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Wonwoo had long before accepted his fate as the no. 1 Dinonara. He had been a little obsessed with Chan since day one pretty much while Chan had been too bright of a star to really notice. Chan was too preoccupied with the rest of the members and being a literal child to notice Wonwoo’s undying affection. Wonwoo was okay with it though. He was happy to love Chan from a distance even if he appeared like a complete loser whose affection would never be reciprocated.
After all, their time as trainees followed by debut and their initial comebacks had been crucial times for their futures as idols. Wonwoo couldn’t really afford to be too wrapped in these little things when the tiniest mistake could blow up in their faces. It was only after they had truly gotten used to being idols and Wonwoo no longer felt like a kid cosplaying as an idol (not unlike how he did during his trainee days sometimes) that he finally felt some peace permeate his life.
And with peace come problems.
Now that he had the occasional quiet moment in his life, his one true hobby of being holed up in his room and playing games till he passed out was finally reality. He was perfectly happy to spend his days off like this, especially with Seungcheol joining in. After all he was an introverted homebody and he much preferred his own company over anything else.
At least that’s what he believed till he started seeing what the other members got up to on their days off. Particularly, Lee Chan.
Chan was a bit of a perfectionist and extremely hard on himself. It was no surprise that he spent too much of his free time in the dance studio. Yet there were times when he would send pictures on the group chat with the other members or even his 99z friends. Especially after he became of age and started going out for drinks. Seungkwan and Hoshi seemed to be his favorite to hang out.
At first Wonwoo didn’t mind at all. In fact he was glad Chan was finally allowing himself some down time. However, as time passed and Wonwoo never received an invitation himself, he grew restless. He found himself staring at the wall wondering why he was never part of these drinking sessions when Chan had gone out with pretty much all the other members at this point.
So much so that one free Saturday Wonwoo decided to take a break from gaming. When Seungcheol asked him after dance practice on Friday if they were still on for gaming, Wonwoo made it a point to loudly announce that he will not in fact be joining Seungcheol. It had definitely attracted the attention of Mingyu, Seokmin, Minghao, and Jeonghan and yet the one person did not even look his way.
“Really? How come? You’re always gaming,” Seokmin asked, just like Wonwoo had hoped. “Well I just figured maybe I should try doing something new. Try out a new hobby, you know.” Wonwoo replied, eyes glancing at Chan.
Chan seemed to have wrapped up his earlier intense conversation with Jun and Soonyoung and was looking in Wonwoo’s direction.
“Eyy, hyung, what’s with all this new hobby talk? Are you okay?” Mingyu said, coming up to touch the back of his hand to Wonwoo’s forehead as if checking his temperature. Wonwoo playfully swatted Mingyu’s hand away.
“Yeah, well, I never hang out with you guys so…” Wonwoo trailed off, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed.
“Hyung you should come out with us, we’re going bowling!” Seungkwan called out and Wonwoo looked at him hopefully. As expected the bowling group in question consisted of BooSeokSoon and their adopted son Chan.
Wonwoo tried not to smile like a complete idiot before accepting the invitation.
Later that night, as he lay in bed awaiting sleep, he found himself giddy with excitement for the next day. Why? All because he was going to hang out with Chan. Not even just Chan though. A group that included Chan in it. Not to mention the idiotic smile on his face. He was acting like a high schooler with a crush.
The next day Wonwoo did in fact join what was probably the loudest combination of seventeen members. He was slightly worried now about whether this was such a good idea until Jihoon unexpectedly joined. Wonwoo himself was very surprised by Jihoon’s presence. If anything, he would argue that it was more surprising than Wonwoo’s sudden presence.
“What is happening today, how did we manage to get the two worst introverts out today!” Seungkwan yelled, obviously excited to have two more hyungs on board. Chan seemed to enjoy this odd display of behavior too.
Bowling was actually fun. They split into two teams of three with BSS playing against Wonwoo Jihoon Chan. Wonwoo had been quite excited to have Chan on his team and had to resist the urge to squeal.
He was pretty decent at the game while Jihoon turned out to be the dark horse, completely skewing the game with all his strikes. Chan had been giddy with joy at having beat BSS. Wonwoo had particularly enjoyed all the high-fives and hugs Chan had been graciously giving out every time Wonwoo did anything remotely good. He felt like this was the most attention he had received from Chan and had been smiling like an idiot the whole time.
“Ah this was so much fun!” Wonwoo exclaimed at the end, extending his arms to lay one across Jihoon and the other across Chan’s shoulders. Chan did the most adorable thing anyone could possibly do and leaned into Wonwoo’s body, a hand coming up to rest on Wonwoo’s torso as he jumped in excitement, mocking BSS for their loss. Seungkwan was engaged in a colorful retaliation with Chan while Seokmin and Soonyoung cackled loudly at something only they knew.
Jihoon, not giving into Wonwoo’s skinship, sighed loudly. Wonwoo couldn’t help looking at him despite having a very excited Chan in his right arm.
“Did the hyper-energy drain you out for good?” Wonwoo asked, still amused by Jihoon’s presence today.
“I came for that idiot Soonyoung,” Jihoon admitted, taking Wonwoo by surprise, “but now I regret it.” he finished, looking wryly towards Soonyoung’s direction. Just then Soonyoung turned around, as if sensing Jihoon’s gaze and made his way over to Jihoon.
Wonwoo did not miss the small smile that he was sure Jihoon thought was well disguised before he escaped out from under Wonwoo’s arm.
Now it was just him and Chan, who seemed to have turned his attention to Wonwoo.
“Hyung, you were great today!” he said with a smile brighter than anyone’s past, present, or future. “Nah, I didn’t do much, it was all Jihoon,” Wonwoo said, hearing the awkwardness in his voice. He mentally smacked himself for being so weird with Chan.
“Well yes, of course,” Chan said, the awkwardness making it to him as well.
They smiled at each other for a beat before Chan carefully extricated himself from Wonwoo’s arm, Wonwoo awkwardly dropping it back to his side. His ears burned.
“I was surprised you joined us today…” Chan started. Wonwoo raised his eyebrows, “I just- you always seemed to be busy gaming. I didn’t think you were interested in hanging out with me- with us I mean.”
Wonwoo smiled fondly at Chan fumbling to get his words right while his heart fluttered slightly. “Oh well I did enjoy it at first but then later it became a bit of a routine for me I guess?”
“So you wouldn’t mind joining me for drinks some time?” Chan asked and Wonwoo had to resist the urge to fall to his knees and beg Chan to let him join at least once. “Of course not, call me any time!” Wonwoo said instead and mentally clawed at his skin.
That night he yet again could not fall asleep, choosing to overanalyze every single interaction he had with Chan instead.
He understood the nature of his feelings toward Chan fairly early on. He was well aware of the fact that he perceived Chan differently than he did the other members. In fact, he didn’t think he ever viewed Chan as a cute dongsaeng to take care of. Chan was always just the cute guy Wonwoo was obsessed with. Wonwoo had recognized the tell-tell signs of a crush right away. He had been slightly mortified in the beginning, thinking he was a bit of a freak because everyone was always going on about how Chan was their baby. Yet, Wonwoo made peace with the fact that he had a crush on Chan. He also made peace with the fact that it would be a one-sided, unrequited crush and he might die alone because he’ll be too busy basking in Chanshine to notice anyone else. Somehow Wonwoo didn’t care too much back then.
These days though… he couldn’t help but wish he was Chan’s first pick. That he was the one Chan wanted to hang out with, to call whenever the smallest thing happens, to watch a new show with, to check out new places with. Instead Wonwoo felt like he was just one of the hyungs to Chan. Not a special hyung. Just a seventeen hyung. Still better than being strangers, he supposed.
It was this bitterness in him that led him to ask Chan to go to the aquarium with him.
“All of a sudden?” Chan asked. It was after a slow day of practice and Chan had been getting ready to head home. “You said you’ve never been. That makes no sense, everyone must experience the aquarium at least once.” Wonwoo said simply. Chan just stared at him for a moment and Wonwoo was starting to regret it. After all, they’re never hung out just the two of them. Maybe Chan thought it was too weird and out of the blue.
“All right, sure, why not!” Chan finally said with a bright smile just as the alarm bells were starting to go off in Wonwoo’s mind.
Wonwoo definitely did not spend an unnecessary amount of time picking out his outfit for their outing (definitely not a date). He even picked out a restaurant they could go to afterwards. He picked up Chan (again, not date style) who looked extra endearing that evening.
The aquarium-not-date idea seemed to be a success because Chan loved it. He kept excitedly pointing out all the exhibits, taking pictures, and exclaiming in admiration. Wonwoo simply smiled at him like a loser in love. His heart definitely did not skip a beat when Chan pulled him in for a selfie together or when they sat to eat ice cream next to each other and their legs rested against each other’s.
Wonwoo suggested the idea of dinner and Chan’s eyes sparkled. “Wow you even planned a dinner date!” he exclaimed and Wonwoo had to remind himself how to breathe and walk (date! Date! DATE!).
Dinner was accompanied by drinks and Chan was happily buzzed while yapping about something. Wonwoo listened with full concentration, enough to forget his own food and drink.
“Hyung, you’re not eating anything!” Chan pointed out, shoving some meat towards his mouth. Wonwoo accepted the piece of meat, trying to stay normal (Chan fed me food on our date!). “Am I boring you too much?” Chan asked a little somberly and that immediately made Wonwoo sit up straight.
“Absolutely not! What makes you think that? I am enjoying your company very much, Chan,” Wonwoo felt panicked. He could not afford to let Chan think anything of the sort lest he chose to never go out with Wonwoo again.
Chan smiled at him, a shy smile that had Wonwoo melting into a puddle. “Okay, I believe you. I have to say hyung, it’s quite fun to go out with you. We should do it more!”
(MORE DATES SECURED!)
“Of course!”
“Actually, I always wanted to invite you for drinks but I thought you wouldn’t like to go out so I never did…” Chan trailed off and Wonwoo’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
“Seriously?” Wonwoo couldn’t help but ask, “and I used to wonder why you never asked me to drink with you even though you did it with every other member.” Wonwoo said, hiding his face behind his soju glass as he took a shot.
Chan had the audacity to blush and it was a miracle Wonwoo didn’t choke on the soju. “Oh, sorry”, was all Chan said.
Wonwoo shook his head, “So my parents were right, computer games really are bad for you huh,” he attempted at light humor. Thankfully it worked and Chan let out a loud laugh, the kind that Wonwoo absolutely adored.
Their conversation must have stuck with Chan. Much to Wonwoo’s surprise, Chan showed up at their downstairs apartment on a random Tuesday even when the rest of the members were out (yes even Jihoon who was probably kidnapped for the day by Soonyoung).
“Oh everyone’s out,” Wonwoo had said when he saw Chan at the door, complete with bed hair, sleep marks, and stubble.
“I know,” Chan said, “They’re being very loud upstairs.” he simply said.
Wonwoo nodded, of course he understood.
He assumed Chan wanted to finish off his sleep in one of the members’ empty beds or the couch. What he did not expect was for Chan to make a beeline for Wonwoo’s bed and flop on it, face first, snuggling into Wonwoo’s unmade sheets.
Wonwoo tried not to pull his hair out and kick himself and instead flopped on the bed next to Chan. Why, he wasn’t sure. He had been gaming till then at his desk so why did he sit on the bed? (because Channie is in his bed!)
“What are you doing today, hyung?” Chan asked, interrupting Wonwoo’s concentrated attempts at breathing like a normal person.
“N-nothing much,” he stuttered for god knows what reason.
Chan turned his head around to look up at Wonwoo whose face was now flushed. “Wanna go to the arcade with me?” Wonwoo nodded his head because he might accidentally squeal if he opened his mouth.
Chan smiled and Wonwoo had the sudden urge to lean down and kiss him.
Instead Wonwoo brought up a hand to ruffle Chan’s hair which did not help his serious case of bed hair.
“Not if you look like this though,” Wonwoo joked and Chan lazily attempted to slap Wonwoo’s thigh.
Wonwoo couldn’t help but notice how domestic this all was and forced himself to get up, “You want breakfast?” he asked (because cooking for your crush will completely ruin the domesticity of course).
Chan looked at him skeptically, “Yes of course but maybe not if you’re going to cook,” Chan said and Wonwoo playfully yelled at him. Chan actually giggled at that, making Wonwoo sit back down and shove Chan so he rolled over on to his back. “Maybe I’ll just order something?” and Chan laughed even harder.
The entire day was probably the most domestic day he’d ever had. They ate breakfast together, showered (not together of course that would be crazy), and got ready for the day. Chan borrowed Wonwoo’s clothes because it was just too much trouble to go upstairs. Wonwoo’s brain definitely did not short-circuit at the sight of Chan drowning slightly in Wonwoo’s sweater. Spending the day at the arcade playing silly games and cracking silly jokes. Having more food together. Getting drinks together. Bringing more drinks back to Wonwoo’s place and continuing their drinking session there.
By the time Wonwoo noticed the time it was already almost midnight and Chan was happily drunk, swaying from side to side as he freestyled a song, using Wonwoo’s hand as a microphone. Wonwoo simply joined in with ad libs because what else is a man supposed to do.
Jun had returned to the apartment and looked rather surprised at the sight. “What are you guys even doing,” he had asked as a more of a rhetorical question, while shaking his head. “Just go to sleep, it’s late,” he said. Wonwoo waved at him, having been rendered a drunk fool, so Jun just sighed and retired to his room.
“Hyung let’s sleep,” Chan said, unfazed by Jun’s intrusion, pulling Wonwoo up by his arm and dragging him to his room. They collapsed into Wonwoo’s bed and Chan snuggled up against Wonwoo. This sobered Wonwoo up a little and he just observed Chan as he nuzzled his face into Wonwoo’s shoulder. He made sure to imprint this memory into the back of his eyelids. He definitely didn’t want to forget it from being too drunk. He pulled up the blankets over Chan and himself and drifted off to sleep, with the scent of Chan’s hair overtaking his senses.
Chan didn’t run away the next morning. Instead he groaned loudly like an old man and rubbed his eyes. “Wow we must’ve drank a lot yesterday, hyung,” he said, turning to look at Wonwoo. After which he proceeded to laugh in Wonwoo’s face.
“What?” Wonwoo asked quite flustered. “Hyung! You slept with your glasses on!” Ah, that would explain how he was able to observe Chan so well and clearly last night while going to sleep and why his nose bridge felt like it had been sliced open.
Wonwoo simply chuckled softly, taking his glasses off to assess any damage. Chan scrunched his nose and pinched Wonwoo’s cheeks, something Wonwoo never imagined Chan would do. “You’re adorable, hyung,” he said and Wonwoo playfully shoved him. “You’re a menace, Lee Chan.” followed by Chan’s loud laughter.
There was a knock on the door and then a disgruntled Kim Mingyu was standing in Wonwoo’s room.
“I thought I heard Chan… I was not hallucinating then?” Mingyu said, a slight smirk and eyebrow raised. Wonwoo blushed, scrambling to sit up. “Yeah I stayed over last night,” Chan said while stretching like a puppy, his head somehow making its way into Wonwoo’s lap. Wonwoo looked down at him in surprise but not before noticing the slightly amused look on Mingyu’s face.
“You two, come out for breakfast if you want,” Mingyu said before leaving.
Wonwoo could not resist the urge to run a hand through Chan’s hair, stroking it softly. They stayed like that in silence for a bit.
“Hyung,” Chan said, and then silence.
“Hmm?” Wonwoo asked, in a state of such calm now that he was stroking Chan’s hair.
“I had fun yesterday,” Chan said, playing with Wonwoo’s other hand. Wonwoo’s hand tingled where Chan touched it.
“Me too,” Wonwoo said softly.
There was another moment of silence before Chan sat up. Wonwoo followed his every movement till Chan was looking at him.
“Can I kiss you?”
The question knocked the wind out of Wonwoo, and he nearly choked on air. “W-what?”
Chan blushed profusely, a look of panic setting in. “N-nevermind, sorry I didn’t mean- I’ll just go-”
Wonwoo leaned forward to grab Chan by the back of his neck and pull him towards himself to crash their lips together. The kiss lasted mere seconds but it was enough to keep Chan from running away.
“Something like this?” Wonwoo asked, an unexplained confidence taking over him.
“God yes,” Chan said, leaning in to capture Wonwoo’s lips again. This time the kiss lasted longer, starting out hasty but transitioning into a slower, deeper kiss.
Wonwoo’s heart was racing and he wasn’t even sure how he ended up here, kissing Lee Chan in his bedroom but he was not complaining. Especially when Chan was an exceptionally good kisser and was now deepening the kiss with his tongue.
Chan let out a small noise and Wonwoo nearly collapsed from it. “Fuck,” he said when they finally pulled away slightly to breathe.
“Hyung, oh my god,” Chan said, moving into Wonwoo’s lap and hugging him hard .
“Hyung I like you so much I thought I was going to go crazy but I was so scared I was going to ruin everything,” Chan blurted out, pulling back to look at Wonwoo.
Wonwoo simply looked at him with awe, heart leaping with joy at the words.
“Chan… Channie… you like me?” Wonwoo asked dumbly. He could not comprehend this situation other than the fact that Lee Chan was in his lap and Lee Chan liked him.
“So fucking much,” Chan said before going back in for a bruising kiss. Wonwoo groaned, the kiss sending him to the seventeenth heaven.
Wonwoo moved them so Chan was lying on his back and Wonwoo was hovering over him. Confidence surging back into him.
“So you really didn’t know about my huge hopeless crush on you since forever?” Wonwoo asked, not even embarrassed by his admission.
Chan’s eyes, which had gotten decidedly darker, widened. “You did? This whole time?” Wonwoo smiled and nodded. “Since like day one,”
“Oh god you liked me this whole time I’m such an idiot,” Wonwoo giggled and leaned back in for a kiss.
Things were starting to get heated and Wonwoo even gave an experimental roll of his hips into Chan's, eliciting delicious sounds from both. That was until Chan’s stomach growled loudly and Wonwoo laughed at Chan’s adorable blush and pout.
“Come on, let’s go have Mingyu’s breakfast,” Wonwoo said, pulling Chan up with him.
“We won’t… say anything yet, right?” Chan asked, shyly. Wonwoo ruffled his hair a little and left a sweet kiss on Chan’s temple. “We don’t have to tell anyone anything till we’re both ready.”
Chan gave him the sweetest smile before they went out for breakfast.
Now Mingyu was no idiot and he did not miss the tooth-rotting smiles being exchanged and the overall lovey-dovey air around the two. Wonwoo and Chan weren’t exactly known to spend a lot of time together. Mingyu was perceptive enough to get an idea of what might be happening and he contended himself by smirking at them, rolling his eyes at how long the idiots took to finally find each other, and sighing at the long months ahead of him when the two would be keeping it “lowkey”, and acting “subtle” around the members while “secretly” dating.