Work Text:
I.
How Hongjoong ended up in District 9 most (alleged) dangerous school?
Bad, rotten luck.
At least, he was not the only one.
“ Binnie told me he will be here any minute now.” Wooyoung assured him, bouncing on the ball of his feet. “Chan hyung may come too.”
Hongjoong wanted to roll his eyes but he didn’t, crossing his arms over his chest because the sole mention of Christopher made his skin crawl in an unpleasant way; they had met within the distrital clashes and the other had come as arrogant and it tickled Hongjoong in all the wrong ways.
Was he a good fighter? Yes.
Was he better than Hongjoong? Questionable.
Did he need to walk around like he owned the fucking place and everyone on it? Fuck No.
Then he had to go by his Australian name, which was ridiculous because who the fuck did that when he had a perfect, easy Korean name? Asshole. He probably did it because he knew he sounded hot speaking english and Hongjoong won’t go there, nope.
Fuck, he was pissed already.
“Can we just go inside?” He protested and he was about to just enter the damned school when a hand on his shoulder stopped him and he frowned at Seonghwa. “Hwa, please.”
Seonghwa came from a private school; his father had put him on Hongjoong’s ex school as a punishment for not going with his wishes of him going abroad next year to study business in America. Instead Seonghwa decided to apply to a music school and that got his prim ass landed on the worst school their district could offer but what no one knew was that what Seonghwa had on beauty he had it on packing a punch.
Let said, he made himself known pretty quickly and Hongjoong took a liking to him too, not to mention it was hard to say no to that face which took them to the situation at hand, forcefully transferred to another district’ school because they sort of blew up the old one.
It was a long story.
“It’s not that bad.” San chirped, bless his heart. “At least Stray Kids are here too.”
Hongjoong sighed frustrated, why did they all end up here, in SKZ territory? Because the board of schools were stupid and that cunning little shit of Kim Seungmin somehow had managed to cover up all the bad shit Chan did and made their school look pretty quiet despite being a dangerous place so all the ‘school vandals’ were sent here to be ‘reformed’.
Reformed his ass.
Granted, he may be the only one who didn’t like Chan and his band of brats but entering the rankings here will be a pain, even if he was looking forward to wipe the floor with the so called number one fighter Levanter high had to offer.
“BIN!”
Wooyoung yelled, waving his hands toward the short, bulky male with the undercut who turned around and waved back; Changbin was Chan’ second in command, but the great difference was Hongjoong didn’t hate his guts, on the contrary, Changbin was a pretty chill dude and he often hung around with Wooyoung and San.
“Hell, no.” Hongjoong muttered darkly, rolling his eyes and looking away. “He came, great.”
Chan was short too, but what he didn’t have in height he had it in width and of course he felt the need to show off his - and it was physical painful for Hongjoong to admit- well build everything wearing a sleeveless shirt that was a tad too short and a tad too tight when it was freezing outside.
“Guys!” Chan greeted brightly, and Hongjoong’s hair stood to an end, fake bastard. “Welcome! Let’s get inside.”
What pissed Hongjoong the most, it was Chan and his goodie-two-shoes, good guy act; it was impossible for someone to be like this and then beat people up for shits and giggles, he must have had some screw loose, it crept him out. It was that or he was the most fakeass guy he had met in his life and that it was what Hongjoong was choosing to believe right now.
“-joong.”
Chan was looking at him with a raised eyebrow and Hongjoong narrowed his eyes, defensive.
“I was telling you if you want to go to eat something with me.” His ears turned red. “A- as a w-welcome.”
Hongjoong bared his teeth.
“No thank you.”
He walked past him, missing the disappointed look in Chan’s face, he turned around then, temper suddenly flaring; since the other insisted on trying to manipulate him into thinking they actually were happy they were here he would make things clear then.
“Listen up, Christopher.” He snarled. “I don’t like you and I’m sure as hell you don’t like me either so drop the fake ass act, okay?” He poked Chan’s chest, kinda sturdy but also soft, huggable. Hongjoong needed to focus, damn it. “We are not friends, we are at best, rivals…”
He looked Chan in the eye, at least they were the same height even if the other’s build was dwarfing him and Hongjoong made a mental note to never get close enough to Chan for him to be able to grapple with him, it was a huge disadvantage. No, he will devise a tactic to kick his ass fair and square.
“And at worst we are enemies, so cut the bullshit.”
Hongjoong glared at Chan, then stuck his nose up in the air and shouldered him on his way in; he didn’t acknowledge calling after him and he didn’t turn to look at him, he deserved to be ignored, the cocky, attention seeking bitch.
II.
Since that point, things went more or less downhill for Hongjoong.
“Stay still, Hyung.”
Yeosang avoided his elbow and put some disinfectant on his cheek, where Chan had clocked it pretty badly after Hongjoong had called him names and provoked him during lunch time; it was so easy tho, Chan’s eyes would lit up and he would scrunch that abnormally big nose of his and bared his teeth at him like some rabid animal.
It was pre-ranking season and getting into each other cases was free game until the school started the official matches; granted, most of his kids were getting along just fine and some of them were doing friendly sparring but not Hongjoong and Chan, he was making sure to piss Chan off as much as he could.
“You know, it’s easier to just tell him.” Seonghwa mused. “Instead of going around pulling his pigtails or something.”
Hongjoong tilted his head to the side, confused.
“I told him.” He waved his hand dismissively. “How much I hate his guts.”
Seonghwa rolled his eyes, muttering something darkly and sat on the table, rolling his head side to side, cracking his knuckles and looking way too elegant doing it. There was a collective sigh around him and Hongjoong felt slightly jealous at how the other was going neck to neck with Hyunjin for the ‘most beautiful creature’ spot in the school.
“Heads up.” Mingi mumbled. “Bomoon assholes at three o’clock.”
Hongjoong’ scowl deepen, what the fuck District 5 scummy bastards where doing in his turf? Well, their turf Because now their old school was gone, District 9 and 8 conjoined and he got to share with fucking Bang Chan and fucking Stray Kids which still, didn’t explain what the fuck Bomoon high was doing dirting his goddanmed school grounds.
“Isn’t Kim fucking Hongjoong.” Bomoon leader -Lee- sneered. “Are you Bang’s little bitch now?”
Oh Fuck No.
By the time someone alerted Chan and the rest of what was going on, Hongjoong had a busted lip and was standing with some difficulty but Lee and the rest of his assholes were far worse; he felt someone shouldering his arm and a hand wrapped around his waist squeezing it.
“Jesus Christ, Hongjoong.” Chan muttered but his eyes were lit up, pleased. “You’re bad.”
Okay, Hongjoong must have gotten hit pretty hard because his guts were twisting and turning and it wasn’t an unpleasant feeling at all; he shoved Chan who let him go gently over a bench and hissed at him, like an angry cat.
“What the fuck.” He growled. “Was that?”
Chan rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest, Hongjoong’s eyes drifted toward all that bulging muscles, yep definitely having a concussion here.
“They had been lurking around here since before you guys arrived.” Chan frowned. “Not sure what they are doing wi-”
Hongjoong made an impatient noise, and Chan glared at him, eyes narrowed and intense; he definitely didn’t shiver from that.
“I don’t care.” He protested loudly. “Not my problem too. Just fix whatever the fuck you need to fix Christopher, if you are too weak to handle a couple of assholes I won’t be drag-”
Chan’s fisted his shirt with so much force than Hongjoong was lifted from his seat, he tilted his head, eyes throwing daggers and shit eating grin firmly in place.
“I’m going to beat that expression out of you, you prickly little asshole.”
Hongjoong raised his fists.
“You can try.”
They glared at each other, tension spiking up; Hongjoong was clearly injured but he still could give Chan one hell of a fight.
“BREAK IT OFF YOU TWO, FIGHTING IS NOT ALLOWED.”
Hongjoong could see how much Chan was fuming as he roughly let him go, he wincing when his lower back hit the wood bench a tad too roughly, ratting his already forming bruises; he clicked his tongue, fixing his clothes as the professor eyed them with a wary expression.
“Mr. Kim.” The professor squinted his eyes at him. “Is this Mr. Bang doing?”
Hongjoong could be a rat, could accuse Chan of messing his lips and putting a shiner on his left eye and then Chan would spend the next week in detention, he side glanced him, goosebumps breaking into his skin because he was looking at him and that was right, he only needed to focus on him.
Wait what?
“No, he didn’t.” Hongjoong looked at the professor with an angelic smile. “I fell.”
The professor didn’t look convinced at all but he just sighed heavily and walked away, Hongjoong rolled his head to the side, expecting Chan to be there glaring at him but he was nowhere to be seen, he absolutely didn’t pout.
“Chan-hyung went to talk with Seungminie.” San offered helpfully. “About Bomoon being here.”
Hongjoong huffed, sticking his nose in the air.
“I don’t care.”
San eyeballed him, giving him a hand to help him up, Hongjoong winced, shit, Chan dropping his ass on the bench did a number on him, he will have to limp his way to his dorm, wonderful.
“Take me to the student council room, if Christopher is going to do something, he will include us.”
San gave him a foxy smile, all dimples and crescent moon eyes; he sort of reminded him of someone and he really, really hated his brain right now.
“Hyung, Didn’t you just tell him to just shove it up his ass if he wanted help?” He asked, laughing. “You really need to stop with the mixed signals.”
Hongjoong made a zipping gesture, cheeks coloring; he knew he maybe, perhaps wasn’t making much sense but the thing was this school was his turf now and no one messed with it; if Bomoon kept showing here he needed to assert dominance, simple as that. It had nothing to do with the beef between Chan and himself.
The walk toward Student Council room was slow and painful and by the time they reached the place Hongjoong’s mood could sour fresh milk; he was mumbling curses to himself when the door opened and Kim Seungmin, Levanter High student president appeared with a bright smile that became a sharp smirk the moment he landed eyes on him.
“Thank you, San.” Seungmin' sweet, melodious voice echoed in the empty hall. “Chan-Hyung! A package for you!”
Before Hongjoong could protest, Chan’s confused face popped on the doorway, he watched how the other struggled with something, clearly displeased but then sighed tiredly and grabbed Hongjoong like it was a doll, practically carrying him inside. Chan was pissed off at him, he could tell, almost hurt, in the way his pretty, full lips kept turning down into a pout and he almost felt bad for being such a little shit.
Almost.
“Hongjoong-hyung.” Seungmin addressed him before he could start annoying Chan. “Bomoon high along with Sulgeon and Mansik high are planning a taking over our Districts.” He stood behind his desk. “We won’t stand a chance, if we don’t join forces.”
‘If you don’t stop antagonizing my Hyung.’
Hongjoong read between lines.
“Today was only a little touch-and-go.” He continued. “We predict a full scale attack in about a month.”
Seungmin’s eyes drifted toward Chan who had been unusually quiet to this point; Hongjoong knew the brains here was the junior but not because Chan was dumb, as much as he liked to picked at the other’s intellect, Chan was very smart and did well in school, same as him but in their world, school presidents were the visible face while the leader of the fighter ring was in the shadows.
“It would be good to have Yeosang to start strategizing.'' Chan spoke quietly. “He was your Pres back in your school, right?”
Hongjoong’s eyes flashed.
“So now you need my people, huh?” He drawled, inspecting his nails. “Now you are taking us into consideration, when you are too scared to get your ass handed by a couple of shitheads.”
Chan licked his lips and Hongjoong’s attention drifted toward them and then back into Chan’s gaze, challenging him.
“Interesting.”
He blinked, looking at Seungmin with a tilted head.
“When you are done flirting with Chan-Hyung we can, you know, work on some countermeasures?”
Hongjoong gasped, affronted while Chan gawked at Seungmin who just rolled his eyes.
“They are always like this?” He asked and Hongjoong noticed Yeosang and Seonghwa standing there. “You guys weren’t kidding.”
Yeosang shrugged nonchalantly, the traitor, while Seonghwa gave Hongjoong a look, like he was an unruly child and he was the ever suffering, ever mortified parent that had to bear witness of his silly shenanigans.
“Excuse me-”
Hongjoong started and Seungmin smiled.
“You’re excused.” He said, waving a dismissive hand. “Chan-hyung would you help Hongjoong-hyung to his room? San needs to stay here because reasons.”
Chan sputtered, cheeks red while Hongjoong stood up, pain shooting through his body, he winced but stood his ground.
“I don’t need help.” He sneered. “Much less from him.”
Hongjoong’s legs decided to give up on him just as he opened his big mouth and he stumbled.
Right into Chan’s arms.
Fuck.
Seungmin smiled gleefully.
“All settled then.” He said, clapping his hands. “Do please remember to lock the door and that the walls of the school dorms are very thin.”
The room became quiet then and Hongjoong vehemently ignored everything and everyone, wondering what sort of mass murderer he was in his past life to deserve this type of karma induced punishment.
“Look is either a bride's carry or a piggy back ride.” Chan hissed at him, not meeting his eyes. “Your choice."
. Hongjoong stared at the wall, weighing his options.
“Can’t you just slung me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes?”
Chan huffed, lips almost turning up before he shook his head; he knelt down and Hongjoong wanted to protest how he didn't end up having a pick but he was suddenly tired and sore and Chan's wide shoulders looked comfy enough. He climbed over his back, pretty much melting because the fucker was warm and smelled expensive and good.
Hongjoong may had hid his face in Chan's back, even if it was a moot point since he was the only dude with two toned black and white hair in the school, but he did it anyway because fucking seriously what cologne did Chan use? He smelled amazing, he snuggled him a bit more, hands looped loosely around Chan's neck.
"Are you falling asleep, Hongjoongie?" Chan's voice always lacked a mocking tone, though he did sound amused. "Am I that comfy?"
Hongjoong growled low in his throat, sound muffled by Chan's Tshirt fabric, he tightened his hold, nose pressed boldly on Chan's neck; he smirked when he felt the heat irradiating from the other's skin, no doubt blushing furiously.
Served him right.
"We are here." Chan announced and Hongjoong wanted to question him how he knew his dorm room number. "Where are your keys?"
Hongjoong squirmed a bit, dangling his key in front of Chan's face, if the other wanted to play servant to him, he won't stop him; his eye twitched though when Chan was able to hold his whole weight with one hand as he opened his door and gently put him on his bed before nodding to him and walking away.
“Chan.” Hongjoong called, and hated how much he liked his name on his lips. “We need a truce.”
Chan's eyebrows disappeared into his hairline but Hongjoong's stubbornly locked eyes with him, chin tilted up and the other just sighed, looking at him warily, grabbing his desk chair, straddling it backwards, arms crossed over the back of it, leaning his face against them.
“I don’t hate you, you know.” Chan wasn’t a school boy anymore, he was a damn man and he had no right to look like a kicked puppy when his arms were bigger than Hongjoong’s head. “Do you hate me that much?”
Hongjoong’s tongue was sharp and he aimed it to cut, to lash most of the time.
“I don’t hate you.” He looked away. “I just don’t get you.” He turned back his eyes on him, giving Chan a quizzical look.“You are such a goodie-two-shoes golden boy and everyone loves you.” He said with a scowl. “Why the fuck are you into fights?”
Chan sighed again, he was so damn transparent, his conflicted emotion clear on his warm brown eyes, Hongjoong almost, almost reached for him; what was this bubbling sensation inside his chest?
“Because that is the only way I can protect the people I care about.” Chan bit his lip. "I know you think I'm just another dumbass looking for cheap thrills but I'm not like that…" He shook his head, hunching his shoulders. "District 9 is a hellhole, and many of these kids won't make it to graduation. At least, I have to try to save some of them."
Bang Chan's family was rich, Hongjoong knew that or at least well enough to send Chan to a international Boarding School and it was a mystery what the fuck did he do to land his ass in Levanter; some crazy theories said he had anger issues, he was hiding, his family were mobters but the truth was far more simple.
Chan's hero complex and bleeding heart made him care too much.
Hongjoong despised him.
"You are an idiot." He said without a bite. "And someday you're going to get yourself killed."
Hongjoong ignored Chan's pout and sad eyes and he definitely didn't feel bad about all the times he provoked him just because, things didn't change at all, they didn't.
"We kick those shitheads asses, okay?" He mumbled. "And then I will wipe the floor with you."
Chan gave him a crooked half smile that didn't reach his eyes and stood up.
"Sure, Hongjoong." He said softly. "Whatever, just…" He ran a hand through his hair. "Nevermind."
Hongjoong bit his lip and let Chan go, closing the door behind him; he fell into his bed, turning into his side.
Why he felt like he fucked up?
III.
Hongjoong wasn't staring, he wasn't.
"You're staring." Seonghwa whispered. "And I am pretty sure you haven't developed psychic powers so Chan's head is not going to explode." He commented dryly and Hongjoong pouted at him. "what's up with you two anyway?"
Hongjoong pout morphed into a deep scowl.
"Nothing."
And that was the problem, since that little chat they had nothing had happened; No Bomoon ambushing them, not other schools trying to pick a fight.
No Chan acknowledging his existence.
Hongjoong was hurt and he sort of deserved it, not that he was going to admit it.
"Lovers spat?"
Wooyoung asked, loudly.
"Shut up, Wooyoung!"
Hongjoong snapped at him, everyone blinked and he grabbed his backpack annoyed; he stood up, he gave a side glance to Stray kids, Chan didn't turn to look at him once.
Fuck it.
"There is a festival in Bomoon today." He smiled evilly. "Let's crash it."
To his left Yunho made an aborting noise and Seonghwa inhaled sharply, Yeosang looked away from his phone, Jongho frowned, Wooyoung and San looked at each other.
"Capt." Mingi spoke quietly, like Hongjoong was some feral skittish creature. "Are you sure it is a good idea?"
Seungmin and Changbin tuned in, Minho was leaning against the table, eyebrows cocked up; Felix and Jisung looked over as well, Hyunjin and Jeongin giving him quizzical glances.
"Yes." Hongjoong glared at Chan's back. "Let go."
He didn’t wait for any confirmation from anyone, jumping from his spot, making a beeline toward the wall further from the school’s entrance, throwing his stuff over the fence and climbing it, used to leaving the grounds in this way. He could hear the rest cursing him in low voices, all speaking his disagreement but following him anyway.
Stray Kids didn’t come.
Hongjoong will show them and Chan how they deal with this sort of issue then.
The trip over District 5 wasn’t an easy one, especially when they had to avoid the police looking for juvenile delinquents like them; The districts were numbered for a reason and the lower the number the heavier the law enforcement was, District 8 and 9 being almost completely outlawed. Bomoon was planted in the middle of a pretty decent zone, and Lee and his minions were nothing compared to them in terms of criminality but if they joined forces with two other schools, belonging to District 6 and 7 specifically, they could perhaps, become an actual threat.
But Hongjoong is going to nip that in the bud, so to speak.
“San,” Hongjoong drawled. “What intel do we have about Bomoon fighters?”
San stepped beside him, they were all hunched over in an alley next to the school, hoodies covering their heads.
“They are all trained in mixed martial arts.” San said, clicking his tongue. “A couple of them made it to quarters last tournament but nothing to worry about.”
Hongjoong pressed his lips into a thin line, biting his lips, scheming their next move.
“Alright.” He spoke after a moment. “We are entering hostile territory so, everyone pair up, try to get a balanced duo.” He looked at everyone. “Do not go solo, if you get overwhelmed we won’t be able to rescue you until later, so keep an eye on your partner, gotcha?”
Everyone nodded and with that they walked over Bomoon High’s entrance, hands deep in their pockets; since it was a school festival the gates were open and the slipped inside like any other visitor; Hongjoong made eye contact with a couple of Lee’s underlings and tilted his head toward the old school building, the rundown gymnasium.
He was pretty knowledgeable about Bomoon’s layout because a bazillion years ago Lee was actually a friend and Hongjoong visited quite often but the fucker had to talk shit about him, had to make their friendship look like something else and he got a black eye and a sworn enemy in exchange for his troubles.
“Yunho.” Hongjoong looked over his shoulder. “Keep an eye on the door, text the rest, Bomoon had been informed.”
Little by little and as inconspicuous as a bunch of guys could be, both Bomoon and Ateez started to fill in the old building, Hongjoong sat on a dusty bench, legs spread and a cocky expression firmly in his face.
“Until you dared to show up.” Lee’s voice echoed. “And no guardian dog yapping at your heels, nice work Hongjoong.” The other clapped. “I give you one last chance to ditch Bang Chan and join us, we could easily conquer District 9.”
Hongjoong stood up, rolling his eyes. Really? So they lured him in just to offer him what? Domain over his own turf? Like a bunch of daddy’s boys would ever be able to rule over the two most dangerous district’s ever. He scoffed.
“Please.” He drawled. “You won’t ever be able to touch Chan.”
So he may had slipped there and he could sense Seonghwa’s smugness from a mile away; he didn’t want to think about what it meant for him to acknowledge that he didn’t hate to co-rule things with Chan, the other was fair and thoughtful and demonstrated him he truly cared for the underprivileged kids on his school and.
Shit.
Did Hongjoong maybe, sort of-
“Really?” Lee narrowed his eyes, crowding Hongjoong’ space. “ Bang Chan and you?”
He could sense the other’s jealousy and Hongjoong was nothing but a crafty bastard.
“And what about it?” Hongjoong answered, smiling almost coyly. “You will never be Bang Chan.” He sighed, looking at Lee up and down with disdain. “And you will never be able to tap any of this.”
When the first fist was thrown, Hongjoong was more than ready to start the fight.
He looked at Yunho who was fending himself quite well, even when outnumbered and he kicked some dude hard in the stomach, Lee coming at him with a right hook that got him gasping for air; the other kept being an idiot and refused to mess his ‘pretty face’ even when he was already sporting a splitted lip courtesy of Hongjoong.
He kept fighting, moving around as more and more people joined the scurf but Bomoon, as San predicted, were no match for the top ten fighters from the inter district school tournament and while they were more in number they were far too weak to manage some serious damage.
“Sorry.” Lee pant, smirking nastily ast him. “But I can’t let you win this one.”
Lee whistled and something shiny and sharp got thrown at him.
Hongjoong’s eyes widened.
“They have knives!!!”
Hongjoong barely avoided a stab, Lee clearly had never fought with any sort of weapons but the lack of expertise was being compensate with a lot of enthusiasm; he could observe that not only were knives but also baseball bats and even brass knuckles were distributed around Bomoon people and he cursed under his breath for trusting these rats to respect a basic honor code. At this point someone would get seriously injured and San was already limping, Wooyoung holding one of his arms awkwardly while they kept deflecting attacks.
One second, and there was a guy swinging a bat directly to him; Hongjoong didn’t close his eyes, but the air left his lungs when he saw a pretty familiar someone getting in between him and his attacker.
“Chan!” Hongjoong screamed, heart on his throat as Chan stopped the bat coming at him with his forearm, it made a nasty sound but he didn’t think it was broken. “Fuck!”
Chan grabbed the bat, disarming the guy who felt flat on his ass and scrambled away from them.
“Get behind me.” Chan ordered him and before he could protest the other spoke again. “Please, for once in your life don’t be a smartass and listen to me.”
Hongjoong closed his mouth and he could see Stray kids filling the room, each of them going to help his kids. He wouldn't say it out loud but something like relief flooded him, and he looked at Chan’s profile, feeling grateful.
“Let's regroup and get out of here.” Chan told him. “We talk about this when we get back.”
Hongjoong wanted to argue, with Stray Kids they could probably beat Bomoon but rationally everyone was already injured, tired and in clear disadvantage so he nodded curtly, he eyed the only exit, which was for now not blocked and took Chan’s hand, squeezing it.
“Kids.” He yelled, alerting everyone. “Let’s make a run for it.”
He rushed toward the open door, the sound of sirens too near for his one comfort, someone had alerted the police of their presence and they needed to get out from here right now; he tugged Chan’s hand as they run, never looking back until they were far, far away from Bomoon high and into one of the many underground tunnels they use to move between districts.
“It seems everyone made it more or less unscathed.” Chan’s voice sounded flat and accusing, Hongjoong’s temper flared. “Should I tell you how much of a bad decision that was?”
Hongjoong turned around, releasing Chan from his grip, flushing slightly, he didn’t realize they were holding hands still; he looked at Seonghwa who passed by him, catching up with Minho who winked at them.
“Shut it.” He hissed at Chan, keeping his voice low. “If it wasn’t for the fuckers being armed we wouldn’t have needed your help.” He scoffed. “I don’t need your fucking hero complex to come and-”
Chan inhaled sharply, pushing Hongjoong against the wall, finger poking at his chest.
“Now you listen to me.” Chan’s tone was dark and serious. “I need you to stop trying to prove to the world you are the baddest shit out there and start playing for the team.”
Hongjoong seethed, baring his teeth at him.
“We knew about the weapons.” Chan snarled. “We knew but since you insist in being a fucking nutcase when no one is babysitting you we couldn’t tell you about it.”
It hurt, Chan’s words, Chan’s angry expression at him; he may have been right but it wasn’t like it was Hongjoong who was ignoring him, it was Chan who didn’t look at him even once in weeks and now he was telling him it was his fault?
“Fuck you Chan!” Hongjoong yelled, feeling his eyes watering. “Don’t dare to tell me what to do when you ignored me all this time.”
Chan deflated, expression going from angry to concerned to guilty; Hongjoong wanted to mock him for being so soft hearted but he was too upset to be that petty.
“Sorry, Joong.” Chan breathed, touching his face but dropped his hand almost immediately. “I didn’t mean to make you feel left out, I was just trying to protect you.”
Hongjoong swallowed and the air shifted between them, Chan stared at him they were too close he could see freckles and long lashes, his attention dropped to the other’s mouth and he wanted, want-
“We need to get back to the school dorm.” Hongjoong whispered, breaking the tension, stepping out from where Chan got him almost pinned against the wall. “The kids must be almost there.”
Hongjoong was unusually quiet the rest of the trip back, glancing at Chan from time to time and looking away every time he caught his eyes, blushing faintly; he barely said goodbye to the other and he practically ran away to his dorm, letting himself go only when he was safely inside.
He leaned against the wall, looking up, banging his head against it.
“I wanted to kiss him.” Hongjoong whispered to himself. “I wanted to kiss Bang fucking Chan.”
IV.
So Hongjoong may, perhaps, have an insignificant crush on Bang Chan.
“This fucking suck!” He whined to no one in particular, flopping on Seonghwa’s lap.”Hwa, help.”
Seonghwa hummed, petting his hair, Hongjoong whined again, kicking his legs in the air; Chan turned around, their eyes locked briefly and both of them looked away, he knew he was blushing and Seunghwa just guwaffed.
“I don’t know what is worse, you two pretending to hate each other or you two pretending you don’t like each other.”
Hongjoong deflated a bit, hiding his face behind his hands.
“It’s not like that, Hwa.” He mumbled softly. “I think I may have ruined things between us.”
Seonghwa took his hands off his face, giving him a skeptical look.
“You’re so dramatic.” He said, poking his side, making him giggle. “And judging at how he is trying to drill a hole in my skull, I doubt he is not interested.”
Hongjoong turned his head just to find Chan looking at them with an unreadable gaze; he looked down, scuffing the floor with his shoes and running a hand through his hair. He sighed internally, he should be focusing on more relevant things, like how after they bailed from Bomoon the silence among the schools grew exponentially tense; no one was one hundred percent sure what that meant but everyone knew it couldn’t be anything good.
“Come now.” San called. “Yeosang got some intel, we are meeting in the student council room.”
Hongjoong dragged his feet because sued him, he didn’t want to be close to Chan and felt all these feelings, which honestly? Why couldn't he have a crush on someone else? Someone like Changbin or Minho? But no, he had to go and fall for that idiot.
“Our informant told us the three heads of District 5, 6 and 7 met up and are planning a full scale attack on Levanter.” Yeosang started without a preamble. “There is also a rumor about them wanting to challenge the head of District 8 and 9 first and whoever won gets to tell the rest off.”
Hongjoong raised his head, confusion written all over his face.
“We are not doing anything until we are sure about it.” Chan spoke softly and he looked away when Hongjoong tried to catch his eyes. “We don’t want a repeat of last time.”
He clenched his jaw but said nothing, fine.
“They will play dirty and they will try to lure us again.” Seonghwa agreed. “We can’t let them have the upper hand ever again.”
There was an approving murmur and Hongjoong find himself once again staring back at Chan but this time neither of them looked away; there was something vulnerable inside the other gaze, something like he was begging Hongjoong to not act impulsively and to wait for them to finish building a plan so no one get hurt, he bit his lip, feeling a bit guilty.
He didn’t even say thank you to Chan.
Hongjoong took advantage when the rest seemed distracted to walk over Chan, sitting next to him in the back, attracted to the other like a moth to a flame.
“How is your arm?” He asked softly. “Let me see it.”
Chan silently tugged his sleeve up and Hongjoong sucked a breath; it was all black and blue, and it looked painful to the touch. He rummaged through his backpack, taking out a tube of cream, he uncapped it and made a gesture to Chan to let him hold his arm; gently, he rubbed some of the cream on the bruises, heart rabbiting on his chest.
“Here.” He handed the tube to Chan. “It works wonders.”
Chan’s eyes were huge and round, pink dusting his cheeks and Hongjoong couldn’t look away.
“Thank you.”
Chan smiled, dimples showing and Hongjoong knew, knew he was so monumentally screwed because there was no way he was getting over this stupid crush if they started to actually behave civilly with each other.
“I-I it’s not like I care.” Hongjoong stammered, blushing. “You need to recover.”
Chan bit his lip, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Mhm.”
Hongjoong was going to jump Chan if he didn’t stop looking so, so-
“Ahem.”
Seungmin cleared his throat loudly and then Hongjoong realized everyone was looking at them with different degrees of either fake shock or amusement and he pretended the bottom of his backpack held the secrets of the universe; beside him Chan was looking like a very convincing red light since he was blushing from the tip of his ears to down his damn chest.
“We take a break.” Minho wiggled his eyebrows. “ We will meet here in an hour.”
Hongjoong did the least mature thing he could do and practically ran away; again, the overwhelming desire to kiss Chan’s stupid tempting mouth had almost taken over and just like a scared rabbit he just upped and left. He groaned loudly, rubbing his hands over his face. He decided the best he could do was try to get some food on his stomach and forget he almost kissed his sworn rival in front of too many people.
He went to the cantine in a daze, barely knowing what he was being served and looked for the most secluded corner of the cafeteria to sit his ass down and scowl at nothing in particular.
“You okay there buddy?” Yunho's voice was hushed, but the hint of amusement was undoubtedly there. “A penny for your thoughts?”
Hongjoong grumbled unintelligibly, and stabbed a piece of what it looked like yesterday’s bulgogi. His timing was incredibly shitty, he couldn’t just realize he sort of like-like the dude after this whole mess was sorted out, after perhaps he had a chance to beat the shit out of him since Chan still pissed him off more than anything else.
“You do realize everyone except Chan-hyung knows you have a thing for him, right?” Hongjoong looked at Yunho with a pout and pink cheeks. “It’s pretty obvious you like the guy.”
Hongjoong sighed, pushing his food away from him and crossing his arm over his chest; he didn’t look threatening, he looked like a petulant kid being told off, damn it his delicate bone structure.
“Yes.” He stretched the s with a glare. “Look, this whole shit ain’t easy for me.” He mumbled. “And also, talk about the wrong time and wrong place to confess.”
Yunho cocked an understanding eyebrow at him even if he didn’t look fully convinced; one thing everyone was right about, he needed to get his act together and stop trying to mess with Chan just for the sake of pissing him off (or getting his attention, a part of him added sardonically) and just focus in defeating the bastards trying to take over their districts.
“Let's just not talk about it.” He murmured defeated, looking at Yunho with imploring eyes. “We have more urgent shit to take care than me and my stupid, little crus-”
A cackle and Hongjoong closed his eyes just to look up and see thing 1 and thing 2, aka WooSan looking at him like they suddenly became Samsung only heirs; in his mind he was hearing Alice’s in Wonderland siamese cats’ song while de duo simultaneously draped themselves all over and around him.
“Is our precious Captain finally acknowledging he wants Channie-hyung to do unspeakable things to him?·”
Hongjoong was about to tell them exactly what he wanted and hopefully left them in a trauma induced shock when the air shifted around them and he caught a glimpse of Chan, walking down the corridor, eyes ablaze and a hard expression, followed by an equally pissed Seungmin.
Holy shit.
Seungmin was never pissed.
He looked at his gang, everyone nodding wordlessly and scrambled back into the meeting room where the rest of SKZ and Ateez were waiting in a tense silence.
“What happened with Chan?” Hongjoong asked with an impatient tone. “Why did he storm out of the school?”
Changbin and Seonghwa exchanged looks and then steaded themselves; Hongjoong narrowed his eyes displeased, that wasn’t a good sign at all and his intuition was telling him that they were trying to stale him before he too went chasing whatever the fuck was Chan going after.
“He got a call.” Changbin finally intervened. “ He went to meet the three heads, alone.”
Hongjoong stopped his passing and turned his scalding gaze toward the pair, both flinched slightly; suddenly really was both going too fucking fast and too damn slow for his brain to catch up, and he needed to snap out of the bubbling panic right the fuck now.
“He did what?”
Seonghwa looked down and Changbin had the decency to at least look pissed.
Of course.
Stupid motherfucker.
“Listen Hongjoong-"
Everything was starting to make sense, even Seungmin’s dropping his little shit attitude, no doubt trying to convince Chan it was suicidal to go alone
“No, you listen.” Hongjoong screamed. “How you allow him to go on his own? This is a trap, he is in danger-”
Seungmin entered the room in that moment looking both defeated and resigned, collapsing into a chair and putting his face in his hands.
“We know.” Seungmin sighed. “And Chan-Hyung knows too.” He squinted his eyes. “And he went, willingly because of you.”
That… He didn’t really see it coming.
“What?”
Again the room went suddenly silent, meanwhile Hongjoong’s brain kept screaming at himself nothing of this mattered if he didn’t know where Chan went and he needed to start moving ASAP before it was too late.
“He went because he didn’t want you in danger.” Seonghwa explained. “The summon was for you but Chan stepped in and told them he would be taking your place.”
Hongjoong closed his eyes and muttered darkly to hide the fact his heart just pinged painfully at the stupid self-sacrificing idiot’s action. The fact Chan put all their differences aside because he was now part of the ‘kids’ he wanted to save made his stomach flutter and his chest tighten. His feelings may be one sided but he recognised the gesture anyway.
“Place, time.” He snapped at Seungmin and Yeosang. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
V.
“You are one hell of a hardass bastard, Bang.” Hongjoong hissed while he moved into a fighting stand. “We will talk when we go back home”
After grilling both Pres, he finally got the location, a decrepit warehouse just on the outskirts between District 7, District 8 and 9. It was no man land, a gray area, its jurisdiction went to no one and it was pretty much lawless.
Perfect for a deathmatch.
Chan smirked nastily at him, cracking his neck as he ripped his sleeves, and used the fabric as a makeshift hand bandage. Show off.
“Yes, Darlin’.”
Chan singsonged, thick aussie accent on full display that didn’t made Hongjoong’s knees a little bit weak, because he was not an easy bitch, excuse you. First he will wipe the floor with Lee’s leering face and then he will get his revenge, now both need to end this shitshow once for all.
“Glad you made it on time.” Kim’s nasty nasal voice said. “ We thought Bang here was trying to play hero.”
Mansik’s leader was a fat fucker with fists like porkchops; despite being overweight he was ridiculously light in his feet, something that he used to sneak attack his opponent, next to him was Yang, Sulgeon’s leader, a tall, spindly bastard that looked like a strong wind would top him over but that it was known for sending people to the hospital after being at the receiving end of one of his kicks.
“Yes…” Yang sneered. “We thought our pretty little Joongie sent his fighting dog to do his dirty job.”
Lee tsked, obviously annoyed that it seemed Hongjoong was not bluffing the last time he was involved with Chan, deep enough for him going to help him and now trading places with him; deep inside, underneath all his anger, he was kind of flattered of Chan’s actions, but that was not here or there.
“Enough talking.” Hongjoong snarled. “More fighting.”
Even in the short time both of them had, they came more than prepared in case Lee wanted to play dirty again. Hongjoong stared right into the bastard’s eyes, brushing his lips against the corner of Chan’s mouth as he slipped into his pocket a knife and a set of brass knuckles. Chan looked bewildered for a second before he felt the steel and he tilted his head, full lips dangerously close.
“Let’s give them hell, babe.”
Their impromptu lovey-dovey act was unsettling enough for them to gain full advantage and get the upper hand, as Hongjoong moved around swiftly, delivering killing blows, always aware at how Chan was covering his back; while he was quick and tended to strike in painful ways, Chan’s upper strength made him land punches like tidewaves, one after another with increasing force. Soon enough Kim was swaying back and forth, hopefully the fat fucker will take Lee with him when he went down and then they will only have to break Yang’s legs.
But of course, Lee, feeling cornered, wasn’t going to go so easily, and Hongjoong watched, in delight, how the moment he flashed the blade of his knife at them, Chan landed a punch right in the middle of his ugly face; his nose made a crack and he went out like a light.
“That’s quite enough.” Yang said with a huff. “We respect our code.”
Kim, who still looked dazed, nodded slightly before crumbling into the ground.
“I yield.” He gasped. “This whole ordeal was Bomoon’s idea, it was crazy from the very start.”
Chan scrunched his nose, shoulders sagging and looked at Hongjoong who just shook his head.
“We kinda knew Lee was just jealous that you got sent to Levanter High and not Bomoon.” Yang confessed. “He started to stir shit up there just so the board of directors second guessed their decision but your Pres, Bang?” He whistled. “That kid got some steel nerves.”
Now Chan just openly laughed a mix of incredulity and awe and Hongjoong kinda agreed with him; take Kim Seungmin to get to appease a bunch of old farts just so Ateez went to his school and not a rival one. Now, why was he so interested in them? More scheming, no doubt.
“The shit hit the fan when you went crashing his Festival and he found out you two hooked up.”
Hongjoong inhaled sharply and didn’t even look at Chan who was (fortunately?) amused by the whole ordeal; he coughed awkwardly and hoped he just looked shy about his budding romance.
“Is that so.” Chan answered smoothly, nudging Hongjoong with barely contained mirth.
The fucker.
“Anyways dudes.” Kim finally was able to stand again, slinging Lee’s over his shoulder. “Sorry for the mess, it was never our intention to take over, you guys are doing an awesome job.”
Hongjoong nodded sagely, Chan made a dismissive gesture, a genial smile on his face.
“See ya on the inter distrital tournament.”
As he watched them retreat, Hongjoong was very aware on the eyes on his face but ignored Chan’s stare; they won’t have this conversation in middle of fucking nowhere.
“We are going back!” He announced loudly, marching stiffly toward the exit. “Right now!”
The trip back home was awkward and in silence, but Hongjoong used the time to sort out what just transpired and tried to made some sort of sense with the jumble that were his feelings but to not avail; he only knew he was pissed at Chan for going alone, glad things de-escalated and uncertain of what would happen between the two after this.
They were reaching Levanter front yard when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see Chan’s imploring eyes.
“Wait, Joong.” He said breathlessly. “I think we need to talk.”
Hongjoong looked at Chan, relief and anger making his chest tight, he narrowed his eyes and backed from the touch.
“Joong-”
Hongjoong punched Chan right on his stomach, the other coughed, holding his belly and glaring daggers at him; he swung at him again, but this time Chan blocked him, a jab right on his ribs, he sort of had forgotten how much the other’s punches hurt. He shook his head, trying to clear his vision and Hongjoong moved away from Chan, barely aware people gathering around them, barely aware of their kids yelling at them to stop.
No.
Hongjoong was pissed and wanted a go with Chan, and for fuck’ sake he will have it.
“You’re insufferable.” Chan growled at him. “You fucking little-”
Words failed him, and Hongjoong got himself cornered but he raised his arms to protect himself the best he could, waiting for a slip up, splitting Chan’s lip in the process; it wasn’t like he was anything better, whipping the blood from a cut just beneath his eyes.
“YOU TWO, BREAK IT OFF!” The professor grabbed them by the cuff, Hongjoong didn’t struggle, he just glared at Chan. “DETENTION, NOW!”
They were dragged toward an empty hall, pushed inside and told to behave until the professor was back.
Hongjoong wrapped his arms around his knees, refusing to look at Chan and closed his eyes.
Fucking idiot, fucking feelings for him.
“This is all your fault.” He mumbled angrily. “I didn’t need protection, I don’t even know why you did that when you clearly hate me-”
Chan snapped his head up, eyes ablaze.
“I like you, you fucking idiot!” Chan yelled at Hongjoong, eyes bright and (busted) lip trembling. “I like you a lot but you keep antagonizing me because I don’t even know and it hurts my feelings and I decided that if you hated my guts I would hate your guts too but then you started to be nice to me and then you…”
Chan ran a hand over his hair, it was getting a tad too long, Hongjoong thought absentmindedly, dark curls framing his handsome face and in that moment he realized that shit, it wasn’t a crush, it was so much more than a crush and fuck Chan liked him back, he was an idiot.
Hongjoong was a fucking idiot.
“I like you too.” He said softly, looking up and away. “I had liked you for a while now but…” He shrugged. “I thought you didn’t like me.”
Chan looked at him with a shocked expression and Hongjoong met his gaze.
“You- you liked me? Like for real? like-”
Hongjoong scooted over Chan and pulled him into a much awaited hug; he ran a hand through Chan’s hair as the other leaned his forehead against his shoulder, thick arms around his thin waist. His heart did a complicated thing inside his chest but he ignored it, choosing to pet Chan’s hair as he chewed his lips until he tasted blood.
“Yes you dumbass.” He said softly. “I really like you, like a fuck ton.”
Chan chuckled against his neck and Hongjoong shivered, tugging his hair so the other looked at him and Hongjoong totally miscalculated how close they were and Chan’s nose bumped his chin, making him look down and oh.
There was a hand cupping his cheek and Hongjoong’s eyes fluttered closed, breath caught in his throat and his brain went yesyesyesfinally as Chan’s soft lips brushed his own, once, twice before he surged forward and kissed Hongjoong like both had wished secretly.
Hongjoong made an approving sound down his throat, arms around Chan’s neck; of course Chan was an awfully sweet kisser and he was trying very hard to not melt in the middle of detention hall but it was a struggle to not climb into Chan’s lap when the man kept ghosting his hands on his sides like he would break, he almost laughed at that when not even two hours ago the other had landed a punch that almost cracked his ribs.
“Oh my God, wait for the rest to know!”
Hongjoong felt Chan tense, but he ran a hand down his spine, immediately soothing his tight shoulders and he took advantage of this to sink deeper into the kiss, and this time Hongjoong did move to straddle Chan’s wonderful thighs, perching himself like he belonged there and waved a ushering hand toward what he thought was an slacked mouthed Wooyoung.
A cough now and Hongjoong reluctantly pulled away, cheeks pink and mouth red, looking over Chan’s shoulder to see a very uncomfortable professor and Wooyoung of course, waving teasing fingers at him.
“Mr. Kim.” The professor coughed again. “And Mr. Bang I see you two worked things out.”
Pointedly looking at Hongjoong comfortably sitting on Chan’s lap, Hongjoong looked at Chan who was blushing to the tip of his ears but was making eyes at him again, biting his lower lip.
“Please go.” The professor’s voice cut their eye fucking. “Detention is over.”
Hongjoong nodded absentmindedly and he heard Wooyoung dragging the professor away before the door was closed and they were alone again.
“Soooo.” Chan drawled, shit eating grin as he held Hongjoong’s waist a bit too tightly, hands digging in his hips. “Whose dorm are we going to now?”
Hongjoong licked his lips distracting Chan for a moment to be able to climb down his lap, throwing his school bag to him and grabbing his free hand.
“We decide on our way out.”
Last.
“Is that a hickey?”
San wondered loudly and Hongjoong smacked his hand away, rearranging his clothes a bit, not that made much difference, no matter how much he shifted his shirt, Chan made sure he had something to show to the class.
“Is he any good then?”
Wooyoung was trying to tease him but Hongjoong just turned around, tilting his head with a sharp smile and raised eyebrows that made the rest recoil from their position.
“Fucking fantastic.” Hongjoong sighed, raising his hands above his head stretching, shirt riding up to show more love bites and some interesting imprints. “Chan fucks as good as he fights.”
He leaned his chin on his hand, drawing circles with the other, eyes narrowed.
“Made me come so hard I blacked out.” He smiled dreamily. “Three times and he is so fucking good at-”
Wooyoung made a high pitched noise that could probably be heard by dogs in Bolivia and Hongjoong smiled pleased.
“You’re fucking shameless.”
The other made a face at him and Hongjoong smirked.
“And you’re fucking nosy.”
He leaned against the table, arms crossed to pillow his head; he was pleasantly aching in all the right places and what it was a fucking shame was it was a school day and he couldn’t spend more time being worshiped on Chan’ sheets because both of them actually cared to do well in class.
Bless dorms tho, bless Chan’s rich ass, so Bang Senior bought him a whole fucking hall and Hongjoong could scream all he wanted as he got railed six way to sunday and then some.
“Does that mean now we have a new dad?”
Jongho asked and Hongjoong tried to kick him under the table.
“Does that mean we have new siblings?”
Yunho asked, round eyes sparkling because of course, more puppies and Hongjoong opened his mouth but a hand landed over his shoulder and he recognized Chan’s cologne before he was being kissed deeply.
There were catcalling and wolf whistling all around them but Chan’s presence had some sort of annoyance canceling powers now and Hongjoong linked his hands behind the other’s neck, lips curling coyly into the kiss.
“This is worse.” Someone said, probably Changbin. “Go back fighting please.”
“My innocent eyes!”
“It’s going to be like that from now on?”
Hongjoong sighed and Chan pulled him closer with wandering hands going into places, and he gasped wetly, should they skip the rest of their classes like right the fuck now?
“BREAK IT OUT YOU TWO NO PDA ALLOWED!”
Things were more or less back to normal anyways.