Chapter Text
Stepping out of his office, Mingi bid his farewells to the staff on his way to the elevator. Pressing the button to the basement parking lot he checks the time and sees he has forty minutes until his scheduled meeting with Hongjoong and decides to swing by a coffee shop to pick up some treats for them. He chooses an Americano for Hongjoong and tea for himself as well as some donuts for the other producers.
His phone rings as he pulls away from the shop, caller ID reading 'Love❤' appearing on the dash. A small smile brightens his face and he answers.
"Hey sweetheart. Missing me already?"
"I've been missing you since you I left for the store this morning, jagi. Are you at the club yet?"
While Mingi was CEO at his family's company, a security firm that specializes in their own surveillance systems technology, Seonghwa had his own flower shop/pet store. It was at the older's store that the two had met when Mingi stopped in during a summer vacation buy a pet for his niece, but that's a story for another day.
"I miss you too love. I'm almost there, just blew blocks away. "
"Are you asking him about it today or..?"
Mingi chuckles, "How is it that you're the nervous one here? I'm the one breaching the subject. "
"I know~.. I'm just worried about what he'll say. What if it puts a strain on our friendship with him if he feels awkward about it?"the older whines.
"Babe, we talked about this. If he doesn't want it we'll respect his decision. It's not like we'll be forcing him into anything. Stop worrying so much." Mingi chided lightly, listening to the other huff into the phone.
"Easier said than done." Seonghwa pouted.
Mingi cooed at his lover, earning himself a light cursing for his antics.
"Ara. I'm here now. I'll keep you posted on how things go okay. Go play with Pudding I'm sure he can smell you stressing yourself out."
"He most definitely cannot, you brat. I love you."
"Love you more."
Walking into KQ Club's mixing studio Mingi is greeted by Eden, the owner/lead composer of most of the clubs selections, and Maddox , another DJ and copilot to Hongjoong. Said man is currently curled up on the mid sized black sofa in the room snoring softly and shivering slightly in the air conditioning.
"A true business man. Always here before time." Eden says earning chuckles from the other two. He nods toward the sleeping man. "Had to threaten to dock his pay if he didn't slow down a bit. Left here this morning and was back before lunch. Kid's suicidal, I swear."
"Ah, you didn't have to be so mean though, hyung." Maddox says beside him, though it was clear that he worries for their dongsaeng. Mingi left their treats on a desk away from the computers before taking off his jacket and draping it over Hongjoong's small frame, the clothing almost covering him entirely. He doesn't see the way Maddox swoons at his actions and the stern look Eden levels him with.
"We'll let him sleep, he can rejoin when he's rested properly." Mingi says, taking the empty chair next to Eden.
They spend the next few hours mixing beats and synths, adding the occasional vocal or instrumental pieces, until they were semi-satisfied with what they had. Eden asked (re: nagged) Mingi about doing recordings of his rap verses to perform for live shows, simultaneously trying to convince him to perform said live shows. With a chuckle and a ‘I’ll think about it, hyung’, Mingi got the older to drop the topic. For now atleast. Maddox complained about being hungry making them realize the time and their own hunger, so they ordered BBQ for dinner, Mingi calling Seonghwa to let him know they'd be a while longer than expected and not to wait up.
Hongjoong stirred from his sleep when the smell of food assaulted his senses. With it was another scent that seemed familiar but he couldn't quite tell what. Sitting up and rubbing at his eyes his question is answered when black fabric pools onto his lap, and he notices an extra head bobbing along to where melodies were playing softly through the speakers. The couch squeaks under his movements alerting the three men that he's awake and they turn toward him.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." A familiar and soothing baritone reaches his ears, making his sleep addled brain lock into the sound.
Standing up and shuffling in the general direction of the soundboard with the jacket in hand, he absently notes that all the chairs in the studio are occupied, and even though the smell of food woke him, he was more cold than hungry and still very sleepy. He should know better by now to not pull all-nighters and that he should sleep in an actual bed. But he was nothing if not stubborn. He also shouldn't expect the mere three or fours hours of sleep he just got to compensate for the entire night into day's worth if sleep he lost. So if anyone asks, he will blame his sleep addled brain for plopping himself onto Mingi's lap, snuggling into his broad and unfairly heated chest, jacket draped over his legs and promptly falling back to sleep, his soft snores filling the momentary silence.
"I'm taking pictures of this because he'll deny it to the depths of hell later." Maddox says with a devilish grin, phone already in hand and the shutter sounding softly. Mingi shakes his head, amused at the older's antics and pulls the jacket higher up Hongjoong's waist, securing his arms around him so he doesn't fall.
"Awww, you look so cuuute.. honestly it's beyond me how he thinks you're not whipped for him. Mars too. The two of you look at him like he hung the fucking moon and stars but he's somehow convinced you don't have feelings for him like he does for you.. oop" Maddox snaps his mouth shut when he realizes what he just revealed. Mingi stares at him with a shocked expression, his brain taking a minute to process the implications of Maddox's words.
"That was supposed to be secret, dumbass." Eden grumbles, flicking the pale man on the forehead making him yelp softly.
"Ah.. Mingi-ah, pretend you didn't hear that, yea? Joong will have my head if he knows you found out from me." the older pleaded with his best puppy dog eyes, throwing in a pout for good measure, but Mingi would not be swayed. Not now, when he has found out that the object of his and Seonghwa's interest might be interested as well. And possibly for the long run too.
"Share the photos with me, hyung. I wanna save them too." He says instead, and Maddox knows he's screwed.
"I won't tell him that you let out his secret, though. But I am grateful to you for easing my mind a little. Hwa and I were worried about scaring him away if we approached him like that. We said if he didn't feel the same we'd drop it and respect his choice. Now that I know he might feel the same I'm not letting him go. Neither will Hwa." Mingi stares down at Hongjoong's peaceful face with a gentle smile, once again oblivious to the way Maddox wiggles his eyebrows at Eden with a triumphant smirk and Eden shaking his head, exasperated.
Mingi sends the photos to Seonghwa with the caption 'didn't get to talk to him, have some secrets to tell you tho..' , to which the older replies with heart eyes emojis and an inquisitive face.
They remain at the studio for a few hours more before they decide there's nothing else they can add to the soundtracks and wrap things up. Lightly shaking Hongjoong to wake him up turns into poking and tickling his sides and ears until he almost squirms himself off the younger's lap. He stands up grumbling and rubbing at his eyes.
"What time is it?" He yawns, looking at the couch then back at Mingi and back at the couch. "Didn't I fall asleep on the couch? You brat did you move me?"
"Mingi did no such thing Joongie. You got up a while ago and decided he looked more comfortable than the couch." Maddox said with a smirk.
Desperately fighting the blush that warmed his face and neck Hongjoong grumbles, "I did no such thing. Shut up.. I smell bar-b-que..I'm hungry now."
Before Maddox could rebut, Eden spoke up instead covertly pinching the younger's leg in warning. "We saved a box for you. There's more beef if you don't want chicken."
While they packed up the equipment, Mingi let them know he would be leaving, offering Hongjoong a ride home.
"It's okay. Beom-jun has my car so he'll pick me up on his way back from the dance hall. He should already be on his way."
He doesn't believe the older one bit, shooting Eden a knowing glance on his way out. At the rate the petite man goes, he'll have his keys to the studio confiscated and only allowed in if one of them was with him. Mingi wanted nothing more than to take care of the older, ensuring he eats healthy and gets proper rest, most of all keeping him happy. Hopefully he will get the opportunity to do so to his heart’s content. And he knows Seonghwa feels the same. Now he just needed to share his newly obtained information with his lover.
After ensuring that Hongjoong was secured in his apartment, studio keys swiped off of him for the night 'I cannot trust that you won't sneak back in there within the next couple of hours. Door security knows not to let you in unless I give them the okay. Get some rest kid.'.. Eden looks over at the fair-skinned man watching the streetlights go by from the passenger seat.
"You're lucky he didn't wake up again and hear you spilling his secrets like that."
"Oh. But it's no secret, anything with eyes can see they're in love with him. Joongie was never going to tell them about his feelings, you and I both know how stubborn he is. I just want him to be happy. Mingi-ah and Seonghwa-yah can make him happy, if only he'll let them. Besides, you had ample time to stop me if you really wanted to and you didn't. So hmph." Maddox finishes by sticking his tongue out at the older making him chuckle. Eden reaches for his hand, interlacing their fingers and pressing a kiss to the back of it before resting their joined hands in his lap, the other hand on the steering wheel.
"You're adorable. You know that?" Eden chuckles, making the other blush with with shy smile and a squeeze to his hand.
Hongjoong was not sulking. . sure he’d just had his studio keys taken from him so he couldn’t sneak back in and drown himself in work, and sure he’d been teased to the max by his hyung for using Mingi as his personal heater in the cold studio, with photo evidence so he couldn’t deny it. .
But Hongjoong wasn’t sulking.. no not at all.
He couldn’t deny the fact that he looked so tiny sitting in Mingi’s lap, the two of them looking so perfect together, his heart clenched painfully knowing he could never have that in his life ever. He squashed the hopeful feeling growing in his chest when he saw the way Mingi looked at his sleeping profile in the pictures, with such adoration and love. No matter what though, he knew that the younger only had a soft spot for him, because his heart belonged to another. To Seonghwa, Hongjoong’s best friend and first love. And in the same manner, Seonghwa’s heart belonged to Mingi, a man he was convinced he would hate the first time Seonghwa mentioned his name and the word ‘date’ in the same sentence. But then he’d met him and realized that it was very possible to fall in love with two people. He was absolutely done for, when he found out the the taller shared his love and passion for music, using it as an escape from his usual responsibilities. Added to the fact that Mingi treated his best friend like the royalty he is, and blended into their circle so well getting along with everyone as though they’d known each other for years.
Well except for Yunho, as the two were best friends and basketball teammates in high school before Mingi went off for early military service as part of his training for his family’s company.
Laying on his stomach, freshly showered and feeling cosy in his soft, satiny pyjamas, Hongjoong scrolls through the photos that Maddox shared with him, a soft and sad smile on his lips when he stops on the one with Mingi’s arms secured around his frame pressing a kiss to his head. His own sleeping self completely unaware of the gesture. He chews on his lips in contemplation, swiping and tapping on his phone until the photo is set as the secret background on his messenger app, and the one with Mingi smiling at him becomes his wallpaper. His lock screen remains as an inconspicuous cartoon jolly roger. He sets his phone onto the charging deck on his bedside table and slips under the blankets, his body reminding him that he is still very much exhausted, and falls into dreams of strong, sturdy arms and delicate, nimble fingers holding and caressing his body.
Mingi doesn’t actually get to talk to Seonghwa until almost a week later, having to spend extra hours, and the weekend, at the firm overseeing the training of new recruits.
“You are absolutely sure that’s what he said? It wasn’t a dream or fever induced hallucination?” Seonghwa says seriously, eyes never leaving Mingi’s from where he sat infront of him on the living room floor, shirtless.
“I’m positive, hyung. I suspect he said it deliberately too. Knowing how stubborn Joong-hyung is, he most likely also believed that we’d have never found out any other way.” Mingi replies, sighing heavily. “Now the question is, what’s our next step. The recon phase of Operation Wild Rabbit has been completed, now we need a strategy.. and some bait.”
Seonghwa giggles uncontrollably at the younger’s terminology, the exhausting hours of handling security details and protocols bleeding into his regular speech. He sits up on his knees and gently pushes the other to lie on his back, the soft fabric of the towel they spread earlier tickling his bare skin.
“Okay soldier, let’s unwind you before you confuse me completely with your surveillance jargon. I’m barely prepared to hear it when your dad comes for his semi annual visit in a few days.” he murmurs, leaning down and planting a soft kiss to plush lips. “Now, sandalwood, wild lavender or honeysuckle?”
“Fuck, that’s this week? I swear we had another two weeks before he came by again. Umm, sandalwood.”
“I marked it off on your calendar, jagi. Be sure to buy his favourite soju, else I’m leaving you alone to deal with his complaints and going shopping with Woo.” Seonghwa teases, cooing at the younger’s protesting whine. He picks up the requested oil from their collection in the center table’s drawer. “Now roll over, I’ll start with your back.”
There’s a playful bark, followed by a sharp smack and a soft yelp.
“I swear there’s a permanent print of your hand on my ass and thighs at this point. Those hands look gentle, but damn.” the taller grumbles, feeling the older’s weight settle on the backs of his thighs once he’s comfortable.
“Maybe if you weren’t such a cheeky brat. Then again, I’d probably smack your ass anyway just to watch it jiggle a bit.” to prove his point, Seonghwa smacks his hands onto both ass cheeks below him, giggling with childish delight at the way the mounds jiggled in the younger’s basketball shorts. The younger man just grumbles at his lover’s antics, sighing contentedly when warm, oil slick hands make contact with his lower back, moving toward his shoulders and sides to spread the oil. The next few moments are spent in comfortable silence, interrupted by the soft grunts and moans coming from Mingi whenever Seonghwa finds a particularly stiff knot of muscle and works it out. He’d learned massage techniques from Jongho, who’s a certified masseuse and physical therapist, when Mingi had complained in the past of frequent muscle pains and spasms after long days of training new recruits, and pain medication-OTC or prescription- failed to provide relief. Once all the knots are worked out, Seonghwa instructs the younger to lay on his back again so he can properly work on his arms and chest.
The older’s touches, though gentle and meticulous, were not sexual in nature as he truly wanted to help his lover unwind. The training of the new recruits had left Mingi tightly strung and stressed out, even if he would never say so directly. So by the time he has completed the massage, the taller is fading in and out of sleep having been successfully unwound and relaxed. Wiping the excess oil off of his hands and Mingi’s skin with another towel, he leans down and presses gentle kisses to the other’s brow.
“Think you can make it to the bed? Or should I convert the sofa?” he murmurs softly, feeling large, warm hands caress his hips
“Mhh… bed. Don’t want all your hard work to go in vain.” is the younger’s sleepy response.
“Off you go then. I’ll get dinner started.”
With Mingi sleeping soundly he had the house practically to himself, so he tidied up the towels and massage oils and went on to prep the vegetables he need to make dinner whilst watching reruns of Criminal Minds on his phone, but that quickly changed when the doorbell rang and he glanced at the small monitor above the fridge seeing Hongjoong’s small stature in the door cam. That was strange, considering the hour, usually he would be in the club or the studio at this hour. Seonghwa hoped nothing was amiss. Drying his hands he rushed to the door.
“Joong-ah! Is everything okay? Come in.” he invited the shorter in.
“Everything’s fine, Seonghwa-ya. Eden-hyung gave me the night off, and I couldn’t think of anything to do.” Hongjoong replied, taking off his shoes, and Seonghwa knew immediately that he was lying. Leading him into the house and onto the couch he speaks sternly. “Joongie, look at me. Tell me what happened.”
Hongjoong glanced up at him, averting his eyes just as quickly. His next words, Seonghwa knew, were more lies, “Nothing happened, Hwa, really. Is Mings home?”
Not having it with his best friend blatantly lying to him when he could clearly see that something was wrong, Seonghwa grabs his face with both hands and forces him to look in his direction. “Minnie’s home. He’s exhausted and asleep. Yes I opened the shop today but I closed early so I could give Min his therapeutic massages. Pudding is fine, he’s growing perfectly and yes the pink baby rose patch is blooming and looking gorgeous. Now tell me what’s wrong before I call Eden-hyung myself and ask him. Or worse, Beom-jun-hyung.”
Seonghwa answers every possible question the other may ask to avoid the matter at hand. Hongjoong’s eyes widen at the other’s threat, knowing well enough that it wasn’t an empty one as Seonghwa has indeed called his older brother in the past whenever he got caught lying. “Okay, okay, I’ll tell you. No need to call hyung.”
Not letting go of Hongjoong’s face, Seonghwa raises his eyebrows expectantly, and the other sighs heavily. “Eden-hyung did give me time off. Just not tonight only. He gave me the entire week. Said he’ll return my keys to the studio when I come back rested and fully functioning.”
Nodding slowly, Seonghwa urges him to continue. “Okayy.. and that has you distressed because..?”
“It’s not the fact that he gave me time off, it’s why he did it.” closing his eyes and sighing deeply he continues, “I raised my voice at Doxie-hyung this morning. It was uncalled for because he was just being playful and teasing like he usually does, but I ,…”
Tears of frustration welled up and flowed from Hongjoong’s eyes, Seonghwa making a panicked sound when he feels the warm liquid slide over his thumbs and immediately draws the other in for a hug. With his face pressed into his best friend’s neck, Hongjoong whimpers softly as more tears flow. He continues explaining as best as he can.
“I-i’ve been practically living in the s-studio lately, so I haven’t been sleeping p-properly, I was even r-rude to J-jun-hyung a few days ago. I’m s-so exhausted, bu-ut I don’t know w-when to stop. E-even when I-I know there’s nothing e-else that can be d-done I still fe-el like it-t could b-be better. T-that I could d-do better. I’m j-just so fucking f-frustrated with m-myself.” he finishes, sobbing into Seonghwa’s skin, small hands clutching tightly at the loose sweater the man wore. Feeling his heart break for his best friend Seonghwa hugs him tighter, pulling him practically in his lap and rocking him gently like he would a small child and whispering to him.
“It’s okay, you didn’t mean to. I’m sure Denie-hyung understands that, Moonie-hyung too. They adore you, you know that. It’s okay, let it out I’ve got you.” he doesn’t know how long they stayed like that until Hongjoong’s sobs quieted down and he was sure the smaller had fallen asleep. He hears footsteps shuffling into the living room and glances up to see Mingi, rubbing at his eyes. “Sorry, jagi, did we wake you?”
Mingi waves a hand dismissively, “No no, you didn’t. I was awake after about two hours, just lightly dozing. I heard when you greeted him, but it sounded serious so I didn’t want to intrude. I hate seeing him like this, though.”
He finished with a sigh, gesturing at the smaller man sleeping soundly sleeping in his lover’s arms. Like this they could see the dark circles under his eyes and the way his naturally fair skin seemed much too pale to be healthy, the way his ears and cheeks were flushed pink from him crying. With his now blonde hair falling over his forehead, he was nothing short of beautiful to them, and it pained them that they weren’t allowed to do more for him, not yet at least.
“You and me both, Mi-Mi. Joong has always been stubborn, headstrong. I wish he’d slow down a little though. It was fine, when we were younger, because I could just get Jun-hyung on his case when he refused to listen to me and he’d hold up a little. We’re adults now, even if I call his brother now, there won’t be much he can do or say.” the eldest says, tracing his fingers over the sleeping man’s cheeks and brows.
Mingi glances at the kitchen behind him seeing Seonghwa’s food prep still laying on the counter, interrupted by their unexpected guest. He turns back when the older speaks. “Looks like we’ll be ordering takeout tonight. How’s Chinese sound?”
“That’s perfect. Take him to bed, I’ll place the order and put these away.” then he paused, “Can you manage taking him upstairs?”
Seonghwa nods, standing with the shortest in his arms seemingly effortlessly. His lover was strong, Mingi knew, but he wasn’t that strong. “He’s lost some weight too, it seems. He’s lighter than I remember him being?”
Bringing Hongjoong to their room and changing him into more comfortable clothes so he can sleep better, he tucks him into bed leaving with a kiss to his forehead. He returns to the kitchen just as Mingi is storing away the last of the prepped vegetables.
“I ordered enough for Joong-hyung also. In case he wakes up.”
Seonghwa nods, stopping next to Mingi who immediately wraps his strong arms around him. He rests his forehead against his shoulder, breathing in the faint smell of sandalwood and his favourite smell of Mingi, feeling his own emotions finally catch up to him as silent tears fall from his eyes.
“We’ll figure this out, hyung. One way or another, he’ll be ours. Then we could take care of him properly, the way he deserves. Yeah?” feeling the other nod into his shoulder he wipes away his own tears.