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What Taekwoon was not expecting at around nine in the evening, was to hear his door code being buzzed in.
"Hello?" he called out tentatively. Not that many people had his door code, and he didn't think his parents would visit so late and unannounced. He was pretty sure Hakyeon had an early morning too. He adjusted his oversized robe as he peeked into the entryway.
Minseok's head popped up like a groundhog, still changing his shoes for slippers. His gummy grin widened when he saw Taekwoon.
"Taekwoon-ah! Did you miss me?"
Taekwoon stared flabbergastered for a moment, before rushing forward to give Minseok a hug. "It's you! Why are you here? I thought you were busy!"
"Because you were too busy to see me," Minseok said, putting a small whine in his voice that was an eerily similar impression of Taekwoon. Taekwoon had to let it slide, because Minseok hadn't come empty handed, and he used the moment of pouty silence to thrust his gifts into Taekwoon's arms.
And as everyone knew, Taekwoon loved gifts.
Even more when it was wine (with a cute little ribbon bow tied around the neck) and an unexpected tennis racket (with a matching cute little ribbon bow tied around the handle).
"Just for you." Minseok beamed.
Taekwoon burst out laughing when he saw the second, throwing his head back and laughing loud enough it'd disturb the neighbours if his walls were any thinner.
"You shouldn't have," Taekwoon said, after he'd regained his composure, even as he happily brought them with him into the living room.
His recently remodelled living room. It wasn't so much remodelled as redecorated, because he wanted something more refined, more mature. Instead of cute pillows and stuffed animals on the couch (they'd gone into his bedroom instead) he'd only kept a few embroidered cushions (even if Hyukkie kept calling them grandma patterned) and some tasteful paintings on the wall. The key point, after all, was the lighting, and Taekwoon didn't want to take away from it. It made the place cozy, and he liked being cozy, especially when he came home at night. He liked being able to tune it to whatever colour he wanted, and he especially liked turning it into a warm red.
"Isn't it pretty?" Taekwoon gestured specifically at the smart bulb, in case Minseok had missed the coloured ambience.
He'd been ready to wind down for the night when Minseok had shown up—the lights dimmed and warmly tinted on his favourite setting, a bottle of wine cooling in an ice bucket, and a concert DVD queued up and ready to go. Minseok looked about appreciatively and nodded.
"Very nice," he agreed.
Taekwoon beamed at the compliment.
He paused to put the wine on the table and propped the much whined over tennis racket against the sofa, before he draped himself all over Minseok. Minseok was different from his members—much shorter, for one, like a very compact Hyukkie. His back was solid and firm against Taekwoon's chest. Unlike Sanghyuk (although Taekwoon was slowly training him to be better about it), Minseok didn't push Taekwoon off when Taekwoon let all his weight fall against Minseok. He turned his head slightly so he could tuck his face against Minseok's neck, nuzzling very slightly at the soft skin.
"I did miss you," Taekwoon said, barely audible to anyone but Minseok, even if they hadn't been alone. He followed it up with a quick and gentle kiss that had Minseok laughing softly.
"Mind if I join you for a glass?" Minseok asked. He hitched Taekwoon onto his back in one movement—Taekwoon squeaked and clutched him tighter as Minseok carried him to the wine rack to get a second glass without waiting for Taekwoon's answer.
One way Minseok was the same as the members was that he was unbelievably strong.
"Don't drop it!" Taekwoon warned, sounding a little too piteous.
"I'll drop you before I drop your wine glass," Minseok promised solemnly. At least Taekwoon (mostly) trusted Minseok not to drop him either.
Minseok deposited Taekwoon gently onto the floor next to the coffee table, before putting the wine glass down next to the one Taekwoon had already prepared for himself.
"I'm surprised you haven't already started," Minseok said.
"I got home late," Taekwoon said. And then he'd spent close to an hour just sitting on the floor and scrolling on his phone, but no one needed to know that.
"Rehearsal?" Minseok asked.
"Gym," Taekwoon said, which was a half truth, he supposed. Minseok's eyes twinkled like he knew.
"No ice today?" Minseok raised an eyebrow, prompting a spluttered laugh and a bony elbow in his side.
"Not after last time," Taekwoon grumbled, giving him a side-eye that Hongbin would've been proud of. Last time, when he'd been teased mercilessly for hours. Minseok's laugh was open and unabashed, and Taekwoon's heart inexplicably warmed. He was truly blessed.
He let his weight tip over, and for Minseok to hold it instead, sturdy and steady and firm. Not even a word of complaint or a hint of teasing like he'd get from Sanghyuk or Hakyeon, and definitely not a grumbled whine like he'd get from Jaehwan. Just a pat on his leg, like Minseok knew.
Minseok did know, he knew a lot, he knew so much, and it'd been ten long years since they'd met. Other than his members, Minseok probably knew the most. How couldn't he, when the path he'd walked was so similar in so many ways. And different, and shared. Taekwoon wrapped his arms around Minseok's side, and breathed in the fresh scent of soap. Minseok probably had been at the gym.
"Love you," Taekwoon murmured, just under his breath. He could feel his cheeks flush a little—he really needed some wine.
So thinking, he quickly pulled away. Minseok always seemed to smile with his whole body and Taekwoon felt it in that moment. He hesitated a moment, and then swapped the wine he'd already been cooling with the one that Minseok had just brought. He left the ribbon on.
"Oh, planning on going through both tonight?" Minseok asked.
Taekwoon shook his head. He did have rehearsal tomorrow morning, and even between the two of them, two bottles of wine might be a bit much.
"Do you have to go home soon?" Taekwoon asked.
"Hmm, I have some time," Minseok said.
"Stay over?" Taekwoon asked hopefully, glancing over his shoulder. It'd been a while since he'd gotten to cuddle with anyone in bed, just to cherish that shared warmth that he'd so missed. He'd never thought that would've been one of the things he'd miss when he'd moved into his own apartment, but there were a lot of things he hadn't thought would happen.
Like really wanting to cuddle Minseok. Cuddle anyone in general, but right now, especially Minseok.
There was a long pause, and Taekwoon was ready to accept another lonely night in bed when Minseok lifted a shoulder in a shrug and then nodded.
"Why not," he said, corner of his mouth stretching in a wide smile. Taekwoon impulsively surged forward and gave him a tight hug.
"So? Did you have something in mind while we wait?" Minseok asked, when Taekwoon finally let go.
"Um..." Taekwoon flushed a little and then scurried over to the TV, He picked up the DVD box—Elysium—and held it up. "Is it okay?"
"I haven't watched it, so it's more than okay," Minseok said.
Taekwoon beamed. He already had it in, so he just grabbed the remote to hit play. Minseok had moved to the couch and Taekwoon joined him as the opening VCR played. He'd watched this before, and the VCR wasn't the part he really wanted to watch again anyway.
Minseok looped an arm instinctively around Taekwoon, Taekwoon already leaning against him, his knees tucked up to his chest. There was a blanket somewhere, but Minseok's warmth was more than enough and there was still some time before the dead cold of winter hit. It was enough to lean against Minseok's side, Minseok's chest, and just cherish Minseok's arms around him. Taekwoon had watched this DVD before (and participated in the making of the content itself) but it was the first time he'd watched it with Minseok, and could experience Minseok's little reactions, his laughter, and the way Minseok would wiggle his eyebrows suggestively at Taekwoon, sending a flush from the tip of his toes all the way to the roots of his hair.
And for Taekwoon, those were both memories and nostalgia and joy and the wistful ache with the loss of youth.
It was hours later (although it felt like minutes) that the final encore finished, never long enough as always, and that the screen went blank. They sat there for a moment in the silence, as Minseok pulled Taekwoon a little closer, hugged him a little tighter.
"I think the ice has melted," Minseok said, breaking the quiet.
Taekwoon sat up and peeked into the wine cooler. The ice wasn't all gone, but it was more water than ice at this point.
"The ice did its job," Taekwoon said solemnly.
He poured for them both, carefully turning the bottle as he finished. It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't like he was a professional sommelier.
"Cheers," Minseok said, clinking their glasses together.
"Cheers," Taekwoon said. It was a nice, warm, feeling. Quiet.
"Mind if I pick the music?" Minseok pulled out his phone, connecting to the speaker bluetooth without waiting for Taekwoon to answer. Taekwoon nodded anyway, even if it was redundant. It was usually just a randomly generated playlist, something to fill the space and set the mood.
He wasn't expecting, of all things, Chained Up to start playing.
"Minseok!" Taekwoon exclaimed.
"Taekwoon!" Minseok imitated, his eyes twinkling. "Good song, isn't it?"
They both laughed, especially when Minseok mimed pulling at a choker.
It was comfortable to just sit there for a while, sipping at their wine. They took a quick proof shot, and then Taekwoon settled down and leaned against Minseok. They chatted a little about the mundane things in life, but for the most part, were content to enjoy the ambience. The music shuffled along, a mix of recent dance songs and nostalgic ballads, some of which had Taekwoon singing softly along to. There was one moment that sent them into such cascading laughter Taekwoon had to scramble for his phone. He sent the video to Minseok, and it was a long time before they stopped giggling from the chaos they knew it'd create when they posted it to their respective bubbles. They crafted the message together, Taekwoon's bony chin digging into Minseok's shoulder, setting off another round of giggles when they posted the proof shots.
"I missed you," Taekwoon said, words sliding into the space between two songs. His glass wasn't quite empty and he was careful not to slosh wine over the sides as he wrapped his arms around Minseok and hugged him tightly from behind. He could feel Minseok's smile, and for a moment was worried that Minseok would laugh at him for being cheesy, but all he did was pat Taekwoon on the arm.
"Did you miss me?" Taekwoon followed it up with.
Minseok did laugh at this, a quiet one that faded away quickly. He reached for Taekwoon's hand, the free one, and interlaced their fingers. Minseok's hand was firm and sturdy like the rest of him, and Taekwoon returned his grip.
"Why'd you think I came?" Minseok asked. He plucked Taekwoon's glass from unresisting fingers and put it down next to his own empty one. His eyes were very serious as he turned around, jostling Taekwoon's chin from where it'd been resting on his shoulder. Holding Taekwoon's gaze, Minseok lifted their joined hands and softly kissed Taekwoon's fingers. His eyes were serious and smiling all at the same time. Taekwoon knew he was flushed red, and not only from the wine.
"Cheesy," Taekwoon mumbled, dropping his gaze.
"You love it," Minseok said, with all the confidence of someone who knew he was right. He cupped a hand against Taekwoon's cheek and tilted his face up until they were looking eye to eye.
"Cheesy," Taekwoon said again, because he didn't really know what else to say. Sometimes, his old habits got the best of him. Not everything needed words, though, and Minseok's widening smile was all the encouragement Taekwoon needed to lean forward and kiss him chastely on the lips. It was Minseok who deepened it, kissing him slowly but insistently, leaving Taekwoon literally breathless. He tasted, unsurprisingly, like the wine they'd just had.
Anything more was interrupted by a jaw-cracking yawn. Taekwoon covered his face in mortification, turning as red as he'd ever been.
"Alright, let's get you to bed," Minseok said, after he'd finally stopped laughing.
"Are you going to stay?" Taekwoon asked. He drained the rest of his glass, and when prompted, emptied the few drops remaining in the bottle into Minseok's. The empty bottle went with the other empty bottles, ready for recycling.
"Didn't I say I would?" Minseok replied.
"You did," Taekwoon said.
"We probably shouldn't post about that," Minseok said.
"You're probably right," Taekwoon agreed. He had to bend down a little bit to kiss Minseok on the forehead—it might've been a sweet moment if another yawn hadn't forced itself out again. Bed and cuddles seemed like a better idea by the second.
