Work Text:
Mingyu had always known this day would come, but nothing could have prepared him for the weight of actually facing it.
It was past two in the morning in Paris, and the hotel suite was wrapped in an eerie kind of silence, broken only by the occasional hum of the city outside. He had been tossing and turning for the past hour, his body still on Korea’s time despite being thousands of miles away. The excitement of attending Dior’s Fashion Week had fizzled out, replaced by a gnawing emptiness he couldn’t quite shake.
Then, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. A notification from Weverse. His heart, already restless, thudded in his chest as he reached for it.
_"Hello. This is PLEDIS Entertainment. We would like to share the news that WONWOO of SEVENTEEN will be starting his mandatory military service from April 3 this year..."_
Mingyu sat up immediately, the glow of his phone screen illuminating the crease between his brows. He read the statement once. Then twice. His grip on the phone tightened, his chest growing heavy with emotions he hadn’t had time to name yet.
Wonwoo was leaving.
Of course, he had known it was coming. They had talked about it, brushed over it in fleeting conversations between schedules. But now that it was official—now that the date was set—it felt like something was being ripped away from him.
Swallowing hard, Mingyu ran a hand over his face, trying to steady his breathing. His mind raced, thoughts colliding into one another in a chaotic mess. Wonwoo would be away. They would be apart for the longest time since they had met. Mingyu had always been the one to protect him, to take care of him, to make sure he never had to struggle with anything alone. But now, he wouldn’t be there.
A sharp ache spread through his chest. He needed to go home.
Not in a few weeks. Not after Fashion Week. Now.
Without hesitation, he threw off the covers, grabbed his phone, and booked the next flight back to Korea. His schedule be damned—nothing mattered more than Wonwoo right now.
---
By the time he arrived in Korea, the apartment was quiet, bathed in the warm glow of the city lights outside. The familiar scent of home greeted him the moment he stepped inside—soft traces of Wonwoo’s cologne mixed with the faint aroma of coffee, the kind that lingered in the air even when he wasn’t drinking it.
Mingyu took a deep breath, steadying himself. It was late, and he knew Wonwoo was most likely in his gaming room, setting up for a live stream. He had mentioned it in passing before Mingyu left for Paris, promising fans he would go live as soon as he had some free time.
Just as Mingyu was about to take a step forward, he heard the faint sound of the front door unlocking. A second later, Wonwoo emerged from the hallway, dressed in his usual comfortable loungewear—an oversized hoodie that was unmistakably Mingyu’s and a pair of loose sweatpants. His hair was slightly tousled, glasses slipping down his nose as he blinked at the unexpected sight before him.
“Mingyu?” Wonwoo’s voice was soft, tinged with surprise.
Mingyu didn’t answer. He just crossed the room in three long strides and pulled Wonwoo into his arms.
Wonwoo tensed for only a moment before relaxing against him, his arms coming up to wrap around Mingyu’s back. He felt the way Mingyu clung to him, his breath warm against his shoulder, his body trembling slightly with unspoken emotions.
He let him hold on, let him take his time.
After a long moment, Wonwoo tilted his head slightly, his voice gentle as he asked, “What’s wrong? What made you come home?”
Mingyu remained silent, his grip on Wonwoo tightening as if letting go would make everything real. Wonwoo, patient as ever, gave him another moment before carefully guiding them toward the couch. They sank onto the familiar blue cushions, Mingyu still curled up against him, his face buried in the crook of Wonwoo’s neck.
The silence stretched between them, but Wonwoo didn’t rush him. Instead, he ran his fingers through Mingyu’s hair, soothing him the way he always did. Eventually, Mingyu exhaled a shaky breath.
“I’m not ready,” he murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “To be lonely.”
Wonwoo’s heart ached at the vulnerability in those words. He pulled back slightly, enough to see Mingyu’s face. His usually bright eyes were clouded with worry, lips pressed into a thin line.
“I don’t want you to go,” Mingyu admitted, his voice breaking ever so slightly. “I know you have to, and I know it’s important, but—I don’t want to be without you.”
A soft sigh escaped Wonwoo’s lips as he intertwined their fingers. He gave Mingyu’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be okay, Gyu.”
“You say that, but—I won’t be there to make sure,” Mingyu argued, frustration and helplessness mixing in his tone. “You can’t even cook properly, and you hate waking up early, and you—” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I always take care of you, Wonwoo. And now you’ll be away, and I won’t be able to do anything.”
A small, knowing smile tugged at Wonwoo’s lips. He squeezed Mingyu’s hands again. “I’ll probably be in civil service,” he explained gently. “That means I’ll still be able to come home sometimes.”
Mingyu lifted his head, searching Wonwoo’s eyes for any sign of doubt. “Promise?”
Wonwoo leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to Mingyu’s forehead before nodding. “Promise.”
Mingyu didn’t seem fully convinced. His lips pressed together, his brows furrowing slightly. Wonwoo, sensing his hesitation, shifted closer. Without another word, he cupped Mingyu’s face and kissed him—soft, slow, full of quiet reassurances.
Mingyu melted into the touch, his hands coming up to cradle Wonwoo’s face as he deepened the kiss just slightly before pulling away. His eyes lingered on Wonwoo’s, still searching for something—certainty, comfort, an anchor.
And then, Wonwoo spoke, his voice steady and filled with quiet conviction.
“You will always be my home, Mingyu.” His fingers traced soothing patterns along Mingyu’s arm. “No matter where I go, no matter how long I’m away—I will always come home to you.”
Mingyu let out a shaky breath, his arms wrapping around Wonwoo again as he buried his face in his shoulder. He held on tightly, as if grounding himself in those words, as if holding on tight enough would make the time apart hurt a little less.
The weight of exhaustion settled over them, their bodies warm against each other as the night stretched on. Neither of them noticed when their breaths evened out, when sleep finally pulled them under.
And as they lay there, tangled together on the couch, there was no doubt in either of their hearts—no matter the distance, no matter the time, they would always find their way back to each other.
Always.
The soft glow of the morning sun seeped through the curtains, casting a golden hue over the living room. The air was still, save for the rhythmic sound of Mingyu’s slow, steady breathing.
Wonwoo stirred first, his lashes fluttering as consciousness gently pulled him from sleep. For a moment, he stayed still, his body warm and comfortable beneath Mingyu’s embrace. His head rested against Mingyu’s chest, the slow rise and fall of it soothing against his own.
He turned his head slightly, catching sight of Mingyu’s face—soft, peaceful, his lips slightly parted as he remained lost in sleep. Wonwoo smiled to himself. It was rare to see Mingyu this still. Usually, he woke up restless, his energy boundless even in the early hours.
Carefully, Wonwoo shifted, attempting to sit up, but as soon as he moved, the arms around him tightened.
A low, sleepy grumble vibrated from Mingyu’s chest. “Where are you going?” His voice was thick with drowsiness, muffled against Wonwoo’s shoulder.
Wonwoo huffed a small laugh, settling back down. “I was just going to get up.”
“No,” Mingyu mumbled stubbornly, burying his face deeper into Wonwoo’s neck. “Stay.”
Wonwoo rolled his eyes fondly but didn’t protest. He let Mingyu cling to him, his warmth familiar and comforting. Then, just as he was about to close his eyes again, Mingyu sighed dramatically.
“If only I could get you pregnant…” he muttered.
Wonwoo froze.
“…then you wouldn’t have to do military service.”
There was a beat of silence.
And then—
“Mingyu!” Wonwoo turned, his eyes wide in disbelief as he smacked Mingyu’s arm, his cheeks blooming with heat.
Mingyu, finally cracking his eyes open, grinned lazily. “I’m serious,” he said, his voice still thick with sleep. “Then you’d have an excuse to stay home. With me.”
Wonwoo groaned, dragging a hand over his face, but he couldn’t stop the amused smile tugging at his lips. “You’re unbelievable.”
Mingyu chuckled, reaching up to cup Wonwoo’s cheek. “But you love me.”
Wonwoo sighed, feigning exasperation. “Unfortunately.”
Mingyu grinned wider, his fingers tracing lazy patterns along Wonwoo’s jaw. “Just think about it. Mini Wonwoo. Walking around with tiny glasses, judging me for everything I do.”
Wonwoo shook his head, laughing softly. “You really need to stop watching those ‘what if’ videos online.”
“But it’d be cute,” Mingyu whined, pulling Wonwoo closer again, his lips brushing against the top of his head. “A little version of you. Or us.”
Wonwoo sighed against Mingyu’s chest, the warmth of the morning wrapping around them like a cocoon. “You’re ridiculous.”
Mingyu hummed. “You still love me, though.”
Wonwoo tilted his head up, pressing a soft kiss to Mingyu’s jaw. “Unfortunately,” he repeated, the teasing glint in his eyes betraying the tenderness in his touch.
Mingyu grinned, content. If he could, he’d stay like this forever—wrapped up in warmth, in laughter, in Wonwoo.
For now, that was more than enough.
💚💜