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They’ve been arguing for a while now—by arguing, Keonho means that Seonghyeon has been all mean and sassy to him every time they've interacted. No more extra-long handshakes or late-night skincare sessions, all because he’d lost one, measly (two-hundred-and-fifty dollar) pair of airpods.
A week or two ago, after escaping an airport full of crazed fans, Seonghyeon sat down in his seat in their company van with a heavy sigh. He turned to look at Keonho.
“Keonho-ya, can I have my airpods now?”
The younger nodded easily and reached into his right pocket—empty. He checked his left pocket, then both his back pockets, then in his bag. The pink silicone case was nowhere to be found.
“I’m sorry, Seonghyeon-ie. They must have fallen while we were walking…” he mumbled apologetically, rubbing the back of his neck.
Seonghyeon sighed, but just waved his hand. “It's fine. Don't worry about it.”
That would have been the end of it had the stupid, ugly, blond skyscraper Martin Edwards kept his mouth shut.
“Ah, but didn't you give them to Juhoon?”
Oh. Yeah. He did give them to Juhoon. He had completely forgotten—but Seonghyeon didn't need to know that.
“Before you get mad,” Keonho scrambled to say, “It was for a good reason! Juhoon-ie is really good at holding things, right? You normally ask him, so I thought that—”
“I didn't ask Juhoon, Keonho. I asked you.”
“A-Ah…” the boy tampered off as he quickly recognized the barely concealed disappointment in the older’s tone. Shit. “I-I really am sorry, Hyeon.”
Seonghyeon sighed again (though this time more aggressively), focusing his gaze out the window. He kept it that way for the entire ride, denying food and not moving an inch during pit stops. When they finally made it back to the dorm, he slammed the door to their (shared) room and locked it, the noise echoing throughout the hall.
He and Martin stared at the closed door before making a beeline for James and Juhoon’s room. They both slept on the couch that night.
—--
One evening, Keonho sat at the table with his hyungs, picking at his food. A week and two days with no real interactions with the older had begun to affect the sight in his left ear.
“I didn't lose them, Juhoon-hyung did. How's it fair that he's mad at me?” he asked with a pout.
“I’m not the one he asked to hold them, though.” Juhoon pointed out. “If a babysitter handed a baby she was taking care of off to her friend, and her friend lost the baby, isn't the babysitter herself the one to blame?”
“What a twisted analogy.” Martin mumbled.
“I don't have time for your evil bullshit, hyung.” Keonho hissed, dropping his fork onto the table. “My not-boyfriend is mad at me, and I'm gonna die if he doesn't forgive me soon. What do I do?”
“Give him an over-the-top apology.” James advised, leaning back in his chair. “That's literally it. Make it as special as possible—he likes the attention to detail.”
“Sounds plausible.” Martin agreed with a nod. “Seonghyeon-ie’s not really… big on communication. Not that that’s your fault, but. Y'know. You kinda have to play the hero and read his mind.”
“Read his mind.” Keonho echoed. “Are we deadass?”
Juhoon shrugged.
James spoke up again as he stood to leave. “He's like a princess, y’know? Treat him like one and he'll come around.”
Keonho looked back at the table for clarification, but quickly turned back around at the sight of his hyungs practically eating each other's faces off (Juhoon was only peppering kisses across Martin’s face).
“I’m still here, you freaks.”
“Then leave.” Juhoon suggested (ordered, really), narrowing his eyes at him before continuing to kiss a very flustered-looking Martin.
“This place sucks…” The younger grumbled, tossing out his trash and escaping to the living room.
—--
Keonho spent his free time studying Seonghyeon. Treat him like a princess, James had said. But what on Earth did this princess want from him?
One day, it all clicked. On their way home from practice, he noticed that Seonghyeon had a new pair of headphones; they were so cheap-looking that it broke his heart just imagining the quality. Thanks to their poor manufacturing, the things leaked sound like crazy—every lyric of every song filled the silence of the van. After ten minutes, Keonho caught on. A certain singer that he kept hearing.
So baby, come light me up
And baby, I’ll let you on it
A little bit dangerous
But baby, that’s how I want it
Ariana Grande. Seonghyeon was listening to Ariana fucking Grande. That changed everything.
“And why is that?” Juhoon asks, sounding as confused as Martin looks at this dramatic retelling.
“Because now I know what to do!" he exclaimed. "I noticed something that no one else did, so now he’ll know that I’m being serious and that I care about him.”
James nods with a half-shrug. “That’s true. Ariana has a lot of merchandise that you could buy for him, too.”
“And I’ll go half on it with you. It is kinda my fault that his airpods are gone.” Juhoon hums.
Keonho’s eye twitches, because of course it’s Juhoon’s fault—he’s been saying that this whole time! But since no one agreed with him, he forces himself to swallow down the barrage of insults that had begun forming in his throat and cough up a “Thank you.”
“Oh, and get him flowers.” James chimes in again. “I know someone who makes eternal bouquets.”
And although he can already feel his poor, poor wallet screaming in protest, he agrees.
—--
In just twelve hours, Keonho purchased the Airpod Pros, the Ariana Grande x Swarovski bracelet, and a giant, pink eternal bouquet with a ribbon that has “I love you” strewn across it. If this didn’t win Seonghyeon over, he might actually die.
During a “surprise” practice (carefully planned by none other than the stupid, ugly, blond skyscraper himself), he leaves the room and returns with the gifts. At the same time, Juhoon plays sweetener through the speakers. Seonghyeon pauses his slow run-through of the choreo, his brows furrowing in confusion.
“Hyeon-ie, I know I messed up,” Keonho says as he waddles towards him, arms full of flowers and jewelry galore. “I understand now that the things you ask me to do are for me alone to… do? Me to do alone? Yeah, for me to do alone. I promise I won't let this happen again. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?”
Seonghyeon doesn't speak, but his body does it for him. The stupid skyscraper strikes again—he made sure that they hadn't really done anything worth sweating over, so they know that he's actually blushing and not just hot. Blood rushes to his cheeks, lingering in the back of his neck and rising up to the tips of his ears.
“...Yeah.” he finally says, still unmoving. “I forgive you.”
Keonho jumps with joy, very carefully setting down his expensive purchases before launching himself at the other. He squeezes his waist, pressing a kiss to his soft lips. Yummy, he thinks. Cherry-flavored.
“You didn't buy me any skincare?” Seonghyeon asks after they pull away.
Fuck.
“N-No,” Keonho stammers. “But I can get you some. What do you need? Face masks? Eye creams?”
Seonghyeon pouts and tilts his head, pretending to be upset. He doesn't keep up the act long though, because the look on Keonho’s face is just too much to bear. “I’m just joking, Keonho-ya.” he half-giggles. “This is great. You're fine.”
Relief floods the younger's features and he grins, meeting his gaze. “Oh, I’m fine, huh?”
“That’s not what I meant. But, I guess you're not that bad-looking…” Seonghyeon mutters as he parts his lips to lean in again. James loudly clears his throat, putting an end to their impromptu flirting game. They jump apart, looking towards him.
“That's enough, you two. Not here.”
Keonho grumbles as he lowers his hands. Damn that hedgehog.