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It was a nice and sunny day.
Spring was coming to an end and started to make space for summer. But as everyone knows, the warmer the weather, the more insects of any kind were flying around. Big, small, more or less known, but still there to make life harder for people.
Yeon Sieun was sitting in the corner with better lighting inside the boxing center where his boyfriend was still training. He looked out of place with his books and notes. It wasn’t his first visit there so it became a normal sight for others. Not necessarily for newcomers, but they’ll have enough time to get used to this. Especially with Wooyoung’s supervision and overprotectiveness.
The boxing center was located in an old building that looked abandoned from the outside. Time definitely took its time with it, huge vines decorating half of the building and hiding bigger cracks in the walls, and places where roughcast was falling off.
Inside was more welcoming, even though it was darker with dim lighting. And yet it smelled of sweat and huge egos of fighters. Not really pleasant but bearable enough to not puke at the entrance. The equipment was all black to match the rest of the place. Kind of depressing.
They weren’t dating for that long; around seven months and still counting. They got to know each other through Sieun’s classmate, who was Kang’s spar buddy for years. At first Yeon was wary of the new face, not willing to make another acquaintance. Suho was enough, sometimes even a little too much. Seeing his friend cooped at the ring and still not giving up his presence, he had to tag along. He was bored out of his mind but sat still and waited for the training session to end.
One thing led to another and here they are. Unexpected but still making it work. Going on silly dates, sometimes studying together and spending their free time with each other. Even when Sieun looked like he didn’t want to be there, he still enjoyed the presence of Wooyoung, who always seemed like he was going to punch someone for simply looking at them wrong. It was true most of the time, but people didn’t have to know that.
This time most windows were open due to the hot weather and broken AC. They were the last ones in the center. Everyone either didn’t show up or came for an hour and went home. The temperature was unforgiving. Sieun could see sweat dripping from taller’s face and arms. He looks hot, he thought and immediately shook his head, trying to focus on his studies. A moment of weakness which could cost him too much. He sighed and went back to reading.
Wooyoung was focused on perfecting a new technique, stopping only for a quick water break and to steal a kiss from a shorter boy. For motivation, he liked to say, so he can finish faster and spend quality time with his lover. Or maybe annoy him to the point he would abandon his worksheets and they can make out. Either works for him honestly.
That was the plan until one moment. It was quick, almost unnoticeable.
A sting.
Then came pain.
“Fuck!” Wooyoung yelled suddenly.
Sieun’s head shot up, brows making a frown and concern swimming in his glassy eyes. He stood up and rushed to the taller boy, who was crouching on the floor and holding his leg. His face distorted in visible pain.
“Woo? What happened?” The shorter boy asked while trying to take the hands of Wooyoung’s calf.
“Sieunnie! My baby, my savior! I got stung by a wasp!” he whined and finally took his hand just to show the place where his skin was already red and starting to swell.
Sieun sighed.
“Let me take a closer look, I need to see if it left its sting there.”
“You’re telling me that thing leaves a sting?! Oh my god, I’m going to die.” he started to panic, eyes wide and lip wobbling. “I can’t die yet! I still haven't asked you to marry me! I thought I had more time! Oh it’s bad… and it hurts!”
The older boy sighed again and gave his stupid boyfriend a flat stare. He was so done with him and his dramatic ass. He quickly checked the wound and seeing nothing that would need medical assistance, let his shoulders drop with relief. He stood up to pick his portable first aid kit, leaving the younger on the floor.
“Baby? You can’t leave me on my deathbed! What would people say?!” That you were a drama queen, probably.
“Can you shut up for a second? Or should I really leave you here?” he asked quietly, while sitting next to the embodiment of sunshine (on a good day). “I’m trying to help, so please sit still. Or I’m decking you.”
Sieun took a small tube of ointment from the bag and gently put it on the reddened skin. His delicate fingers were rubbing small circles on the calf in a calming manner. He doesn’t know if Wooyoung has an allergy to wasps but hoped for the best.
Wooyoung was looking at his lover with adoration in his eyes and giddy smile. As much as he hated making Sieun worry over the smallest things, he couldn’t deny he loved this sweet and caring side of him. Not that he was always cold and untouchable, but it always made his heart flutter.
“Do you have any ice packs here? It’ll help with the swelling and pain.” he asked and looked at the other. He chuckled seeing his awestruck face, waving his hand in front of the taller’s face.
“Wooyoung?”
Nothing. Like he didn’t hear him at all. What am I going to do with you?
“Baby? Do you even hear what I am saying?” Wooyoung blinked once, twice and then he smiled. A sweet and soft smile that made Sieun’s heart beat faster.
“Can you repeat? I was admiring the view and got lost in my thoughts.” Sly fox. He knows what he’s doing. Sieun rolled his eyes.
“Ice pack. Get out of your head and focus or I’m leaving. This time for real.” The taller boy’s eyes went wide. He tried to stand up but ended up hissing in pain.
“I’m sorry! Damn, it hurts like a bitch” he grunted and spoke again after sitting back. “It should be in the freezer at the back.”
Sieun nodded and stood up to get the needed item. He was trying to be quick, so they can finally leave this cursed building and cuddle. After all these dramatics and ridiculous behavior of his boyfriend, he really needed a good nap in said boyfriend’s arms. Out of everything it had to be a stupid wasp which ruined his peace.
While he was looking for a damn freezer, he could hear Wooyoung’s whining about him being hurt and how his own boyfriend was taking too long. Rolling his eyes, he took the ice pack, which he found tucked all the way back in. Were they not using them often or something? Whatever.
He came back and instantly put the thing on swollen skin.
“AHH! Are you trying to kill me?! Warn a guy before you try to give him hypothermia!”
“You will live. Stop being dramatic. I was the one who had to bring it in my hands for longer than you had it on your leg.”
The taller boy leaned on his shoulder, grumbling about being tortured by the love of his life. At least he could get comfy while doing that.
“ I expect kisses after that, just so you know. You can’t get out of it. I won’t let you.” He sighed, pout visible on his face. “I can’t believe I let you torment me like that. You're lucky you're cute.”
Sieun snorted, but still was pressing the ice pack, lifting it up from time to time, to check on swelling. He noticed that it started to slowly go down. Thank goodness or he would've strangled the idiot on the spot. As much as he loved showing his affection through simple gestures, sometimes it got a little too much.
He was watching Wooyoung through his lashes. Admiring his sharp yet somehow still soft features. The younger one was talking about the upcoming tournament, his eyes full of confidence and happiness, lips forming a small smile that actually was taking Sieun’s breath away. He couldn’t look away, his own mouth shaping a barely noticeable grin.
After all these months the older boy still couldn’t grasp how the other wormed his way inside his heart and life. How he slowly broke through his thick walls that were carefully placed over the years. The patience he was met with was at first unsettling, but they’ve come a long way to get there. They're here. Together. And that was enough.
In the heat of the moment Sieun leaned and left a delicate kiss on Wooyoung’s cheek, unintentionally shutting him up. He didn’t mean to interrupt him like that, but things happen.
“W-what..? What was that for?” the taller asked his boyfriend, touching the place where he could still feel Sieun’s lips. It wasn’t something new, but every single time it was taking him off guard.
“Felt like it.” He shrugged and finally took away the ice pack which had almost melted. “Go take a shower, I want to go home.”
A moment later he was already on the way to the freezer, he heard rustling behind him indicating that his lover was taking his leave. He let out the breath he was holding for a few seconds and went to gather his books and things. After checking time he decided to tidy up a space they were occupying so they could leave faster. He was familiar with the usual layout from all the visits, so it didn’t take too much time.
Deeming it acceptable, Sieun bent to pick Wooyoung’s bag and let his legs take him outside. He knew the boy’ll find him and they’ll finally rest on his bed.
The short boy didn’t wait for long, after a few minutes he heard the clicking of the closing doors and he felt fingers intertwining with his own. He smiled at the younger and they started walking in the general direction of Sieun’s home.
“Sieun-ah?”
“Hmm?”
“My leg still hurts.”
Screw the warmth and safety he felt all this time. He’s done.
Well, turns out he’s not. He’s weak for the puppy eyes he was given seconds later. And of course he still needed his cuddles. So he braced himself for the whole trip home filled with whining and complaining. All of these for a dumb nap, where he can bury his head into his boyfriend’s neck, and inhale his stupid but comforting scent of bodywash and laundry detergent.
It wouldn’t be them without stolen glances and kisses in every alleyway they come across. Or Sieun’s sheepish smiles when they got caught by elderly women with scandalized expressions. Not their fault the old hags had the worst timing in the world.
He might not show it all the time, but he wouldn’t trade all these little things he had with Wooyoung for the world. He was glad that they ended up together; that he could see everything in a different light, that he was shown how emotions were beautiful even when not every one was positive.
Sieun cherished every memory he had with Wooyoung. The dramatic ones, the painful and of course the happy ones. He couldn’t wait to learn life with the boy he loved. With the person who taught him to fight and to open up or to just talk about his problems.
He felt blessed and happy.