Work Text:
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
Best Leader! Best Leader! Best Leader!
This sentence rings into Seungcheol’s mind every now and then.
As fans tirelessly chant in sold out arenas and stadiums, he feels like he’s reached the top of the world.
And maybe he did.
Maybe he still is.
Yet right now, he doesn’t feel like the best leader he should be.
Not when he’s peeking into Jihoon’s studio and the younger is still there, hunched over his fancy buttons, even when it was already 4:23 am.
No one should be working at this hour, and although he admits he had his fair share of staying late—albeit even the rest of the group due to late photoshoots, dance practice, and recordings in the past— today was a normal wednesday.
Nothing was scheduled, no interviews to attend to, they could even visit museums.
Yet there was Jihoon, working overtime when he could have just been using the time to rest.
And so as the leader, he feels responsible somehow, that one of his members, more importantly his best friend, is here working overtime on top of his already overtime hours,
as if the weather from the fucking yuletide wasn’t freezing enough.
It was time for Jihoon to rest, and it was Seungcheol’s responsibility to make sure he does.
So he pushes the door open.
“Ji, time to wrap up,” Seungcheol says with a lace of authority in his voice, even if he was sleepy himself, walking towards where Jihoon was perched over his computer.
He hears a small grunt and Seungcheol knows Jihoon is as tired as he is, but Jihoon wasn’t Jihoon if he wasn’t stubborn.
“Jihoon. Come on. Just save and continue tomorrow.”
Seungcheol watches as Jihoon shakes his head a no, clicks more keys, then a new melody drifts into the four walls of the producer’s soundproofed room.
And Seungcheol would be lying if he said it wasn’t great.
God, Jihoon was too good with this passion of his. It always mesmerized Seungcheol how much of a natural Jihoon was.
But as much as Seungcheol wants to take more time to admire the excellence Lee Jihoon was, he was already doing that for the past, what, fourteen years now?
As of the moment, it was Seungcheol’s priority to make sure he tucks his stubborn producer to bed.
So, he tries again.
Seungcheol gently pulls Jihoon’s chair, presses pause and swiftly reaches over to click the save button, “Ji, your eyes are begging you to sleep.”
Jihoon groans as he shakes his head, not taking his eyes off the screen as he drifts off, “But I’m almost done. Just a bit more… a bit more..”
The older shakes his head, refusing to cave as he bends down so their eyes level,
“No, you’re always almost done. The sun will be up but you will not be done. Just rest.”
Seungcheol watches as Jihoon’s eyes shift upwards to meet his own, as if considering if he should listen or not.
“Do I have a choice?”
Seungcheol doesn’t stop the roll of his eyes,
“Brat. I’m not only doing this for you, you know. If your health declines just because you refuse to take the appropriate rest you need, everyone else will suffer too. But I’m sure you’re well aware of this, right?”
Jihoon presses his lips into a thin line, and Seungcheol knows he’s already won.
The younger clicks a few buttons and Seungcheol watches as the monitor goes to sleep.
He doesn’t stop the dimpled smile that paints his face when Jihoon groans and shakes his head again as he catches this, “But I’m going back to this as soon as I wake up. You’re not stopping me.”
Seungcheol lets out a small laugh, “You need to actually sleep first before you try waking up and going back to this, Ji.”
Jihoon chuckles then, knowing he’s right. He finally stands up from his seat and pulls Seungcheol up with him.
Seungcheol always did love being the only one Jihoon would adhere to.
“You’re annoying, by the way.”
“Thanks. But I’m right.”
“Still annoying.”
Seungcheol grins, “You love me.”
Jihoon’s smile fades, looks up to meet Seungcheol’s eyes, and before the older could register what was happening, a hand tugs his head downwards and soft lips were pressing his.
As Seungcheol hesitates to wrap his hand around Jihoon’s waist as he starts to kiss back, the younger was already pulling away.
Jihoon’s eyes flutter open, smiles, then rasps,
“That was never a secret.”
Seungcheol blinks once, twice, then a few more times, “What was?”
The other responds with a shake of his head and a laugh, “As if you don’t know .”
But he… doesn’t?
Jihoon pats Seungcheol’s cheek, right where his dimple rests, then walks away, leaving the door open for the leader as he makes a left turn towards the direction of his own apartment, letting the quiet winter breeze waft into the studio.
He should be scolding Jihoon for this negligence.
But Seungcheol,
Seungcheol is left standing in Jihoon’s studio, mouth agape, wondering what he knows.
And it was only 4:50 am.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
See, Seungcheol thought they’d at least talk about it in the morning.
But they don’t.
And Seungcheol tries his best not to spiral.
Maybe Jihoon was just… too tired, right?
He didn’t know what he was doing?
Right.
That could happen sometimes.
Perhaps.
So now that he’s on the way to Jihoon’s studio once more, seemingly just 3:34 AM, breath fogging, he shouldn’t feel awkward at all, right?
They don’t have to talk about it.
They don’t have to talk about it at all.
It doesn’t mean anything.
It doesn’t have to mean anything.
Seungcheol makes one last effort to clear his head before he pushes the door open for the second time that week.
Jihoon looks up this time, swiveling his chair around to greet his visitor.
When he sees it’s Seungcheol, his eyes light up as he waits for the leader to reach him.
Seungcheol wonders if Jihoon was waiting for him or was he just not focused enough?
Jihoon grasps his hand when he does, pulling him closer, a smile starting to etch on his face, “It’s you.”
Seungcheol arches an eyebrow, “Yeah? Were you expecting someone else?”
The younger shakes his head, a glint in his eye as he tugs Seungcheol’s hand, gesturing for him to bend down.
When Seungcheol does, it only takes a millisecond for him to catch his breath before Jihoon’s leaning in and capturing his lips with his own for the second time that week.
And really, even if Jihoon was tired, this shouldn’t be normal, right?
Seungcheol should be the one to stop this.
He’s the general leader. The best leader at that.
Jihoon should learn a healthier way to cope with his supposed fatigue.
Seungcheol could show him.
But Seungcheol could also show him… how he can… twirl his tongue… in Jihoon’s mouth.
Ah.
God damn it.
Seungcheol hoists Jihoon up, hands snaking down the plane of Jihoon’s back to settle on his thighs.
Jihoon’s arms circle Seungcheol’s neck as his legs wrap securely around Seungcheol for good measure.
“Hi,” Jihoon greets, as if regarding Seungcheol for the first time, leaning into Seungcheol’s tiny bit of space to press a fleeting kiss on his lips.
Seungcheol thinks he might want Jihoon like this forever.
He groans lowly then.
He is the leader,
He should lead,
He should lead Jihoon to better methods of resting.
But as he’s leading Jihoon towards the couch to lay the younger down and kiss him some more, negotiates with some kind of deity that this is a better alternative for warmth for this winter, Seungcheol thinks that’s as good of a leader he is.
Well, at least for now.
At 4:02 am.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
See, It could have been because of the ungodly hour of 4:43AM, or the pressure of the upcoming comeback.
If Jihoon kisses Seungcheol under the moonlight, or behind closed doors, it might be because Jihoon was tired, or even the pressure of the holiday rush.
But what excuse did Seungcheol have?
That was already a few nights ago though. So he should get over it.
Move on.
“Cheol,” Seungcheol hears Joshua call out, snapping him out of his thoughts,
“Jihoon’s still at the company?”
“Think so. Why?”
Seungcheol looks up from his phone to see Joshua’s teasing smile,
“What?”
“Because you keep checking your phone? Not even listening to me? And only heard me when I mentioned him?”
Seungcheol scowls, “I was listening!”
Joshua arches an eyebrow, “Yeah? What was I saying?”
“Um,” Seungcheol trails off, “Jeonghan?”
The younger sputters, slightly reddening, “Well,”
Aha.
Seungcheol - 1
(Joshua was probably at 101 points but Seungcheol would choose to ignore that.)
“Doesn’t erase the fact you were checking your phone while I was talking! Be a better hyung!”
The latter grimaces, “I don’t even remember the last time you called me hyung. Shut up!”
Joshua chortles. “So how are things, really? You guys seem like you’re spending more time together? Or am I wrong? The bags under your eyes are getting worse too. So,”
Seungcheol shrugs then, “I guess we are.”
“You guess?” Joshua arches an eyebrow, “Something wrong, Cheol?”
“Ah,” The older says wistfully, “Maybe it’s about time I told someone.”
Nothing would hurt. This is Joshua. He won’t tell anyone.
Seungcheol needs an outlet and who’s a better person to vent to than his same-aged bandmate?
Joshua tilts his head, leaning in conspiratorially with renewed interest,
“Tell me what? You have something to tell me? What is it?”
Worst case scenario, Jeonghan will take some kind of leave from the barracks just to visit Seungcheol’s place and laugh at his face while Joshua goads him.
God.
On second thought…
Maybe he shouldn’t tell anyone at all until he’s sorted this out.
Jihoon’s just kissing him every 4 am for the past two weeks anyway.
Totally not a big deal.
That’s completely healthy!
The weather was getting colder by the minute too! It should be valid for a source of heat!
Plus, Seungcheol was kissing back! It’s not like he didn’t want this.
After all,
He’s been wanting Jihoon ever since he realized they were chasing the same dream.
Wanting Jihoon since they debuted together,
Wanted Jihoon even more when Jihoon started kissing him for the past two weeks.
And if it’s safe to say, It looks like Jihoon could want him too.
If it turns out he doesn’t… Then.
Seungcheol knows Jihoon will always be his best friend.
That’s the thing about falling for your best friend, isn’t it?
You still get to have them after confessing.
Right?
Right.
Even if Seungcheol’s not so sure about how to return to the way they were, or pretend the butterflies weren’t swarming in his ribcage whenever Jihoon was around.
Pretend he doesn’t feel the odd clench in his chest when he thinks he’d gone too long without talking to Jihoon.
Pretend he’s not in love.
But he can.. think about that later.
He is the leader and the eldest, after all. All in one.
He should know what to do.
Define whatever this is.
Just sort it out.
As if on cue, Seungcheol’s phone pings! And it’s the object of his affections– The Lee Jihoon, childhood best friend extraordinaire– asking him where he was.
The time above the notification reads 11:13 pm.
Isn’t it too early?
Seungcheol abruptly stands up and Joshua all but rolls his eyes once more, “Let me guess. Jihoon?”
11pm is early, right?
He’s needed.
Jihoon needs his leader right now.
He nods then, “Needs me at the studio, I think. I have to go.”
Joshua salutes, “Tell him I said hello. And take it easy on our Cheollie! Try not to eat his face too much!”
“How did you–”
The other barks out a laugh, as he grins, “I have my ways. Now go! Good luck!”
Seungcheol only shakes his head, says, “Say hi to Jeonghan for me,” watches Joshua redden at the request, before he’s being shoved outside Joshua’s place and taking the next cab to Jihoon’s studio.
By 11:28 pm, Seungcheol was on his way to Jihoon to sort things out.
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.
By Seungcheol definition, ‘sort things out’ apparently meant entering Jihoon’s studio and being pushed against the door as Jihoon pulls him into a searing kiss.
Jihoon’s arms tighten around the leader’s neck as the Seungcheol’s fingers bruise into Jihoon’s hips, tongues sliding messily together as the younger pulls them flush against each other.
Damn, was Jihoon that stressed?
Seungcheol could hear how loud they were, mouths connecting wetly, soft gasps almost echoing at everything they’ve been feeling. Seungcheol maneuvers them both so Jihoon’s back was against the door this time, their middles aching for friction.
Seungcheol never wanted it to stop, the way he has Jihoon in his arms like this augments wishful thinking, of how he could just have Jihoon right here, of how he could just decide if he can have this, every single day.
Seungcheol shakes his head, no, he has to remind himself that he did not come here to perpetuate more questions, but to actually start answering them.
So he reluctantly pulls away.
However, Jihoon somehow saw this gesture as an opportunity to latch his mouth on Seungcheol’s neck. Then, as if remembering they were public figures, moved and attached his lips where his shirt could easily hide the marks he’s about to leave.
Seungcheol could not have stopped the moan that escaped his mouth even if he tried.
“Ji,” He gasps, “Jesus Christ Jihoon, Ah,”
The younger stops sucking as he huffs out a soft laugh under his breath, “I know it’s his birthday soon but wow is my hair getting that long?”
Seungcheol shakes his head, stifling his own laugh, before pulling’s Jihoon’s chin up to leave a peck on his lips,
“Wait,” He lets out another breath, “We have to talk first.”
“We do?”
Seungcheol takes a moment to recollect his bearings before he’s tugging Jihoon to the couch,
“We do.”
Jihoon leans back on the cushion then, “Alright. About?”
How should he start this?
You have to stop kissing me?
But Jihoon doesn’t have to stop…
Seungcheol doesn’t want him to.
Maybe we can look for other methods to cope with your stress?
That makes him sound like a therapist.
We can’t keep doing this if you’re not in love with me?
That just makes Seungcheol sound pitiful.
How about—
“Who says I’m not in love with you?”
What?
Seungcheol halts his thoughts to shift his attention back to his best friend.
Was his hearing playing tricks on him or did Jihoon–
“I heard it. So who said?” Jihoon says firmly.
Seungcheol could hear a pin drop with how he’s been holding his breath, slight panic lodging in his throat, “Wh-What?”
Jihoon rolls his eyes and lets out a small laugh,
“Seungcheol ah, let me ask you one thing. What did you think we were doing?”
The leader blinks, brows knitting, because did Jihoon know something he didn’t? It was pretty obvious, wasn’t it?
They were– “Kissing?”
“And? Did you think that was normal?”
Seungcheol huffs out a breath, defensive at the tinge of judgement in Jihoon’s tone, “Hey! Times have changed! I thought you were too tired to notice you were kissing me at all!”
Jihoon runs his hand through his hair, before he’s pinching the bridge of his nose,
“Fifteen years.”
“What?”
“Fifteen years you’ve known me. In those fifteen years I’ve gone through different shades of fatigue. Did I ever kiss you?”
Seungcheol could say no, could say that if he feels Jihoon’s stared at him for a tad bit too long he’d think the other was merely zoning out. Seungcheol could say never, not even once, and it kind of hurt knowing it never crossed his mind to do so, because God knows it was on Seungcheol’s mind at least once a day.
Instead, he goes with–
“That’s not fair! Who knows who you’ve kissed when I’m not the one picking you up?”
“Seungcheol.”
“I can’t just assume you’d only do that for me!”
“Yah, Choi Seungcheol.”
“I can't even afford to think that you would ever feel like that!”
“Jesus Christ you’re frustrating, would you just–” And then Jihoon’s tilting his head to kiss him.
It’s gentle at first, Jihoon pressing his lips to Seungcheol’s, his own lips over the plush give of Jihoon’s, and when Jihoon opens his mouth, exhales a gasp into the kiss, Seungcheol sees fireworks.
This is nothing like their previous kisses before, and Seungcheol’s sure it’s not, because Jihoon’s hot push against his mouth, the sweep of his tongue,
Jihoon kisses like he desperately needs Seungcheol to understand something. And if Seungcheol’s wit has never failed him, then his guess is as good as any.
Fifteen years.
Fifteen years spending at least an hour of every day with the other person just an arm’s reach.
Seungcheol could easily say, could easily deny, could easily fathom that none of the glances Jihoon threw at him wasn’t anything but platonic.
But fifteen years.
Seungcheol probably knows Jihoon better than himself at this point already.
Seungcheol wants Jihoon.
And if Seungcheol has prided himself in the ability to know Jihoon just as well,
Then,
Jihoon must want him too.
And if, in the slimmest of chances that Seungcheol was actually wrong about this little eureka moment of his,
It would be fine.
It would be an honor,
Because there is no one on this earth he’d rather have his heart broken by than Lee Jihoon himself.
The producer pulls away then, eyes pleading,
“Please, tell me you got that.”
Seungcheol arches an eyebrow, aiming at being playful, casting the fishing rod into the lake, placing his cards on the table, leaping off the cliff,
“Eh, I’m not sure. Might need you to do it again just one more time.”
The younger exhales a laugh in disbelief, rolls his eyes in affection, and, tugs on Seungcheol’s shirt to press his body flush against his,
“As many as you want, leader-nim .”
At least, as many as their body would permit them to.
"Also, I thought it was fourteen years."
"It's fifteen, old man. Trust me."
"Hey who are you calling old—"
Jihoon shuts him up in the best way he knows how.
After all, it was only 12:01 am.