Archive of Our Own

Jeno has grown accustomed to the sound of arguing. 

Not in a depressing way, more like in a everyone-in-his-life-has-a-fire-placement way. It’s not like it bothers him, he’s aware that his friends will never get into a serious argument, that raised voices and high-pitched screaming is just their quirky way of expressing themselves. And showing love, at times. 

It’s the reason why he barely registers the bickering voices when he trudges through his apartment door. He takes off his shoes, drops his bags on the floor—which is sure to get him told off by Renjun later—and drags his socked feet across the wooden floor until he collapses on the couch with a content groan. He’s had back-to-back classes since eight in the morning, and spent the afternoon at the studio trying to finish his pieces for his final project. He can only hunch over a sewing machine and stare at fabrics for so long before he starts tasting colours. Now all he wants to do is nap. 

His eyes fall heavy, he’s on the brink of falling asleep. Just as he’s about to drift off, the arguing gets loud. 

Much, much louder. 

Renjun and Chenle are yelling at each other in the kitchen, in furious and frantic Mandarin. Jeno can only make out a few words, most of them curses considering Chenle and Renjun were his Mandarin teachers in the first place.

“...seriously…messy…clean up after yourself…dickhead…” 

“...annoying…perfect…asshole…” 

Jeno’s eyebrows pinch in confusion. He sits up. 

“You don’t even fucking live here!” Renjun yells in English, and Jeno barely makes out his tiny figure storming through the apartment and closing his bedroom door with a loud slam!

A deafening silence rings through the apartment.

Then Chenle strolls out of the kitchen, looking entirely too pleased with himself. He spots Jeno on the couch and his eyes light up. He’s wearing his forest green Gucci jacket that Jeno daydreams about setting on fire and holding Renjun’s favourite coffee mug. It’s pink and shaped like a cat with cute little ears sticking out of it. Jeno has a matching blue one. Oh dear.

“Oh, hey baby,” Chenle greets, he walks around the couch and plops himself on Jeno’s lap. “I didn’t hear you come in.” 

Jeno sighs, letting Chenle kiss him in greeting. He wraps his arms around Chenle and pulls him into a warm hug. 

“Hello,” he says into the crook of Chenle’s neck, “Why are you tormenting my roommate?” 

Chenle pulls back and takes a sip of his drink, the cat on the mug makes eye contact with Jeno. When he lowers the mug, Jeno gets a good look inside and realises it’s filled with cola. 

“I was bored and you were taking too long to get out of class,” Chenle answers. 

“And you didn’t think to, I don’t know, watch a movie instead?” 

“I couldn’t help myself,” Chenle defends, “Renjun is so cute when he’s angry!”

Jeno sighs, although he can’t help but agree. “That’s true.” 

He gently pushes Chenle off him and makes a move to stand up. 

“Where are you going?” Chenle whines, grabbing onto his arm. 

“I need to check if Renjun’s okay,” Jeno says, “Or else he’s going to sulk in his room for the rest of the evening.” 

“But you just got here!” Chenle makes an attempt at tugging him back down but Jeno is strong when he needs to be. “Spend time with me.” 

Jeno pulls his arm out of Chenle’s grasp. “I would’ve spent time with you if you didn’t piss Renjun off,” he chastises gently, “sit here and think about the consequences of your actions.” 

Chenle slumps back into the couch with a pout. He slides his hand through one of the couch cushions and pulls out the TV remote. “Fine, but I’m watching Daredevil without you.” 

Jeno knocks twice on Renjun’s door. When he hears no sign of life, he enters anyway. 

There’s a Renjun shaped lump buried under the blankets. He cracks a fond smile as the lump lets out a muffled, “Go away, Jeno.” 

He runs and launches himself directly on top of the lump, wrapping his arms around a squirming and, probably, suffocating Renjun. 

“Jeno!” Renjun cries, trying and failing to push Jeno off him. His hands manage to jab Jeno’s sides from under the blanket. Jeno giggles and pulls the blanket back so he can see Renjun; hair tousled and scowling. Chenle’s right, he is cute when he’s angry. It only makes it that much more fun to get on his nerves. 

“Hi,” Jeno says. Renjun has his phone open to Tiktok, where a video of two cats fighting plays on loop. “Come watch Daredevil with us.” 

“No,” Renjun replies sulkily, he shuts his phone off and turns away from Jeno. “I hate your boyfriend.” 

“So now he’s my boyfriend?” 

Renjun makes a disgusted sound, something halfway between a gag and a scoff. “He’s certainly not mine. ” 

Jeno laughs. In his humble opinion, ninety-nine percent of Renjun and Chenle’s issues with each other would be solved if they swallowed their pride and kissed. But he keeps that to himself. 

“Chenle will play nice,” Jeno says, even though he doesn’t believe that himself, “I’ll make him wash your favourite mug and everything.” 

“He’s so annoying, Jeno!” Renjun complains, “He can’t go five seconds without trying to get on my nerves. And he’s a slob, how can you even stand to be around him?”

Jeno frowns, “I know he has his… quirks, ” he withholds a shudder thinking about how Chenle has been wearing the same jacket all week, “but he’s generally pretty clean.” 

“Great, so he acts like a slob just to annoy me then, perfect. Real decent boyfriend you got there, Jeno.” 

He’s playground flirting, Jeno wants to say, he’s pulling your pigtails to get your attention. But Jeno has no business exposing his own boyfriend like that, so he restrains himself. 

He shifts himself on top of Renjun, curling his body around Renjun’s smaller frame so he can squeeze him like a plushie. His lips drop to a pout. “ Please come watch with us?” 

Renjun sighs and shoves Jeno’s face away with a hand to his cheek. 

“Don’t make that face,” he mumbles. 

“What face?” Jeno says, jutting his bottom lip out further. 

“You look like a fish,” Renjun says, then he bitterly adds, “And I’m not caught up, you guys watched the last episode without me.” 

He sounds so upset about it, Jeno has to physically restrain himself from cooing. 

“We’ll rewatch it with you,” Jeno promises, nosing against Renjun’s cheek, “And we’ll never ever watch another episode without you. Come on, pleaseeeee? ” 

“Fine,” Renjun groans out, “Fine!” 

Jeno grins victoriously. 

They’re halfway through the episode and Jeno is struggling to keep his eyes open. His exhaustion starts catching up to him. His head is nestled in Chenle’s lap and his feet are thrown over Renjun’s. He’s comfy, basking in the warmth of his two favourite people. Renjun’s commentary filters over the fight scene happening on screen. Chenle’s hands are in his hair, blunt nails scratching his scalp and lulling him into a half asleep state. 

He lets his eyes flutter shut. 

He hears Chenle laugh softly, “Loser,” he murmurs, “he can’t even make it through one episode.” 

“Let him sleep,” comes Renjun’s voice, “I don’t think he slept last night, I could hear the sewing machine going at three in the morning.” 

Chenle makes a displeased noise. He grabs a handful of Jeno’s hair and tugs, not harsh enough to cause any real pain. Jeno stirs in his lap, cheek pressing against Chenle’s warm thigh. 

“I told him to stop doing that,” Chenle scolds quietly, “He’s going to end up losing a finger.”

“You know Jeno,” Renjun says, “It’s impossible to stop him when he’s in the zone.” 

If Jeno weren’t pretending to be asleep right now, he’d roll his eyes. 

“Stupid workaholic,” Chenle says, “I need to tie his hands together so he can’t work.”

“Kinky.”

Chenle snorts. 

Jeno can’t believe what he’s hearing. Are they—getting along? He didn’t think it was possible for Renjun and Chenle to have a civil conversation. He hears Chenle crack a joke and Renjun laughs—actually laughs. Jeno blearily wonders if he’s already asleep and dreaming this all up. 

Either way, when he finally does fall asleep, it’s with a smile on his face. 

Jeno made it pretty clear when he started dating Chenle that Renjun came with the package. Jeno and Renjun are like those plushies on Amazon labelled ‘Frequently bought together, please do not separate!!!!’. They’ve known each other their whole lives. Their friendship has always been a quiet, stable part of Jeno’s life. He could always tell Renjun things he couldn’t tell anyone else, they took care of each other, listened to each other. It only made sense to live together once college rolled around. And until Chenle came around, Jeno could only imagine spending the rest of his life with Renjun. He’d always imagined them living together when they're old and retired, with their matching cat mugs and vegetable garden.

When he told Chenle this, he’d given Jeno a long, knowing stare and bluntly said, “So, you’re in love with him.” 

Jeno blushed all the way down to his toes and quietly replied. “Yeah, probably.” 

He would’ve never figured it out if it weren’t for Chenle. He and Renjun would’ve just spent the rest of their lives as roommates and historians would have heated debates over whether or not they were lovers. 

Chenle still agreed on a second date after that, and maybe was an idiot for doing so. Maybe Jeno was the bigger idiot for going on a date with Chenle while harbouring feelings for his best friend. They’re both idiots, but they made it work. 

Three months into dating, Chenle strolls into Jeno’s room with a shit-eating grin on his face and announces, “Renjun’s pissed.” 

Jeno sighs, long and suffering, “What did you do now?”

“I found his skincare collection,” Chenle says, joining Jeno on the bed. “You know he has a twelve step routine? I told him I wash my face with bar soap and I swear I saw his soul leave his body.”

Jeno winces, “What happened to the face wash I got you?” 

“Oh, I use it diligently,” Chenle says, preening when Jeno pats his hair proudly, “I just lied to see his reaction.” 

“You’re such a menace,” Jeno says fondly, pulling Chenle onto his lap. 

“He has such a wide selection of sheet masks,” Chenle marvels on, and Jeno wonders why Chenle was looking through their bathroom cupboards in the first place. “I wanted to try one but Renjun said my skin was beyond repair,” his lips drop to a pout, “Isn’t that rude?”

“I’ll buy you sheet masks,” Jeno says consolingly. 

“There’s no need,” Chenle says with a grin. He whips two sheet masks out of his jacket pocket, “I already stole some for us.” 

Right on cue, a furious shout sounds from the bathroom. “Zhong Chenle!” 

Chenle bursts out laughing. 

“I get you now,” Chenle says, wiping away his tears. 

“Huh?” 

“Your crush on Renjun,” Chenle answers casually. Jeno narrows his eyes, it’s too casual, almost rehearsed. He’s been thinking about this for a while, then. “I get it.” 

“What are you saying?”

“He buys me dinner no matter how much I get on his nerves and walks me to my morning classes when you can’t,” Chenle says, playing with Jeno’s fingers while he talks. “He’ll probably barge in here soon and insist we do face masks together. I’m saying I get why you’re in love with him, maybe I am too.” 

He remains casual, like he’s merely making small talk about the weather, but Jeno hears the way his voice wavers in the end. He recognises the softness of his words and fear brimming beneath the brown of his eyes. Jeno doesn’t find himself surprised, a small part of him knew this is where their relationship would lead. He knows Chenle, knows what his brashness and playground flirting means, he hears the affection that coats his insults. He saw this coming from a mile away. 

“I fucking called it,” he says.

Chenle blinks. And then punches Jeno on the shoulder. 

“Dick! At least pretend to be surprised.” 

Jeno laughs, circling his arms around Chenle’s waist. “Thanks for telling me that, I love you.”

He strains his chin up so Chenle will kiss him. Chenle sighs like it’s the most strenuous task in the world, then leans in to meet Jeno’s lips. He kisses him softly, sweetly, hand under his chin as pulls Jeno apart with his tongue. 

“I love you too,” he says into Jeno’s mouth. 

Realising their feelings for Renjun is one thing, trying to court him is a whole other feat. 

“Your hair is getting so long,” Jeno comments, running his fingers through Chenle’s hair. His ends are rough and fried from years of drug store bleach, they prick Jeno’s fingers but he likes playing with Chenle’s hair anyway. He twirls his fingers around the hair at Chenle’s nape.

“Does it not suit me?” Chenle asks with a pout. He turns in Jeno’s arms, legs hooked over him as they lay in bed together. One of his favourite things to do with Chenle is be lazy with him. Jeno isn’t one for going out, and Chenle is happy to indulge him and lay in bed for hours together. ‘I’m just happy you’re taking breaks’, he’d say when Jeno pulls him into bed, sleepy and clingy, melting into Chenle’s arms like chocolate. 

Sometimes Chenle will drag him out of the house so they can go on real dates. Jeno doesn’t mind those either. 

“Everything suits you.” 

“Really?” Chenle challenges, “Even my orange hair?” 

Jeno sighs, “Yes, babe,” he replies obediently. 

“What if I shaved all my hair off?” Chenle presses on, “Will that suit me, too?” 

Jeno pinches his tummy, “Stop fishing for compliments.” 

Chenle grins, pinching him right back. “Can you cut my hair?” 

Jeno runs his hands through the hair again, he secretly likes it overgrown and untamable. He likes that Chenle is a little messy, unbidden, no matter how much he complains about it. 

“Sure.” 

“I’m convinced you’re only dating me for the free hair cuts,” Jeno says as Chenle drags the kitchen barstool into the cramped bathroom. The faulty lightbulb flickers over them, Jeno pulls his scissors out from the cupboard under the sink. 

“That’s not true,” Chenle argues, settling on the stool, “It’s also for the free dye jobs.”

Jeno rolls his eyes. He taught himself how to cut his own hair in high school, when he realised how expensive it was to go to the barbers. He also taught himself how to bleach his own hair and make his own clothes. Jeno’s always been a nifty person, preferring to do things himself than rely on others. He enjoys his DIY projects, it keeps him busy, and it’s what led him to pursue fashion design in college. 

He lays newspaper over the bathroom tiles and settles behind Chenle. The two of them look like a picture in the bathroom mirror. Jeno behind him in a pair of ratty sweatshorts and his faded pink hair sticking up at the back. Chenle’s overgrown blonde hair with the roots peeking out, shirtless because he didn’t want to get stray hair on his clothes. The broad expanse of his chest, winter pale skin and happy trail crawling up his stomach. He looks delectable, Jeno is already distracted. 

“Eyes up here,” Chenle teases, catching Jeno’s gaze in the mirror.

Jeno shakes his head solemnly, “You expect too much of me.”  

He carefully takes Chenle’s hair between his fingers and starts cutting. Halfway through the haircut, he hears the front door open. 

“I’m home!” Renjun calls out.

“In the bathroom!” Jeno calls back.

His footsteps patter across the wooden floors as he walks toward the bathroom. 

“I got takeout because I was too lazy to cook dinner,” he’s saying, “Is Chenle staying for—oh.” 

He stops short at the open bathroom door. Jeno puts the scissors down so he can greet Renjun. 

Renjun appears to be frozen at the door. Still in his work clothes, clutching the takeout bags in his hands. He’s blatantly staring at Chenle’s bare chest.  

Jeno watches in real time as Chenle realises this, grin widening like the Cheshire cat. 

“Hi Renjunnie,” Chenle says, sickly sweet, “Enoying the view?” 

This seems to snap Renjun back into reality. He shifts his gaze to the wall and blushes like a Victorian maiden. 

“Remember to clean up after yourselves,” he snaps, refusing to look at either of them. It’s kind of hilarious, it looks like he’s scolding the wall. “Last time you gave Chenle a haircut, I had to sweep the floor because you forgot. I’m not cleaning up after you guys this time.” 

He turns and scurries back down the hallway, leaving a cloud of smoke in his wake. 

Chenle’s grin morphs into a scowl. 

“Do you ever get tired of nagging?” he yells after Renjun. “We literally put newspaper down!” 

There’s no response, the only sign of life is the microwave going off in the kitchen. 

Jeno bursts out laughing. 

“He’s so annoying,” Chenle groans, leaning back against Jeno’s chest. “I want him.” 

“I know, babe,” Jeno says sympathetically, patting Chenle’s hair. 

Chenle meets his eyes in the mirror. “You want him too.” 

“Yep,” It’s not like Jeno is hiding his crush. If anything, he’s making his feelings for Renjun pretty obvious. He kisses his cheek when he’s being cute and holds his hand during their grocery store trips. He takes out the trash because Renjun hates doing it and always compliments his cooking, even when it’s bad. Renjun’s been making him the same God-awful seaweed soup on his birthday for three years and Jeno has never once complained. If that isn’t true love, he doesn’t know what is.

“So, how do we get him?” 

“Don’t worry,” Jeno says, “I have a plan.” 

They finish up the haircut and venture into the living room for dinner. The smell of jajangmyeon fills the air as Renjun sets the coffee table with their takeout boxes. He looks up when he hears them arrive. 

“Chenle,” Renjun greets dryly, refusing to look directly at Chenle. “You’re still shirtless.”

They’re going to use Chenle’s hotness against Renjun. That’s it. That’s the plan.

“Astute observation detective Huang,” Chenle says, stealing a piece of broccoli from Renjun’s bowl. 

“Thanks for buying dinner, Renjunnie,” Jeno says. He takes a seat on the floor next to him, and drops a kiss on Renjun’s cheek. 

Renjun coughs, cheeks warming. “No worries, Chenle said he was craving jajangmyeon this morning so…” he gestures stiffly. 

Chenle takes a seat on the other side of Renjun, “Aw, babe! You remembered, how sweet~” 

Renjun’s glare snaps to Chenle, holding the intimidation of a very small kitten. Jeno secretly celebrates—first eye contact of the evening! He counts this as a win.

“Are you really going to eat dinner shirtless?” he scolds, “Have some fucking decorum.” 

Chenle meets Jeno’s eyes, who mouths “be nice!”

This is part of the plan too—Chenle being nice to Renjun will definitely catch him off-guard. It’ll show Renjun that they’re serious about him. It’s foolproof, really. 

Chenle sighs despairingly, “I can’t believe I’m being slut-shamed in my own home.”

He reaches for Jeno’s discarded hoodie on the couch and pulls it on. His freshly cut hair fluffy and dishevelled when it resurfaces. 

“You don’t live here,” Renjun points out before digging into his noodles. 

Chenle opens his mouth to shoot back but Jeno cuts in, an idea sparking. 

“Renjun, what do you think of Chenle’s haircut?”

Renjun makes a confused sound around his chopsticks, eyes roaming over Chenle’s hair.

“You did a good job,” he tells Jeno, “It makes his head look bigger.” 

“You know what they say about big heads,” Chenle says.

“Oh yeah,” Renjun replies, not missing a beat, “Big head, small d—”

“Don’t you think he looks handsome?” Jeno blurts. He’s really fighting for his life here. And Chenle is being zero help, as usual. 

Renjun narrows his eyes. “What?”

“What?” 

“What’s wrong with you today?”

Jeno blinks innocently and tilts his head. “Nothing.”

“You just asked me if I think your boyfriend is handsome.”

“Well, do you?”

Chenle muffles his giggles behind his fist. 

“I’m not answering that.” 

“Why not?”

“Because it feels like a trap,” Renjun points accusatory chopsticks in Jeno’s direction, “Remember when Chaeryeong called Chenle hot and you went into guard dog mode?”

Chenle shrieks with laughter, Jeno splutters.

“W—I thought she was flirting with him! And we agreed to never bring that up again.”

“She’s a lesbian, babe,” Chenle chimes in. 

“I know that now!” he defends, he was drunk, okay? Mistakes were made. Now he knows better than to pick fights with mean lesbians who have meaner girlfriends. “And it’s different when it’s you.”

Renjun’s eyes widen. He looks at Jeno with an unreadable expression, guarded and hopeful. “What does that mean?” 

Jeno feels his cheeks flush. Was that too honest?

“I just mean,” he sends Chenle a panicked look, but he only grins, looking like he’s having the time of his life. Traitor. Jeno is going to dump him and keep Renjun all to himself. “You can flirt with Chenle all you want, I won’t get jealous if it’s you.” 

Renjun’s lips part with surprise. This is your shot, Jeno thinks, tell him how you feel. 

Then Renjun says, “I don’t want to flirt with your boyfriend,” he gives Chenle a lemon-sour onceover, “Greasy gamer boys aren’t my type.” 

“That’s not even true!” Chenle yelps, not bothering to defend himself against the greasy allegations. “Donghyuck is literally your ex.” 

Renjun bristles and shoots back with his own remark. 

Just like that, the moment is broken and they’re bickering again. Jeno sighs, going back to his noodles. At least he tried. 

Later that night, Renjun knocks on his bedroom door. 

“Come in,” Jeno says, buried under the covers while he plays Plants vs. Zombies on his phone. 

The door creaks open and Renjun walks in. He’s wearing striped pyjama pants and a sweater that pretty much drowns him. He’s so cute, Jeno thinks for the millionth time that day. 

“Chenle isn’t staying over?” Renjun asks, shuffling into the room. Jeno opens up the blanket and Renjun can slide in, his cold feet pressing against Jeno’s shins. 

“He has a paper due and claims I’m too distracting,” Jeno says with a frown. 

Renjun laughs and pinches Jeno’s cheek. His ears feel red already, he hopes Renjun doesn’t notice. 

“Can I sleep here tonight?” Renjun asks, “We haven’t had a sleepover in a while.” 

“You don’t even need to ask,” Jeno says, slinging his leg over Renjun’s waist. “You know you’re always welcome in my bed.” 

Renjun wrinkles his nose, cheeks warming. “You have to know how that sounds,” he mutters. 

Jeno giggles delightfully, “I said what I said.” 

Renjun rolls his eyes, but he still pulls Jeno closer. He rests his head on Renjun’s chest while he cards his fingers through his hair.

“What’s on your mind?” Jeno asks softly, fingers tracing patterns over Renjun’s belly.

“You and Chenle were acting so weird at dinner tonight,” Renjun admits tiredly, “If you don’t want me to third-wheel you guys, you should just tell me.” 

“What?” Jeno surges back in surprise, fixing Renjun with an incredulous look, “Why on earth would you think that?” 

“It felt like you were trying to provoke me on purpose,” Renjun says, eyebrows pulled together, Jeno wants to reach out and smooth the worried wrinkles on his forehead. He’s too pretty to always be frowning. “Which is normal for Chenle, but, I don’t know, I felt like you guys were trying to annoy me so I’d leave you alone.”

“Renjun, that’s—” the furthest thing from the truth. Wow, was he always this dense? Renjun is supposed to be the perceptive one in their group. “—not it at all. We were just teasing you, I’m sorry if we took it to far. I promise I’ll never ask you to compliment my boyfriend again.” 

The joke falls flat when Renjun says nothing. Jeno cringes, he can practically hear Chenle calling him unfunny. He goes on:

“You’ve never been a third-wheel with us, like seriously, we love hanging out with you.” 

“Really?” Renjun asks, voice small. Jeno wants to eat him. “Even Chenle?”

“Dude, Chenle is obsessed with you,” Jeno says, Renjun laughs at that. “And so am I. You’re never intruding, if anything, you complete us.” 

Renjun swallows thickly, Jeno hears it echo across the quiet of the bedroom. He’s staring at Jeno with the same expression he had earlier. Wide-eyed and hopeful. And for a split second, Jeno sees his own want reflected in the brown of Renjun’s eyes. His gaze drops to Renjun’s lips, pink and shimmery—he always applies lipbalm right before going to bed because he hates waking up with dry lips. Jeno’s gaze lingers, he hears Renjun’s breath hitch. 

Fuck it. He leans in and kisses Renjun. 

He’s warm. Its the first thing Jeno registers when his lips meet Renjun’s. He’s radiating warmth, lips soft against his, skin feverish when Jeno reaches up to cup his jaw. Then, Renjun tilts his head and deepens the kiss—and Jeno stops thinking all together. 

Renjun’s hand slides to his nape, clutching the hair there and pulling Jeno in closer. His teeth sink into Jeno’s bottom lip, making him hiss out a breathy: “Renjun.” 

This seems to break the spell. Renjun’s eyes snap open and he lurches back so far he almost falls off the bed. Jeno scrambles to grab his waist so he doesn’t topple over. He’s breathless, panting, and entirely confused as Renjun’s jaw drops.

(His lips are swollen, hair a birds nest, he’s so cute after getting the life kissed out of him.)

Renjun’s hands fly to his lips, like he can’t quite believe what he just did. 

“Holy shit,” he says. “What the fuck did I just do?” 

“Uh,” Jeno starts, coming down from cloud nine. “You just kissed me.” 

“ You kissed me, ” Renjun hisses, “Jeno, you have a boyfriend!” 

Oh, right. Chenle is going to be so pissed when he finds out Jeno got to kiss him first. 

Renjun scrambles off the bed, pulling half the blankets down with him. 

“You have a boyfriend,” he repeats, “I can’t believe I just did that, what is wrong with me?” 

Jeno shoots up, “Wait—Renjun, calm down—let me explain.” 

“No, no,” he snaps, holding his arms out when Jeno moves off the bed. “Don’t come any closer!” 

Jeno freezes. 

“I’m—I’m going to go,” he says stiffly, “Goodnight, Jeno.” 

He turns and storms out of the room, slamming the door behind him. 

Jeno stares at the closed door, filling with dread. Oh no. He might have just ruined everything. Chenle is going to kill him. 

“I left for one night, ” Chenle says scathingly, dropping his backpack to the floor. “How did you manage to screw up so bad?” 

“I don’t know,” Jeno whines, Chenle didn’t even kiss him in greeting. He just walked straight in when Jeno opened the door. “He was in my bed, Chenle! Was I supposed to not kiss him?” 

“Yes!” Chenle says, “Not before explaining that you aren’t a cheater.” 

Jeno sniffs, “Kiss me hello before I actually cheat on you.” 

A fond smile crawls up Chenle’s face, breaking the faux-angry expression he was sporting. He pulls Jeno in with a hand on his nape and kisses him slowly. 

Jeno smiles against his lips, when they part for air, he says: “Renjun’s a better kisser than you.” 

“That was my last straw,” Chenle says, “I’m breaking up with you.” 

Jeno laughs, like Chenle could ever. 

“Where is he?” Chenle asks, looking around the living room. 

“He hasn’t come out of his room since last night,” Jeno says with a frown, “He hasn’t even eaten breakfast.” 

“He’s so dramatic,” Chenle says, walking up to Renjun’s closed bedroom door, “I can’t believe I’m going to end up with two sulky boyfriends.” 

Jeno likes how sure of himself he sounds. Chenle has always fallen hard and fast. It’s what he was like with Jeno; barrelling into his life and never once letting Jeno question how he feels. He kissed Jeno on their first date and told him he loved him on their fourth. He held Jeno in the circle of his arms and admitted that he spent so long denying the part of himself that loved so intensely. And now that he’s learned to accept it, he’s unafraid to show it.

It’s why Jeno wasn’t surprised that Chenle fell for Renjun just as quickly. It’s why it makes sense why he’s the one making the first move now. 

He bangs his fist against the bedroom door and screeches, “Huang Renjun, get your ass out here now!” 

“Go away!” comes Renjun’s muffled voice.

“No, we need to talk!”

“If you’re going to yell at me, save your breath,” Renjun shouts, “I knew this would happen, in movies they always attack the other girl instead of the actual cheater.”

Jeno snorts. 

“Was that Jeno?” Renjun’s voice sounds closer to the door. “Is he laughing? I’m going to kill him.” 

The door rips open, startling them both. Renjun stands before them, wearing the same clothes as last night and staring them down with a menacing glare. 

“I can explain,” Jeno begins, holding his hands up in surrender. 

Renjun scoffs, “You have thirty seconds.” 

“I’m not a cheater,” he rushes out. Renjun is scary sometimes. “Chenle, he—well—he doesn’t care if I kiss you, he encourages it, even—” 

Jeno cringes as soon as the words come out. He hears Chenle facepalm next to him. Okay, maybe he can’t explain himself. 

Renjun looks between the two of them, his walls coming back up. Bitterly, he says, “Look, if you two are playing some sort of fucked up game to mess with me, I don’t want to be part of it. Find someone else—” 

“I like you, Renjun,” Jeno cuts in before Renjun can talk himself into a spiral. “I like you so much, always have, that’s why I kissed you.” 

Renjun stills, the defensive hunch of his shoulders loosening. He stares back at Jeno like he’s seeing him for the first time. “Don’t lie to me.” 

Jeno laughs wetly, why does Renjun always assume the worst? His heartbeat thunders on in his ribcage and his hands are shaking; he’s not lying. 

“I’m not,” he promises, reaching forward to take Renjun’s hand in his. “I’ve loved you since the beginning, I was just a little slow to realise.” 

“I—Jeno,” Renjun breathes out, eyes growing misty. There it is again, that hope. “I’ve been waiting so long to hear you say that.” 

Behind them, Chenle clears his throat. 

“Oh right,” Jeno says, gesturing at his boyfriend, “Chenle likes you too.” 

Renjun’s head snaps to him in shock, “You what?” 

“I actually like you in a far more superior and intellectual way than Jeno does.” 

Jeno punches his arm. 

“That makes no sense,” Renjun says, “You’ve never once indicated that you like me.” 

“I flirt with you all the time!” 

“You called me a frigid bitch literally yesterday!” 

“That was me flirting!” 

“You don’t flirt with Jeno like that,” Renjun argues. And Jeno can’t believe they’re arguing over this too. He wants to push their heads together and make them kiss like Barbie dolls. 

“It’s Jeno! ” Chenle yells, like that explains it. 

Renjun considers this, “Okay, yeah. That’s fair.”

“Can you just say you like me back so we can move on?” 

Renjun raises an eyebrow, “That’s quite a bold assumption.” 

“Are you denying it?” Chenle challenges, “I noticed you checking me out yesterday.” 

“Okay, first of all—” 

“Guys,” Jeno begs, he’s at his wits end. He chose the two most annoying people in the world to fall for. “Please, can we get back to the point?” 

Renjun sighs, squeezing Jeno’s hand. Jeno squeezes back encouragingly.  

“I like you too,” Renjun says, cheeks turning a pretty pink. “Or whatever.” 

“Aw, Renjunnie,” Chenle coos in that nasally voice of his, “That was so romantic.” 

“Shut up.” 

“Make me,” Chenle teases, “I’m serious, like actually make me. I think it’s really unfair that Jeno got to kiss you first, since I’m the reason he even figured out his feelings for you in the first place. I’m going to keep talking until you get the hint and shut me u—” 

Renjun kisses him to shut him up. Pulling him in by the collar of his shirt and kissing him roughly. Jeno smiles fondly. This is the best day of his life. 

The apartment is suspiciously quiet when Jeno gets home. 

He’s not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but he rarely comes home to silence. The TV is paused on a movie, Renjun’s textbooks lay open on the living room table. Jeno toes his shoes off and ventures towards the kitchen, wondering if the other two went out without telling him. 

He stops short when he enters the kitchen. Renjun has a shirtless Chenle pressed against the kitchen counter while they make out. The smell of burnt popcorn wafts in from the microwave and Chenle’s shirt lays abandoned on the kitchen tiles. They don’t even register Jeno walking in, kissing messily while Chenle’s hand wanders under Renjun’s shirt. Someone lets out a groan, and Jeno decides he’s had enough. 

“Guys, seriously?” he says unimpressed, “What happened to having some fucking decorum?” 

Chenle pulls back lazily, a string of saliva connecting their mouths. Jeno pouts, FOMO. 

“Hey, baby,” he greets, wiping his mouth. “Blame Renjun, he started it.” 

“No I didn’t!” Renjun splutters, face flushed and lips swollen. He jabs Chenle’s bare chest with his index finger. “ You started it. You put cola in my favourite mug, again. ” 

It doesn’t explain why they were making out in the kitchen, but Jeno doesn’t point that out. 

“It’s not my fault,” Chenle whines, “You’re just so hot when you’re angry.” 

“You know you can kiss me without pissing me off first, right?” Renjun says tiredly, “It’s important to me that you know that.” 

“It’s not as fun, though.” 

Jeno turns and walks out of the kitchen. He can’t deal with this right now. It’s finals week and he really needs a fucking nap. 

“Wait, Jeno!” Chenle calls after him, “You didn’t kiss me hello!” 

“Me neither!” Renjun says, following him out. 

Jeno smiles to himself, and turns back around. His nap can wait.