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Mingi hadn't been as lucky as his groupmates for his birthday. His alarm went off at six, but he'd already been awake much longer thanks to the dreadful racket his friends were making in their shared dorm room. He decided to get up, hoping to find a few minutes amidst the chaos to make a hot cup of coffee. He was already sighing at the thought that his special day was going to be particularly miserable.
Downstairs, the mess caused by the members was even more blatant; seeing it made it all the more real. He could see San and Wooyoung arguing over who would wear that magnificent black t-shirt that surely didn't belong to them and that they themselves probably owned several copies of; Yunho pacing back and forth, searching for something only he knew; Jongho practicing his vocal exercises in a corner like the prodigy of a wealthy and slightly abusive family; and Seonghwa burning a breakfast he had hoped to make quickly. Hongjoong must have already left, or perhaps hadn't returned at all since the day before, and Yeosang was probably occupying one of their bathrooms. When his entrance was noticed by the two cat-men of the house, they practically jumped on him, each kissing one of his cheeks while standing on tiptoe.
"Happy birthday, Mingi!" San and Wooyoung wished him in unison.
Wooyoung took advantage of this strategic opening to make a run for it with the famous t-shirt, laughing heartily at his friend's distress, who could now rummage through his own drawers to find something to wear. They then left like a gust of wind, leaving the brunette alone again. He decided to head to the kitchen with a brisk step. The commotion of the dorm was contagious and stressed him out for no reason. Still struggling with an omelet that had decided not to let itself be cooked, Seonghwa nevertheless turned to smile at the younger man. Warmly, despite the bead of sweat trickling down his temple, a sign of barely suppressed annoyance.
"Hello, Mingi, and happy birthday."
Once again, the rapper didn't even have time to reply before the oldest member of the group turned away with a sigh, deciding that he wouldn't be having breakfast that morning after all, and that another of the boys would have to volunteer to eat the ruined omelet he'd put in the fridge, before leaving to finish getting ready.
In the living room, Mingi didn't receive a much warmer welcome from Jongho and Yunho, who also offered a cursory happy birthday greeting. Not a kiss, not a friendly hug, nothing, just two words and a smile, before returning to the disaster of a shaky organization.
Mingi thought he was saved when he saw his boyfriend, Yeosang, arrive in the living room. Just the sight of his pretty smile and doe eyes gave him hope for a good day. The singer's face lit up at the sight of the taller man, as if the happiness of being reunited after a night apart was too hard to hide. Yeosang then stepped forward to join Mingi's already wide-open arms, his mouth already agape in anticipation of wishing him a happy birthday on this special day he'd been eagerly awaiting. But things didn't go quite so smoothly, thanks to Wooyoung and their idol lives.
"Guys! The manager's already here, get your asses over here so we can go!"
Mingi's heart sank as his face instantly lost the cute smile Yeosang loved so much. He wasn't ready to start the day; he hadn't even brushed his teeth, wasn't dressed, and his boyfriend hadn't been able to hug him, kiss him, or even say a word to him. So, frozen, the younger boy stared at Yeosang. It was always a reflex, whenever the situation changed too abruptly for his brain to adapt. The purple-haired boy sighed then, equally disappointed by the turn of events, but smiled at his boyfriend and gestured for him to leave.
"Quickly head to the bathroom, we'll wait for you in the van, okay?"
Mingi nodded and turned on his heel to hurry back to his room, aiming to set a new record for getting ready.
𐙚˙..˖𓍢ִ໋✧˚ෆ ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
The morning was entirely devoted to a TV show structured around several mini-games. The first went off without a hitch; it was a simple game of imitation and guessing. The boys played along, making everyone on set laugh. Mingi looked ridiculous enough that a staff member had to step out for a few seconds, and he managed quite well not to stare too often at Yeosang so as not to appear suspicious.
The second game was a Q&A session. Several questions were selected from thousands submitted by Atinys from all over the world. For example, Hongjoong was asked which member was the most difficult to manage, and Wooyoung didn't like the answer at all. Or to Yunho if he had any future acting projects, or to Jongho which OST he preferred to perform. Then, the host turned to Mingi, an almost mischievous smile on his face.
"And you, Mingi, we know about your very close friendship with Yunho, but tell me, really, who is your favorite member of the group?"
Falling right into the trap without even trying to hide it, without even being camouflaged, the rapper's chest puffed out proudly as he began to answer:
"It's Yeosangie, of course! After all, he's my b-" he stopped dead in his tracks, feeling the lightning bolts behind him, without really knowing where they were coming from, and scratched the back of his neck, laughing, barely hiding his own discomfort. "...best hyung! No hyung is better than Yeosang!"
Yeosang pursed his lips, rolling his eyes in that tic he had, that everyone knew, when he was fighting back laughter. The host stared at the tallest man for a few seconds, his gaze so intense it made his heart race, then moved on to another question, this time for San and Yunho. Mingi risked a glance at his boyfriend, a look somewhere between a lost puppy and a desperate lover on his face, but Yeosang knew better than to return his gaze. Even though it was hard, it was safer. After the third game, everyone got a break. Mingi took the opportunity to go to the restroom, and on his way back, he noticed Yeosang pacing back and forth across the set. He thought for a split second how cute it was, before raising his arm and waving, a big smile on his face.
"Hyung!"
The purple-haired boy's eyes lit up at the sound of his boyfriend's deep voice, before he trotted over to join him with an excitement he couldn't even hide. Mingi put his hand over his mouth to hide his smile, because he had just fallen a little more in love at this adorable sight.
"Mingi, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Yeosang said simply, his lisp sticking out a little more than usual once he stood in front of the taller boy.
"Sorry, I was in the bathroom. What's up?"
Yeosang then pulled a bottle from behind his back, a soda bottle whose water droplets on the plastic attested to its freshness. He handed it to his boyfriend, smiling with his naturally gentle smile, and Mingi blinked.
"This is my favorite."
"Hmm! You did a good job during the first games, it's a reward." He paused briefly, during which a blush crept up his cheeks. "I haven't even been able to wish you your-"
He was cut off mid-sentence by Mingi's warm breath as he leaned closer, bringing their faces together with the clear intention of kissing him. He simply couldn't resist his hyung, so cute, so perfect. Yeosang closed his eyes, eagerly awaiting Mingi's first kiss of the day. His heart raced, his hands tightened on the soda bottle, and his lips moved forward as if to welcome the kiss more quickly.
Unfortunately, as if the universe were conspiring against them, a camera flew right past them, forcing Mingi to sit up straight and Yeosang to step back. They both looked sheepish now, their cheeks flushed and their eyes averted. The rapper rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, and the older man let out a small laugh to fill the awkward silence. Then, Yeosang shoved the drink into his boyfriend's large hands so abruptly that the brunette had to press it against his chest to keep from dropping it, without even looking at him.
"Well, I'll let you enjoy your break and hydrate properly! It was so hot in this studio, I'm going to get a cooling towel!"
Without another word, without Mingi even being able to reply, Yeosang walked away towards some of the staff members: those capable of cooling his body and mind.
"Seriously?" Mingi sighed, almost in despair.
The day had only just begun and it already seemed to be giving him no breaks, despite it being his birthday.
𐙚˙..˖𓍢ִ໋✧˚ෆ ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
Lunchtime finally arrived, everyone had gathered in a large common room so that the staff, the host, and the Ateez members could eat together. Mingi and Yeosang were sitting side by side, and even San couldn't get the giant to budge. He pulled out the "It's my birthday, I'm staying with Yeosang" card, which made everyone laugh. No one said a word, not even when Mingi's hand lingered longer than necessary in the small of his boyfriend's back.
The entire meal passed without incident, simply marked by genuine good humor. Conversation flowed freely among everyone, with the occasional main topic and mostly a ton of smaller, side conversations. Between the latest episode of the popular drama, the comeback of that up-and-coming group breaking new records, or simply the vacation destination of a staff member's parents, Yeosang was eavesdropping everywhere. But the voice that caught his attention the most was that of the tall rapper sitting to his left. The singer felt comfortable there, despite the surrounding hubbub. He could feel Mingi's warmth through their pressed shoulders, and sometimes he felt his hand find its way onto his pale thigh for a few seconds, just long enough for a discreet caress. He let himself be soothed by his deep laughter and the excitement in his voice. But all of this made him want even more to find a few minutes alone with him. If only for a kiss or a hug, at least to finally wish him a happy birthday.
"Yeosang!" Seonghwa's voice called, making the boy blink.
"Excuse me?"
"Were you daydreaming?" The older boy said with a laugh. "I've been calling you for two minutes."
The purple-haired boy couldn't stop his cheeks from blushing as he lowered his head, embarrassed that he had let his mind wander so much that he was completely disconnected from his surroundings. He scratched the back of his neck, a shy smile on his lips.
"Sorry, I was in my head. What do you want, hyung?"
"The noodle dish, please." He asked with a smile.
"Of course."
Yeosang then took the dish with both hands, carefully so as not to spill anything, and leaned forward so the eldest of the group could take it. Seonghwa's hands rested on his; it lasted only a few seconds, simply like a brief caress when two hands happen to brush against each other, but, in Mingi's eyes, the time seemed to drag on. He frowned, his cheeks puffed out, as he glared at the mannequin fingers, as if they were responsible for some heinous crime. When he looked up, his eyes met Yeosang's. His gentle gaze and amused smile. And the younger man understood that his jealousy was blatant. He blushed and drank a glass of water to hide the embarrassment on his face, but under the table, a slender hand came and clasped his. Mingi felt his fingers separate, then intertwine with others. He understood immediately, from his boyfriend's soft laugh and the thumb caressing his skin, that he had linked their hands. This tender gesture brought a sweet, happy smile to his face, which earned him an indiscreet question from a curious Yunho. To which Mingi replied that he was simply happy to be there. No one needed to know that "there" meant near his precious boyfriend.
𐙚˙..˖𓍢ִ໋✧˚ෆ ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
The end of the day finally arrived after an afternoon filled with games, from navigating in the dark to cooking with randomly selected ingredients. Throughout the rest of the shoot, Mingi and Yeosang had been perfectly professional. They hadn't looked at each other longer than necessary, their hands hadn't wandered suspiciously, and they hadn't paid more attention to each other than they gave to others. They had laughed with everyone, and hadn't even teamed up for the team games. They had remained perfectly professional, even if their patience had been all the more tested. So, when the show's director clapped his hands to signal the end of filming, and the technical crew arrived to dismantle the set, the two lovers saw it as an opening to slip away secretly and steal a few minutes alone. As if their two minds were one, their hands eagerly met, while Mingi quickly pulled Yeosang away. He led him to a somewhat secluded spot, a sort of storeroom that looked full and which he didn't think the staff would be using again that evening. He then pressed Yeosang against the wall, his hands sliding down his hips as a long shiver ran through him, feeling the singer's fingers slide across the back of his neck to embrace him. The younger man leaned forward, his forehead resting against his boyfriend's, as they both closed their eyes to savor their late-night reunion.
"I thought we'd never have a moment together." The brunette confessed with a sigh.
"Me neither." The older man replied with a smile somewhere between amusement and despair. "I know we were together all day, but it wasn't really how I imagined it. I wish you had hugged me sooner."
Mingi smiled, that smile of pure adoration he reserved only for Yeosang. That tender smile he only wore when he fell in love even more deeply. He leaned closer, not responding with a word, but with the blatant intention of kissing the older boy. Yeosang felt his heart race as he tightened his arms around his boyfriend's neck, pulling him closer. He missed that closeness even more terribly, as if he were dying to be crushed by his beloved's robust body. Mingi moved even closer, until his warm breath caressed the smaller boy's full lips and his hands tightened possessively on the flesh of his hips. But just as the two soulmates were finally about to fill the void, the sound of a slamming door made them jump and leap away.
"Yeosang, Mingi! You're here! Everyone's looking for you to get back to the dorm!" Their manager scolded them, frowning, clearly not pleased that they had disappeared without telling anyone.
"Sorry, we'll be right back."
It was Yeosang's embarrassed voice as he bowed in apology, before straightening up and quickening his pace toward their manager. He was lectured yet again about the importance of setting a good example as a hyung and that kind of spiel that no one actually listened to after a hundred times. But he hurried back to the van with Mingi a little behind him, the manager bringing up the rear, where all the boys were eagerly waiting for them.
In the back of his mind, Mingi cursed the day and this awful schedule that kept him away from his hyung. The day was almost over, and yet he hadn't had a single moment with his beloved. It was frustrating, but he couldn't bring himself to be truly sad about the situation. Because, even though it infuriated him that moments with him were being stolen because of their work, it was also through becoming idols that they had been able to meet and fall in love. So, Mingi gritted his teeth, apologized to the members and his manager, and counted on the evening to recharge his Yeosang batteries.
𐙚˙..˖𓍢ִ໋✧˚ෆ ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅
It was quite late when everyone returned to the dorm, in the same gray van they'd been using for ten years. Wooyoung was the first to step through the front door, almost shouting with joy, San never far behind, pretending to cry. The rest of the boys followed quietly, Mingi and Yeosang bringing up the rear so they could hold hands without awkward comments from Seonghwa, the group's almost biological mother figure, or lewd remarks from Jongho that would have made the oldest member of the group faint. For a brief moment, everyone was gathered in the living room. It was a time to unwind, take a deep breath, criticize the somewhat narrow-minded producer, or compliment each other. Sometimes it lasted for hours, other evenings only a few minutes, always pleasant. Then, when the hubbub of scattered conversations finally subsided, Hongjoong glanced at Mingi.
"Are you sure you don't want to celebrate your birthday tonight, Mingi? We're starting late tomorrow; we can still quickly throw something together." He said in the soft, tired voice of a leader under constant stress but still full of affection.
"Don't worry, hyung," the birthday boy began, "I really prefer we do it this weekend, as planned."
It had been thought out and agreed upon beforehand, with the tall, dark-haired man being the main decision-maker. This weekend, they both had two completely free days, so the party could wait to be better enjoyed. Hongjoong nodded, saying nothing more before finishing his glass of water and wishing the other rapper in the group a happy birthday again, before slipping away to his room. Little by little, the other members did the same. Wooyoung decided to hang out in Yunho's room to play video games, closely followed by Jongho. Seonghwa, on the other hand, opted for a long, hot bath with a ridiculously large amount of bubbles. And San, finally, was probably the one most eagerly called to his bed of all. They all wished their precious friend a happy birthday one last time before naturally dispersing.
"Enjoy yourself with your sweety angel baby love" Yunho whispered in Mingi's ear before slinking off with a chuckle at his best friend's sigh.
And just like that, calm returned to their large shared apartment. It was wonderful after a whole day of noise and light. It was restful. Yeosang then placed his glass of water on the table before reaching out to his boyfriend. The boy with purple hair smiled with that special tenderness of evenings when they'd missed each other a little too much. Mingi didn't waste a single second before snuggling into his beloved's arms. Or rather, pulling him close. He encircled Yeosang's slender waist with both arms, drawing him close with a clear desire for intimacy, while one of his hands found its way under the older boy's t-shirt to caress his smooth skin. He felt the older boy shiver, which made him smile, as he rested his forehead against his shoulder. Mingi took a deep, slow breath, filling his nostrils with his boyfriend's sweet scent, a comforting aroma somewhere between watermelon moisturizer and light vanilla. And, as every evening during their after-work cuddle, Mingi wondered how Yeosang could smell so good after a long day working hard in the heat and sweat.
"I missed you." The younger one whispered, so much so that Yeosang almost had to strain to hear him.
Le blond laughed, as his two hands found their place on his partner's large, muscular body. One on his back, to make gentle circular caresses, and the other behind his neck to massage it. And he laughed, peaceful and loving, and a little mischievous.
"But, I told you, we were together all the day."
He felt Mingi's cheeks puff out against his skin.
"You know what I mean..." He pouted.
The singer nodded, without stopping his caresses or his massage, but turned his face slightly to kiss the forehead of the adorable boyfriend who was trying to make himself smaller than he really was in his arms. At this attention, he felt the dark-haired man tighten his grip around his waist, pulling him a little closer. Yeosang smiled more broadly, his cheeks flushed, his heart pounding.
"I missed you too."
The birthday boy didn't respond. Well, not with words, but with a few butterfly kisses he placed against the nape of Yeosang's neck, trailing down to his shoulder. The older boy shivered again, which encouraged Mingi to explore a little more skin. His hands, too, became more adventurous against his beloved's milky skin, seeking to trace the curve of his stomach, his lower back, and more. The older boy barely had time to weakly push his boyfriend away before a treacherous moan escaped him, a testament to the pleasure his attentions were giving him. Mingi raised his face, a worried expression, a furrowed brow, and curled lips, but Yeosang's shy smile quickly reassured him.
"Wait a moment, please." The young man asked, turning his back on his lover.
"Take your time." He replied, though he couldn't resist the urge to kiss the exposed nape of Yeosang's neck, which made him jump. Adorable.
After a few seconds of searching in his bag, the very same one he'd placed on the table when he got home despite Seonghwa's grumbling, Yeosang turned back to face his boyfriend. He chuckled as he watched Mingi wait patiently, his hands still on the singer's hips, and swore he could see the ears and tail of an excited but obedient puppy on him. Then, he handed him a red velvet box, still that shy smile on his face.
"Happy birthday, Mingi."
The brunette blinked, looked at the box for a few seconds, then at his boyfriend, then back at the box. He took it delicately, as if the little box were worth its weight in gold, but he didn't open it. For now, he just looked at it, almost to make sure it was real.
"You had time to buy me a present? We've been so busy with the comeback, how did you manage?"
Yeosang simply giggled, raising a hand to stroke his beloved's short hair. Mingi reflexively closed his eyes, tensing up, but adored the tender gesture.
"I found some time, don't worry."
"Huuum!"
The rapper smiled as he opened the box and discovered, nestled against a satin cushion of the same color, a gold pendant. Quite simple and very delicate, something different from all the bling-bling jewelry the brunette owned. Mingi opened his eyes and mouth, but no word came out. He stared at the necklace as if looking away, even for a single second, would make it disappear. Then, he lifted his face to Yeosang, who could now see that famous imaginary puppy tail wagging in every direction.
"It's perfect, hyung! So pretty!"
"You think so?" The older man hummed contentedly.
"That's exactly what I wanted! How did you know?"
Yeosang shrugged, looking a little too mysterious for the situation. He didn't admit to buying Yunho with a new Valorant skin to send him on a search for information, thus learning that the birthday boy had abandoned his flashy necklaces and was struggling to find something to wear around his neck, since he had nothing more understated. He simply wrapped his arms around Mingi's neck and pressed himself against him again, feeling the rapper's large hands return to his hips after he placed the small box back on the table.
"I know you, that's all."
This simple sentence made Mingi smile.
"And now..." He let his voice drift through the air, his smile becoming mischievous and a hand playfully tugging at a few strands of brown hair. "How about you continue what you started?"
"With pleasure." Mingi breathed, his voice already hoarse and impatient.
The younger man then slipped his hands under Yeosang's thighs, lifting him with disconcerting ease and drawing him into a longing kiss. The older man naturally wrapped his legs around Mingi's waist, his arms tightening around his neck, as he was carried off to one of their two bedrooms. Neither he nor Mingi really cared which one it was; the only thing that mattered to them now was celebrating Mingi's birthday in a much more... intimate way.