Work Text:
On most days, Hanbin views leadership as his professional matters; helping the members with their struggles, motivating them when they are feeling down, scheduling their agenda, making sure everyone is on the same page, and so on.
But on several occasions, Hanbin keeps its definition easy, as simple as spending time with each member equally.
Ever since debuting, Hanbin hasn’t hung out that much with Matthew, so on this free day, he ought to keep the ‘muscular oppa’ company.
Walking through the dorm alley, he is thinking about the logical reason, ‘Shall I ask him right away or start with saying his lips are kissable?’ Those thoughts linger in his head, he immediately shakes his head to get rid of the latter.
“Hambin hyung! What are you doing on this floor?”
“Oh, hi, Matthew! I was going to check how it is going downstairs.”
“Jiwoon hyung is hitting the gym, Yujinie is at the school, Ricky and Gyubinie are watching k-dramas together, I’m thinking of going to the practice room. How ‘bout chu?”
Communication is where Hanbin is skilled at as he was chosen to be the leader because of it. He has never found communication hard, but things are different with Matthew. It is not easy to simultaneously listen and stare – especially when words come from those cute, curled lips.
“Great!” The demon inside Hanbin takes over as his right hand unexpectedly pinches Matthew’s cheeks. Realizing his previous answer is questionable – expressed through Matthew’s tilted head and widened eyes, asking for explanation – Hanbin continues, “We can go there together!”
ZEROBASEONE is two months away from their first comeback. They have been going back and forth to vocal classes and dance practices – any kind of training to get them prepared – as well as rehearsals for their upcoming stage.
But today is their day off, they are allowed to take a break, do whatever activities that recharge their energy, so that they can gain more power during intensive timelines.
That is exactly why Hanbin and Matthew end up going online, looking for trends on the SNS that they can try to film.
Their passion for choreographies make them engage in various dances; from the funny, kind of aegyo ones to the challenging moves.
“Hyung! How about this one? ‘Click Like’ from ‘Street Woman Fighter 2’! I like the song and I believe it matches your dancing style.”
“Woah, I actually have taken a few attempts on this challenge, sure we can shoot this one later!”
Hanbin offers to assist Matthew throughout the movements as he has already known some of the steps.
Vibing into the hip-hop beat and flow, along with Hanbin hyung dancing to the song, is the best feeling that Matthew can ever ask for.
Matthew focuses on monitoring his moves, having his eyes locked on the mirror when suddenly he hears a giggle from Hanbin.
Usually, he is a ‘hyung? waeee?’ person, whining to get the answer of his question, but today Matthew gravitates more into a puppy – leaning his head to his left shoulder while visualizing a puzzled expression.
Instead of answering, Hanbin comes to Matthew and places his talented, firm hands on Matthew’s hips. Some strands of his hair flutter as Hanbin says closely from his back, almost like a whisper, “May I?”
Matthew carries on with giving a consent to Hanbin’s touch. It should be casual, he should feel normal about this because his hyung has always been titled as ‘the chronic waist grabber’. But today’s skinship pulses his heart to skip a beat.
Glad that the demon doesn’t take over him, Matthew still can concentrate even when Hanbin is guiding him in the very most attractive way possible.
After a few takes and uncountable touches, they finally wrap up and save the dance video. They lie down on the floor, ceiling being their view – except one of them decides to enjoy looking at the other one’s face.
“Hey, are you up to record a song cover too today?” Hanbin asks Matthew who is still facing upwards, zoning out on the ground. Matthew agrees upon the request eventually.
“I feel really energized today,” Hanbin confesses and highlights the word ‘really’, “And also a bit emotional that the flashbacks hit me out of the blue.”
Hanbin starts to talk about this beautiful, colorful friendship – Matthew adds stories from his point of view as well. They mention all the paths they have crossed: they were in the same agency, then Hanbin left with a piece of note saying sorry they could not debut together, Matthew has kept that inside his wallet until this very day, auditioning for boys planet, and end up being in the same group.
Deepening the conversation, they think it was crazy how two people who lived a very different life and dreamed about different things are led to walk this flowery path together because of the same passion: dance. They are curious about what the future holds, but one thing for sure is that their dance will not stop.