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Han Yoohyun despises his Hyung’s new boyfriend. He is horrible. There is nothing redeemable about him.
Yoohyun hates every little aspect of him. His weird face. His hideous hair. The despicable smile that seems glued to his face, mocking him at every turn, never wavering before the force of even his fiercest glare.
But the worst of it is how he has stolen his Hyung. He has cruelly forced his way into the spaces of Han Yoojin’s life that used to belong to Yoohyun and Yoohyun alone and it’s not fair.
Right now, Yoohyun and Yoojin should be eating dinner together, alone, and Yoohyun should be filled with the gentle warmth he feels whenever he is with his brother. He should be enjoying a meal made by his Hyung, for him, for them to share. Or maybe Yoohyun would have cooked and Yoojin would have thanked him and Yoohyun could watch while his Hyung beams at the meal and praises him for his effort. Maybe Yoojin would even affectionately ruffle his hair like that stray cat’s Yoojin is insisting on raising.
But instead Yoojin is bickering with Sung Hyunjae. The Boyfriend.
The very boyfriend presently reaching out his hand to wipe a bit of sauce off Yoojin’s cheek. A faint blush rises on said cheeks even while Yoojin bats the hand away.
Yoohyun wants to destroy something.
Sung Hyunjae’s smile deepens across from him.
“Yoohyun-ah, are you enjoying your food?” Yoojin has turned to look at him. He might have noticed Yoohyun’s slightly too strong grip on his chopsticks. “Here, have some more.”
His brother is so wonderfully caring.
“Thank you, Hyung.” Yoohyun smiles at Yoojin and it’s very easy because it’s his brother, the most wonderful person in the world. He’s so nice to everyone he meets, and it’s an issue.
“Is the meat not to your taste?” Sung Hyunjae’s smooth and friendly voice grates on Yoohyun’s ears. The main issue is that his brother is too nice to this asshole.
Yoohyun very diplomatically ignores him instead of punching him into his horrible face.
Unfortunately, he can still see that the smile on Sung Hyunjae’s face only widens.
-
Yoohyun is really trying. Really.
But babysitting is taking it a step too far. Or maybe even several steps. Truly, he thinks things have gone several kilometres too far since the point where Sung Hyunjae started bringing treats for Peace and the little rat actually purred at him.
(Peace only likes laying in the sun and Yoojin. He should not be purring at Sung Hyunjae of all people. Traitor.)
But the babysitting is so much worse.
“Hyung! I’m already big, I don’t need to have a babysitter.”
Yoohyun is looking up at his brother with pleading eyes. Maybe he can still convince him none of this is necessary. “I’ve never had a babysitter before when you worked overnight and it was fine.”
Yoojin winces before pulling his face back into his previous smile. “That was because we didn’t have anyone around to help. You don’t have to take care of yourself anymore.”
“But,” Yoohyun says, “you always took care of me.”
Of course he would have preferred if Yoojin could be around more, not just because he wants to spend time with his Hyung, but also because he always looks exhausted when he comes home and still insists on helping Yoohyun with his homework. Yoohyun wants so very badly to erase the shadows that have lived under Yoojin’s eyes for years now, but he knows that they are there for him. Because Hyung takes care of him.
Yoohyun is a little concerned about the mist that appears in his Hyung’s eyes. He doesn’t get to look at it very long before he gets pulled into Yoojin’s arms though, and by then he is too busy relishing in the affection to care.
“You are the very best dongsaeng I could ever hope for, you know that?”
Yoohyun preens. “You are the best Hyung! I don’t need anyone else, really!”
Yoojin pulls out of the hug and instead holds Yoohyun by the shoulders to look at him. “Don’t say stuff like that. What about your friends at school? What about when you find someone once you’re grown? There’re so many more people around you.”
“If you say so.”
Yoohyun doesn’t really have friends at school. The other children all seem a bit afraid of him, even the teachers. He doesn’t really care, it’s not like wants to be close to them. He really doesn’t care that much about people other than his Hyung.
Yoojin nods and smiles at him again. “Are we in agreement then?”
Yoohyun’s mood immediately drops. “About what?”
“Hyunjae watching you tonight. I really don’t want to leave you alone.” Yoojin looks a bit wistful. “I’m sorry you always had to look out for yourself when I’m gone but he can help now. We’re not alone.”
Yoohyun would very much prefer if they were.
“But he’s annoying, Hyung.”
Yoojin nods sagely. “That’s true. But he also has a first-aid certificate and is an excellent cook. I would feel much better knowing someone’s looking out for you.”
Yoohyun doesn’t understand why he needs to be watched in the first place. He never gets hurt when Yoojin is gone and he can cook very well, Hyung said so himself. It’s just unfair.
“Plus, Hyunjae said he’d love to spend some more time with you. He’s really trying.”
Somehow Yoohyun doubts that that bastard would ever want to ‘spend some more time’ with him. He’s probably just trying to fool his Hyung into thinking he is some perfect guy before he fools him away to get married somewhere and not even invite Yoohyun.
Unfortunately, he only gets to grumble for a little longer before a knock sounds at the door and Yoojin leaves after one last time ruffling Yoohyun’s hair. Yoohyun has been left alone with the devil.
“Don’t talk to me.” With that Yoohyun goes to hide out in his room for the rest of the night, ignoring the monster in the living room. Or at least he tries. The monster has followed him to his room and is knocking on the door.
“Now now, Yoohyun. I am sure your dear brother would be rather concerned to hear you were on your own all evening instead of spending time with me.”
“Hyung says you’re annoying!”
“He does?” Horrifyingly, Yoohyun can make out a note of delight in Hyunjae’s answer. “Well then, he would certainly agree that hanging out with someone as incredibly annoying as myself will be wonderful practice for the future.”
Yoohyun is certain that the force of his glare would make even Sung Hyunjae shrink back if he could see it; but opening the door would also mean having to look at him, so Yoohyun will contend himself with staring at the wall. “I don’t want to practice for the future, I want to be alone.”
“Hmm,” Sung Hyunjae sounds, “understandable of course. Whatever challenges you meet in the world cannot hold up to your incredibly intimidating aura, I’m sure. What else would you need to help out your Hyung.” A few seconds of silence follow. “I suppose there is nothing I can really do if you truly don’t want to come out.”
Yoohyun can finally smell victory.
“It’s just…”
Victory might be a bit off.
“Yoojin told me it’s really important to him that you get a proper meal tonight. And as his loving boyfriend, I would never even dream of disappointing him in that regard.”
Yoohyun is starting to have a really bad feeling about this.
“I think he would be most delighted to see proof that you had a nice dinner. Say, through pictures of you eating said dinner. Or even us making it together! He did say the other day that he is very sad he doesn’t have more pictures of you.”
Oh no.
“You’d only have to come out and your brother would be very happy.” A beat. “But, of course, I’d understand if you’d rather stay in your room.”
Victory was a trap and it lured him in. Yoohyun opens the door.
“This is only for Hyung.”
“Who else could it be for.”
The only reason Yoohyun does not actually want Hyunjae to die is because it would probably upset Yoojin a bit and that would be bad. Still, one can hope.
On the way to the kitchen Sung Hyunjae leans down to pet Peace and gets hissed at for his troubles. At least someone is on Yoohyun’s side.
(Yoojin is delighted by the pictures Hyunjae takes. One of them, featuring Yoohyun diligently stirring a pot of noodles and Sung Hyunjae uselessly standing around and smiling at the camera even becomes his new lock screen. Centred on Yoohyun, of course.)
-
As if hanging out with Sung Hyunjae wasn’t already bad enough, now the bastard is even forcing him to accept his gifts. They’re not even nice gifts, he’s definitely just doing it to be annoying.
Hyung definitely knows that too because when Hyunjae gave him an oversized and garishly pink scarf all he’d done was grimace and stuff it into a box somewhere, where all subsequent knitting projects have likewise been banished to.
For some reason however, now that it is Yoohyun’s turn to be tormented he doesn’t look annoyed. Instead, there is a weird gleam in his eyes. Yoohyun would be almost scared if he didn’t know his Hyung loved him more than anything else in the world (especially that stupid bastard).
“Hyung,” he turns pleading eyes towards his brother. Those almost always work. “I don’t need a new hat.”
“Hm, well, you could maybe at least try it on? Please? I think you’d look absolutely adorable in it.”
He really, really does not want to accept anything from Sung Hyunjae. But Hyung did ask. He is willing to compromise if it makes Yoojin happy. Nevertheless, Yoohyun makes sure to glare at Hyunjae when he finally grabs the hat. Sung Hyunjae does not appear to be overly upset by this.
While putting it on, Yoohyun notes that the hat is actually soft. It is a pom-pom hat with big earflaps that end in braids that he can tie them under his chin when it’s really cold and windy. Pretty comfortable, actually. And really well knit, Yoohyun thinks, not that he’s an expert at knitting. Maybe he should learn if Hyung likes it.
Which seems to be the case if the way Yoojin is taking picture after picture of Yoohyun is any indication. “Yoohyun-ie! Hah, you look so precious, how could such a perfect child exist.”
Yoohyun feels his cheeks heat against his will. He protests weakly against the attention (but obviously holds still when Yoojin tries to take a selfie of them both.)
The only sad part of it all is that now Hyunjae obviously just has to give him a new handknitted pink monstrosity (where does he even get all that yarn from) every few weeks that he has to wear. The worst part is how comfortable they all are. Sung Hyunjae truly is the worst of all humans.
-
Of course Yoohyun continues his vendetta against Sung Hyunjae. Taking time he could spend with his Hyung away from Yoohyun is an unforgivable crime. But he does reluctantly admit that having him around comes with some advantages. Yoojin looks so much less tired. And he laughs more now. Yoohyun is never quite sure what their conversations are even about but if they make Yoojin laugh it can’t be that bad.
And of course, there is that one time when Sung Hyunjae stays overnight (Yoohyun very diligently does not think about what this means) and he overhears a conversation when trying to go to the bathroom. Obviously, he’s not eavesdropping, he just doesn’t want to interrupt them.
Yoojin and Hyunjae are seated on the couch together, Yoojin’s head resting against Hyunjae’s shoulder. For once they are not trading odd quips that Yoohyun thinks double as four-dimensional chess and are just silently talking. Yoohyun has to strain his ears (as anyone would do when they aren’t eavesdropping).
“Do you think I’m doing a good job with Yoohyun?” Yoojin almost never sounds so brittle. He’s always been strong, as far back as Yoohyun can remember. He didn’t even sound like this at their parents’ funeral.
“Hm, I think so. He seems to admire you a lot.”
Yoojin’s laugh doesn’t sound like he’s having fun. “Yeah, having me as his role model will definitely go great. A fucking high school drop-out with no future.”
What does that have to do with anything! Hyung is the most brilliant person in the world, who cares about school!
“Ah,” says Sung Hyunjae, “but you forget that this isn’t all there is to a person. You are incredibly compassionate and caring. You have raised Yoohyun for almost his entire life, even when your parents wouldn’t-”
“They were just busy, it’s normal-”
“-because they could not be bothered, when nobody expected you to. And I think you’ve done a wonderful job at it. He is healthy, he is doing amazing in school, and most importantly, he is happy.”
Yoojin is silent for a bit. “Are you sure?”
Hyunjae draws Yoojin further into his arms and presses a kiss into Yoojin’s hair. “Of course I am. I have no reason to lie about this.”
Some invisible tension drops from Yoojin. Yoohyun silently closes his door again.
Maybe he’ll tolerate Hyunjae for now. Really.
He doesn’t even bite the bastard’s hand that hard the one time he tries to ruffle Yoohyun’s hair. (Sung Hyunjae ends up needing stitches.)