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The first time Minhyeong has the urge to kiss Park Dohyeon is when he barely even knows the guy.
He likes looking at him, though, and Minseok sits next to him chuckling at the way Minhyeong’s eyes can’t stop tracking the sculpted cheekbones, or the tilt to his eyes, or the way his mouth curls up at the edges when he’s happy.
He stares at the full bottom lip and wonders what this ice prince would taste like.
Dohyeon is a player both he and his support find good-looking and so they discuss him plenty. It’s always with a distance, though. An expectation that he won’t ever get to meet him beyond fist bumps at international events and the occasional brush of shoulders once Dohyeon joins HLE.
Minseok jokes about working with Dohyeon for the Korean team, but Minhyeong knows he doesn’t even get to imagine that. They are rivals, bitter enemies vying for glory and the same position. They could never be teammates.
And so he just stares at the words that fall from the man’s mouth in interviews and wonders what it would be like to steal them from his lips.
The next time he wants to kiss Park Dohyeon is when he first hears his name tumble from the man’s beautiful lips. It’s a surprise, but a welcome one, and he saves the video as if he’s a dragon hoarding gold.
He watches it, late at night in their dorm, and wonders if Dohyeon would ever befriend him.
Would it be awkward, he wonders, to make small talk with the guy who replaced him in HLE? Would he even want to?
It’s like Minhyeong watched him walk out the door, immediately ready to take his place, and no one put up a fight.
He’s sad, though, that the only reason he could slip into the position so easily is that Dohyeon left the country and went back home to his beloved LPL. Gone is Minhyeong’s opportunity to do anything, taken from him before he’d even gathered the courage.
He’s once again stuck watching from afar and talking about him in interviews. It comes easily, the admission that he’d like to have a meal with him. No one knows that it’s a secret he’s held buried deep for such a long time when he shares it so confidently. He isn’t usually the one to take the first step, but for him…
The hosts laugh as if Minhyeong isn’t baring his soul to the world.
Wanting to kiss Park Dohyeon becomes a constant after that. There is no Minseok to tease him about it and no one in HLE knows his crush, yet the urge blooms all the same.
When he’s in the dorm and a staff member mentions their former adc. When he catches the man’s handsome face on one of the pictures adorning the halls.
When videos get shared or Geonwoo shows them something their former botlaner sent him. It’s inevitable to be inundated with Dohyeon, Dohyeon, Dohyeon.
And he likes it. He likes slowly unraveling things about the man through the eyes and words of those who knew him. He likes Geonwoo’s stories and Hwanjoong’s laughter. He likes old videos where it’s Dohyeon in his place, speaking confidently but in such a different way to him.
At night he dreams of trophies and recognition and the sweet taste of a man he barely even knows.
Then the wish to kiss him becomes literal. It becomes potent. It becomes something that doesn’t feel like a dream slipping ever out of his reach, but something that could be real.
Because, while he doesn’t know Dohyeon, others do and Geonwoo oh so casually invites the man to join them for dinner the next time he’s in town.
The man enters their dorm looking a little tired, a little fuzzy around the edges, but with gentle eyes and a soft fondness. Minhyeong waits patiently as Wooje, Geonwoo, and Hwanjoong give their hellos and their hugs, and watches with bated breath as the man from his screen steps into real life.
He’s friendly and he is a little taller than Minhyeong remembers him, but most of all he feels real and suddenly oh so human when he laughs with his friends and then nods to Minhyeong.
“Minhyeong-ah,” the man greets him, as if they know each other. “I heard you wanted to have a meal together? I wonder if this counts.”
Minhyeong grins.
“I don’t know, hyung,” he answers back, casual in return. “I believe I should at the very least pay for your food if I’m inviting you out and this is all on HLE’s dime.”
Dohyeon’s eyes crinkle, as if he’s a little surprised but still amused, and then he turns to Jinhyeok. Minhyeong watches them as they interact, a little awkward but at least familiar with each other.
The meal is pleasant and Minhyeong feels hot when Dohyeon sits down next to him, but it’s also clear that most of Dohyeon’s attention is on his ex-teammates and how HLE have been doing since he’s been gone.
Minhyeong doesn’t even mind. He just watches and listens and travels down the handsome planes of the man’s face.
After they’ve had a drink Dohyeon casually bids farewell, promising to be back and to see them at the next international event. His confidence in them is sweet even though it’ll take a lot of growth to get there.
Minhyeong follows the man to the door. Hwanjoong joins him.
“Let me know when you get back to Korea,” he says when Dohyeon is about to step outside. “I’ll make good on that promise and take you out for a meal.”
Dohyeon laughs as if he’s joking, but the laughter dies when he sees the sincerity in Minhyeong’s eyes. The older man nods.
“Sure, Minhyeong-ah. Next time.”
Next time is so many months later that Minhyeong wonders if the man even remembers.
They’re busy with scrims and tournaments and disappointing results, so when a casual text message shows up he barely even notices. He’s exhausted and crabby, because being disappointing is not why he joined HLE.
I’m home for two weeks if you still wanted that meal?
It’s the first message Dohyeon has ever sent him and Minhyeong stares at it a moment too long. He’s still tired, but the crankiness eases into a sense of…expectation. The idea of what meeting up with him could be like and what it means that Dohyeon is willing to spare Minhyeong some of his time.
I have the 14th and the 15th off. Would that work?
It takes Dohyeon an hour to reply, but it’s almost better that way. It makes Minhyeong feel like he’s a teenager again, sitting around and waiting for his crush to finally text back. Only this crush is a highly successful older man who has a face so handsome Minhyeong’s fingers worship every inch of it in his dreams.
I can do the 15th. Where do you want to meet?
Minhyeong feels a rush of satisfaction.
Let me know where you’re staying, he sends back. I’ll pick you up.
And he does. He’s suddenly so thankful for his new, shiny driver’s license because he shows up in front of the address Dohyeon sent him - is it a friend’s place, or a family member, Minhyeong doesn’t know - and opens up the door to his car with a flourish.
“Thank you,” Dohyeon says, laughing at Minhyeong’s behaviour, and gets in.
The entire way to the restaurant Minhyeong manages polite conversation. It’s nice and Dohyeon answers readily enough, but he makes sure not to press too hard and too fast.
From what he’s seen Dohyeon is kind but also a little closed off and he doesn’t want to scare the man away.
So, he shows an interest and sticks to safe topics like laning phases and getting camped by enemy junglers.
“You’re different from what I expected,” Dohyeon eventually says as they’re waiting for their food. Minhyeong tilts his head a little.
“Oh? In what way?”
“You’re not quite as…” Dohyeon waves his hand at MInhyeong as if it explains something. “Big, maybe?”
Minhyeong has to admit he’s confused, because he’s never been told that before. Dohyeon laughs when he sees Minhyeong’s befuddled expression.
“No, wait, I’m not explaining myself properly. You are big, of course, I meant more in your personality? I figured you’d be super confident and outgoing, but you’re pretty mellow.”
“Oh.” Minhyeong considers that. “I suppose I’m all those things when I need to be and not quite as much when I don’t.”
Dohyeon smiles. “A perfectly confusing answer. Very enigmatic.”
Now it’s Minhyeong’s turn to laugh. “I need to be all those things when I’m Gumayusi,” he specifies. ”I don’t need to be quite as out there when I’m just Lee Minhyeong. Besides, would you have appreciated it if I'd been all loud and bombastic?”
“I’m here to have dinner with Lee Minhyeong, so if that includes you being loud then I think I’d have appreciated it. I want to get to know you, not the mask you show the world, after all.”
It’s as if Minhyeong has just been given the keys to the kingdom, because the suggestion that this man is here to get to know him is such a rush that he knows he’s preening. Dohyeon’s eyes are dark when he meets them and Minhyeong wonders what the man sees when he looks at him.
It’s then their food arrives.
The rest of the night is comfortable and Minhyeong carefully asks questions that aren’t too forward but reveal something about the other man nonetheless.
He wants to get to know him and he wants to listen to the man talk.
Only occasionally does he get distracted by the pretty curve of the man’s lips and the way he bites down when he’s considering a particularly difficult answer.
It goes much the same all throughout dessert and then in the car.
He can’t even keep his eyes off of the way the man’s lips widen in a smile as Minhyeong has dropped him off and Dohyeon thanks him for the fun evening.
Minhyeong stares at him again, like a lovesick fool, and lingers on the man’s mouth as it curls ever so slightly. Like he’s royalty gifting a commoner some of his affection. Minhyeong grips the steering wheel harder lest he give in to the urge to lean over and kiss his mouth red.
“Minhyeong-ah,” Dohyeon says as he’s about to close the car door behind him. “Let hyung take you out for a meal next time, yeah? It seems only fair.”
Minhyeong could argue about him wanting to have dinner with Dohyeon and not expecting anything in return, but the idea of a promise between them - of something that is going to link them again in the future - excites him and so he nods. He feels his heart beat faster.
The wait should be a torment, but for some reason it feels all the sweeter. When Dohyeon texts him some dates it feels like a release, because it means even through all the months of separation he remembered and still wants to meet.
Minhyeong manages to get a rare day off through hard work and one of his managers taking pity on him and so he stands outside their dorm waiting for Dohyeon in a new dress shirt and some shockingly expensive shoes.
It’s like he’s waiting to be taken to prom and he knows that behind him some of his teammates are looking at him through the window, curious and no doubt gossiping about him. He’s pretty sure Wooje and Hwanjoong, at least, know that this means more to Minhyeong than rivals meeting away from the rift.
Dohyeon looks handsome even in his rental car and when the man greets him Minhyeong feels blood rush to his cheeks.
“Hyung,” he murmurs, sitting down in the passenger seat and trying not to stare. It’s been months again and Dohyeon still looks like he’s one of those marble statues turned flesh.
He’s gorgeous all throughout dinner and he’s even more gorgeous afterwards when he’s a little tipsy and Minhyeong has to drive him home.
His cheeks are a little rosy, his eyes are bright, and he’d been surprisingly open during their meal. Open about his worries, trying to make it work again in the LPL, and worries about all the things he left behind in Korea. About being Viper when he just wants to be Park Dohyeon.
He even admits, in a rush that makes it seem like he’s sharing a secret, that he likes Minhyeong being his friend because they’ve never been team mates and so Minhyeong hasn’t been forced to like Dohyeon because of team synergy and contract stipulations.
The entire time he talks Minhyeong has to fight the urge to stare at his mouth.
He brings Dohyeon home, leaves the rental in the drive way, and takes a taxi back to the dorm.
It’s a strange ending to their date - their not a date date - but Minhyeong likes it because he’s starting to feel like he’s getting to know the real Dohyeon. Under all those layers of bot lane superiority, sharp cheekbones, and small smiles is someone vulnerable and Minhyeong sees himself.
He wakes up to a text from Dohyeon.
I think I might have embarrassed myself. Did I?
Of course not, Hyung, he sends back.
I need to be at the airport in a few hours, otherwise I’d meet up to apologize.
Minhyeong pauses and stares at his schedule. He really shouldn’t, but if he just…
Let me drive you, hyung. You can apologize by buying me a snack on the way there.
It takes Dohyeon a full ten minutes to reply to that last one and Minhyeong is starting to worry that he’s overstepped, but eventually he does get a reply.
I’d like that.
He can tell Wooje judges him when he delays his stream by two hours and walks out in one of his nicest shirts.
Dohyeon doesn’t look quite as ice cold and impenetrable when Minhyeong picks him up. The alcohol had clearly given him a hang over and when Minhyeong chuckles the man narrows his eyes with venom. It just makes MInhyeong laugh harder.
“I blame you, Minhyeong-ah,” Dohyeon grumbles as he settles into his seat.
“I had nothing to do with that, hyung, that was all you.”
Dohyeon grumbles and complains a little longer, but it’s weirdly soft and like he’s not actually that upset at all.
After half an hour he dozes off, bundled up against the window and making adorable little noises into his coat. Minhyeong could wake him and ask for that snack, but he lets the man sleep and occasionally glances over to drink in the sight of him.
He’ll be away again for quite a while and no one knows if the older man will want to meet up again. This might be all he gets, so he’s mapping out every inch like it’s a map to treasure.
When they arrive at the airport Minhyeong wakes him gently and Dohyeon looks adorable as he blinks the sleep away.
“You should have woken me up,” he says. Minhyeong shrugs.
“Seems like you needed it.”
“I wanted to talk to you some more, though.”
And, ah, doesn’t that just make Minhyeong’s heart flip. He glances at Dohyeon’s face and sees that it’s perfectly earnest. He can’t help but glance down at the man’s mouth, suddenly so tempted, and then wrenches his gaze up again to meet curious eyes.
“Next time, hyung,” he replies, voice rough. He hopes there’ll be a next time.
Dohyeon smiles and gets out. Minhyeong helps him with his suitcases and is about to lead him inside when Dohyeon puts a hand on his arm.
“There will probably be cameras there. Fans seem to know my schedule better than I do. Maybe it’s better if you don’t accompany me.”
Minheyong knows it makes sense. It would lead to some weird questions and a bunch of rumours regarding either of them jumping ship. And if he’s honest he’d like to keep whatever friendship he and Dohyeon have to himself for now.
So he nods and wishes Dohyeon a safe flight. They stare at each other a second too long and then Minhyeong returns to his car. He’s about to wave and drive off when Dohyeon opens his door. Minhyeong blinks up at him.
“Hyung? Did you forget something?”
“Yes,” Dohyeon answers. He sounds a little off.
Minhyeong can’t even ask what he means before a large hand grabs him by the shirt and pulls him closer. A mouth finds his, hot and glorious, and Minhyeong groans when soft lips promise him paradise.
The kiss lasts only a few seconds, but Minhyeong knows he’s already beet red when Dohyeon pulls back.
“I’m being a coward by doing it like this,” Dohyeon says, voice strangled. “But I have to make sure I’ll be in another country soon if the fall out from this is bad.”
“Hyun-” Minhyeong wants to say, because there’s no way Minhyeong could ever be mad at getting kissed by the man he’s wanted to kiss since before he even truly knew him, but Dohyeon shushes him.
“No, wait. Please give me this, because I am already bursting out of my skin.”
“But…” Minhyeong starts, wanting more kisses and to prove to Dohyeon that he doesn’t need to run away from this. The man looks so frazzled, though.
“Just…when I’m up in the air, okay?”
Minhyeong sighs. “Okay. When is that?”
Dohyeon glances at his watch. “Two hours from now.”
“Fine.”
It’s not fine, because Minhyeong could just tell Dohyeon he wants to kiss him too, but he knows emotions aren’t reasonable and if this is what Dohyeon wants, then…
The older man looks relieved and then quickly scampers off, saying something about check-in and not being late. Minhyeong watches him go.
And two hours later on the dot, Minhyeong trembles as he sits in his car and sends Dohyeon a message.
I can’t wait to take you out properly when you get back here, he writes. On a date.
Dohyeon’s only reply is a curt ‘thank you, Minhyeong-ah’ and an ‘I’ll hold you to that’, but it’s all he really needs.
He can’t wait to pay him back for that kiss.