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Geumjae has a problem.
To be more specific, he has a Hyeongseok-shaped problem and it’s starting to drive him insane.
The thing is, it wasn’t always like this. He doesn’t even know where the said problem started. He competed against him for years. He always saw the support on the other side of the rift. He was blue, then yellow, and now he is mint and standing right beside him.
Being together as the brand new ADC/Support pair came with a lot of expectations. It meant learning how to trust each other.
First impressions tend to be the strongest. Sure enough, the support managed to make quite an impression. The first time he met Hyeongseok, the support’s first words were “You played with Keria!” he said while shaking hands.
It should be a stinging remark, a reminder that he wasn’t good enough to remain as a substitute on the main roster. The way he said it though, it made him feel all warm inside.
He vowed to become a good ADC like his Gumayusi-hyung so his support can play any hero to his heart’s content. It’s the least he could do for his new support.
Then came their streams. The initial shyness from their first meeting melted away, allowing them to grow closer. If there is one thing he needed to know about Hyeongseok, it’s his love for singing.
Hyeongseok always sang. He’s secretly convinced that maybe he was an idol trainee who at one point decided to get stupidly good at League instead. During their workshop, the microphone was often passed around between him and Yonghyeok.
Listening to him sing stirred his heart in a way he didn't know it could. Their song lists were mostly love songs. A bunch of hopeless romantics, all of them. Even Heo Su who was normally aloof about his relationship belted it out like he was going through a divorce.
If Geumjae didn’t know him from before, he’d mistake him for an idol. He had the looks after all and he was quite tall.
He was also quite a touchy person. He clung to Siwoo mostly. Their adorable toplaner is simply too cute to resist that even he was falling for his charms.
It doesn’t help that Geumjae himself wants to be coddled like that.
What stood out to him the most was how he approached the game. He swore that maybe it was a good idea that Keria was his first support in the LCK because he wouldn’t know what to expect. Hyeongseok did promise that he would try matching his tempo.
To be the support that would let Geumjae shine.
Their year started off strong after a disappointing third place finish from last year’s KeSPA Cup. It felt good to win again after that result. Their team is slowly meshing itself together. Geumjae was confident they would continue last year’s 5-0 streak. They were the team to look out for after all.
Despite these expectations he had set for himself and their team, their game against GenG resulted in a loss. Once the cameras were off and the interviews were finished, everyone left with a lingering sense of regret. He overheard Hyeongseok blame his own shortcomings as a reason why their team lost.
“No, hyung,” He desperately wanted to say to him. He had a strong urge to face him and shake his shoulder and remind him that it wasn’t his fault that their team lost. He’d repeat it over and over until the message came across. So that he understands that this is a team game and he doesn’t have to carry the burden alone.
For today, he decided not to stream. It was his first debut anniversary yesterday and he felt that he let down their fans. It was ironic, considering he took his first POM on his debut. As the ad-filled buildings passed by the car window of his seat, the usual chatter that filled their van was noticeably absent. Even the usually chatty Yonghyeok chose to stare out of the window. Heo Su frowned a lot on his phone. He peeked towards his direction and he saw that he replayed today’s VOD from his seat.
As soon as they arrived at the dorm, the feedback session was harsher than usual. Mistakes kept replaying in his mind. Had he done more, maybe they could have won. Their drafts went just as expected. So why did it fall apart right away?
He glanced at his support who was all but quiet. The kind where the mind is louder than words. Sleeping is not going to be an option tonight.
As the feedback session finished, he made his way back to the practice room and saw Hyeongseok and Heo Su still on their computers. Their coaching staff had gone home already, leaving the players to their own devices.
Normally, the support lights up the atmosphere with his lighthearted chats. He’d talk animatedly about anything from his day. The lunch at the cafeteria, stories from his DRX and BFX days, the new songs he found. Dead air has become a rarity in his life.
For Geumjae, since he had started in T1 which had their own separate streaming rooms, it had been a weird change to get used to. were at least thin enough that he could hear his hyungs suffer during streams. They were physically separated from one another due to the setup. Sometimes, he gets to play with them in the practice room.
In DK though, everyone streamed in the same room they practiced in. There were no walls to separate them. More than once, his mic caught someone else’s loud cheering or agonized screaming. Somehow the chaos became a source of comfort. Even the usually quiet Siwoo is starting to open up more.
When they win, they always went home with high spirits. They’d even stream just to burn off the excess energy. Anything to spread the joy they felt at that moment.
This loss against GenG weighed heavily on their minds a lot due to it. Geumjae went to his station quietly as he entered the room. Both of his teammates appeared tense from today’s events. He wishes that Yonghyeok was here right now. The two had all but fled to Siwoo’s room.
He assured him earlier when he asked that it was always like this after a game against GenG. Honestly, Geumjae could cut through the tension in the room with a butter knife from how tense things are.
Heo Su wasn’t his usual chatty self either. His jaw was set tight, glaring at the screen. He played more recklessly than usual. A part of him wondered if it was because of the 20-lose streak against them.
To reiterate, it was twenty! It was even higher than LPL losing to T1 during Worlds! It’s not a surprise why their captain is beyond pissed today. He’s not sure if he’s glad he is not in the same game as him. He heard that he reported Canyon the other day.
He then snuck a glance at uncharacteristically quiet Hyeongseok. The clacking of his keyboard drowned out the mumbles coming out of his lips.
Faced with such a spiky situation, especially being new to the environment himself, Geumjae was at a loss on what to do. The change in the coaching environment is already starting to sink in. He personally prided himself as someone who listened well. Coming from a team like T1, the importance of improvement was always on the forefront of his mind.
Still, he felt that he had to do something. Anything but this suffocating silence.
Heo Su huffed loudly. “That traitor! I’ll kill him next time,” the midlaner cursed, gritting his teeth after his character died on screen.
“Weird foreplay from mom and dad,” He once remembered Yonghyeok saying. Siwoo gave him a disgusted look at the waiting room at the time while waiting for Heo Su to come back. He wondered if this solo queue was just him venting his frustration against GenG’s jungler.
As he recalled the events, Heo Su’s character died once again and he let out a long string of expletives, weaving Geonbu’s name in them. The man wasn't even in the room. Hell, he wasn’t even online in League. He’s probably out there celebrating with his teammates.
Rather than asking him about it and risking a long lecture, he decided to start a queue instead. He slid over to Hyeongseok’s station. “Hyung?”
“Hmm?”
He pouted at the lack of response. Hyeongseok looked quite dashing like this, he thought. All focused and composed. Did a K-Pop company try scouting him at least once, like his first impression of him? It would be funny if it was true . He has a good singing voice to match.
“Hyuuuung-” He tried again, drawing out the syllable. What was so interesting about that game that it got all his attention? He was clearly about to win anyway. Hyeongseok turned towards him “Yes, Geumjae?” He asked with a smile in his voice.
“I want to hear you sing again!”
He laughed as he turned back to his game. “I do that everyday already. Aren’t you tired of it?”
So there it is. His Hyeongseok-shaped problem that he doesn’t know how to deal with. He’s not tired of his singing at all. Hell, he can sing nursery rhymes and he’d be entertained.
Hyeongseok shuffles closely to him, being all handsome and caring. The distance being shortened between them is making his heart skip a bit. That funny feeling of his stomach flip flopping starts hitting whenever he gets a smile directed his way from the former. No matter how much he teased him, Hyeongseok fired back just as quickly. Not to mention his good singing voice that he now associated with comfort.
He missed the singing though. He had gotten used to the constant noise around him. Even during practice, Hyeongseok somehow managed to be the loudest. It was infectious. The quiet Siwoo started to speak up more as well. Heo Su and Yonghyeok played without the burden on their backs.
As for him?
Geumjae is fucked and he knows why.
The cacophony of their gameplay filled the room. He could barely focus on his own game. He played based on pure muscle memory alone. Point at this, click on that. Buy the items he needed. Some fighting here and there. The screen will go blue or red depending on his teammates.
It goes blue for him just as it went red for Heo Su. He winced as he watched the midlaner angrily take off his headphones and march out of the room. “Don’t wait up. I’ll beat the shit out of Geonbu!” He said angrily, disappearing down the hall.
Wow. Remind him to not get on his bad side. Poor Geonbu. The poor man is really about to have the worst night of his life.
Hyeongseok let out a whistle.”Yonghyeok wasn’t lying alright.”
His head whipped towards the support. Geumjae made a face as he thought of what could happen next. GenG’s dorms weren't even that far away. Either his hyung will really kill the jungler. Or worse. They could be-
His face scrunched at the thought. “You guys have the weirdest ideas,” he grumbled and turned back to his game. Their group chat pinged with a message from Yonghyeok.
There was an ongoing bet on whether their hyung would be the first to crack or not. Yonghyeok firmly believed that they’re already together and they’re just “releasing steam”.
That’s worse than the two actually fighting each other. Can their tiny hyung take on someone like Geonbu? If it’s through sheer will power, maybe he can.
Their coach wouldn't appreciate their midlaner being out of commission just because he decided to fight someone twice his size. If their dynamic is like Minhyung and Minseok, he’d rather not think about it.
At least they’re doing it elsewhere. Walking on them is not fun and he prefers his eyes innocent.
He immediately texted back with “Quit making assumptions about someone’s sex life!” He heard Hyeongseok snort beside him. “Not you too!”
He raised his hands in mock surrender with a cheeky grin on his face. “I didn’t say anything.”
Geumjae rolled his eyes.
Stupid handsome hyung and his stupid singing. Maybe that silence today is a blessing. It could be worse.
On his one free day, he spent it lazily scrolling through his phone.. Heo Su ended up coming back a day later and in clothes that are definitely not his. A pointed look from their hyung at breakfast killed any questions about his whereabouts. He’s a little concerned about the hickey peeking out from his collar.
Gross.
At least GenG’s jungler lives another day.
With nothing better to do for the rest of the day, he did what any young person with idle time would do whenever they’re bored: doomscrolling.
So far his feed is mostly fansites and fan videos. Some are from his team, some are from his old teammates from T1. He should text his Academy friends if they should catch up sometime.
His scrolling came to a halt when he saw a video of him and Hyeongseok. He remembered accidentally hitting him and the laughter that ensured. The video was innocent enough. Just another cute moment captured on the camera.
The video replayed over and over. Hyeongseok’s pretty, pretty smile was all he could see.
His hyung is so stunning, really..
That’s his most dominant thought about Hyeongseok. He feared that one of these days he’d blurt it out loud.
His face burned and he scrolled away fast. Nope— he’s not doing this right now. He barely knew his hyung! They only met two months ago! Tournaments don’t count even if he has seen him change teams twice.
The next video was the same thing but in another angle. It’s like the universe is trying to play with him or something. Geumjae buried his head on his pillow and screamed like he’s a teenage girl with a crush.
Except he’s a grown ass 20 year old with a crush. On his teammate. In a team that he just joined. It didn’t even happen when he joined the T1 main roster for a short while. Hyeonjun is the epitome of a Greek god and there was nothing!
It’s embarrassing. He knew about the phenomenon where ADCs fall in love with their support and vice versa. He just didn’t think that he would find himself in this situation.
Plus, he has to play with Hyeongseok for the next two years. At worst they’d lose the synergy they built up on and their gameplay suffers as a result. He saw what a good botlane synergy can do to the game and he’d very much like to win.
Geumjae sat up on his bed and decided. He had nothing to do today and he will make himself get used to his hyung! No more crushes! Nada, zero, zilch! He will be very professional! A good friend! That’s what a good teammate does!
His plan fell apart quickly when he walked in the practice room and saw him with his new permed hair.
Shin Geumjae never wanted to die so badly in his life.
He knew that he had gone out earlier with Yonghyeok. He didn’t know that he had gone out to get a perm.
Geumjae stood there, gawking at the sight. He vaguely remembered him looking through potential hairstyles last year. Not that he was expecting or anything.
The perm looked good on him. It made him softer, more puppy-like. He already looked handsome with his dark hair from before. He resisted the urge to run up to him just to touch his hair. Self-control!
“Oi, Geumjae! Are you going inside or what?” Yonghyeok had a shit-eating grin set into his face as he called on him. He sputtered a bit, quickly pacing to his station. He made sure to ignore the pointed look from the jungler while booting up his computer.
Yonghyeok slid next to him, wiggling his eyebrows. “So,” he asked, leaning in “did you notice anything new today?”
He narrowed his eyes at the jungler. Of course he did see his new hair. The hairstyle suited him better than he thought.
What is he trying to get at anyway? Hyeongseok can dye his hair pink and he’d have the same reaction. No wait, he’d look good with pink hair regardless. But still why the pointed question?
Oh fuck.
His eyes widened for a fraction of a second. Was his growing crush getting that obvious?!
He did his best to ignore him. What does he want to hear? That he looked really good today and his perm suited him?
He’s not going to let him win either way.
“Shut it. I’m trying to focus.”
The jungler pouted. “Hyeongseok-yah! Geumjae said your perm looked bad today!”
Hyeongseok tilted his head in confusion. Geumjae kicked the jungler’s chair. “Don’t listen to him hyung,” He quickly added, “I thought your hair looked soft.”
Soft. Yeah. Soft. He really wanted to touch it. It looked so soft and fluffy. Just like-
“Whipped.” He heard Yonghyeok snicker. He kicked his chair again for good measure, company damages be damned.
He forced himself to focus on his game. Anything but the stupid perm and Hyeongseok’s stupid face. Focusing is good. Focusing will give him results. All he will do is point and click and not think and-
He looked like he was waiting for me, his mind supplied.
No!
He DOES NOT want to think about it.
His confused face flashed in his mind and he died to a gank. Fuck Yonghyeok, that little menace of a chihuahua.
This is getting stupid alright.
He started the day with a strong conviction that he will start getting used to being around him outside of games. It would have gone so well if it wasn’t for that stupid perm.
After they sent a very sleepy Siwoo to bed, Yonghyeok invited them for a round of drinks in his room. He raised an eyebrow when he produced bottles of soju from somewhere in that pile of clothes.
Heo Su raised an eyebrow. “Really Yonghyeok? Is that why you never clean your room?” He drily asked as he took a bottle.
“But you love me right? Did you and second favorite hyung fu-” The older guy slapped his hand over his mouth.
“Pick your next words carefully Choi.” he warned, his eyes glinting dangerously.
Geumjae chose to ignore the ensuing squabbling in favor of opening the bottles. As he opened them, he noticed that there were shot glasses kept haphazardly in Yonghyeok’s room. He pondered. He’s sure as hell it’s not even clean. Soju is alcohol so wouldn’t that kill the bacteria?
He takes one of the bottles. It is going to be a long night with the way the two are still at each other’s throats.
Alcohol is a great company at least. Alcohol with friends? Now that’s an entirely different vibe.
Halfway through the bottle and he already found himself staring wordlessly at the wall. Drinking on an empty stomach was a mistake. Yonghyeok had long stopped making fun of Heo Su and moved on to Hyeongseok instead. He tried to ignore the way he clung to the support.
The keyword is tried.
He sure is touchy huh. Geumjae scoffed and took another swig. The alcohol burned as it went down and he hissed at the sensation. No wonder some people drank their sorrows.
He tried not to be jealous. Hyeongseok himself is a touchy person and he had no right to be. He squashed down the ugly feelings bubbling up when Yonghyeok moved closer to whisper something in his ear, making him laugh.
Geumjae forced himself to look away. Jealousy has no place for something he only recently discovered with himself. Bottles were opened as the night progressed. He doesn’t remember what bottle he was in already. Was it his third? Fourth?
The fried chicken looked good. When did the fried chicken come in? He bit into one and wow this chicken really tasted good. With his mind no longer inhibited thanks to soju, he took another piece and held it out to Hyeongseok. “Hyung, eat.”
He pouted when the offer was rejected. “You don’t like me anymore hyung?”
Hyeongseok’s eyes widened in panic. “No! That’s not- I.. Geumjae!”
Too late. He already made his way towards his side and pouted even more. He doesn’t give a shit if Yonghyeok is still there. The feral chihuahua can look all he wants.
Up close, he looked prettier like this. His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol. Without his glasses, he looked less of a sly fox and more of a red panda. Cute… cute… cute..
He moved closer, his gaze never leaving, “Then I’ll like hyung enough for both of us!” He declared with much conviction of a drunk man.
“Yah Geumjae! You’re drunk!” Yonghyeok moved closer, a teasing glint in his eye. He shot him a glare and tried to shove him off.
“Back off! He’s my support!”
“And what if I don’t?” He challenged, not loosening his hold on the support. There is a knowing grin on his face. Like Yonghyeok knows something he doesn’t.
He narrowed his eyes “You wouldn’t dare-”
“Try me!”
A cough broke the tension between them. Heo Su sat with his arms crossed with an unimpressed look on his face. The two backed down but Geumjae clung on. Their captain only shook his head in disappointment.
Geumjae kept an eye on Yonghyeok who looked more than pleased with himself. A light tap made him look up again. “I need to get you water.” Hyeongseok manoeuvred himself slowly so he could get up.
He whined, tugging on his sleeve. “Hyeongseokie-hyung don’t go..” His protests died down as he watched the support leave the room.
“Hyeongseokie-hyung~” Yonghyeok imitated him with an exaggerated tone.
He flipped off the jungler. He’s not even sure what he is planning at this point. When the support returned with bottles of water, he begrudgingly took one. If he’s good enough, maybe his hyung will like him even more.
He doesn’t remember much of what happened after. By that time, his eyes started getting heavier. It was always like this when Suhwan threw parties at his house and they ended up drinking too much. Thankfully, the jungler decided to not bother them anymore after their scuffle.
The quiet conversation around him lulled him to sleep. He leaned against Hyeongseok who was more than happy to let him. An arm started to wrap around him gently and he closed his eyes.
“Go to sleep,” something warm pressed on top of his head, “hyung is here.”
It was the last thing he remembered before drifting off to a sweet, dreamless sleep.
The morning light filtered through the curtains. It was starting to hurt a little since someone forgot to close the curtains after a night of drinking at Yonghyeok’s place.
He drifts off back to sleep, enjoying the solid warmth wrapped around. He could smell the faint scent of someone’s shampoo tickling his nose.
Wait.
His eyes flew open when he realized the position he was in.
As his sight clarified bit by bit, he realized that he was set in a compromising position. Curly, pillow-soft hair had enveloped his senses, wedged slightly on his chin. His mind panicked. He is cuddling with Hyeongseok. His sweet, caring hyung. The one who always voiced his desire to make them a strong pair together.
He is cuddling him. They are tangled together.
He knew that his hyung loved to cuddle. Heck, he even accepted those hugs when they were having a rough scrim.
But this is different! Cuddling after a night of drinking where he is not aware of what happened between bottles and passing out? He might as well commit career suicide. Pun intended.
Geumjae tries to extract himself only for him to cling more. “Hyung… Hyeongseokie-hyung… let go...” He said, trying to put distance between them. His attempts were unsuccessful so he decided to just lie there and accept his fate.
Yonghyeok is fast asleep on the sofa. Evidence of last night’s drinking is gone, the bottles lined up neatly by the counter. Heo Su must have cleaned up after them like the responsible captain he is. Speaking of the midlaner, he must have gone back to his own dorm.
He laid helplessly on the floor. This is how he’s going to die, wrapped in the arms of his crush. He lived a good life, experienced LCK, and got a title while at Challengers. He even got to play with THE Faker.
Though, he supposes that this is a good place to be. When he wakes up, they’d go back to being teammates. ADC and support. Two boys with a shared dream of going to Worlds. He glanced at Hyeongseok who was still asleep. He looked more peaceful here.
Gone is the constant burden that seemed to plague him despite the cheery smile. Seeing him so relaxed made him wish that he would also have days like this. Just a quiet day with nothing to worry about.
If he’d let him, would he be just as reliable? Someone to lean on?
Now he thought about it, perhaps it wasn’t far-fetched that he’d start catching feelings eventually. It didn’t matter when, why, or how. It simply followed its own course, slowly leaking into his life.
Geumjae does not have a reason to act on it. Not right now. He wouldn’t pressure someone who he only met on that cold November evening, when the ink on his new contract was still fresh.
Hyeongseok was warm in ways he never expected. He felt like a cat seeking the sunlight so he could nap. To have the warmth right here in his arms is already a privilege. If his heart beat faster at the thought, would it beat loud enough for him to hear?
Would he stay?
He doesn’t know how long he spent laying there and just enjoying this. Whatever this is. He wasn’t aware that the other had already woken up.
“Geumjae-ah, overthinking again?”
He glanced down to see his hyung already awake, though clearly still fighting the last vestiges of sleep. He decided to be honest for once. “Maybe? Did I say anything weird last night?”
A small smile appeared on Hyeongseok’s face as he settled back to a more comfortable position. “Don’t overthink it. For the record, I think I really like you too.”
His heart skipped a beat. Is he hearing it right? Did he confess just like that?
A brief flashback played in his mind.
“Hyung, you are so pretty I really want to kiss you,” His words tumbled out, uninhibited by alcohol.
Hyeongseok turned even redder. Whether it was from alcohol or from how forward he is being, it’s unclear for his inebriated state. “G-Geumjae! You’re… you’re really drunk!’ He stuttered, trying to put some distance between them. He must have taken an offense to this as he threw himself all over him, dignity be damned.
“I told you hyung, I’ll like you enough for both of us!”
He expected the support to laugh it off. To tell him that he had too much to drink and was saying nonsense. Maybe he was being too pushy about his feelings and he should start respecting him and一
A warm hand cupped his cheek and he leaned to the touch. Hyeongseok has a small smile on the face, his eyes are soft. He looks like an angel from this angle. “Okay,” he said, leaning in to press a kiss on his forehead, “we’ll talk when you’re not drunk.”
A peck on his cheek distracted him from spiraling further. Was he really thinking out loud?! “There. Is that enough for you?” Hyeongseok asked with a lilt in his voice, warmly beaming at the other.
His face turned warm at the sight and he looked everywhere. Anywhere but at his face. He’d combust if he had to look at him one more time.
He allowed himself to relax, letting the words sink in.
Yes. That was enough. For now, there is no need to overthink about it. They’ll figure it out in due time.