Chapter Text
Soonyoung didn’t think that all thirteen of them would have been able to go on a retreat without some kind of schedule by Na PD – especially since they had two members enlisted. He should have never underestimated the power of Jeonghan when the man Really Wanted Something To Happen.
Soonyoung still didn’t know all the details, but he does know that Jeonghan and Seungcheol spent 6 hours in the CEO’s office and he came out smiling. (Seungcheol looked like he had just fought the hardest lawsuit of his life but Jeonghan simply said he just needed more sleep).
Their retreat wasn’t perfect. Chan and Seokmin had to miss the first day because of their schedule, and Seungkwan had to leave on the second day to host a show, then return the next day. On top of that, Jeonghan and Wonwoo could only join them on the third day since they were only granted 2 days of leave, which gave them 4 days off including the weekend. Regardless, they made it work.
This retreat was important to them. Not only was it a chance for them to spend private time together before the military starts to yank their family apart, but it was a chance for them to be themselves again – no cameras.
Though, it was especially important for Soonyoung. Everyone knew Jeonghan fought a little harder than usual for this retreat. Only Soonyoung knew why.
“You’re lost in thought again, Soonyoungieee~” Jeonghan spoke, snapping Soonyoung out of his thoughts just in time to stop himself from cutting his fingers off with a knife. The senior peered over at Soonyoung’s cutting board and hummed. “I’ve never seen such unequal cuts of cucumber before.”
“Sorry, hyung.” Soonyoung started to salvage the poor cucumbers. “Just… Thinking.”
“Aigo, Youngie…” Jeonghan teased. “Don’t think too hard about it. It’s going to go well.”
“Not that– Well, I am nervous about that. I was just thinking about how you and Coups-hyung managed to make this happen.”
“It’s long overdue. We needed this. Family should never spend too much time apart, right?”
Soonyoung laughed. “Didn’t Jihoon say that if we got any closer, we’d get in trouble?”
“Then let’s get in trouble. Life’s boring anyway.”
Soonyoung grinned and passed over the ‘cucumbers’ to Jeonghan. Him and Jeonghan were no strangers to getting in trouble when it came down to asking for what they wanted. Seungcheol and Seungkwan fought for the group, but they had to know when to back down. Jeonghan and Soonyoung didn’t (more like, they ignored it).
“You’re always bored…” Soonyoung trailed off, watching Jeonghan mix something in a bowl. His thoughts started to run. “Hyung?”
“Mm?”
“Do you think we’ll get in trouble?”
Jeonghan paused. He looked up to study Soonyoung’s expression. He’s always been good at reading his members and Soonyoung’s an open book. He knew that the dancer was no longer talking about the retreat. The senior tilted his head and hummed.
“Do you think it’s worth the trouble?”
“... Yes.”
Jeonghan reached out to squeeze Soonyoung’s cheek, earning an annoyed yelp from the dancer since Jeonghan’s hand still had kimchi juice on it. “Aigo, my Soonyoungie’s all grown up now.”
“Hyung!” Soonyoung whined, digging around the cupboards for some paper towels. “I just washed my face!”
Jeonghan chuckled and returned to his bowl, ignoring Soonyoung’s complaints about even wearing a face mask just to keep his cheeks nice and clear.
“For what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re going to get into trouble.”
Soonyoung huffed and went up to stand behind Jeonghan, hugging the man from behind.
“Really?”
Jeonghan nodded. “And if you do… Hyung will support you. Always.”
Soonyoung buried his face in Jeonghan’s shoulder.
“... And what if Jihoon says ‘no’?”
“He’s not going to say no.”
“But what if–”
“Here, try this.”
Soonyoung barely opened his eyes when Jeonghan pulled his head back and shoved something into his mouth. Then another. And another. Even if Soonyoung wanted to continue his spiral or protest against Jeonghan’s feeding habits, he was too busy keeping himself from choking.
Jeonghan continued what he was doing as Soonyoung cleared his mouth and throat.
“You know, you could have just told me to stop?”
“But then you’d just keep spiralling inside your head and that’s not going to help anyone, right?”
Soonyoung pouted, letting his chin fall back onto Jeonghan’s shoulder. “It’s annoying how you’re right most of the time.”
A voice came from behind them, spooking Soonyoung. “That’s why I don’t even bother to argue with him anymore. There’s only so much losing my ego can take.”
Seungcheol stepped around the counter to grab some coffee. His hair was standing in all directions, which meant that the man literally just woke up.
“Morning Cheoliee~ Youngie thinks that Jihoon’s going to reject his proposal.”
Soonyoung splutters, affronted by Jeonghan’s blase way of expressing a thought that haunted his mind for days. Surely, Soonyoung’s worries weren’t that ridiculous.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Well.
“Hyung!” Soonyoung whined at Seungcheol.
“What?!” The leader protested, shrugging and sipping on his drink. “You think Jihoon’s capable of saying ‘no’ to you? Name one time you walked into his studio with a song idea and he turned you away? Or how about whenever you’d show up at his apartment in the middle of the night ‘just because’ and he’d let you in? Oh! Or how about the times you get insane food poisoning and no one really wants to step into the bathroom to pass you more toilet paper–”
“Okay! I get it! Thank you! We’re standing in front of food, you know!”
Seungcheol and Jeonghan chuckled. If Soonyoung wasn’t so distracted by his own dilemma, he’d make a joke about how those two have the worst methods to keep someone from spiralling.
“Don’t worry too much about it, Soonyoung.” Seungcheol slid two cups over to Soonyoung and Jeonghan. “Jihoon’s going to say yes.”
“Even though we aren’t even dating?”
“He’s going to say yes.” Seungcheol ended the conversation there and started to set the breakfast table for everyone.
“Open up.”
Soonyoung opened his mouth on instinct, not even looking at what Jeonghan was feeding him. The spice hit him like a truck, but his tolerance had improved over the years thanks to Jun’s mala and Wonwoo’s spicy noodles. The dakgalbi was good but Soonyoung started to notice something.
“Mmm…” Soonyoung studied the bowl and tilted his head in confusion. “Where’s the cucumbers?”
“In the fridge.”
“Didn’t you wake me up so that I could help you make breakfast?”
“Nah. I woke you up so I didn’t have to make breakfast alone.”
“Aish, hyung.” Soonyoung grinned and started shaking Jeonghan side to side. “You could have just said that.”
“Yeah… Well, we aren’t the best at direct communication.” Jeonghan looked up and watched Seungcheol start making enough eggs for 13 people. “But we’re trying.”
“We are.”
Jeonghan nodded and stepped out of Soonyoung’s hold to bring the dakgalbi to the dining table.
“Yah!” Jeonghan passed by the stove and poked Seungcheon’s butt. “Where’s my good morning kiss?”
Soonyoung snorted and turned around to brew some more coffee for the rest of the members.