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The arcade is full of blinking lights and electronic noises, but Vernon can only focus on Seungkwan’s face. His tongue is poked out slightly as he concentrates on the racing game in front of them.
“Nooooo…” Seungkwan’s eyebrows knit together as he leans hard into the turn. He crashes unceremoniously into a wall. “Damn it!”
Vernon laughs, and Seungkwan turns to him with mock offence. “You’re supposed to be supportive!”
“I am being supportive. Supportively laughing at you.” Vernon grins, and something warm blooms in his chest when Seungkwan shoves his shoulder playfully.
“Fine, your turn rockstar. Let’s see you do better.”
Vernon slides into the seat, still warm from Seungkwan’s body head and grasps the steering wheel. Seungkwans leans close behind him, so close that Vernon can smell his cologne. Something subtle and clean. His stomach does that flip-flop thing again that it’s been doing all night.
“Okay this turn coming up is brutal,” Seungkwan warns, his breath tickling Vernon’s ear. “You have to brake early or--yep. Or you’ll crash.”
Vernon’s car spins out of control, and he doesn’t even care.
They play for another hour, skee-ball, air hockey, some hunting game where neither of them can hit anything. Seungkwan accumulates enough tickets to win a tiny rubber duck, which he presents to Vernon with exaggerated ceremony.
“For you, my...”
“I shall treasure it always,” Vernon says, cutting Seungkwan off from whatever he was going to say. He pockets the duck. Their fingers brush during the exchange before Vernon turns away quickly. He swears the touch lingers a second too long.
When they leave, the world has transformed. Snow falls in thick flakes, coating the sidewalks and cars in fresh white. The city sounds are muffled, falling into the background.
“Oh wow,” Seungkwan breathes, tilting his face to the sky. He grins as snowflakes catch in his dark hair, and Vernon has to resist the urge to brush them away.
They walk in comfortable silence, the only sound now is their footsteps crunching in the snow. Vernon’s heart is hammering though. He’s been holding something back all night, and suddenly he needs Seungkwan to know.
“Can I tell you a secret?” The words come out before he can stop them.
Seungkwan turns to him, his head cocked to the side, curious. “Of course.”
“I’m in a band.”
“What?” Seungkwan’s eyes widen, and a snowflake lands on his lips. He blows it away. “That’s so cool! Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a small thing, playing the guitar at bars on the weekends.” Vernon shrugs, but a smile tugs at his lips. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Not a big deal? Are you kidding?” Seungkwan is practically jumping up and down. “Please let me come to a show!”
“I don’t know…” Vernon stops walking and turns toward the frozen lake beside the path. For some reason his admission of his secret didn’t help the feeling deep in his belly.
“Come on, I’d love to hear you play.”
“Maybe.” Vernon can feel heat rising in his cheeks. He changes the subject quickly. “It’s so beautiful out here.”
Seungkwans steps up beside him, close enough that their arms touch. “It’s like a whole new world. A refresh.”
Vernon is suddenly aware of every inch of space between them, or the lack of it. Seungkwan’s hand brushes his, and electricity shoots up his arm.
“Sorry,” Seungkwan mutters.
“No, it’s…” Vernon trails off. His mouth is dry. “It’s okay.”
It grows silent now, and Vernon can hear his own heartbeat, loud in his ears.
“It’s my turn for a secret now,” Seungkwan turns toward Vernon. “I like you.”
Seungkwan says it so confidently that Vernon takes a step back. The words hang frozen in the air between them.
“What?”
“I like you,” Seungkwan repeats, and now Vernon can see vulnerability beneath the surface. Seungkwan’s voice is slightly trembling, his hands are shoved in his pockets. “I’ve never given much thought to what sexuality I am, but sometimes when we’re out, like tonight, I find myself wanting to hold your hand. And I’m tired of pretending like I don’t.”
“Oh,” Seungkwan says, his voice strangled. Oh. Vernon’s brain is trying to process this and the words echo in his mind. Seungkwan. Likes him.
“Vernon, I’m sorry,” Seungkwan’s face crumples. “I didn’t mean to make this weird. I--forget it.” He turns to walk away, cutting across the pristine snow.
Vernon watches him go, frozen, because a sudden rush of realization has flooded through him. All those moments. Seungkwan’s laugh when Vernon made a joke. The way Seungkwan always texted him first thing in the morning. How Vernon’s stomach had flipped when their fingers touched. The rubber duck.
Oh god. He’s been falling for Seungkwan this whole time, hasn’t he? And he’s been too scared to see it.
“Wait--,” Vernon calls out. His voice cracks. “Seungkwan, wait!”
Seungkwan stops but doesn’t turn around. Even from here, Vernon can see his shoulders are tense.
“Come back. Please.”
Vernon starts moving, not bothering with the path anymore. It seems to take forever to reach Seungkwan, but he makes it and he can see tears dotting Seungkwan’s round cheeks.
Seungkwan looks up at him and Vernon’s heart breaks. “Yes?”
Without thinking, Vernon leans down and presses his lips to Seungkwan's forehead--soft and gentle. An apology and a promise all wrapped up.
“I didn’t mean to shut down,” Vernon says quietly. “I’m sorry. I just--I didn’t realize.”
“It’s okay.” Seungkwan’s voice is small. “You don’t have to--”
“I didn’t realize that’s what was happening to me.” Vernon meets his eyes. “All those times my heart was racing when you texted. The way I felt tonight watching you play games and just…be yourself.” He swallows. “I was falling for you.”
“Oh.” Seungkwan’s face transforms, lighting up. “You were? You are?”
“Can I kiss you?” Vernon asks, and suddenly he realizes this is what he’s wanted all along. More. Everything. “Please?”
“Yes.”
Vernon leans down, and Seungkwan tilts up, and their lips meet in the middle. Snow falls around them, encapsulating them like they’re in a snowglobe, caught in a perfect moment. Seungkwan’s lips are warm and soft. His hands come up to grip Vernon’s coat, pulling him closer, and Vernon wraps his arms around Seungkwan’s waist.
They break apart.
“Was that a date?” Vernon asks.
“Shut up,” Seungkwan says, swatting at him. “Can I come to your next show now?”
Vernon rolls his eyes. “Front row seat. I’ll even dedicate a song to you.”
“You better.”
They kiss again, softer this time, as the snow continues to fall and the world fades to white.