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“Are you kidding me?” He couldn’t believe his eyes. It was almost offensive really. No, it was. It was offensive. “He didn’t even do anything!”
Mark looks at him like he’s crazy, Johnny looks at him like he knows something and Taeyong might be too drunk to even notice the sudden shift in the air.
Yuta doesn’t even spare him a glance.
The.
Gall.
Donghyuck straightens up and grits his teeth to prevent himself from saying something he might regret later. Normally, he wouldn’t care. In fact, he never cared what Mark and Yuta got up to. It was a bit after all, Donghyuck understood the hustle so he would be a hypocrite if he did care.
But for crying out loud, there weren’t even cameras here.
“Hey! I did,” Mark frowned, looking slightly hurt. “I scored us a point.”
“I’m not talking to you,” Donghyuck grumbles and even if he was, he would beg to differ. Mark’s one tiny contribution was hardly anything compared to Donghyuck’s carrying of the entire game.
Much less deserving of a winner’s kiss.
“Just once,” Donghyuck huffs as he boldly shoots Yuta with an accusatory finger. “Just once, I want you to recognize me as the winner—No!” That wasn’t enough. “The youngest! I mean, you know it’s me right? Not Mark, not Jungwoo. And I hope your mind isn’t stuck in 2015 because it’s not Jaehyun either!” He leans in, right before jabbing that same finger right into Yuta’s chest just to get his point across, “Me!”
Yuta glances over to his finger still placed on his chest before raising an eyebrow at him as if to say ‘take it off or I will.’
Donghyuck, slightly frightened, frowns and quickly retracts his hand all while the rest of their friend group watches, cackling at his outburst.
And, okay, sure. Donghyuck can admit it. It was funny. He wouldn’t have made such a fuss if he didn’t want a couple of laughs (or perhaps acknowledgment, but he’ll take anything really!), but as most jokes are born from the truth, so was this one. Really, what was there to deny exactly? Everyone could see it, and the evidence was there right before them, being his mean and biased self.
Everyone else treated him as the youngest, babied him, doted on him, and willingly and happily took care of him. Even Mark, who was only a year older than him, spoiled Donghyuck, and he used to hate him! It felt almost personal that the only person who didn’t was Yuta, and to make matters worse, Mark was the only one he gave all his affection to.
Mark Lee. Undeserving. Boyish, immature, kind, cute, talented, funny…well.
Okay, whatever!
Donghyuck isn’t blind, he can see the appeal, and Mark is his best friend, he could never stay mad at him. It still didn’t explain why Yuta avoided Donghyuck like the plague and chose to treat him this way. It was like even the thought of indulging him repulsed him, like he went out of his way to rub it in his face that he’d never get this treatment.
Yuta must hate him, Donghyuck concludes.
Okay, well, maybe not. Yuta didn’t have a mean bone in his body and it’s not like he’s ever harbored any animosity towards him or anyone else for that matter. Contrary to popular (Donghyuck’s) belief, Yuta was actually a very kind and affectionate person. He was always clinging on to someone (Mark) or expressing his gratitude towards them (everyone except Donghyuck). On the rare occasion that Yuta chose to spare even a glance Donghyuck’s way, the younger would be met with a light-hearted comment or gesture. It was nice, sure, but it was pretty pathetic compared to what Mark was getting.
Mark who was worshipped for breathing. Give Donghyuck a break.
It’s true that it takes Yuta a while to warm up to people. It happened with Jungwoo and it happened to Mark, but this was just getting out of hand. They’ve known each other for almost ten years for crying out loud. What was his problem? Mark was a grown man, Yuta did not need to be all over him hugging him tightly like that. Mark doesn’t need his attention like that. Mark didn’t need coddling. Not from him. Not at all.
It’s even worse when they flirt. God, Donghyuck hates it but he’d rather die than admit that out loud. He’d never hear the end of it, especially from Mark or Johnny. They were the worst about stuff like that. It doesn’t seriously bother Donghyuck that much either, but Yuta could be so shameless sometimes. Especially right now.
Here is the scene. They have been drinking the entire night in Jaehyun and Johnny’s hotel room. Just them and their own company, no one else. It was nice, it had been a while since they’d been able to just unwind together like this; especially in the middle of a tour. After a while, it pretty much devolved into nonsense like it always did whenever they were all together for a bit too long. Even worse when alcohol got involved.
They were playing a word game in teams. However, almost like God wanted to nerf him, Donghyuck was stuck with Yuta, Taeyong, and Mark. Yuta was never good at games like this and neither was Mark unless he tried very hard. Taeyong was rather subpar but performed terribly whenever he drank. This left Donghyuck to be their only miracle, sober or not. He was so sure he’d be able to win it smoothly without any issues. Oh, how wrong he was.
Sure, they did win, thanks to Donghyuck of course. Much to his surprise, Yuta did pretty well too but he stopped caring about the game halfway through. He spent the entirety of the game rubbing at Mark’s back and showering him with praise, even if he messed up. It was mildly annoying at worst but tolerable still. Nothing Donghyuck hadn’t seen before.
Besides it was the little things keeping him motivated. Like Jaehyun laughing so hard, alcohol shot from his nose and landed all over Doyoung’s shirt. It wasn’t as fun when Donghyuck realized a lot of it ended up landing over his headphone case as well, probably damaging them in the process. Still, Doyoung's face was priceless and well, they all offered to pay for new ones anyway so Donghyuck didn't really mind. Did he mind a little bit when Yuta didn't say anything about it though? Perhaps.
The announcement of their win came as a surprise to them. A glaring 9-8 as Johnny had put it. Donghyuck shot up in genuine shock and was about to cheer but the excitement had quickly dissipated as he glanced over at his team and was met with Yuta pressing a loud kiss to Mark’s cheek.
What! The fuck!
“I do,” Yuta answers him casually, taking another sip of his drink. “I know you’re the youngest.”
Donghyuck scoffs, irritation stirring within him, “Well, you sure don’t act like it.”
Given his track record, Yuta probably considers Donghyuck the same age as Doyoung, which was truly the worst possible scenario.
“Aww, Hyuckie,” Taeyong coos, reaching up to his cheek, fingers in the pinching formation. Donghyuck zeroes in on the position and ducks. Taeyong doesn’t give up though and squeezes his cheek gently at the very least. “It’s okay. You have us. We can baby you all you want.”
Mark snorts at that. Donghyuck purses his lips as he resists the urge to flick him on the forehead.
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you,” Johnny then says. “Maybe Yuta will like you more if you play hard to get.”
“Alright,” Yuta interjects before Donghyuck can get offended. “Enough instigating, it’s really not that deep.” He then faces Donghyuck. “You think I don’t like you?”
Yuta is blunt, too forward, which really shouldn’t surprise Donghyuck as Yuta was pretty much like that all the time but it still catches him off guard. He tries not to choke on a grape.
“It’s not that,” Donghyuck tries to correct him, “I mean—maybe a little but that’s because you baby Mark hyung all the time when I’m right here too. You let me fend for myself and you barely give me the time of day. What am I supposed to think?”
“He makes a good point,” Jaehyun mumbles.
Yuta grabs a grape from their shared plate, nodding along as he listens before he answers simply. “I do like you.”
He hears Johnny snicker from the other side of the table and Donghyuck frowns when Yuta just leaves it at that.
“Do you even hear yourself?” Donghyuck scoffs, unamused. “At least try to sound a little more convincing.”
Yuta just shrugs, deciding he no longer wants to entertain the conversation.
It doesn’t make any sense. Why was Yuta like that to him? Although, it’s not like Yuta is completely dismissive toward him. There are times when Yuta is lovely all by himself, praising Donghyuck with small but meaningful compliments, hugging him tightly, and feeding him because he thinks Donghyuck needs the sustenance more than him. Donghyuck frowns to himself when he starts to wonder if this is a hill worth dying on.
“Hyung, stop drinking!” Mark cries, snapping Donghyuck out of his thoughts.
Donghyuck turns over to see Taeyong nursing another bottle of soju as Doyoung sloppily urges him on. The attention is completely removed from Donghyuck and Yuta, and is instead directed at Taeyong.
Donghyuck deflates, he’s disappointed, feeling like nothing’s resolved except—
When he turns back he catches Yuta looking at him still. The chatter around them fades into muffled sounds as he turns to stare back at Yuta curiously.
Yuta blinks. Once, then twice. He uncrosses his arms before he leans forward, “Is that what you want?” Yuta asks quietly. “You want me to baby you?”
Donghyuck frowns, “No—I mean, yes but also,” He sighs. “If I could just have a fraction of your attention, I promise I won’t complain ever again.”
It happens in slow motion. The way Yuta suddenly gets in his face, hovering over him with dark eyes staring blankly at Donghyuck. He’s close enough that Donghyuck catches a whiff of his cologne. It's a clean and soft scent. Almost of flowers and cotton. Despite its freshness, Donghyuck finds that it’s somehow more intoxicating than his drink and Donghyuck has the sudden and inexplicable urge to bury his face in the crook of his neck.
Platonically, of course.
When did the room get so stuffy all of a sudden? Donghyuck freezes up, staying in place as he waits for Yuta to do something. He expects him to smack him, pinch his cheeks, or shake him like he usually does when he wants to mess with him.
He doesn’t do any of that though, just stares at him with an almost bored intensity. Donghyuck can’t tell if this is some sort of intimidation tactic or if Yuta’s noticed he had food stuck in his teeth, either way, it works to make Donghyuck feel slightly scared.
It’s then when Yuta smiles emptily at him that Donghyuck realizes he’s made a grave mistake. The way his lips curl up sweetly but the warmth doesn’t reach his eyes. Instead, it’s replaced with a feeling Donghyuck can’t quite describe. It’s almost chilling, the way he looks at Donghyuck like he’s a pitiful thing, the way he runs his fingers along Donghyuck’s bare arm slowly while still maintaining eye contact.
He shudders, Donghyuck isn’t used to having Yuta touch him like that. He isn’t sure how he’s meant to receive it but all it does is make Donghyuck burn up under his collar.
“Donghyuckie,” He says lowly so only he can hear. “You wouldn’t be able to handle even an ounce of my attention.”
Oh, this is…
Donghyuck immediately sobers up.
Yuta pulls away, shifting back comfortably into his seat. He goes back to eating happily, kicking his feet playfully as he nibbles on another red grape.
It makes it even worse that the expression that was once on his face is gone in an instant, replaced by his dumb poker face. It’s almost like he didn’t just say the things he said, like he wasn’t just messing with him right now.
Donghyuck watches him with his mouth agape. He looks around almost nervously to see if anyone else has noticed but they’re all in their own little world, the loud conversations serve to ground Donghyuck back into reality but not entirely.
“I can,” Donghyuck croaks, all hushed and he doesn’t know why. “I can, hyung.” More than Mark ever would he wants to add but he bites his tongue.
“Yeah?” Yuta asks, lifting a brow as he looks at Donghyuck with a glint in his wide eyes. Provocative.
“Yeah,” Donghyuck affirms, subconsciously puffing his chest in the process.
Donghyuck watches the way Yuta’s pink tongue pokes out as he licks up the juice that’s dripped onto his hand from another grape. It threatens to fall but Yuta is quick enough to catch it.
Donghyuck needs a cold shower.
“Hmm,” Yuta hums thoughtfully, then with a more lighthearted tone says, “Okay.”
“Okay?” Donghyuck repeats in slight disbelief.
“Mhmm,” He nods. “I’m sure you can.”
Do not play with me right now.
The doubt in his words serves to annoy Donghyuck endlessly. Not wanting to give Yuta the satisfaction of making him mad, Donghyuck opts for acting coy.
“I can though,” Donghyuck sniffles, a slight whine in his voice.
“Okay, Donghyuck.”
“I can prove it,” Donghyuck challenges. It was honestly a bluff, but Yuta was bluffing just as much if not more and Donghyuck wonders if that’s why they were never as attached as the other pairs. If it was dangerous for the two of them to collide this way. They were both so different yet so incredibly similar. Two of the biggest bluffers and yet they’ve managed to slip past each other, never intersecting once. Perhaps Yuta did know better than Donghyuck did to entertain crossing that line, but Donghyuck wanted to. He wants so much more. He wants to get close. He wants to open Yuta up and sink into him, wants to see all the sides of him he’s kept hidden from Donghyuck until Donghyuck knows him microscopically.
“I can,” Donghyuck repeats, assertive. "I wouldn't be asking for it in the first place."
Yuta shoots him a small smile. He looks more amused, more curious now as he tilts his head to the side. He’s looking at Donghyuck like he’s trying to search for something. For any doubt probably. Donghyuck makes sure he doesn’t show any.
When he’s seemingly satisfied, he briefly glances over at Donghyuck’s hands which have been fidgeting ever since this whole thing started, and flits back over to Donghyuck’s eyes, before nodding.
“Okay,” He repeats softly this time with sincerity. “I believe you. You’ll show me, right? Prove me wrong?”
He looks at Donghyuck expectantly, his gaze warm and patient this time. There’s a bit of a gentleness in the way he speaks and looks at him. It makes Donghyuck feel really…good. It makes him feel warm all over which is weird because no one else has ever made him feel this way before. Donghyuck hopes he's not making a mistake.
For some reason, it hits Donghyuck right there that Yuta is pretty. From his silky hair to his long lashes, and the prominent cupid’s bow that ties it all together. Donghyuck isn’t blind by any means. He’s just surprised to have that made abundantly clear at the moment.
That he finds him pretty.
“Yes,” Donghyuck affirms with a nod. “I’ll show you.”
—
Donghyuck forgets about the promise.
Realistically it was forgotten the moment Donghyuck stepped inside his hotel room that night. Clouded by all the alcohol and exhaustion; as soon as his head hit the pillow, Donghyuck had even forgotten his own name.
In his defense, he thought everything was pretty much normal.
It was normal when he woke up the next morning to his manager pounding at the door for him to get up already. It was normal for Donghyuck to spend the next couple of days resting before his next strenuous activities and it was normal for Donghyuck to watch longingly from afar as Mark and Yuta danced around each other during rehearsal.
Literally and figuratively. They were slow dancing to one of their songs.
“This is getting a little sad,” Johnny’s hand plants itself onto his shoulder and squeezes lightly. Donghyuck wants to shove him away but the touch is nice so he leans into the elder’s space.
“I know, they’re disgusting,” Donghyuck wrinkles his nose.
Johnny snorts. “Not them,” Then pauses. “Well. Yes, them. But also you. ”
Donghyuck gasps, “Why me?”
“Get real,” Johnny huffs. “You’re staring, if we wanted to put it more accurately, you’re gawking actually.”
“Gawking?” And, well, that was embarrassing. Honestly, Donghyuck just wants to know why Johnny was even inserting himself, and also since when did Johnny know the word for gawking?
Johnny snorts and then glances over at the pair still fooling around. Donghyuck looks over as well but shrugs in response.
As if he were reading his mind, Johnny says, “You’re obvious. Stop pretending like you aren’t and do something.”
Donghyuck lifts both his hands, both palms facing up as he pretends to weigh something in them.
“Do something about it and embarrass myself,” He raises his right palm before raising the left much higher. “Or live in silence without embarrassing myself and keep my dignity intact? Hmmm…”
Johnny rolls his eyes, then pushes him. “This is for your own good. Go. Do something.”
Donghyuck stumbles, not expecting Johnny to use any force at all but he manages to catch himself as his instincts kick in and his legs provide him enough support to push himself back upright. He looks over his shoulder to find Johnny smirking at him. He has half a mind to snap at him but is stopped when he feels arms snaking around his frame.
He stiffens in their hold, startled by the abruptness of it all, and turns over to get a better look at the culprit. His heart jumps at the familiar scent that invades his senses from the glance, and he’s faced with blonde hair that tickles his nose.
“Donghyuck!” The muffled voice cries dramatically. “Did Johnny hurt you?”
His brain short circuits as he struggles to find something productive to say.
“Uh,” He supplies dumbly. “No, I’m okay, Yuta hyung. Really.”
Yuta doesn’t relent though, his hold on him tightening even as Donghyuck reaches up to caress him in reassurance and Donghyuck can barely breathe.
Yuta is in an unreasonably good mood, he thinks.
“Ribs…” Donghyuck manages out, trying to suck in a breath. “Hyung, my ribcage…”
“Ah,” Yuta says quietly as he loosens his arms.
Donghyuck sighs in relief as the tension leaves his body and relaxes. As soon as he’s regained his footing, he leans his head against Yuta’s. He expects Yuta to let go as he usually does whenever Donghyuck reciprocates but much to his surprise, he doesn’t.
Donghyuck is puzzled and frankly, a bit appalled by his behavior. Especially when Yuta nuzzles into his arm and Donghyuck isn’t sure how to react.
“What’s with you today?” Donghyuck wonders out loud. “You never do this with me.”
He feels Yuta freeze up. He instantly regrets his words but it’s far too late. Yuta's already let go of him.
“Donghyuck,” Yuta says, his voice eerily calm.
“Hm?”
“You don’t remember,” He frowns. “Do you?”
“What?” Donghyuck squeaks. “What are you saying?”
Because he genuinely doesn’t know what he’s talking about. When he looks back at Yuta, searching for any answer, he looks absolutely crestfallen.
Donghyuck, completely at a loss for words, gapes at him.
“You can’t just play with a guy's feelings like that,” Yuta chides softly.
Donghyuck is stunned to say the least.
“No, I mean,” Donghyuck splutters, because he has to say something . “Sorry, I mean, I just need a refresher. What exactly are you, uh, referring to?”
Yuta looks at him for a moment, eyes squinting as he takes his words into consideration. His lips form a thin line and Donghyuck is so sure he’s pissed him off. Donghyuck doesn't know how to deal with an angry Yuta and frankly, he doesn't want to right now. Or ever for that matter.
“That night,” Yuta starts. “The promise you made me. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?”
Donghyuck frowns and thinks back on it. Really really hard.
Yuta sighs in frustration.
“The hotel room,” He continues. “You said you could handle it.”
Donghyuck furrows his eyebrows in concentration.
“My attention,” Yuta finishes with a deadpan.
Oh.
The memories of that night instantly flood his brain. The acrid taste of alcohol, Taeyong’s messy behavior, Yuta’s heated gaze, his revelation that followed subsequently after. Donghyuck shudders at the thought.
“Oh,” Donghyuck says out loud. “Oh, that.”
“Yeah,” Yuta scrunches his nose. “That.”
Yuta looks at him incredibly unimpressed and Dongyuck winces in response. It was reasonable of him to be annoyed, but that didn’t mean Donghyuck still couldn’t be fearful for his life. After all, it was Yuta who he was talking about and Donghyuck had essentially broken his promise. You don’t just do that to Yuta.
“You…” Donghyuck trails off. “You remember that?
“Obviously,” Yuta scoffs.
Donghyuck wants to be mad. He wants to say that he can’t believe that the one time Yuta wants to follow through with something is when Donghyuck makes a drunken promise. He wants to ask why it’s making him upset that Donghyuck isn’t following through either but neither responses come out of him. Instead, he’s mesmerized by the scowl on Yuta’s face. The way his eyebrows are arched makes him appear intimidating yet he still looks pretty and delicate somehow. It makes Donghyuck wonder how Yuta manages to do so. Yuta could get away with so much with a face like that. Donghyuck realizes what a dangerous thought that is.
Donghyuck tears himself from concentration and sighs as he tries to grasp at anything to save himself.
“I still want to,” He manages. “Handle it, I mean.”
Yuta blinks, the tension leaving his face and is quickly replaced by confusion.
“You do?”
“Yes,” He swallows, hoping this is the right direction. “Yes, I’m saying this now while I’m sober.”
“Huh,” Yuta crosses his arms. “You really mean that?”
“Yes,” He affirms and he feels a bit of deja vu.
Yuta’s lips curl upward in a smile.
“You don’t need to be babied. Not by me.” Yuta then says, “You know that?”
It should annoy him, hearing that come from him. In fact, it’s all he’s been begging for but for some reason, he has a funny feeling that Yuta is alluding to something else.
“I know,” Donghyuck finds himself answering. “But I want you to.”
Yuta snorts but he looks amused still.
“We’ll see about that.”
_
Donghyuck finds himself regretting every decision that’s led him here. To be making a commitment with Yuta of all people.
Now where exactly did it all go wrong? Was it the moment he came out of the womb? Was it when he made that grave sacrifice to be Mark’s best friend? So many options.
Yuta doesn’t hold back. Not even a little bit.
The first advancement embarrassingly catches him off guard. It’s so dumb and minute yet it leaves Donghyuck feeling so scandalized, he could rival his own mother. It shook him that bad.
It wasn’t because of what he said or did, no, he reasons, it’s because it was Yuta. If this were someone else, someone like Jaehyun or Johnny, Donghyuck wouldn’t hesitate to flirt back. He already flirts with them shamelessly to gauge a reaction from them or to just be stupid together. It was just how they were, how they’ve always been. But he’s never tried it with Yuta before.
Yuta didn’t flirt with him. Yuta didn’t make suggestive comments toward him, and while he did touch and hug him, he's never touched him like this. And the worst part is that it works every time. It always gets him. It always flusters him and it always makes him shiver and stare at him in a daze.
“Get yourself together, Haechannie,” Yuta purrs into his ear one day when Donghyuck clumsily bumps into him. He steadies him with each hand planted on both his shoulders, squeezing and lingering. “Or do I have to do all the work?”
Donghyuck bites his lip. Hard.
If Yuta notices, he doesn’t say anything. He just pats him on the back with an innocent giggle before he quite literally skips toward Jaehyun and Jungwoo who are in the middle of a heated discussion.
Donghyuck is left to deal with the loud pounding in his head and, what the fuck?
He actually bit his lip hard enough that it drew a bit of blood. Doyoung scolds him for it—the bleeding lip, thinking Donghyuck must have been anxious or something and orders him to relax. Donghyuck doesn’t have it in him to correct him, so he agrees without a word.
On another particular day, Yuta doesn’t do anything to him. At least not directly.
It’s not even Jungwoo who goes to him. Jungwoo who engulfs Yuta in a hug that sends them both tumbling over to the ground with Jungwoo on top of him. Doyoung scolds them and Taeyong fusses over them. Taeyong urges Yuta to have his head checked but Yuta rolls his eyes and smacks a loud kiss on his cheek in reassurance.
Taeyong laughs, flustered as he rubs his cheek and Donghyuck lowkey seethes in the corner because how on earth did Taeyong get a kiss? Taeyong was grown. Donghyuck frowns at the thought of Taeyong becoming another rival but he quickly shuts it down as he watches the way Johnny snakes a possessive arm around his waist.
Donghyuck files this vital information for later.
Donghyuck never gets used to it though. Even if Yuta has gotten closer to him and has gotten into the habit of flirting with him, he doesn’t let him get comfortable with it. Especially when Yuta switches it up every once in a while just to catch him off guard.
One day he’ll send him a genuine compliment that leaves Donghyuck feeling genuinely appreciated and touched. The next, he’ll blow into his ear as he rakes his nails over his arm (Yuta really loves doing that. Donghyuck thinks he must be conditioning him or something because Donghyuck honest to god is starting to like it too), relishing in the way Donghyuck shudders or lets out a yelp. Yuta will notice, of course he does—Yuta can practically smell fear—and he’ll smile, eyes crinkling sweetly as he praises Donghyuck for doing so well.
Each time, Donghyuck skitters away from his touch, willing the heat in his neck away. He shoots Yuta finger guns, mustering up his most I’m so normal smile while deep down, he’s screaming internally and hoping it doesn’t show. Yuta feeds off vulnerability and boy, Donghyuck is vulnerable.
Donghyuck wonders how he managed to be put in a group with someone like Yuta.
He doesn’t know how much more of Yuta’s terrorizing he can take but he finds his persistence admirable at the same time. That and it’s been dangerously plaguing his mind and he’s not sure whether or not he should put a stop to this.
On the one hand, he’s absolutely loving the attention, actually, he can’t get enough of it. Donghyuck loves having Yuta look at him, he loves having Yuta pay attention to him and flirt so shamelessly as the others watch in shock and slight disgust. On the other hand, he finds his sanity slowly but surely declining, completely unsure of how much longer he’d be able to endure his affection.
He wonders how Mark or even Sicheng managed to do it. At what point did Mark just get used to it and reciprocate? Before, Mark would be a blushing mess and try to hide behind a trusted adult. Now, it’s like Mark can’t live without touching Yuta at least once a day. Donghyuck can’t tell if he’s jealous of him or finds him pathetic.
Admittedly this thought sticks with him more than it should and it bleeds out at one point when he doesn’t mean for it to but he asks Yuta about it, why Yuta flirts with him so much, they're not even compatible he tells him.
Yuta answers with a shrug.
“But,” Donghyuck frowns. “He’s Mark…I’m so much cooler no offense.”
“Donghyuckie,” Yuta coos almost patronizing. “You think you'd be able to keep up with me?”
“And Mark can?” Donghyuck quips back, feigning indifference. Admittedly, it is taking a lot out of him to even keep a straight face but he’s honestly so proud of himself for being able to talk like this in front of him.
The corner of Yuta’s mouth twitches into a slightly amused smile and Donghyuck feels somewhat proud of himself for eliciting that reaction from him.
“You got me there.”
_
Something within their dynamic changes after. Donghyuck doesn’t know what or how, he can’t place it at all, he might just be imagining things. Delusions take him far though, that much is for sure.
Lately, Yuta doesn’t cling to Mark or anyone else for that matter. Donghyuck likes to think it’s because of him, but in truth, it’s probably mostly because he’s too tired to carry out any form of affection.
It wasn’t unusual for Yuta to become quiet and a bit withdrawn whenever his social battery was dropping low. The others respected that, and it didn’t last forever, Yuta could bounce back pretty easily once he got the time he needed. For the most part, he was still Yuta, just quieter, and preferred to keep to himself a bit more both in private and during work. In some aspects, the others were like that as well so they understood and never pushed him especially because Yuta never let it affect his work. It must have helped that the others were accommodating to him about it too, giving Yuta space whenever it was needed.
“Doyoungie,” Donghyuck pouts as he holds him by the wrist to keep him from leaving. “Doyoungie hyung, chocolate croissant please.”
Doyoung sighs heavily like he’s the biggest burden in his life but he gives in easily. Always gives in when it comes to Donghyuck. “Fine, but you owe me.”
He doesn’t but Donghyuck stays quiet and grins.
“Oh! Are you going to the cafe?” Jungwoo asks as he approaches. “Can I come too?”
“I guess,” Doyoung grunts.
“Oh, hyung, me too!” Mark raises his hand. “I wanna come.”
“Iced americano,” Jaehyun butts in.
“Just come with me,” Doyoung says, exasperated. “It’ll make this easier.”
“But what if I don’t want to be seen with you?” Jaehyun asks.
“What are you talking about?” Doyoung smacks his shoulder. “You’re horrible.”
Jaehyun grins but he does go with Doyoung and so does Mark and Jungwoo. Which leaves only Donghyuck, Johnny, Taeyong, and Yuta in the practice room. Taeyong and Johnny are still preoccupied with getting the dance right while Yuta lies on the floor scrolling on his phone. Donghyuck considers helping Taeyong but notices Johnny slowly becoming handsy and quickly averts his gaze. He would like to still have an appetite, thank you very much.
He could keep to himself this time too, catch up on a Netflix movie or watch a YouTube video. He could also help Johnny but he doesn’t even feel like it. He’s sure Taeyong had a good handle on things anyway.
With Mark and Jungwoo gone, two of the biggest distractions for Yuta (while on polar opposite sides of the spectrum), Yuta would also finally be able to pay attention to Donghyuck. It would be nice. Donghyuck could strike up a conversation or something, catch up, or maybe bother him. It was all he knew best.
There was also the fact that Yuta had been pretty quiet the entire time, save for ruffling Mark’s hair or making small comments here and there to the other members. Donghyuck wondered if it was worth it. Would Yuta mind?
There was only one way to find out.
Donghyuck settles himself over his lap. Yuta’s body stiffens under him and he starts feeling bad. He considers moving away but he then feels Yuta begin to relax under him, a hand coming up to play with Donghyuck’s hair. Donghyuck wants to squeal in delight but he restrains himself, doesn’t want to scare Yuta off. One at a time, Donghyuck, he reminds himself.
“Tired?” Donghyuck asks, trying to make conversation in hopes of getting Yuta comfortable.
“A bit, yeah,” Yuta answers, tucking a strand behind Donghyuck’s ear. “Your hair’s getting a bit long. Will you get a trim?”
“Hmm,” Donghyuck hums in thought. “I dunno. Do you think I should?”
Yuta shrugs, “Short hair and long hair suit you.”
“Really?” He asks, genuinely touched and surprised by his answer. “You really think so?”
Yuta nods, “Yeah, of course.”
“Aw, you’re so nice, hyung,” He says, closing his eyes. “You’re like an angel.”
Yuta snorts, repeating, “An angel?”
“Yes,” Donghyuck paws at him. “You even have a halo.”
“I think you’re just seeing things,” Yuta deadpans.
“No,” Donghyuck shakes his head. “I’m seeing a real-life angel.”
He notices the smile that begins to form on the elder's lips and he can’t help but feel fondness for him. Was it normal to be fond of someone older than you? Wait, is Donghyuck into older guys? He’ll figure that out later.
“Do me,” Donghyuck says, batting his eyelashes. “What am I?”
Yuta raises an eyebrow in question. “What do you mean?”
“You’re an angel,” Donghyuck states as if it were obvious. “What am I right now?”
“What are you…?” Yuta trails off. He seems to genuinely think about it for a moment before he says snickering, “Ah, you’re like a dog.”
It’s not the answer Donghyuck expects, but it’s an answer nonetheless. Honestly, he didn’t even expect Yuta to play along either so he’s just taking what he can get.
“But like a cool one right, hyung?” Donghyuck asks with wide eyes.
Yuta snorts, “Sure, why not?”
Donghyuck giggles in satisfaction. He doesn’t bother to make another clever remark. It’s rare for Yuta to entertain nonsense, much less Donghyuck’s. Donghyuck considers it a win, especially when Yuta lets him nuzzle into his thigh, especially when Yuta caresses his face and hair.
Donghyuck tries to ignore how his heart jumps from the contact, squeezing his eyes shut like that’ll fix his problem. He's just touch-starved. That's what he tells himself at least.
“Mmm,” Yuta hums. “You’re so odd.”
Donghyuck whimpers in distress.
Yuta chuckles, tugging his ear. “I’m just kidding. You’re a good boy,” Yuta brushes his fingertips over Donghyuck’s jaw. “Isn’t that right, Hyuckie?”
Donghyuck can’t help the noise that escapes him when the words register in his utterly tiny and smooth brain. It’s somewhere between choking and a quiet, pleased hum.
Yuta laughs again softly, amused. “You’re so funny.”
“Hyung,” Donghyuck whines and he’s burying his face into Yuta’s thighs. “You’re being mean.”
“Mean?” Yuta asks. “I’m not teasing you, Donghyuck-ah. Aren’t you my good boy?”
Wait, what?
“I—” Donghyuck chokes out. “Um…”
“Look at me,” Yuta urges. It’s meant to be a demand but because of Yuta’s soft tone, it comes out more as gentle encouragement.
Still, Donghyuck feels like his body has been doused in gasoline and lit aflame. Whatever Yuta’s doing now, whatever joke he’s trying to pull on him, it’s way too far. To joke about something like this, wasn’t this crossing some kind of line? Donghyuck flirts with friends, sure, but this… especially with Yuta, is entirely new territory and Donghyuck has no idea how to navigate through this. Not when his words are starting to physically affect him.
Yuta was making him blush. Add this to the top ten list of things Donghyuck never imagined would occur throughout his career.
Donghyuck wonders if he’s doing it on purpose, if he’s aware of the double meaning in his words, or if he’s just saying it without thinking it through. This is Yuta he’s talking about though. The same Yuta who shamelessly flirts, the same Yuta with the razor-sharp tongue and bold personality. Surely he knows, right? Maybe he mistook him for Mark or something because Donghyuck can’t imagine Yuta making a comment like that towards him.
Wasn’t this just a game between them though? This only happened because Donghyuck challenged him. After all, he wanted his affection. His attention. Donghyuck tried hard to prove himself while Yuta pushed and pushed him, doing anything he could to get a rise out of him.
Donghyuck mentally kicks himself, both for being stupid enough to try proving a point to Yuta of all people and also just for not being able to actually go through with it.
It was embarrassing. Donghyuck was better than this. He had much thicker skin and was always the bolder one when it came to playing dumb games like this. He doesn’t know what it is about Yuta that makes him crumble so easily though.
Donghyuck decides to blame it on his scorpioness—if that was even a term. It made the most sense to him right now. That would be the only reasonable explanation as to why he was starting to feel both scared and drawn (horny) to him. It was the stars, of course.
It takes so much out of him to peer up at him. Seriously, he must be the bravest guy on earth right now. Donghyuck deserves an award for his bravery. Mustering up the courage to face Nakamoto Yuta right now while he’s trying to throw him off is possibly the most impressive thing he’s ever done.
“Yes?” He breathes. He hopes that it’s enough and that Yuta will be kind enough to drop it. This joke wasn’t funny anymore.
“Say it,” Yuta urges, sounding a bit firmer. He brushes the tip of his thumb over Donghyuck’s bottom lip.
Donghyuck resists the urge to take it into his mouth and woah, now. That was a rated 19+ thought. This is Yuta, he reminds himself. His bandmate and long-time friend. Doing something like that would certainly change the trajectory of their friendship. With horror, Donghyuck starts wondering why was he focused on that aspect rather than the fact he wanted to take Yuta's thumb in his mouth. Oh, he was beyond touch-starved, perhaps he was beyond help.
He swallows, “Hyung, you’re not playing fair.”
Yuta instantly removes the hand from his face and moves it to rest on the back of his head and Donghyuck tries to mask his disappointment. “You want me to stop?”
In Donghyuck’s head, that translates to Should I go back and save it for Mark?
“No!” He blurts out. “No, I—"
“Words, Donghyuck,” Yuta orders, interrupting him. His voice eerily soft and composed. “You said you can take it, don’t you remember?”
God, why is he saying it like that?
“I do,” Donghyuck croaks. “I can, hyung. Really.”
“Then say it,” Yuta croons, playing with his hair, tugging gently. It should be soothing but instead, it only serves to further fluster him. “Or were you just bluffing before?”
God, Donghyuck had things he needed to sort out.
“I wasn’t!” Tongue-tied, Donghyuck yelps. “No, I just…”
“You just what?” Yuta purrs. He grabs Donghyuck’s face then, fingers on his chin. His grip is vice-like as he forces him to look up at Yuta in the eyes. “Come on, Hyuck.”
Donghyuck’s cheeks burn and he tries to ignore the heat in his stomach. He swallows down his pride and meekly says, “I’m hyung’s good boy,”
“Good,” Yuta’s grins in satisfaction. His grip finally softens, and he lets go of his chin which causes Donghyuck to fall face-first into his lap, which he is sort of thankful for. He does not want anyone to see how embarrassing he looks right now. He makes a pathetic sound and Yuta laughs.
“Now bark for me,” Yuta commands. “Speak, boy.”
Oh, Yuta is a sick and twisted man. He truly is. Donghyuck is scared of him but he also kinda wants him to kiss him on the mouth. Wait, huh?
“Hyung!” Donghyuck whines loudly because no, Donghyuck would like to keep whatever was left of his dignity.
“I’m just kidding,” Yuta cackles, throwing his head back. He rubs soothing circles over Donghyuck’s sides as Donghyuck makes more petrified noises. “I’m kidding, Donghyuck. Gee, I didn’t think you were so easy to rile up.”
He isn’t really. He just rarely gets the chance to get riled up by Yuta. He doesn’t know how to react.
“Ah,” Donghyuck sighs, calming down as he nuzzles in Yuta’s thigh, facing his stomach now. “‘M just tired.”
“Poor baby,” Yuta croons, still petting him. “You need to rest soon.”
“B-baby?” Donghyuck chokes. Now nicknames? With that gentle voice? Did he think Donghyuck was bulletproof?
“Problem?” He asks, raking his nails over his back.
“No,” Donghyuck grins. “I’m your baby.”
Yuta laughs and it sounds so terribly cute, “Okay.”
“I’ll be your baby from now,” Donghyuck draws in a breath. “Right, hyung? You promise?”
After the words leave his mouth, Donghyuck can’t deny the vulnerability and hope in them. It makes him cringe when he realizes it but he can’t exactly take it back now. Yuta could probably chalk it up to him exaggerating as a joke, but also Yuta was more observant than Donghyuck gave him credit for. Yuta could see through him, figure out his weakness, and use it against him in an instant. Yuta was also the type of person to turn a blind eye for other people’s sake. Donghyuck felt conflicted for saying it but perhaps he needed to hear it. Either a rejection or encouragement, he needed it.
For a moment, Yuta doesn’t say anything, just continues touching Donghyuck and providing warmth. He hums as he cradles Donghyuck's head with a gentle and comforting hand. His lack of response has Donghyuck’s mind running a mile a minute. For a moment, Donghyuck shuts his eyes and sighs, feeling that no response is perhaps more telling than anything.
“I promise,” Yuta murmurs finally.
This somehow feels more intimate. Out of the things Yuta has been saying and doing, after all the things they’ve been coaxing the other to do, this feels more serious.
Donghyuck is acutely aware of his own breathing, suddenly aware that he’s been breathing too loudly and too deeply. They’re on the floor, Yuta holding him like he's so precious and Donghyuck basking in his attention. It's really nice, Donghyuck kind of wants to do this for a long time.
“What’s going on over here?” He hears Mark's grating voice slice through the air.
Donghyuck stiffens, having completely forgotten about everyone else and the world around them. Since when did Mark come back?
“None of your business,” Donghyuck grumbles. “Where’s my croissant? Does Doyoung have it?”
Mark snorts but he makes a point of shooting Donghyuck a look before answering.
“Yeah. He’s just talking to the staff right now. He’ll be here any minute.”
“Did you buy me anything, Mark?” Yuta asks.
Mark turns to Yuta and the expression on his face instantly changes from mild annoyance to that of fondness. “Of course I did. Who would I be if I didn’t, Oppa?”
He hears Yuta giggling from above him.
It’s so different from how he was acting earlier. Donghyuck wants to ignore them and their weird dynamic. It was too natural. When did that happen? Yuta used to make fun of him and now it’s like Yuta can’t live without him.
Did he like him? The thought makes Donghyuck retch internally and he turns his head back facing Yuta’s lap and hopes it doesn’t show in his face or body language.
Maybe this is getting too far. He wasn’t supposed to be feeling real-life jealous.
—
“I need to get back at him,” Donghyuck decides.
“What?”
The unimpressed and tired look on Johnny’s face is hard to miss but Donghyuck chooses to ignore it as he barges into Johnny’s room, swinging the door so hard that it slams into his wall. Donghyuck winces a bit and Johnny stares at him, flabbergasted.
“Oh, yeah,” Johnny drawls sarcastically, then gestures inside. “Make yourself at home.”
“Thanks!” Donghyuck chirps as he plops onto his bed. “I need your advice.”
“On what?” Johnny frowns as he closes the door and sits back down, facing Donghyuck. “What could you possibly need my advice for at this hour?”
Donghyuck takes a moment to choose his words carefully. On one hand, he doesn’t want to outwardly admit both his potential crush and the situation he’s put himself in. On the other hand, he’s desperate.
“Let’s just say…hypothetically,” Donghyuck starts. “I got myself into a situation of some sort.”
Johnny quirks an eyebrow as he repeats flatly, “A…situation.”
“And hypothetically,” Donghyuck continues. “If Yuta wasn’t playing fairly, what would you do to get back at him?”
Johnny frowns, “You came in here to ask how to play games with Yuta?”
“No!” Donghyuck stops himself. “Wait, yes.” He squints at Johnny. “It’s a game, that’s right.”
Johnny looks even more suspicious than before but he doesn’t ask anything else. “Do I even want to know?”
“No,” Donghyuck answers quickly. “No, not at all.”
“Okay,” Johnny blows away a hair strand hanging in front of his eyes. “Well, I guess I would try to find a weakness.”
Donghyuck nods, a serious expression on his face as he notes Johnny’s words mentally.
Johnny looks somewhere between horrified and concerned.
“I feel like you should be doing something better with your free time. You know you can like, sleep, right?”
Donghyuck raises a hand and shoots him down, “Trust me. This is exactly how I want to spend my free time.”
“Right…” Johnny drawls. “Okay.”
“So…” He trails off. “What is Yuta’s weakness?”
Johnny looks at him, bemused.
“Really?”
Donghyuck groans in frustration and starts flailing his arms and legs around, an interpretive dance one may suggest, as a way to demonstrate his dismay and heartbreak. “Hyung!” He whines. “Please—just answer!”
Johnny crosses his arms and leans back to watch him.
Donghyuck stops his mini tantrum and looks up at Johnny with a huff. “Please,” He says in a small voice and with wide eyes.
“You won’t get yourself into any trouble,” Johnny narrows his eyes. “Will you?”
“No,” Donghyuck reassures, although he can’t really guarantee that. What Johnny knows, won’t hurt him. “I promise.”
Johnny looks at him in consideration. He doesn’t seem entirely convinced which is fair.
“Yuta…” Johnny starts, “Is afraid of spiders.”
Donghyuck frowns, that wasn’t exactly the answer he was looking for. He already knew that and he wasn’t exactly asking for spooky fears.
“And he gets shy when you call him cute or put him on the spot,” He continues.
Donghyuck finds interest as his words begin to sound like real advice.
“Really?”
Johnny nods, “He gets kinda flustered and changes the subject.”
“Interesting,” Donghyuck trails off, “Any examples?”
Johnny looks at him in genuine concern then wrinkles his nose in slight disgust. “Did you come in here to ask me how to help you flirt with Yuta ?”
“What!” Donghyuck almost shouts. “No! I don’t like Yuta!”
“Oh my god,” Johnny sits down on his chair almost as if he were winded. “I didn’t even say you liked him. You definitely have a crush on him.”
Donghyuck splutters, “Shut up, I don’t!”
“I better be best man at your wedding,” Johnny grumbles. “Like, you have to promise me. Seriously, Lee Donghyuck. I’m not taking no for an answer if it really works out between you two.”
Donghyuck hates how his first thought is to ask, so you think there’s a chance? He fights that urge hard and frowns instead.
“I’m not promising anything because you’re wrong.”
“I can't believe this. I mean your crush was pretty obvious but...” Johnny trails off and stares off into space. “Wait, you sure you’re not dating already?”
“Hyung!” Donghyuck whines. “Stop!”
Donghyuck wants to crawl into his blanket and disappear. This was embarrassing. Donghyuck didn’t even know what he felt for Yuta and there Johnny was just deciding for him.
“You know,” Johnny says, ripping him away from his thoughts. “Yuta cares a lot about you. More than you’d think.”
Donghyuck blinks at that, unable to form a coherent thought after all that.
Johnny sighs, “He wouldn’t be entertaining you if he didn’t care about you.”
Was this a push? Why was Johnny telling him this?
“And?”
“I’ll tell you this,” Johnny snorts. “If you’re worried, he doesn’t like Mark romantically. He thinks of him as his kid brother. Do with that what you will.”
Oh. Donghyuck will.
_
Well, actually…
It’s the first time in a while that they’re meeting up. Well, other people are also invited but Donghyuck is taking what he can get. He’s also just really excited to use his newfound knowledge on him.
“You dyed your hair,” Is the first thing he says when he sees him. He cringes inwardly that it doesn’t come out how he wanted to. He wanted to sound more charismatic, intimidating, and absolutely irresistible. Instead, it comes out flat and perhaps more middle school.
Yuta unconsciously runs a hand through the jet-black strands. It actually looks nice, Yuta always does with every color really, but he can tell that Yuta doesn’t care much for it this time around. A color like this was more ordinary than anything. He would much rather stick out.
“I did,” He confirms, sliding into the booth next to him. Donghyuck’s heart leaps and he hopes the guys don’t arrive any time soon.
“It looks good,” Donghyuck says earnestly.
“Thanks,” Yuta says before raking his eyes over his body.
Donghyuck starts to feel a bit self-conscious as he does so, suddenly feeling very exposed despite being quite bundled up for the weather.
“Cute sweater,” Yuta compliments.
“Thanks,” Donghyuck lifts the bottom hem. “Taeyong got it for me.”
“Mmm,” Yuta hums. “Makes sense. He knows what looks good.”
Donghyuck is inclined to agree. He nods along and wonders if that was just an extension of a compliment from Yuta. Indirectly, he could reason, Yuta just said he looked good.
He can’t help but take a closer look at Yuta. Waiting for the rest of them was rather boring and since Yuta was right here, he could probably entertain him.
Yuta’s choice of earrings for the day were the silver cross earrings gifted by Mark and a diamond stud on each ear. Normally, the fact he’s wearing Mark’s gift would bother him, but another thought overtakes Donghyuck’s mind tenfold. Was he wearing a matching diamond piercing on his navel? The thought makes Donghyuck flush a beet red and he tries to think of something else.
“Don’t you know it’s rude to stare?” Yuta gently chastises.
Donghyuck stiffens, had Yuta been reading his mind with his Freak powers? “I wasn’t staring.”
“Bull,” Yuta chided. “That’s okay though. I don’t mind. You can look at me as much as you want.”
He’s calm when he says it. The corner of his lips slightly pulled upward in a half smile as he bats his lashes. He’s playing with his hands and Donghyuck takes notice of his freshly polished nails. He shivers as he remembers their last encounter.
“Are you sure it wasn’t you staring at me?” Donghyuck jibes.
Yuta snorts at his laughable attempts at projection.
“Do you know what you’re getting?” Donghyuck asks, trying to regain his composure.
“Not really,” Yuta shrugs. “I’m not that hungry.”
“We can share,” Donghyuck offers. “I’ll order something we both like.”
Yuta looks at Donghyuck in consideration before nodding in agreement. He hums, “Sounds good.”
It doesn’t take long for Doyoung, Jaehyun, and Johnny to arrive. They hurriedly sit on the opposite side of the booth, apologetic for the delay. Donghyuck and Yuta don’t mind and reassure them without a second thought. Yuta jokes saying if they felt bad, they could just cover the bill for the entire dinner as proper repayment.
“Well, I don’t feel that bad,” Johnny jokes.
Yuta sighs dramatically and drapes himself over Donghyuck’s shoulder. “But we waited so long…”
Donghyuck plays along as he sighs equally dramatic, “We’re so starving…”
Jaehyun pouts in faux sympathy and Doyoung snorts.
“Unbelievable,” Doyoung mutters.
“Oh! Jaehyun hyung!” Donghyuck straightens up. “I wanted to ask if I could borrow your headphones. You know…because of what happened last time and I know you have that extra pair.”
Donghyuck bats his eyelashes up at him for good measure and Jaehyun complies easily without any protests or questions. This was why Jaehyun was Donghyuck’s most reliable friend. Donghyuck beams at him and Jaehyun chuckles.
“You know where they are,” Jaehyun answers.
The server eventually comes by with water and menus. They order their drinks and when she leaves, they contemplate out loud what to get.
“Tteokbokki,” Johnny suggests. “Wait, I kinda want fried chicken, not gonna lie.”
“There’s fried chicken on the menu?” Doyoung exclaims.
“Ribs…” Jaehyun trails off as he reads the menu, almost in a hypnotic state. Donghyuck snorts as he listens in but he can’t seem to decide right away either.
“I can’t handle anything too spicy,” Yuta says, nudging him slightly. “Be considerate, please. I’m trusting you.”
There’s something in how he says it that makes Donghyuck feel a certain way.
Realistically, Yuta wasn’t picky but it still feels like an admission of something. Like he wants Donghyuck to take the lead. Donghyuck swallows and nods, continuing to observe the menu before he points something out and shows it to Yuta. Yuta makes a pleased noise and nods.
“Are you two sharing?” Johnny asks, noticing the interaction before him.
Donghyuck nods, “Yuta hyung isn’t that hungry.”
“I still want to try something though,” Yuta explains.
Johnny looks between the two of them and stares blankly. “Oh, oh. I see.”
“What?” Donghyuck croaks.
“Nothing,” Johnny dismisses, shoulders raising then dropping in an almost exaggerated manner. He doesn’t show his face, it’s hidden by the big menu that’s propped up in front of him and Donghyuck swears he’s doing it on purpose.
Donghyuck shifts his gaze over to Doyoung and Jaehyun who seem to be stuck in their own world reading the menu. He then turns to Yuta who just shrugs and scrolls on his phone, disinterested.
“Chivalry isn’t dead,” Johnny continues. “Hyuckie revived it all by himself.”
Donghyuck chokes and ends up in a coughing fit. It’s embarrassing but at the very least it leaves Yuta rubbing soothing circles over his back. Johnny looks at them knowingly and Donghyuck would want to kick him in the shin but he’s too busy preening under Yuta’s attention.
Johnny was safe. For now.
—
Operation Get-Back-At-Yuta is still ongoing. Last time didn’t count since they weren’t alone so Donghyuck decides he needs to pull out the big guns. It’s definitely not necessary but he’s sure the crumpled-up five-dollar bill and Lotte World coupon he slips into his manager’s hand definitely helped influence his decision.
“Hello, roomie,” Donghyuck drawls when he sees Yuta walk into the hotel room.
Yuta snorts in response, setting down his carry-on in the corner of their room.
“Hi, roomie,” He plops down on the bed opposite Donghyuck’s. “I can’t imagine you had something to do with this arrangement?”
Donghyuck gasps dramatically, planting a hand over his heart. “Why, I would never…”
Yuta snickers but he drops it which Donghyuck isn’t surprised by. Either he must have lost interest or he already knew and didn’t care. Donghyuck is just glad it doesn’t interfere with his next string of plans
“Hyung, is there anything you want to do?” Donghyuck asks, batting his eyelashes.
Yuta blinks, “I want to get ready for bed soon. Then I want to sleep.”
Donghyuck pouts but he expected this. This just meant Donghyuck had to pull out the big guns.
“That’s no fun, hyung.” He says. “Can you at least entertain me? Your…what’s the word you used last time? Baby? Entertain your baby.”
“Hmm,” Yuta turns to look at him. He cups his hand under his ear like it’ll amplify the volume. “What did you say?”
“Hyung,” Donghyuck pouts and he moves closer so that he’s sitting on Yuta’s bed this time. “Play with your baby!”
“And who would that be?” Yuta asks cheekily.
Donghyuck pouts, squeezing Yuta by the shoulder, “Don’t be like that. You know it’s me.”
“Oh?” Yuta hums. “What happened to ‘please?’”
Donghyuck absolutely preens when Yuta gives in easier than expected, “Please, call me baby and play with me.”
Yuta laughs as reaches over to pinch his cheek, “Okay, baby.”
Donghyuck swears he hears a glittery sound effect play in his head after. At this point, Donghyuck welcomes the stomach-flipping sensation with open arms. He giggles, scrunching his eyes shut. He internally high-fives himself for finally, finally being able to get Yuta to baby him. This was only just the beginning though, and Donghyuck didn’t want to stray from his revenge plan.
Donghyuck clears his throat. He’s not going to let this dissuade him, he still wants to get payback for every time Yuta's caught him off guard. Feelings be damned, Donghyuck can figure that out later.
“Here,” Yuta says before reaching behind his ponytail and pulling it down carefully. His hair falls almost gracefully, the length reaching only halfway to his neck. He reaches to grab Donghyuck’s wrist and with his other hand, places the hair tie in his palm.
Donghyuck looks at him in question but he takes it into his hand without a second thought.
“Why?” He asks.
“Hold it for me?” Yuta asks. “I’m gonna shower quickly.”
“Okay,” Donghyuck complies. He doesn’t know what to do with it other than slip it over his wrist. He sits on Yuta’s hotel bed and just stays there, dazed.
He speaks up, “Hyung, you look pretty with your hair up, you know.”
Yuta looks back at him, tilting his head to the side in confusion.
“Pretty?”
There’s a slight lilt to his voice when he says that, it makes him appear so…cute and genuinely sweet. It was almost hard to believe this was the same Yuta Donghyuck used to find intimidating.
“Yes,” Donghyuck nods. “Really, you should put it up more often. It’s so nice to see your face.”
“What’s this all of a sudden?” Yuta asks. “Buttering me up for something?”
Donghyuck shakes his head. “No, I just thought you should know.” He swallows. “That you’re really cute.”
Yuta blinks at him. He doesn’t say anything and his face is blank. Donghyuck wonders for a moment if he’s broken him or maybe he pushed some kind of factory reset button. Will Yuta revert to his default settings of not caring about Donghyuck? Did calling Yuta pretty and cute make him upset? Did Johnny lie?
Then, Yuta giggles and Donghyuck watches him, shocked.
“Thanks, Haechannie,” He says before running a hand through his hair. “It’s nice hearing that from you.”
“Really?” Donghyuck asks. “From me?”
Yuta nods, looking away from him this time. Donghyuck watches him transfixed and in shock, because now it's Yuta who can’t look at him.
“You know,” Yuta swallows. “I don’t say this often, but I do think you’re very cute too, Hyuckie. Honest.”
Oh, my god. I’m going to explode.
“Me?” Donghyuck asks, batting his eyelashes. “Little old me?”
The moment is slightly shattered. Yuta snorts but he caresses his cheek. “Yeah, Donghyuckie, of course you.”
Donghyuck grins and closes his eyes, puckering his lips for a kiss. He expects Yuta to push him away, maybe even smack him but instead, he hears Yuta giggle as he presses his thumb to Donghyuck’s puckered lips.
It reminds him of that time at the practice room but this is different. They’re alone now. In a hotel room. Donghyuck’s eyes fling open at the realization.
He could so easily just take it into his mouth. That would be wrong but he could do it. It should be weird, to do something like that with Yuta of all people, but these past couple of weeks have truly tested his patience as well as dramatically shifted his perspective on the older man. After all, it was undeniable that Yuta was attractive, not just that, but Donghyuck thought he was pretty. From his face to his body (Donghyuck's most recent obsession is his waist, but to preserve his dignity, he will not delve into that), to even his personality. Donghyuck found himself...smitten.
However, his hands were also something he recently took notice of, especially because of how Yuta had held his face before. How he held him so tenderly. How he had his thumb pressed up against his lips as Donghyuck had that same impulsive thought crossing his mind.
Donghyuck shivers.
He looks up at Yuta and notices that he’s looking at him with the same unreadable expression from before. Donghyuck purses his lips and watches as Yuta’s gaze drops to his mouth. Donghyuck honest-to-god almost moans but he stops himself when Yuta presses his thumb harder against his mouth.
Without a second thought, his mouth parts effortlessly as Yuta slips the digit inside.
He’s rendered completely mindless; the weight of Yuta’s thumb, the way it gently grazes over his soft palate—Donghyuck can’t think at all. He doesn’t have the mental capacity to even be surprised that Yuta’s doing this, putting his thumb into his mouth. Donghyuck can’t comprehend it. Not when his entire body’s lighting up, responding almost instantly and all he can do is peer up at Yuta, wounded.
Yuta’s eyes remain dark as they stare back at him and Donghyuck realizes belatedly that the look on Yuta’s face is hunger, heavy with desire.
Donghyuck shudders before closing his mouth over his thumb and gently sucks.
He hears Yuta inhale sharply, his nostrils flaring as he bites onto his bottom lip like he’s trying to keep himself from making any noise. And, oh, Donghyuck feels positively manic. The self-gratification settles rather quickly in his chest because now it’s his turn to be the one with the upper hand.
Donghyuck gives his thumb a kitten lick.
“Fuck,” Yuta’s voice is low and strained.
Pretty, Yuta is so pretty.
Donghyuck peers up at him and takes note of the way Yuta’s biting his bottom lip anxiously. It would be so easy to just lean in and catch it between his own teeth. He wants to kiss him, leave his lips all bitten and raw. He’s so sure Yuta would let him if he just asked nicely too.
He grazes his teeth over his thumb before nipping it. Yuta laughs breathily and he sounds so...cute, Donghyuck doesn’t know what to do with himself.
Yuta slips his thumb out of Donghyuck’s mouth and watches him with heavy-lidded eyes. He tips his head back, closing his eyes for a brief moment, breathing through his nose like he's trying to redirect himself. Donghyuck can’t help but stare at the expanse of his neck that looks so vacant, Donghyuck wants so badly to change that. He still tries to keep himself composed despite feeling like a can of soda that’s been dropped 20 flights of stairs.
He looks back up at Yuta who’s staring at him like he wants to devour him and Donghyuck whimpers low in his throat because he wants that so bad. Yuta’s lips twitch upwards and Donghyuck can no longer restrain himself as he leans in to chase them.
However, as soon as Donghyuck can even get close enough to Yuta’s face, a loud knock on the door reverberates mockingly. Donghyuck’s eyes fly open in shock, and, caught off guard, he falls off the bed.
He hears Yuta gasp and ask if he’s okay as he tries frantically to pull him up back onto the bed, but Donghyuck can’t say anything. The knocking is suddenly too loud, everything is too loud, he feels the blood rushing to his face in shame even as Yuta manages to get him back on the mattress.
It's the sight of Yuta’s worried expression, his eyebrows strewn in concern as he keeps checking for Donghyuck’s well-being. It’s him rubbing soothing circles over his side when Donghyuck winces in pain as he apologizes in a hushed voice. The knocking sounds almost muffled when he looks directly into his wide eyes, and Donghyuck’s stomach jumps as the feeling becomes abundantly clear to him.
“Oh, fuck,” He mutters to himself.
I think I actually like him.
Yuta pauses, “What?”
“Nothing,” Donghyuck says quickly.
“You said something,” Yuta’s eyebrows furrow.
“I didn’t,” Donghyuck jabs him in the thigh. “You did.”
Yuta stares at him unimpressed by his deflection.
“Donghyuck, you–”
The knock at the door interrupts him and Donghyuck deflates. They both look at the door and then at each other for a moment. Donghyuck gets up rather reluctantly and he envisions blowing up whoever is interrupting them.
“Hey, sorry,” Mark frowns when he swings the door open. “Is it okay if I stay here? The hotel made a mistake with the booking. I won’t be able to fit on the other beds either so the manager directed me here.”
Donghyuck can’t hide the sour expression on his face. His stomach twists in anger and he’s left genuinely surprised with himself because he’s never been this upset before. Especially not towards Mark.
Donghyuck turns back to Yuta who shrugs.
“It’s fine,” Yuta says cooly and fixes his hair before getting up to the bathroom. “I’m gonna shower.”
He watches as Yuta’s back disappears when he closes the bathroom door. He wants to yell and scream at Mark but he knows that would be wrong and it wouldn’t be worth it. One day, he will use this against Mark anyway. That day will be a very good day.
“Yeah,” Donghyuck sighs. “Yeah, whatever. We can share a bed.”
—
It’s stupid.
Donghyuck didn’t expect it to get to this point. At first, he could justify the feelings as being surface-level physical attraction. Yuta looked good. Yuta dressed nice and he smelled nice. Donghyuck hasn’t been with anyone in a while so he probably just needed to take it out of his system one way or another.
Flirting with Yuta was one thing but Donghyuck found himself craving much more. What the limit was, he didn’t know. He didn’t know if kissing would be enough to get it out of the way or probably more. Donghyuck didn’t dare venture outside of anything innocent, he knew that would only complicate things. Besides, he felt Yuta would never let it get that far. Something about being older and feeling obligated to protect the younger members, Donghyuck theorized.
However, things became complicated anyway without even realizing it. He didn’t account for him to actually feel real feelings for him. Didn’t expect to be somewhat possessive over him either which was the scarier part. And why would he? Yuta wasn’t his or anyone else's for that matter. Not even Mark. Donghyuck was rather proud of himself for being able to rationalize that part honestly. Mostly thanks to Johnny. He was thankful he told him, otherwise, he’d probably hate Mark forever and he’d feel bad about that. Mark didn’t deserve that.
That night Mark came in like a lost puppy, Donghyuck couldn’t stay annoyed with him at all. Once Mark showed him a couple of dumb Instagram reels while Yuta was busy getting ready for bed, it was over for him. They ended up in fits of giggles in Donghyuck’s bed and passed out cuddling like they always used to.
Yeah, Donghyuck would be silly to stay mad at him.
Yuta teased them the next morning and Donghyuck honestly couldn’t find it in himself to be mad about it either because he ruffled both of their heads and hugged them tightly. Mark had laughed in response and Donghyuck could no longer ignore the butterflies in his tummy. They watched movies together as a trio until they had to check out of the hotel and Donghyuck realized how dumb he was for reacting that way in the first place.
Still, there was something there. Donghyuck knew there was. If only he hadn’t fallen over the bed, if only he hadn’t reverted to being so childish, something would have happened. Something they probably wouldn’t be able to come back from and he guiltily liked the idea of that.
Nothing else really happens again for another while, only because there isn’t time for anything when they arrive in Korea for another small break in between more schedules. Donghyuck misses his bed so the first thing he does is pass out on the mattress. He doesn’t take up Johnny or anyone else’s offers on eating out and he’s kind of afraid to see and talk to Yuta again so he stays cooped up in his room for a while, hiding from civilization.
It’s fine. He’s sure Yuta doesn’t notice nor does anyone else. They all need to recharge so it’s not like it’s anything out of the ordinary. Or so he thought.
“Open the door!” Mark yells outside. “FBI!”
“This couldn’t be a text or something?” Donghyuck mutters under his breath.
“No,” Mark says, closing the door behind him. “We have to talk.”
“What happened to, ‘Hello, my beloved, Haechannie?’” Donghyuck grumbles as he lays back into bed. “What happened to, ‘I missed you, my sweetest and bestest friend in the whole wide world?’”
Mark rolls his eyes but cracks a smile at that.
“Move over.”
“No,” Donghyuck whines.
“Come on,” He makes his way beside his bed and pokes him.
Donghyuck sighs and gives in, making room for Mark and even offering him refuge under the blanket. Mark takes it instantly, sighing in satisfaction.
“Johnny told me something," Is the first thing Mark says.
“Oh my god,” Donghyuck groans loudly. He tries hiding his face in his pillow and prays to whatever deity out there to make Mark disappear.
“Relax,” Mark reassures with a playful shove. “I’m not gonna make fun of you. Honest.”
Donghyuck frowns into the pillow.
“Doubtful.”
Mark snorts, “Well, if it means anything at all. I don’t like him. Not like that anyway. And I honestly think you should go for it.”
It kind of does mean something, but Donghyuck doesn’t want to say anything just yet.
“Do you want me to stop?” He asks with a serious expression on his face. It’s a genuine question and well-meaning. Which was honestly pretty expected of Mark. Damn him. He’s really too good for this world.
Donghyuck pouts, touched by Mark’s concern, and his internal resentment towards him is instantly replaced by guilt and shame.
“No,” Donghyuck shook his head. “No, that’s okay.”
“Really?” Mark frowns. “Be honest, you can tell me seriously. I won’t judge.”
It was a nice gesture but it was unreasonable of him to ask that of him. They were all friends after all and it didn’t make sense for them to stop just because of unexpected feelings getting in the way.
“You can tone it down,” Donghyuck decides. “But I don’t care. I already know you don’t like him anyway.”
“You do?” Mark asks, sounding genuinely surprised.
“Yeah, because you like J-”
“Okay!” Mark covers his mouth. “That’s enough!”
Donghyuck doesn’t miss the opportunity to lick his palm and Mark smacks his mouth lightly like a naughty cat.
“You have problems!” Mark exclaims.
“So do you!” Donghyuck yells back.
“Ugh, gross,” He rubs his wet hand over the fabric of Donghyuck’s shirt. Donghyuck frowns and shoves him away but Mark is stronger for some god-awful reason and wrestles him over onto his back. Donghyuck groans out and knees Mark in the thigh which ends up tickling him and jostling the two of them.
“Mark, if you don’t just lay the fuck down.”
“No!” Mark yelps. “Stop, it tickles, Hyuck!”
“You stop! Oh my god-”
Donghyuck doesn’t know how, but somehow Mark spasms so hard and ends up nearly kneeing Donghyuck between his legs. Donghyuck cries out and tries to avoid the offending limb by leaping away but it’s no use. Mark’s belt is caught on the woolen thread of Donghyuck’s sweater and they both end up tumbling to the floor with Donghyuck on top of Mark and Mark clutching his head in pain.
“Donghyuck—oh.”
Both Mark and Donghyuck snap out of their daze and turn to find Yuta of all people by the door.
Donghyuck pales and Mark laughs awkwardly.
“Uh, hi, Yuta.”
“Hey,” Yuta greets. “Didn’t expect to find you here, Mark.”
“Yeah, well,” Mark tries to shrug casually like he wasn’t red in the face and panting. “I’m everywhere.”
Yuta then shifts his gaze over to Donghyuck. “What are you…” He gestured vaguely in the air. “Should I even ask?”
“Oh, it’s nothing! Just.” Donghyuck swallows as he tries to come up with an inconspicuous excuse. “Trying to stay limber. It’s good for the uh…tendons.”
Mark shoots him a look of disbelief.
“Right,” Yuta says, voice clipped. He doesn’t even blink. “I just came in here to tell you that Jaehyun wants his earbuds back.”
That's weird. It was unlike Jaehyun to do such a thing, especially considering what happened. Jaehyun was also not afraid to be direct so he wasn't sure why Jaehyun would send Yuta to Donghyuck’s room for this. He distantly wondered if there was another purpose for his visit but he also remembered Taeyong inviting a couple of them over at some point. Donghyuck didn’t know, he didn’t bother opening the group chat.
“Oh,” Donghyuck glances over at the aforementioned earphones resting on his gaming desk. “Tell him to wait a little longer. My new ones should be getting delivered sometime this week.”
“‘Kay,” Yuta gives a curt nod before retreating behind the door.
Donghyuck lets out a small sigh of relief, his shoulders dropping from the tension as well.
“Oh!”
Donghyuck shoots over to the door and watches as Yuta’s head pops back in.
“And, Hyuck?”
“Yes, hyung?” Donghyuck bites his lip nervously, having not expected Yuta to come back. He wonders if Yuta will ask to talk about whatever weird thing happened before. It might be overdue.
Yuta looks him up and down before they lock gazes once again.
“Your fly is down.”
“Oh my god,” Donghyuck gasps, hands flailing to shield his crotch in mortification. He peers down as he hears Yuta giggle and shut the door.
Mark snorts, then comments, “Nice green underwear.”
“Shut up,” Donghyuck grumbles as he zips himself up. His cheeks are furiously warm and he hopes to god that it doesn’t show.
—
“Here,” Donghyuck hands him the headphones before plopping down over Jaehyun’s bed. A couple of days passed, his new headphones arrived in mint condition and he no longer had any need for Jaehyun’s. “I know you probably missed them sooo much but you didn’t need to send Yuta hyung. You could have just told me.”
Jaehyun pauses for a moment to look at Donghyuck.
“I didn’t.”
“What?”
“I didn’t send Yuta hyung,” He frowns. “I never…I'm confused I think?”
.
.
.
Nakamoto Yuta!
“You liar!”
Donghyuck bursts into his room. He finds him stretched out on his bed reading manga. His t-shirt is bunched up around his midriff, exposing his toned stomach which Donghyuck tries very hard not to stare at.
“I mean,” Yuta squints at him, his voice a bit gruff from disuse. “I'm sure you’re right but could you be more specific?”
Donghyuck sneers at him, crossing his arms as he scoffs. “Jaehyun’s headphones!”
Yuta blinks at him. He doesn’t say anything yet again, only lowers the book before slipping the bookmark inside and closing it. He places the manga on his nightstand before peering up at Donghyuck with those dark eyes that never fail to make his knees weak.
Donghyuck shifts uncomfortably under his intense gaze and considers turning on his heel and walking right back to his room but then Yuta speaks up.
“So let me get this straight,” He drawls, his tone devoid of emotion. “You came all the way over here to confront me about…Jaehyun’s headphones? In person?”
Donghyuck frowns, “Well, duh. I just said–”
“I don’t believe you,” He cuts him off, tone icy.
“You–” Donghyuck blanches. “You don’t ‘believe’ me?”
“You don’t even believe yourself,” Yuta looks at him almost angrily. “So, out with it. Tell me what you really came here for.”
He sits up and crosses his arms. Donghyuck tries not to look visibly disappointed when the fabric completely covers his waist. He swallows, hoping Yuta hasn’t noticed.
Was he really here for his headphones? That had been his initial reason but when he thinks about it deep down, Yuta was right. What did he expect to happen after Yuta answered? Whether or not he did deny it, then what? It didn’t really change anything.
Truthfully, he wanted to continue where they left off.
Right before Mark interrupted them. Right before he fell off the bed. Right before Jaehyun’s stupid headphones came into the picture. Donghyuck wanted to know just what direction they were heading in.
“Hey, focus,” Yuta calls him, snapping his fingers. “Won’t you say something?”
Donghyuck doesn’t say anything. Instead, he kisses him.
It catches Yuta off guard, Donghyuck knows. He makes a surprised noise when Donghyuck surges forward and presses their lips together. It’s a cute sound and Donghyuck wonders with a shiver what other noises he’s capable of making.
The kiss itself is by no means gentle at all. It’s firm and assertive and Donghyuck wants to keep kissing him but he then feels Yuta stiffen under him.
Donghyuck stops immediately to pull away, worried he may have misread the situation, but then, he feels a hand at the base of his neck and suddenly he’s being pulled into his lap as Yuta reconnects their lips, harder this time.
Donghyuck is absolutely losing his mind.
Yuta is kissing him. Yuta whose attention he's been craving for so long, Yuta who relentlessly tortured him with his indifference, Yuta who used to reject him so much; Donghyuck swore he was going insane. Yuta is still driving him insane, just this time, with his body pressed up against Donghyuck's as he tries to pull all of the oxygen out of him.
Yuta wants this too.
Yuta kisses like he’s actively trying to devour him, like he's just as desperate and impatient for it as Donghyuck is. There's almost something possessive about it too and Donghyuck becomes increasingly alarmed with himself as he realizes just how much he likes that.
He draws Donghyuck even closer to him so that their chests are touching. It’s probably the closest they’ve ever been but Donghyuck wishes there was a way for them to be even closer than this. Donghyuck doesn’t think he will ever be satisfied though. Not until they’re fused together, until their bodies are a tangled heated mess.
Donghyuck nips his bottom lip curiously and runs his hands over Yuta’s sides before settling them over his waist, and, god, Yuta’s waist is incredible. Absolutely nothing could have ever prepared him for this. The real thing. Right in his hands. Donghyuck breathes in, trying to compose himself, but then Yuta’s licking over his lips and Donghyuck is instantly overcome with an intense wave of need.
He whines unabashedly, any bit of sense he has left flying straight out of the window as he lets Yuta open his mouth up with his tongue. It makes Donghyuck feel crazed, like somehow every single nerve ending is directly connected to all of Yuta. His lips, his hands, his tongue; his entire body responds to every little thing, every sensation. It should concern him, the effect he has on him, it does slightly, but then Yuta is squeezing the back of his neck, caressing his face, then eventually running his hands over his firm chest and Donghyuck is completely on fire and he can no longer conjure up a coherent thought. Donghyuck keens under his touches, leaning into his hands as he can't bear being away from him for even a moment and it appears that Yuta can't either. It makes Donghyuck feel so good, like he's wanted, and the heat pooling in the pit of his stomach is slowly getting harder to ignore with every drag of his lips. It certainly doesn’t help that Yuta's kisses become so dirty, so wet, his mouth is so hot against his own and all Donghyuck can taste is Yuta. It's all he wants to taste. It’s the most overwhelmed he’s felt just from kissing but it’s not enough, he knows it isn't.
Donghyuck musters all of his mental strength to remove his hands from his waist before planting them over Yuta's shoulders and pushing him onto his back.
Yuta gasps at the sudden change in position and he looks up at Donghyuck in surprise yet it almost doesn’t show. His eyelids are too heavy, his gaze heated, the same way he looked that night at the hotel room and Donghyuck can’t help but groan at the sight of him. He was perfect.
Not able to resist him any longer, Donghyuck quickly scrambles, hovering over him, and steals his lips in another searing kiss. Yuta moans quietly and the sound goes straight to his dick. It was also just a massive stroke to his ego because Yuta moaned, because of him. He’s so sure he’s going to explode.
Wanting to do anything in his power to draw out more noises from him, he begins peppering kisses over his jaw, then his neck which he quickly learns is where Yuta is most sensitive. Yuta jerks his hips upward slightly, gasping, as Donghyuck sucks a specific spot over his neck and Donghyuck’s eyes widen in shock as he feels Yuta, half-hard against his thigh.
Donghyuck opens his mouth to make a teasing comment but then Yuta’s leaning forward and flipping them over so that Donghyuck is on his side. Yuta’s leg gets lodged in between his thighs and oh, his knee is pressed right up against his erection.
“Oh my god,” Donghyuck gasps wetly, rocking his hips forward. The friction's just too good, it’s just the right amount of pressure that has Donghyuck properly filling out in his sweats and he can’t help but chase it. He doesn't even care if he looks desperate, Yuta looks so pretty, he smells so good and he felt so good right against his aching cock.
Yuta watches in fascination, staying still as he lets Donghyuck rut against his thigh.
“Hyuckie,” Yuta murmurs, his hand coming up to rest over his jaw. Donghyuck looks up at him, mind hazy with arousal and glazed over eyes. “Baby,” He says softly, thumbing his lower lip.
Donghyuck immediately parts his lips before taking his thumb in his mouth again.
“You’re insatiable,” Yuta inhales sharply, pupils completely blown out. “What am I gonna do with you?”
Donghyuck whines, he doesn’t know. He only sucks harder in response, drooling over his thumb as he ruts helplessly against Yuta’s thigh. Yuta chuckles breathlessly, using his other hand to tug at his hair.
“You really like that, don’t you?” He asks, lowly. He presses his knee harder up against him, punching pained mewls out of Donghyuck. “You get so crazy when you finally have something in your mouth. Are you trying to impress me?”
Donghyuck can’t help the whimper that escapes his lips. It’s so embarrassing, red rises to his cheeks almost immediately after he realizes what he’s just done but he doesn’t miss the dangerous glint in Yuta’s eyes.
Yuta smiles at him sweetly, eyes crinkling yet again before removing his thumb from his mouth. Donghyuck whines, almost in frustration by the emptiness but then Yuta is petting his head and cooing at him, tapping three fingers against his lips.
“Open up,” He whispers prettily. “Be a good boy, Hyuckie. Show hyung what you want to do to him.”
Donghyuck isn’t proud of how fast he takes them into his mouth, nor of his volume. In his defense, his mouth was watering at just the sheer thought of what was to come, so really this was Yuta’s fault.
All he could think of was having Yuta’s cock in his mouth, having Yuta guide him with his hands, Yuta whispering praises of how good of a boy he was being just for him, Yuta with his head tipped back as he cums in his mouth, Jesus Christ.
Donghyuck can feel it. He’s straining in his underwear, probably making a wet patch over them and he secretly hopes Yuta can feel it too. The thought makes his eyes roll to the back of his head.
Yuta coos at him, whispering more praises before pressing his fingers hard against Donghyuck’s tongue.
He slurps, not realizing he’s been making a mess of his spit over the bed and his mouth and Yuta’s fingers. It’s so obscene how loud and just how filthy he’s being but Yuta doesn’t do anything to discourage him.
“Would you cum like this?” Yuta purrs, brushing his lips over his ear. “Cum in your pants, Hyuckie? Would you do it if I asked you to?”
Donghyuck would cum for so much less if Yuta asked.
Donghyuck doesn’t say anything, only moans in response, mouth full of his fingers.
“Cute,” Yuta giggles. “Not this time though, baby. I’ll give you something better.”
Donghyuck’s eyes widen as he realizes the implications behind his words and rushes to tug his sweatpants off. Yuta cackles but he removes his fingers from his mouth and helps Donghyuck out of his clothing.
Once his pants and boxers are kicked off, he wastes no time clinging to Yuta and whining at him. Yuta laughs breathily.
Donghyuck’s cock brushes against Yuta’s clothed thigh, it makes him shudder and he can't help but gently grind upward carefully. Admittedly the fabric provided a less-than-ideal sensation but it was something at least. Donghyuck noses at Yuta's neck before he bites down and ruts harder against his thigh to chase his own pleasure. Yuta lets out a tiny gasp before he then reaches to grab Donghyuck by the back of his neck to stop him.
“You’re gonna make a mess, Hyuckie,” He chides, his tone bordering strict it made Donghyuck feel dizzy.
Donghyuck almost pouts at him but then Yuta is sliding his hand over his stomach, then to the base of his dick before thumbing the sticky tip absentmindedly. Donghyuck groans loudly and bucks into his hand. His hand is still tacky and wet from Donghyuck’s spit and fuck, it feels so good. Donghyuck knows he's already getting closer to the edge.
Yuta takes notice of his reaction and smiles at him before going back to squeeze at the base and teasingly removing his hand.
No!
“No, hyung, no,” Donghyuck shakes his head frantically, desperation thickly laced in his voice. It’s the first time he’s spoken since this entire encounter but he’s too far gone to even care. “Hyung, please, please!"
“Hm?” Yuta pouts at him. “Please what?”
Donghyuck starts straddling him and frantically paws at him. “Hyung, touch me, please. Make me cum, Hyung. I’ll be your good boy, I promise.”
Yuta looks up at him hungrily through his lashes before giving in and properly wrapping his fingers around his cock. Finally, finally. Donghyuck has been thinking about how pretty his fingers would look around him. Has been dreaming of how good his hand would feel. Although his grip was almost too tight, almost painful but the next downstroke was deliciously wet, so good it left Donghyuck choking on air.
Donghyuck gasps, body slumping over Yuta's as he feels himself getting closer to the edge. Yuta clumsily jerks him off, looking up at him appearing just as fucked out as Donghyuck was feeling.
“Look at you,” Yuta coos at him. His thumb brushes over the slit, gathering the precum and spreading it over the furiously flushed head. “You’re so wet, Hyuckie. If I had known you were such a desperate little thing, we would have done this much sooner.”
Donghyuck cums embarrassingly hard and fast after that. He whimpers loudly as he spills into Yuta’s hand, letting Yuta pump him through it until he’s whiny and oversensitive. Donghyuck wonders about the other members for a passing moment but then Yuta gracefully distracts him, whispering praises, calling him a good boy (his good boy), and peppering kisses over his face until he’s sure Donghyuck has had enough. He eventually lets go of Donghyuck and peels himself away from him.
Donghyuck pouts at him tiredly and tries to reach out for him but Yuta sticks his tongue out at the younger, wiping his hand with a tissue. He then carefully cleans Donghyuck up, gingerly dabbing over his softening dick and tummy.
“Hyung,” He frowns after he comes back down. A part of him didn’t want Yuta to clean up so soon, if only because he wanted so badly to return the favor.
“Just a moment, baby,” Yuta murmurs before he deems them clean enough and returns to Donghyuck’s side.
Donghyuck preens and starts trailing his hand over Yuta’s body. Yuta catches his wrist and forces him to stop much to his dismay.
“It’s okay,” Yuta reassures as he shakes his head. “I just wanted to take care of you.”
Donghyuck is somewhere between scandalized and betrayed. He hopes his emotions show through by the hurt in his eyes which could be mistaken as his begging puppy dog eyes.
Yuta snorts, “Don’t be silly,” Yuta rolls his eyes but he laughs at him when his pout deepens. He pinches Donghyuck's nose softly and well…Donghyuck cheers internally. Yuta rarely did things like that. This was a big win for him and it almost made up for that. Almost.
“But…you…”
Yuta presses a kiss on his forehead. “Really, Hyuck. It’s okay. Besides, we should probably have a talk before we go any further. Taeyong might kill us. Or Mark, whichever one comes first.”
“Boner killer,” Donghyuck groans but he knows Yuta is right, he just wishes Yuta was right after they were both satisfied.
Yuta cackles and smacks him on the thigh. Donghyuck yelps.
Yuta then gets dangerously close to his face before kissing him hard on the mouth. Donghyuck kisses back eagerly and hungrily but it’s cut off shortly as Yuta pulls away quickly, leaving Donghyuck winded. Yuta was crazy, he was exactly Donghyuck’s type.
“Penny for your thoughts then I’ll let you do whatever you want after, okay?”
Donghyuck is still reeling from the kiss. He swears he can see hearts popping up and spinning around him as he tries to redirect himself.
“Okay,” He repeats. “Well, to answer your um, question from earlier…I really did initially come to talk about the headphones.”
Yuta snorts but he nods in understanding.
“But mostly,” He continues. “I wanted to talk to you.”
Yuta hums, “About?”
It takes a couple of moments for Donghyuck to muster up the courage. It’s honestly silly to do so, especially after what they just did but this is something Donghyuck didn’t want to mess up on. Of course, it did take him an embarrassing amount of time to also finally be honest with his feelings but if there’s one thing he’s learned throughout this whole entire whatever this was with Yuta, it’s that Donghyuck can only bullshit for so long, and he also simply cannot outsmart Yuta. He finds there’s no point in it either, he wants Yuta and he’ll be damned if he’ll let this opportunity slip by him. Besides, he knows Yuta wants him, at least that’s what his deductive reasoning has led him to think.
Still, it does make him nervous but the more he thinks about it, the more he can no longer lie to himself. He likes him. That’s why he’s here and…Jaehyun never sent Yuta—holy fuck, his heart is pounding, Yuta made it up.
Yuta likes him.
“Hyung,” Donghyuck says. “I want to go out with you.”
There’s a light flush that appears on Yuta’s face and it makes Donghyuck experience conflicting emotions. For one, it was heart-fluttering, however, he was also fighting the demon inside of him that was going feral at the sight of his shyness. He couldn’t believe it, Johnny was right.
“Okay,” Yuta says softly. “Take me out some time.”
“Really?” Donghyuck asks, a dopey smile forming on his face. “Hyung, really really?”
Yuta laughs and rolls his eyes, “Yeah, Hyuck. Really really.”
Donghyuck straddles him again, he can’t help it, Donghyuck finds that his lap is his favorite place in the whole world. Donghyuck grabs his face and kisses him. Yuta giggles into the kiss and it makes Donghyuck smile wider and he hugs Yuta tightly. It’s the sweetest kiss they’ve had yet and Donghyuck thinks he’s falling for him fast.
“You definitely lied just to get me here, didn’t you?” Donghyuck murmurs.
Yuta doesn’t say anything. He just smirks at him.
“God,” Donghyuck groans. “That’s so hot.”
Yuta laughs at him, mostly in disbelief. “You are such a weirdo.”
Donghyuck grins, “But your weirdo now.”
“Yeah,” Yuta smiles at him, reaching up to tug at his ear. “My weirdo.”
Donghyuck swoons, “Hyung, if you keep talking like that, a round two might have to be arranged soon.”
Yuta squawks and he wiggles under Donghyuck but Donghyuck presses his weight against him and pins his wrists to the bed. Realistically, Yuta is definitely stronger than him and probably faster but a boy could dream.
“Gee,” Yuta sighs. “You must really have a thing for manhandling or something.”
Donghyuck scoffs, “You do too.”
Donghyuck refrains from quipping, if I’m into manhandling, and you’re into manhandling, then who’s flying the plane?
“I never said that!”
“Then, what’s this?” He asks, removing one of his hands from his wrists to cup the front of his pants. Yuta bucks into his hand, still half-hard. Donghyuck was honestly impressed but also incredibly over the moon by this.
“Hyuck,” He gasps, his hand flying to grab Donghyuck’s arm.
“Let me take care of you, hyung,” Donghyuck murmurs, kissing him as he strokes him over the fabric. “I’ll be good, I promise.”
“Ah,” Yuta breathes, Donghyuck squeezes him lightly and feels him hardening and filling out more. Excitement begins to thrum in his veins. Donghyuck could get used to this.
Yuta manages, “But aren’t I the one in control here?”
“No,” Donghyuck says, nipping his jaw and sucking a faint mark. “Never.”
Yuta giggles and runs his hand over the sides of his bare thighs, scratching lightly against the surface of heated skin.
“Do your worst then,” He murmurs, turning his head to look at Donghyuck.
Donghyuck can tell he’s amused but Donghyuck wants to show him just how capable he is. Sure, Donghyuck has been fighting so long and hard for his attention, but now that he had it well...Donghyuck will be all Yuta needs. He'll make sure Yuta knows of it.
“No more teasing,” Donghyuck growls. “No more from you.”
Yuta lets out a surprised and out-of-breath laugh. “Oh? I thought you liked it.”
Yuta then reaches to pull up his tank top, revealing his tattoos, his toned stomach, and most importantly the jeweled piercing nestled in his navel. Donghyuck feels his cock stir in interest. God, he was being obvious then.
“No, hyung!” Donghyuck groans, shaking his head, trying not to stare directly at his bare torso. “You don’t play fair.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” Yuta apologizes but he doesn’t sound sorry at all. In fact, he’s grinning at him hard. Donghyuck’s going to wipe that smug look off his face. “You’re just too cute to play with.”
Normally, Donghyuck would be so happy to finally have his natural cuteness acknowledged, especially from Yuta. He's been working so hard to have it acknowledged by him after years of nothing, but oddly enough, right now, he wanted to be anything but. Funny how things worked like that.
“I’m not cute,” Donghyuck growls before diving in to bite over his chest.
He hopes Yuta doesn't plan on finishing that book any time soon. They might be up all night.
_
Johnny [10:36 pm]: So, now that Yuta and Haechan are official
Johnny [10:36 pm]: I’m def best man right lol?
Mark [10:37 pm]: Hey what do you mean!!!! I’m their best friend
Taeyong [10:41 pm]: ???
Jungwoo [10:44 pm]: D:
Doyoung [10:44 pm]: What!?
Jaehyun [10:46 pm]: not too fast let them both decide i trust they will make the right decision
Jaehyun [10:47 pm]: right guys?
Yuta [10:56]: Well we need time to figure it out. I mean we’ve known u guys for like ten years, it's a difficult decision to make on a whim
Yuta [10:56]: Just kidding it’s Mark
Haechan [10:57]: oh ffs