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The morning of what started it all was pretty average. They’re in their shared home, Minho in his room and Jisung in his. Even when in a relationship, neither feels the need to spend 24/7 together. They live together, sometimes eat together and have just finished a world tour together. They need their time alone.
Minho wakes up every morning at 5AM sharp. He’ll lay in bed for fifteen minutes then get up and immediately to work out. His new routine was easy to adapt to and Jisung’s followed along. Yes, they go to the gym together most the time.
Once he’s changed, he heads over to Jisung’s room next door, quietly peaking in and seeing the younger man still fast asleep. He’s completely covered in his duvet and blankets, sleep mask on and phone on charge but left in his hand. He was probably watching YouTube late again at night. He’s addicted to that app.
Minho sighs and decides today’s just a solo gym visit. Changbin will come collect Jisung anyways before their schedule’s begin.
When he returns, he notices the hallway light on. A telltale sign that Jisung’s awake. It’s around 7AM now so that’s not surprising.
“Hyung!” Jisung’s head peaks out form the corner into the kitchen, staring at Minho with a grin as the elder is taking his shoes off. “Jungwon called and said our schedule’s have been cancelled today!”
Minho pauses in the door and raises a brow at his boyfriend, obviously confused. “But we had a full day at the company?”
“Mhm! Turns out there was a gas leak so nobody’s allowed in the building.” Jisung comes round the corner to Minho, hoodie and sweatpants still on. “Hmmm, you need a shower.”
Minho chuckles and just pats Jisung on the head like he always does, passing the younger to go into the kitchen. “I think I need food first. Did Changbin drop by and bring my protein powder back?”
“Hm? Oh, yeah, just about half an hour ago.” Jisung follows the elder, typing something into his phone.
Minho grabs the container Changbin had dropped off and makes his shake. It’s the one thing keeping him going right now. He’s also trying to get Jisung hooked onto it, even though he hates trying new things. It won’t stop Minho.
“Hyung, did you know penguins propose to each other?”
“Huh?”
Minho’s used to Jisung spitting out random animal facts from all the nature documents he watches, mainly that one British old guy. He’d just rather not hear about said facts at seven in the morning.
“Penguins propose to each other.” Jisung shows off a gummy smile, clutching his phone which mostly has a video explanation ready. “It’s actually really funny. So, during mating season penguins will walk in crowds and search for their mates. Once they find their silly crush, they’ll memorise their face and set off on a mission to court them. They find a really smooth, shiny, flat stone as like an engagement ring. Cute, right? Anyways, they’ll return and bring this stone to the crush they chose and place it in front of them. If the proposal is accepted, the other penguin will pick up the stone and they’ll basically be married. If not, it’s a rejection! Isn’t that crazy?”
Minho just stares at Jisung. Then blinks. Repeatedly. Trying to understand Jisung’s ramble. “Huh?”
“I said isn’t that cool?” Jisung’s still smiling. “Look! This is literally caught on video!”
Jisung shoves his phone in his boyfriend’s face, showing two penguins exchanging a flat stone. All Minho can focus on is Jisung’s gummy smile as he watches Minho watching the video.
“That’s cute, jagi.” Minho sighs, shaking his head.
“I know, right!?” Jisung beams. “I’m gonna tell Felix all about this! Then maybe Seungmin. Or Channie-Hyung.”
Jisung mutters all this as he walks over to their living room, plopping down on the sofa, a soggy bowl of cereal on the coffee table.
Minho can’t believe he’s in love with this guy.
=====
Unfortunately, the topic stays in his head for the whole week. Even with all the members present, he can’t stop thinking about Jisung and his stupid pebble penguin proposal thing.
“Oi, Hyung.” Changbin pokes his cheek.
They’re eating lunch together. All eight of them.
“You’ve been staring down Jisungie for the past two minutes.” The rapper laughs at him. “You like you’re gonna eat him.”
“Mm. more like propose to him.” Minho mutters. Though it seems Changbin heard this as he starts choking on his food, gaining the attention of Chan and Jisung who are sat across them in the round table.
“You okay, Binnie?” Chan asks genuinely while Jisung just laughs at the older.
“Yeah- uh, yeah, all good.” Changbin waves his hands away then quickly turns back to Minho. “Propose?? Are you serious? I mean- it’s a bit fast and forward, don’t you think? Jisung’s not even 25 yet, let alone our comeback being two weeks away. Plus, we’re releasing another album in November— But you two have been dating for like five years now, and it would be an appropriate age to get married right now.”
“Changbin, shut up.” Minho groans. “I’m not proposing to Jisung. I’m just- never mind, you’ll think it’s stupid.”
“Yeah but only cause it’s you.” Changbin continues to eat but still whispers. “Just tell me, I don’t care.”
“Fine, but we’re speaking in private.” Minho mutters and grabs Changbin’s wrist, dragging them both away from the table and not answering the other’s calls for them.
Minho drags them to one of the hallways in the company building, taking a deep breath and facing Changbin.
“Did you know penguins propose to each other?”
“The fuck?” Changbin spits out a bit too quickly.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” Minho shrugs. “It’s a thing Jisung brought up at the start of the week. You know, when the company had a gas leak and we got the day off. But he went on a little ramble about how cute it is and I want to imitate that.”
“Uhh, that’s cute, I guess? But there’s a bit of a problem.” Changbin’s basically side eyeing Minho at this point.
“Huh?” Minho perks up at that.
“Neither of you are penguins.”
Changbin is immediately met with a bunch of smacks to his arms and head. “Changbin, you massive idiot, you know that’s not what I’m talking about!”
“Ow! Okay! Okay! Stoppp!!” The younger whines, pushing Minho back. “Just explain your weird penguin fantasy.”
“God, I hate you….” Minho grumbled. “Jisung told me penguins propose with flat shiny grey rocks and I wanna do the same to him. Not in a marriage way, though I wouldn’t be opposed, but in the cute gift giving way. Do you understand now?”
“Yeah, that makes more sense.” Changbin rubs his arm. “So, do you need help finding a stone or something?”
“Great idea!” Minho grabs Changbin’s arm and drags him once again. “Let’s go look for one now! The courtyard will have them.”
“Hey! Hey! Ow! Stop pulling!”
=====
Meanwhile, back in the artist’s canteen, the rest are having their usual conversation.
“I saw some fans sharing more of those mistranslated messages Minho-Hyung sends.” Felix laughs, waving his spoon around.
“Yahhh, somebody really needs to fix NAVER and their translation issues.” Chan sighs. “It happened a year or so back with Seungmin and the ‘am I a shit dog?.”
“Don’t even bring that up.” Said shit dog groans.
“Uhm….” Hyunjin makes the whole group pause.
“Huh? What is it?” Jeongin asks, mouth stuffed full with whatever he chose to eat that day.
“Why are Minho-Hyung and Changbin-Hyung on their hands and knees, searching the courtyard?”
All whip their heads around and spot the two older men, as Hyunjin said, on their hands and knees, crawling about the courtyard.
“Did they lose something?” Chan furrows his brows, more worried about their wellbeing and sort of their reputation than anything.
“Minho-Hyung’s not been out in the courtyard since before we started the tour.” Jisung also furrows his eyebrows, though his cheeks are stuffed and creates more of an angry hamster picture.
“Almost a year…. and Changbin barely even went in the courtyard before that anyways.” Felix mutters.
“Oh! They’re coming back inside!” Hyunjin laughs as they watch the their members enter the canteen, walking back to their table.
“Everything okay, you two?” Chan raises a brow at them, waiting for an answer like some impatient father.
Changbin looks exasperated. Exhausted. So done with Minho.
And Minho? He’s buzzing.
He rushes over to where Jisung’s sat, shoving Hyunjin out the way and further into their booth.
“Ow- what the fuck?”
“Jagi.” Minho stares Jisung dead in the eyes. “I got this for you. It’s mating season.”
Felix choked on his food while Jeongin makes the most disgusted face he could muster. Jisung’s eyes are like saucers, staring at Minho like he’s lost his mind. Which he basically has.
“Mating season…?” And before Jisung can utter anything else, Minho places a smooth, flat, grey rock in front of the younger, a small smile on his face.
Jisung’s eyes widen, recognising the gesture to be the same as the penguins he had shown Minho earlier that week. And his reaction? He starts bawling his eyes out and hugging Minho, bubbling “you remembered” between sobs.
“Awww, it’s okay, jagi.” Minho chuckles, hugging Jisung and running his hand up and down his back. “I just hope you know this means I love you a ton.”
“I-I love you too! Waaahhh!” Jisung continues to babble.
Minho’s just glad he remembered or else it would’ve been much more embarrassing.
=====
“What the fuck.”
Nobody scolds Seungmin for letting out those words cause truly what the fuck did they just witness.
“Mating season?” Chan squints his eyes at the couple. “Felix have you been making Minho read those fanfics you send in the chat?”
“Of course not!” Felix hisses. “I only send the fluffy ones, not whatever freaky thing these two are on.”
“Well, it must mean something.” Hyunjin says, scooting further away from the couple as Jisung cries even louder.
“Nothing to see here!” Chan just waves at Lily and Bae as they walk past, confusion written all over their faces.
“They’re just like penguins.”
“Huh?” Jeongin gives one of his confused stares at Changbin. “You’re not fluent in minsung language like you think you are, Hyung. I think they’re just weird.”
“Yeah, sure. Like two weird penguins.”