Chapter Text
Over the years, Jinhyuk had learned that the fastest way to get to know other players wasn’t through stats or even playing together - it was through the internet. Fans saw things they themselves didn't even realize they were revealing, immortalized in pictures, videos, memes. And social media, for better or worse, never forgot.
So on his first quiet afternoon after the full HLE26 roster announcement, Jinhyuk got comfortable on his couch, phone in hand and started scrolling.
Wooje, he already knew from their Asian Games time. He probably changed since then, but at least he had a baseline. Hwanjoong was next. Loud was the first word that came to mind, fun the next. The support seemed like someone right up his alley.
When looking up Minhyung, one thing became obvious pretty much instantly: he was a show man through and through. Whether his fan service was genuine or strategic remained to be seen, but frankly, he really seemed to love his community as much as they adored him. The currently biggest topic among the fans was an Instagram live stream of his. Just ten minutes or so of him talking about leaving T1 behind and looking forward to the future.
Wow, this guy really knows how to charm a crowd, doesn't he?
The fluffy dog he opened the stream with obviously only increased the appeal. Even he had to grudgingly admit that both the dog and its owner were kind of cute, especially together.
The last person he looked up was Geonwoo. Mid-jungle synergy was important, so Jinhyuk really hoped he’d get along with him.
The online presence of Zeka was almost the complete opposite to Gumayusi’s - few posts, rare interaction with fans, almost shy in interviews. It did seem like everyone in his new team was quite the animal lover though. Geonwoo’s white furball with its tongue sticking out looked adorable in his recent Instagram post.
Minhyung had liked the picture.
Geonwoo had liked the stream
A little loop of ‘I like your cute dog’.
Jinhyuk raised an eyebrow, amused. “Oh, some puppy love?” he murmured to no one.
He dug deeper, finding an old interview clip circulating again - Geonwoo saying he'd like to get to know Minhyung better. The internet ate it up. So did Jinhyuk. The comments were merciless.
< IS HE BLUSHING?! >
< just dinner with a bro, sure >
< human version of a samoyed – so cute >
Jinhyuk snorted aloud. A samoyed? Those big, fluffy balls of sunshine? He scrolled through some more photos of his new midlaner.
… okay, yeah, fair.
For a guy built like a football player, Geonwoo radiated a shocking amount of softness, something gentle and warm. The kind of personality that thrived with a strong, grounding presence beside him.
Guess that’s why he and Kingen worked so well together in DRX. Maybe Minhyung could be that now…
The thought made Jinhyuk smile
When staff called the whole team over for a tour of Camp One, Jinhyuk was genuinely excited. First meetings always promised awkwardness, but he had a good feeling about this team. And he had been right on both counts, the vibes were good and the atmosphere was pretty awkward while they walked through room after room.
Admittedly, he was only half paying attention, because he was far too busy keeping an eye on the two players he’d spent way too long researching.
Geonwoo and Minhyung seemed to gravitate towards each other. Far from fully relaxed in each other's presence, but there was … something. Hidden grins in the gym, stilted conversation in the kitchen and then that whole thing on the couch.
When they all sat down together in the lounge, they of course ended up right next to each other. Yes, mid and bot always sat that way, but still. The mood was much more relaxed at that point and the producer prompted some banter that ended with Hwanjoong kind of challenging Geonwoo to prove that he wasn’t uncomfortable around Minhyung. It could have been a normal-ish handshake, a slightly inelegant beginning of a friendship, but their smiles looked just a little too fond and neither let go immediately.
If Jinhyuk hadn’t already suspected something, that moment would’ve probably done it. He leaned back into the couch cushions, watching the two, laughing along with the rest.
Samoyed energy, indeed. Kind, a bit shy, happiest when someone confident was nearby to anchor him and tell him what to do. Minhyung certainly seemed to fit the bill.
If Jinhyuk's first impression was right, this team was going to be a very interesting experience and maybe even a wholesome one on top of that.
Geonwoo: You are truly terrible at acting like we don't know each other.
Minhyung: As if you were any better!