Work Text:
“So… is this a…”
Across from Yeosang, San fidgets nervously with a napkin, staring down at the table. If Yeosang didn’t know better, he’d expect to find a hole in the wood there later. He waits, patiently bats his eyes at San, not that he’ll see with his gaze turned down. Something tells Yeosang he’ll somehow feel it.
It’s not like Yeosang doesn’t know what’s going on. This isn’t the first time that San invites him out for a meal after all. No one else, just him. Fumbled his texts with a silly ‘If you want!!’ after every invitation. Yeosang might not be the fastest, but he isn’t stupid. He knows that the longing stares aren’t only for the cameras and the fans, that the constant touches are meant to comfort and attract. It only got more intense after they left their big group dorm and moved into smaller ones, the distance making San’s yearning even more apparent. If they’re apart for longer than a day, Yeosang will find a bunch of texts with random life updates from San on his phone. Sometimes photos or videos of cute things, of food, asking if Yeosang has eaten already, if he needs help with anything. During busy or lazy days, he might not always reply, but Yeosang appreciates it. Someone reaching out and thinking of him, he likes it, really and he makes sure to let San now.
The physical attention, too, he doesn’t truly mind, even if it might look like that in public and on camera. Being the firm idol he is, he’s simply careful. He doesn’t want San to risk getting more bad comments than he already is. And outside of work, they don’t meet often enough, too busy with schedules and seeing family and friends when they can, to really spend any more time together.
So this, today, is rare. Because even if Yeosang agrees to come, it more often than not happens that one of the others or one of their managers or staff will end up tagging along. And neither of them is good at saying no, especially when they’re overseas and all of them are staying in the same hotel. Because what could be the reason for them to go out alone? What could be a good enough reason to turn their friends down? No, neither San, nor Yeosang would be able to do that with good conscience. So today is a rare occurrence of them actually being alone at a Japanese restaurant. Maybe San made sure that everyone else is not available or too tired to go out. Yeosang might ask him about it later. For now, Yeosang watches how San finally takes a deep breath to finish his question, having gathered enough courage.
“Is this a date…?” His bandmate mumbles, barely audible in their little booth of the restaurant over the noises surrounding them. If Yeosang isn’t careful now, he’ll start giggling because San is so cute when he’s nervous like that, tips of his ears all flaming red and still unable to look up at him for longer than a quick glance. Instead, he purses his lips to stop himself from smiling and leans back on his chair, humming in thought.
Deep down, Yeosang of course knows this is a date. They’ve been sneaking around each other for ages and today is no different. But he likes playing cat and mouse for a little longer and the waitress interrupting them with their drinks only makes this more perfect. On the other side of the table, San reaches up with his napkin, wiping away some of the sweat that has been accumulating on his temples. It’s pretty. He is pretty. Yeosang allows another moment to pass once the waitress has left, to admire his view. And then he deems the suffering San went through enough to free him from it, leaning forward over the table to get an even better view of San’s face and the bright smile blooming there when the other hears Yeosang’s reply.
“Yes, Sannie, this is a date.”