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Ian was perhaps the biggest wildcard Eunsan had met thus far.
Sure, he was good at what he does, but he was also cold, and hard to predict. A little strange, too, but others have assured him that he was just overthinking it.
It wasn't something which concerned him, anyway, except the few times the guy would get up and into his space. Who knew what living alone in a hotel living off nothing but protein shakes could do to a person. He's interested in being on good terms again, maybe?
Honestly, he'd just have to play along and see where it goes. All in all, he was happy that Eunpa got to train. He really seemed to brighten up nowadays, so that's at least one good thing.
"Hyung!" There his brother was. Seeing him this cheery made his day each time. "Training went well. Ian Hyung wanted me to tell you he's not coming to the meeting tomorrow. He's sick."
"Sick?" Eunsan repeated.
"Yeah. He came in with a mask today. Said it's a mild cold, but he doesn't want to spread it to anyone tomorrow in case it gets worse."
"Where is he?"
Ian ended up being in the restroom. He jolted briefly upon noticing Eunsan, and put the mask back on.
He's pale... Eunsan noted, his gaze drifting to him and the pill bottle that he was holding, supposedly for his illness.
"I heard you're sick," He begun. "Have you seen a doctor yet?"
Ian shook his head. "I'll manage." It wasn't obvious, but he could tell that Ian's eyes were slightly unfocused. A fever?
Without even thinking, Eunsan reached forward, pressing the back of his palm on Ian's forehead, just as he always did when Eunpa was sick. The athlete blinked, clearly taken aback, but said nothing.
He's burning up.
Withdrawing his hand, Eunsan sighed. "Look, I'm not trying to police you and your lifestyle, but we have a shoot next week. With your habit of only drinking protein shakes, it's no wonder you got sick."
What should he do? Aero's original schedule was to publish a poster of Ian soon, so it's problematic if he were to be out cold for the rest of the week...
"Why don't you come over and stay temporarily? It's not much, but I'll at least be able to make you something warm to eat." He offered.
"That's okay?" Ian was staring at him with a dumbfounded expression.
"I mean, sure. I bet Eunpa's going to be all excited that you're here too," Eunsan caved in, "But I'm not running a charity. You're getting kicked out the moment you recover."
The next few days, he tried to make some healthier dishes and broths for Ian, who gulped up the food readily without a single complaint. The one time he'd accidentally left a piece of carrot in his soup, Ian ended up eating it as well, which left Eunsan puzzled on whether he really was as picky as his manager worded him out to be. According to him, Ian was described to get pissy whenever these vegetables were found in his food, and he would personally pick them out one by one until the food was free of them.
But when asked, Ian merely shrugged and said matter-of-factly that he would eat anything his sunbae made for him.
... Maybe he really was doing all these just to salvage their relationship? It wasn't like Eunsan didn't notice the way Ian's going out of his way for his sake. His face was always stoic, but his eyes would widen slightly whenever Eunsan entered the room to call him for dinner, and he'd nod in appreciation each time, too.
What's more, having Ian around meant Eunpa's doing better than ever. Apart from wanting to share everything with Ian with a bright demeanor, he even tried mimicking the way he ate and the things he did in idle time, which Eunsan stared speechlessly in response to. His brother was such a big fan that it's hopeless to tell him otherwise. But as long as he's constantly in a better mood now, nothing else really mattered.
While doing the dishes, Eunsan listened to his brother babble on about his day, which had (unsurprisingly) started to include more about Ian than not.
"As long as you don't neglect your school work." He reminded.
"I know, I know. But I'm confident I can get back on the national team now, so I'm happy," Eunpa murmured. "Honestly, though. I can tell that Ian Hyung is not just doing this for the sake of dad, you know?"
Eunsan stopped. "What do you mean?"
"Whenever we had breaks, Ian Hyung would look as though he's brooding. But when I asked him, he'd switch the subject and ask me about you." Eunpa recalled. "Oh, and! He's been asking me a lot about what you like."
Seriously? During training with Eunpa? Sometimes he really couldn't figure out what Ian was thinking. Was he really for real about wanting to be friends with him again?
Since he's always focused on seeing Ian as an enemy, Eunsan didn't remember much of their time together when they were considered friends. But it was true that he did carry him to the infirmary when he felt sick that other time.
... He supposed it wouldn't be fair if he were to be so cold towards Ian all the time. After all, it wasn't as if Ian was deliberately trying to put him in a bad spot.
"I'll go check on him." Finishing the last of his dishes, Eunsan dried off his hands and headed for the makeshift room Ian was staying in. The taller seemed to have settled into a leisure routine of reading some of the books Eunsan offered him during this time, and was in the middle of one when he knocked.
"How's your fever?" Eunsan asked, touching his forehead with the back of his palm once more. Thankfully, his temperature appeared to have gone down a considerable amount now. Ian lightly leaned into the touch, but Eunsan took it as a sign to back off, dropping his hand down to the sides.
"You're... Not actually sick anymore, are you?" Eunsan asked, unimpressed.
"What gives?"
"You're not as pale as before. And let's face it, you're not cut out to be an actor. I can tell your coughs and sniffles are forced."
"... Sunbae." Ian looked guilty.
He's strange. So very strange.
Did Ian actually take his place as charity? Or was he just lonely, since he's always been living alone in a hotel?
Whatever. "The shoot's coming up, so I'm glad you're fine." Eunsan sighed. "Also. You know you can still come over at times, right? You don't have to play pretend just to stick around."
He hated to admit it, but he wasn't adverse to Ian staying here. Eunpa being happier wasn't even only the sole benefit- if they did manage to become friends again, he supposed it'd be helpful to reduce his trauma towards the rink as well.
"... Okay. I'll come over everyday." Ian exclaimed with a straight face, grabbing onto his wrist abruptly.
"What?! That's the opposite of what I just said." Eunsan gaped.
"Every two days." Ian countered.
"Now you're pushing it."
"Every four days?" How was he able to say that unabashed?!
"...Once a week." Eunsan compromised, deflating like a balloon. "That's the maximum."
"Alright." Ian seemed pleased, grabbing his backpack. "I'll see you around."
"You're leaving, already?" Eunsan couldn't help but vocalise. "Do you always do things so recklessly? Eunpa's going to see through your act if you claim to have recovered so suddenly."
Ian stopped mid-step. "... If you're asking me to stay, I will."
Eunsan ran a hand through his hair. "At least stay for dessert?" He suggested, heaving a sigh of relief at the way the other nodded.