Work Text:
If anyone asked what Soobin what he was up to on such a cold, dreary almost-Christmas-but-not-quite December day, he’d lie to their faces. He’d say he was busy reading the latest publications in the American Medical Journal or the British Journal of Medicine or something else that made him sound like the second-year med school student that he was. He certainly wouldn’t tell him that he was finally on Christmas break and didn’t have to think about school or work for fourteen beautiful days so he was lounging on his couch watching TikTok edits of his boyfriend.
He wouldn’t tell them that he was wrapped up in his boyfriend’s hoodie, burrowed under a mountain of blankets, phone in hand as he simultaneously giggled, snorted, and blushed his way through his feed. He would never admit to such embarrassing behaviour. Even if it was something that he did whenever he got a chance.
It wasn’t his fault he had a ridiculously hot boyfriend who performed on the biggest stages in Korea and around the world and looked good doing it. It also wasn’t his fault that his boyfriend’s fans were very creative and skilled when it came to edits, and Soobin liked the way that they made his stomach twist and remind him of just how lucky he really was. Three years into his relationship with Yeonjun, and he couldn’t be happier.
So he sat on his couch and he scrolled endlessly, until the sun dipped below the horizon and the room went dark. At that point, his eyes were growing tired and his stomach hungry, so he put his phone down and waltzed into the kitchen, turning on some lamps and the Christmas tree they had set up in the corner to wash the room in a comfortable golden glow. Soobin loved December. His birthday was in December, and it was the most festive season. He had strung up coloured lights in their bedroom and put tinsel on every surface he could. It drove Yeonjun insane, but Soobin knew the elder secretly liked it.
As Soobin was warming up some leftovers, he hummed a Christmas song to himself, thinking about calling Taehyun to ask if he was still nervous to meet Beomgyu’s family and also thinking about Yeonjun. He was currently at some venue or another preparing for his final end-of-year award show performance. It was just a pre-recording, Yeonjun didn’t have to attend the actual event, and it was the last thing on his schedule before he got a blissful ten straight days off to spend with Soobin. Ten straight days!
He wasn’t sure what time he’d be home, probably late, but Soobin was determined to stay up for him. He had a slew of Christmas movies to watch and hot chocolate to drink. He missed his boyfriend, of course, but he was no stranger to waiting. He’d just learned how to make it fun.
He carried his plate to the kitchen and was just about to pass the first bite into his mouth when his phone went off. A little startled, he put his chopsticks down and picked up the phone, brow furrowing when he saw that it was Beomgyu. From what Soobin could remember, the younger idol was also supposed to be at the same award show. In fact, Taehyun had already scheduled a watch party for Soobin to attend. So why was he calling Soobin right now?
“Hello? Beomgyu?” he answered.
“Hyung! Yeah, hi, um, we kind of have sort of a problem and you might be the only one who can help solve it,” the boy rattled off, sounding a little distressed. Soobin’s brow furrowed as he stood up. “What’s wrong?” he asked, a sudden spark of worry igniting in his veins. Was Yeonjun okay?
“We’re pretty positive Yeonjun-hyung caught the cold that’s been going around, and he’s insisting that he’s feeling well enough to perform, but…hyung, he literally looks like death. Can you please talk to him and convince him to cancel his performance and just go home?” Beomgyu explained, rapid-fire. Soobin’s body relaxed at the news that nothing horribly bad had happened, and instead sighed, rubbing the skin between his eyes. This wasn’t the first time Soobin had had to convince Yeonjun that he wasn’t well enough to perform. And each time he’d had to, it had ended up in one of the two sleeping on the couch—usually Soobin.
“Please, hyung. Not only is he putting himself at risk, he’s putting everyone else at risk too. Will you please talk to him?” Beomgyu begged through the line.
Soobin sat down, nodding. “Yeah, put him on. Thanks, Gyu.”
It took a few seconds, but eventually Soobin heard the sound of the phone being handed over and Yeonjun let out an annoyed scoff before speaking. “Beomgyu is exaggerating, baby,” he started with. “I feel perfectly fine, just a little runny nose, I swear.”
Soobin bit his lip. “Hyung, you know Beomgyu wouldn’t have called if your manager and your team didn’t also think you needed to cancel,” he replied gently. Yeonjun let out an annoyed groan this time, and Soobin could picture him rolling his eyes and pacing. “Soobin, I’m fine, I promise! This performance is my last one, it’s important to me, and frankly I don’t need your permission to do it.”
Yikes. Just what Soobin was concerned about, making Yeonjun angry. Even though it wasn’t entirely warranted. And if Yeonjun really was sick, that was likely contributing to his attitude. “Hyung,” he called softly. “You know that that’s not what I’m doing, and I know very much how important this performance is to you. But your health is more important.”
Yeonjun sighed, though it at least didn’t sound as annoyed this time. “I promise once I’m finished with my performance I’ll come straight home and won’t move a muscle until I’m completely better, okay?”
Soobin hesitated. He wasn’t physically there to see Yeonjun’s condition, and he didn’t want to completely write off the possibility that Beomgyu and his team were overreacting, but it would be unusual for them to call without cause.
“I’ll make you a deal,” he answered. “Have someone take your temperature, and if it’s above 37 degrees, you’re coming home. You and I both know that that’s too high of a fever for anyone to operate on.”
There’s a beat of silence, before Yeonjun answers, voice flat and irritated. “Fine. I’ll call you back in a minute.” The line disconnected then, and Soobin exhaled, lowering his phone and closing his eyes. A large part of him was worried for Yeonjun’s health—he was a doctor-in-training, it was only natural—but an equally as big part of him was worried that Yeonjun would grow tired of Soobin’s interference in his career. Even if it was for his own benefit and wellbeing.
Though he supposed these types of calls only occurred once or twice a year, so he shouldn’t read too far into it.
He ate some of his food as he waited for Yeonjun to call back, and brainstormed ways to help him recover fast if he ended up needing to come home, as well as ways to console him about not being able to perform. It was a big task, but Soobin was up for it. All part of dating an idol, he guessed.
Yeonjun didn’t call back, but he did send two consecutive messages.
Yeonjun:
38 degrees.
Be home soon.
Soobin’s face fell, already feeling the anger and disappointment that Yeonjun must. He quickly replied back, chest aching.
Soobin:
I’m so sorry, hyung.
He stood then, going straight to the kitchen and opening their medicine cabinet. He pulled out his little kit, setting aside heat compresses, painkillers, and his own high-grade thermometer. He wasn’t sure if Yeonjun would even let him treat him, but he’d rather be prepared and not need it. He also filled the kettle with water and picked out Yeonjun’s favourite teas.
Next he went to their bedroom, pulling out some comfortable clothes and laying them on Yeonjun’s side of the bed. He turned the temperature up a little and went back to the living room to turn on their diffuser, filling it with lavender and RC oils. He felt like he might have gone a little overboard, but he couldn’t help it.
He was pouring the tea when the front door beeped. He quickly but carefully set the mug down and went to greet Yeonjun. When he rounded the corner, Yeonjun walked right past him, ignoring him and going to their bedroom, bag hung over his shoulder and scowl very present on his face. His manager, Jisoo, was with him, and he gave Soobin a sympathetic look.
“He’s not happy,” he informed. Soobin sighed, nodding. “Yeah, I figured. Thank you for bringing him, Jisoo-nim.” Jisoo bowed his head in acknowledgement. “I’ve got to get back to the company. Tell Yeonjun I’ll be calling him in a few days to follow up. I hope you can both still manage to enjoy your holiday.”
Soobin smiled and bowed his own head, before seeing Jisoo out. Once the door shut after him, Soobin decided to give Yeonjun some space to come to him on his own, and went back to the kitchen to finish pouring their teas.
It took a while, and Soobin could hear the shower running, so he settled back on the couch, his first aid kit on the coffee table. He blew on his own tea and took small sips, waiting for his boyfriend to eventually reveal himself.
It was another fifteen minutes after the shower shut off until Yeonjun appeared. He was dressed in the clothes Soobin had laid out and his hair was wrapped up in a towel. He wasn’t looking at Soobin as he walked in, but even so, Soobin could detect his red nose and puffy eyes. That, and the way his shoulders were slumped and his feet were dragging. Definitely sick.
He saw the elder scan the table, and he bit his lip, watching him closely. Yeonjun appeared to contemplate for a moment, before moving and sitting on the couch, on the other end from Soobin. He tucked his legs under him and crossed his arms, still refusing to look at Soobin. It was okay, Soobin was used to this level of stubbornness, so he simply pushed Yeonjun’s mug of tea closer to him and pressed play on the TV. He wouldn’t force him to interact with him if he didn’t want to.
It took about five minutes until the idol reached for the mug, pulling it close to his chest and inhaling the steam. Soobin watched from his periphery, noting the way Yeonjun’s body was slightly shaking, and the way he sniffled three or four times every minute. After ten minutes, the tea was gone and the elder had slumped further into the couch, his face clearly conveying how bad he felt.
After the twenty-seventh sniffle, Soobin got up, prompting Yeonjun to lift his head and watch him. He went back to their medicine cabinet and pulled out a box of tissues. He returned and dropped the box in Yeonjun’s lap as he passed him. Yeonjun stared at him as he sat down, and Soobin only gave him a gentle smile before returning his focus to the television.
Yeonjun held his gaze on him for a moment longer, before pulling a tissue out of the box and blowing his nose loudly. He stood up to throw it away and Soobin sat up a little, his doctor-in-training urges getting stronger the more he observed his sickly boyfriend.
When he came back, he was holding a mask in his hand. He met Soobin’s eyes and approached him slowly, holding the mask out at arm’s length. Soobin looked at it, and then up at his boyfriend, before taking the mask and putting it on. Yeonjun sat back down then, next to Soobin, pressing up against his side. Soobin opened his arm to wrap it around his waist, letting the elder rest his head on his chest.
From this close, he could hear his wheezy breathing, and he held him even tighter. His skin was burning up, and Soobin grabbed the blanket hanging off the couch and draped it over the both of them.
“I fucking hate this,” Yeonjun finally spoke, letting out a little shiver and pressing closer. “I know, hyung, I’m so sorry,” Soobin replied, rubbing his arm. “I felt fine this morning,” Yeonjun continued, quieter. “I should’ve stayed and performed. My fans are going to be so disappointed in me.” His voice broke a little at that, and Soobin rushed to console him.
He sat up a little and saw a few tears dripping down his cheeks. He lifted his free hand to cup Yeonjun’s cheek, germs be damned. “They won’t be disappointed in you,” he recited slowly. “They’ll be worried for you, just like I am. You work so hard, hyung, and if you had stayed to perform you could have passed out and hurt yourself. You did the right thing by cancelling.”
Yeonjun stared up at him, gaze hardening for a moment, before he sniffled and sneezed a few times. Soobin quickly got more tissues for him and Yeonjun glowered as he blew, before lowering his head back against Soobin’s chest.
They sat in silence for a while, before Yeonjun’s shivering got to be too much for Soobin. He pressed his cheek to his towelled head, bringing a hand to rest on the side of his neck. He could feel how swollen his lymph nodes had gotten. “Baby,” he said softly. “Can I please take care of you?”
Yeonjun looked up, no longer irritated or annoyed, just tired and sick. He gave Soobin a weak nod, and Soobin immediately jumped into action. He stood up and went into the kitchen. He put some broth in a pot to warm up and poured Yeonjun a glass of water. He pushed it into his hand and sat down beside him, grabbing his kit.
He brought the thermometer to the elder’s forehead as he diligently drank his water. His temperature was higher than when he had left the performance venue, and so Soobin poured two painkillers into Yeonjun’s hand, which he swallowed swiftly. Soobin then cracked the heat compresses and placed them on either side of Yeonjun’s neck, to which the elder let out a sigh of relief, sinking into the couch cushions.
By the time he was done with those ministrations, the broth was steaming and Soobin poured a bowl, sprinkling in some seaweed bits. He brought the bowl to Yeonjun, and the idol took small sips, humming as it soothed his throat. Soobin went back to the kitchen and made a quick snack for himself, scarfing it down at the counter before going around the apartment and turning on all the Christmas lights and the tree lights themselves. He could feel Yeonjun’s eyes on him, and when he went back to the couch, the elder crawled into his lap, curling up comfortably.
“Sorry I was being a brat earlier,” he whispered. Soobin shook his head, winding his arms around his body, hoping to help keep him warm. “It’s okay, hyung. Your feelings are valid. Thank you for letting me take care of you,” he replied softly.
Yeonjun looked up at him, a hint of fondness peeking through the exhaustion. “I love you,” he breathed. Soobin blushed, he always did when Yeonjun said those three words. “I love you too, hyung,” he said. “Even when you’re being a brat.”
They both laughed at that, and Yeonjun gave him a real—albeit tired—smile, his own chilly hand resting on Soobin’s exposed hip. “I’m still really upset about my performance, so I can’t promise that I’ll be the best company the next few days, but I do promise that I’ll get over it as soon as I can and we can enjoy our break together,” he assured.
Soobin smiled, pressing a masked kiss to Yeonjun’s forehead. “Don’t be too hard on yourself, hyung. Take all the time you need.”
Yeonjun gave him a small smile. “You really are too good to me,” he whispered. And before Soobin could reply, he was assaulted by a sneeze attack, four coming in a row and Soobin had to contain his laughter as he grabbed the box of tissues.
“Fuck this cold, I swear,” Yeonjun complained after, wiping his nose again. Soobin chuckled, patting Yeonjun’s back.
They both settled back into the couch, and Soobin restarted the Christmas movie, and everything fell into place as it always did.