Work Text:
Sunoo’s day started early at 5:45am with his phone buzzing aggressively on his nightstand.
He didn't even have to look to know exactly who it was.
"Sunoo.” his sister’s voice cracked through the speaker, sounding on the verge of a panic attack.
“The florist just told me the flowers might be delayed. I need you here right now. And please tell me you packed the suit that I sent you photos of?"
Sunoo groaned, burying his face in his pillow. "It’s five in the morning, Noona. “The only thing I’ve packed is my bitterness.” he joked “And yes, the suit is in the bag."
"Good. I booked you a place. It’s a 'cute coastal cottage' right by the sea. Very your vibe. Just get on your flight first please."
The journey was a three hour compilation of Sunoo trying to find a comfortable sleeping position in economy and failing each time.
When he finally landed and navigated his rental car to the said “aesthetic cottage," he found himself staring blankly at a shack that looked like it had definitely seen better days.
It smelled like old wood, and disappointment.
"Absolutely not," Sunoo hissed, looking at the peeling paint and the flickering porch light.
He didn't even waste another second there. He pulled out his phone, found the closest hotel in a seven mile radius and went straight there.
————
“The Regency bar” was a haven of velvet chairs and soft music.
Sunoo sat at the brick bar, looking down at his phone and feeling the crippling stress of the wedding finally start to float away.
"You look like you’re contemplating a crime," a voice said from the stool beside him.
Sunoo turned. The man sitting there looked effortlessly handsome, and he knew it, wearing a dark black sweater with the sleeves pushed all the way to his elbows. He had a sharp jawline and eyes that seemed to see right through Sunoo’s mask.
"Just a minor one," Sunoo replied, a playful smirk creeped to his face. "Arson, mostly. Targeted at a specific place down the road."
The man laughed. "I’m Heeseung. And I’m currently hiding from a family dinner that involves twenty two cousins who all want to know why I’m still single."
"I’m Sunoo. And I’m hiding from a sister who thinks a wedding is a military mission." he scoffed
"No wedding talk?" Heeseung suggested, sliding his vodka glass toward Sunoo’s for a toast.
"Let’s just be two strangers who had the good sense to find the only decent bar in town."
"Deal," Sunoo agreed.
————
The chemistry was instant, a pull that felt like gravity.
By the time the bartender told them they were closing, neither of them wanted to leave.
When Heeseung mentioned he had a suite upstairs, Sunoo didn't hesitate.
The elevator ride was a blur of heavy silence. The moment the door clicked shut behind them the "stranger" politeness vanished.
Heeseung didn’t wait. He caught Sunoo’s waist, pulling him back against the door. The coolness of the wood through Sunoo’s shirt contrasted with the heat of Heeseung’s hands.
"Still thinking about arson?" Heeseung murmured, his breath hovering over the shell of Sunoo’s ear.
Sunoo tilted his head back, a whispered breathless laugh escaping him. "The only thing I want to burn right now is my list of stuff for tomorrow."
Heeseung leaned in, his kiss tasting faintly of vodka and something else. It was slow at first, an exploration, before it deepened into something more urgent.
Sunoo’s fingers tangled into the collar of Heeseung’s sweater, pulling him closer until there wasn't a space of air left between them.
The suite was bathed in the dim, golden glow of the city lights filtering through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but Sunoo wasn't looking at the view.
He was focused on the way Heeseung’s jaw tightened when Sunoo ran a thumb over his lower lip, pressure tight enough that his lips parted.
They moved toward the bed in a messy tangle of discarded clothes and quiet gasps.
For the first time in weeks, the worry of his sister’s wedding felt a million miles away.
There were no flower arrangements to worry about, no suits to collect, only the weight of Heeseung’s body and the thrill of being a diffrent person for a night.
In the quiet of the room, as the world outside stayed frantic, Sunoo finally let go.
————
Sunoo woke up to the soft glow of the sun hitting over his face. He checked his phone: 6:30 AM. Crap. He slipped out of the bed, being careful not to wake the sleeping man next to him, who looked incredibly peaceful even with his hair a mess over the pillow.
Sunoo scribbled a quick "Thanks for the drink" on a napkin, but as he left he felt a weird pang of regret that he wouldn’t see that face again, and bolted.
Two hours later, Sunoo was at the wedding venue, clutching a now cold americano. His sister rushed and grabbed his arm the second he walked in.
"There you are! You look... well, you look like you definitely didn't sleep in a cottage.” “Anyways.” “Come with me.” “Dae’s brother just arrived, and since you're both the 'main' siblings, you need to coordinate the rehearsal schedule."
"Okay, okay, I’m coming," Sunoo sighed, smoothing down his hair.
His sister led him toward the stage where a tall figure was standing with his back to them, talking to the coordinator.
"Heeseung-ah!" his sister called out. "This is my brother, Sunoo!"
The man turned around.
Sunoo felt the all the air break at a halt. Heeseung was wearing a crisp, tailored shirt, looking every bit the "perfect brother."
When his eyes landed on Sunoo, his face lost all expression and froze for a second.
His gaze flicked down to Sunoo’s lips then back up, a slow smirk starting to form.
"Sunoo," Heeseung said, his voice the same smoothness as the night before. He stepped forward, extending a hand. "It’s a pleasure to finally meet you."
Sunoo took his hand, his heart hammering against his ribs.
Heeseung didn't just shake his hand he squeezed it slightly, almost like a signal, his thumb grazing Sunoo’s knuckles.
"Likewise," Sunoo managed, his face now heating up. "I’ve heard you’re very hardworking."
"I try to be," Heeseung murmured, leaning in just enough so only Sunoo could hear his next words. "But I think I left my 'hardwork' back in Room 140. Did you happen to see it at all when you snuck out this morning?"
Sunoo’s sister clapped her hands together, beaming with joy. "Oh, look at that!! You guys are hitting it off already. I knew you’d be a great team!”
Sunoo’s sister didn’t give him a chance to respond before she glanced at her watch with a frantic gasp. "Oh! The custom cake topper, the glass one with the penguins,it’s still at the boutique in the next town. It was supposed to be delivered, but there was a mix-up. Sunoo, you have the rental car. Heeseung, you know the roads better. Go. Now!"
Before Sunoo could protest, he was shoved toward the parking lot with Heeseung trailing behind him, a quiet presence.
The silence in the car was heavy enough to sink a ship. Sunoo kept his eyes glued to the road, his knuckles turning white against the steering wheel.
"You're a fast runner, Sunoo," Heeseung said finally, breaking the quiet. He was leaning back in the passenger seat looking a little too comfortable. "I woke up to a napkin and a cold bed. Not exactly the thank you I was expecting."
"I was in a rush," Sunoo snapped back, though his voice lacked any sort of grip. "I didn't know I was sleeping with the groom's brother. If I had, I probably would have... well, I wouldn't have been at that bar."
"Liars go to hell," Heeseung teased, his voice dropping a beat. "You would have stayed. The chemistry was there long before we knew our last names."
Sunoo felt his face heating up again. "It doesn't matter now, this is a complete mess. My sister is obsessing about this wedding. If she finds out her so called 'reliable' brother spent the night with the other side of the family before the rehearsal starts, she’ll actually kill me.”
“We have to act like we just met, just professional and distant”
Heeseung reached over, his hand hovering just inches from Sunoo’s hand on the gear shift
"Professional? Distant? Is that why you're currently driving ten miles under the speed limit because you're too nervous to look at me?"
Sunoo caught his breath and finally glanced at Heeseung. The older man wasn't smirking anymore, his expression was soft.
"I don't do 'distant' very well once I've decided I like someone," Heeseung whispered quietly but loud enough for him to hear.
Just as Sunoo opened his mouth to reply, a loud thump sounded from the back of the car, followed by the hiss of a tire rapidly losing air.
Sunoo groaned, pulling over onto the narrow shoulder of the road. "You have got to be kidding me."
"Well," Heeseung said, opening his door and stepping out into the tension filled air. "Looks like we’re going to be 'professional and distant' on the side of a road for a while. Hope you know how to change a tire, Sunoo-ya."
Sunoo stepped out, looking between the flat tire and then at the empty road. "I don't have the slightest idea. Do you?"
Heeseung leaned against the car, hands on his hips. “I do. But it’ll cost you more than a napkin note this time."
————
The drive back was less of a quick errand and more of a slow motion disaster.
By the time they finally pulled back into the venue’s driveway, they were nearly two hours behind their planned schedule.
Sunoo’s hair, once perfectly styled, was now blown and messy from leaning over the tire.
Heeseung had a small smudge of grease on his right cheek and his sleeves were pushed up higher.
As they stepped out of the car, Jiyoon was already marching toward them, her face a red shade that matched exactly with the bridesmaid dresses.
"Do you have them?" she shrieked, ignoring their messy looks.
Sunoo held up the box like a shield.
"Safe and sound. We had a flat tire, it was a whole thing."
Jiyoon snatched the box, but her eyes narrowed as she looked between the two of them. She stepped closer to Sunoo, her nose wrinkling.
"Sunoo... why do you smell like.. expensive..?" she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"That’s... that’s the cologne Heeseung-ah wears."
Sunoo’s whole body froze. He could feel Heeseung standing just a few inches behind him, the heat radiating off one another.
"We were in a small car, Jiyoon," Heeseung intervened, his voice collected. "And I had to lean over him to get the jack out of the trunk. It’s a cramped rental."
Jiyoon didn't look one bit convinced. Her gaze flicked from the grease on Heeseung’s face then to the way Sunoo was refusing to meet eyes. "Right. Right. The trunk. Because that makes total sense."
She turned on her heel, pointing a finger at both of them. "I don't care if you had to share a seat. You two are the anchors of this wedding. If you're late for the rehearsal dinner tonight, I will make sure that neither of you gets a piece of cake. Go get cleaned up!"
As Jiyoon stomped away, Sunoo let out a breath he felt like he’d been holding for weeks.
"That was too close," Sunoo hissed, finally looking at Heeseung. "She’s like a bloodhound. She knows something is off."
Heeseung didn't look worried. In fact the opposite, he looked like he was enjoying all the chaos. He reached out, his fingers grazing Sunoo’s jaw as he wiped away a bit of dust.
The touch was brief and quick but it sent a jolt through Sunoo that made his knees weak.
"Let her wonder," Heeseung murmured. "It’ll keep her occupied."
"We can't keep doing this though," Sunoo whispered, though he didn't move away. "People are going to notice."
"Then we’ll just have to be more careful," Heeseung said, a glint of wit in his eyes.
"Starting with the rehearsal dinner. I’ll be sitting across from you. Try not to stare too hard, okay?"
Heeseung winked and walked toward the hall, leaving Sunoo by the car, heart racing and his professionalism shattered.
—————
The rehearsal dinner was a blur full of glasses clinking and forced laughs. The games felt like a minefield. When the prompt "Tell us something no one else here knows about you" came around to Heeseung, he didn't even blink.
"I’m a fan of impulsive decisions," Heeseung said, his gaze locking onto Sunoo’s from across the long table. "Sometimes the best things happen when you throw the plan away."
Sunoo nearly choked on his wine, but the night was winding down.
The tension had reached a breaking point, and as the guests began to drift toward their rooms, Heeseung caught Sunoo’s wrist in the dark hallway.
"Sunoo," he murmured, his voice low and actually serious for the first time. "I’m not interested in being a 'one-night mistake' for you hidden behind your sister’s wedding."
Sunoo looked around nervously, but then he looked at Heeseung, like really looked at him.
The suit, his sharp jaw, the way he’d been the one calm thing in Sunoo’s chaotic week. "I don't want that either. But we have a wedding to finish."
Sunoo’s hand lingered over Heeseung’s pulse point, his thumb tracing the skin of the older man’s wrist.
For a moment, the distant sounds of the reception cleaning faded, leaving only the two of them.
"But the second the they leave for their honeymoon, you’re mine again." Heeseung whispered.
———-
The next day was a marathon. Sunoo was pushed and pulled in every direction, but every time he felt like he was about to snap, he’d catch Heeseung’s eye from across the room, a wink, a grounding nod, or a smirk, and that was enough to keep him centered.
During the ceremony, as they stood on opposite sides as the main siblings, the air between them was electric.
When the priest finally announced the couple as husband and wife, Sunoo didn't just clap for his sister but he looked at Heeseung and saw the same realization came back. The wedding was now over.
Hours later, the place was in full swing.
Jiyoon was relaxed, dancing with her husband, and the wedding had been a success.
Sunoo slipped out away to the balcony, the cool air a relief from the stuffy ballroom.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Leaving so soon?" Heeseung’s voice came from the shadows behind.
He stepped out, his tie loose and the top button of his shirt undone.
"The wedding is finished," Sunoo said, turning to face him. "I’m officially off the clock."
Heeseung stepped into his space, his hands finding Sunoo's waist just as they had against the hotel door two nights ago.
“Good. Because I believe I’m still owed for that tire change."
"Is that so?" Sunoo laughed, his fingers climbing to the collar of Heeseung’s shirt. "And what exactly do you want as payment?"
Heeseung leaned in, his forehead resting against Sunoo's. "I want to take you out. A real date. No family, no weddings,no schedules.
Sunoo smiled. "I think I can manage that."