Chapter Text
'Seungmin? What are you doing here?'
'Wait, you guys know each other?' asked Hyunjin confused.
Seungmin stood there, unsure of how to react. What was he doing here? And with Minho? He had never mentioned anything about his relationships to his friends, not out of mistrust but simply because he didn't know if they would last. But here he was. How was he going to explain all this now?
He scratched his neck and sighed.
'It's...a long story.'
'And I think I have a pretty good idea,' said Minho glancing at his brother's hickeys.
Lost, Jisung turned to Minho. 'Can I have a moment alone with him?'
The elder nodded and pushed his brother upstairs, leaving the two best friends alone in the living room. What had they gotten themselves into? They remained silent for a short moment before Jisung broke the ice.
'So...what are you doing here?'
'I should be asking you that.'
'Well, Minho invited me here to pick up some stuff...'
'And Hyunjin invited me too,' Seungmin said awkwardly.
'How do you know him?'
'We met seven months ago at one of my father's events.'
'Why didn't you tell us about it?'
'I don't know... I didn't see the need. I didn't think we'd see each other again after... And you with Minho, I thought he was just a friend?'
Jisung choked.
'He's... we're just friends!'
'Oh yeah? So what stuff did you come to pick up and where are you going next, in the middle of the night?' he raised an eyebrow.
'It's for his father and... for, uh... don't turn this against me!'
'I just want some answers because this is sus.'
'We're friends. And you're in a relationship and neither Felix nor I were aware,' Jisung crossed his arms.
Now it was Seungmin's turn to be at a loss for words.
'We're not together.'
'Are you sleeping together?' Seungmin frowned, remaining silent. 'Wait, what? Really? Seungmin!'
'Shut up, it's embarrassing enough as it is.'
Jisung's eyes widened in shock.
'You've been keeping this to yourself for seven months!? And of all people, it had to be Minho's little brother!'
Seungmin sighed. If he had talked about it earlier, he would never have had to face this kind of situation. He let himself fall against the back of the armchair, running a hand through his hair.
'Minnie,' Jisung placed his hand on his shoulder. 'I don't blame you for not saying anything. It's your private life, after all. But now that I know, I can't help but bombard you with questions. You'll have to deal with it.'
Seungmin chuckled. 'I figured.'
Jisung was the most understanding. But if Felix found out, it would be a whole different level.
'I thought you weren't going to be here until the end of the holidays?' Jisung recalled.
'I said that because you and Felix said you weren't going to be here either. The truth is, I didn't have anything planned except to see Hyunjin a few times.'
Jisung felt his heart tighten. They had also lied to Seungmin. But they couldn't help it, they weren't allowed to say anything.
'Yeah, sorry... the truth is...'
'That they're part of the Racha,' Seungmin cut in.
'How did you...?'
'I saw his tattoo. And knowing Minho, I wouldn't be surprised if he's also part of it. Although, I didn't know they were brothers. Oh and Chan too, by the way, I saw his tattoo when we were at the arcade,' Jisung nodded. 'How did you come to meet Minho?'
Jisung quickly recounted the story without going into details, starting with Lily's problems, then the hospital, the Bangtan spies and finally Minho and Changbin's surveillance. Seungmin listened, recognizing some of the details that Hyunjin had briefly mentioned.
Upstairs, Minho retrieved the weapons his father had asked him to take and put them into two large black bags. His brother was lying on their father's bed, staring at the ceiling.
'What do you think they're talking about?' he asked.
'I don't know... maybe about how his best friend ended up in your bed even though you're not supposed to know each other?'
'He didn't end up in my bed.'
'Not to me, Jinnie.'
'Alright, but where's the problem, concretely?'
'Jisung isn't supposed to tell anyone about what's going on. Seungmin shouldn't know either. And...' he turned to his brother. 'Does he know about you?'
'Yes. He figured it out on his own. And I also talked about some things but nothing too big.'
'So what are you exactly? I thought there was something between you and Jeongin?' he continued with what he was doing.
'Jeongin? No, there's nothing between us.'
'You've slept together, haven't you?'
'Yes... but it's nothing more than sex between us and he knows that.'
'And with Seungmin?'
'It's different with him. I don't know how to explain it. Normally, it should have just been sex too but I don't know. It's weird...'
'Be careful, because I don't think Jeongin sees it the same way you do.'
'He knows.'
'If you say so,' he got up and closed the bags. 'Are you heading back to the Racha or staying?'
'I'm staying, I need to drop Seungmin off later.'
Minho made his way to the living room, joining the two younger ones who seemed to be chatting. At least there weren't any arguments. He approached and saw his cat on the other couch. He sat down and picked him up.
'I knew you were a chatterbox,' he said to Jisung.
'No! He already knew most of the stor- a cat!' Jisung got up and sat next to Minho, petting the furry ball. 'Aww adorable!'
Minho smiled, glad the boy liked cats. Seungmin turned his gaze to Hyunjin, who sat beside him, trying not to touch him in front of the others. It was the first time he saw Hyunjin so...shy? He then looked at his best friend, literally sprawled on the couch, scratching the little cat's neck.
Friends, my ass.
After about ten minutes, Minho and Jisung got up, ready to leave. The two brothers had agreed that Seungmin should be aware of everything, now that he knew a large part and had left the rest to Hyunjin. Once outside, Seungmin grabbed Jisung's arm.
'Don't tell Felix. I'll tell him everything myself.'
'Okay,' Jisung smiled at his friend and said goodbye, with Minho already far ahead. 'Bye!' he got into the car, shivering from the cold.
Minho noticed and turned up the heater before starting the car.
'How come you didn't know?' he asked.
'He didn't tell me. He didn't think it would end up like this. Everyone has their secrets afer all...' he shrugged.
Minho smiled discreetly. Jisung was a very understanding and empathetic boy, a quality that was lacking in many. Having met many unsavory people in this city, whether they were locals or outsiders, he had lost faith in humanity but once again, Jisung was an exception.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the boy yawn, running a hand through his hair. It was around 11 PM and it was starting to rain again.
'You can sleep, we still have a long way to go.'
'I'm not tired,' Jisung replied.
'Yeah of course...'
'If I sleep now, I won't be able to sleep once we arrive.'
'You won't make it the whole way,' Minho warned.
'Yes, I will...'
Jisung turned his head towards Minho's hand on the wheel and took it in his own. Minho then switched hands, holding the wheel with his left. He intertwined his fingers with Minho's and played with them. There were a few pink spots, old battle scars. But one seemed larger.
'How did you get that?' he asked, brushing his thumb over it.
'I burned myself with boiling water while cooking.'
Jisung chuckled. 'You haven't always been good at it then...'
'No. Far from it.'
The brunet squeezed the boy's hand, watching the streetlights flash by them. Then suddenly, he had an idea. He took off one of his bracelets and slid it onto Minho's wrist.
'It looks good on you.'
'Did you make it?'
'I made it... sort of,' Jisung admitted. 'My mother finished it for me a long time ago after finding it on my desk.'
'And your father? You never talk about him. Are you not on good terms?'
'We are. He's not often at home since he's in the military. We get along very well, even though we do fewer things together,' Minho nodded as he listened. 'He taught me archery and how to build and dismantle things.'
'He seems nice.'
'He is,' Jisung smiled.
He let his head fall back against the seat, struggling not to succumb to sleep. Minho noticed and gently stroked his hand with his thumb, letting the silence do its work. It only took a few minutes before Jisung's eyes closed for good.
About thirty minutes later, once they arrived at the Racha, Minho gently woke the boy who had difficulty shaking off his nap. As they walked, Jisung kept his hand on Minho's arm, avoiding stumbling with every step until they reached his room. Minho opened the door and let him in.
'Can you find your bed?'
The brunet chuckled. 'Yes. Thank you,' he said approaching Minho and giving him a kiss.
Minho felt so comfortable that he was reluctant to let him go. His lips, his hands, his gaze... Would it be too bold to ask him to stay the night?
They pulled apart, gazing into each other's eyes. Their hands were still linked, as if they didn't want to let go.
After all, you only live once.
'Stay here tonight,' he dared to say. 'Well, if you want to of course,' he added.
Minho looked at him for a moment and then walked into his room, closing the door behind them. Sometimes, you just had to ask. Happy, Jisung smiled and hugged him, resting his head against his chest.
'I just don't have pajamas for two,' he said innocently against him.
Minho chuckled. 'I don't wear pajamas anyway.'
'Perfect...wait, what do you mean you don't wear pajamas?' Jisung lifted his head, unsure if he understood correctly.
'No pajamas for me.'
'So you sleep... nak-'
'In underwear, cheeky boy.'
'Yeah! In underwear, of course,' he corrected awkwardly. He detached himself from Minho and went to find pajamas for himself. 'Are you sure?'
Minho sat on the edge of the bed, amused, opening his bag.
'Unless it bothers you?'
'No...I don't think so,' Jisung seemed to be considering.
They each took their showers in turn before meeting in the same bed. Minho had indeed appeared in just his underwear, and Jisung did his best to keep his gaze from wandering too much. He really had a magnificent body. And his thighs...
'Shall I turn off the lights?'
'Yes,' Jisung replied, snapping out of his contemplation.
Minho turned off the light and slipped under the cold covers, facing Jisung, who watched him move in the dim moonlight. They were so close... he just wanted to sleep in his arms.
So timidly, he moved closer to Minho and tried to wrap his arm around him, which Minho welcomed, giving him full access. Satisfied, Jisung smiled and rested his head against Minho's chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. It was calm, unlike his own. His skin was warm and comforting. He felt one of Minho's hands venture onto his stomach, gently caressing his skin under his t-shirt. He shivered.
'Good night hyung.'
'Night Sungie...'