Work Text:
“Family only.”
Two words. Just two ordinary words that broke Matthew’s every bone. Two words pierced his heart and shred his whole being into pieces.
Matthew suddenly couldn’t breathe. His lungs aghast, his heart races the speed of light it nearly bursts. He tries to catch his breath but to no avail. Every gasp is a memory faded- erased by mere words of an unaware stranger.
The last two decades flashed before his eyes– the love he felt when Hanbin’s family welcomed him with open arms on their first Chuseok together, the happiness he felt during his and Hanbin’s wedding and Hanbin’s dad- who’s always just tolerated their relationship and couldn’t really take away his son’s happiness- gifted them more than enough supplies to last them a year, the warmth he felt when Hanbin’s mom extended her weak arms, embraced and comforted Matthew when she saw him drop tears on one of her chemo sessions.
Twenty years, he deluded himself with a family.
Their wedding, although commenced with a grand party, has only been symbolic. In the eyes of the law, there’s just a Seok Matthew and a Sung Hanbin in different family registers. Never together. Will never be together.
Because their love, no matter how deep and long it lasted, can never be thicker than blood and can never be real in the eyes of the law.
Fear. In the midst of the emotions Matthew is feeling, it’s fear that stands out the most.
Will I really send the person I love the most in the world this way? I’ve spent every day of the past twenty years with this man, why can’t I be with him in his last day?
Anger suddenly bursts through Matthew’s system. He looks up at the stranger, his face full of accusation. “That man…is my husband, I’ve spent every waking morning with him for all my life. You don’t get to decide who is fam—---”
“He’s family.”
Matthew already expected Hanbin’s family to defend him. His first guess was Hanbin’s sister–who has always loved Matthew. “Don’t tell Hanbin oppa, but you’re my favorite one,” Hanbin's sister professed her love for him. He always gave her the best gifts - Matthew thinks.
His second guess was Hanbin’s mother, who was already weak physically due to chemo, but had also recently broken down emotionally due to her son’s passing.
She was always supportive of their relationship. Ever since they were kids when the two young boys instantly had a connection and were inseparable from their first meeting. She immediately knew that what they had wasn’t something that could be categorized as friendship. In her eyes, they were already soulmates, even before the boys knew it themselves.
It was her who knocked some sense into Hanbin’s brain to finally put a stop to the never-ending dance of feelings they had when they were in high school. It was her who always defended them against those who gave them a look of disgust, assuring them that their love is valid. It was her who had countless arguments with Hanbin’s dad to let the young boys’ soul and romantic bond thrive.
But what Matthew never expected was his defense to come from Hanbin’s dad. His words... direct with authority and finality.
Matthew did not dare to meet Hanbin’s dad’s gaze. He didn’t need to.
Right there and then, in his last few moments with his other half, he realized that even on his deathbed, Hanbin gave him the best present he could ever leave. Hanbin gave Matthew his family.
That’s all he needed to assure himself. He already lost his own family once, and he nearly lost his second one today. He might need to let go of Hanbin’s hand, but he’s always going to be in his family’s embrace.