Work Text:
November is typically a cold month, but at that time, it didn’t feel as cold. Maybe it was because T1 had just won Worlds 2024 earlier that month, which lifted a lot of people’s spirits. The ZOFGK roster, without any roster changes heading into the year 2024, had become the first team to win back-to-back Worlds. Everyone had been congratulating Sanghyeok and his teammates left and right.
Things were hectic, and schedules were packed as usual right after their win. Everyone wanted to see the beloved roster and congratulate them in person. Fans lined up and cheered. Their victory had really warmed a lot of people’s hearts.
The offseason came and went like normal, but things were different for a while because of major roster changes that happened during the stove league.
T1 was already back in South Korea, and everyone was busy with their own stuff. Sanghyeok, as usual, had a very busy schedule. But this time, he was even busier because he had been awarded Worlds Finals MVP, and everyone wanted a piece of him. He had a ton of commitments lined up – from brand deals to fan meets to interviews, even an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to give the keynote speech for the opening ceremony of the 2024 Future Dialogue for Global Innovation. His schedule was just jam-packed.
The night before he was set to give his keynote speech, Wangho called him. This wasn’t new, as they called each other from time to time.
Sanghyeok had always been close to Wangho. They were teammates for only a brief time in their lives as professional players, but the SKT 2017 roster had become particularly close. They continued to stay in touch, hanging out with each other, especially during the offseason, even though years had passed. Their bond was just special like that.
Sanghyeok, who was busy reading a book, picked up the call on the second ring.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hyung, how are you?” Wangho cheerfully asked. It was obvious from the background noise that he was out.
“I’m good,” he said.
“That’s good to know!”
“Are you out? It sounds noisy there.”
“Hyung? What did you say?”
“Hello?”
“Hyung, I can’t hear you!” Wangho said, practically screaming this time. “I’ll call you again later!”
Well, that was definitely a phone call. They would usually exchange proper “how are you’s,” but this time they couldn’t even hear each other properly. Looking at his phone’s clock, Sanghyeok saw that it was around 11:30 pm already. It made sense that Wangho was out. He had previously mentioned to Sanghyeok that he would be going out, probably with Kyungho or Jongin, him just reminding Wangho to take care and have fun. Sanghyeok stretched his legs before getting into a comfortable position to go back to reading, but he felt distracted.
Sanghyeok couldn’t shake the feeling that he got that something was off from Wangho’s phone call. He knew Wangho didn't just contact him randomly this time – his intuition tells him otherwise.
He decided to text him. He didn't expect an answer from him right away, but Wangho responded almost immediately.
hideonbroccoli:
Do you want to meet up in our usual coffee spot?
Wanghoyayaya:
hi hyung.
when?
hideonbroccoli:
Later?
Oh wait, I can’t later. I still have the keynote speech thing.
Wanghoyayaya:
why aren’t you sleeping yet if you have that keynote speech?
hideonbroccoli:
Day after tomorrow?
I’ll sleep in a while
Wanghoyayaya:
okay.
did you prepare for your speech already?
hideonbroccoli:
Yeah. Don’t worry about it
Wanghoyayaya:
i’ll watch your speech later :p
hideonbroccoli:
You just want to see me in a suit
Wanghoyayaya:
that’s already a given :p
btw, just us?
or have you texted the others already?
hideonbroccoli:
Just us. We can meetup with them for dinner if you want
Wanghoyayaya:
ah, hyung wants to have alone time with me
(blushing panda sticker)
hideonbroccoli:
I just want to check up on you
Wanghoyayaya:
i wasn’t aware you’re already my doctor. why is my doctor making appointments to see me?
hideonbroccoli:
I’m your doctor. Your heart specialist
Wanghoyayaya:
wow, you’re so cringe, hyung
(crying panda sticker)
you can simply say you miss me, yanno
do it. say it
hideonbroccoli:
We just saw each other the other night
Wanghoyayaya:
oh, you really aren’t gonna say it
:)
hideonbroccoli:
I’ll pick you up at 4pm
I’m just messing with you
I miss you too :*
(cat hugging another cat sticker)
Wanghoyayaya:
see you, hyung :*
(cat kissing and hugging another cat sticker)
On the day of their meetup, Sanghyeok decides to wear a simple white long-sleeved shirt, along with a light blue cardigan, dark blue pants, and sneakers. He texted Wangho that he was on the way before driving over to Wangho's house.
As he neared, he saw Wangho walking down the stairs. Wangho opened the gate and quickly boarded Sanghyeok’s car.
“Wow, I thought you’d make me wait,” Sanghyeok said, glancing at Wangho, who was busy putting on his seatbelt.
“I wouldn’t make you wait, hyung,” Wangho replied, gently touching Sanghyeok’s hand on the gear shift.
Sanghyeok nodded, smiling happily. The ride was light and normal, as usual. It’s as if even after all these years, nothing had changed between them. He took a longer route to the coffee shop, which Wangho immediately noticed but decided not to say anything about – he enjoyed their alone time together.
“Do you know what kind of noise a witch’s vehicle makes?” Sanghyeok suddenly asked, changing the subject randomly. They were in the middle of talking about the new flowers in Wangho’s garden.
“Huh?” Wangho replied, his expression confused. He tilted his head to look at Sanghyeok, who was busy driving and staring at the road ahead.
“Brrrooom, brrrooom,” Sanghyeok said with a deadpan face. His lips slightly twitch up, the expression he makes when he’s trying not to laugh.
Wangho couldn’t help but laugh. He almost playfully hit Sanghyeok’s arm, but stopped himself since he was driving. They both laughed at the silliness of the situation.
“You’re so annoying,” Wangho said, smiling but rolling his eyes.
They had both agreed to act professionally towards each other during the regular season, especially since they were on different teams. Being close to Sanghyeok garnered attention – both positive and negative. But the offseason was different. It allowed them to be freer, more relaxed, and open. No filter, no professional facade – just them.
Their random silliness while being together was something they both missed, even though neither of them said anything about it aloud. It was something unspoken between the two of them, but they both knew and understood.
Upon arriving, the shop owner immediately recognized them. The cafe was a spot where SKT 17 used to hang out all the time, especially when they were a team. The pair would be meeting up with the others tomorrow for dinner at a different place. This private time was just for them.
The owner quietly greeted them and instantly led them into one of the private rooms, knowing how Sanghyeok would be swarmed by his admirers. After all, he was DaeSanghyeok. Wangho had people asking him for photos, sometimes even videos, but it was undeniable that Sanghyeok’s fame and recognition was on another level at this point. Sanghyeok always tried his best to accommodate fans, letting them take photos or politely answering their questions when they asked.
The two sat across from each other. The owner took their orders, and after he left, they continued talking – as if they don’t spend most of their days texting and calling each other during the regular season.
For a while, they sat in comfortable silence.
“So, why’d you call me last night?” Sanghyeok asked, breaking the silence.
Wangho remained still, unsure of how to say what he wanted to. He knew Sanghyeok would understand, but still the words wouldn’t escape from his mouth.
Sanghyeok patiently and quietly observed him, wondering if it was something serious. He was slightly worried it might, or worse, like the time they had their third major fight. He didn’t want to overthink the past. They patched things up, and every relationship really had its ups and downs. They were no different from any other couple.
“You good?” he asked, reaching out to gently squeeze Wangho’s hand on the table. Their hands stayed like that for a while. Wangho didn’t pull his hand away; instead, he squeezed his hyung’s hand back and looked out the window.
They sat there quietly, holding hands and feeling the warmth between them. The shop owner arrived with their order, they thanked him quickly, and the owner hurriedly left. He was one of the few people they trusted about their secret, so they kept going back to this cafe.
It was basically an open secret to everyone in the pro scene that they were together, and for years now, too. Everyone respected their wishes and kept it hushed. Sanghyeok hadn’t agreed to it a secret at first, but Wangho explained that this is what he wanted, so Sanghyeok reluctantly agreed.
“If you ever change your mind about it, just tell me,” Sanghyeok told him years ago , when they officially became a couple. Wangho just gave him a gentle smile, before touching his cheek.
Sanghyeok eventually realized what Wangho meant when he heard rumors that he was dating a T1 staff member, who was speculated by foreign fans to be dating him, all because she was blurred out in some T1 videos. Fans also found her account online. The female staff received a lot of hate and mean comments on the internet, telling her how she wasn’t worthy of being with DaeSanghyeok.
He felt sorry for her that he personally reached out to her to apologize. The female staff was thankful for the apology she got, but she told them that she understood how some fans could be.
After that, he didn’t try to persuade or convince Wangho to change his mind about them secretly dating. He worried for his safety, and he didn’t want Wangho to get hated just because he was with him. That’s why they decided to act professionally whenever it was the regular season.
“Eat up,” Sanghyeok said, motioning for Wangho to take a bite. “It will make you feel better.”
Wangho quietly started eating, their free hands still interlaced with one another. They ordered two plates of pasta and two hot chocolate drinks.
“Hyung,” Wangho said after taking a third bite. He looked at Sanghyeok, who was looking right back at him.
“Hmm?” Sanghyeok mumbled, looking at him curiously.
“I’m worried.”
“I could tell. I’m not sure what about though?”
Wangho let out a big sigh, before taking a sip of his drink. He held his drink with two hands, making the connection of their hands break. After drinking, he puts his hand on top of Sanghyeok’s.
“You might think I’m being silly,” Wangho began.
“Wow, you’re judging me already,” Sanghyeok joked, trying to make light of the heavy atmosphere.
“No, hyung, I’m serious.”
Sanghyeok just quietly nodded, urging Wangho to go on.
“I know you aren’t the type to be easily attached to people, even if you’ve been teammates with them for years.”
“Ouch, I’m hurt,” Sanghyeok joked, tugging his chest as if he was hurt.
Wangho laughed at his hyung’s silliness. “Well, maybe except for a few people. Anyway, I’m worried about Hyeonjoon.”
“Moon Hyeonjun?”
“Choi Hyeonjoon.”
“Ah, Dojun. Did something happen?”
“He recently signed with T1, right?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m worried about the possible hate he could get. I hope he doesn’t have a hard time adjusting in T1.”
Sanghyeok quietly listened as Wangho talked about being Hyeonjoon’s teammate for years.
“He’s like a younger brother to me,” Wangho ended. “We’ve been teammates for years–from Gen. G to HLE.”
Someone who has been Wangho’s teammate for years – that was something the DaeSanghyeok, League’s greatest of all time player, was secretly envious of. Envious, not jealous. Even though Wangho had a low-key idea about it, he didn’t press him about it, believing that if the time came, Sanghyeok would be the one to open up about it. He respected his boundaries and he didn’t want to pry about something he might not be ready to share with him.
Hyeonjoon was one of the lucky pro players who got to be teammates with Wangho for a long time, because they weren’t able to be together as teammates for that long. They were a Mid-Jug duo, but only for a brief time. Like intersecting lines that met only once as teammates – well, professionally.
Sure, they were still friends outside of their lives as professional players – heck, they were even secretly dating now – but being teammates with someone for a long time was also something else entirely.
He could wallow in sadness about that but he was thankful that they met, because some people aren’t as lucky as them. Some don’t even get to be teammates even for just a short period of time.
Sanghyeok gently squeezed Wangho’s hand. “Underneath all that sassiness, you’re really caring, you know?”
Wangho squeezed his hyung’s hand in return and then shrugged. “What can I say? We’re similar in that part.”
“What do you mean?”
“We act nonchalantly towards some people in our lives, but we deeply care about them.”
Sanghyeok just smiled. It was true. For him, caring for someone didn’t have to be loud or all over the top; it had to be genuine and true.
“Don’t worry about him,” Sanghyeok reassured him, breaking the silence. “I’m sure he’ll quickly adjust in T1.”
“Be nice to him!” Wangho reminded him.
“I’m always nice,” Sanghyeok protested, pouting and acting like a kid.
Wangho found his hyung’s expression cute, so he pinched his cheeks. They both laugh at their silliness.
After they ate their light meal, they immediately drove to the restaurant where they would be meeting SKT 17. The restaurant was an hour and a half away from the cafe, and they didn’t want to be caught up in traffic. Sanghyeok, as late as he is, is surprisingly – or, to no one’s surprise, not late whenever he is with Wangho. Their friends wonder what kind of powers Wangho has over him, or maybe Sanghyeok is just that smitten with Wangho.
The drive was smooth except for a small part where they had to take a detour because of a road being repaired, but overall, the ride to the venue went smoothly.
“Thanks for listening to me earlier, hyung,” Wangho said quietly. They had just gotten out of the car. “It really meant a lot to me.”
“I’m a good listener, what can I say?” Sanghyeok responded, smiling. “I’m just glad you let it all out.”
Wangho gently interlaced their arms together, snuggling his partner. Sanghyeok leaned over gently towards Wangho, his cheek touching his hair softly. They then quietly walked together.
The couple was met with a lot of congratulations for Sanghyeok from everyone when they entered the private room that Jeesun had booked for them in the restaurant. Junsik, Jaewan, and Seongu, who were their other SKT 17 teammates, were present at the dinner. Jeesun, Junsik's wife who works for the LCK as a translator, was also there. Aera, Jaewan’s girlfriend, was also there, as she was the one who helped decorate the place. The decorations were simple but elegant, which was very fitting for Sanghyeok. Wangho was very happy with it because she perfectly nailed what he requested.
Unfortunately, their other SKT 17 teammates were not able to go: Seunghoon and Haneul, who were both in the military doing their mandatory service; Uijin, because he was in Jeju visiting his fiancé's family; and Junhyung, who was overseas for a work trip.
“Congrats, Sanghyeok-a!” Jeesun cheered.
“‘Grats, I can’t believe you still got it,” Junsik said.
“You're old, but man, you still got it,” Jaewan added.
Aera playfully smacked Jaewan’s arm. “Babe!” Jaewan just laughed. She then turned to Sanghyeok. “Congratulations, Sanghyeok!”
“Congrats, hyung,” Seongu said.
“Thanks for preparing everything,” Wangho said, talking to Jeesun and Aera.
“No worries,” Aera said, smiling as she sat down next to Jaewan.
Jeesun just smiled and gave Wangho’s arm a gentle squeeze before sitting next to her husband.
“Come, let’s eat,” Junsik said, motioning for the others to join them as Seongu and Sanghyeok were still discussing something. The two then went to their seats.
Jaewan was at the other end of the table, sitting right next to his girlfriend, Aera. Next to her was Jeesun, and then Junsik. Wangho sat across from Jaewan, with Sanghyeok right next to him. Seongu sat next to Sanghyeok. It was just the seven of them, but the room felt full.
The orders came just on time and were served. Everyone started eating while conversing happily. They caught up with each other’s lives as if they had just seen each other last week. They reminisced about the past, joked, bantered, and talked about their future.
“You must be proud,” Jaewan told Wangho. They were now having desserts.
“I saw your Instagram story when he was awarded Worlds FMVP,” Aera added.
Sanghyeok just smiled and continued eating. Wangho’s cheeks blushed a little bit at their friends’ comments. “I really am,” he added, nodding and smiling.
“It’s a bit sad we aren’t complete,” Seongu remarked before grabbing another piece of chocolate macaron.
“Yeah, Uijin would have loved the chicken legs,” Sanghyeok said.
“When are they coming back from Jeju?” Jeesun asked.
“I think during the middle of December?” Jaewan answered, shrugging. Everyone just continued eating and chatting.
“To DaeSanghyeok!” Jaewan cheered, holding up his glass of red wine. “FMVP even at his old age!” Everyone raised their glasses and laughed at his silly joke.
“Thanks again, guys,” Sanghyeok said. All of them took a sip. “The year has been tough, but I wouldn’t be able to make it without you all. Especially Wangho,” he added, glancing over at Wangho, whose smile grew and cheeks blushed.
Wangho and Sanghyeok were quiet on the drive to Sanghyeok’s home. Wangho was going to be sleeping over there for two days.
“Thank you for assuring me earlier,” Wangho said in a quiet voice. Sanghyeok glanced at him and then looked back at the road. “You know about Hyeonjoon.”
They were still 10 minutes away from Sanghyeok’s house.
“Well, I can’t wait to meet him,” Sanghyeok said. “I also can’t wait to ask him about what it’s like to be teammates with you all these years.”
Wangho just laughed. It was true that Sanghyeok hadn’t met Hyeonjoon yet.
“I imagine that he will be very formal with you,” Wangho commented. “You know he idolizes you, right?”
“Well, now I know,” Sanghyeok said, smiling.
Fast forward to January 2025. It was three days before the LCK season opening event, which was on January 10th. Wangho now felt much more relaxed after seeing T1’s streams last month. They did a lot during those times: from where Hyeonjoon was first introduced, to when Hyeonjun and Sanghyeok played TFT with Hyeonjoon, and to when Wangho played TFT with the T1 players – a lot had happened to them during that period of the offseason.
Wangho sent a random text to Sanghyeok with a stolen photo of Wooje, Sanghyeok's former teammate, who is now teammates with Wangho. Their teams basically had an exchange of top laners, and both of them were doing their best to make things comfortable for them – adjusting to a new team isn’t that easy, after all.
Wanghoyayaya:
hyung :3 (waving cat emoticon)
look at this egg in the office
(insert photo of Wooje from behind)
hideonbroccoli:
I also have an egg here at work (insert photo of Minseok with a cap)
Are you busy?
Wanghoyayaya:
no, not really, why?
(curious broccoli sticker)
hideonbroccoli:
May I call you?
Wanghoyayaya:
okies~ (smiling cat emoji)
Sanghyeok calls Wangho, who answers his call immediately.
“Wow, aren’t you a bit too excited for my call?” Sanghyeok teased.
“Ahhh~ Hyunggg~!” Wangho whined cutely.
Sanghyeok giggles at Wangho’s cuteness. “How are you and Wooje?”
“I think he’s adjusting pretty well. All five of us players had dinner last night.”
“Oh, Haidilao?”
“Yep. How’s Hyeonjoon?”
“Uijin and I took him for waffles last night. He and Hyeonjun are getting along well. Minseok and Minhyung are talking to him a lot too.”
“Yeah, he texted me about the waffles, asking if you were always like that.”
“Like what?”
“If you always bought people waffles.”
Sanghyeok chuckled. “Are you more relaxed now? It seems that the kids are adjusting pretty well.”
“Yeah, thank you, hyung. As always, you’re the best,” Wangho said.
“See, I told you they’d be fine.”