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Whatever annoyance that was brewing in Hyunjoon melts away when Minhyung turns to him and exclaims, "Jjunie!"
His name was said brightly, Minhyung’s cheeks bunching up in a wide smile as he waves at Hyunjoon. He's entirely too cheerful and too shaky to be completely sober. This assumption was entirely proven correct when he arrives at the table and saw the number of bottles scattered across it.
"Ya, what are you doing, you idiot?" Hyunjoon grumbles as he sits beside the clearly drunk ADC. The word comes out sharper than intended, but Minhyung only beams at him, entirely too unaffected and looking a bit stupid and unfortunately too cute with it.
Sighing, Hyunjoon turns to the midlaner and jungler in front of him. Juhyeon was leaning to the side, already falling asleep against the wall, while Ellim looked at him sheepishly.
"Sorry bro, someone needs to take him home, and you can drive, so," Ellim did not sound apologetic at all as he shrugs in answer.
Hyunjoon sighs, but he can't be too annoyed, Ellim's grin is a little too cheerful for him to really be mad at. "Hyung am I the only person you know who has a driver's license?"
Ellim just grins at him, entirely too unbothered. "Well, there's Sanghyeok-hyung—” Ellim doesn't have to continue for Hyunjoon to know why that isn’t viable. "and if I call any of the coaches, both of us will be scolded." he says a little helplessly.
Hyunjoon sighs again as his elbow plants on the table, his chin resting on his palm as he drags his eye to the ADC beside him. In the span of the few seconds that Hyunjoon took his eyes from him, the idiot already started nodding off, a chicken wing held in one hand.
Hyunjoon holds back a snort.
"Ya," He starts, poking Minhyung on the cheek. The other startles awake, blinking confusedly at Hyunjoon as if he didn't just greet the other earlier. "What makes you think I won't scold you, huh?" He says. "You're safe from Jaehyeon hyung, but you aren’t going to hear the end of it from me." He continues, poking him again.
Minhyung pouts then. "Hyunjoonie is always scolding me." He complains. He turns to the other jungler like an aggrieved child trying to look for an ally, "Hyuuung, Hyunjoonie is scolding me."
The other jungler raises both of his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, you were the one who told me to call him when you need a ride home."
"Did I?"
"You did, Minhyung. You kept on telling me to call him. You told me ten times at least."
Minhyung wrinkles his nose in distaste then. "Tell him to go now." He replies as if Hyunjoon isn’t sitting exactly beside him.
Hyunjoon rolls his eyes and smacks Minhyung’s hand off whatever suspicious-looking mix that he's about to pick up. Minhyung looks at him, comedically offended, and tries to pick it up again. Hyunjoon slaps his hand again.
Minhyung tries to pick it up again.
"Lee Minhyung!" He scolds and captures one of Minhyung's hand in his.
Hyunjoon winces. "You're gross." He complains with no real heat as Minhyung’s sticky hand from the chicken touches his.
Minhyung just tries to take the glass with his other hand, which is captured too. “Lee Minhyung!”
"Jjunieee." He whines, both of his hands captured.
"Don’t Jjunie me. We’re going home." He says, feeling like he's taking care of a child instead of a teammate. He then turns to Ellim apologetically. "Thank you for taking care of him hyung. I'll handle it here."
Ellim, who was looking entirely too amused, waved them off. "No, no, it's okay," Ellim says. His smile dips a bit as he looks at Minhyung, something softer passing through his face. "He needs it."
Hyunjoon pauses at that. Huh.
"Let's go home, Jjunie!" Minhyung announces cheerfully, standing up far too quickly and almost falling over. He's still trapped in Hyunjoon's hand, the only thing keeping him upright.
Hyunjoon curses as he helps him steady himself, the table rattling when Hyunjoon suddenly stands up. "Ah, seriously, be careful." He pushes Minhyung down again, "Sit down first we're still talking."
A pout was the only reply to him.
"We're really going now. Do you two need a ride?" He asks, gesturing to the sleeping midlaner. Ellim snickers and pokes the other, Juhyeon twitching and sleepily batting the jungler’s hand away.
"Nope. I'll take him home. You can go ahead, we still have some food coming anyway. Might have to take it to-go."
"Alright, see you."
"Take care, Hyunjoonie." Ellim glances at the swaying ADC, “Take care of Minhyung too.”
Hyunjoon nods and turns to the pouty Minhyung, who had seemingly regressed a decade younger. "Come on now, idiot bear." He tugs him up, the other stumbling through his feet until Hyunjoon holds him again.
"You’re the idiot bear." Was Minhyung’s reply as he leans on Hyunjoon.
Hyunjoon only shakes his head, slipping Minhyung’s hand around his waist and looping his hand behind Minhyung’s back. "Hold on to me.”
Minhyung obeys, his fingers curling in the fabric of Hyunjoon’s shirt.
“Let’s go.”
They exit the restaurant, the wind hitting them in the face with a cold slap. In response, Minhyung's face flushes from the cold, the ADC shivering and shifting closer to Hyunjoon, their shoulders bumping into each other with every step.
"Wahhh. Hyunjoonie is so sweet." Minhyung cheers, as if forgetting the insults he was throwing earlier. "You're my favorite jungler." he says, leaning heavily towards his ‘favorite’ jungler.
"Yeah, yeah, I’m your only jungler, dumbass." He replies. Minhyung mutters something in reply, something lost in the wind and his clumsy stumbles.
"What?” He asks, if possible, leaning even closer.
"I said it's cold!" Minhyung yells in Hyunjoon’s ear, laughing when Hyunjoon jerks away.
Hyunjoon can feel his eyebrow twitching, "Of course it's cold! Look at the time. Why the hell did you even come out so late? We’re in the middle of the season too. Sanghyeok-hyung is going to give you The Look. The coaches are going to scold you. Ah, really-"
Hyunjoon’s scolding was cut short as he almost trips over his feet when Minhyung suddenly stops walking.
"What’s your problem now-fuck-" Hyunjoon curses when Minhyung suddenly slumps into him. His hold on him instinctively tightens. "Hey, are you okay? Minhyung-"
Hyunjoon was quick to adjust his hold on the taller, pulling him closer to his body. He cradles Minhyung close to him, his head nestled in Hyunjoon’s shoulder awkwardly seeing as the latter is taller than him.
Worry sinks into him quickly, and the other hand, not on Minhyung's waist, rises to rest on Minhyung's nape. "Ya idiot, wake up." He murmurs patting him gently but firmly. "You can go to sleep when we get home."
Minhyung doesn't move. His body a line of heat against Hyunjoon's. He's warm, a shield to the cold air of the night. His lips brushing against Hyunjoon's neck was the warmest point of contact. It would be nicer if the other isn't literally unconsci-
A puff of air on his neck. Warm. Then Minhyung starts shaking. "Hey. Are you awake?"
The shaking doesn't stop, a giggle reaching his ear as Minhyung stops leaning all his weight on Hyunjoon, his hand grasping Hyunjoon's hoodie near his waist. "Jjunie is maaad~" He singsongs.
Hyunjoon can feel his eyebrow twitching. "I swear to god--fuck," Hyunjoon barely catches both of them again, his hold tightening around Minhyung as the other leans all his weight on him again. "Minhyung, walk!"
Another giggle, bright in his ear. "I am walking." He argues, hanging on Hyunjoon's neck like a particularly heavy monkey and not walking.
Hyunjoon groans as he resigns himself to his fate. “You’re not walking, you’re a drunk monkey that is not going to touch alcohol for the rest of the year.”
Like that, Hyunjoon walks them into the car, maneuvering the both of them, not made easier by the drunk ADC in his arms. "I changed my mind, I’m going to steal all of hyung’s camps when I see him in solo queue. " He almost trips again, the giggle on his ear and the warm puffs of breath not making it easier.
"I thought you were a bear why are you a monkey now? Fuck-” He almost trips again. “What the fuck did you even drink?"
When they reached the car, Minhyung was still playing monkey on his arms. He supports him on one arm, his other unlocking the door of the car. Once it was unlocked, he carefully helped him in, making sure the other didn't hit his head on the way in.
"Make sure you don't puke in there, or I swear, Minhyung."
"Shushush." Minhyung slurs, his finger shushing Hyunjoon, almost poking him inside the nose in the process. "No cursing! Bad for PR."
Hyunjoon rolls his eyes. Still, he catches Minhyung's hand in between his and tucks it close to him gently as he puts Minhyung's seatbelt on. "Yes, because you getting wasted is good for PR."
With all of Minhyung's limbs tucked in, he closes the door and runs to the other side.
Seeing as everything is now strapped in and Minhyung is inside and not in the danger for bashing his head against a rough surface, Hyunjoon exhales deeply. He leans against the headrest and closes his eyes for a moment.
He then glances at the man before him. Under the harsh lighting of the parking lot Minhyung still looks pale despite the flush of alcohol. Dark shadows bruise the skin under his eyes, a prominent testament to too many sleepless nights.
He looks tired. And they usually are, it comes with being a pro gamer. But Minhyung-
Hyunjoon finds himself wondering when he started looking like that.
He stops.
It feels like he barely sees Minhyung these days.
He then slides the key in and lets the rumble of the car fill the silence as he pulls into the empty streets.
For a few blocks it was silent. He risks a glance beside him, wondering if the drunk man, finally falling asleep, is what blessed him with silence.
He finds Minhyung awake, his head leaning against the window, the streetlights painting his face gold.
"You're going to regret this tomorrow. A hangover is waving at you."
"Probably deserve it." Was the barely audible reply. Not playful.
"What?" Hyunjoon asks. Minhyung doesn't repeat it. Hyunjoon waits. At the next intersection he stops at a red light, glancing at Minhyung once again.
The light washes them in a red hue, and like this he looks just like Gumayusi. ADC of T1.
The image in the parking lot overlaps with this. Bruised shadows. Ellim's voice, softer than Hyunjoon's used to. “He needs it.... Take care of Minhyung."
"You okay?" He asks this time, softer.
"Hmmm." was the cryptic answer. Minhyung turns to stare at him, eyes crescent-shaped and smiling. "You’re so sweet. Jjunie really is my favorite jungler.”
"I’m your only jungler."
"I'm not your only ADC though."
Ah.
The words hit sharp.
"Hyunjoon is mad, no?" Minhyung asks, the teasing tone in his voice is gone. This was said too flatly, sadly.
Hyunjoon frowns. At the loss of the nickname and the way it was said. The teasing tone was gone, something more somber and thoughtful in Minhyung’s voice.
"What are you on? I'm not mad."
"I heard you though." Minhyung murmurs. "On stream."
Well. Shit.
"I’m not-"
"It's okay Jjunie."
The light turns green.
Hyunjoon mutters a curse as someone beeps behind him. He hurriedly drives forward. His tongue is tied. He doesn't know what to say. What does he say to that?
Guilt stirs in his gut. As well as something like regret.
Hyunjoon's grip tightens on the wheel. The silence is thick. Heavy with something he doesn't want to name. Heavy with things that usually aren't with Minhyung. "It wasn't about you." He finally says, voice rough with something unsaid.
"I was just frustrated. Scrims weren't going well," His jaw tightens, the frustration simmering in his gut. He hates being angry. He likes to think that he isn't an angry person. But it gets the better of him sometimes. Makes him mean. "everything wasn't going well, and fuck- I shouldn't have said it on stream."
Minhyung doesn't answer. The darkness seems to swallow him, the shadow lengthens. It doesn’t suit him.
"I fucked up. I didn't mean it like that."
Minhyung chuckles, hollow. Far from the breathless giggles against his neck earlier. "Like what?"
"Like you weren’t pulling your own weight." Hyunjoon winces.
"Hmm. Weren’t I, though?" The words are said softly, they cleave through Hyunjoon still.
Hyunjoon dares a glance once again. Slumped against the door, Hyunjoon almost forgets that Minhyung is taller than him. He's tense, the soft sweetness brought by alcohol was absent. He looks closer to Gumayusi now. The one in scrims. The one post briefings.
It makes something in Hyunjoon ache. He wants to curse at something. "I didn’t mean it Minhyung."
"I know." Softly. An empty comfort. An echo of reassurance. "I still heard it though."
That shuts Hyunjoon up. No answer to that. Because yeah, he heard it. The others did too. No amount of backpedalling is going to make that moment disappear. They fall into silence.
"I didn’t ask Ellim to call you." Minhyung says after a long, barely audible. Hyunjoon's hand tightens on the wheel. "He still did though, and you came." It was said with so much wonder something in Hyunjoon creaks.
"Of course, I’d come. I'd always do." Hyunjoon answers. Sharper than he'd meant to.
"You were mad at me though" He says. "Because I messed up. I mess up a lot these days."
"I'm not- just," Hyunjoon pulls over for a moment before turning to Minhyung. "Minhyung, Minhyung look at me."
It took a while, but Minhyung does. He wasn't crying. He doesn't think he had seen Minhyung cry. but his eyes aren’t in their familiar crescent when he's smiling. His eyes are glossy, heavy with alcohol and something else. "Whatever shit is going on, I'd go okay? If you call me. I'd go."
Minhyung doesn’t answer.
The rest of ride was spent in silence. When the car is parked he turns to the ADC beside him, finding him asleep. Silently, he unbuckles his seatbelt. He sighs.
Even in sleep, Minhyung looks exhausted.
Hyunjoon gets out of the car and goes to the other side, he unbuckles Minhyung seatbelt. Gently, he shakes him awake. "Minhyung, wake up. We're here."
"Minhyungie." He repeats, patting the other on the cheek when he doesn't wake up.
Minhyung wakes up then, eyes red. He blinks groggily, obviously still sleepy.
"Come here now, let’s go up. I'll help you."
Unlike their earlier walk Minhyung was silent now, almost falling asleep as Hyunjoon helps him.
He closes the door and once again, Minhyung was tucked close in his side. "Hold on to me." He instructs again, putting Minhyungs hand on his waist and letting him clench on his shirt.
"Hmm." Was the sleepy reply. Unlike the walk to their car earlier, Minhyung didn’t complain or throw any insults. No laughing or teasing. He just leans heavily into Hyunjoon’s side, pliant. Drifting so sleep as they walk.
When he reaches Minhyung's room he easily unlocks it with his key and practiced ease. He helps Minhyung inside, the man's face nestled in Hyunjoon’s neck once again, mumbling a protest when they had to move. Absentmindedly, Hyunjoon rubs his waist in comfort. “You can sleep soon shhh.”
Carefully he marches them to Minhyungs bed, making the other sit up first. "Sit first Minhyungie" He instructs as he kneels. When he does so, he unties his shoes and removes it with care.
As he looks up, Minhyung was watching him, a quiet emotion on his face that Hyunjoon can’t pinpoint. Despite this man being easy to read, an open book of emotion and affection, there are still moments like this when he is impenetrable. A huge wall that Hyunjoon can’t hope to climb over.
“You okay?" It was the second time he asked today. This question more loaded. An attempt to penetrate the wall. If he can’t climb it, well there’s only one thing to do and that is to knock.
Minhyung's face softens into a smile. Somehow that’s more heartbreaking than what he said earlier.
"Thank you, Jjunie."
Hyunjoon’s heart stutters.
"Hmm." Is his response, helping Minhyung out of his jacket. He pushes the blanket on the side and makes him lay down. His words bundle up inside him, frustratingly knotted. He wants to apologize, wants to say something. It’s hard.
He manages to coax Minhyung to lie down. But it seems like his mischievousness rears its head once again when he manages to yank Hyunjoon down with him.
Hyunjoon curse as he catches himself on the bed. "Fuck-"
He cages Minhyung on the bed, his head barely colliding with Minhyung's, their lips barely a breath away as his knee braces his body on the bed, hovering over Minhyung.
"Ya be careful." He hisses.
Minhyung just smiles at him, his arm going around Hyunjoon's neck lazily and pulling him closer. Hyunjoon feels like he’s going to get a whiplash with the ADC's swing in emotion.
"Jjunie.” He whispers. “Thank you."
"I heard you the first time." Hyunjoon mutters. As it is with Minhyung whatever annoyance he had left melted away. He sighs, his heart hurt. "I'm sorry Minhyungie." He says, heartfelt and genuine.
The ADC below him blinks in surprise. And of course, his smile widens, soft, this man is. No matter how much he pretends to be tough. "I know Jjunie. I forgive you."
Hyunjoon closes his eyes in that, overwhelmed by the softness. This wasn't the norm with them, their dynamics somewhere along teasing and pushing. Worry and concern hidden in barbs, affection tinging good natured trashtalking.
So when Minhyung deigns him with his softness, Hyunjoon feels like he’s going to cry despite it him being the asshole. As if hiding, he tucks his head on Minhyungs neck, trying to gather his bearing.
Minhyung lets him, his hold on Hyunjoon shifting and embracing him closer.
"You really are such an idiot." He says. You forgive too quick. “You didn’t even let me finish.”
"What can I do? You’re my favorite jungler." He says, patting Hyunjoon's head. "It’s just that..." a pause. "I'm a bit selfish. I know I shouldn't. But I hoped." His voice breaks. "I hoped you favored me more." His voice was quiet. Losing its mirth. "Just a bit." It was a whisper. Vulnerable. Different from his usual.
Hyunjoon pulls back in surprise, trying to see Minhyungs face. He isn’t crying, but his eyes were red and there was that quiet grievance there. An acceptance of it.
"Minhyung." he breathes out. his hand moves, one hand cupping his cheek. Then,
He pinches it.
"Ow."
He then let go of it, his cheeks turning pink. He then caresses it softly, Hyunjoon's scolding look softening too. He could leave it at that. Minhyung would let it. And his forgiveness will hold.
But well, Hyunjoon can be honest. This time. Words can be used as barbs, said offhandedly, uncaringly, in anger. Shatters confidence and belief. Makes someone look at you in wonder when you say, “ I’d go when you need me.”, as if they had stopped believing that.
So this time, he’d use it to reassure him. A kiss of comfort, a touch of solace. Hyunjoon can do that. He can take responsibility.
He sits up, pulling Minhyung back up. Too fast he supposes with the dizzy look on his face.
“I’m sorry Minhyung.” He says. Not a whisper. Loud enough that he’d make no mistake of what Hyunjoon said. “I shouldn’t have said what I said. There were no excuses for it. It was wrong and it hurt you and I am truly sorry for it.” He takes Minhyung’s hand in his. Drops a kiss. Heartbreakingly soft. “I have many things I want to say. But I will say it tomorrow when you’re in a better state of mind. We will talk, okay? But for now, I hope you know that I really am sorry.”
Hyunjoon pauses. Then,
"Of course, you're my--" Hyunjoon looks away, flushing. He forces himself to look at Minhyung though, wanting to repay that vulnerability. "You're my favorite Minhyung." is what he says.
Hyunjoon feels like his face is ignited.
Something soft and sappy crosses Minhyung's face. Hyunjoon finds that he prefers that more than the heavy look on his eyes earlier. This suits him more, no matter how embarrassed Hyunjoon is.
"Thank you Jjunie," Minhyung repeats again, somehow sounding softer.
Hyunjoon, having had enough with getting embarrassed looks away and stiffly removes his own shoes. "Shut up, I heard u earlier, let’s sleep." He says instead. Pushing Minhyung onto the bed and getting on it with him.
"You’re sleeping here?"
"Yes dumbass, this is the payment for me fetching you." He complains. He winces at his words inside, again too sharp. Despite this though, his words are at odds with the tone of his soft voice and the way he pulls Minhyung close on his embrace, his chest to Minhyung's back.
A silence, comforting instead of weighted. Hyunjoon breaks it.
"Ya Minhyung," This time he takes care to say it softly.
"Hmm?" Minhyung answers, sleepy.
"Let’s make a bet."
Minhyung laughed, sleepy. His shoulders shake in Hyunjoon's hold. Hyunjoon tucks his chin above Minhyung's head, getting comfortable.
“Do you have money in your pockets right now?” Hyunjoon continues.
“Are you extorting me when I’m being emotionally vulnerable?” Minhyung jokes, voice cracking with amusement.
“I don’t need to,” Hyunjoon says as he uncaringly pats Minhyung’s pockets. Minhyung does not even try to stop him. “I bet you,” The jungler reaches inside Minhyung’s pockets shamelessly and takes a couple of loose change and pockets them. “That you’ll somehow outperform every ADC this year despite everyone saying that you shouldn’t be able to.”
Minhyung bursts into laughter then, warm and full-bellied. “Really,” Minhyung says, voice lighter now.
Hyunjoons hums, enjoying the warmth in his arms. “Yep, I never lose my bets when money is involved. I won’t start now.”
"Okay, bet." Minhyung answers, voice firmer.
Hyunjoon drops a kiss on top of Minhyung's head, all too fond and tender. "Idiot.” He whispers, affectionately. “I'll win for sure."