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Hongjoong comes to the realization—rather quickly, considering the circumstances—that his decision to take the kids to the beach on their only free day is a colossal mistake.
He reaches this conclusion when the eight of them are already jammed into a black van—Jongho, Wooyoung, and Mingi are squished together in the back, Yeosang and San are in the middle with Yunho on the other side of the aisle, and Hongjoong is sitting near the front with Seonghwa and the managers—after twenty minutes of their two-hour journey. Thankfully, the van is big enough to fit eight members and four managers, but only by a hair.
Twenty minutes, though…it’s only been twenty minutes.
“Hyung, make Wooyoung stop!” Jongho cries from the back, currently trapped between Wooyoung and Mingi. Hongjoong thinks the two of them are playing some kind of game on their phones if their quiet cursing and hissing are anything to go by.
Hongjoong drops his head back to the headrest and stares balefully at the roof of the car. “Wooyoung, stop whatever you’re doing to Jongho.”
“I’m not even touching him,” Wooyoung snips. Hongjoong turns in time to see him reaching across Jongho to smack Mingi’s arm. He is, in fact, touching Jongho, leaning over him with his entire torso and gangly arms.
Hongjoong sighs heavily, turns his head, and catches Seonghwa’s gaze. Seonghwa, bless him, finally turns in his seat, abandoning his Animal Crossing island, to scold them. “Yah— Wooyoung, switch with Yeosang,” he says darkly.
It’s the voice he uses when he wants to seem strict, and it never fails to make Hongjoong fall a little more in love. The voice sounds like it comes from the depths of hell, all growly and scratchy.
(It’s important to note that Hongjoong can only take so much of that voice at once before it inevitably turns into a problem. More specifically, a problem for Joong Jr. Thankfully, Seonghwa only needs to use that voice once, and the kids all quiet down.
One of these days, he’s going to get him to use that voice in the bedroom just so he can see how long he lasts. Maybe tie back Hongjoong’s hands so he can’t touch, and—Hm, yes, that’s a wonderful idea.)
Yeosang sputters indignantly, jostling San from where he is sleeping on his shoulder. “What have I done?” He settles back down when San grumbles sleepily.
“You're a good middle ground,” Yunho tells Yeosang, not bothering to look away from his phone. “Just switch before Hongjoong-hyung bursts a blood vessel.”
Hongjoong huffs and rolls his eyes. He pulls his headphones from his backpack and slips those over his ears, flipping through his playlist to play something loud and obnoxious enough to drown the kids out.
An hour and a half later, they finally reach the beach.
But at what cost, Hongjoong thinks sourly, climbing out of the van and stretching his arms above his head. It’s hot here, in California, but the sky is beautifully clear, and the sun is shining like a reward for their hard work.
The trip itself passed with little to no difficulty after Wooyoung switched seats with Yeosang. He’d fallen asleep fairly quickly after settling in next to Yunho on his aisle, and Yeosang kept Mingi entertained while Jongho put his head in Yeosang’s lap to rest. San had fallen asleep five minutes into the trip, so the only noise Hongjoong heard from him were his quiet snores and the occasional rustle of fabric when he moved around. Yunho, the godsend that he is, played on his phone for the entire time, which is probably what led Wooyoung to fall asleep.
As far as Hongjoong and Seonghwa—Hongjoong worked on a list of songs that needed lyrics and general fixes, while Seonghwa played Animal Crossing next to him. He’s a blessing, Park Seonghwa, with his gentle demeanor and quiet atmosphere.
“Hyung,” San says sleepily, sliding up to Hongjoong’s side and wrapping him up in a too-warm hug. He’s a tactile thing when he’s sleepy or has been sleeping. No, that's a lie, he’s always tactile. “Can we get surfboards later?”
Hongjoong indulges him for a moment, simply because San slept for the entire trip. Alas, he feels overstimulated from the drive and the constant noise, despite the headphones, so he struggles out of San’s grip.
Jesus, he’s already sweating. He’s probably been sweating since they left the hotel this morning.
“Take Jongho and Yeosang with you, but let me know when the three of you go,” he tells San gently, squeezing his wrist in a show of private affection. San beams at him.
“Thanks, hyung.”
Hongjoong then notices the crust at the corners of his eyes, so he cups San’s cheek and uses a thumb to rub them away. “You’ve got some crusties, hang on.”
San clenches his eyes shut and scrunches up his face in a very feline manner. “My face itches now,” he says sullenly, but he holds himself still in Hongjoong’s grasp because he’s a good boy.
“Almost got them,” Hongjoong huffs, reaching up with both hands to get at each eye. He’s careful about it and gets the job done quickly. Once he lets go, San immediately begins rubbing at his eyes to scratch the itch.
“Hongjoong-ah, are you guys set?” One of the managers, Minhae, asks as she lifts a large cooler from the back of the van and lets Mingi carry it down to the sand.
Hongjoong nods, suddenly excited for the day, and replies, “We’re good, noona. Go rest, or whatever it is you want to do today.”
She huffs a laugh but bows her thanks all the same.
This morning, the managers gave Hongjoong the low-down about how today will go as far as they’re concerned. They'll drop the group off at the beach, go run some errands and relax for the day, and then be back around five o’clock to take them back to the hotel.
Now, Hongjoong takes the company card gratefully from Seokwoo and sends the four of them off to do their own thing with a reassuring smile. All four of them wave like parents and climb back in the van, speeding off to fulfill their day of fun.
There’s something about knowing they’re left to their own devices for the day that sends a zip of giddiness down Hongjoong’s spine.
“Alright, demons,” he calls, getting the kids’ attention. “The managers will be back at five to pick us up. No alcohol, don’t drown, don’t get arrested, and don’t get hurt.”
Mingi throws his arms over Wooyoung’s shoulders from behind him and leans down hard like a dead fish, making Wooyoung stumble forward.
“Yes, Dad, we know the rules,” Wooyoung teases goodnaturedly, though he sounds a bit strained. “Is food on the table?”
“You didn’t eat breakfast?” Yeosang questions, lips pulled down together in a judging frown. “Seonghwa-hyung went out and bought us McDonalds.”
“It was good,” Mingi hums smugly from his perch.
Wooyoung groans, either from the missed opportunity or the added weight of a Mingi-sized person. “I overslept, obviously.”
“Is the beach private?” Yunho asks suddenly, surveying the part of the beach they’ve been dropped off at. He’s bouncing on his toes a bit, a beaming grin threatening to overtake his entire face.
Seonghwa hums his confirmation, taking Hongjoong’s hand in his. “Rented out just for us, so don’t act like idiots.”
Getting approval to rent this stretch was a war and a half. It took two weeks to finalize, which involved international phone calls, stateside phone calls, promises of good behavior, and a healthy dose of begging on Hongjoong’s end. He still finds himself shuddering at the impatient—rightfully so, considering the price they asked for—phone call one of the department heads made to the owner of the beach.
But it was worth it because now they have a mile's worth of private beach for themselves, the company card to fund food, refreshments, and equipment, and almost eight hours to laze around in the sun and simply breathe.
Hongjoong leans into Seonghwa’s side just enough to apply steady pressure. “I have the company card, so when you need food we’ll go get something,” he tells Wooyoung but makes eye contact with the other kids one by one. “I saw a service station just up the road.”
Wooyoung nods, apparently mollified, and shrugs Mingi off his back. He strips his shirt off with a flourish and whips it at San’s face. “Last one in the water has to do the Cyberpunk choreo during the ments tomorrow.”
Like a shot, the six youngest members are racing down to the water, leaving a trail of shirts, shoes, sweatpants, and bags in their wake. Their squawking brings a tired smile to Hongjoong’s cheeks.
He watches them fondly, turning his head to kiss Seonghwa’s shoulder. “Do you think they’re including us?”
Seonghwa exhales and takes off his shirt at a much calmer pace, going as far as folding it and stuffing it into Hongjoong’s backpack. He ties back his hair in a knot at the crown of his head with a hair tie from his wrist, and then he shakes out his shoulders. When he grins at Hongjoong, it’s feral.
“Let’s find out.”
And then the fucker is sprinting down to the ocean with a chorus of cheers to guide his way.
Hongjoong drops his bag and shoes and takes off, but he comes in last, careening into the water with a yelp. The only saving grace is having Seonghwa there to kiss his forehead when he resurfaces.
Small mercies, truly.
“Hyung, can we go find surfboards?” Yeosang requests, plopping down next to Hongjoong on the sand. He’s dripping wet, and when he shakes his head, both Hongjoong and Seonghwa get covered in drops of salt water.
Hongjoong wipes his face and adjusts his sunglasses, sitting up on his elbows. “Take Jongho and San.” He reaches into his bag and retrieves the company card and one of their cell phones. “Call if you need anything.”
Yeosang takes both items with a cheerful smile before he stands, running off to find the other two, probably.
“You’re getting soft in your old age,” Seonghwa comments from Hongjoong’s left, sprawled out on his stomach on a beach towel, reading a book behind rose-colored sunglasses.
“They’ve broken me,” Hongjoong replies deadpan. “Past the point of return, I’d imagine.”
Seonghwa huffs a laugh and closes his book, rolling on his back a moment after. He stretches, groans with it, and moves his toes to the sand. “We should watch a movie when we get back to the hotel tonight.”
Hongjoong hums, considering the possibilities. “With the kids?”
With a private smile only meant for the two of them, Seonghwa shakes his head. “Just us.”
“Park Seonghwa,” Hongjoong purrs, crawling the short distance between them to settle himself on Seonghwa’s hips, hands dropping to Seonghwa’s gloriously small waist. “Are you sure you’ll be able to stay awake long enough?”
It’s meant to be a tease, but they both know the truth. In all seriousness, Hongjoong is more likely to pass out within the first twenty minutes of whatever film they choose.
As expected, Seonghwa snickers and shrugs. “Who knows?” He says good-naturedly. “Maybe we’ll just get dinner and go to bed.”
Hongjoong leans forward and covers Seonghwa’s body with his own, grimacing only slightly at the sheen of sweat covering their skin. But this touch is nice—more than nice—and it’s something he doesn’t experience very often. Not because Seonghwa has an aversion to touch, but because Hongjoong has days where he feels like climbing out of his own skin when something as small as a pillowcase rubs him the wrong way in the morning.
Some days are harder than others, but right now, Hongjoong is content to deal with it. The itch under his skin is just because of the sweat, so he knows how to silence that part of his brain. They’re idols; they sweat. It’s a natural state of being at this point.
“Let’s eat dinner with the kids,” he mumbles into Seonghwa’s chest, suddenly sleepy. A hand comes up to the back of his neck, rubbing a knot there. Hongjoong’s eyes slip closed as he melts against the touch.
“We can pick up something on the way back,” Seonghwa tells him. He kisses the top of Hongjoong’s head and adds, “Nap if you want to.”
And the thought of a nap is incredibly enticing, comfortable and boneless. He’s considering it seriously when he notices the sound of someone approaching very quickly.
“Hongjoongie-hyung, will you go with me to find food?” Wooyoung appears suddenly, panting like he’d just run up the beach, which he probably did.
Hongjoong turns his head to the side he thinks Wooyoung is on and says, “You’ll have to wait for Yeosang.”
Wooyoung makes a questioning noise. “Yeosang? Why?”
“He’s getting surfboards and took the card,” Hongjoong replies. He finally opens his eyes and rolls to the sand, scooting over until he’s back on his own towel. “Once he gets back, I’ll go with you.”
Wooyoung sighs, but cuddles close to Hongjoong’s side, getting him wet with excess seawater. “Can’t we just use our own money?”
Seonghwa interrupts then, tossing them his wallet. He must have grabbed it from Hongjoong’s bag when no one was looking. “Take mine. Our debut date is the code.”
Hongjoong is absolutely sure the look he gives him is full of sappy, dreamy love. The kind of look that gets him teased most of the time. If he weren’t so endeared, he might gag at himself.
As it is, he simply blows Seonghwa a kiss—which Seonghwa grabs out of the air and shoves down the front of his swim shorts—and bullies Wooyoung into standing. He hands over Wooyoung’s shirt, slips on his own, and leads them to the service station he saw earlier.
After lunch—a picnic made by Seonghwa and San—Mingi somehow finds a volleyball and forces the group into a game. Hongjoong doesn’t know where he found it or who it belongs to, and he’s not going to be the one to ask.
“That was out!” Yunho crows, pointing at an imaginary line in the sand while Wooyoung retrieves the ball. Hongjoong specifically recalls a conversation before the game started that there would be no lines for in or out.
Jongho makes a growly sort of noise and kicks sand at him. “We said no boundary lines!”
Ha. He was right.
“It’s like you forget who we are as people,” Yeosang laughs, but sobers quickly when Jongho turns to scowl at him. “I’m just saying!”
“Well don’t say anything,” Wooyoung gripes. He shoves Yunho away from the ‘line’ and gets himself ready to serve the ball.
Seonghwa, to Hongjoong’s left, snorts. At Hongjoong’s raised eyebrow, he murmurs, “Just like being at home, hm?”
The game itself lasts longer than anyone anticipates, but it’s fine because it’s fun. Hongjoong can’t remember the last time he had this much fun bumping a ball back and forth. And when they finally tire themselves out, it’s he who hides his disappointment behind a theatrical groan and throws himself into the sand.
Later that evening, after they’ve all showered, changed, and eaten dinner back at the hotel, Hongjoong corrals the kids into his room and yanks Seonghwa into his bed with a sleepy grumble. He feels Wooyoung climb in behind him, sliding up against his back, and exhale on his neck.
“Hyung, scooch over a bit,” Jongho demands, pushing Seonghwa closer to the middle of the bed. That forces him almost on top of Hongjoong completely and across Wooyoung's chest.
“Yah!” Wooyoung cries, pushing back and participating in a dramatic ordeal that lasts for about thirty seconds, complete with loud cursing, grumbling, and a well-timed kick that winds Seonghwa. In the end, the four of them settle; Hongjoong comes to rest with Wooyoung draped across his left side, Seonghwa across his right, and Jongho laying on his back comfortably on the edge.
Mingi snorts at the drama of it all—which is warranted, sure, but still rude—and wonders, “Should we preemptively count this hotel as a noise complaint for our chart?”
“Not yet,” muses Yeosang, scrolling through Netflix on the hotel television. “Give it twenty more minutes.”
Hongjoong stares at the ceiling and silently wishes for a quick, quiet death. Out loud he says, “I’ll say ten minutes, only because there’s someone pinching my ass.”
The room goes completely silent.
Then Wooyoung inhales sharply and the pinch on Hongjoong’s backside disappears. “Sorry, hyung—wanted to keep myself awake. I couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t feeling anything.”
Hongjoong sighs evenly and pats Wooyoung on the top of his head. “I figured.”
Seonghwa snorts in his ear and kisses the lobe. He snuggles in closer and settles just as Yeosang finally decides on something to watch. San finally returns with a bag full of small snacks and drinks, Yunho in tow. Thankfully, the two of them find solace in the extra bed with Mingi and Yeosang, cuddling in close and passing out their snacks.
As expected, Hongjoong falls asleep ten minutes into the movie.