Work Text:
It was the weekend before christmas, the animal rescue centre has been getting increasingly busier throughout the month of December, and today was no different. The centre was filled with parents and kids alike coming in to adopt a little fur friend to spend Christmas with and hopefully the rest of their lives. It was heart warming, seeing so many of the animals be adopted, some that had been here for years, some only a few weeks or months. Yeonjun was pleased to say the least. He had only started volunteering in October for one of his University assignments, yet he already felt so much love for these little critters. If only his accommodation would allow him to adopt one himself… He would do anything to return home to a pet of his own waiting for him.
He can just imagine having a little dog running round his apartment, watching all the disney movies with him snuggled up on his sofa, going on runs together or even travelling the world. Just Yeonjun and his pet dog. Oh how a man could dream.
He hadn't even realised he started daydreaming until his college Nudged him out of it,
“Hey Hyung, do you want to grab some food with me once we finish shutting down?”
“Huh? Oh! Of course Soobinnie. What were you thinking?”
‘A meal with Soobin, just the two of us, this is just like a date!!!!!!’ Yeonjun starts internally cheering, thinking of ending his night with his two favourite things. Food and Soobin!
“Hmmm.. How about that fried chicken spot we went to the other week? You said you enjoyed it.”
“Ooo yesyes!!! Let's go! Their fried chicken is the absolute best!!!”
“Sorted then, let's get to work and focus on closing down!” Soobin walks off flashing Yeonjun a sweet smile.
There was always so much to do at the end of every shift. Cleaning down all the work stations, making sure the animals are safe and calm in their respective cages, refilling all the food and water bowls and most of all checking that all the doors around the building are locked and secure.
Yeonjun busied himself by mopping down the floor in the feeding room, his favourite task was cleaning the flooring down. Something about the repetitive motion was oddly… comforting? The warm lighting from the decorations that adorned the place only added to this sensation. The radio was playing in the background, Yeonjun started dancing along to all his favourite christmas songs with no care in the world, holding the mop as though it was some body, specifically Soobin. He would love to hold Soobin whilst swaying under the ambience of Christmas lighting, singing along to all the songs together, just the two of them.
As the song came to an end, Soobin entered through the door “You almost done Hyung? It's about time we get off if we want to make it out of this snow storm alive.”
“Yep, just have to put the bucket and mop back!” As he started to walk off the radio hosts started speaking. “Due to the current weather conditions, we strongly encourage you to stay home tonight, it seems to only be getting worse as the night goes on. Don't make unnecessary journeys and don't take risks on treacherous roads.The snow will be coming down heavily tonight. With that Merry Chris…” And the power went out. It would take a good few minutes for the old backup generator to kick in. Great..just great.
Yeonjun fished for his phone in his pocket, shortly realising he had left it in the reception area. “Ahh Soobinnie, i left my phone in reception, do you have yours on you? I can't see a thing”
“Uhm yeah hold on let me….” Soobins flashlight turned on, and he made his way over to Yeonjun. “We should focus on getting out and going home. Forget about putting everything away, it can be left till the morning.”
With that they both made their way towards the front door. Hands swinging next to each other, Yeonjun wanted to reach and grab ahold of Soobins and interlock their fingers. “Hyung, the snow is coming down real bad. I think it's best we stay here until it passes. There's no way we will get home safely if we go now.”
Yeonjun moves to peek out the window only now seeing just how high the snow has gotten. “Oh God, there's no way I'll be able to drive in this. I can barely see out the window. The weather reporters were not wrong when they said it’d be coming down heavy”
“Right? Looks like we are gonna be here for a while. I don't think it plans on stopping anytime soon. “
They both stood in silence trying to weigh up the situation, it's not like either of them had planned to spend the night at the shelter. What does one even do when you're trapped inside your work for God knows how long? And now their date plans… are ruined! Curse this horrible season.
Whilst Yeonjuns busy brooding about how the snow has ruined what was about to be a lovely night, Soobin sneaks off. The only thing that pulls Yeonjuns attention back to their situation is music playing from the play room. He begins to make his way over, wondering what the hell Choi Soobin is up to now. Stepping into the room he sees Soobin dancing and singing along to the music whilst his hand is outstretched towards Yeonjun.
“I saw you dancing alone with a mop earlier, thought id give you a better dancing partner”
Yeonjun looks at the ground as he makes his way over, trying to hide the blush forming on his cheeks as he takes Soobin's hand. They start to dance around the room, the sound of silver bells playing from the speakers floats around them as they glide across the floor. Yeonjun prays that Soobin can't hear his heart that's almost beating out of his chest .
Once the music comes to an end, they sit themselves on the floor. Yeonjun rests his head on Soobin's shoulder enjoying the peaceful silences that has enveloped them.
“So, what do you think? Am I better than that mop?”
“Hey! Not too much now, Mister Mop is my number one dance partner!”
Soobin shares a little chuckle. He begins to draw shapes on Yeonjun's leg with his finger whilst humming songs to himself. Time just flew by, both of them encased in each other’s bubble, the whole situation just felt so warm, Yeonjun can feel his eyes slowly shutting, drifting off to sleep. But not before he is interrupted by his stomach making a loud growling noise. Fuck.. now that his body has made him miserably aware about how empty his stomach alls he fees is hunger.
“Theres always the pet food, if you want to knock yourself out on eating that I wont judge”
Yeonjun turns to look at Soobin in disbelief, “I am not eating animal food.”
“What? Come on, it's not as bad as it sounds I promise!!!”
“You.. Choi Soobin please tell me you haven't eaten pet food before..”
“Somtimes curiosity gets the best of people hyung, what can i say”
“Right… right.. Well, I'm going to the perfectly good vending machine in the staff room. Do you want anything or will I catch you eating away at the rabbit food when I get back?”
Soobin rolls his eyes still with a smile plastered on his face as he stands, “Shut up. Let's go to the staff room.”
Yeonjun finally gets the courage and he reaches out for Soobin, interlocking their hands as they make their way.
Once they make it to the vending machine, Soobin uses a special key that unlocks the entire thing, after a few failed attempts due to the machine's oldness, the door finally swings open. Yeonjun grabs as much as he can as well as drinks so that they don't have to worry about trying to get the rusty thing open again. They still had a few more hours to go before the roads will be clear enough for them to head home.
The clock read 1am, Yeonjun and Soobin were both curled up on the staff sofa. Soobin's eyes were glued to the window, watching the light snow fall. Yeonjun, however, was staring at Soobin. Memorising the way each hair strand falls over his eyes, how the outside lights that are hitting his face makes him look so delicate. His brain craves to have Soobin's attention on him, he wants Soobin to look at him with as much wonder and magic as he's looking at the snowflakes with. Yeonjun's gotten tired of all the tension and fleeting looks that are shared between the two of them. He will tell Soobin how he truly feels.
Yeonjun moves across the sofa, sitting himself next to Soobin, who's still busy looking out the window. He nervously plays with his hair, trying to gather his thoughts into a proper sentence.
“Hey Soobin...” Yeonjun called out. Receiving a soft hum in return. “You uh… you know how i feel about you right?”
At that, Soobin lifts his head and looks at Yeonjun with a little tilt. Much like how a dog would when confused. “What do you mean hyung?”
“I like you, Soobin-ah.” He takes a deep breath, keeping his eyes on the floor, too nervous to look up. “I have for a while… I really enjoy your company and volunteering here with you has given me the opportunity to get to know you better and I would really like to take you out some time. For like a date.. If you want to of course!!!! I'm sorry if this makes things awkward…”
“Yeonjun..”
Said boy looks away continuing to nervously fiddle, his anxiety was glaringly bright “You dont have to reply now of course!!! Infact i dont really expect you too i kind of…”
“Yeonjun.”
“…dumped this on you out of nowhere. I just really needed to let it out and i know that we have only gotten closer in the recent months so im sorry if i made you uncomfo-“
Plush lips met his and all the words on his tongue died on the spot. He closed his eyes and kissed back. But before long those pillowy lips disappeared from his. Reaching his hand up he traced his fingers across his mouth in utter shock.
“Sorry i didnt know how else to get your attention” Soobin said sheepishly itching at the back of his head. “First of all, I like you too Hyung. I've been flirting and hinting at you for weeks, i was losing hope because you would just run away.” Realisation dawned on Yeonjun. All those times he believed Soobin was playing a nasty game with him was actually Soobin FLIRTING?! with him. God he feels like such an idiot. “Ive actually had a crush on on you since high school” Yeonjun whips his head around, not believing the words entering his ear.
“No way.. you always avoided me. I thought you hated me..”
“Ahh yeah thats my own fault haha.. Sorry. Too scared to get close to you, you were, are, so cool and you had so many friends… I was just some guy but you… You’re Choi Yeonjun.”
A blush creeps up Yeonjun's face, he feels so shy hearing Soobin speak so highly about him especially after years of believing he hated him. “Soooo.. does this mean you're saying yes to the date?” He looks up at Soobin, putting on his cutest pout whilst batting his eyelashes at him.
Before answering, Soobin leans in, pressing a kiss on Yeonjun's adorable lips. “Of course hyung, i would love to go on a date with you.”
They don't sleep for the entire night, both of them too filled with excitement from the new development in their relationship. Instead, they stay up talking about anything and everything. Neither of them looked at the clock to check the time, too wrapped up in each others presence to care. In this small staff room with only the sound of their whispers and giggle, only they mattered.
That was until of course their boss arrived an hour before opening. It made Yeonjun's soul jump out his body and Soobin dashed behind him, using Yeonjun as some sort of shield.
“And what are you two doing here at this hour?”
Yeonjun kept fumbling over his words, still trying to get over his initial shock.
“I'm sorry Percy, the snow got real heavy last night and I thought it would be too risky for either of us to travel home.” Soobin stood up, greeting their boss.
“I see, I did tell Joe to let you guys go early, she mustn't have seen my text. Anyway, you guys better get on home and try to catch some rest. Don't worry about coming in today, ill find someone else to cover you alright?”
“Yes boss! Thank you” They said in unison, moving towards the door and going straight to the exit.
Once they stepped outside the cold winter air hit them in the face, Yeonjun turned to Soobin to bid him farewell but Soobin beat him to it with a quick peck on the lips and a sweet smile.
“Ill see you next week?”
“Yeah! Well that is unless you're free on Sunday? You know for our date”
“Oh? Well if I'm not, I am now! I'll see you Sunday hyung.”
Before Soobin could leave Yeonjun kissed his cheek, running away to his care straight after. In two days they will see each other again and Yeonjun can't wait to find out what the future holds for them