped over the knees. He’s wearing fishnets underneath, the net peeking out through the rips, and Hoseok tries not to lose himself. 

“You don’t look as tired today. You’re actually smiling,” Kihyun chirps happily, his fingers picking at a napkin that’s lying on the table. It’s placed next to two mugs of coffee. The fancy, chocolatey mocha that Hoseok had a few days prior. Hoseok had gotten the drinks for them, despite Kihyun saying he didn’t have to. But he smiled so sweetly at Hoseok when Minhyuk gave them their drinks, grinning at Kihyun a little. 

And he’s smiling sweetly now, too, his head tilted to the side a little. Kihyun is always so sweet, Hoseok has realised. Smiling at customers, laughing easily, rushing to help his coworkers when they spill a drink and frequenting Changkyun and Hoseok’s table with drinks and snacks when they come by. And it all makes Hoseok feel warm and tingly, like he’s being wrapped in a warm embrace. He wonders if hugging Kihyun would be as lovely as it seems.

Hoseok grins a little. He asks, “You like me smiling?”

Kihyun bites his lip and peers up at Hoseok through his lashes, like a shy kitten. And it’s adorable. Kihyun is adorable, even more so with his hair fluffed around his head and falling into his eyes a little. He nods timidly. “I do. I like your smile. It’s so bright and nice. Makes me feel happy when there’s no reason for me to be.”

“Are you always this cute?” Hoseok asks, his belly swooping when Kihyun smiles tightly. “Who knew you’d be ten times cuter when you talk.”

Kihyun laughs a little. It’s bashful. His lips look so pretty curled in a big, wide smile. They seem soft and plump, like fleshy blooms. And his cheeks seem fuller, more soft, squishier when he laughs, and Hoseok wants to kiss them, all over them until they’re flushed a pretty pink. Hoseok has seen Kihyun laugh countless times, but it’s different up close. It makes his heart race knowing he’s the one making Kihyun laugh. 

“You’re such a sappy flirt, my God," Kihyun huffs out between peals of quiet laughter. “You should have warned me. I thought you’d be the silent, shy type, who’d get flustered if I, like, nudged your foot playfully.”

Under the table, Hoseok moves his foot closer to Kihyun and nudges it with the toe of his boot. Kihyun lets out a tiny, surprised yelp and Hoseok’s finds himself grinning again. He prods at Kihyun’s foot once more, and Kihyun gently smacks Hoseok’s calf with the side of his shoe. 

“Like that, you mean?” Hoseok teases. He bites his lip when Kihyun narrows his eyes at him and purses his lips into a small pout. It makes his mouth look even more kissable. Puckered and soft and a delicate red in the afternoon light.

“You’re so mean,” Kihyun says. He picks up his mug, cradles it between his palms and sips carefully at the hot beverage. From behind his mug, Hoseok can only see Kihyun’s eyes and his grey fringe that’s falling into them. His lashes flutter prettily over the swells of his cheeks and it makes Hoseok’s heart do funny things. When Kihyun puts his mug back down, he swipes his tongue over his lips. Hoseok imagines just how sweet they must taste. Like rich chocolate with hints of coffee. 

There’s a small dot of whipped cream over Kihyun’s mouth, Hoseok notices, a little to the side. He tips forward in his seat and Kihyun blinks at him curiously, his eyes big and so brown.

“Kihyun, you’ve got something--” Hoseok says quietly and reaches a hand out to cup Kihyun’s cheek. It’s so sudden, and Kihyun flinches a little at the touch, but then relaxes into it, leans into it almost. His face feels so soft and tender under Hoseok’s palm, Hoseok wants to caress it gently with his fingers and his thumbs. Just hold Kihyun’s face within his palms forever maybe. 

He carefully wipes the cream off Kihyun’s mouth with a swipe of his thumb. He brushes over Kihyun’s lips slightly, too, and they feel like pillows under his touch. Hoseok can feel himself melting into the armchair he’s sitting on, and he knows he’s so gone. 

.

SUNDAY

The bell above the door rings, and Kihyun looks up from where he’s wiping down the glass display near the countertop. It’s set with tiny desserts, tarts, cupcakes, cookies and the sort, and freshly assembled sandwiches. The café sits in a lively, awake part of town, near campus and is usually bustling near the time winter settles in. So Kihyun makes sure someone keeps the snacks in stock. 

Outside, the sky is swirling with snow clouds, grey and dull and cold. Kihyun is sure he saw a few flecks of snow flitter down earlier. And he’s even more sure when Hoseok pushes in past the glass door, another large sweater thrown over his shoulders. He’s wearing loose, grey sweatpants and Kihyun sees little bits of snow in his hair. Against his dark, black hair, they look like tiny stars over the night sky. Hoseok’s eyes are big and a little tired, his cheeks pink from the cold and lips a little red. Kihyun wants to press his palms over Hoseok’s cheeks, over his neck and a little under his fluffy sweater just to warm him up. 

The sweater is a pretty red today, the colour of cherries. And it makes Hoseok’s cheeks seem a little redder, more rosy. He’s wearing a scarf, too. It’s big, striped with dark blue and black.

Kihyun smiles easily, props his elbows up onto the countertop and leans onto them as Hoseok stop in front of him. “Hey, you,” he chirps, locking his fingers together over the counter and peering up at Hoseok. He leans to the side a little, glances behind Hoseok quickly. “No Changkyun today either?” 

Hoseok rubs at his nape, his eyes fixed on something behind Kihyun’s shoulder. The tips of his ears are a little pink. They’re so big and cute, protruding like a bunny’s ears. Kihyun wants to kiss them, trace over them with his fingertips.

“No, it’s just me. Changkyunnie didn’t have class today, so he’s sleeping in,” Hoseok says, bringing his hand down to play with the tassels of his scarf. He twists them between his fingertips, picks at the frayed threads at the bottom. “Are you disappointed?”

Kihyun chuckles softly. “Don’t be silly, I was just asking. That boy practically lives here after I told him this is where I work,” he answers, watches with smiling eyes as Hoseok chews at his lip. “What can I get you today? The usual?” 

Hoseok nods timidly, and watches as Kihyun starts milling about behind the counter. He ducks his eyes once and peers back up at Kihyun through his lashes. “And, um.”

“Yes?” Kihyun prompts, smiling at Hoseok quickly and turning back to the coffee machine. 

Hoseok feels his heart hammering, pounding against his ribs. His sweater feels so thick and warm, and he feels breathless. Like he’s being smothered by a blanket. He draws his sleeves over his palms, twists his fingers into the wool. Kihyun walks back towards him with a cup in hand, capped, swirls of steam crawling out from the sip-hole. It smells like cinnamon and cocoa, a little like Kihyun and it’s making Hoseok’s head spin.   

Kihyun raises his eyebrows, purses his lips, and Hoseok sucks in a breath. Pulling at his sleeves, he says, “Would it be okay if, if I, you know, asked-- for your number?”

For a while, Kihyun just stares back at him, his eyes a little wide, and Hoseok feels his knees starting to shake. But then Kihyun smiles, and his eyes turn into tiny little crescents and his teeth show a little through his lips. He fishes a pen out from his pocket, uncaps it and scribbles his number onto the side of Hoseok’s cup. 

“So you finally asked me then,” he says, still grinning as he holds the cup out for Hoseok. Their fingers brush when Hoseok takes it from him, and the light touch alone has him feeling warm and happy. “After yesterday, I was hoping you would." 

Yesterday. Hoseok spending Kihyun’s break with him, them flirting and laughing and smiling so much their faces started to hurt, Hoseok touching Kihyun’s face, his cheek, his lips. It all still makes him feel so fuzzy and fluttery. Hoseok chuckles softly, dipping his head down to look at the ground. Kihyun is still looking at him, his eyes sparkling even in the dull light. 

“I know I took a while. To ask you, I mean. I would’ve asked the day we met, but I wanted us to talk more,” Hoseok answers, tapping a fingernail over the lid of his coffee cup. “I just didn’t want to mess up anything with you.”

“You’re adorable,” Kihyun coos, laughing softly, his smile coming out in full colour now, and Hoseok thinks it’s brighter than the sun. Kihyun’s yellow hoodie reminds Hoseok of sunny mornings, sunflowers and summer and everything smelling like grass and ripe peaches. It’s a nice feeling, makes him feel warmer, like the cup he’s holding in his hand. “Do you have somewhere to be right now, or can you stay?” 

Hoseok tries not to let his mouth curl into too big of a grin. The thought of staying with Kihyun a little longer, watching him work and talking to him in between makes his heart soar. He loves watching Kihyun work. Loves seeing him smile when he talks to customers, loves seeing his eyes sparkle when he does. And he loves it even more when Kihyun looks over at him and beams so big and bright before turning away. 

“I can stay,” Hoseok says easily with a nod. His scarf feels warm around his neck and he can feel it loosening up where it’s wrapped around him.   

Kihyun smiles again, like a pleased kitten. With that big, soft hoodie he’s wearing, the sleeves falling over his fingers and the soft material swallowing his body up, Hoseok thinks Kihyun looks the cutest. The colour makes him look even softer. The yellow looks perfect against his light, honeyed skin and his grey hair. Pushing his fringe away, carding it back with one hand, Kihyun answers, “I get off work at three today. Just fifteen more minutes. Do you mind waiting?”

Hoseok shakes his head, pressing his lips into a thin line. His scarf is untwisting itself from around his neck, slowly beginning to fall open. “I don’t mind.”

Kihyun hums softly, happily almost. Then he’s reaching out and grabbing fisftfuls of Hoseok’s scarf in his hands. He gently tugs Hoseok closer, smiling when Hoseok gasps softly. With deft fingers, Kihyun carefully wraps Hoseok scarf around his neck again. He loops it once, and his fingers brush over the side of Hoseok’s throat and Hoseok shivers at the touch. It’s light, feathery and leaves Hoseok wanting more. Kihyun evens the scarf out on both sides, fluffs it up and smiles up at Hoseok. He drops his hands down over Hoseok’s chest, lets them rest there for a few lovely moments. The light, gentle weight feels like a soft kiss, and Hoseok loves it, tries not to croon at the touch. 

Hoseok finds himself getting lost in Kihyun’s eyes. They’re so big and the colour of melted, smooth chocolate. And Kihyun’s looking right at him and it’s making Hoseok fall apart at the seams. Kihyun slowly breathes in. Hoseok watches his lips part slightly as he does, and Kihyun slowly moves his hands down Hoseok’s chest then back up to his shoulders this time. He squeezes softly before letting go and exhaling quietly. 

“Fifteen minutes,” he reminds again. He smiles once more at Hoseok and walks away. And Hoseok can still feel Kihyun’s palms roaming over his chest and clutching softly at his shoulders.

.

02 312 3456

kihyun?

please tell me this is you

02 316 6057

hiiii hyung

02 312 3456

oh thank god

whew okay good i was scared i texted some random guy

i can change your contact name now wooooooo

kihyun

(i can change yours too now yayaya)

but i gave you my number?

wym “i was scared i texted some random guy”

do you think i’m incapable of remembering my own number?

hoseok

wHAT

NO

it’s not that i just

kihyun

hoseok

did you think i gave you a fake number

hoseok

pftttt

nooooo

no

okay

maybe

yes

kihyun

well i didn’t

i wouldn’t fake number you

why would you think that

hoseok

i don’t know just

i really like you, you already know that

what if you don’t like me as much

kihyun

hoseok

i wrote a pickup line on your napkin

i can't even draw hearts with a pen, but i made a goddamn cinnamon heart on your drink

i spent my break with you and thought i might explode when you asked me to

i tried fixing your scarf just as an excuse to touch you

i mix up orders and spill milk every time i catch you looking at me

i think i might like you way more than you think

hoseok

oh gosh

sweet jesus

dear holy virgin

monk of the bible

aksnklsnskkskshskxnxk

kihyun

hoseok are you okay

what’s...

monk of the bible????

is that some dumb lingo for moses

hoseok

lol

no

…..

yeah

kihyun

oh my god

you dork

btw

thank you for today, i had fun

hoseok

me too

i didn’t know you were so good with kids

kihyun

well i was pretty mad when they kicked that ball at your face

i mean yeah we were in a park so watch out i guess but still

you can t r y to not catapult a big ass ball at someone’s face

i would have gotten mad but

they were so sweet, running over and apologising over and over

hoseok

did you have to remind me of that

my second day hanging out with the boy i like and i get my face broken

by a soccer ball

smooth

kihyun

aw cmon it wasn’t that bad

your nose stopped bleeding after a while

hoseok

it was so embarrassing kihyun!

you had to sit me down on a bench and brace my head so i could keep my chin tipped up

Ughhksjssjxnxsksks

kihyun

it wasn’t t h a t bad please

at least you didn’t get like badly hurt

what if your nose broke

it would just be like…. crooked

what a shame it would be :( it’s such a nice nose too

hoseok

asjdkssnxksksnssjss

look at you tossing compliments at me so smoothly

sweep me off my feet some more would u

kihyun

didn’t i already

i nursed you so well

hoseok

you’re always sweeping me off my feet

and yes you were so sweet today

i was melting a little no joke

you kept rubbing my arm and my shoulder

and then you even offered to walk home with me asfkdncjdkd

i forget you’re real sometimes

kihyun

am i that ridiculous

hoseok

no!!!

you’re so perfect

everything about you is amazing, you’re so amazing

kihyun

i’m ..

i’m really not tho

i haven’t done anything that makes me amazing

i’m like every other guy you see every day really

hoseok

there’s no one else like you

not to be creepy or cheesy but

i look at you and forget anyone else is even there

kihyun

god hoseok

that’s not creepy it’s cheesy yeah but it’s very you

i like it

why would you think it’s creepy

hoseok

i don’t know i don’t want to come on too strong

and scare you away

kihyun

you’re literally the sweetest boy i’ve ever met

really

how could you scare me off

hoseok

“sweetest boy”

please!!!! my heart kihyun

kihyun

<:

are you at home right now

hoseok

no my literature professor told me to come see him

something about restructuring an essay of mine

:((((((

kihyun

professor eunkwang?

hoseok

yeah ………

;;;;;;;

kihyun

ah yeah he can be so frustrating at times

you must be so tired

you had to go see him right after the park :(

just hang in there

hoseok

i’ll try ♡

wait

kihyun

yes?

hoseok

how do you know eunkwang

you don’t take literature…..

unless you do!!!!!!!! how have i never seen you omg

oh my god you’re that kid who sits in the corner seat with his hoodie pulled over his head

has that been you all this time?????

you’re shady hoodlum guy ????

kihyun

easy there tiger

firstly, whomst??? is shady hoodlum guy??? what kind of ppl do you have in your class

secondly, no i do not take literature

i took o n e class at the start of the semester

i remember seeing you there

you were sleeping i think

hoseok

don’t judge me!!!!

it was such an early class

who wakes up at eight and expects to actually be alive and function fully

kihyun

i’m not judging you

it was cute

you woke up in the middle and looked around for like two seconds before going back to sleep

your hair was literally sticking out in every possible direction

you looked so squishy

hoseok

stoppppppp

please why is every encounter of ours just me embarrassing myself

kihyun

i think that’s just us

you do dumb things

i find them cute

you blush about them

i t e l l you its cute

hoseok

when do i get to call you cute when you do something dumb

kihyun

sorry babie

i don’t do dumb things <:

hoseok

ofc u don’t ;;;;

sighs

god i’m so tired

kihyun

you should take a break

hoseok

i am taking a break

i’m talking to you

kihyun

i mean like

call it a day

go home

r e st

you almost got your nose smacked into your brain

what are you working on that’s so important anyway

hoseok

i’m re-writing that bloody essay

angrily sips at coffee

i have so much work overdue

especially now that i’m supposed to re-do half of it

kihyun

you should work without me bothering you

i don’t want you stressing over all this piled up work bcs you spent your time talking to me instead of working

hoseok

nooooo you’re not bothering me

kihyun

i’m distracting you

hoseok

i mean it’s okay

i don’t mind

kihyun

i mind

i don’t want to distract you

we can always talk later

just text me whenever you get the time

nOT when you’re working

hoseok

kihyuuuuuunnnnnnnn

huffs

okay fine

promise we’ll talk later?

kihyun

yes you big baby

we’ll talk later

hoseok

:(((((

bye kihyun

kihyun

byeeee

.

MONDAY

hoseok

fINALLY TOOK A BREAK !!!!!

i might kill myself

i really hate essays

kihyun

awwwwwwwww

you both look so cute please

i know you're probably dying but goddddd you look so good

and your ears !!!;!!; i miss those ears

and that smile

and your cute little baby nose

hoseok

i miss you too ;;;;;;;;;

can you send a picture as well

i want to see you

kihyun

i’m at work so this is the best i can manage

feat. the break room and minhyuk in the background

he says hi

it's so weird not seeing you guys here :(((((

the only person i have to talk with except min and joo is jun

hoseok

fuckkkkkkkkkkkk

kihyun

oh my god

jesus

aaddkkxkshzksksk

god

i

canr breatge

kihyun

hoseok??????????

are you okay

hoseok

NO

FUCK KIHYUN

YOU'RE SO HOT WHAT THE HELL

did you just take this

kihyun

aksjdkdjskdhsk i did

hoseok

you're so …..

you're so beautiful

my baby is so gorgeous

kihyun

your baby?

i’m your baby?

hoseok

is that

is that weird

im sorry i take it back

kihyun

no it wasn't weird

it just

i had to stop myself from screaming out loud

minhyuk would never let me live it down

hoseok

okay wheeze

i’m a little relieved

you really look so pretty tho

kihyun

oh my god hoseok

you might kill me

you're so sweet thank you

hoseok

please don't die !!!!!!!!!

but you're welcome ;3;;;;;

aren't you cold tho? you're wearing a t-shirt

i mean u look fucking hot in it but

aren't you cold

kihyun

akdskjdkdj please you're too much

and not really no

it's pretty warm in here

hoseok

u lucky ducky

it's freezing in here

you'd think they'd install a heating system that actually works

considering we spend more than half the semester in here

kihyun

are you guys in the library

on campus

hoseok

yeah ;;;;;

i can't feel my fingers and i don't know if it's because of the cold or because i’ve been typing and writing for literally

five hours

kihyun

please rest your fingers

they'll be of no use if they fall off your hands

they're such nice fingers too

guess i'll never know if they feel as good as they look if you work them to death

hoseok

oh my god did you just

i’m literally gaping at my phone screen right now

changkyun is demanding to know what you've said

but i’m still in shock

kihyun

<<<<<<<:

what you've got nice hands

adhdksjdkd i’ve got a thing for hands okay

and yours are so hot please

(don't you dare let changkyun see this he's my precious baby i just protect him he's innocent)

hoseok

do you think about my hands a lot

(your precious baby??? innocent?? don't make me laugh pls)

kihyun

ngl i do

i know lots of guys who have gorgeous hands

like jun omg his hands are so nice

but i die over yours really

(what does that mean?????? why can't he be my precious baby???)

hoseok

wow i ….. no one's ever died over my hands before so

thank you

but also

whomst????? is this jun ??? i keep hearing about

is there a secret lover or boyfriend i don't know of

(he's like literally forty)

kihyun

what

oh my god no jun isn't

he isn't my boyfriend please

he's just a friend

(i’m older than him hE CAN BE MY BABY)

hoseok

well that's funny

bcs i just asked changkyun and

he says you guys dated

(god whatever fine)

kihyun

d a t e d

and we're friends now

it's all in the past

(oh….  O H … are you possibly …  j e a l o u s????)

hoseok

still

should i be concerned

(i AM NOT)

kihyun

concerned?

why would you be concerned?

(ahahahahah ure jealous)

hoseok

idk like intimidated

standard wise ……

was he a really good boyfriend ????? do i have competition

(fuck off omg i’m not jealous)

kihyun

hoseok please i

i don't think y o u of all people should be worried like

have you seen yourself

you're gorgeous, you're sweet and lovely and so caring

i don't think jun or anyone else could beat any of that

(it's okay you know ……. you're my only baby but …. changkyuns a close second)

hoseok

goshhhhhhhh

i melted a little

okay a lot

skdnxkdjddksnzkwk you're amazing please

(god i can't ….. can't be mad at you when you say stuff like that)

kihyun

i’m really not, i’ve told you

i just told you the honest truth the way it is

(then don't be mad)

(and it's time to end this sub text convo we've got going on)

hoseok

so i’m safe ???

no threat of someone stealing you away before i even get a chance to have you

(awww what ;;;;; i'll miss the parentheses)

kihyun

i’m laughing a little you're so cute

you're safe

(hoseok)

hoseok

YES!!!!!!!

(okay sorry)

kihyun

ahhhh

um hoseok?

hoseok

yes?

kihyun

i’m sorry but my break's over

i have to go

i’ll text you when i get off work

i leave early today

hoseok

i wish i could swing by

walk you home at least ;;;;;;

kihyun

it's okay you've got work to do

i don't mind

i'll wait till you get the time to come by

bye hoseok

hoseok

bye kihyunn 

 .

TUESDAY

kihyun

well hi there

hoseok

look at him !!!!!! all pretty and dressed up

u look gorgeous

wowowowowowo

good morning to me only yes

or good evening …. night .. take your pick

i just woke up

kihyun

yELLS FOR YEARS

YOU'RE SO CUTE

how did you just wake up it’s like 9

hoseok

i was napping ;w;

kihyun

aw that explains it

your hair is all messy and ruffled skdndjsjs

it looks so soft omg you're so squishy

hoseok

squishy aksnsksj please

that's not exactly what a gym rat wants to hear

and yes i took a nap ;;;; iwas so tired

this literature class will be my death

kihyun

awwww poor babie

take breaks, don't overwork yourself, ask changkyun or hyungwon for help

also about the squishy thing, i didn't mean you're chubby

you just look really cuddly

like you'd be so fun to cuddle with

hoseok

cuddly huh ????

i am a cuddler tho … i like cuddling

and changkyuns out living his life

hyungwon might be in the same class, and he might live with me but he's about as useful as 'the smoking kills’ label on cigarette packs

kihyun

lee hoseok, a cuddly cuddler

my uwus are everywhere

akfeldjkddj you're so mean to him ohmygosh

hoseok

u uwu-ed at me i’m crying

i’m not mean! he's just really useless

well anyway are you going somewhere

you're all dolled up

kihyun

dolled up wksbsjwjs

i’m going out with jooheon

and some of his friends

hoseok

jooheon?

where are you guys going?

kihyun

there's this rave at a club downtown

jooheon knows the guy who's dj-ing

hoseok

damn a rave…. didn't take you as a rave person

it sounds fun tho

but be careful please

kihyun

hoseok i’m a grown man

this isn't my first time going to a rave

and i'll be with people

i’ll be fine

hoseok

just stay safe okay

are you about to leave?

kihyun

i'll be safe don't worry

and yeah jooheon’s picking me up

he's like five mins away

hoseok

okay well um

let me know when you get home?

please?

kihyun

you're such a cutie

god

i'll text you when i get back

hoseok

thank you

have fun

kihyun

i will

don't tire yourself out too much over those essays

try not to stress too much

i want to see you soon

can't do that if you're lying dead at home, in a pile of books and papers, bcs you decided to stab yourself with a pen

hoseok

u paint quite a picture don't you

i want to see you too

i will hopefully soon

kihyun

jooheon's here

i have to go i’m sorry

hoseok

it's okay

you go have fun ♡

.

WEDNESDAY

It’s sunny out today, the sky a light blue and yellow. And the gentle breeze is mild, rustling leaves and rippling coat lapels and scarves as it blows. Kihyun is wiping down the glass door with a rag when he sees Hoseok jogging around the corner and rushing straight towards the café doors. Kihyun smiles and tilts his head to catch Hoseok’s eye when he looks up. Their eyes lock, Kihyun smiles a little bigger, and Hoseok walks straight into the door with a loud thud. 

Kihyun gasps sharply as Hoseok immediately stumbles backwards, a palm pressed to his face, over his nose. Kihyun is quick to drop the rag and pull the door open. A gust of cold air ruffles his hair and he shivers slightly, but he feels warmer when he grabs onto Hoseok’s free hand and tugs him inside. There aren’t any seated customers or any workers milling about. It’s early, an hour before noon, and the sign over the door is still flipped to closed. Kihyun carefully leads Hoseok to one of the chairs near the counter, gently pushes him down to sit and crouches in front of him.

“Hoseok?” He asks softly, his voice small and quiet. He reaches up for Hoseok’s hand, eases it down and away from his face. Underneath, Hoseok’s eyes are squeezed shut, his nose scrunched and lips pulled into a thin line. He’s groaning softly, too, and Kihyun feels his heart squeeze. “Oh, my god. Please say something.”  

Hoseok nods slowly, lethargically. He squeezes his eyes once and blinks them open, takes a while to let them settle on Kihyun’s pretty face. Everything is a little hazy, blurred lines and buzzing colours. But Kihyun looks so clear and perfect in his vision. Big and bright, like some type of angel. In the soft light streaming in from the glass everywhere, Kihyun’s skin is glowing. He looks so pretty. His eyes glittering, his cheeks a little rosy and lightly freckled and his lips pink and plump. There’s a tiny mole near the edge of his mouth, Hoseok notices, and he feels the want, the need, to kiss it. 

“Hoseok?” Kihyun asks again. He waves a hand in front of Hoseok’s face, slow and steady. 

Hoseok blinks. “You’re so pretty, Kihyunnie,” he says easily, and every fibre of Kihyun’s heart loosens up. 

The nickname makes his fingertips tingle. The way Hoseok is looking at him makes his fingertips tingle. And Kihyun’s flannel hoodie feels like a thick blanket wrapped around him, so, so warm.

“And here I was hoping you spared yourself a concussion.” He laughs, gently squeezes Hoseok’s hand within his own. “You sure you’re okay? Do you need me to get you some ice? Aspirin? Does your head hurt”

Hoseok shakes his head. Kihyun feels him press softly at his hand for a brief moment. “No, it's okay, Kihyun. I’m okay,” he reassures. “Thank you.” 

Kihyun smiles at him and straightens, pushing his grey fringe away from his face. And Hoseok follows, pushes up to  his feet and watches as Kihyun moves around. Kihyun is wearing a beanie today. It's a dark grey and soft and plush. It sags a little where it’s sitting over his head and presses Kihyun’s hair flat against the sides of his face. The strands of hair peeking out from underneath are curled loosely, adorably. Hoseok wants to twist them around his fingers. Kihyun walks back to the door, picks up the rag from where he’d tossed it to the floor and moves to place it on the counter instead. He turns to face Hoseok and leans back against it. 

“It’s nice to see you. I didn't expect to see you so soon, especially since you've been so busy. But I have a feeling you're not going to stay,” Kihyun says, his eyes shining in the early morning light. He looks soft and so, so sweet in his big, flannel hoodie. Hoseok notices he’s barefooted, only wearing socks. And his feet seem so tiny and small when he looks down and traces patterns onto the floor with his toe. 

Hoseok bites his lip and peers up at Kihyun. It’s almost like he’s saying sorry. He looks like a puppy with his big doe eyes, and Kihyun feels his heart swell and drop at the same time. They have been talking over text so much the past few days. Kihyun always finds himself smiling at every text Hoseok sends, grinning big and hard until his cheeks start to hurt. But he misses Hoseok still, misses seeing him every day, misses the glances they used to steal from each other. And he wishes Hoseok could stay longer. 

It’s quiet for a moment. Hoseok just watches Kihyun move his foot around over the floorboards. Watches as Kihyun sucks in his bottom lip and blinks slowly behind his glasses. His lashes flutter prettily, and they look like they're made of gold in the sunlight. He looks perfect and Hoseok just wants Kihyun in his arms. 

“Kihyun,” he calls softly. His belly swoops when Kihyun looks up at him, his eyes big and bright and cheeks a soft, glowy pink. “Can I hug you?” 

Kihyun simply looks at Hoseok for a while. His eyes flitting all over Hoseok's face, like he's searching for something. And then he smiles, beams at Hoseok, steps closer and in one heart-fluttering motion, wraps his arms around Hoseok’s shoulders. His palms rest flat over Hoseok’s back, and they feel so warm and lovely. It reminds Hoseok of how nice they felt roaming over his chest and his heart swells at the memory. He curls his own arms around Kihyun’s waist, pulls Kihyun closer and noses at his hair. The tiny bits peeking out from under his beanie. His hair is  as soft as it looks, and it smells like flowers and something more earthy. Like freshly watered soil. 

But Kihyun feels so much softer and he’s so warm. He’s pushing up on his toes, his head leaned against Hoseok’s shoulder, his mouth so, so close to Hoseok’s neck. Hoseok can feel Kihyun’s soft breaths against his skin, and it makes his fingertips tingle. He notices Kihyun smells of something else, too. It’s not just sugar or coffee anymore, it’s smoke and cigarettes.

“Kihyunnie,” he says quietly, feels Kihyun hum against him. He holds Kihyun a little tighter. “You smell like smoke. Do you--”

“I don’t smoke. It’s from yesterday,” Kihyun interjects, digging his head further into Hoseok’s shoulder. The fuzzy wool of his beanie and bits of his hair brush over the side of Hoseok’s jaw. It makes Hoseok shiver slightly, and Kihyun rubs a hand up and down his back in response. “Some of the guys I was with were smoking so there was lots of smoke everywhere. I hate that I still smell like it.”

He draws away a little. His arms unwind from around Hoseok’s shoulders and he grips onto Hoseok’s arms instead, and Hoseok immediately misses Kihyun’s warmth. He wants Kihyun pressed close to him again and he wants to pull him back into his arms. Chewing at his lip, Kihyun asks, “Does it bother you? I’m sorry, I--”

Hoseok shakes his head and tugs Kihyun closer, holds him tight and nuzzles against the top of his head. Kihyun melts against him, sinking further and further against Hoseok. He trails his hands around Hoseok’s chest so they rest over his back again, and he moves them up to hold onto his shoulders. He smiles into the fuzzy material of Hoseok’s sweater. It’s thick and soft and it feels like he’s hugging a fluffy bunny. 

“I’m not passing up the opportunity to hug you just because you smell like smoke. It’s not even that bad, I can hardly tell. You smell more like you than you do of smoke,” Hoseok says, pressing his cheek against Kihyun’s head and squeezing his middle gently. Against him, Kihyun laughs a little. Hoseok feels the sweet rumble of it against his chest and it makes him smile. He wishes he could crush Kihyun into his bones, keep him there forever. 

“God,” he breathes. “You're so soft and tiny. You fit so well in my arms. I'm trying so hard not to squeeze you right now.”

Kihyun laughs again and lightly smacks Hoseok’s shoulder. “Shut up, I’m not tiny,” he says from where his face is pressed into Hoseok’s shoulder. “You’re just unnecessarily large. Of course, I would look tiny in front of you.” 

Hoseok grins, all teeth and gums. He softly squeezes Kihyun’s waist again and lets out a breath. “You’re so cute. I don’t want to leave you.”

Kihyun trails a hand up Hoseok’s nape and loosely tangles his fingers in Hoseok’s hair, chuckling when Hoseok gasps quietly in response. He cards his fingers through Hoseok’s soft, dark tresses. He tugs at them gently and Hoseok sighs. “Then don’t leave me,” Kihyun says, simply. “It isn’t fair, you’ve only been here for three seconds. And you spent the first two recovering from having walked into the door. You can’t leave.”  

Hoseok draws away slightly, just enough so he can look at Kihyun. He presses his lips into a thin line and exhales slowly, staring deep into Kihyun’s eyes. He doesn’t say anything, but Kihyun can tell what the look means, and he huffs out a breath, purses his lips into a pout. Hoseok presses his lips together a little tighter, tries not to grin and lean closer to peck Kihyun’s mouth. 

“Fine, go,” Kihyun snips. He presses his palms against Hoseok’s chest and pushes gently. Hoseok laughs, his smile sloppily contained on his face and Kihyun pushes a little harder, tries to squirm out of Hoseok’s arms. 

He keeps moving around, trying to twist away, his eyes narrowed and eyebrows furrowed. And Hoseok just watches, smiling fondly as Kihyun tries to pry his arms off and push him away. He feels his insides fluttering every time Kihyun twists his fingers into his sweater, or every time Kihyun whines when Hoseok just won’t budge. It’s so endearing, and Hoseok wishes he could hold Kihyun’s face in his palms and kiss all over his tiny face. Feel him scrunch up his nose in response and squeeze his eyes shut. See colour rise up to the swells of his cheeks and the kiss them again. 

But Hoseok just bites his lip, and starts walking. Kihyun stops squirming and just grips onto Hoseok’s biceps, his eyes a little wide. He just relents and lets Hoseok back him up against the counter, lets Hoseok press him against it and now they’re so much closer than before. And Hoseok is smiling at him with the softest, sweetest look in his eyes. Kihyun feels his breath being stolen away. 

“I’ll come to see you again,” he says quietly. “I promise.”

Kihyun only nods and rolls his lips over each other. He notices Hoseok’s eyes trailing lower and lower, down to his cheek. And Hoseok stares for a while before breaking out into a big, fond grin. There’s a small smudge of sugar near Kihyun’s nose, so light that Hoseok didn’t even see it before. 

“What?” Kihyun asks. He feels his heart hammering against his ribs as Hoseok brings a hand up and cups the side of his face. His palm feels so soft and warm over his cheek, and Kihyun leans into it a little. 

“Why is it that you always have something on your face?” Hoseok chirps fondly. He swipes his thumb over Kihyun’s cheek, wipes the sugar away, and presses the pad of his thumb into his mouth. It tastes sweeter than sugar normally does. Hoseok thinks it’s because he’d dusted it off of Kihyun.

He watches as Kihyun’s cheeks flush a light pink, his eyes blown wide. Kihyun huffs out a breath and leans his head against Hoseok’s shoulder again, digs his face into it. He can feel his face getting warmer, more pink. “God, Hoseok. You’re so dumb.”

.

hoseok

kihyunnie :(

kihyun

hoseokkie

aw noo don't :( please

hoseok

i'm sorry i can't help it nxksjzkskw

kihyun

what's wrong sweetie?

hoseok

god

don't

don't do that………

kihyun

don't do what ??? i’m confused what did i do :o

hoseok

………..

you called me sweetie

kihyun

yes

yes i did

is that not okay ????

i’m sorry …… would u prefer .. idk

sugar? bunny? b a b y ? :D

hoseok

gOD STOP AFKSJXND

don't tease me like that

kihyun

okay i’m sorry ahahah i’ll stop

but tell me tho… why the :(

hoseok

i might be missing you slightly

i wish i’d stayed longer :(((((((((

i wish i’d talked to you sooner, gotten your number earlier

i was just

a little scared iguess

kihyun

i know baby

it's okay

i might be missing you too slightly

hoseok

aGAIN WITh the b a b y /////////

kihyun

fuck sorry

can't help it

it just kind of ….. comes out i guess

i say it to everyone almost, some type of dad/mom syndrome idk

hoseok

oh

everyone huh

kihyun

…..

did i mess up again

hoseok

maybe a little

kihyun

goddamn it

hoseok

but i'll let it pass since you're so cute

kihyun

u charmer

gosh

hoseok

have i swept you off your feet

kihyun

baby

it wouldn't be the first time

hoseok

kjndkdjeksj shutttt ohmygod

i can't even do this properly over text what am i

kihyun

do what?

hoseok

the flirting thing

i thought it might be easier like this, when you're not constantly attacking me with your dumb perfect smile and your dumb perfect face and your dumb perfect self wksjzkskwkw

kihyun

i mean….

you're not bad

i guess it's just not you

being all flirty and smooth, i mean

hoseok

hEY

i can be smooth excuse me

kihyun

hoseok, sweetheart

you ran into a door when i smiled at you

does that sound very smooth to you

hoseok

okay tECHNICALLY

i haven't been able to show my true form yet

you didn't give me a chance

kihyun

okay big boy <:

u show me what you got under that big fluffy soft exterior

hoseok

do u mean my sweaters

because i'll have you know

kihyun

hoseok i literally meant you

you're the big fluffy soft exterior

hoseok

excuse me i am buff as heck

have you seen my arms

my tHighs

kihyun

not with those thick ass sweaters u wear all the time

besides it doesn't matter

you're so squishy baby

i could spend all day just squishing you and playing with your cheeks

oH GOD your cheeks

hoseok

my cheeks? <:

kihyun

oh shut up i mean ur face

but damn i could spend hours playing with your other cheeks too

that's one fine ass u got there i’d tap it twice

i’d tap it all day actually

hoseok

i am currently smushing my face into my pillow, trying not to scream

hyungwon will destroy me if i wake him up

kihyun

it's like not even 10

why is he asleep

hoseok

he said he's making up for all the sleep he lost that one time he had a class in the morning

kihyun

…………….

that was two weeks ago

and it wasn't even in the morning, it was at noon gosh

hoseok

yup

don't even ask oh god

he actually slept through two entire days once

and he woke up and didn't even realise

i hADNT SEEN HIM FOR TWO WHOLE DAYS I THOUGHT HE DIED

i called everyone i was terrified

and i walk into his room and he's just lying there, aSLEEP the whole time

kihyun

i’m laughing so hard oh my god

hoseok

that just makes me wanna be with you even more :(

i love your laugh

you do that little eye squint thing

and you have dimples !!!!!!!!!!

everytime you laugh i just want to kiss them

kihyun

i’m not stopping you

i like kisses

especially from cute boys

hoseok

gasp!!!!!!!!!!!

i shall give you so many kisses then !!!!!!!

iwill give you all the kisses

kihyun

all the kisses?

hoseok

as in

i shall kiss you everywhere, in every possible way !!!!!!!

cheek kisses, nose kisses, chin kisses, forehead kisses, jaw kisses, neck kisses and ofc normal kisses

kihyun

how can you say all this to me and

expect me to stay alive

god hoseok

hoseok

you have to stay alive kihyunnie !!!!!

the kisses are awaiting

how will i kiss u if you're not alive :(

kihyun

404error

kihyun not found

hoseok

stop that anksjskwjwk

are you at home?

kihyun

i am yes

what did you think i was s t i l l at the café?

i have a life outside of it yknow

hoseok

i do !!! i know snksjwkw

i was just asking in case you were like cleaning up

don't want to bother you

kihyun

you’re never a bother to me hoseok

hoseok

incoherent screeching !!!!!!!

i’m sitting here, alone, on my bed and pouting

kihyun

why are you pouting? ;;;;;;

hoseok

i've said it 29393028 times but

i miss youjndkcnkssjncks

plus you looked so cute today please !!! makes me miss u evEn more

with your big, flannel hoodie sksbzksnw and your glasses

i didn't know you'd look so cute with your hair curled

kihyun

you're too much oh my gosh

thank you <3

here's a lil sth for u then (since you're so sweet and minhyuk’s kinda mean)

hoseok

gASP !!!!!!!!!!!

KIHYUNNNLSNAKKALNXKSKXKSOWJEB

OH MY GOD

YOU’RE SO CUTE

GOD

CAN I LIKE

HUG YOU

FOREVER MAYBE ????????????

kihyun

you're really too much please snkjwkwwi

one fine day, you'll make me melt

i'll melt into a big puddle of goo

hoseok

is that bcs you're made of sugar

bcs baby you're so sweet

kihyun

……………

hoseok

that was so bad wasn't it

kihyun

kind of

but i can't stop laughing

you're adorable

hoseok

gosh

when was this tho

the pictures, i mean

kihyun

when minhyuk got there, a little after you left

or actually, a little before you ran into the door and then left me

hoseok

stoppppppppp

we don't speak of it ever

kihyun

you were so dazed please

the first thing you said to me was “kihyunnie you're so pretty"

how hard did you hit your head

hoseok

i mean it's true

you are so pretty

damn i’m so much smoother when i’m dazed

maybe i should run into doors more often

kihyun

oh baby no please don't run into any more doors

hoseok

if i promise not to will you send me another one <:

kihyun

another what

hoseok

another picture !!!!! \(-o-)/

kihyun

okay i do have another

this time i actually knew minhyuk was taking pictures of me….

so i just

hoseok

kIHYUNNIE

AAAAAAAAAAKNKCKSDNKKSJSKL
YOU’RE SMILING

MY HEART

I’M SCREAMING

kihyun

you will be the death of me lee hoseok

hoseok

you’ll be the death of me first ;AAAAAAAA;

gosh nkdjcjddk

ur cute lil baby feet

n ur precious lil smile !!!!

look at that smile !!!!

and your hair !!! u look like a tiny sheep ohmygodjdhdsj

kihyun

hoooseoookkkkkkkkkk

stop ohmygod

hoseok

are you whining omg

arE YOU BLUSHING

kihyun

i am not !!!

i don’t blush excuji me

hoseok

oh baby u blush sO much

i’ve seen it

i dusted that lil bit of sugar off your cheek that one time and you just

///////////

kihyun

i did not u little liar

but like …… YOU LICKED IT OFF YOUR THUMB AFTERWARDS

hoseok

you did !!!!!

and stop okay i thought it'd be cute

and it w a s so cute pls i wanted to tackle you right there

kihyun

…….

why am i being bullied yOU BLUSH TOO

yOU BLUSH SO MUCH

hoseok

i’m very sensitive okay !!

kihyun

sensitive? are you now? owo

hoseok

what does that mean

what’s that face kihyunnie

kihyun

hm nothing <:

nevermind

hoseok

i’m a little scared

you’re like a sneaky lil snake u know

dangerous

kihyun

aw come on have a little faith in me

i’ve been nothing but sweet to you since the day you walked in with changkyun

hoseok

that just makes you more dangerous

you’re too sweet

it’s not good for my heart

kihyun

sorry skncksjxkcn

i can’t help it

hoseok?

hoseok

yes?

kihyun

i want to see you too

pouts

will u send me a pic

hoseok

akdnxkejzksjsj

okay yes, and yes i can

it's kind of dark in here but

kihyun

hOSEOK

AAAAAAAA

god you're so

hoseok

dskzjzjsjs so what

kihyun

you know exactly what

fuck

you're like so adorable, so sO cute i just want to squish and hug and kiss all over your face

aND YOUR EARS

oH BABY YOUR EARS !!!! can i bite them

but at the same time

you're so hot

fuckkkkkksjsjshzjjss

hoseok

kihyunnnnnnnn

you think i’m cute? and hot? at the same time

do you just …… randomly ask ppl if u can bite them bcs oh boy is this what a stroke feels like

also please my ears skznwjssj they make me feel like some type of rabbit hybrid

kihyun

hoseok i’ve been flirting with you since day one

i’ve told you you're cute and hot multiple times but i'll say it again

Y ES youre cute and you're so fucking hot like wreck me daddy

hoseok

oh my god

did you just

kihyun

no i didn't i didn't say anything

i meant wreck me dandy

hoseok

that

that doesn't make any sense

kihyun

yes it does let's move on

and for the record

i love your ears

you came in one day wearing a beanie and !!!! your ears looked so cute just kind of sticking out like that

i wanted to touch them …. they were kinda pink from the cold

hoseok

kihyun ajdnsjsjsks they're like so big tho wym they're cute

kihyun

tHEYRE CUTE !!!!!!!!

don't be mean to my babies

i love them they make u look like a baby bunny

hoseok

a bUNNY

kihyun please you might kill me

kihyun

<<<<<<:

hoseok

will i see you tomorrow

i’m finally done sIGH eunkwang can go choke on a cactus

kihyun

did u just say …. choke on a cactus … i

wow ure such a baby

but yes u big dummy ofc you'll see me

i’m ending this if you don't

hoseok

oFC I’M GOING TO after all this hard work and practically living at the café

kihyun

you were there ALL the time

it would be such a waste if you don't come this o n e time

hoseok

you're so evil wow thanks so much

and i was only there all the time bcs well

you were there …..

i wanted to see you

so i kept coming back

kihyun

i know

i’m glad you came every day

i’m glad changkyun brought you along in the first place

god its so sad when you're not there

hoseok

really?

you liked seeing me that much?

kihyun

no baby

i still like seeing you that much

hoseok

jesus

fuck hyungwon

i'll just scream

kihyun

omg shhhhh noo

let the poor boy sleep

hoseok

you'd choose him over me?

rEally?

after all this, everything we've been through

kihyun

are you the one sleeping his misery and woe away

hoseok

no…..

but i can't sleep anyway

he snores like a pig i can hear him till here and i’m in the next room !!!!!

kihyun

snorts

let him live he’s asleep and happy

hoseok

well i’m not :(

kihyun

aw babbyyy

i’ll cheer you up tomorrow

with lots of hugs

aND EAR KISSES AAAAAAAA !!!!!

so many kisses

hoseok

eAr kiSseS

kihyunnnnniiiiieeeeee cheer me up now :(

with lots of hugs

and kisses

kihyun

i wish i could, really i do

i’m sorry

i don’t know um

hug a pillow?

hoseok

………

kihyun

you’re already hugging a pillow aren’t you?

hoseok

yes

yes i am

iM LONELY OKAY

kihyun

you’re so cute please

i really hate to say this

especially now but  

hoseok

you’re leaving me aren’t you

kihyun

i’m sorry hoseokkie

min needs my help with some essay of his

he won’t stop yelling at me from the kitchen

more like hollering …. god is it some ungodly hollering

the neighbors might tell the super to knock our door down and strangle him to death just to shut him up

and he keeps pounding on my door every two seconds

i'm ignoring him and refusing to answer him so he thinks i’m …..

….whacking it in here

hoseok

oHMYGOD AHAHAHAH

god please go it’s okay omg

kihyun

wait!

i almost forgot um

tomorrow, would you want to stay back with me? just for a little while

after the café closes ofc so it'll just be us

it'll be nice i promise!

hoseok

……..

is this a date?

kihyun

i mean it won't be for long, i have to get up really early tomorrow

but yes, yes it is kind of

if you want it to be

do you want it to be?

hoseok

yes

oh god yes please

kihyun i might cry

kihyun

oh my god nooo don't cry

i’m not there to wipe your tears and cradle your face to my chest

be happy please

hoseok

i am

i'm so happy

kihyun

i’m happy too

i'll see you tomorrow okay?

goodnight hoseok <3

hoseok

goodnight kihyunnie <33333

sleep well

. 

THURSDAY

It’s particularly cold out today. There’s a storm brewing, smothering the town with flurries and light snow. Kihyun has brought a jacket with him to work, and hung it up in the back room. He’s wearing a scarf, too. It’s a periwinkle blue, a splash of colour against the white sweatshirt he’s wearing. He’s glad the cafe is cozy and warm, almost toasty, and it reminds him of Hoseok hugging him. 

Hoseok stops by sometime in the late afternoon, a few hours before the sun starts dipping below the horizon. And he looks frazzled, a little out of breath, and flushed a soft pink from the cold when he stands in front of Kihyun. There’s snow in his hair again, and he’s wearing glasses today. Delicate, wire frames that make his eyes look a little sharper. 

“Hoseok,” Kihyun says quietly, a little surprised. He reaches out to dust the snow out of Hoseok’s hair with careful flicks of his fingers. Next to him, he can feel Minhyuk and Jooheon grinning at him and whispering to each other. But Hoseok’s in front of him, big and beautiful and smelling like snow and cocoa. And he’s all Kihyun can think about. “Hi.” 

Despite himself, Hoseok smiles at Kihyun, still huffing softly. “Hey, Kihyunnie.” 

The nickname makes Kihyun melt a little. He brings his other hand up and cups Hoseok’s face in his palms. Hoseok is wearing one of his big, fuzzy sweaters, but under his touch, Hoseok’s skin is so, so cold. Kihyun feels himself shiver a little. 

“God, Hoseok. You’re freezing,” he breathes, and presses his palms down a little over Hoseok’s cheeks to warm them up. He drops his hands down to Hoseok’s shoulders, presses them against the cold, bare skin of Hoseok’s neck and Hoseok hums contently in response. Kihyun peels his hands away, tugs at Hoseok’s sweater sleeves and holds Hoseok’s big hands within his own. “Do you want me to get you something? Are you staying or?”

Hoseok shakes his head, his eyes closed and he just relishes in the sweet, lovely feeling of Kihyun’s soft, baby hands warming him up. Just a touch from Kihyun makes Hoseok feel so much warmer, and he loves it. Humming again when Kihyun presses at his hands and rubs his thumb over his fingers, Hoseok says, “I’m sorry, no. I have to go, I have class in, like, fifteen minutes. But could I get a--”

“Hot chocolate?” Kihyun cuts in, smiling knowingly at Hoseok when he opens his eyes.

“Yeah.”

Kihyun smiles a little bigger and squeezes Hoseok’s hands within his own before letting go. “I’ll be right back,” he says and walks away. He returns a minute or two later, a big cup in hand and an even bigger smile on his face. Hoseok takes it from him with a soft thank you, and steps back. Kihyun quickly grabs onto Hoseok’s other hand. It’s much warmer now and Kihyun’s hand easily slips into Hoseok’s, like it’s meant to be there.

“I’ll still see you tonight, won’t I?” He asks, a hopeful glimmer in his eyes. It makes Hoseok’s heart leap.

“Yes, I’ll come back to you as soon as I’m done,” Hoseok promises. He smiles once more and presses down softly on Kihyun’s fingers with his longer ones, and walks back out the door and into the cold. 

Kihyun watches him go. He picks at the tassels of his scarf when he sees Hoseok drawing his shoulders in together. Hoseok’s breath is a puff of white smoke when he exhales, and just looking at him through the window makes Kihyun quiver. He thinks of how cold Hoseok’s skin had felt under his fingers and palms, and his heart feels tight and small at the thought. And it’s enough to have Kihyun running out after him, The cold hits him hard when he steps out, and he sucks in a breath, curls his arms around himself and rushes after Hoseok.

“Hoseok, wait!” He calls, almost barrels into the older. But Hoseok is quick to turn around and catch Kihyun in his arms. He looks a little nonplussed, but he still holds Kihyun delicately in his arms, like he’s something sweet and precious and lovely. And it makes Kihyun’s heart flutter. 

Kihyun brings him hands up and swiftly unwinds his scarf. It’s wooly and soft and so warm, and he tugs it off, wraps it snugly around Hoseok’s neck. It looks adorable on him, Kihyun decides. He likes knowing Hoseok is wearing something of his. It’s a sweet, comforting feeling. Chewing at his lip, Kihyun tugs the scarf up higher around Hoseok’s neck, makes sure he’s snug and warm in it. 

Hoseok only watches Kihyun with quiet eyes, his heart soaring as Kihyun tweaks and tugs at the scarf. He feels his knees shake every time Kihyun’s fingertips brush lightly against the skin of his neck. And Kihyun grins at him knowingly whenever Hoseok gasps quietly. Once Kihyun is done, his hands easily come to rest over Hoseok’s chest. One hand of his lays over the soft beating of Hoseok’s heart, and Hoseok hopes Kihyun can’t feel how fast it’s beating. 

“Kihyun, what--”

“Shh.” Kihyun moves a hand up, presses his fingertips to Hoseok’s mouth. And Hoseok can feel colour rising to his cheeks, making his skin glow an even brighter pink than before. Kihyun draws his hand away and smiles so sweetly it makes Hoseok’s heart shake. 

“This should keep you warm,” he says softly. And Hoseok can only huff out a breath, because Kihyun is standing so close to him. The toes of their boots touching, hands on each other and mouths just inches away. Kihyun looks even more beautiful from this close, because Hoseok can see every detail of his face. The spray of light freckles over his cheeks, the soft rosy glow of his skin, his dark, melted eyes and the sharp cut of his pink, bow lips.

And Hoseok can’t stop staring at him, at his mouth . It’s soft and slightly open around his soft breaths, and they’re so close, Hoseok can feel them over his own lips. He wants to lean in and kiss Kihyun, softly peck his lips once at first and then a little more. He wants to press his palms flat against the small of Kihyun’s back and pull him even closer.

Kissing in the cold, with grey clouds sprinkling snow over them. Feeling warmth surge through his body when their lips meet. That’s what Hoseok imagines kissing Kihyun would be like. And he wants nothing more. Not when Kihyun is looking up at him with pretty, sparkling eyes and a dust of colour over his cheeks. 

Hoseok glances down at Kihyun’s mouth again and licks his lips. Kihyun moves his hands up to Hoseok’s shoulders and rubs up and down his arms, and Hoseok looks back up at him, straight into his eyes. For a moment, they just look at each other, lost in their own little world. It’s over just as soon as it started, and Kihyun lets go of Hoseok and twists out of his arms. Hoseok feels colder without Kihyun so close.

Kihyun wraps his arms around himself and gives Hoseok a small smile. “Don’t catch a cold,” he says and walks away, back inside where it’s warmer and there’s no Hoseok.

.

kihyun

are you still on campus? :(

it’s so late

hoseok

i’m so sorry uhg

i really am

i just got done, i had to stay back after class

ure crushing on a slacker, i’ve got four essays overdue now

just a scandal and two f grades away from becoming a delinquent

kihyun

a bad boy huh?

that’s kinda hot… i like bad boys < :

and you’re hot… so…

hoseok

god kihyun

you can’t just say stuff like this out of nowhere

especially on text !!!! and especially when i want to see you so bad

kihyun

i want to see you too

hurry? i miss your dumb face

hoseok

gee thanks

i go from hot faced to dumb faced in like a heartbeat

bullets have left guns slower

i’m sad now

kihyun

baby noooooooooo

don’t be sad i’m sorry

i want to kiss that pout away asdfkkfj god save me

you're really so hot fuck

hoseok

you’re doing it again!!!!!!

no talking about kissing or how hot you find me please

not unless i’m with you

i might die

kihyun

fuck sorry

but kissing reminds me…..

hoseok

yes?

kihyun

earlier, when i came out to give you my scarf

you looked like you wanted to kiss me

hoseok

i did. god i wanted to

so bad.

i was going to kiss you

kihyun

why didn’t you

hoseok

i don’t know i’m sorry

i kind of panicked. we were outside where you work, your friends were there, i didn’t know if you’d want me to

so i didn’t and i honestly hate myself for it

bcs now i can’t stop thinking about how kissing you would be like

kihyun

godddddddd

don’t say that, don’t say it like that

makes me feel weird

hoseok

oh

i’m sorry i didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable

kihyun

no! in a good way

like it makes me feel all tingly and

makes me want things

hoseok

what...

what do you want

kihyun

i want to kiss you

hoseok

god kihyun

you’re still at work right

kihyun

i’m still here

minhyuk’s with me, we still have to close up

should i wait for you

hoseok

yes please

i need to see you

i’m leaving now

i’ll take ten to fifteen minutes max

wait for me?

kihyun

i’ll wait ♡

see you soon.

hoseok

♡

.

It’s dark and inky outside when Hoseok returns. The street outside is dimly lit by street lamps. They cast a soft orange glow over the thin covering of snow on the concrete. Kihyun is sitting on the countertop. He looks so small and tiny, folded over on the marble. He’s picking the the hem of his jeans, and he’s barefooted again, his feet only clad in socks. His sweatshirt is soft and pooled up around his hands and shoulders. Hoseok feels his heart stutter. He wants to lift Kihyun into his arms, settle down into one of the armchairs and cuddle up with him.

Hoseok lets the door fall shut behind him and he walks right over to Kihyun. When Kihyun notices him, he looks up and beams so big and bright, his smile seems to light up the street outside. He turns a little where he’s sitting and reaches out for Hoseok. And Hoseok easily brings his hands to rest over Kihyun’s hips, and lets Kihyun hold onto his biceps.

“I'm not too late, am I?” Hoseok asks, squeezing at Kihyun's hips gently. Even through the soft, thick folds of his sweatshirt, Hoseok can feel the sharp crests of Kihyun's hipbones.

Kihyun shakes his head a little. Some of his hair falls into his eyes and Hoseok is quick to brush it away. He carefully tucks it behind Kihyun's ears and Kihyun smiles up at him. He says, “No, you're not. I mean, I can't stay for very long anyway. I need to be up really, really early tomorrow, and I know I'll never wake up if I stay.”

“What do you have to be up so early for?” Hoseok presses. He traces the shell of Kihyun's ear with his fingertips, all the way down to the lobe, smiling when Kihyun shivers at the touch.

“I've got an early class. It's a vocal lesson, not a regular class,” Kihyun answers, running his hands up and down Hoseok's arms. Under his sweater, they are big, hard and muscly. Kihyun squeezes at them softly, bites his lip when Hoseok's muscles pull taut under his hands. He moves his hands up slowly, and lets them slip behind Hoseok's shoulders.

Hoseok relishes in the gentle touches. He loves how Kihyun roams his hands all over him, like he's mapping Hoseok out, line by line, ridge by ridge, curve by curve. “Would it be okay if I picked you up? I can take you out to breakfast or brunch later? Wherever you'd like, your pick.”

Kihyun stills his hands where they're moving around over Hoseok's shoulder blades. He gazes up at Hoseok, his eyes glittering, his lips curling into a pretty smile. Playfully, he asks, “Is that a date?”

Hoseok grins, flashes Kihyun a glimpse of perfect teeth. He drums his fingers over Kihyun's hip, then hooks his forefingers in the beltloops of Kihyun's jeans. He gives them a light tug, and Kihyun slides forward a little, gasping softly. Hoseok only grins a little wider, his smile coming out in full colour now.

“It's a date,” he affirms, uncurls a finger from Kihyun's jeans and bops his nose. Kihyun scrunches it up in response and Hoseok laughs, leans down to press a light kiss to the tip of his nose. “A proper date, now that I finally have the time to take you out.”

“It sounds perfect. I’ll text you the time,” Kihyun pipes happily. He brings his hands down to Hoseok's chest and rests them there, over the hard lines of his pecs. Hoseok is still wearing his scarf. It's wound a little loosely around his neck now and Kihyun twists his fingers into the soft wool, playing with the tassels and tugging at them lightly.

“I was wondering whether you'd ask me out or not. Like officially,” he adds. He glances up at Hoseok, peers deep into his eyes. He brings his hands up and pries Hoseok's glasses off his face, folds them careful and sets them on the counter next to him. “I was also wondering how long you'd take to kiss me. Do I need to use a pickup line for that, too?”

Hoseok laughs, the sound rumbling in his chest, and it makes Kihyun smile. They look at each other knowingly for a moment, just sinking into one another. Then Kihyun cups Hoseok's cheeks in his hands, cradles his face gently between his palms and tugs him down slowly. His heart is pounding loudly in his chest, his blood singing in his veins as they get closer. Their noses brush slightly, and Kihyun bites his lip. He ducks his eyes shyly and rests his forehead against Hoseok's. Two spots of colour rest high over his cheeks, and Hoseok wants to kiss them.

Kihyun blinks once, twice. His lashes flutter over his cheeks, and Hoseok is looking right at him. They're so close, their breaths mingling, Hoseok can see tiny flecks of rust and gold in Kihyun's eyes. Behind his eyelids and long eyelashes. They stay like that for a while. Foreheads pressed together, Kihyun cradling Hoseok's face, and Hoseok winds his arms around Kihyun's middle. Presses his palms flat over his back and pulls him closer.

Hoseok moves first, tilts his head slightly and presses his lips to Kihyun's. It's a shy, soft touch at first. Just a peck. He feels his fingertips and toes tingle at the light brush of mouths. He draws away then, and knocks their foreheads together again. Kihyun strokes the soft skin of Hoseok's cheeks with his thumbs, his touch tender and encouraging.

“You tell me how badly you want to kiss me, but when you get to do it, that's how you kiss me?” Kihyun teases. He speaks quietly, whispers it over Hoseok's lips. Their eyes are closed, but Hoseok knows Kihyun is smiling.

Hoseok bites his lip, tries not to laugh into Kihyun's mouth. He dips his head down and kisses Kihyun again. Properly, this time. It's slow and deep and passionate. And his heart bursts when Kihyun kisses back with an inhale. Kihyun's hands crawl up into Hoseok's hair, and he pulls him in closer, deepens the kiss by tilting his head some more.

And it's perfect. It's sweet and tender and Kihyun finds himself melting against Hoseok. And he never wants to stop. He wants to keep kissing hoseok, forever maybe. He feels like he's floating, being carried up into the skies by a million balloons. Kihyun untangles his fingers from Hoseok's hair, grips onto his shoulders to keep himself grounded.

Hoseok draws away first, with a soft, wet noise. He watches fondly as Kihyun's eyes flutter open, and his heart swells at the sight. Kihyun's cheeks are rosy, his eyes a little hazy and his lips look so pretty. All shiny and red from being kissed. Hoseok brings his hands up and holds Kihyun's tiny, sweet face in palms. He presses another kiss to Kihyun's mouth. It's quick and tender, but it still makes Kihyun's core tremble.

“You're so pretty, you know that?” Hoseok says, speaks over Kihyun's mouth. His breath is warm and minty and close over Kihyun's lips, and Kihyun decides he likes how it feels.

Kihyun smiles against Hoseok's mouth, hums softly. Hoseok feels it against his lips. “Thank you,” he whispers back, tips his head up to peck Hoseok's mouth again.

Hoseok sighs. He feels light and happy. He's almost buzzing with mirth. Kihyun is perfect, in every sense of the word. He's sweet and lovely in every possible way, and Hoseok's entire being adores him so much. He wants to keep Kihyun, fold him up in the dark of his palms and keep him safe and warm and protected.

“It's getting late,” Kihyun says, breaks the sweet, comfortable silence. Hoseok's lips pull into a frown at the words. “We should go.”

Hoseok whines softly, nuzzles against the side of Kihyun's face. He noses at Kihyun's cheek, like a needy kitten, and Kihyun smiles tightly at the gesture. “Just a little longer, please,” Hoseok pleads. He presses a kiss to Kihyun's cheek and burrows closer. “I really don't want you to leave yet.”

“Hoseok ,” Kihyun laughs out. He gently pushes at Hoseok's chest and hooks two fingers under his chin. Hoseok is pouting, his lips pursed and eyebrows knit close together. “I’ll see you tomorrow, won’t I?”

Hoseok heaves a breath. “Yes.”

“Great.” Kihyun grins and leans up to kiss Hoseok's big, pouty lips. He nudges Hoseok back a little more and hops down. Hoseok watches with quiet eyes as Kihyun holds onto his hands and tugs him over to the door, only whimpering softly.

“Now go,” Kihyun says. He fixes Hoseok's scarf, winds it around his neck properly and then cups his face. Hoseok is only pouting now, his frown gone. Kihyun presses up on his toes and kisses him once again, an I'm sorry and a goodnight all in one. “Stay warm, okay? And text me when you get home.”

Hoseok nods and leans in to kiss Kihyun's cheek. It's so boyish and cute, Kihyun finds himself smiling again.

“Goodnight, Kihyunnie,” he chirps. And when Kihyun watches Hoseok leave this time, his lips still feel fluttery from their kiss and his heart feels full and happy.