Work Text:
The oven hummed, while Wooyoung leaned over his kitchen counter. His butt swung to the electric guitar sounding from the speaker. He moved his head with it, his little black ponytail whipping with it. He was propped against the counter, scrolling through his comments. It still felt like yesterday that Wooyoung barely had one viewer. He basically had grown thousands of fans overnight, or well, over one stream where he was particularly hot.
It had been a summer day and Wooyoung had decided to cook in black shorts and a black apron tightened around his neck. It had only covered parts of his front body, the rest revealed in perfectly tanned skin. Especially the back seemed to be a highlight for his fans, only a bow at the back. The fandom, and if he was honest, the whole internet, had screamed. Since then, Wooyoung had a lot of regulars putting on his cooking streams. And a lot even stayed for the content and not just his good looks.
“What? What? What’s all that ‘WooSan’ about?”, Wooyoung asked confused. He had accidently revealed his name once and people of course had picked it up instantly. He wasn’t really uncomfortable with it; it was just a bit sad that nobody would call him by his user ‘NeverCookAlone’ ever again.
A mod of his streams – Yeosang – texted in the chat, ‘They are shipping you…’
Shipping? Wooyoung’s eyebrows raised.
He got up from the counter, putting the phone to the side as he went to get the chicken out of the broth. It smelled heavenly, legs all crispy. Wooyoung put it in front of the camera, humming with closed eyes to give his audience a good feeling of what it smelled like. The paradise he had created.
“Well. I don’t know who you are shipping me with, but I am gay”, Wooyoung giggled taking the thick red sauce from the stove to pour it over the chicken before he got the bowl of rice. He swung his spoon towards the camera, “Not that any of you didn’t know that already.” He cackled again.
He served the food prettily on his white plate, decorating the meat with dried laurels and a sliced-up lemon. Wooyoung grinned, leaning forward to get the camera and show the chicken from a close up.
“Not bad right?”, he asked the chat before putting it back and looked at his phone – the chat – again only to freeze. Many people were commenting.
‘It’s a guy!’
‘San_sCatTreats is so hot!’
‘Woo! Pls check him out’
Wooyoung let himself fall into the stool, taking a fork, “You’re all weird”, Wooyoung said with a frown, taking his phone to his chest to further watch the chat while eating. “Fine”, he rolled his eyes, “I will check him out.”
Wooyoung hadn’t expected that looking up this dude would cause a ripple of effects.
The first one being Wooyoung choking on his chicken as soon as he found this guy’s streaming account. He was live like Wooyoung, but Wooyoung had never thought that the first thing he would see would be proud shoulders, white shirt stretching over bulging muscles.
Wooyoung kept coughing on his food, screeching as he longed for water. He ran to the tap getting a glass and gulped it down. When he slid back into his chair, his face was entirely red.
“You’re evil”, he addressed his chat, looking at his phone again – this time more prepared but holy damn, that guy was hot.
San_sCatTreats seemed to bake something given the dough he stirred while holding a bowl. With his thick, juicy arms all on display because the shirt’s sleeves were rolled up.
The guy leaned forward with a frown, making Wooyoung’s head spin at the way his shoulders grew larger the closer he got. His eyebrows shot up, voice thin, “Wooyoung is watching me?!”
He looked shocked, making Wooyoung raise his eyebrows.
“Oh?”, Wooyoung asked eyeing his chat mischievously who seemed to enjoy their ship flaring alive.
The guy on the other screen’s end seemed flustered, cheeks tinting red.
Cute, Wooyoung thought, a little one-sided grin stealing on his lips.
The guy put everything aside, rushing to his phone and his wooden counter. He typed something fast while going back to the centre of the camera. His eyes were scanning over the display, before his face tainted in a blush.
San showed the display with Wooyoung’s livestream open towards the camera, pulling Woo’s lip a bit more upwards.
The guy seemed totally frozen, staring at his phone in disbelieve.
“Hi”, San said then, making Wooyoung bite on his pinky finger, while his elbow rested on the table.
“What’cha cooking?”, Wooyoung asked, watching the guy flinch a bit before the blush spread to his ears too.
“Some strawberry cake.”
Oh… a sweet guy~
He watched San flinch when a viewer had told him that the doughs resting time was over, sprinting to get a baking form, when he spoke, “I have been a fan of NeverCookAlone for quite some while. It was what made me start doing streams too.”
Wooyoung raised his eyebrows, “Oh, what’s your name?”
“I’m San”, the guy said, pouring some dough in the form but all Wooyoung saw was the way that guy’s arms muscles flexed. Oh, holy shit.
“You know my name already”, Wooyoung said in a non-chalant voice, a cackling laugh following right after. He shook his head as San just looked at the phone, getting so distracted by Wooyoung’s livestream. It made him leave the live. He didn’t want to disturb that guy’s time more.
However, the clip had gotten viral already. Fans of both sides had started to cut clips and edits of them together. Split screens, reaction videos – it all nurtured the ship, growing like basil on a sun kissed balcony. At first, Wooyoung thought he could ignore it. Just some comments in his chat, but it was only few days later that he started his next live – the chat full of new people.
“Wow… what a mess”, Wooyoung said as he checked the comments on his latest uploaded video. He scrolled through the clips and edits, smiling as he saw San again.
He wouldn’t lie – this guy was right up his alley. His type was basic and yet this guy seemed so soft-spoken and sweet that Wooyoung nearly felt bad for imagining the nasty things that body would do with his. However – Wooyoung would be damned if he’d fall for the very first guy, he found attractive in such a long time. He’d withstand.
Or so he thought.
Their fandoms basically merged within a week, both gaining incredible amounts of viewers as a lot people started to watch both streams. Everyone wanted to watch the other boy too and keep their fantasies up. Occasionally, Wooyoung saw comments about San or the both of them, but as every hype this one also quieted down slightly.
Wooyoung was normally doing his streams, smiling slightly whenever San or San’s username was mentioned in the chat. But he never said any of those things out loud. The shipping didn’t make him uncomfortable – he just really liked the way he edged his viewers with pretending that San didn’t exist.
Furthermore, San seemed to be overwhelmed by the questions about Wooyoung and his streams. He had been curious how it went on San_sCatTreats’ side and had checked it out another night. San was doing way worse with the situation – blushing as he spoke in pursed lips that he and Wooyoung had not talked in private after their onscreen interaction. The clips were basically everywhere. San with his cute blush and his cute pouty lips. It made Wooyoung want to look away, but at the same time he stared at the screen – captured by the way the white shirt hugged his big body while his face was so delicate feline.
Wooyoung enjoyed seeing San like that. All red and flustered at the thought of Wooyoung – or what the chat suggested – having something with Wooyoung.
And although the gossip about them quiet down a bit, many people stayed, and their small little accounts turned into big things in just some days – Wooyoung was able to track his following up almost every hour. It felt unreal. It didn’t happen from one hour to the next, but gradually – day after day. He hadn’t seen when it had spiked that much, when a single conversation with another cooking streamer had made him this popular.
Until the very evening when Wooyoung came back from his useless job, caught in the nine to five to support his cooking hobby. He already had bought the groceries for his evening dinner stream when he checked his e-mails on his phone.
The metro was overflown with people and Wooyoung had troubles holding his balance, not causing a domino effect on the others, while typing with one hand. Wooyoung opened the countless ads he had gotten over the last weekend before his fingers stilled at one message: it was on invitation.
The grip on Wooyoung’s shopping bag tightened. His breath hitching as he read the words over and over again.
One of the biggest food conventions of his country had invited him. Wooyoung knew the convention very well – he was there every year after all. However – never because of an official invite. He was a guest, not someone asked to come to put on a live cooking show in front of an audience at a stall. Wooyoung must have looked so dazzled by the message. He couldn’t even smile. It must have been fake, right? They would never invite an account like Wooyoung’s. Never.
Yet – it was true and Wooyoung was letting all of his fans know. The evening’s stream was 80 percent just his hyena screams thanking them for all the support and squealing that his dreams were all coming true now. He felt so good that evening – he could cry out of happiness. The whole chat was celebrating with him making him go viral. It even got more views than the stream where he talked with San. Wooyoung thought that would never be possible, but it seemed that people not only shipped Wooyoung with a guy but that they genuinely wanted the best for him.
And maybe Wooyoung got a bit tipsy and cute during the evening. In hindsight, the clips of him singing and giggling were a bit embarrassing – especially when the chat had started to say that they have to watch out for Wooyoung as long as San wouldn’t be online. It was a cute thought when Wooyoung read it, the ship thing made him smile a lot after all.
He might have burnt his bell peppers because of the half-emptied whiskey bottle too – but Wooyoung had never thought of celebrating any success of this seize any time soon. His neighbours will forgive him the burnt stench in the hallways. So overall – his last stream was a chaotic disaster, but everyone deemed it as cute. And who was Wooyoung to not give them cute and adorable at any given time.
When the day came around, Wooyoung was a bundle of nerves. He never thought he’d spend an entirety in front of his wardrobe, but Wooyoung felt like he was going to a first date – hands clammy with sweat while he frowned at this one strand not laying like it should. He was lucky that his best friends and mods had time to accompany him. He was an extrovert by nature but sometimes such daring things still made him nervous. He didn’t know what to expect from this day and it made it all even worse.
They had decided to take the train with Seonghwa and Yeosang. It was funny how life had its ways sometimes when he thought that both of them had been nothing but early viewers of his streams. They had chatted with Wooyoung through lonely nights, streams that barely reached 20 viewers. Their love for cooking all brought them closer and soon Wooyoung found himself with not only two faceless people in his chat but new friends who were supportive and a perfect shoulder to cry on if work was unbearable once again.
“Have you seen who’s coming?”, Yeosang browsed through the brochure that had been sent Wooyoung’s way with the invitation. His hair was shining with the fleeting lights from the outside window, smiling evilly to Wooyoung. Yes… he had printed it.
“Who?”, Wooyoung asked sternly as this expression could only mean bad. His friend – sitting opposite from him – didn’t answer, making Wooyoung reach over and take a look himself. There were countless names he recognised – cooking streamers who were far more popular and talented than him. Heat crawled up his cheeks as he thought that he was going to be doing just his usual cooking next to such icons. However, the fluttering feeling stopped as his eyes focused on one name.
San_sCatTreats.
A breath, that he didn’t know he held, left his lips.
San was coming.
“All quiet and shy now?”, Yeosang mocked him, making Wooyoung glare. “Your crush is coming~”
“He’s not my crush”, he mumbled but damn – was he bad in hiding his obvious upset. Yeosang’s snicker didn’t help, even less when Wooyoung tried to kick him beneath the table but failed and got his toes hurt. He hissed a curse when Seonghwa slid into the seat next to Wooyoung.
Of course, both of them had noticed the fuss about San. They knew about the shipping even before Wooyoung had realised it. And of course, both had been sticking with him for long enough to realise that Wooyoung’s flirting game was off when he was with San. But Wooyoung would be damned if he’d fall for the first guy, he’d found attractive in a while. Yes, San was handsome. Very even. And he was hot and his biceps the seize of his head and he would love to feel it around his body and neck and-
“Earth to Wooyoung – play your porn with San_sCatTreats somewhere else. We’re in public”, Yeosang sneered and looked at his phone while Seonghwa patted Wooyoung’s knee with a chuckle.
“Make sure he doesn’t catch you with that enormous blush”, Seonghwa winked, and it made Wooyoung roll his eyes, head propping into his hand.
Wooyoung hoped that he wouldn’t have any awkward incident with San if he was there too. They were just invited to the same event, which made sense now as they both gained masses of following after their stream together. The convention was so big though… what was the chance to stumble into him even?
It was everything Wooyoung dreamed of. The second they got through the security guards, fetching their VIP – a waft of good smelling air came their way. Everywhere it smelled like food and Wooyoung felt his stomach grumble. He had not eaten anything today yet on purpose, knowing that the little of time he had before his performance started, he’d definitely use to try and converse with people all around.
He grinned at the special blue badge around his neck while the scent of cinnamon and spice made Wooyoung stop and browse through a cookbook laying to his side.
“This is truly heaven”, Wooyoung sighed as he inhaled the smell like a starved animal. He looked around, “Now where’s the stall that I am supposed to be at?”
Seonghwa squinted at the map in his hand, turning it twice before his eyes opened in recognition, “Somewhere near the mainstage. Like… right next to it. Right side.”
As far as Wooyoung knew, he was supposed to have a little stall there. A little stage with a stove and counters. It would be exactly like in his streams – just that Wooyoung’s kitchen was not at home and that the chat suddenly would get voices and faces. Granted, Wooyoung was a bit nervous but at the same time he wanted to see that the people who cheered for him and talked with him were real. It was thrilling.
On their way there, Wooyoung greeted some chefs, starry eyes as he was able to talk to some of his big role models even if it was just for a second. He would have loved to greatly advertise who he was, in hopes that they would come by, but Wooyoung didn’t dare to do that, just nodding along when they bid him goodbye. Wooyoung was not scheduled to start before 2p.m. anyways and they had come especially early, because he was so angsty that he’d miss a train and hence his slot. So, they used the time looking around and shopping. His friends got themselves new utensils and pans.
The hall they entered now was bigger than the others – a gigantic mainstage was at the end of the room, some cook with a portable microphone wandering the stage while entertaining the people. It must have been the main stage.
Just as he looked for empty stalls at the side, some girls passed him waving and laughing his way. He froze wide eyed, looking after them just when another one jumped his way, asking for a selfie with Wooyoung. He accepted, even though with a stutter, smiling cutely into the phone the girl held up with a peace sign.
“Wow, a celebrity”, Seonghwa laughed at the blush Wooyoung had when the girl took off again, leaving the cook with a grumble.
Wooyoung was well aware that people sometimes recognised him. Even without the whole San thing he had a following of 2k. However, he was never a star. Popular even. Just some fans knowing him in the community.
“I am not a celebrity”, Wooyoung said then, because that was what he truly believed until Yeosang pointed towards a stall occupied by tons of people. “What are they here for?”, he stated as nobody seemed to be on that stage. Wooyoung looked dazzled when he suddenly got a light jab on his shoulder.
“That’s your stand, you silly”, Yeosang sighed and folded his arm.
Wait. His?!
Wooyoung’s eyes darted back, seeing the posters hanging on the sides of the stall. It was the photo he had sent in when the organisation asked for one to hang and use for their program. So, if this was his stall… then all the people in front, chatting and waiting… they were his… fans?
“I am going back home”, Wooyoung swallowed hard, stage fright hunting a drizzle through his body.
“Oh, hell no”, Seonghwa and Yeosang held him back, “You won’t chicken out now, will you?”
Wooyoung took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second to fix his cool, “Yes, yes.” So, Wooyoung took the leap.
He waved at the people with a smile as he got to the stage, heat rising his cheeks when some girls screamed in high pitches People tried to talk to him the second, he appeared, asking how he was doing, what he’d cook and if he was still hangover from the last stream. The last question made him laugh and he already felt calm and comfortable with his fans. They were sweet and funny, just like Wooyoung. They’d get along well.
“Hi guys”, Wooyoung said the moment he settled on stage with cute crescent eyes and a gummy smile. Some people fawned and cooed, and it just fuelled Wooyoung in feeling good on stage. He collected some stuff from the fridge while teasing them slightly what he’d cook for them. The convention had prepared everything for him – he only had to send them a list of things, and they made sure it would all be here before he’d even enter a foot into these halls.
Seonghwa and Yeosang put their bags backstage, leaving Wooyoung alone in the spotlight. They never tried to be with Wooyoung as soon as the camera was on too, so he figured that they would just fetch themselves some chairs and sit behind the stage.
Wooyoung giggled at one of the fans calling Wooyoung handsome while he got a pan out. The stove was at the side making Wooyoung venture over to the left. The second his eyes fell on the neighbouring stall, he froze though.
There, in a white apron and black shirt – sleeves rolled up to his elbows like always, stood San. The spotlights looked so good on his skin, making the shadows appear deeper where his dimples folded his skin.
Wooyoung’s eyes were big as his heart lurched to his throat. The posters at the side of the stall had photos of a smiling San. ‘San_sCatTreats’. It was written everywhere. Should he have been even surprised? They had taken the popularity leap together, maybe the convention had a thought behind the distribution of their spots after all.
And if he needed an outside confirmation to make it real, a girl screamed, “Oh my god! San’s stall is right next to Wooyoung’s!!” Wooyoung gulped, suddenly hot in the mere t-shirt he had chosen to wear today. San smiled softly at a girl in his audience, not realising that Wooyoung stared, but how could he not? San looked stunning; his side profile just as mesmerising than anything else about him. The way San talked to them so carefully and sweet made a bitter feeling bubble in Wooyoung. It turned his mood a bit sour, and he was not even really sure why. It felt like vinegar was bubbling in his throat. He should not care right? Not about the way San talked with those girls so cutely, nor that his stall was right next to Wooyoung’s. He had waited for this moment since so long, he’d just enjoy it.
But just as Wooyoung had made up his resolve, San looked over, looking as surprised as Wooyoung had been mere seconds ago.
“Wooyoung!”, he called with a little smile and wave, cheeks slightly pink. The white teeth grinning his way, knocked away Wooyoung’s breath and rendered him motionless like an idiot when San casually turned back to his audience and ingredients. It was just a small interaction and yet it had the greatest of impacts and Wooyoung was sure that one of those tons of phone cameras directed his way had captured the perfect view of yet another hit video and another clip to make the WooSan ship officially sail.
Wooyoung breathed through his ever-growing blush. God damnit!
The convention went well. Wooyoung had cooked a fan favourite dish as well as something entirely new. He cackled with the people that cheered for him, laughed at his jokes and vibed with the music that played. He swayed his hips like always, laughing throatily as they chanted his name for the little dance. It felt like always. Maybe even better.
Of course, Wooyoung also didn’t miss the glances San sometimes stole at him. Nonetheless, he chose to ignore it for the most part. He had a tight program, and he’d not waste this opportunity for some cute guy throwing small smiles his way. Wooyoung was sure there would be enough edits of the both of them the following day anyways. He’d just watch them instead.
However, when the convention closed, and everyone still inside busied themselves with cleaning – it had gotten eerily quiet. Seonghwa and Yeosang had gone to fetch some soft drinks as the whole performance here, made Wooyoung feel slightly lightheaded.
“Your stew was really good.”
At first, Wooyoung didn’t even react. Just another noise in the background as he put away the things from his show. Had a fan come back despite the closing hour? Wooyoung looked up, left than right until his eyes widened, head whipping towards San’s stall.
The boy stood there, hands scrubbing over a plate while sending Wooyoung a one-sided smile.
“Oh”, Wooyoung recalled his words, “Thank you!”, he beamed, “Your tarts also smelled heavenly.” When Wooyoung was honest, he couldn’t remember that he had offered San his stew, but he had given it out carelessly, maybe on of the fans just handed him a bit.
“Do you wanna try one? I still have some left”, San offered, gesturing to a plate on the other counter.
Wooyoung blushed, gesturing hectically with his hands, “Ah, n-no need. Give them to one of your fans instead.”
San caught Wooyoung’s gaze calculatingly, jumping down his stall instead of taking the stairs normally. Hot, Wooyoung panicked but tried not to stare too much as San took the plate with the three tarts.
“We have already closed, Young-ah”, he chuckled, “Take as many as you want.”
Young-ah.
Wooyoung swore that his heart skipped a beat. The blush multiplied. He didn’t know if it was the nickname, the fact that he stated that the convention was still opened when it had closed more than 30 minutes ago or that San was still staring at him with those gorgeous dimples!?
For a second, San vanished from his view, too close to Wooyoung’s stage to see what he was doing right in front of him. Just a second later, fingers gripped the edge of his counter and San appeared without difficulty, heaving himself up by just one arm, the other still holding the plate.
Wooyoung stuttered, trying to formulate some grateful words when all his mind could muster up was that San was strong. Very strong. The way his arm flexed as he held himself up, made Wooyoung want to drool. And because that was not enough yet, his brain also provided him with the notice of their height difference. It was just a few inches and yet Wooyoung felt dizzy. It was not even that he was taller but with his shoulders and well-built form he just looked so broad – it drove Wooyoung insane.
“Come on”, San still had that cute smile on his lips, making him look like a high school cush in his perfect shirt. Wooyoung couldn’t deny the butterflies that got stirred in his stomach.
San put the plate on the counter, holding one up for Wooyoung to take. And usually, you’d just take it and eat it by yourself, right? But Wooyoung made a decision. He couldn’t let San win the upper hand here. So, the boy leaned closer and took a sinful bite of the tart. Some cream got stuck to his lips and nose.
“So good”, Wooyoung moaned as he wiped the cream before sucking it from his fingers. San got red immediately and Wooyoung was proud that his flirting game was still on. He knew how good he looked after all – probably with dishevelled hair right now, make-up slightly smudged because of the cooking steam.
San put the tart down, trying to talk casually through the moment and Wooyoung gave him the time of peace. They chatted – San told him how he found his account but stuttered bewilderedly when Wooyoung asked why San was watching his streams of all the people out there. He probably was also attracted to Wooyoung – given the way Wooyoung could make him blush with the simplest of things. A lot of people stayed for Wooyoung’s good looks, and it was definitely nothing he’d be ever embarrassed to admit. As long as it wasn’t going to be his only qualification, he’d take it gladly.
Things led to another and San and Wooyoung exchanged phone numbers as they happened to talk more than clean, getting a rude grumble from the cleaning service who wanted to start with their stalls soon, that were still full of their equipment.
Wooyoung had a happy grin on his face when he had saved San’s name with a heart in his phone, internally squeaking to have this cuties number. He didn’t know how they’d go from now on, but Wooyoung had a feeling that cooking next to each other – even on different stalls – had made them grow a bit closer. And Wooyoung was so here for that.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
San <3
‘Hi, it’s me. San!!’
Wooyoung
‘Hey’
San <3
‘I actually wanted to thank you’
‘I was too awkward to do it in person, I’m sorry’
‘Thank you for giving me such opportunity’
Wooyoung
‘What do you mean?’
San <3
‘I got so many followers thanks to you checking out my stream. I could have never imagined… ‘
Wooyoung
‘You really don’t need to thank me’
San <3
‘I feel like I do’
‘Will you have a stream tonight?’
‘I’ll watch it’
Wooyoung
‘I do. I actually plan to cook the coconut soup you did at the beginning of the con. It smelled so good’
San <3
‘Why didn’t you just say so? :( You could have taste tested’
Wooyoung
‘It’s probably better you didn’t stick a spoon into my mouth in front of an audience~’
San <3
‘;-;’
Wooyoung
‘Haha I’m joking’
San <3
‘But are you? ~’
Wooyoung
‘tzz’
…
San <3
‘I’ll be watching and commenting. Give you the best instructions!’
Wooyoung
‘I’ll be in your care then XD’
The stream with San in his chat was one of the best he ever did. And when Wooyoung was honest – he hadn’t had as much fun since a long time. Granted, he always enjoyed cooking, it was his big passion. However, sometimes Wooyoung was only mildly entertained by the chat, making a show out of the cooking to make it feel less awkward. He had rarely laughed that openly, clutching his stomach and knees as all his muscles moved with his amused hiccups. San made Wooyoung happy. Even if it was only over the words in a screen. The food burned on the stove, but Wooyoung couldn’t care less, wiping tears of happiness from his eyes. Wooyoung had never let his food burn to the extent his camera couldn’t film through the dense smoke anymore. However, he had been so distracted by San’s company that even to a blind eye it was obvious what had happened.
Wooyoung’s cheeks hurt from all the smiling that night, a stench of smoke still in the air as he cleared his throat, closing the stream and saying good night. He sighed in the eery silence of the room.
Wooyoung had fallen in love.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Starting from there – they fell into quite some routine. Every Monday, Tuesday and Friday Wooyoung did his cooking lives. San was watching. Every Saturday and Sunday, San was cooking and baking while Wooyoung was the one watching.
Wooyoung started to cancel plans, just to stay behind and watch San’s streams. San did the same. They wouldn’t tell each other but it was clear in the way their plans for upcoming weeks changed all the time.
And because flirting live on the streams with a thousand people being witnesses to it wasn’t enough, they chatted afterwards often into the late hours. But their lack of sleep was only regretted a bit, when they read through their chat in the lonesome nights in their bed, smiling at the words like idiots. And if the night carried away Wooyoung’s smile, then the giddy ‘Good Morning’ message by San brought it back every day anew.
Wooyoung thought how crazy different life felt when he was in love.
Things ultimately escalated when Wooyoung woke up to an avalanche of messages. San was rambling weird things in their chat. Many deleted messages littered the space as well as odd apologies and monologues. Wooyoung skimmed over them with a frown. What did he want to ask him?
But it didn’t take a genius to find out what San wanted. Wooyoung widened his eyes.
San was asking Wooyoung out. On a date. And if you thought San did that shy and bashfully – you were wrong. He just… asked.
At first Wooyoung thought it must be a joke – a lost bet even though it would break his heart if San would play with it like that.
However, when the boy sat on San’s balcony just a few days later for lunch, Wooyoung realised that it wasn’t a joke. That nothing about them was.
“Do you want something to drink? Or a blanket? Are you cold out here? Because we can also go inside. And if you want more, please just tell me. I cooked so much, I don’t even know what to do with it and uhm…”, San sighed, closing his eyes as all tension fell from his shoulders.
Wooyoung bit his lip to not laugh, but his shoulders still shook in amusement.
San looked good today, Wooyoung noted. He wore a long denim shirt with fitting denim jeans, his hair was neatly combed back and yet the powder didn’t hold everything back as some strands laid casually in his forehead.
If the black ripped pants and the grey t-shirt were good enough to impress San? Wooyoung had struggled so much to choose an outfit but since San was nervous as fuck it must look good enough on him.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
“No, no. It’s fine!”, Wooyoung stumbled over his words, gesturing for San to sit.
“I am making a fool out of myself.”
“An adorable one though. Now don’t be so nervous, San. Let’s just start eating. It looks all so yummy!”
Another sigh fell from San’s lips as he sat down at the table, “You’re one to talk. You don’t have a stunning boy on your balcony that you want to impress.”
Wooyoung thought he had misheard, blushing as the words sat in. Stunning boy…
It was cute to see San struggle with the cluttery, how his fingers trembled when he picked them up. His cheeks were red, although Wooyoung couldn’t tell if it was because of his nervousness or because Wooyoung made him flustered. Wooyoung didn’t comment on his insecurities though – it was sweet. Wooyoung had it rather that way.
“How is your streaming going?”, San broke the awkward silence.
“Oh, it’s going nice. My chat is funny as usual and- oh my god, San!!”, Wooyoung exclaimed, holding a hand to his lips as he had taken the first bite. “This is freaking delicious!!!!”
The compliment made San duck his head and clear his throat. “Thank you”, he rasped, “I am so glad.”
Wooyoung shovelled another bite and another, humming contently on the meal. “Oh, your soup was also so nice; by the way. When we cooked it last week – I swear. I think I moaned enough to make my neighbours think I have another profession but holy shit. That thing. So good!”
San’s eyes were blown wide when Wooyoung came to a stop. He probably had not expected this kind of rambling, but he welcomed it, answering with a laugh.
“Don’t laugh. You know how obscene it sounded. Ahh, my poor neighbours.”
San covered his mouth as his laughter just grew in pitch, “Young-ah, stop.”
However… seeing San like that, Wooyoung thought that making San laugh could also become one of his professions.
Wooyoung flicked his wrist, taking a sip from his drink, “Next time I should do a livestream at your place. Your neighbours should also hear it.”
San pretended to gasp, “A very old couple lives next to me!?”
Wooyoung smiled, his chest bubbling in giggles.
It was fun to be with San. Talking with him came so easily. So naturally. And to top it all, the food was amazing. It must have been out of his comfort zone to make meat and salad – usually the boy only baked or made mild vegetarian food – so tasting this made Wooyoung wonder how many times he had to practice achieving this stunner.
Wooyoung’s plate was empty after just some minutes, his hasty swallowing hopefully enough to show San how awesome it tasted.
He had just put his cluttery to the side, reaching for his napkin when soft fingers grazed his chin. When Wooyoung looked up, he only saw San licking his finger, smiling, “You had something there.” And the words put Wooyoung in a gay panic.
Wooyoung suddenly felt so hot, sweaty and squirmy.
Your fingers are soft. Your smile is pretty. Your voice is soothing. Your words are kind. Your body is hot.
Wooyoung had so much to say for real, but he didn’t dare – too scared it would be too direct, too desperate. Too fast.
“Ah gosh”, he said instead, hugging his own arms as a shiver ran down his spine, “San_sCatTreats… you’re making me feel things…”
His voice was different, shaky and thin. But Wooyoung still got it out with a smile. One that San reciprocated with ease.
Wooyoung definitely felt… something. It was the way every little thing San did got his ears blazingly hot. He just smiled at the girl behind the counter, taking both their afternoon coffees from her with a smile and Wooyoung already felt like he’s drowning again. His dimples and looks were dazzling. He might as well stop protesting his aching heart.
“Thank you, but you didn’t have to pay”, Wooyoung mumbled as San gave him the coffee.
“Don’t fret about it”, San just waved it off, taking a sip.
Being with San was so… casual…
For the longest time, Wooyoung thought his attraction towards San was just something he could keep as an inside joke for his fandom, some yearning that would never come true. Wooyoung would not even allow himself to think that it could be something serious. But now – after all those weeks… Wooyoung had already fallen so deeply, that he knew there was no way out of this without a heartbreak or a new boyfriend.
Ah, God damnit.
San had invited him for a date. He seemed genuine about it, but he also probably felt as if he needed to thank Wooyoung. Because he had given him popularity and chances he had never dreamed about before.
“What line do you need to get on?”
“Huh?”, Wooyoung blinked.
San laughed, “To get home, Young-ah.”
“F-fourty.”
“Alright, that’s not far. I’ll walk you there!”
“Sure…”, Wooyoung murmured, drinking the coffee in one long go as he thought furiously what to talk about. The caffeine would activate his braincells for sure.
“Oh my God! Wooyoung!”
The boy stopped mid-sip, coughing out some of the coffee as the yelling took him by surprise. San also turned confused, watching a girl approach with waving arms.
“Someone you know?”, San arched a brow.
It was some girl with brown long hair, a black short skirt swaying as she ran over.
“No?”, it was more a question than a statement. Wooyoung wasn’t sure.
“Oh, you’re with San?”, she stopped, the happy face falling. “That’s weird. You shouldn’t hang out with him in your private life.”
What?
Wooyoung was frozen in place. Who was that?
“Excuse me? Who are you? Please don’t bother us”, San spoke up. He had probably also realised that it must be a viewer of Wooyoung. Some fan.
“I am sure Wooyoung would rather have you don’t bother him. Wooyoung, can I have a photo? Or two!” She walked to Wooyoung, sliding next to him.
W-what should he do? Smile?
She got her phone out, but San was faster, dragging Wooyoung away from the girl.
“I don’t think he consented. Go away.”
“You’re such a pain, for real”, she sighed, “I want to spend some time with Wooyoung. I am his biggest fan after all!!!”
San shook his head. “You can chat with him in his streams but not on the open street. Have you been watching him all along until here?”
“Please… I would never”, she spit but San and Wooyoung didn’t believe her for a second, making a shiver go down his spine. What if she really watched their date?
“Come on, Wooyoung. We go.”
“W-where do we go, I need to-“
“I’ll drive you home”, the hand on Wooyoung’s lower back made him move forward, “With my car.”
“But-“
“I’ll not risk this crazy fan following you home.”
“Hey, don’t just walk away. Gosh, you are so unfriendly, San!! I’ll tell the whole internet about it!”
“Yeah, do”, San grunted and guided Wooyoung away. A feeling between fondness and worry pooling in Wooyoung’s gut. San cared about him but… was it love that kept his hand at his back until they were at the shiny car?
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
The days dragged on and Wooyoung had stayed in his apartment, the lids down, no sunlight casting in. His messenger was buzzing, no matter on which device and it made Wooyoung feel empty beneath the blanket he had thrown over his head. People were asking where he was. Worrying. 48 unread messages of San in the past three days. Two missed calls.
Wooyoung sighed.
He hadn’t been online since the day San had brought him home, too overwhelmed by the crush he held onto him. He needed this to work out – San was basically everywhere in this field now too. Wooyoung could never do his cooking streams in peace if he and San were to hate each other. But… Wooyoung also didn’t feel ready to confess yet. He… he didn’t feel anything – couldn’t point a finger to what it was. But he knew… he couldn’t go on with this. He needed to confess. Or rather – have San confess. However, that was nothing Wooyoung could just ask of. They just had one date! He would need to have several, right? And then – maybe – San would do another step but argh-
It was too much for his fragile heart. When had been the last time Wooyoung truly loved like that? Not just a joke or a flirt? A good fuck on the weekends?
Gosh… he hated how he felt.
His eyes flit over his notifications flaring up on his laptop again. It was San. He streamed. Wooyoung frowned, his heart aching – San never streamed at this time of the day. His hand almost moved on its own when Wooyoung reached for the mouse to click on it.
San was not in the picture – if anything – it was a black screen. The description of the stream read ‘Please talk to me. I want to fix this. Please.’
Wooyoung’s breath hitched, closing it instantly, but San had seen that he had gotten one viewer. Had closed the stream immediately after. He didn’t know if it was cute or sad that San knew he’d get Wooyoung with this, because he knew San’s schedule like the back of his hand.
His phone rang again. This time – Wooyoung picked up.
“Yeah?”, his voice croaked, heart pounding as he waited for his voice.
“Hi Wooyoung”, Wooyoung wanted to cry. “Are you okay? Did something happen, or…?”
Wooyoung swallowed down the anxiety starting in his body and mind. He felt like he was breaking their relationship apart by staying silent, but Wooyoung thought if they didn’t talk about it then nothing could change in the negative too.
San wouldn’t have that though. “Wooyoung. Why are you not online since last week? Why are you not picking up or responding to me? You said that everything is okay, but did I do something wrong? Was it because of the fan? Are they still bothering you? Do you need help? Or did I scare you away? I promise you I am not usually that gruff, I just… I felt like she was too pushy. It almost felt threatening. I won’t interfere with your fan interactions when you-“, San’s voice cut off as Wooyoung opened the menu of the call to switch to a video call.
Wooyoung needed to see him. That was initially why Wooyoung had started San’s stream. He needed to see him and see what he’d feel. His voice already made his heart scream. He needed to know.
But Wooyoung was not ready. Would he have been ready any time soon?
San looked gorgeous. But the crease between his eyebrows were a clear sign of worry. There were dark bags beneath his eyes. He had probably not slept – thinking about Wooyoung’s whereabouts.
“Wooyoung!”, San called, his eyes relieved as he saw that Wooyoung was all safe in his place. “Please don’t cry.”
Wooyoung hadn’t even realised the way his eyes burnt until the tears slipped over his cheeks. “I’m sorry”, he hiccupped, pressing his hands into his eyes. “I am so sorry.”
He heard shuffling on the other side, “What happened? Please tell me what you need, Wooyoung? I am here for you.”
“I- I- “, now or never, “I like you. I- … I like you like the fans claim I do. I thought it’s just a stupid little feeling but I-“, his nose was running. He must have looked like a mess as he got a glimpse on San’s shocked face. “I think I… love you. And I am so sorry, because I don’t want to pressure you into anything and if anything, we should take it slow but it’s eating away at me. I cannot do it like this any-“
Wooyoung’s heart plummeted, crashing to the floor as the call was suddenly ended. Wooyoung stared into the dark display, watching his dishevelled self cry in the reflection. He wanted to scream. He had fucked up. Oh my God, he had fucked up!
He threw his phone away, pulling the blanket around his shoulders as they shook while he cried. He shouldn’t have done it. Wooyoung fisted his hair – pulling. The tears would not stop. He shouldn’t have done it.
His room was a depressed picture with just the bundle of Wooyoung in the middle of the couch. He had not moved away since the call, but he had calmed down enough to breathe normally again. Had he… really… fucked up now?
He sighed deeply, standing up to get him and his abused throat some water. On the way there, the door rang, making Wooyoung check the time. Probably a deliver as it was quite early still. He rubbed his face dry, to not appear like he cried for hours now. But also, what would he care what they think.
But Wooyoung was not expecting to be crushed in a hug the second he opened the door to his apartment. Strong arms encircled his body, a warm face pressing into his hair as he engulfed Wooyoung completely.
“I’m so sorry for hanging up on you, but I needed to come over. I couldn’t stand you seeing like that.” San backed away, a hand caressing Wooyoung’s pale cheeks as he locked in with his still watery eyes. “Not when I feel the same.”
Wooyoung didn’t want his heart to feel hopeful at his words, tears welling again.
“Please don’t cry anymore”, San said, clearly on the verge of it too, seeing Wooyoung like that, “I thought that I was too much. I had a crush on you since months. Even before you entered my stream that day. I… I just thought that for you it maybe wasn’t more than the fun the chat had with shipping us. I- I tried my luck with inviting you for a date and I was so surprised that you said yes… I cried for hours in my kitchen alone, because I couldn’t believe it.”
Now a tear also slipped from San’s eyes, making Wooyoung reach out to catch it weakly. He couldn’t believe his words.
“I fell in love with you, Young-ah. So, so much. The crush was fun at first but now I am so desperate to get my love reciprocated, that I suffer every time I am not with you. And when you suddenly confessed to me… I… needed to come over. Needed to know if you really mean it.”
What a question…
Wooyoung cleared his throat, holding onto San’s broad shoulders, “I mean it. I love you. You’re so kind to me. I just…” He crushed San in another hug and San was just keeping Wooyoung safe and warm in his embrace.
They talked the whole day and night. Confessing when they started to develop real feelings. When it all started to get more serious. And it was so eye opening to them both. If love at first sight was a thing, they were sure that it had happened to them, because there was no way they weren’t attracted to each other the second they laid eyes upon.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
“I am winning this time”, Wooyoung grinned, putting a finger in front of his lips to symbolise his chat to be quiet.
“You have no chance actually”, San said from his spot behind his back. Working on his dough.
“I exchanged his sugar with salt”, Wooyoung whispered into the camera, giggling as the chat got excited to see the chaos unfold.
They were streaming in their new kitchen. They had made sure it was a big one, two kitchen aisles to cook at the same time but yet on their own as both of them didn’t want to give up on their accounts to make one together – even when they said they were official now.
Wooyoung squeaked as broad hands landed on his hips, pulling him back. “My chat says you’re cheating.”
“Boooo”, Wooyoung huffed, “Your chat is cheating in spying on my stream.”
San crooked a brow, “What have you done?”
“Nothing”, Wooyoung sing-sang, laughing as San pushed him against the counter, catching him in-between his arms.
“You menace”, he chuckled before leaning down to kiss Wooyoung.
Wooyoung reached up to San’s face, side-eyeing the stream before he parted slightly to make everyone see how he pushed his tongue into San’s mouth making the older one grip tightly around Wooyoung’s waist.
“Ah ah”, Wooyoung drew back, “We need to stay family friendly.”
San pouted but let go, “You started.”
“Yes. And your food just burnt.”
“Wha-“, San turned sharply, running to his side of the kitchen, where his streaming equipment also recorded, “Jung FUCKING WOOYOUNG!!”
“I told you I’d be winning!”
Wooyoung cackled at San manoeuvring the black coals from the stove, running around hastily to open windows as the stench of smoke spread in the room.
Wooyoung had never thought that NeverCookAlone and San_sCatTreats would stream together. Less in their shared flat and kitchen. And least that San had the audacity to kiss him whenever he wanted to. But that was his reality now.
Because San was finally his boyfriend and Wooyoung could not be happier about it.