Chapter Text
It was a crisp Wednesday evening, which meant that it was Seungmin's turn to have his late-night walk with Chan.
The rest of the team was at home, Minho cooking dinner in the kitchen, Jisung, Felix, and Jeongin screaming at the living room TV playing video games, and Hyunjin drawing in his sketch book with Changbin's head in his lap.
It was just Chan and Seungmin, strolling through the quiet streets, the sky overhead speckled with stars.
Seungmin was walking ahead, as usual. He was skipping along the sidewalk, occasionally hopping from one foot to the other, or kicking a little pebble down the street before clumsily toddling after it. He was just in his own little world.
Chan couldn’t help but smile as he watched Seungmin run along like a playful puppy. As their goalie, Seungmin was often stoic, level-headed, and someone Chan could lean on when times got tough. But off the ice? Seungmin was his puppy. Bounding along without a care in the world, putting his full trust in his captain to keep him safe.
“Seungmin, slow down!” Chan called out, chuckling. “You’re going to get ahead of me.”
Seungmin grinned over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “You’re just too slow, old man!” he teased, making it a point to hop even faster.
"Little shit," Chan murmured, shaking his head affectionately. After realizing that Seungmin had no intentions of slowing down, he sucked in a deep breath and began to sprint after him, full-force.
The young goalie shrieked in delight, trying his best to sprint away from Chan's outstretched arms, but it was no use. Chan caught up to Seungmin easily, wrapping him up into his arms and lifting him off of the ground.
"Ha! Gotchu, Seungmin!"
Seungmin squirmed in Chan's hold. "No! You can't do that! You're stronger than me, it's not fair!" he cackled, kicking his feet wildly.
Chan eventually set Seungmin back down on the sidewalk, chuckling when Seungmin lightly smacked his hands as if disciplining a child. "Bad hyung! Bad! Don't bully Minnie!"
They walked in silence for a while after that, just drinking in the faint sounds of the city around them.
Then, out of nowhere, Seungmin blurted out, “I have a secret.”
Chan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? A secret? What kind of secret?”
Seungmin looked over at him, a smirk pulling at his lips. “Well… I think I might have a huge crush on you, Chan.”
Chan blinked, unsure if he heard Seungmin correctly. “What?”
A dopey grin spread across the expanse of Seungmin's face. “I think I love you, Captain. Like, love you-love you."
Chan stared at him, mouth slightly open. What was he hearing right now?
Seungmin started to cackle, loud and heaving. "Ha! Gotcha! I do love you Chan! Because you're my dad."
Chan stared at him for a beat, still processing. "What?"
The goalie skittered down the sidewalk again, jumping around to face Chan once he was a good yard away from him. "Hyung! I love youuuu!" he shouted, spreading his arms wide above his head.
“I—” Chan stammered, completely taken aback by Seungmin's sudden confession.
“I know, it’s weird,” Seungmin said, voice quieter this time. "But I guess I don't say it enough. Also, I really want to be hugged by you more, you know? I love when you hug me. You’re always so warm and comforting. I just want more of that.”
Chan blinked, slightly taken aback by the bluntness, but his heart was melting with affection. Seungmin, staring at him with those shining, innocent eyes. Seungmin, who he leaned on during tough times on the ice. Seungmin, who he thought didn't like physical affection very much, wanted his hugs? He wanted his affection?
“Well, I… I had no idea you felt that way, Seungmin,” Chan said softly, a smile creeping onto his face. “But if you want more hugs, you know I’m always happy to give you one.”
Seungmin’s eyes lit up, and he immediately bounced over to Chan, wrapping his arms around him in a tight hug. Chan chuckled as Seungmin nuzzled into him, wrapping his own strong arms around the goalie's thin waist.
“I really do love you, old man,” Seungmin murmured, squeezing him a little tighter. “You’re like… my everything. My second parent, my favorite hyung. You make everything feel better. You’re basically the glue that holds me together.”
Chan’s heart swelled, his arms squeezing tighter in response. “I love you too, Seungmin. You’re one of the best things that’s ever happened to this team, and I’m so proud of you. Always.”
Seungmin grinned against his chest, still holding on. “You don’t say that enough, you know?”
“Well, I’m saying it now,” Chan replied, laughing softly. “But if you want me to hug you more, just say it. I’ll always be happy to.”
Seungmin pulled back just enough to look up at Chan. “I’m going to hold you to that, Captain,” he teased. “I expect 20 hugs every day. Minimum."
Chan chuckled as he ruffled his hair affectionately. “Deal. But you’re going to have to catch me first.” With that, it was Chan's turn to start sprinting down the sidewalk towards the house, his laughs echoing around the empty neighborhood.
“Hyuuuung!” Seungmin squealed, taking off after Chan, toddling as fast as his legs would carry him.
They both reached the front door of the house, panting and out of breath. Chan reached for the door handle, the aroma of Minho's dinner practically begging him to open the door, but Seungmin reached out and stopped him.
"One last hug?" Seungmin whispered, eyes hopeful. Chan smiled, wrapping his arms around Seungmin, both of them sighing at the contact.
"Love you, Seungmo."
"Love you too, hyung."
Chan patted Seungmin's back before releasing him, taking a moment to share a soft smile with his goalie, before finally pulling open the door.
"Hey boys! We're home! What's for dinner?"