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One fourteen hour flight and two car rides later, Soobin was standing right outside the entrance to Yeonjun’s frat house. He had travelled all the way to California to surprise his boyfriend. He had been planning to see him for a while, but both their schedules had never aligned just right. But now, Soobin was here. And Yeonjun didn’t even know. Soobin had been coordinating through Beomgyu, who was also in California with Yeonjun, and it was he who greeted him at the door.
“Soobin-hyung!” the boy whispered, smiling brightly and pulling Soobin into a hug. Soobin giggled, hugging his dongsaeng back. He had missed him a lot, and was excited to see him again too. It had been nearly seven months since the last time he was here, and he was nearly shaking with anticipation at finally seeing Yeonjun in person again.
They had been managing their long distance relationship rather well, in his opinion, with Facetime calls three times a week and nonstop texting in between. They sent each other care packages and even handwritten letters if they were feeling particularly sentimental. But of course nothing compared to being with the elder in person. To be able to hold him, kiss him, and just be with him.
Beomgyu grabbed Soobin’s wrist, pulling out his phone to see if his frat brothers were following the plan. Soobin had seen a Tik Tok video of a girl surprising her boyfriend by kissing him while he was blindfolded, and Soobin wanted to do something similar. However, Beomgyu being the menace he was, decided to turn the whole surprise into a prank as well.
“Alright, Yeonjun-hyung is blindfolded and thinks he’s gonna play that game where you have to feel something in a box and figure out what it is,” he explained, opening the door. Soobin swallowed a laugh and followed Beomgyu inside. He didn’t remember the layout of the frat house that well, so he just let Beomgyu pull him along until eventually they were in the large living room.
He waved silently to the frat boys who were gathered around, a lot of them waving back and hiding their laughs as best they could. Yeonjun was standing in the middle, indeed blindfolded, and his dark hair was pushed back with a hairband. He looked stunning, and Soobin felt his heart jump into his throat as a desperation to run to Yeonjun almost overcame him. But he remained still, and gave Beomgyu a thumbs up as he smiled so wide it hurt.
Beomgyu smirked, and then pulled out his phone to record the entire thing. “Okay, hyung, are you ready to guess?” he asked loudly and dramatically. Soobin couldn’t see, but he could tell that Yeonjun rolled his eyes behind the blindfold. “Hurry up, Beomgyu-ah, I don’t trust you,” he replied. His voice was clear and beautiful and Soobin was so gone for him it was embarrassing.
Beomgyu gave Soobin a nod, and then Soobin braced himself, a sudden onset of nerves momentarily paralysing him. But he pushed through it and walked right up to Yeonjun. He could smell the familiar mint and cream of his bodywash that he always used, and fuck he had missed him so much. His eyes dropped down to his lips, pink and pouty just as he remembered, and he quickly leaned down and pressed his own against them.
The kiss barely lasted a second before Yeonjun shrieked, pushing Soobin off of him and stumbling back several steps. Soobin covered his mouth as he chuckled, watching Yeonjun wipe his mouth haphazardly, making gagging sounds. “Yah! I fucking hate every single one of you!” he cried, ripping the blindfold off. “I have a boyfriend you creeps!” Soobin did his best not to coo at his lover’s loyalty.
Yeonjun pushed his hair out of his eyes and as soon as he lifted his head he saw Soobin, and his jaw dropped. Soobin burst into laughter, covering his mouth with both hands and the entire frat house started laughing and clapping too. Yeonjun, shell-shocked, just kept staring at Soobin with his jaw hanging open, his hand over his heart.
Beomgyu bounded up, grabbing Yeonjun by the shoulders and giving them a violent shake. “Surprise, hyung! You just shoved your boyfriend! Trouble in paradise, hmm?” he teased. Yeonjun finally gathered himself enough to blindly push Beomgyu away and run up to Soobin.
Soobin uncovered his mouth, the dopiest smile spreading across his face as he locked eyes with his boyfriend. “Hi, hyung,” he said. Yeonjun blinked a few times, lips still parted in shock and awe, and then he moved closer. Soobin automatically opened his arms and pulled Yeonjun into the tightest, warmest hug he had ever given.
Yeonjun had him in a vice grip, small puffs of air hitting Soobin’s neck as he laughed. Soobin closed his eyes, inhaling Yeonjun’s scent and trying to pull him impossibly closer. It had been too long since he held him, there was no way he could let seven months between visits ever happen again.
He was faintly aware of Yeonjun’s friends and frat brothers cooing at them and making kissy noises, but Yeonjun didn’t seem to care so neither did Soobin. After a few more seconds, Yeonjun leaned back and smiled brilliantly up at Soobin. “Hi, baby,” he whispered, before wasting no more time and connecting their lips.
And Soobin nearly melted, despite all the eyes watching them. He had nearly forgotten what it felt like to have Yeonjun’s lips on his, to taste him, to feel his tongue warm and wet against his. The elder kept it relatively chaste, however, due to their having an audience, and it left Soobin yearning for more. He was certain he’d get much more later, though, so he didn’t pout when Yeonjun pulled away.
He had a breathtaking smile on his face as he cupped Soobin’s face, stroking his thumbs over his cheeks. Soobin couldn’t withhold his cheesy smile either, and he was sure he’d cringe when he watched the videos Beomgyu and Yeonjun’s frat brothers were taking, but he couldn’t care at the moment. “How long have you been planning this?” Yeonjun asked breathlessly.
Soobin chuckled, glancing over at Beomgyu. “Since a few months ago, it was actually Beomgyu-ah’s idea to surprise you,” he explained. Yeonjun looked over at his best friend quickly, who gave him a gleeful smile, and then focused right back on Soobin. “How long are you staying? Where are you staying?” he asked, voice lower. The crowd around them began to disperse as the initial surprise wore off, and Yeonjun dropped his hands from Soobin’s face to his own hands, locking their fingers together.
“I was thinking of staying through your spring break,” Soobin informed. Yeonjun’s face lit up again in delight. Soobin swallowed a coo and continued. “I wasn’t sure if I could stay here for that long, so I booked an airbnb for next week.”
Yeonjun moved closer, an excited glint in his eye. “I’ll stay with you there, it can be like a mini-getaway,” he said. Soobin laughed, squeezing Yeonjun’s hands. “It’s literally like two blocks away, hyung,” he replied. Yeonjun shrugged his shoulders, moving back into Soobin’s space to hug him again. “Doesn’t matter,” he mumbled, voice partially obscured as he turned his face into Soobin’s neck.
Soobin blushed, but hugged Yeonjun back until Beomgyu interrupted and insisted they move out of the foyer of the frat house. “It’s scary movie night! Yeonjun-hyung usually never makes it past the first fifteen minutes but I’m sure he’ll last longer with you here!” he cried. Yeonjun rolled his eyes as he left Soobin’s embrace, turning to smack Beomgyu’s arm. “Go help the others, I’m gonna help Soobin unpack,” he scolded. Beomgyu giggled but did as he was told, skirting around the elder and heading toward the living room.
Together, Soobin and Yeonjun carried Soobin’s suitcase up to Yeonjun’s room, and as soon as the door clicked shut, Yeonjun was all over him.
Soobin chuckled, blushing as the elder pushed him down onto the bed and crawled over him, straddling his hips. Soobin looked up at his lover, heart beating rapidly in his chest, arousal already thick between them. Seven months with nothing but his hand had been hard for Soobin, but he imagined it had to be way harder for Yeonjun. The boy was a sexual being, very in touch with that part of himself, and Soobin expected nothing less than a full-on attack once he arrived and that’s exactly what he was getting.
Yeonjun’s mouth crashed against his as his hands roamed over Soobin’s body, and Soobin let himself grab and grope as well, finally feeding the urges he’d had to ignore for so long. It was hot and heavy and overwhelming in the best way and—.
“Yah! No fucking on scary movie night! Hurry up!” Beomgyu called from outside the door, banging on it a few times. Soobin flinched, arms sliding around Yeonjun’s waist as the elder collapsed on top of him, groaning in frustration. Soobin giggled lightly, twisting his neck to pepper kisses down the side of Yeonjun’s face. “Don’t worry, hyung, we’ll have time,” he whispered.
Yeonjun pushed himself up, pouting down at Soobin. Soobin smoothed out his worry lines with his thumb, and gave him a gentle smile. Yeonjun sighed, climbing off Soobin and stalking to the door. Soobin followed after, shaking off the remaining tendrils of arousal and mentally cursing Beomgyu all the same.
When they made it downstairs, thankfully nobody gave them any shit for what they had so obviously attempted to do, and Soobin was grateful. At least some of them had class. Beomgyu was bouncing in his seat as he patted the space next to him. “Saved you a spot, hyungs!”
Yeonjun rolled his eyes as he tugged Soobin along, sitting down and making Soobin sit next to Beomgyu. “Next time Taehyun visits, I’m cock-blocking you,” he sneered, glaring at Beomgyu. Beomgyu only stuck out his tongue and Soobin mediated by taking Yeonjun’s hand. “We’ve waited seven months, hyung, we can wait a few more hours,” he reassured. Yeonjun only blinked at him, before pouting and tugging on his arm. “Speak for yourself,” he mumbled.
Soobin giggled, before Beomgyu shushed them and someone turned off the lights. The movie started, and Soobin couldn’t help but yawn. The travelling and time difference were finally catching up to him, now that the initial adrenaline rush at seeing Yeonjun again was fading. Yeonjun pulled one of the blankets off the back of the couch and unfolded it. He shot Soobin a smile as he draped it over their laps, and then he lifted one arm. Soobin blushed and looked around himself, but was relieved to see that everyone was either paying attention to the movie or their phone screen.
He moved closer, letting Yeonjun wrap his arm around Soobin’s shoulders, forefinger and thumb immediately stroking his earlobe. Soobin slouched a bit, resting his head on Yeonjun’s shoulder. His eyes fluttered but he could smell Yeonjun’s familiar body wash being this close, and it relaxed him even further.
The volume on the movie was low, and Yeonjun was so warm. Soobin couldn’t exactly help it when his eyes began to grow heavy and sleep started to pull him under. He thought he heard Yeonjun’s soft laughter, and then everything went dark.
Soobin woke up to the gentle rocking of Yeonjun carrying him up the stairs. If he had been more conscious he would’ve scolded the elder for not waking him up—it couldn’t be that easy to carry such a tall person up a flight of stairs. But he was barely conscious, and Yeonjun didn’t sound like he was struggling.
In what felt like no time, he was lowered onto Yeonjun’s bed, arms slipping out from beneath him. He tried to open his eyes, humming lowly as he turned his head. “Hyung,” he mumbled, though it sounded more like a sigh. Yeonjun’s gentle chuckle could be heard above him, and a warm hand swept through his hair. “Hmm?”
Soobin swallowed, eyes still unable to open. “Give me…a few minutes,” he struggled, sleep threatening to overtake him with every syllable. “…’nd we can have…we can…” The last word was nothing more than a whisper, and Yeonjun chuckled some more, closer now. The hand in Soobin’s hair stayed there, carding through the strands. “It’s okay, baby, go back to sleep,” he whispered.
Blankets were layered over Soobin’s body and he slipped even further, barely noticing Yeonjun lying next to him. He felt an arm slide around his waist, and a pair of lips press against his forehead. “Love you,” Yeonjun breathed. Soobin tried to reply, but he was pretty sure all he managed was a hum. And then everything went dark again.
When Soobin woke up again, the sky was grey and stormy and droplets of rain had just begun hitting the windowpane. More important than the view, however, was the pair of hands slithering under Soobin’s shirt and pressing cold against his skin. Soobin shivered as he opened his eyes, blinking away spots until Yeonjun’s face appeared over his. His hair was messy and he looked like he hadn’t been awake for long, but the smirk indicated that he was on a mission.
“Good morning, baby, did you sleep well?” he asked, voice a little hoarse. Soobin didn’t respond immediately, too overwhelmed with Yeonjun hovering above him, so close after so long. He was beautiful, despite the early hour. His skin appeared to glow, his hair hung in front of his eyes that were scrunched up due to his pouty smirk.
A sharp tug further down Soobin’s chest shot him out of his stupor and he blinked rapidly, blush flooding his cheeks. “Y-yeah, I did, I’m sorry I fell asleep on you, literally,” he replied, clearing his throat. Yeonjun giggled, leaning down and kissing Soobin’s neck. “You needed it, I don’t mind,” he murmured, peppering kisses over Soobin’s skin. Soobin embraced Yeonjun, closing his eyes and pulling him closer. “But you’re not tired now, right?” the elder asked against his lips.
Soobin flushed harder, shaking his head. He felt Yeonjun smile. “Good.”
“Oh, hyung! I forgot to tell you, but some of my old friends from Daegu are travelling the west coast and are in Los Angeles. They’re on their way over to crash for a few days before moving on to San Francisco. You both should hang out with us!” Beomgyu announced that afternoon, long after Soobin and Yeonjun completed the walk of shame and pretended like they hadn’t woken up at least half the frat.
Soobin brightened, smiling at Yeonjun. “That sounds like fun!” he exclaimed. Yeonjun smiled back, nodding enthusiastically. “We can order takeout,” he suggested. Beomgyu happily agreed.
The frat wasn’t too full—a lot of the members had left for vacation or home over the break—but there were still half a dozen or so pledges that joined with Beomgyu’s friends. Soobin watched fondly as Yeonjun skipped around cleaning, his mother hen nature kicking in with the promise of new guests. Beomgyu tried to tell him that he didn’t need to clean for anyone, that it wasn’t even his turn on the chore wheel, but Yeonjun insisted.
Soobin helped out, gently telling Yeonjun that everything looked great, and Yeonjun sighed, pushing his hair back and giving Soobin a tired smile. “Always gotta make a good impression,” he admitted. Soobin chuckled, kissing his cheek. “You always do, hyung.” Yeonjun blushed, ducking his head and playfully shoving him.
The doorbell rang, and Beomgyu shot up, running to the door. He opened it to reveal four Korean boys of varying height, all of them with gleeful grins on their faces, and it wasn’t long before shouts of greeting were exchanged. Soobin and Yeonjun laughed as they watched from the couch, Beomgyu hugging all of them and ruffling their hair. His thick Daegu sartoori set in almost immediately, and soon the living room became loud with introductions.
Soobin bowed politely at each of them, and it was only when Beomgyu had moved on to introduce his friends to the other frat members present that Soobin noticed Yeonjun was quiet. He looked over at him, resting a hand on his back. “You okay?” he asked. Yeonjun looked at him, quickly rearranging his expression and giving him a smile. “Yeah, just thought I recognised one of Beomgyu’s friends,” he explained.
He looped his arm through Soobin’s and sat them down on the couch before Soobin could inquire further, but Soobin still felt a bit of worry. He decided to let it go once everyone settled and the conversation started flowing. Yeonjun joined in easily, leaning against Soobin’s side and letting his charm show. He always made friends easily, it was one of the reasons why Soobin wasn’t scared he’d be alone when he made the move. He attracted people like a magnet.
When the takeout arrived, Soobin helped pass around plates and bowls, and it was then that one of Beomgyu’s friends spoke up over the noise of other conversation.
“I’m sorry, Yeonjun-ssi, but you look really familiar, have we met before?” the boy asked. Soobin swallowed a bite of rice, watching as Yeonjun chuckled, putting his chopsticks down. “I’m not sure, my hometown is in Seoul, but you look familiar too,” he agreed. Beomgyu’s friend—Seongwon—laughed too, but furrowed his brows. “I lived in here in California for a year when I was an adolescent, I feel like that’s where I’m remembering you from, but that would be crazy,” he explained.
And Soobin could quite literally feel the blood rush out of Yeonjun’s body and he quickly turned to face him. His face was white as a sheet, and the air quickly grew tense. Soobin’s own heart picked up speed as he realised what was about to happen, and his brain instantly scrambled to find a way to redirect the conversation to a safer place. “Um,” Yeonjun said, voice forced and shaky.
Seongwon shot up, eyes wide as if something had just clicked in his head. “Yeah! You rode the same bus to school with me! I remember your laugh so clearly. But…wait…am I going crazy?” he trailed off, furrowing his brow even more as a heavy look of confusion crossed his face. Soobin felt his own blood go cold, and he quickly took Yeonjun’s hand. The elder was breathing fast, and Soobin could see everyone in the room watching them. He met Beomgyu’s eyes, and the younger mirrored Soobin’s own fear. Before he could think of what to say, Seongwon spoke up again.
“Are you…didn’t you used to be a gir—.”
“Seongwon, it’s not important,” Beomgyu interrupted harshly. But it was too late.
Yeonjun shot up, pulling his hand from Soobin’s and quickly exiting. Soobin stood up too, ignoring everyone’s confused stares. He raced after Yeonjun, heart racing in panic. He vaguely heard Beomgyu raising his voice at Seongwon, but he focused primarily on getting to Yeonjun.
When he entered his room, he saw him pacing, and when he met his eyes, he saw fear, panic, and tears. “N-nobody knows, I h-haven’t found the right way t-to…I haven’t…,” he stammered, pulling at his hair. Soobin walked up to him, gently taking his hands in his own. “Shh, hyung, it’s okay, it’s going to be okay,” he reassured, even though he wasn’t entirely confident it would be.
Yeonjun pulled away, going to his closet and pulling down a bag. “I w-want to leave, I don’t want to stay here,” he said, voice unsteady and movements frazzled as he haphazardly pulled clothes from their hangers. Soobin didn’t know what to do, but he hated seeing his boyfriend in such distress, so he just agreed to do whatever he wanted.
He packed all of his own things up, before helping Yeonjun, finding it harder and harder to ignore the soft sniffles from the elder. They realised toward the end that Yeonjun left his phone downstairs, so Soobin offered to get it while Yeonjun finished up packing.
When Soobin made it downstairs, everyone was still there, but Beomgyu wasn’t yelling at anyone. Seongwon got up, his expression actually full of concern. “Soobin-ssi, is Yeonjun-ssi okay? I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to out him, I just thought everyone knew,” he started to ramble. Soobin tried his best to not let his anger to Seongwon influence his response, because the boy seemed genuine.
He moved around him, shaking his head as he grabbed Yeonjun’s phone. “He’s gonna stay with me at my Airbnb,” he exclaimed, looking at everyone in the room. They all looked worried, which was surprising, and Beomgyu looked scared for his friend. “I would just give him time, and let him come to you, if he wants to.”
They all nodded, and Soobin hoped for a quick getaway. He rushed back upstairs to Yeonjun’s room, and when the door opened Soobin nearly crashed into Yeonjun, who had been on the other side of the door. The elder flinched, inhaling sharply in fear before Soobin quickly steadied them both and looked Yeonjun in the eye. “Sorry, sorry! Are you ready to go?”
His boyfriend nodded, turning and pushing Soobin’s suitcase out the door. He hiked his own bag over his shoulder and nervously looked down the stairs. Soobin wound his arm around his waist, kissing his temple softly. “They’ll keep their distance,” he promised. Yeonjun looked up at him, his vulnerability so apparent on his face it made Soobin want to cry. He couldn’t even imagine how Yeonjun felt.
They went down the stairs together, Yeonjun ducking his head and hiding his face. He was shaking slightly, and it twisted Soobin’s heart to see how scared his lover was. Thankfully, nobody approached them and they were able to exit quickly. Yeonjun quietly directed Soobin to his car, and once the elder was buckled into the passenger seat, Soobin got into the driver’s side. Yeonjun’s hands were clenched into fists on top of his knees, and his breathing hadn’t slowed one bit. Soobin tore his anxious gaze away to send his Airbnb’s host a message to see if he could check-in early.
If not, he would take them to a hotel for the next two nights. It wasn’t really in his budget, but he wouldn’t force Yeonjun to stay at the frat house now that it wasn’t a good space for him. Once the message was sent, he extended a hand across the console. He rested it on Yeonjun’s thigh, and the dancer’s sparkling eyes swivelled to meet Soobin’s.
“I love you, hyung,” Soobin murmured. Yeonjun sniffled, sliding his hand over Soobin’s and slouching in his seat. “I love you too, baby,” he whispered back. Soobin started the car then, following the instructions on his phone to the Airbnb.
Fortunately, the Airbnb host was more than happy to give Soobin the keys a few days early, and it was just after nightfall when the couple crossed the threshold. They took their shoes off and didn’t even take the time to tour the small apartment before going to the bedroom. Yeonjun dropped his bag next to Soobin’s suitcase and then immediately unzipped it to pull out some pajamas.
Soobin hesitantly did the same, trying not to stare at Yeonjun, but he couldn’t help but start to worry again. He wanted to talk about it, comfort Yeonjun and let him let it all out. When they were dressed and teeth brushed, Soobin went out to the bed while Yeonjun washed his face.
Soobin checked his phone and saw a few texts from Beomgyu, asking about Yeonjun. He sent him a reassuring reply, promising that he could come see them in a day or two. Beomgyu, being Yeonjun’s best friend since high school, already knew about Yeonjun’s past. And Soobin thought it would be good to show Yeonjun that he had support already within the fraternity.
When the elder turned off the bathroom light and walked into the bedroom, Soobin sat up, reaching out a hand. “Hyung, come here,” he said. Yeonjun went, taking Soobin’s hand. Soobin pulled him onto his lap and then reached behind them to pull the blankets over his legs and up over Yeonjun’s shoulders. Soobin leaned against the headboard and manoeuvred Yeonjun until he was flush against his chest, Soobin’s arms wrapped tightly around him.
“It’s going to be okay, don’t be scared,” he whispered. Yeonjun sniffled, his palms on Soobin’s chest, his face buried in his neck. “They’re going to h-hate me and think I lied to them,” he cried softly. Soobin shook his head, sliding one hand up to stroke Yeonjun’s hair. “They all seemed worried for you when I went to get your phone,” he informed.
Yeonjun hesitated at that, staying quiet save for his sniffling. But he did relax a little, which allowed Soobin to comfort him better. He turned his neck to kiss Yeonjun’s nose. Yeonjun took a few deep breaths, and curled in closer. “Seongwon…I don’t want to see him again,” he whispered. “It’s harder with people who knew me b-before, and I c-can’t explain myself again, I w-won’t.”
Soobin nodded, closing his eyes momentarily. “You don’t have to see him again, hyung, I promise,” he assured. “I don’t want you to be scared.”
Yeonjun lifted his head, and Soobin’s heart broke as he saw the angry red lines of tears staining his cheeks. He lifted a hand to cup the elder’s cheek, and Yeonjun sighed, nuzzling his palm a little. When their gazes met, Yeonjun still had a slight look of fear in his eyes.
“You still love me, r-right?” he whispered, broken. And Soobin’s whole world melted around him as he felt all of Yeonjun’s pain come crashing on to him. He was nodding before Yeonjun even finished his sentence, and he cupped his cheek more firmly.
“I will always love you, hyung,” he promised, voice more serious than it’d ever been. Yeonjun sniffled, gripping Soobin’s shoulder. “I wish I wasn’t so c-complicated,” he breathed.
Soobin shook his head, tilting Yeonjun’s chin up enough so he could see his face. “You’re not complicated. You’re Yeonjun, and you’re one hundred percent yourself,” he said, speaking the words like a prayer. “I love you because of you, not because of your biology.”
Yeonjun blushed, filling his cheeks with a deep, and relieving red colour, the first time since the incident that his skin wasn’t pale white. Soobin cracked a smile, and leaned forward to press his lips over Yeonjun’s.
The elder kissed back, cupping Soobin’s face and angling it just the right way. They attached and reattached their lips for several seconds, before Yeonjun pulled away and just stared at Soobin. “Nobody has ever accepted me the way you do,” he confessed softly. Soobin blushed, placing his hand over Yeonjun’s heart.
“Nobody has ever loved me the way that you do, hyung,” he whispered. Yeonjun lowered his head, wiping his eyes. “How am I supposed to let you leave?”
Soobin frowned, touching Yeonjun’s cheek. “Don’t think about that, okay?” he comforted. Yeonjun sighed but nodded, moving off of Soobin’s lap to lie down properly next to him. They both got comfortable, and Soobin felt his sleepiness start to seep into his bones, his body still not entirely used to the time difference.
Yeonjun traced shapes on his sides, before his hands stilled and he snuggled against Soobin’s side. “Baby?” he asked, voice filtering through the darkness. Soobin hummed in response. Yeonjun shuffled closer, hooking his leg over Soobin’s.
“I hope I get to love you for forever.”