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“Good job, everyone!”
They bow as the group once again successfully completes another stop of their tour. The members start packing their things one by one once everyone says their thank yous and goodbyes to the staff, gathering in their respective units in order to move towards the vans that will take them to the hotel.
It's one of those days where it's so packed with work that Jeonghan just wants to wrap it all up as quickly as possible and rest in the little time he has the opportunity to do so. He doesn't wait any more time and heads straight to the car park.
Jeonghan is the first to get in the car, settling in the very back and closing his eyes, hoping not to be disturbed and maybe get some rest on the way. The rest of the vocal unit show up soon after, sitting far from Jeonghan as they notice he seems to want some space. Seokmin is the last one to arrive, having no choice but to sit next to the tired hyung, as the others have already taken the other seats.
Jeonghan feels someone sit next to him and opens his eyes to find Seokmin. He smiles, relieved that it's him sitting by his side since, of all the members in the group, Seokmin is the one who knows his habits and preferences the best, especially because he’s been his roommate for so long. He knows that Jeonghan prefers to keep quiet along the way to the hotel and just keeps him company without making conversation or joking around. But, as if Seokmin is an energy pill, Jeonghan feels his tiredness dissipate a little just by being around him. He shifts in his seat and takes Seokmin's hand.
“Dokyeom-ah,” Jeonghan sighs as he intertwines their fingers, looking languidly at his dongsaeng.
“Oh, hyung,” Seokmin startles, staring back at him. “Did I wake you up?”
Jeonghan shakes his head, smiling weakly. “I wasn’t sleeping,” he says quietly, resting his head on Seokmin’s shoulder before closing his eyes once again.
Seokmin smiles back, but doesn't respond so Jeonghan can rest, gently squeezing their intertwined hands resting atop Jeonghan’s lap. The car has already started moving by then, and he can faintly hear Jeonghan’s silent snores after a while.
Jeonghan steps out of the van, the night's cool breeze hitting him straight in the face. With his hands in his jumper pockets, he turns around to search for Seokmin, who is just a few steps behind. He waits for the younger to catch up with him so they can walk together, grabbing Seokmin's arm with both hands happily, giving it a little squeeze. The light nap in the car had indeed left Jeonghan feeling a bit refreshed.
They walk in silence throughout the path from the van to the hotel's entrance, just enjoying each other's presence and admiring the sea of stars above them until they can no longer see it as they enter the hall.
From then on, all Jeonghan pays attention to are the excited voices and hurried footsteps of the other members echoing through the hotel lobby — most of them eager to meet up in Mingyu's room and start another drinking and karaoke session that will probably end at four in the morning. Everyone is crowded in front of the elevators, and those in a rush to get drunk dash into the empty one, leaving behind Soonyoung, some staff, and the other two, who seem to have been stuck together since they left the concert arena.
They have no choice other than wait for the next elevator, and when it arrives, Soonyoung trips as he steps into it, pushing Jeonghan and Seokmin closer together into the corner. Truly cliché. They both laugh.
“Careful, Hoshingie,” Jeonghan says, patting his elbow, which had lightly hit the mirror. “You almost made me get crushed by Dokyeomie, and you know I have very frail bones,” feigning hurt, he pouts and closes one eye, but keeps the other open to scan their reactions.
Seokmin frowns and murmurs something along the lines of “you’re exaggerating it,” which Jeonghan doesn’t pay much attention to, because Soonyoung interrupts him.
“I’m so sorry, hyung,” Soonyoung says, smiling awkwardly as he reaches to stroke Jeonghan’s elbow. He continues, apologetically, “We can have a drink in Mingyu's room if that makes you feel better.”
Jeonghan declines politely and reaches to stroke Soonyoung's hair, ruffling some strands in the process. “Don’t worry. I’m not in the mood for drinks tonight, Hoshi-yah. But I appreciate you for asking,” he looks in Seokmin’s direction, as if asking if he wants to join them, but the man in question just shakes his head in response.
Soonyoung observes their silent communication and asks, “You two again?” He snorts in disbelief, realizing that, once again, Jeonghan and Seokmin have chosen to spend time together instead of with the group. “Why are the two of you always together?”
They arrive at their floor before Jeonghan has any time to retort, the loud chanting and excited screams coming from one of the rooms interrupting his train of thought. Well, it seems to interrupt Soonyoung’s as well, who runs straight towards the source of the noise, forgetting the initial reason for his sulking.
The floor is small enough that the noise echoes throughout all of it. Jeonghan feels grateful that only the group and a few staff are lodging there so their chaos won’t upset whoever is unlucky enough to end up staying on the same floor as them. However, that feeling of gratitude doesn't last that long once he remembers he is the unlucky person who will have to endure the commotion of several enthusiastic men who don’t plan on ending the night any time soon. He groans, sluggishly grabbing Seokmin by the arm again and walking to their room — which, to Jeonghan's slightest relief, is on the opposite side of the corridor, and away from Mingyu’s room.
“I don’t even know how I’m going to sleep tonight,” Jeonghan lays his head on Seokmin’s shoulder, searching for their room key in his trousers’ back pocket with his free hand.
“If they bother you too much, I can go and beat them up, hyung.”
Jeonghan chuckles, finally opening the door. “You’re too sweet for that. You wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Seokmin pouts, following his hyung right behind inside their shared hotel room. “You don’t know that.”
The room is neatly organized, with their luggage separated in a corner, their clothes buried deep in the temporary closet. There is a single queen-sized bed in the middle, which doesn’t really matter because it’s already a common occurrence. They are used to sleeping in the same bed, spots assigned long ago. Seokmin takes off his shoes and flops onto his back on the bed, supporting his head with both hands joined behind it while he watches Jeonghan walk around the room. The comforter feels soft and cold.
Jeonghan changes into his pajamas and then strides to his suitcase to get his skincare products and start his nightly routine. Neither of them are feeling up to a shower, but Jeonghan, specifically, can’t skip his skincare — after all, taking care of his face is also part of his job. Gathered all the needed items, he heads towards the bathroom, and puts all the products on the sink. He does his own skincare routine patiently before peeking through the door crack at his roommate, who looks back at him lazily.
“Are you gonna stay there?” Jeonghan asks.
“'M coming.”
They have this habit when they room together. Jeonghan likes taking care of the people he loves and including them in his activities — whether it’s small or simple — like going on a morning walk around the neighborhood, or doing some skincare routine together while talking about their day or whatever. He hears some stirring in the room, followed by footsteps dragging on the floor. Seokmin shows up, now also wearing his pajamas.
As soon as Seokmin steps foot into the bathroom, Jeonghan grabs him by the wrist and drags him to the toilet, making him sit on it with a poof. He takes out a cute bunny hairband, that he randomly bought at one of those duty-free shops at the airport, and puts it on Seokmin to keep his hair out of the way. Slapping a cotton pad wet with product on his face, Jeonghan starts rubbing it delicately in round motions to remove the long day's makeup.
"You look really cute right now. My little bunny," Jeonghan laughs at the sight and removes the hand he had been using to hold Seokmin's face still to squeeze one bunny ear.
Seokmin laughs mirthfully. He opens his eyes and makes a move to get up and look himself in the mirror, but Jeonghan stops him and smacks his arm gingerly.
"Yah, don't open your eyes and don't move," he scolds, placing one hand on Seokmin's shoulder to keep him in place as the other removes the cotton pad that stuck to his face really close to one of his eyes. "The product's going to get into your eye like this."
Seokmin settles again with a sulk and rests one arm on the counter of the sink next to the toilet to improve his posture. He obediently closes his eyes again, letting the rest of the routine go on in a comfortable silence. Jeonghan tells Seokmin to purse his lips so he can apply a moisturizing balm, then cups his face with one hand, pressing his cheeks together into a pout.
Suddenly, seeing his favorite dongsaeng sitting so cute and obedient, with the bunny ears and pouty lips, Jeonghan is taken by an uncontrollable urge to kiss him. Before he can stop himself, he sets aside the balm and cradles Seokmin's face with both hands, giving him a peck. With a gasp, Seokmin jerks his head back at the sudden contact and stares up at Jeonghan, bewildered.
Jeonghan also looks alarmed, having acted on impulse. He drops his hands at his sides and steps away from Seokmin in a hurry, as if he got shocked.
"I'm so sorry—"
"Hyung, why did you—"
They both speak at the same time. Jeonghan inhales deeply, chest heavy with worry, and opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out of it. Seokmin waits for his hyung to compose himself before saying anything, so they don't stumble over each other's words again.
"I'm sorry," Jeonghan looks down, clasping his hands together in embarrassment. "It's just— you looked so cute I couldn't stop myself. Please don't be mad at me."
Seokmin springs up and takes Jeonghan's hands on his own, holding them by their chest. They are so close like this, with Seokmin bending down a little to face Jeonghan, who avoids his gaze. He's never seen Jeonghan this embarrassed before.
"No, hyung, it's okay. I'm the one who's sorry for making you worry I'd be mad," Seokmin smiles, but also frowns in concern at the same time. He pauses to finally take a look at himself in the mirror, and then he sees the headband. He looks a little ridiculous so he can't help the laugh that comes out of him. He turns to Jeonghan again, "I got a bit— surprised. That's all."
Jeonghan hears Seokmin's laugh and raises his head, but all he sees is a concerned smile. And of course, the stupid bunny headband. His previously tense shoulders relax and he takes a deep breath, letting out a relieved chuckle. "Is it really okay?"
"Yes, hyung."
"So, can I kiss you again?" Jeonghan grins.
Seokmin raises his eyebrows in surprise. Jeonghan recovers fast from embarrassment, huh? It seems the mischievous Jeonghan he knows is back. He hesitates for a bit, then nods timidly.
Jeonghan beams and puts his arms behind Seokmin's neck before leaning in again. Seokmin tastes vaguely like butter balm, and his hands grab Jeonghan's waist automatically. He pulls him closer hastily, fingers digging into the tiny curve. There's a sense of desperation in that action that takes Jeonghan by surprise, making him gasp and giggle into the kiss. He didn't expect his Dokyeomie to be this fierce while making out.
They part their lips and Jeonghan licks the inside of Seokmin's mouth. The kiss is slow and unhurried, as they take time to discover each others taste, angling their heads to fit their mouths better together, rubbing their tongues in sync. Jeonghan grabs a handful of Seokmin's hair from the back of his head, tugs a little, just testing. When Seokmin responds with a whimper, Jeonghan feels like he is going crazy.
After a while, they separate to catch their breath. It feels like it's been decades since either of them has kissed anyone, so they both stand there breathless, heads feeling a bit light. Jeonghan looks a little manic, pupils blown wide. He cracks up that characteristic hihihi laugh of his and gives Seokmin a final smooch before turning around and leaving the bathroom.
Seokmin stands there, dumbfounded. When he comes out of the bathroom, Jeonghan is already under the covers on his side of the bed, leisurely fiddling with his phone as if nothing had happened.
Seokmin joins him in bed in awe, feeling out of his body. Jeonghan sets his phone aside on the bedside table, lies down on his side, and pulls the blanket up to his nose. Seokmin can see from his eyes that he's smiling.
"Good night, Dokyeom-ah."
Seokmin smiles back.
"Good night, Jeonghan-hyung."