Work Text:
Hyuntak is waiting for him.
Even before Juntae steps outside of Eunjang he can see him standing near the front gate, kicking at fallen ginkgo nuts, his head turning every once in a while to look back up at the school.
Juntae watches him for a minute or two from inside. He keeps his hands in his pockets except to wave to a few passing teammates. One of them reaches out to ruffle his hair, and Juntae can’t help but huff a laugh when Hyuntak playfully shoves him off, using his phone as a mirror while he attempts to fix the damage.
Every once in a while, Juntae still gets nervous around him. Go Hyuntak has lived in his head as untouchable for so long, it’s easy to forget sometimes that they’re friends, that he has any right to talk to him, text him, spend afternoons like this with him.
When Hyuntak turns to look at the entrance again, Juntae takes a breath, finally stepping outside into the cool autumn air. The breeze bites at his skin, but the sun warms him up quick, that, and the way Hyuntak smiles when he spots him.
“Hey,” Hyuntak says. “I thought maybe you were standing me up,” he jokes.
“Sorry,” Juntae laughs a little.
“Nah, it’s fine.”
He rocks on his heels for a second, and the motion sends the scent of his cologne through the air. It’s spicy and clean. Juntae can still remember the first time he smelled it up close, draped over Hyuntak’s back, with his nose buried into his neck.
“Are you hungry?” Hyuntak asks, reaching for his phone again and bringing Juntae back to the present moment. “Wanna grab a coffee? I heard this place is really popular these days. They’ve got lots of sweets,” he gets out in a rush.
The link on his phone when he angles it toward Juntae shows dozens of photos of a two-story, pink cafe. In the center of some of them, there’s a long table showcasing an unending array of pastries. It doesn’t really look like the kind of place Hyuntak would want to go, it looks more like the type of cafe that girls their age drag their boyfriends to for an Instagram photo. But when Juntae peeks at him, Hyuntak smiles a bit, like he’s hoping he’ll say yes, so he nods.
BB Coffee is roughly 15 minutes from Eunjang by foot. While they walk, Juntae prattles on about this and that, mostly about the sports anime he’s watching. Sometimes he likes to show Hyuntak clips just to see him roll his eyes and monologue about how unrealistic it is.
It’s right when he’s about to change the subject, ask Hyuntak about the game he was watching last night, that he realizes he’s not on his immediate left anymore.
Surprise runs through him. How long ago did he move? Did he stop somewhere? Sometimes his knee still acts up, but he’d seemed fine. Juntae feels his ears turn red, he should’ve told him if he needed a break. Instead, he’s just been chattering away, not noticing that his friend might’ve been in pain.
His feet stop right where they are, planted on the sidewalk, and suddenly there’s the sound of an oof behind him and the feeling of hands bracing on his back. He jolts forward at the impact, just a bit, before those same hands catch on his shoulders and keep him upright.
Juntae turns his head to look behind him - Hyuntak’s there, eyes wide and hands still braced on his shoulders.
“Are you okay?” Juntae asks, bewildered.
“I’m fine!” Hyuntak responds loudly, laughing it off despite the obvious flush on his cheeks.
He repositions himself on Juntae’s right, putting his arm behind his back, then guides him further inward on the sidewalk, away from the curb. Juntae moves easily, confused at the sudden insistence on him walking on the inside, but otherwise unbothered by the change.
Once they start moving again, Hyuntak drops his arm, running a hand through his hair like he’s worried it got messed up again. They’re both a bit quieter after that, reverting to quicker, familiar topics, classes, and their families. Juntae tries to keep the conversation going, but his mind keeps drifting to replay what just happened.
It’s funny, Hyuntak’s been protective from the start, but it’s always been more about keeping him out of trouble. That was more like the kind of thing he’s seen in the dramas his grandma likes watching, the ones where they show the same scene in slow motion over and over while the characters stare into each other’s eyes.
What’s more, when they reach the cafe, Hyuntak is quick to jog ahead and grab the door, holding it open for him and looking out at the street, like he does this all the time.
“Oh!” Juntae says, walking through the entrance. “Thanks.”
That, at least, gets Hyuntak to smile, nodding as he follows behind.
The whole place is even bigger than it looked in the pictures, with soft pink walls and floors, and colored glass on the windows that resembles pojagi. There are a few booths with velvet couches on the first floor, and above them, on the open second floor, Juntae can see tables occupied by people studying.
“Should we find a place to—”
“What do you want to drink—”
“Oh,” Juntae laughs when they speak over each other.
“You go find us a seat, I’ll get our food,” Hyuntak says.
“What? Are you sure you don’t want help?”
“I got it!” he says, turning away toward the counter, leaving no room for argument.
Juntae watches him go, feeling a little lost. There’s a nervous edge to all of Hyuntak’s movements today that isn’t usually there, and he can feel himself feeding off of it, growing more and more anxious at each way Hyuntak disrupts their routine. He shakes it off as best as he can, looking around to find an open table.
Despite how busy the place is, there’s still plenty of seating available. Juntae picks a spot near one of the big windows and settles in, waving to help Hyuntak find him as he walks over with their treats and drinks.
“Wow!” he says, looking over everything when he gets there. He’s filled the tray from end to end with different kinds of pastries. There’s castella cake and salt bread and egg tarts and anpan, and they’re all shining in the waning afternoon sun. “Usually I just get a cannele,” Juntae teases jokingly.
Hyuntak freezes, looking over the tray.
“Shit,” he says. “I think I skipped those, one sec.”
Juntae’s eyes get wide when he makes to get up. He reaches out quickly, gripping the sleeve of Hyuntak’s sweatshirt and pulling him back.
“No, wait, it’s fine! We have plenty already! Sit down,” he pleads with another gentle tug. Hyuntak doesn’t look convinced. He turns around to look at the food, debating. “Please, Tak-ah?”
That does it.
Hyuntak sighs with a smile, turning back.
“You’re sure? I don’t mind.”
“I’m sure,” Juntae says, firm. You’ll have to roll me home at this rate, anyhow, he thinks, privately.
They split everything. It’s still way too much food, but Juntae can admit it’s fun to try it all. Hyuntak’s favorite is the Earl Grey tea cake, his is the blueberry mochi bun. He also likes the way Hyuntak uses the back of a knuckle to wipe the filling from his face when he accidentally gets some on his cheek.
It’s easier to chat while they snack. Hyuntak finally seems to relax, bringing up stories from practice earlier today that make Juntae nearly double over with laughter. In turn, Juntae shows him a few of the videos he’s saved that he thought Hyuntak would like.
It’s effortless, the way it usually is with the two of them, and Juntae finds himself surprised at just how much time has passed when they’re finished.
Afterwards, Hyuntak insists on taking the tray back for them, no matter how many times Juntae offers. Instead, while he waits for him, Juntae wanders over to the opposite side of the cafe, near the entrance.
Over here, there’s a small photo booth tucked away. The walls around it are lined with prints from past customers, groups of friends, couples, families. One in particular catches his eye, it’s two girls, maybe a little older than him, they’re holding each other’s faces in the first photo. In the second, one has her head on the other’s shoulder. In the third, they’re looking at one another, and in the fourth, the camera’s covered.
He’s still looking at it when Hyuntak comes up behind him, making him jump.
“Ready to go?” he asks.
“Let’s do this first,” Juntae says, dragging Hyuntak into the booth.
Inside, it’s even smaller than it looked; they’re practically standing on top of each other while Juntae gets the camera set up. Then, suddenly, a countdown starts on the screen, sending them both into motion as they frantically try to get into frame.
“Here,” Hyuntak says, sitting down on the bench behind them and pulling Juntae with him.
He ends up with one leg draped over Hyuntak’s, the back of his thigh radiating with heat where it presses into his. They both manage to throw up a shaky peace sign just in time for the first photo to be snapped, then break into relieved giggles as the countdown resets.
“What next?” Juntae asks.
In response, Hyuntak slings an arm around his shoulders, pulling him in close like he’s giving him a noogie. Juntae lets out a shriek, smiling big just as the second flash comes. He pushes himself back up then, convincing Hyuntak to do a flower pose for the third.
For the last one, he holds up one half of a heart on instinct. When he doesn’t feel Hyuntak complete it, he turns to look at him, smile wavering a bit. Hyuntak’s looking at him with eyebrows raised, his mouth dropped open. Juntae hadn’t really been thinking about it, but that’s not really a pose two guys do, he supposes.
He goes to pull his hand away, embarrassed, when Hyuntak grabs it, bringing his other hand up to make the heart, then turning to smile at the camera again. Juntae barely notices the flash this time, preoccupied with where Hyuntak’s hand circles his wrist still.
The photos come out nice. They each print a copy, and Juntae slides his into his bag carefully, making sure it doesn’t bend.
By the time they start heading home, the sun’s nearly set, casting the neighborhood in a blueish purple hue. It’s chillier now, too, and Juntae shivers a bit as they walk.
Hyuntak seems tense again, like he was on the walk over. He keeps shaking out his hands, and in his peripheral vision, Juntae can see his eyes flit over to look at him every few minutes. The next time he does it, Juntae turns to meet his gaze and smiles. It must catch him off guard because he’s suddenly letting out a little breathless laugh, and then they’re both giggling.
Juntae thinks that’s the end of it, they’re nearing his place anyway, but then Hyuntak’s hand brushes against the back of his. Once. Twice. Then calloused fingers wind a path to his palm and weave between his own.
We’re holding hands, he thinks, heart suddenly pounding so hard he’s sure Hyuntak can hear it. They’ve never done this before.
Well, once.
While running out of Daesung Bikes nearly a year ago, Hyuntak had gripped his hand tight and told him stay right behind me, pulling him close and swinging a metal pipe wildly. Fear had overridden all other emotion in that moment, but Juntae could still feel the way Hyuntak’s fingers had wrapped around his hand as he laid in bed that night.
This feels different. Juntae’s throat gets tight like it did then, but he’s not scared. It’s more like… giddiness. Go Hyuntak is holding his hand, and Juntae feels giddy over it.
He stops in his tracks so quickly their joined hands swing a little.
“Jun?” Hyuntak asks, turning around to look at him.
Juntae’s eyes are locked on their hands. He can feel Hyuntak’s grip loosen a bit, unsure of himself, like he wants to pull away. Juntae tightens his hold in response, the last thing he wants to do is let go.
A crazy thought forms in his mind, one that he can’t shake once it lands. It’s impossible, really, but Juntae has to ask, has to know anyway.
He tears his gaze away, ignoring the way Hyuntak calls out to him again to ask if he’s okay, and looks around until he spots a small alley to their left with just enough light from the street. He makes for it, pulling Hyuntak along with him until they’re both tucked away in it. The light cuts across Hyuntak’s face, right over his mouth, and suddenly that spot is all Juntae can think about.
“What’s wrong?”
“Was this a date?”
They’re so close that Juntae can hear the way his breath hitches at the question. He smiles, sheepish, and when Juntae feels the way his palm gets sweatier pressed up against his own, it makes him smile back.
“Kind of,” Hyuntak says. “Or, well, I was thinking it could be? If you wanted…”
All of the breath rushes out of Juntae. He’d hoped, thought maybe, but hearing that Hyuntak wanted that too felt like more than he’d ever dared to dream for.
“Oh,” he says, dazed. “I didn’t realize.”
Hyuntak cringes a little, pulling back like he’s going to put space between them again, which— Juntae didn’t even notice, but he’s got him practically pressed against the wall. He pulls his hand back with a bit more strength, and Juntae finally lets go. His fingers feel too cold immediately.
“It’s okay,” he says. “It’s fine, Jun. We can just forget it, right?”
No. Absolutely not.
When Hyuntak starts to wriggle his way out, Juntae reaches up to press his shoulder back to the wall. It sends a tiny thrill through him that Hyuntak lets himself be moved, giving into Juntae’s gentle pushes.
“I didn’t realize because no one’s asked me on a date before.”
“This was your first date?” Hyuntak asks.
Juntae nods. He’s blushing a little, but it’s okay. It’s just Hyuntak. Sweet, kind, strong, loyal Hyuntak. Juntae likes him so much.
“Oh,” Hyuntak says, and he breathes a little sigh of relief. “How was it?”
Juntae’s eyes fixate on the light again, on that spot, Hyuntak’s mouth, and he’s never even been kissed before, never… but he has to, now.
“It’s not over yet,” he says, and then he’s pulling Hyuntak down by the back of his neck, squeezing his eyes shut and hoping that Hyuntak has enough coordination for the both of them.
Soft lips press over Juntae’s mouth, and for a moment, they just rest there. It’s not until his eyes flutter open, just barely, that Hyuntak completes the kiss, closing his mouth over Juntae’s and bringing his free hand up to cradle his neck. It’s the most thrilling thing to happen to Juntae in his life. The feeling of Hyuntak guiding his head left and right, capturing his mouth over and over in slow, wet kisses, gives him goosebumps, sets his body alight.
At some point, Hyuntak spins them, and then it’s Juntae being pressed into the wall, letting himself be kissed over and over with soft, sweet pecks. Before he pulls away, Hyuntak presses one more to Juntae’s cheek, right where his finger had brushed earlier, and smiles like he can still taste blueberry there.
He pulls back to say something, and Juntae watches as their breath mingles together between them. He’s practically panting, waiting patiently for Hyuntak to finish whatever he’s saying so that they can keep kissing. He’s not sure why they stopped, he doesn’t think he’ll ever want to stop, now that he knows what it’s like.
“Jun?” Hyuntak says, finally coaxing Juntae’s eyes up to his.
“Hm?”
“Come on,” he says, with a light laugh. “I’ve gotta get you home, your toes’ll freeze off out here.”
Juntae wiggles his feet, they are cold, but—
“One more,” he argues, pulling Hyuntak down again.
They stay for a few more minutes, until even Juntae has to admit it’s too cold. The rest of the walk goes by too quickly, their hands still interlaced until they turn at his door. Neither of them speaks right away, both smiling but struck uncharacteristically shy.
“So do you, um,” Hyuntak eventually stutters out. “Would you want to do it again?"
Juntae's eyes flicker to his mouth, watch as the corners of it twitch when Hyuntak catches him.
"The date, Jun," he clarifies.
His eyes are bright when Juntae meets them again. The night feels like a dream. He can still feel the way Hyuntak had kissed his lips, his cheek, the corner of his mouth. He stares for just a moment before he rushes forward, pulling Hyuntak into a hug.
“Yes,” he says, tucking his face into Hyuntak’s sweatshirt. “I want to do it again.”
He feels the way Hyuntak sighs with relief, finally, hugging Juntae back for a quick minute before they both pull away.
“See you tomorrow?”
Juntae nods. “Get home safe.”
He waves in response, walking backwards a few steps before turning to walk home.
Juntae watches him again, like he had at Eunjang mere hours ago, before he knew what it was like to have Hyuntak's hands cradling his jaw, and his tongue teasing at his mouth. It's only been one night, but he already knows he never wants another day to pass without this feeling ever again. He turns to head inside, pausing at the last moment.
“Tak-ah!” he calls out, smiling at the way Hyuntak whips around again. “It was perfect.”