Work Text:
"Are you sure, hyung?" JL asked for what felt like the tenth time in five minutes. "Are you really, really positive that Steven hyung and our manager said yes? About the bar, I mean."
Woongki looked up from where he’s casually scrolling on his phone, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yes, babe. I'm really really sure. I talked to them both this morning. They said it's fine as a little post-birthday celebration for you."
JL stopped pacing but still looked doubtful. "But... a bar? What if someone recognizes us?"
"They know it's a place popular with idols," Woongki explained, setting his phone aside. "They said it's fine as long as we're responsible. There's just one small condition."
JL's eyes widened. "What condition?"
"Jeongwoo hyung has to come with us," Woongki revealed. "To make sure we behave."
JL let out a groan, flopping down onto his bed. "Jeongwoo hyung? He's going to be so boring. He'll probably make us leave by 9 PM."
"Maybe not," Woongki said with a mysterious glint in his eye. "I heard he might be meeting some friends there too. So he might be a little... distracted."
JL perked up at that. "Really? You think so?"
"I know so," Woongki confirmed with a nod. "So stop worrying. It's going to be fun. Just a nice night out with some friends to celebrate your belated birthday."
A few hours later, they found themselves standing outside a sleek, modern-looking building with a subtle sign above the door that read "Eclipse." The bar was known to be a popular hangout spot for idols looking to unwind away from the public eye.
Jeongwoo, who had been quiet most of the ride over, turned to them with a serious expression. "Alright, listen up. I'm supposed to be your supervisor tonight, but I'm actually meeting some friends here. So I'm trusting you two to behave yourselves."
JL and Woongki exchanged a look, trying to hide their smiles.
"No causing scenes, no getting too drunk, and definitely nothing that might cause a scandal for AHOF," Jeongwoo continued in a stern tone. "Understood?"
"Understood," they replied in unison while trying to look serious.
"Good," Jeongwoo said, his expression softening slightly. "Now let's go inside and have some fun. Within reason."
The interior of the bar was dimly lit but elegant, with comfortable seating areas scattered throughout and a long, impressive bar along one wall. Soft music played in the background, and the place is already buzzing with activity.
JL recognized several familiar faces from other groups, enjoying their night out.
Near the bar, JL spotted Bambam from GOT7 laughing with someone he recognized as Hu Yetao who's now a member of NEXT1DE. They stood close together, their shoulders brushing as they leaned in to hear each other. But he filed the observation away, intrigued by the closeness between the two idols.
"What do you guys want to drink?" Jeongwoo asked, already moving toward the bar.
"I'll have a margarita," Woongki said.
JL hesitated for a moment. "Same, I guess."
Jeongwoo nodded and went to order their drinks while JL and Woongki found a small table near the dance floor. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, with several idols coming over to greet them and wish JL a happy belated birthday.
When Jeongwoo returned with their drinks, he raised his glass in a toast. "To JL's birthday. May you spend your money responsibly this year."
JL rolled his eyes but clinked his bottle against Jeongwoo's and Woongki's. "Whatever, hyung! Thanks you."
As the night went on, they drank and chatted with various idols, the alcohol slowly loosening their inhibitions. The DJ started playing more upbeat tracks, and people began coming toward the dance floor.
"Let's dance," Woongki suggested after they'd finished their fourth round of drinks.
JL, feeling pleasantly buzzed, agreed immediately.
The dance floor is crowded but not uncomfortably so, and they found a spot where they had enough room to move. The music is infectious, a heavy beat that vibrated through the floor and up their bodies.
At first, they danced separately, just enjoying the music and the atmosphere. But as the alcohol continued to take effect, JL found himself moving toward Woongki. And with each song that finished, JL moved closer, until he was practically pressed against Woongki's chest, his arms wrapped loosely around the older member's neck.
Woongki didn't seem to mind. In fact, he wrapped his arms around JL's waist, pulling him even closer as they moved together to the rhythm.
JL rested his head on Woongki's shoulder, his eyes half-closed as he swayed to the music. He felt warm and safe in Woongki's arms, the alcohol making him bolder, more affectionate even though they are in public.
"You're a good dancer, huh?" Woongki murmured in his ear, breath hot against JL's skin.
JL shivered despite the warmth of the crowded room. "So are you," he replied, voice slightly slurred.
From across the room, JL could vaguely make out Jeongwoo laughing with a friend, a handsome actor with sharp features and a smile that seemed reserved just for Jeongwoo. They stood close together, their bodies angled toward each other as they shared a drink.
JL smiled to himself, glad that Jeongwoo is having fun and not, as he'd feared, policing their every move.
After a while, JL started to feel the effects of the alcohol more intensely. The room seemed to spin slightly, and he felt a growing need to use the restroom.
"Hyung," he said, pulling back slightly to look at Woongki. "I need to go to the washroom."
Woongki nodded, his eyes concerned. "Are you okay? You look a little flushed."
"I'm fine," JL insisted, though he knew he was more than a little tipsy. "Just need the restroom."
"Let me come with you," Woongki offered, taking JL's hand.
JL didn't argue, letting Woongki lead him through the crowd toward the restrooms. The hallway is quieter than the main bar area, and JL felt a moment of relief as they stepped into the well-lit restroom.
"I'll just be a minute," Woongki said, guiding JL toward the sink. "Why don't you splash some water on your face to sober up a little?"
JL nodded, leaning against the cool marble of the counter as Woongki disappeared into one of the stalls. He turned on the tap and cupped his hands under the running water, splashing his face several times. The cool water helped clear his head slightly, but he still felt dizzy and lightheaded.
When he looked up into the mirror, his reflection was slightly blurry, his cheeks flushed and his eyes glassy.
Through the gap in the stall door, he could see Woongki's back as he stood at the urinal. He turned around, leaning back against the sink as he watched Woongki's silhouette through the frosted glass of the stall door.
When Woongki finished, JL heard the sound of a zipper, then running water as he washed his hands. JL turned back to the mirror, pretending to fix his hair as he watched Woongki's reflection approach.
Woongki buttoned his jeans first, then reached for his belt, his fingers working to buckle it properly. When he turned back around and caught JL's gaze in the mirror, he paused. A slow smile spreads across his face.
Instead of looking away embarrassed, JL held his gaze, eyes dark and heavy-lidded with alcohol and something else entirely.
Woongki finished with his belt but left it partially undone, walking toward JL with a confident swagger that made JL's heart race. He stopped directly in front of JL, close enough that JL could feel the heat radiating from his body.
Woongki raised an eyebrow, his voice low and teasing. "See something you like?"
JL looked up at him, lips parted slightly. "Mhm," he breathed.
Woongki's smile widened. "I think my belt's a little loose. Would you mind fixing it for me?"
JL's eyes dropped to Woongki's waist, to the belt that’s indeed sitting crookedly on his hips. He reached out with slightly trembling hands, fingers brushing against the warm denim as he took hold of the belt.
As he worked to fix the buckle, JL intentionally let his palm brush lower, skimming over the clothed shape of Woongki's obvious arousal.
Woongki let out a soft grunt, hips shifting slightly into the touch.
JL took his time as he adjusted the belt, his fingers lingering longer than necessary
against the warm denim. When he finally finished, the belt sat perfectly straight.
Woongki didn't say a word. He simply reached down and took JL's wrist, grip firm but not painful. His eyes were dark, intense, and JL felt a shiver run down his spine that had nothing to do with the alcohol.
"Let's go home," Woongki said.
JL could only nod. His throat is suddenly dry.
Woongki led him out of the restroom, hand still wrapped around JL's wrist. The noise of the bar hit them as they stepped back into the main area, the thumping bass and chatter of voices feeling distant and unimportant.
They found Jeongwoo near the entrance, still talking to his friend. When he saw them approaching, he excused himself and walked over.
"You guys leaving already?" Jeongwoo asked, eyes slightly narrowed as he took in their disheveled appearance and the way Woongki is holding JL's wrist.
"Yeah, we're both pretty tired," Woongki said smoothly, though JL could feel the tension thrumming through his body. "We're ready to head back."
"Alright," Jeongwoo agreed, though he didn't look entirely convinced. "I'll come with you. My friend's coming back to the dorm with us, if that's okay."
"Sure," Woongki said, his expression unreadable. "The more the merrier."
The ride back to the dorm was unusually quiet. JL sat in the back with Woongki with their shoulders pressed together and Woongki's hand resting possessively on JL's thigh. Jeongwoo sat in the front with his friend, their heads close together as they whispered about something JL couldn't quite make out.
When they arrived back at the dorm, it’s only 9:17 PM.
Steven opened the door for them, his hair messy and his shirt slightly rumpled. As he stepped aside to let them in, JL noticed something that made him do a double-take. A series of red marks on Steven's neck and shoulder, clearly nail marks, stretching down toward his back.
"Rough night?" Woongki asked with a smirk, gesturing toward the marks.
Steven flushed, running a hand through his already messy hair. "Fuck you," and then he casually flipped his middle finger right in front of the teasing Cha Woongki.
JL laughed before his eyes drifted past Steven to the living room, where Han is stretched out on the sofa, his shirt unbuttoned and his hair even more disheveled than Steven's.
"Where is everyone?" JL asked, stepping inside.
"Mostly asleep," Steven replied, leaning against the doorframe. "We decided to switch roommates tonight for a little sleepover. Shuaibo and Chihen are together, Han and I are camping out here since Jeongwoo has his... friend over, and Juwon's babysitting Daisuke after their gaming marathon."
He looked between JL and Woongki, a knowing glint in his eyes. "That leaves you two. You can either join the others or find a room for yourselves."
JL and Woongki exchanged a look. "We'll take a room to ourselves," Woongki said.
Steven's smirk widened. "Thought so. Second door on the left should be free."
As they headed down the hallway, a door suddenly opened, and Daisuke emerged, his face lighting up when he saw them.
"Hyung!" he exclaimed while bouncing on his toes. "You're back! Did you see the tweet I tagged you in?"
JL and Woongki exchanged confused looks. "Tweet? What tweet?" JL asked.
"The one about the zoo!" Daisuke said excitedly, pulling out his phone to show them. "I want to go tomorrow, and I already asked permission from our manager, but I need an adult to come with me."
JL and Woongki looked at the tweet, realizing they didn't get the notification because they were busy drinking earlier.
"Tomorrow's your birthday, right, Woongki hyung?" Daisuke asked with his eyes wide and hopeful.
Woongki nodded. "It is."
"Perfect! Then we can make it a birthday celebration too!" Daisuke said, practically vibrating with excitement. "Please, hyung?"
Woongki looked at JL, who shrugged with a small smile. "I don't see why not," JL said. "It could be fun."
"Really?" Daisuke's face split into a wide grin. "You guys are the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
He threw his arms around both of them in a quick, enthusiastic hug before pulling back. "I'll let you guys get some sleep then. Goodnight, hyung! Happy early birthday, Woongki hyung!"
With that, he disappeared back into his room, closing the door softly behind him.
JL and Woongki continued down the hallway to the second door on the left, as Steven had indicated.
Woongki turned to face JL, eyes dark and intense. "So," he said, his voice low. "A zoo trip for my birthday."
JL nodded. "Hmm. A zoo trip for your birthday."
"You know," Woongki said, taking a step closer, "I can think of other ways I'd rather celebrate."
"Really?" JL challenged, though his voice was slightly breathless. "Like what?"
Instead of answering, Woongki closed the remaining distance between them, his hands coming up to cup JL's face.
He leaned in slowly, giving JL plenty of time to pull away, but JL stood his ground, eyes fluttering closed as their lips met.