Chapter Text
It was nothing really new for anyone that Wooyoung was a very loud and clingy person, and while San or Seonghwa where always on the other end of this received love, was there only one person where his affection meant something deeper. Something else. A person who wasn’t aware of this fact entirely. Even though a small hope inside of him believed that he might know.
Because San, Seonghwa and the rest of their little friend group where almost like brothers to him, while San was definitely his best friend and platonic soulmate, was Seonghwa like his own older brother and fun to tease. Yunho and Mingi is gaming buddies, Jongho his food buddy and Hongjoong was his fashion buddy, even when their styles where entirely different. However, within the seven other people beside himself was the person who send his heart into an overdrive whenever they were together. Love did that to some people, and Wooyoung had been struck by armour more than once, he couldn’t explain his intense feelings for his childhood friend in any other way than by cupid’s bow aimed at him. And Yeosang was absolutely oblivious to it.
That he had stumbled upon his not so secret crush only after San had asked him about it was beyond him and Wooyoung had never blushed harder in his life. The revelation had hit him strongly and without mercy. He had fallen in love with his childhood friend without noticing it- Wooyoung felt utterly stupid but at the same time incredible free. Because now, after he had a very long talk with San, he had understood and accepted his feelings, seeing where might have been the problem which had caused him to misinterpret his feelings. Wooyoung had, for the longest time, struggled with pinpointing how exactly he felt about Yeosang, especially when they were alone and all of the elder’s attention had been only for him. More than once he had found himself yearning for more when he hadn’t even known what he was demanding, from what he wanted more of in the end. All he had known was that having Yeosang close made him calm but also giddy at the same time, his heart bursting whenever he heard the blonde laugh and melt whenever he did something cute.
For the longest time Wooyoung thought that those feelings were normal, friendship like feelings he had and nothing more. Apparently not so much. Because now, whenever he saw the other man, felt Wooyoung the excitement inside of him only the one you love could make you feel. It wasn’t unpleasant or a hindrance, he rather enjoyed those new found feelings than resent them. Yeosang did this to him.
That the little devil Jongho had told him behind closed doors that Yeosang wasn’t exactly opposed to the idea of dating Wooyoung had been enough to give him a confidence boost to actually ask him out. To plan one of those romantic dates he saw couples have in movies and people talked about nonstop because Yeosang deserved that much.
Just that he hadn’t done it yet. Wooyoung had chickened out of it more than once.
No matter who tried to coax him into doing it, the fear of breaking their precious friendship was high, that it would cost such a huge price that Wooyoung would hate himself for the rest of his life.
Which didn’t mean that he had to stop being all mushy and soft with Yeosang, even if the elder eyed him suspiciously from time to time. Couldn’t stop himself from linking his arms when they walked down the hallway to their next class or intertwine their hands when he was in a good spirit. For Wooyoung this kind of skinship was totally normal, it refilled his empty energy container and filled it up to the brim, just staying close to his crush did that.
If Yeosang shared his feelings or not where at this point unimportant for Wooyoung, as long as he wasn’t making the other uncomfortable with his closeness, he could live on like this. It where the little successes in life which mattered.
Only that he finds himself squished in the backseat of a truck later and would love to yell bloody murder at the little space he had for himself- which was non-existent. To his left sat a very happy Yunho who took photos of whatever they drove past while to his right had Yeosang fallen asleep, eyes closed and with steady slow breathing but still sitting up right. If it weren’t for those two very peaceful entities with him, Wooyoung would have demanded to sit in the front but the two had practically dragged him into the backseat and now he was stuck with them. Not that the people were the problem, it was the space. Wooyoung didn’t want to sit on Yunho’s lap while he also tried to not disturb Yeosang’s sleep. Especially Yeosang’s sleep.
All he could do was stare ahead and sometimes try to look out of the windows, but most of the time he listened to San talking about Byul while Mingi shared his newest song and Hongjoong gave insight to the production process. Wooyoung was sure he also heard Jongho’s vocals on the track and pointed it out, earning a little applause from the others. He rolled his eyes but listened to them nonetheless
Their little trip had been an overnight decision and in the morning Seonghwa had picked everyone up, ready to drive them to the little forest house they had rented for one night. It wasn’t far from the city, however, they had just survived the mid-year exams and where ready for a weekend of not thinking about university.
At some point appeared a weight on his shoulder and without looking he knew that Yeosang had fallen against him. Wooyoung tried to adjust the elder carefully, a sigh leaving his mouth when he had to ask Yunho to hold the elder up shortly. When he finally adjusted and felt Yeosang snuggle up against his shoulder even more, overcame him a feeling of adoration. The way Yeosang’s eyelids fluttered in his sleep, the squished cheek against his shoulder and his overall beauty while sleeping, made him warm and fuzzy. Wooyoung was glad that Yunho said nothing when he saw how Wooyoung held Yeosang’s hand in his and gentle caressed it with his thumb. Knew that Yunho was probably aware of Wooyoung’s feelings for Yeosang but only offered a soft smile without teasing him about it.
Wooyoung was torn. Was it good that he was paired with San in a room or bad, because he was missing out on sleeping in the same double bed with Yeosang? He wasn’t sure, though Wooyoung told himself it was for the better, that he couldn’t sleep with Yeosang in the same bed anyway due to his nervousness.
The evening went smoothly with the group exploring the forest around the house and finding all sorts of special places within there. They played a pretty cheap excuse of capture the flag with their hoodies and Seonghwa’s make-up as war paint. It was fun seeing how clumsy Hongjoong ran through the forest, how Mingi was too tall to not be noticed behind a rather slim tree and San’s surprised squeaks echoed through the forest often enough. It was all fun and games until a very sneaky Yeosang captured their flag while Wooyoung had fought against Jongho. That he had pouted at his childhood friend made the other only laugh more at his distress but gave him a little pat on the back as an apology. Okay, maybe he had noticed Yeosang obviously sneaking up behind him and yes, maybe he had lost on purpose but no one had to know that. It wasn’t important anyway. They played three more rounds afterwards and it ended in a tie anyway, so one lost game meant nothing.
Absolutely exhausted and drained from the day they came back to the forest house and everyone went their ways for some time, until Seonghwa asked them to come down for dinner. Reluctantly Wooyoung let himself be dragged downstairs and after a dinner where all of them told their oldest couple to stop with the pda - because Seonghwa was feeding Hongjoong as if they were alone - they collectively collapsed in the living room. And while there honestly was enough room for him to sit anywhere, he chooses to stand behind the couch and let his arms rest on Yeosang’s shoulders just because he could do that.
Yeosang lifted his head shortly to watch him but Wooyoung only smiled at him before looking back to the TV-screen where Yunho was beating Mingi in an intense Super Smash Bros. Ultimate battle. And for a while he stayed in this position which wasn’t exactly comfortable but feeling Yeosang’s heartbeat under his fingertips made him stay where he was, savouring the moment. Loving the way Yeosang’s body shook whenever he laughed. Wooyoung wanted to treasure those experiences. Until Yeosang apparently had enough of him standing behind him. The older leaned forward enough for Wooyoung to retreat his hands and let them stay on Yeosang’s shoulders, eyeing him in confusion. Yeosang looked up at him with his attentive eyes and Wooyoung felt his heart skip a beat- only one though. Really.
“Come sit with me?”
Wooyoung froze for a hot second before he nodded. What he didn’t expect was when he came around the couch that Yeosang had stood up and wanted him to sit in his previous spot. For a moment they stood next to each other, neither moving before Wooyoung gave in and sat down, noticing that Yeosang was looking around. It took him a couple of seconds before he understood- Yeosang wanted him to sit because he had stood so awkwardly for a long time. He felt himself smile at the subtle sign of caring but knew that Yeosang would most likely go away now, or sit on the ground, which Wooyoung didn’t want to happen, not after Yeosang had given up his own space. Without thinking twice about it did he outstretched his arm and pulled Yeosang down to sit with him. The elder stumbled in surprise, almost crushing Wooyoung but he only laughed when Yeosang sat between his legs with a horrified face. It almost looked like Yeosang was more sitting on his lap before he actually shuffled down from Wooyoung, holding himself up on Wooyoung’s knees.
“Woo?”
“This is more comfortable.”
“But-”
Wooyoung shook his head. Yeosang let out a deep sigh and surrendered to Wooyoung’s wish. He sneaked his arms around Yeosang’s chest, pulling him close while Yeosang let him do as he pleased, only letting a content sigh out when the elder snuggled up against Wooyoung’s chest. With a smile on his face did he hook up his shin over Yeosang’s shoulder and enjoyed how it felt to be so close to him. How wonderful Yeosang was fitting against his own frame, the way Yeosang put his own hands above Wooyoung’s which were linked over the elder’s stomach and felt so incredibly happy when he felt how Yeosang rubbed his head softly against his cheek.
Up until now he had never clearly had any desire to back hug Yeosang for any particular reason than being close but now, where he was hyper aware of his feelings for other, felt he how hard his heart was beating at their closeness. There was nothing sexual to his desire to keep Yeosang close, only the deep feeling of happiness and the intense feeling of being grounded when his mind started to float away.
Because Yeosang, his childhood friend and love interest, was comfortable enough with Wooyoung back hugging him and even went as far as snuggling up against him. That Yeosang trusted him enough for this physical closeness to happen.
And if he could interpret this as more or not was in the given moment nothing he wanted to think about, their perfectly fitting bodies where everything he wanted and needed in this moment. Not that Wooyoung could exactly think straight with his crush so close but he would always argue that he was still in control of his thoughts and wasn’t staring blankly ahead because he savoured the feeling so much.
It was domestic- it was perfect. And for the rest of the night until they all parted did he hold onto his crush, enjoying the back hug he had been allowed to do and burned down the feeling in his memory. Because back hugging was new for their little friendship in this kind of sense, even if Yeosang wasn’t aware of the change, seeing and feeling Yeosang allowing it made his heart swell with joy while those little butterflies in his stomach began a dance on their own.
Oh how deeply he had fallen.