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“You choked,” Seungmin observes, leaning back against the buffet table in the hotel reception room. It's only the rehearsal; the wedding isn't until tomorrow, so no one was giving their full speeches, but when Seo Changbin stood up to introduce himself when it was his turn as Chan's best man, he'd scraped back the chair and bumped his hips against the table before stammering out his introduction. When he sat back down, he'd done it hard, face and ears a fuming red. Everyone laughed it off, and finished the rest of the rounds without much incident.
“Fuck you,” Changbin says, tone light like he's not sure what to make of Seungmin and how serious of an insult it is. He narrows his eyes suspiciously behind his big black frames. “Kim Seungmin, right?”
Seungmin offers his hand. “One of Felix's groomsmen, yeah.”
Changbin takes it. His handshake is firm. He's mousier than Seungmin expected from the many rap tracks Felix has excitedly shared with Seungmin that Changbin and Chan worked on together. The powerful, growly voice, the confident flow. Seungmin had only ever really been indulging Felix by listening, but there is something gravitational about that voice.
He has very little of that commanding energy in person. He's short, too. Curly, unstyled black hair, wearing a relaxed sports coat over a graphic tee and jeans. Cute face. Cute in general.
Seungmin has an inexplicable urge to poke the toothache. “Are you going to be able to manage an entire speech tomorrow?”
Changbin's eyebrows draw down further and he huffs out, “You graduated with Felix, didn't you? I'm older than you, you know.”
Seungmin looks down at him, affecting innocence. “Should I call you ‘hyungnim?’”
Changbin rolls his eyes. “Leave off it.”
“No insult meant. I was seriously wondering. It's a big responsibility. Don't you want everything to be perfect for these two?”
They both look over to Felix and Chan who are with their parents and being fussed over.
“It will be.”
Seungmin is, of course, not actually being earnest with his concern. Felix told him about how supportive Changbin has been and about all of the work he has been doing for the wedding. A lot of the nitty gritty details Felix admitted he didn't care a lot about, while Chan, on the other hand, cared so much that it practically gave him an ulcer, up until Changbin stepped in to make some decisions. He'd helped them both juggle their responsibilities on top of his own, like planning an elaborate destination bachelor party for all of Chan's colleagues and extended friend group, then a second lowkey one in the city for just their buddies. Based on that, Seungmin trusts Changbin to do a good enough job come wedding day.
“It's okay. You can practice in the mirror a few times tonight. Repetition is good for stage fright.”
“It's not–” The way Changbin puffs up gives him about an inch boost of height. He glances around and lowers his voice. “It's not stage fright! I perform in front of crowds all the time.”
“As you say. Big stakes tomorrow, that's all.”
“Yeah, well,” he says stiffly, “I have it handled.”
Seungmin nods, theatrically and falsely sympathetic. He leaves when he gets called over by Felix's other groomsman to discuss the boutonniere delivery, but from the corner of his eyes he watches Changbin get teased by Han Jisung, his voice booming in protest and his hands striking out to punch the other man's shoulder too hard.
Then it's back to the flurry of activity, last minute adjustments before the wedding party all take off to the hotel bar where Seungmin is too busy to pay attention to Changbin anymore.
The next day, Seungmin's part is minimal. He helps by fetching snacks and drinks and joking around with Felix to calm his jitters as he gets his hair and makeup done. He takes his place in the lineup and walks side-by-side with Yang Jeongin until they split at the altar and each take their side to wait for the grooms to appear. Felix and Chan had bickered back and forth early on about which one of them would wait for the other to walk down the aisle; they decided to hell with that and make their entrance together. Their siblings whoop the loudest.
They're a beautiful couple, the same as they've always been. The night Felix came back from their first date, he'd glowed as he recounted everything to Seungmin. Seungmin’s heart rests easy to see them now. His eyes don't well up. He can hold off the happy tears until he retires for the night where no one will see them.
The reception hall is huge, glitzy with lights and crystal. Chan has a big network and the guest list was long.
When everyone's finally seated at their tables, the speeches get underway. There's a few, mostly planned, but there’s other friends and relatives who take a minute to congratulate the couple. Changbin stands up for his, voice unwavering, beaming at Chan and then Felix while he says how lucky he is to know them, how honored he is to be here for them. His suit is impeccably tailored, nipped at the waist, cropped over his hips, fitted well enough to show he has an impressive physique underneath. His slacks do the same. His hair is pushed back from his face, glasses gone, and with his face lit up like it is, he's devastatingly handsome. This is, without a doubt, the man Seungmin expected when he imagined him. The confident performer.
Changbin details Chan and Felix's relationship with a deft, poetic sense. Chan discovering his solace and Felix his anchor. Sun, moon, stardust, and the spray of the ocean. A longing for home. Seungmin can admit that he enjoys a well-crafted, sincere message, even if, and maybe more so, when it's lyrical like this. It's only what they deserve. It's heartfelt and flawless in its delivery throughout, and Changbin doesn't even run overtime as he ends on, “And it looks like dinner is ready to be served!”
Everyone laughs at the appropriate times, and claps when he wraps up. Felix stands up to fold Changbin in a hug. It's only then that he shows any awkwardness, sinking into Felix's arms with a chagrined laugh and a sniffle that the mic picks up.
Barely anyone stays put as the caterers start the process of delivering plates. Many people disperse to mingle. Seungmin is placed at a table for the evening with a few of Felix's coworkers and some shared friends. He doesn't stick around either. He gets up and walks across the hall.
If asked, Seungmin would say he was up looking for the bar, but that would be a lie. He has an eye out for slicked back black hair and a good pair of shoulders. He rounds a corner, and he spots Changbin standing off to the side with a glass in his hand.
When Seungmin gets close enough to tell, he looks distinctly uncomfortable. He's backed into the corner by an older woman with steel grey hair and big pearls who's even shorter than he is. “That was a lovely speech you delivered. I believe you said you work alongside Bang Chan at his office, is that so?”
Changbin nods. He casts about for something to say, or more likely, is looking for an easy escape.
She presses closer. Her hand goes to her cheek as if she's inspecting him. “My, you are handsome. Tell me, are you married?”
His expression turns frantic. He's not even taking a sip of his drink as a time buffer, only holding it awkwardly. A waste of a good prop. “No, I'm single, halmeonim.”
“Young, successful man like you. Such a shame. It's time to focus on settling down. You know, I have a granddaughter attending tonight who's about your age. Let me introduce you two.”
He flounders, mouth opening and closing like it had yesterday at the rehearsal. The assured confidence from earlier is gone. “I, I, uh.”
“Or are you also a homosexual like those two?”
“I think, uh, I actually think Felix is bisexual, halmeonim,” he squeaks.
He looks good when he squirms. Watching it flips Seungmin's belly. But he's not abjectly cruel. “Changbin!” He calls when he walks up to them. “Chan wanted me to find you. The caterer ran out of the vegetarian dish before his sister was served hers. He needs you to figure something out.”
Changbin looks up at him, his big brown eyes perplexed for only an instant before he catches on. “Right. I'll have to sort that out. Sorry, halmeonim. It was nice talking to you. Enjoy your meal.”
“Mm, you see to that. I'll find my granddaughter and introduce the two of you later.”
No, Seungmin doesn't think she will.
Seungmin takes his elbow and they retreat. He walks with Changbin across the room, matching his quick pace easily with his longer legs. “So tell me, are you a homosexual, Seo Changbin-ssi?”
“Christ,” Changbin curses, reaching up to muss through the curls over his forehead that are coming loose from the gel. He's red-cheeked again, and Seungmin doubts it's the alcohol. “Thanks for the save, man.”
Seungmin can't help the smirk he feels tick at his mouth. “Anytime. I'm sure senior citizens are very scary for you.”
“Brat.” Changbin stops and sighs when they've gotten far enough away. “I wish I did have an actual task to solve to keep me occupied. I've been running around like crazy for months and now it feels weird to be done.”
“I hear you're an eligible bachelor. Maybe you'll be planning your own wedding soon, after all. That'll keep you busy.”
“Not fucking likely.”
“Hmm. So sure?”
“Why, is that unbelievable or something? I'm not seeing anyone and I'm not looking to right now, anyway. What, are you planning on getting married anytime soon?”
“No,” Seungmin laughs. “No, I'm not really interested either. It's nice and all for Felix and Chan. But I'm busy at work, and happy with my personal life as it is.”
“Right? Same here. God,” Changbin says, looking down at his drink as if he only just remembered he has it. He knocks a gulp of it back.
“Good stuff?”
“Yeah. You know Chan is flush.”
About as flush as Changbin is, the way Felix tells it. Born into it, then worked his way up to even more. It's noteable. Seungmin does just fine, but he wouldn't be serving anything top-shelf if he was getting married.
“You did well on your speech, after all. Good job.”
“Sorry for doubting me?” Changbin asks, but he's smiling this smile that turns the corner of his lips down.
It's charming in a way that Seungmin would normally resent. He doesn't acknowledge anything. “I'm sure it meant a lot to Felix and Chan. They're both sappy like that.”
Changbin laughs instead of feeling insulted. He's catching on quickly. Not everyone does. Not everyone is worth waiting the time it takes to adjust to Seungmin's personality and his sense of humor. Too sharp, too mean, too serious, too prissy. He's learned to single out the right friends after a lifetime of fights. Those friendships he harbors safely.
And new ones he'll nurture, if they come along.
Changbin slouches. “Fuck, you know, I think I am actually tired.” He looks it, honestly, like he's starting to flag after all the excitement and celebration of the day. Still handsome, though. Only softer now.
Seungmin pulls a chair out at a table where the occupants are missing, probably milling about and visiting other relatives. “C'mon, sit.”
Changbin takes it, and then Seungmin sits in the chair next to him. Changbin sips his drink again while a server comes by and puts food down. They should probably go find their own seats again to eat, but Seungmin isn't hungry. Changbin doesn't seem to be either. He shrugs his jacket off and lays it over the back of his chair. His white collared shirt strains across his chest and down to where it's tucked neatly into his slacks, the shape of his chest and belly on prominent display.
Seungmin tongues a molar. Maybe a little hungry.
“Was Felix as much of a wreck as Chan was earlier?” Changbin asks him. “Poor fucking guy. He wanted to nail everything.”
“A little nervous. But Felix is Felix. Neither of them will remember any of the hiccups in the long run.”
“Chan might! But no, I guess it won't really matter. It was a nice ceremony.”
Seungmin doesn't have a drink to hold, so he leans an elbow on the table. He hasn't attended all that many weddings. Still, he doesn't need to compare to know that this was what they needed. He nods.
“Hey, Changbin-ssi! There you are!”
They both turn at the sudden approach of a man Seungmin can't place. A cousin, possibly.
“Hey. Something up?”
“I heard that you set up with coat check. Can you come with me to talk with them? My girlfriend lost her purse and her slip for our stuff was in it.”
Seungmin doesn't see how that's Changbin's problem, and yet Changbin looks like he thinks it is, a sympathetic expression on his face as he listens.
Seungmin lays a hand on Changbin's arm to forestall him before he actually tries to get up. “He can't. Didn't you hear? Chan said he needs to help with the caterer situation. It's terrible. We're missing a vegetarian entree.”
“Oh, how awful,” the guy says earnestly. Sucker. He looks around. “Well, I guess that means you're already busy. I'll find someone else.”
Changbin opens his mouth and then closes it decisively when he cuts a glance at Seungmin. “Yeah, can't. Sorry, man. If you contact the staff, they should be able to figure it out, or at least point you to their lost and found. Good luck.”
Seungmin doesn't take his hand back. He leaves it, protective and heavy, on Changbin's jacket.
“You're a little shit, aren't you?” Changbin asks him after he's left. He's smiling, though, the cute little downturned one.
“I don't know what you mean. I'm a peach.”
“Yeah, sure.” He relaxes back against his chair but doesn't shake Seungmin's touch off. “I hear you and Felix got into all sorts of shit in university.”
“Have you been gossiping? How ungentlemanly.”
“You try telling Felix to talk less. I don't have the heart for it.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Seungmin agrees. “He looks so wounded. Like a baby bird. He'd get us in trouble in class for it and somehow end up making the professor feel bad for scolding him.”
“Weilding his power for evil. Here's to Chan trying to keep him in line,” Changbin says, lifting his glass in a toast, but he doesn't drink from it.
“Good luck with that. He seems to have him quite under his thumb.” Seungmin nods his chin over to the head table where Felix is cutting steak on one of the plates. He slides it over to Chan, who's all-over beat red. The man can barely function when he's being doted on.
Seungmin wonders if he has that in common with his best man. He flags down someone with a tray of wine so he can drink when Changbin does.
The night goes on. The true occupants of the table come and make small talk and eat their meals around them. Eventually Changbin leaves him when the floor clears for dancing, perking up at the intro of a certain song and joining his friends. He's a teetotaler. Flushed and exuberant off of one glass of the high quality liquor and the joy of some of his closest loved ones. Seungmin watches him over his own glass, the sweetness of the wedding cake dissolving on the back of his tongue and making him crack a smile.
Felix comes over at one point to ask him to, “come boogie!” but Seungmin begs off.
“He's cute, right?” Felix asks when he tracks Seungmin's gaze. “He's really a sweetheart. Genuine.”
Seungmin hums. “I got that impression.”
Felix pats the back of Seungmin's chair. “Come over if you change your mind! We have DJs lined up all night.”
“I will. You go ahead.”
Felix skips off into the press of the crowd that immediately parts for him.
Seungmin is drawn immediately back to Changbin. His movements are sharp. Big. Not overblown, just attention-grabbing. Great sense of rhythm, naturally, that's no surprise. He seems to be having the time of his life. It’s infectious. A circle forms around him and everyone cheers, bouncing on the beat he sets.
There's a glow, starting small and catching fire like dry tinder, in Seungmin's belly too.
Changbin carries on like that for the better part of an hour before Seungmin sees him smile at their friends and indicate that he's going to rest for a few rounds. Seungmin times it so he's already standing by the time Changbin makes it back to their makeshift table.
“Oh. You're leaving? Are you calling it a night?” Changbin's face is creased with concern. Seungmin gets why. It's early.
“Just heading to the toilet.”
“I could use some air. I'll walk with you.” There's a sheen of sweat on his forehead and the side of his neck where it disappears into his collar. A few more curls are coming loose.
They find the nearest exit and come out to a hallway. It's empty out here, the sound of the wedding reception a thudding pulse. “There's a hundred restrooms on this floor. I think there's one in this direction,” Changbin says, guiding Seungmin with a hand on his back into another hallway. He's the expert who helped them pick the venue. Seungmin lets himself be directed there.
Seungmin raises his eyebrows when he follows him inside, but Changbin just steps over to the line of the sinks to turn the tap and splash his face.
Seungmin unbuckles his belt at one of the urinals. He pisses, darting a look back over his shoulder. Changbin isn't paying attention though, he has his back against the sink and his head tipped back. He's still in good spirits, smiling with his eyes closed as if he can still hear the music from here.
He stays like that even as Seungmin finishes up and washes his hands. Unsuspecting, then, even when Seungmin gets up close to him. Seungmin taps his toe on the outside of Changbin's nice leather oxford.
Maybe not so unaware, actually, because he opens his eyes slowly and his smile doesn't fade. “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“It's been a good night, right?”
“So far.” It's the night Felix and Chan wanted and the one they deserved. It hasn't been half bad for Seungmin, either. He moves closer, and Changbin makes room between his legs.
His eyelashes flutter as he stares, gaze laden with want, at Seungmin's mouth. He's an easy read. The type that doesn't bother to hide. Seungmin likes that.
Seungmin leans in and ghosts over the hair on his neck to make him shiver. “So you are a homosexual.”
Changbin shoves him. Not far, not hard, and his breath is caught on a laugh. “Asshole. Yeah, I am.”
Seungmin catches the tail end of that laugh by closing the last of the distance between them. Brown sugar sweet, the taste of the alcohol still lingers. It is good, after all. Changbin's mouth is a sweet little thing too, easily enveloped by Seungmin's. Seungmin has often been called “mouthy” and he doesn't disagree. Wide-mouthed and argumentative. He knows how to use it to his advantage.
Seungmin’s hand lands on the outside of Changbin's thigh. He tucks his fingers underneath to use that as a grip to shift his leg open further.
Changbin does him one better. He levers himself up until his ass is on the edge of the counter. Another surprise. It drives a thrill through Seungmin. The move provides more space for him to take, and he fits himself into the cradle of Changbin's hips. Fits them chest to chest, pressed as close as they can get, and slots their mouths together again. Changbin is broad, but Seungmin has shoulder width and height and persistence. And bite.
He nips Changbin's plump bottom lip. There's a lot of give to Changbin. There's softness in his body and personality, and an acquiescence to how he yields.
And yet. He tugs his lip from between Seungmin's teeth and bites back. Enough pushback to keep Seungmin on his toes. He's on his toes right now, even, to corner Changbin further into the sink. He angles into Changbin's teeth. Licks over the front of them until they release for him and he can keep licking inside.
Changbin opens up with a wispy moan. That mix of rasp and nasal voice, coming up from his chest into the ridge of his nose. The insides of his mouth are wet, filling up with saliva instead of swallowing it down. Seungmin finds it all, curls his tongue, and keeps it for him. His cheeks are notched and marked up on the inside, probably because he's been chewing on them today out of nervousness.
Seungmin moans back for him. Changbin's vulnerability is delicious, better than the expensive meal he missed out on. He'll be hard soon if they keep this up. He has more decorum than a quickie in a bathroom requires. He dials it down. It's not as easy as it should be. Changbin doesn't make it easy, chasing Seungmin's tongue with the tip of his own, but Seungmin powers through and gentles it into a kiss. Lips at Changbin's top lip, then his bottom, then the corner of his mouth. Changbin calms.
It's been a long ten minutes. Seungmin is more aware of the time than he'd like. He could while away an hour here, but he doesn't think Changbin would deal well with being walked in on or missing more of the wedding than he intended, so it's up to Seungmin to pull back with reluctance. Their lips part with a clipped wet noise. Seungmin straightens Changbin's tie, his fingers slipping underneath the silk of it. “We should head back.” Before they're missed.
Dazed, Changbin blinks a few times. He clears his throat. “Yeah.” He hops off the counter and adjusts his shirt, neatening it from where it came partially untucked. His face is a little pink, but it has been for awhile. It's nothing too noticeable.
Seungmin doesn't even bother glancing in the mirror to check himself. If he's mussed up, that's fine. His hair was already fluffy to begin with. He's been told his puppy dog thing is cute.
They walk out of the restroom together. No one is in sight.
Changbin looks up at him, still slightly giddy. “C'mon. You know how to dance, right? You can't be Felix's friend and get away without it.” Changbin holds his hand out, palm up.
Seungmin takes it. “Are you planning on leading?” He makes sure to sound skeptical, but he doesn't resist when Changbin pulls him down the hallway.
“Whatever you want.”
“There's a grandmother somewhere out there who is going to be very disappointed.”
Changbin's face when he turns back is embarrassed again. The man clearly doesn't like letting anyone down. “Well, there's no helping that.”
Seungming personally enjoys a bit of scandalizing. He tightens his grip on Changbin's hand. “I can dance. Try not to step on my toes.”
“I won't!”
So easy to rile up. Seungmin laughs until they make it to the dance floor.