Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

2025 has been cruel.

Sanghyeok does not remember the last time he sat down without cutting his teatime to attend scrims. When was the last time he held the LCK trophy, the last time T1 beat Gen.G. He had renewed with the team but was it worth it? All he can think about, as he lay on his bed dead at 3 am is the devastating loss against Gen.G in the LCK lower brackets five days ago. The most infuriating part of this whole thing is not even the in-game defeat, it's the mid-laner from his rival team who, for whatever reason wouldn't stop outright seeking him out.

Before they lost to the rival team, there was a moment when Sanghyeok looked up from his monitor and made eye contact with Jihoon on the opposite side of the stage, only to see the eyes already set on him. Sanghyeok did avert his gaze somewhere else, but the warm blush had made its way to his neck in the silent confrontation from the younger.

Jihoon is without a doubt an attractive man and while their profession demands no such criteria, it definitely helps Jihoon act the way he does with Sanghyeok because no other player has the audacity to occasionally sent thirst traps to him like the younger player does. Jihoon knows how to use his lethal face card to sweep him off his feet but it's Sanghyeok we're talking about. He is not functioned to intercept such temptation.

A ping of notification breaks his stream of consciousness as he slowly retreats his phone from the side with his eyes still closed and obviously, who would it be if not the great Chovy in his glorious form. He groans.

Jihun

[photo]

just wanted to show u my worlds fit

don't you have finals to play in like 7 hours?

Go to sleep

I'd be waking up with amnesia tmr n would

still outplay that fuckass Viper

This. This is one of the reasons he cannot have a normal fucking day with Jihoon. Sanghyeok is clear headed most of the times, not even intense matches move him. People say he scales with pressure and they're absolutely right but when it comes to this midlaner- he doesn't know where he stands.

As far as he remembers, he's not in a relationship with anyone so there's no reason for Jihoon to act like a possessive boyfriend of ten years who wants to beat up people who breathes the same air as him.

dont start now

you want him to win.

why would I

may I remind u who pushed my

team to lower brackets to

lose to your team.

sorry.

But I stand by my word.

He can fuck off

stop hanging out w him

Jihoon, you're seriously so

annoying. he's your hyung

and I hang out with wangho too

wangho hyung don't

give u heart eyes

Dohyeon is just friendly

you're even on the first

name basis now

as I said, we're friends

he sure doesn't think so

how would you know that

i just know n I don't

like it one bit

that is none of my concern

you're heartless. 

I've been told

makes me wanna jump u

jump me? why would

you do that?

so innocent, hyung

you know what.

Don't answer that.

This conversation is going

nowhere. Go sleep

Sanghyeok doesn't wait for the reply. He switches off the phone and tucks it somewhere under his many pillows, quickly shutting off the reading lamp sparing himself the mental image of whatever Jihoon was about to say.

Sanghyeok remembers the first time the younger had approached him; it was during Asian Games and he faintly recalls Jihoon calling him 'Sanghyeokkie hyung' and sat beside him all evening. It was an innocent interaction between a senior pro player and a rising star midlaner like any other. They had won the tournament, gold medals hanging around their necks, Minseok has told him how grateful he was to play and win alongside him.

It was a core memory.

At present, he's tossing and turning to find proper sleep, but his mind takes him back to that evening after they won the tournament. They had gone to a nice hotpot place, the ambiance so warm that he could only take two sips of alcohol. Beside him, Jihoon nearly gapped five glasses of rice beer as though it was water. He remembers Jeonggyun slapping Jihoon's hand away when he tried to go for another one which earned him a snare from the younger. It was cute.

Ten minutes later, they found Jihoon face down on the table, small breath of 'Sanghyeok hyung' startling the older.

"Are you okay?" Sanghyeok had asked him. He looked over to where Minseok and Jaehyuk were sitting across the table, both looking equally concerned.

The thing is, Minseok had genuinely forgot to mention how the younger midlaner cannot be trusted with appropriate words after two shots of alcohol in his body and right now the support is virtually shitting his pants in fear. If he knew that this person was to swallow this much of alcohol, then he would have made excuses to skip the hotpot plan to save at least his own dignity, if not Jihoon's.

"Coach nim", everyone on the table was met with the sight of pouty Jihoon, whose eyes were still closed but the smile ever so charming as if he was not physically shitfaced at the moment. Before Jeonggyun could ask him anything, Sanghyeok sees the younger player open his eyes, his drunk gaze falling onto him.

Sanghyeok, for the first time after he had known the boy, actually felt something jittery with the way he was looked at. He cannot forget the intense stare, the heavy breaths, those unreadable micro expressions on Jihoon's face that left him still in his seat. It was the first time somebody had looked at him that way, like he was being stripped bare for the world to see.

He vaguely remembers looking away, slightly shifting in his seat, afraid of the next thing Jihoon would say if he looked at him any longer.

"Do you need anything, Jihoon-ah?" Jeonggyun had spoken after Jihoon went silent.

"I just...", and then he giggled, his head now resting sideways on his folded hands on the table and for the hundredth time that day, Sanghyeok found himself being stared at by the younger like a goddamn prize. Well, at least he is not part of Jihoon's drunk conversation or so he thought.

"Well ...I was saying, I love Sanghyeok hyung's company even if he speaks two sentences in total. He's like a sensitive cat but I like taking care of cats so it's fine as long as he lets me pet him."

It was a drunk gibberish.

But the silence was loud at the table, so loud that Sanghyeok remembers hearing Jinhyeok's muscle cracking as he shook his head in disbelief, Wooje's unattended shrimp falling down from his chopsticks and Jaehyuk's silent cry for help. Minseok looked like he was about to explode in embarrassment, his small hands covering his face because what is drunk Jeong Jihoon even about- embarrassing himself and eating away Minseok's sanity in front of the Coach and the Manager who, for some intangible reasons were holding back mad laughter like it was something very amusing.

Sanghyeok turned a bright shade of red, unable to look at anybody for the entire night after Jihoon blatantly announced that the wants to pet him like a goddamn cat. It's still a mystery to him how Jihoon went from innocently staring at him like a puppy to eyefucking him in a span of like, two seasons. And he never did anything to stop it.

-

The Inspire Arena is nothing like the usual Lol Park, there's more people, the stage so massive that Jihoon quite literally lost Giin few minutes ago before spotting him amongst other people. The match is against HLE, the same team that beat them 3-1 in the finals last season. He had missed this and although he would prefer not to face his former teammates this often, the itch to stomp a certain bot laner who won't stop mentioning Sanghyeok everywhere he goes, is still there. The aim is to beat HLE 3-0 and for Jihoon personally, he would like to melt Dohyeon 1 vs1 to make a statement and to simply gloat about it to Sanghyeok.

His train of arrogance is interrupted when he hears Dohyeon laugh on the other side of the room they're in, with Wangho and Wooje obviously, if not them then who clapping their hands in utter bliss. Irritation seeps into him like venom.

"...and what did Sanghyeok hyung say?"

Jihoon perks up at the mention of his daydream muse, the person he's been thinking about all morning after not getting a single reply since last night, his head now turning 180 degrees scanning the trio. It was Wangho who asked the question and looking at Dohyeon's smile, it was directed to him. Jihoon, at the moment seriously wanted to commit some disturbing crime to the said male.

"He dodged me obviously. You know how flustered hyung gets and I'm not mad, at least I got a good luck from him," he sees Dohyeon crossing his arms against his chest like a proud man.

"The next thing I know, you're asking him on a date" Wooje chimes in which earns him a light slap from Wangho, Dohyeon shaking his head to say no but looks too happy for someone who apparently said no.

"You want me blacklisted from his contact?"

"he's too polite to do such thing"

Jihoon, at this point wanted to strangle the former Gen.G jungler for feeding such ridiculous ideas to the already delusional man.

"May I remind you how long Bosung hyung waited to get his number? hyung is simply unmovable,"

Thank You Wooje.

"He ultimately gave the number"

Fuck you Wangho hyung.

The whole thing would not have been so bad if Sanghyeok had said something after he sent him multiple texts this morning, maybe then he would have minded his business and not sit here and plot murder instead of preparing for a game.

"Did you shit your pants?" Jihoon visibly stumbles back at Jaehyuk's voice, who's now standing infront of him, equipment already collected and seemingly ready to game. He adds, "why do you look constipated?"

"I am not"

"don't fret. We are winning this, Jihoon," and Jaehyuk pats his shoulder before walking out of the room.

Who's gonna tell Jaehyuk that his teammate is having some other type of crisis which cannot be solved by ganking the opponent mid.

Jihoon doesn't know how long he stares at his phone, a familiar empty chat glaring at him indicating that there's no new messages from Sanghyeok and it's making his skin itch. The itch to just leave the room and visit the bane of his existence to get his answers first hand. He takes a deep breath, counting the seconds up to ten and groggily walks out as well.

The opposite nexus is down, Chovy taking the last kill on the HLE support before quickly joining the group hug. He is relieved, more so that he is satiated. That look on Park Dohyeon, that sombre eyes when he lost the fight to Chovy's Corki in the final moment was a sight to remember.

Take that Jihoon thought.

By the time the opponent team has walked up to them for the compulsory fist bump, Jihoon had already made up his mind to bark at Dohyeon.

Fuck professionalism.

The said male was the last one to approach them bowing slightly as the loss was devastating 3-1 but unlike Jihoon, he had the decency to smile, nonetheless. He mutters, "good game"

Jihoon believes he needs no comments from an alleged man stealer, so he grits his teeth in reply, "unfortunately not for you."

That earns him a startled look from the bot laner, which soon turned into a bitter scowl. The defeat not helping him school his already disappointed expression.

"What are you? twelve?"

"But was I wrong?" Jihoon throws him an innocent look.

"don't piss me off, Jihoon-ah," and he bumps his chest against the younger's arm on purpose.

It's a normal banter, which Jihoon clearly started but that particular bump made his head hotter than it already was and before he can stop himself, he takes a small step and shoves the former teammate back. His outward strength which comes from his giant size body didn't help Dohyeon from slightly stumbling forward in the course of such interaction.

All of this felt like an alpha rage, quite funny but extremely agile. Jihoon's vision becomes so blind in anger that he doesn't register hundreds of bewildered eyes on him.

It happens fast, one minute Jihoon is turning around to tug off his headphones and the next second he is shoved across two seats until his jacket is swayed halfway on his elbow. Jihoon recovers surprisingly quick, body turned around and he's already on his heels to grab the HLE botlaner to swing his fist.

However, it doesn't land anywhere because Geonwoo is separating the two players before it escalates into a full time MMA fight, Jaehyuk and Mingyu already grabbing him by the shoulder to sit him down in one of the chairs as Dohyeon is pulled away on the other side of the stage.

Wangho looking at them like he doesn't know whom he's supposed to scold in this situation, ultimately grabbing Dohyeon by the arm who looked like he wants to charge forward.

Jihoon was not having it, his breaths coming in short, "move- Jaehyuk hyung let me go!"

"No what the fuck. calm your ass down."

"what even was that about??" he feels Giin suddenly standing between him and the view of Dohyeon retreating.

On the other side, Dohyeon- whose eyes are still locked on him, is being talked to by Hwanjoong, his distant 'fuck off man. What was his problem?' can be heard which made Jihoon feral once again.

"My fucking problem?? He's asking me??" He's wrenching his arms out of his teammates' hold but is dragged down further with Gen.G staff in attendance. He shouts, "my problem is you acting like an absolute dog lapping up to him like- why don't you stay the fuck away from him and mind your own fucking business!"

And he sees Dohyeon turning around for a bit, shutting his mouth, eyes wide and absolutely stunned. His expressions giving off three different emotions before he blinks rapidly at the realization of what really was the younger player's problem for him to start a fight like this, that too in the public eye.

Before Jihoon could see any more of the botlaner's face, he's met with Giin's startled eyes followed by a series of multiple gasps from his teammates. Their gaze falling onto his shoulder, more specifically his headphone.  

For a moment, Jihoon feels goosebumps climbing onto him, he hears no more screaming and hollering from the audience, the casters' voices are missing, even the two teams seem to mindlessly stare at him and says nothing. Jihoon thinks he's surely damned because from the corner of his eyes he can see the mic still glowing red.

He had forgotten to take them off in anticipation to fight the enemy and now the whole world is the witness to the psychotic episode that he had willingly put on.

"fuck"

-

All Sanghyeok wanted to do on his rare day-off was to laze around at home and maybe watch a TV. Never in his twenty-eight years of life, he anticipated a fist fight between two pro players from top two teams on LCK livestream, and the worst part is- somehow, he is damn sure the cause of such magnificent occasion stems from him not replying to a certain spoiled Gen.G midlaner.

"I swear to God- one normal day, one fucking normal day is all I ask for, Jeong Jihoon."

He straightens up in his couch and slaps his palm against his forehead, an inhumane sound escaping his lips. He cannot believe this is happening right now.

He watches through the screen, the casters nervously trying to distract the audience from the drama as they scramble to turn on the stats for the finals, the Trophy ceremony starting in less than fifteen minutes. He cannot imagine the state of social media tomorrow with Jihoon vehemently confessing to certain somebody which is a 'him' and worst of all, fighting his former teammate with whom he had spent his rookie years with.

What an idiot. Sanghyeok never pegged the midlaner to be this crazy. Sanghyeok quickly opens his phone to see what the last message was sent to him.

Jihun

If I win, I will come see you

after the ceremony

or would you rather comfort him

too bad I won't tolerate it

never mind. Good Night

hyung

The messages are more like Jihoon fighting his own thoughts, his internal monologue instead of a well-formed sentence. He finds himself pinching his eyebrows in uneasiness when he sees another set of unanswered messages.

so u wish him a luck but won't reply to my texts

you're really testing my patience

He's not gonna lie, this current Jihoon with all the honorifics thrown out the window is quite scary. He has seen this version of him before, especially when Sanghyeok calls him a kid. The young midlaner would stare at him blankly, offended and would say nothing until Sanghyeok would apologize and call him "a big man."

After getting closer to the younger midlaner, he knows what eagerness looks like on him, what his wanting eyes looks like- the small tug on his lips when he pretends to sulk, that movement on his jaw when he's mad at someone but won't open his mouth until somebody pries the words out of him, that soft gaze when Sanghyeok says he's too tired to stream, those mischievous hands sometimes lingering on his lower back like it's a given.

It's quite concerning how Sanghyeok can read him like a book but still gets startled when he's boldly sought out by Jihoon. A distinct memory flashes him; of the day he beat Jihoon in the Worlds stage; the younger man had him pressed against the restroom door after the third game.

"You distract me so much, Faker seonsu."

It was the first time he had seen Jihoon's eyes simmered in something he is scared to say out loud. He could have stopped him and end whatever controversial business was going on between them, but with this Jihoon, whose habit is prodding his personal space leaves no point of escape.

Sanghyeok closes his eyes to shut out the toe-curling imageries of their past interaction. It's only a matter of time he says something to Jihoon before he comes barging into his apartment mid celebration. He nervously opens the chat and starts typing like an amateur, focus slipping now and then.

Congratulations, Jihoon-ah.

Hyung is proud of you. I'm sorry

for not replying sooner.

Not a minute after, he gets a reply from the younger.

r u mad at me

No. I'm just worried that

you'd lose your face after this.

That was some words you said

out there, which

I understand was not intentional,

but this is just careless on

your part Jihoon.

I didn't mean to actually get physical.

sorry

I've left the venue. They said

it's for the best.

and what about the

celebratory event?

the team is still there.

What are you gonna

do now

dont know. why did u

ignore my texts

I woke up late.

but replied to viper in sleep??

I didn't.

u lying

Jihoon please. Him and I

talked last evening.

Not last night, not today.

Can you stop mentioning him.

where r u

Go home

fine. I'll ask

hyeonjoon hyung

stop being so stubborn.

don't bother him

I can't see you now

Please.

jihoon??

Shit.

Sanghyeok, at this point needs a rural retreat with how much is going on around him, with him not even being physically involved in the fist fight. He doesn't remember hyperventilating at any point of his important games, the way he is now. Jihoon is just too much for his sanity. Sometimes he wonders, what would happen if he would just outright reject his advances and block him out of his life. Would he barge into his house and kill him? or worse- fuck him because sometimes, the young midlaner really looks like he's already mentally done that with no remorse.

Not even fifteen minutes into counting, the bell rings like it's been beaten down and Sanghyeok thinks about jumping off the window to save himself from going through another heated confrontation with Jihoon. 

Chapter Text

Sanghyeok expected to face a raging or at least an irritated Jihoon when he opens the door, but he's surprised to see the young midlaner at comparatively better condition.

"Did you tell anyone?" Sanghyeok asks.

"Does Hyeonjoon hyung count," and Jihoon is sidestepping him, hands immediately moving to remove Sanghyeok's which are still clasped around the doorknob.

Sanghyeok startles a bit from the contact, making the younger eye him for a moment before walking inside.

"Apart from Hyeonjoon," Sanghyeok follows the younger to the couch after quickly shutting the door.

"Then, no."

"okay"

They don't say anything for a while. Jihoon sprawled out in the middle of the couch, head pliant on the backrest and eyes mindlessly scanning the ceiling. Sanghyeok is sitting on the other side, eyes glued on the TV screen. He wonders what would have been the situation at present if the finals hadn't gone the way it did. Thanks to the person sitting across him right now.

"Are you gonna say something or," Jihoon turns to face him at that. Sanghyeok continues, "or you just gonna waste my time."

Jihoon blinks, “Am I wasting your time?"

"I mean, I'd rather do something else than to see you mop like this in my living room."

Jihoon looks like he's not gonna say anything anytime soon, so Sanghyeok stands up and walks up to the table between them to get his phone.

"I'm ordering dinner," he says.

ping

Before the older midlaner could reach the phone to check the notification, Jihoon shifts forward and quickly grabs the phone from the table.

"Wha-"

Sanghyeok stops mid-sentence, caught off-guard by the young midlaner's action, who is now staring at the device like it has personally offended him. With his arm still midair, Sanghyeok glares at the younger.

“Give it back,” Sanghyeok tries to snatch the phone back.

Jihoon dodges him, prying away the small arms from his face and turning around to type something.

"Jihoon!"

Taking two steps forward, Sanghyeok pulls at the taller's sleeve and turns him around. With one of his grips still on the sleeve, he tiptoes on his feet and snatches the phone from the younger and this person in front of him has the audacity to glare at him like it's a crime.

Before Jihoon can protest, Sanghyeok releases his hold on the younger and slightly pushes him off to make sure he isn't reaching for the phone again.

"Quit being insufferable,"

Sanghyeok doesn't even check his phone and takes three big steps across the kitchen and tosses the phone on the counter before walking back to the living room where the younger is still standing, eyes unreadable and on him.

"I was thinking about apologizing to him," Jihoon says, his fists clenching and unclenching on either side. Sanghyeok feels like there is a 'but' coming after that sentence.

"But not anymore."

Called it.

Sanghyeok sighs, "You cannot get mad at him for checking up on me after what you did today."

"He shoved me first," Jihoon retaliates, eyes still boring into him.

"You provoked him,"

"Well, he could've just ignored me like a normal adult. It's not my fault he can't take some fucking taunt."

"How crazy you have to be to fight your ex-teammate, Jihoon" Sanghyeok's now sitting beside the angry man. His face planted on his palms, "that was supposed to be your big night, and you threw it out."

He feels the sofa dip beside him, Jihoon says nothing this time. So, he decides to go on, "and aren't you ineligible to flip him off when you're basically standing on the same edge as him?"

This time, Sanghyeok didn't need to turn his face to know the younger has fully shifted his attention on him. The space between them already diminishing into half.

"What do you mean?"

Sanghyeok looks at him this time, unsure of how Jihoon is going to take the statement, "he's fond of me. You're too. What's the difference between your intention and his?"

Jihoon stills, lips pursing and closing. His gaze turning an inch softer and those eyelashes wavering over his sudden anxious eyes. There was hesitance.

Sanghyeok wants him to deny the accusation and say that it's not the same. If Jihoon wants to have something different with him, then he just has to say it but unfortunately, Jihoon is silent and it is enough for Sanghyeok to request a space from whatever this is, between them.

ring

This time the sound comes from Jihoon's pocket and Sanghyeok thinks it's Coach Kim calling the Gen.G midlaner given the fact that he's being ghosted for several hours now. 

To hell with complications.

"Forget what I said. Go home, Jihoon-ah," he then excuses himself to the kitchen without waiting for any reply.

He realized, this is the first time he questioned Jihoon of his standing in the relationship which is not even one, and the stillness of the younger pinched him somewhere inside his ribs which is a first. But he is not a fool. He won't say it out loud.

There is an opened chat from earlier with Jihoon's unsend 'don't text me anymore' sitting in the text box. Quite childish.

Dohyeon

I'm sorry for what happened today.

I hope you're not mad at me

could've handled it better being the older one

between the 2 of us.

I see you've seen my message.

sorry.

I'll make it up to you.

He types a quick 'it's not your fault. Don't worry about it' as he hears the sound of his front door opening and closing with a light click and when he looks up from his phone, the room is empty.

There is a tinge of hurt in his chest, a sting in the back of his eye as he stares at the now vacant couch.

He really left huh.

He watches his phone light up with another notification on his screen. This time, it's Choi Hyeonjoon. He lets out a quiet sigh and swipes the chat open.

RanDo

hyung?

Is Jihoon there?

Jaehyuk hyung called me and he sounded

stressed as hell so I told him

he's with you.

He left a minute ago.

Is everything okay?

yeah. nothing to worry about.

if you don't mind me asking

what was he doing there

he wanted some advice on pr 

ohh, makes sense. he really needs one

after that mess of an event

hmm.

anyway, I hope he didn't irritate you much

good night hyung

good night hyeonjoon-ah.

And just like that, Sanghyeok is not hungry anymore.

-

"Where were you??," Jihoon sees Giin standing up from his gaming recliner as Jihoon enters the dorm.

The room felt like it went through some serious rundown with the way Jaehyuk and Geonbu is seated above some unwashed towels. Jaehyuk looking at him a little suspicious. 

"Did Sanghyeok hyung finally kick you out?"

Jihoon glares at Jaehyuk.

"what? he was with Faker?" Mingyu turns around from his chair, eyes moving from Jaehyuk to Jihoon. He looks like he has questions, "since when do you hang out."

"since forever," Jaehyuk tells him, his eyes scanning the midlaner for some answers, "Coach Kim asked me to tell you that they're gonna put up an apology tomorrow for the 'unfortunate mishap' today. You need to lay off of streaming for some days until the matter dies down, probably like a week. Make sure you don't run off without telling anyone again."

Jihoon understands the gravity of the situation that he created but with Sanghyeok's question still lingering in his mind, he cannot salve his restless chest. Those timid eyes when he asked him that. It really took him out. As a result, he could not answer him. There are so many holes in his understanding of relationships that he would rather ignore it.

He might have appeared a bit weird, standing in the doorway and just staring at nothing but the wall behind Jaehyuk that Giin just walks up to him to shake him a little.

"Are you there?"

"Jihoon, seriously what's going on? Who the fuck is 'he' that Viper and you're fighting over?" and this time Jihoon is a bit scared. His eyes now focused on the floor as he leans against the wall to brace himself for more eruption. Jaehyuk seems to really want to know everything, "and the only option you had was to confront him on stage with hundreds of eyes on you? I knew you were into some crazy shit the moment you said you wanted to pet Sanghyeok hyung in front of the whole crew but this is just-"

"WHAT"

''I'm not done talking" and he whacks Geonbu with the genrang plushie who yelps in pain. Giin and Mingyu exchanging some confusing looks ultimately falling onto Jihoon, who is now nervously chewing away his bottom lip and Jaehyuk doesn't seem to slow down, "but today was just outright disaster. Imagine the horror on our sponsors' faces, the manager couldn't get a hold of you. I had to go out my way to contact Hyeonjoon to ask him if you're there. And luckily you were there although I wouldn't say you were in the T1 building specifically."

Jihoon stirs into focus after hearing that, "how do you know where to contact to find me?"

"that's beside the point," Jaehyuk shrugs.

"I second that. Just tell us who is 'HE' y'all are throwing hands for," Giin says as he's situating himself on the recliner again.

"That doesn't matter anymore," Jihoon doesn't wanna talk about it. He straightens himself off the wall and walks past the curious eyes to sleep off his restlessness, he turns around, "I'll apologize to Dohyeon hyung personally. And as for Sanghyeok hyung, he did kick me out for annoying him. Don't ask me anything at least for the time being. I already feel like shit."

"Why do I feel like it's a case of love triangle," Geonbu suddenly speaks.

"there's no triangle here."

Jihoon rolls his eyes in pure indignation, the ugly feeling rising in his chest as he thinks of Dohyeon floating around Sanghyeok. He grunts internally and decides he had enough of today, "I'm gonna wash myself up before y'all assume the worst. Good night."

And he's closing the door to his room.

Mingyu looks like he isn't satisfied with the conversation so runs his chair near Jaehyuk for further query.

"Well, he did start a fight for an unknown man. Is there any chance we collectively hallucinated that??"

Giin clears his throat, eyes moving towards Jaehyuk, "you look like you know something."

Jaehyuk blinks, suddenly closing his eyes, "I am not even sure I know anything at this point. Stop asking me stupid questions!"

And the building is quiet for the rest of the night.

-

For the next few days, T1 building is warped into a silent workplace since it's a break. Hyeonjoon and Minseok already leaving for home, Minhyung visiting his sister out of town. Hyeonjun is the only one at the dorm with Sanghyeok staying at his apartment two blocks down the headquarter.

And it's been a week since Jihoon last contacted him. Sanghyeok should be relieved, he wanted clearance, and Jihoon gave it to him. He asked him if there was anything more than fondness and the younger couldn't even answer that. That explains why Jihoon haven't thought of texting him all these days.

He had been bitter about the way they parted, those unsure eyes of the younger which was never there before. He would be lying if he says he didn't think about a certain midlaner spamming his dms randomly.

He didn't miss him per se, but the absence was unignorable.

When Dohyeon texts him, he finds himself comparing the way he replies to that of Jihoon's. A solid contrast in the choice of words, Jihoon's being more uncalculated and Dohyeon being more polite. There's no harm in missing a little of the younger's presence, right?

Right.

He startles a bit when the loud ring of his phone disrupts his reverie, the Id all too familiar. Talk about timing.

"What?" Sanghyeok deadpans, the device lying on his left ear as he lies sideways. He greeted the other player quite roughly for somebody who was on the verge of daydreaming about the said person.

"wanna see you," there is a sound of footsteps on the other side of the line.

"I don't."

"Liar," Jihoon breathes a small chuckle. A chuckle that only appears when he's too giddy.

Sanghyeok suddenly sits up, his other hand now adjusting his shirt, "are you drunk?"

He hears more inconsistent footsteps, probably Jihoon wobbling his way to his dorm.

"Jihoon?" and Sanghyeok is concerned now.

The said person hums in reply.

"I missed your voice," And a low chuckle, a small sound of him breathing, "I missed you"

Sanghyeok doesn't know what to say. Does he say it back? Does he stay quiet? Does he wanna hibernate? that one sounds good.

"Are you home? Hyung?"

There's something in his voice that makes him sound utterly pitiful. The natural cuteness of his voice when he asks for favors, those fox eyes from which he cannot look away. So, it's natural for him to just give up acting like a try hard. He sighs, "yeah."

Jihoon didn't specify which home and neither did Sanghyeok. But he believes the younger has better sense than to walk up to T1 headquarters drunk, looking for Sanghyeok dead at night.

They talk for a while, Jihoon not following most of the questions Sanghyeok had asked him. He thinks, the younger is walking all the way from the bar or God knows from where and to his apartment because it's getting late and there is no sign of Jihoon anywhere.

Just as he's about to walk to his balcony to look outside, there's a knock on his door.

Is this dumbass serious? There is a fucking doorbell.

Nonetheless, he throws his phone across the couch and walks up to open the door. His heart melts a bit when he sees the younger in comfortable jacket, his bangs covering half of his eyes and is that a growing mullet?

Before he could say anything, Jihoon tugs him forward for a hug, his frail hands stuck on the sides as the younger tightens his arms around him.

Sanghyeok forgets to breathe for a moment as Jihoon rests his chin on the older's crown, followed by a breathy laugh, "you're so small."

Sanghyeok rolls his eyes, "shut up. Let's move inside."

And they stumble inside the apartment with Sanghyeok still grabbing the younger like a child. He huffs, "how much did you drink?"

Jihoon makes a face, "not that I counted but enough to feel great. Just tipsy and floaty."

"I'll get you some water," and Sanghyeok pushes the other off to let him fall on a chair. He cannot believe the idiot walked through a whole block in this condition.

He sets the glass on the counter and pours some cold water. He doesn't notice the intruder entering his kitchen and it's only after he turns around, he comes face to face with a flushed Jihoon.

Sanghyeok yelps in surprise, the bottle nearly slipping off his fingers. He watches the younger blankly staring at him. He clears his throat, "couldn't' wait longer?" 

But Jihoon doesn't answer, instead takes a step forward. Sanghyeok barely has the time to run or retreat, as Jihoon makes a displeased face- leaning in, one hand flat on the counter beside his small waist, the other curling around the lip of the surface. Caging him in.

Sanghyeok swallows, throat bobbing. It takes him back to Worlds but this time, it feels more private. More intensity and a lot of unspoken tension. 

"I made up with Dohyeon hyung," Jihoon murmured, voice low enough to make Sanghyeok shiver, "and we drank together. That's how I ended up like this."

That was good news, in fact a great news but his mind is elsewhere to pay much attention.

His sole attention is on Jihoon's chapped and bitten lips, those lips he always likes to torture during any minor convenience.

"What did he say?" Sanghyeok managed to ask after inconveniently looking away from the younger's undeniably attractive face.

"I said sorry. He said it back. We're okay- unless you don't believe me."

"I believe you," Sanghyeok mutters, fingers twitching against the counter, calculating his escape.

That earns him a slow grin from the younger, eyes now scanning every detail of his face, "really?”

Sanghyeok's pulse stumbles, his eyes now back on the younger who is watching him like he needs to let out something off his chest. He nods, absentmindedly.

"My throat's drying up," Jihoon says, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes properly, gaze dropping to Sanghyeok's lips for a millisecond, before completely backing away, hands reaching for the forgotten glass of water beside him, "can I?"

It's almost embarrassing how Sanghyeok becomes a puddle of mess with this much of proximity. He restrains himself from imagining further possibilities of them ending up in a forbidden position.

"Sure," he breathes.

Jihoon's grin softens, his eyes a little droopy and suddenly the counter doesn’t feel like a trap anymore. It feels like the only thing that was holding him up as Jihoon gulps the water down, eyes still on him.

It's commendable how one minute, Sanghyeok was pressed against the counter pinned under Jihoon and the next minute, they are on the couch, half-empty bowl of chips balanced on a coffee table.

Train to Busan flickering across the screen.

Jihoon had insisted on putting something on "for better atmosphere" but Sanghyeok is fairly certain Jihoon inching towards him every other minute is not a part of the atmosphere he’s trying to create because Sanghyeok is having a hard time composing himself.

He had imagined themselves maybe, arguing and pointing fingers at each other here and there after their last meeting or something else but definitely not this.

Jihoon's thigh is pressed against his, Jihoon's head tilted just enough to rest slightly on his shoulder.

Like a cat.

"you'd be the first one dead," Jihoon says around a mouthful of chips, as another unlucky passenger gets tackled by a zombie.

Sangheok slightly side-eyes him. He snorts, "Bold, coming from someone who trips over his own shoes while leaving the stage."

He didn't expect Jihoon to elbow his ribs, mock-offended, "I'd survive longer. You'd stop to strategize"

"that's called critical thinking," Sanghyeok pushes off the younger's head in retaliation.

Jihoon groans before adjusting his head back on his shoulder, "Lemme rest. Stop moving."

This was normal. Them engaged in a banter, Jihoon leaning in to steal a handful of chips from him and Sanghyeok slapping his hands as revenge. Their usual skinship was still fine.

But what is not normal is Jihoon being a clingy drunk, a huge chunk of his already shameless nature was out.

Somewhere along the forgotten train full of panicked screams and growing number of zombies, with Sanghyeok’s thoughts travelling through different dimensions of his head space, Jihoon's knee knocked against his.

He jolts, the touch suddenly bringing his senses back to his surroundings. Jihoon lifts his head from his shoulder but instead of a space, Sanghyeok finds the younger closer than ever.

So close that their noses slightly brushed- he doesn’t dare to look at Jihoon, his piercing gaze already suffocating him. Sanghyeok wonders how the hell is he getting himself into trouble like this.

Taking a long breath, he looks up.

It was a mistake.

or not.

Because almost without warning before he could properly look at him, Jihoon is kissing him.

Sanghyeok's fingers freeze halfway to the now-empty bowl of chips, eyes closing shut in default.

There are hundreds of thoughts running on his head. None of them coherent enough.

He has never been kissed before.

He never thought about it until Jihoon happened. Not until the day Jihoon and him hung out after the Asian games where the younger confessed to dreaming about Sanghyeok.

”you were drowning so I revived you by giving lip to lip cpr. How crazy is that hyung??”

Crazy indeed.

However, this is crazier. The kiss isn't that careful. It was the kind of kiss that felt more like gravity than decision.

He can’t help but fist the front of Jihoon’s hoodie, his mouth tasted faintly of beer and salt, his lips warm and a little chapped. He can feel the younger's grin breaking clumsy into the kiss.

The movie played on while Jihoon shifts closer, one hand braced against the couch as Sanghyeok is almost lying down on his back- Jihoon's other hand lightly catching at the edge of Sanghyeok's shirt like he needed an anchor.

Sanghyeok follows this lead as the kiss deepens. It's quite messy, probably because Jihoon is tipsy and the heat made him lightheaded. He feels the younger’s arms travelling around his torso, palm spread across his skin under the shirt like it belongs there. He lets out a small hiss when Jihoon pinches his skin on his lower back, purely out of impulse.

It was too warm. He feels crazy. This is crazy.

He wants to remind Jihoon of the awaiting conversation; he wants to ask him about them. This sure is gonna hurt if Jihoon dismisses him once again after claiming his first kiss under influence.

Sanghyeok, for most of the part doesn't remember when they went back in after pulling apart for some air. Jihoon making sounds of complaint when he dipped his head to avoid his lips for some time.

In his defense, he couldn't breathe. He had zero experience whatsoever.

Jihoon leans in again, slowly claiming his lips for the second time. What started out as a slow kiss turns into a fully make out session with Sanghyeok losing his mind in pleasure.

This was so much better than he thought being kissed by Jihoon would be. Boy was a platinum level kisser.

Somewhere between their third kiss, Jihoon slows. His movement softens, his mouth dragging lazily against Sanghyeok's like he's struggling to keep up.

Then Jihoon hums, low and unmoving. Sanghyeok blinks once. And twice.

He stills at the lack of movement from the younger, mouth still etched on his bruised lower lip. He pulls away.

Sanghyeok feels blood rushing to his face when he sees a single string of saliva abridged between their rosy and bitten lips. He quickly brings his fingers up to break the sultry string and adjusting his arms to push Jihoon off of him only to see him boneless on the top of him, warm and heavy and slowly lolling onto his shoulder.

His breath stutters as he feels a subconscious soft nuzzle close to his neck, Jihoon’s hands fall pliant under his shirt.

Sanghyeok is stucked in place with his pulse racing and Jihoon's mouth still tingling against his.

Unbelievable.

The idiot just fell asleep in the middle of his first kiss.

Chapter Text

The first thing Jihoon noticed was the quiet.

He blinks against the thin grey light filtering through the blinds, his neck aching from the angle he’d passed out in, his head spinning a bit from the residue of alcohol in his body. For a long minute, Jihoon doesn't move, there's a thin blanket over him with no sign of Sanghyeok in the room.

Oh, and he remembers- he unfortunately passed out mid-kiss.

Jihoon's not going to sugarcoat it when he says he's red in the face just thinking about how good Sanghyeok tasted last night. Those soft lips, tiny fingers struggling to latch onto him and God, his small whines when Jihoon forced his mouth open. He imagines Sanghyeok throwing his head back, his pale throat out for Jihoon to bite and his hands roaming everywhere- Sanghyeok's chest under his palm, his thighs wrapped around his waist, his fingers insid-

"What the hell."

Begrudged, he slaps himself on the face as he sits up and throws the blanket off of him. That was a dangerous boundary.

He's about to go find Sanghyeok and apologize and maybe just take two three slaps for kissing him without permission, when he sees the said male sleeping on the floor next to the couch.

Jihoon stares at his profile, his hair is a mess with some of the longer strands falling into his face. His lips were still a little swollen—Jihoon coughs. There's a faint crease at the corner of his mouth, like he’d been frowning even in sleep.

Jihoon’s chest tightens.

He wants to kiss him again. God, he wants to —sink back into that impossible warmth, press his face into Sanghyeok’s shoulder, pretend the world doesn't exist outside this living room. But wanting is dangerous. Jihoon knew that better than anyone. He's not sure what he wants at this point.

His phone vibrates.

Coach Kim

Get back to the facility. We need to discuss something.

Don't ignore the message.

It's really urgent.

Jihoon please comply for once.

Jihoon sits there another moment, eyes drinking Sanghyeok in like a coward memorizing something he'd have to leave for now. 

He bits down on the thought as he stood, stepping around the sleeping man on the floor quietly. He adjusts his hoodie that looked like it went on a war by itself during the night, head turning to look at the beautiful man one last time.

Sanghyeok, asleep in the soft morning light, looking so unresistable.

Jihoon’s chest ached with something raw. He wants to say something—leave a note, a word, anything—but he didn't. He decides he'll just text him when he gets there.

So, he leaves.

Just the faint warmth in Sanghyeok’s hoodie where Jihoon had leaned too close for too long, the ghost of salt-and-soda on his lips, and the quiet creak of a door shutting softly behind him.

-

The meeting lasted few hours and Jihoon was exhausted.

All he wanted this morning was a cozy breakfast with Sanghyeok and preferably another passionate make out session but alas, his luck was gutter-like.

When he thinks about it, honestly, he was doomed either way because Sanghyeok would wanna talk before any of his wild imaginations comes alive and he hated that the most. He is not ready to name their relationship just yet.

He likes Sanghyeok. Heck, who doesn't love the Faker but it's Jihoon we're talking about- the epitome of emotional constipation. The fact that Sanghyeok has not killed him yet, after his deed last night was a miracle.

"Jihoon?"

He turns around to the sound of a familiar voice.

"Siwoo hyung!" and he excitedly hugs the other player.

Siwoo mutters a quiet 'i can't breathe' after being engulfed in a bone wrecking hug, "enough."

"Does Nongshim know you're here or did you sneak out?" Jihoon wiggling his eyebrows at him, Siwoo snorts at how silly that was.

"Talk about yourself," they are walking to the dorms now, few of the staffs stopping by to have a conversation with the ex-Gen.G player.

Siwoo continues, "Care to explain why Jaehyuk is complaining about you pissing off the management a lot lately and where were you last night?"

''I didn't know I ordered a mom," Jihoon rolls his eyes.

"And for the record, I didn't trouble anyone after that stage accident. Jaehyuk hyung just loves to exaggerate," He adds.

Siwoo gives him a look, "stage accident? that's what we're calling it now."

Jihoon simply ignores him, continuing walking around the cafeteria.

"So, who's the boyfriend?"

Jihoon has never turned around faster than he did just now.

"What boyfriend"

"Well, it surely can't be a girl. Right?" Siwoo sat down on the bench, a little smirk making up his way. He takes Jihoon's dumbfounded reaction as a queue to continue, "I asked Dohyeon about it since you were not telling me anything and I may or may not have discovered something."

Jihoon doesn't like where it's going.

"Is it Sanghyeok hyung?"

"What. no?" Jihoon internally sweats, he clears his throat, "I mean why would you say that?"

"Then how do you magically teleport to Sanghyeok hyung's building every time you go missing in the dorm?" Siwoo tilts his head; arms crossed against his chest.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Quit acting dumb. I always knew you had the hots for him."

"jesus- you don't have to put it like that. I just admire him, okay. And who wouldn't? He's Faker," Jihoon 

"well I don't fight anybody just because I admire him??" Siwoo sits up, following Jihoon who is already walking away.

"what did Dohyeon hyung even tell you."

Jihoon thinks about abandoning Siwoo outside the dorm room and dash through the balcony window for leverage. He forgot just how nosy and curious this hyung is.

"other than you telling him you don't like him texting Sanghyeok hyung, you drinking to clear your feelings and you calling Sanghyeok hyung because you missed him, other than that, No. He didn't say much."

Then, Siwoo knocks at Jaehyuk's door without breaking his eye contact with the now, frozen Jihoon.

"So, where were you last night?" Siwoo asks him one last time.

The young midlaner is restless. What happens if he really let the secret out. 

He blinks, sweaty palms brushing his sides, "It's not what you think, hyung."

"You cannot lie for shit, Jihoon-ah."

Jaehyuk takes the exact moment to open the door, head turning into two directions, confused and then he stops at Jihoon, who's still looking at Siwoo like a kid who was caught lying about homework, "So?"

The duo turns to looks at Jaehyuk at the same time. Jaehyuk taps his fingers on the frame, head tilted and eyes still scanning the young midlaner, "I assume Siwoo has asked all the right questions for you to look like that."

Jihoon rolls his eyes, "like what."

"You know like, guilty as fuck."

Jihoon wants to scream. He's gonna have a long long day.

-

"We made a mistake and fell apart mid-game here. Rotations weren't clean." Hyeonjun says, pointing at the timeline.

There was a lack of response from the midlaner, so the younger turns his head and calls him, "hyung?"

Sanghyeok stirs from his thought and looks at the younger. He nods, "yeah. We should look at our vision setups before the dragon fights. If we secure bot side river earlier, we don't scramble like this."

His tone is a bit off, Hyeonjun noticed. But he doesn't comment on it, instead he nods his head and adjusts the replay speed, "okay. You mean like this?"

"Yeah."

Sanghyeok thinks Hyeonjun has gotten wind of his odd behavior but is not asking anything for his sake. He knows how protective the younger is when it comes to him, he won't ask anything if Sanghyeok doesn't look like he wants to and he's always thankful for it. Sanghyeok is not ready to pour it all out just yet.

How would he explain the strange heaviness in his chest. How would he explain that he's acting like this because a certain player from their rival team left him alone in the morning after kissing him senseless- no note, no message and he didn't even hear from him all morning and it's already six in the evening.

How would he explain the shame he's feeling after getting himself into this situation. Jihoon probably doesn't remember anything.

Pathetic, Sanghyeok thinks bitterly as he excuses himself from the younger to get coffee. The whole thing shouldn't surprise him. After all, Jihoon has showed no interest in starting a relationship with him anywhere. It was just Sanghyeok and his idiotic expectations. 

He checks his phone for any message from him. There's nothing. He hates how the younger makes him act out of his character.

Jihoon probably regrets everything.

Sanghyeok walks out of the building, his feet taking him to the convenient store, but he stops mid-step. He walks the opposite direction towards the nearest cafe to avoid running into Jihoon if he decides to show up there.

Turns out, Jihoon is not in the convenient store today and is sitting in the same cafe like clockwork, with Siwoo and Jaehyuk

"Isn't that Sanghyeok hyung?" Siwoo suddenly whisper-shouts.

Jihoon looks up from his sandwich, the older midlaner two steps in but before he could react, Sanghyeok turns around and leaves.

"Are you sure that was him?" Jaehyuk looks up from his tea rather slowly, head angled awkwardly trying to peep his eyes through the mirrored door.

"It was him. I swear to God I made eye contact with him," Siwoo looks at Jihoon, eyes a little flat, "He saw you too." 

"Of course, he would. We're literally sitting together," but his eyes are still at the entrance where he saw a glimpse of Sanghyeok earlier.

Did he just run away after recognizing him?

"Why would he run?" Jaehyuk mutters, mouth full of toast.

Jihoon gives up at the sight of him, turns to look at the bot-sup duo, who are now eyeing him like hungry hawks. "Are you asking me?"

Siwoo rests his arms on the table, leaning forward, "Did you two fight?"

"No?"

Jihoon, against his will had to tell the duo about how he raided Sanghyeok's apartment last night while drunk, leaving out the part where he almost ruined Sanghyeok on the couch and how this morning, he left without telling the other. 

"He looked a little upset. I hope you didn't say some stupid shit before leaving his apartment." Jaehyuk mumbles before sipping his tea.

Wait.

"Shit," Jihoon stands up, panicked. He's shoving his phone into his pocket chanting some uncomprehensible words.

"What happened? where are you going- yah Jihoon!" Jaehyuk shouts after him but he's already out at the pavement.

Jihoon had completely forgotten to text Sanghyeok after the meeting. He groans as he makes his way to the direction where Sanghyeok was headed before.

"You absolute useless piece of fuck," He smacks himself on the forehead.

He recalls the startled expression on Sanghyeok's face from earlier, a speck of avoidance when he caught his eyes for a second before turning around to walk away from him.

He must have felt betrayed, imagine his confusion when he saw Jihoon eating a fucking toast at the restaurant ten minutes away from T1 building while Sanghyeok was waiting for just a single text from him.

Jihoon is half-running, pulling out his phone to call Sanghyeok. He swipes the call button, breathe coming short.

He calls him the fourth time. No answer. He wants to rip his heads off.

"How do I even talk to him now," he slumps against the wall, a familiar building in front of him.

The last time he was here, it was Hyeonjoon who called him. Whenever he wanted to see Sanghyeok, he would rather knock his apartment door instead of the dorms. It felt safer and more private.

And now he doesn't even know if Sanghyeok is here. He thumbs the edge of his phone; he could just leave. His chest twisted a little thinking about Sanghyeok.

Fuck it.

He unlocks his phone. The half empty chat staring back at him, their last messages a week old. He starts typing

Hyung, I'm sorry. No, too pretentious.

Please pick up the call. I can explain. Too raw.

Jihoon deletes the entire sentence before taking a deep breathe. He shall just walk in and ask for him but just as he is about to dash in, he sees Sanghyeok and Hyeonjun walking out the building. Oh, Thank God.

He'll take his chance.

"Sanghyeok hyung!"

The two men looks up. Hyeonjun seemingly a bit confused with the situation as he looks back and forth between the two midlaners. 

Jihoon stops in front of them, a little breathless from his run.

"Jihoon hyung? What are you doing here?" Hyeonjun gives him a questioning look.

Jihoon glanced at Sanghyeok before clearing his throat and lying the shit out of his story, "Jaehyuk hyung wanted to eat something so we came down in the nearby eatery. Him and Siwoo hyung went to the local library so, I just uhh, yeah. I was just strolling around then I saw you people."

Sanghyeok doesn't say anything as he nervously looks around, Hyeonjun nodding his head.

Jihoon is fixing his hood before speaking again, "where are you headed to, anyway?"

Hyeonjun looks at Sanghyeok, but the latter won't open his mouth, so he answers for him, "Hyung stays at his apartment these days, so I was about to walk him there."

"Oh," Jihoon is glancing at the older again before grinning, "I was actually going in that direction. I can accompany you if you don't mind."

Sanghyeok looks up at him, opening his mouth to say something.

"No-"

"Great," Hyeonjun beats him to it. Sanghyeok blinking rapidly as he diverts his attention to the jungler beside him.

"I was deadbeat after all the VODs analysis," the youngest player raises both his arms to stretch a little, series of cracks can be heard between the joints in his upper body, he mewls, "ahh that feels amazing. Maybe I should go rest. Thank you, Jihoon hyung. See you later, hyung."

Hyeonjun then pats Sanghyeok on the back and waves them a quick goodbye before disappearing into the building.

Sanghyeok then looks at Jihoon, giving him the flattest look he could muster. Jihoon shoves his hands deeper into his pockets, trying not to stutter in shame, "Let's go?"

He noticed Sanghyeok's lip twitching, though he kept his expression carefully neutral. He doesn't say anything but complies anyway.

They start walking in silence, shoes scuffing against the pavement. Jihoon lets the silence sit for a moment before he sighs, "I'm sorry."

Sanghyeok doesn't look at him, gaze firmly ahead, "For what?"

"For... " Jihoon struggles to find the right sentence, eyes roaming in all directions nearly tripping on a crack in the sidewalk. He exhales, "For not texting you after I left so suddenly. I was called up for a meeting, and I was meant to text after that but I'm a dumbass, basically."

He stops explaining to look at the other player, who seems indifferent and very much disinterested. Jihoon tries again, "Earlier, when I saw you at the cafe, I wondered why you looked upset and-" 

"Why would I be upset?" the older mutters quietly, still not looking at him.

They turn at the corner, streetlamps casting swirls of light across Sanghyeok's face. He didn't look angry. Just quiet, "You don't have to explain everything."

Jihoon internally flinches at the dismissal, his chest clenched at how fucking bad he feels at the moment. He knows Sanghyeok better than most of the people in his team. These quiet dismissals, small words- Sanghyeok is upset to the core.

"But I want to," Jihoon looks at him then, eyes fixed on his profile.

Sanghyeok stops walking, Jihoon stops too. The older midlaner looking up at him, a gentle twitch on his lips as he takes two heavy breaths, "what are we?"

Jihoon's throat went tight. At the back of his mind, he saw it coming. The same conversation that he ran away from, six days ago.

Sanghyeok waits.

fifteen seconds

thirty seconds

a minute

Then, he throws Jihoon the faintest curves of a smile, before his eyes lowered to his own shoes. His hands fidgety at the sides but the tug on his lips never disappearing. He feels the night getting colder, the breeze stings his eyes, and he wants to cry. A fool.

He returns his gaze to Jihoon, who is now hanging his head low as possible. All this time he had chased closure, but it was right there a week ago when Jihoon gave him the same silence as he did now. Maybe it was greedy for Sanghyeok to hope for reciprocal.

"I, umm-" Sanghyeok breaks his gaze away from him, looking elsewhere. He fumbles a little, taking a step back in embarrassment, "Well uhh, I can- I can walk from here. Thank you."

And he doesn't wait for Jihoon's answers, walking away which he should have done long before he caught feelings. Faker is an unmovable demon, but Sanghyeok is just a human being discovering life for the first time after all. He makes mistakes, like anybody else.

Jihoon stands alone. His heart lurches at the sound of fading footsteps.

He fucking likes him-No, he loves him so why the fuck is he not chasing him. He has been flirting, touching, craving for Sanghyeok for so many years yet he cannot commit to a relationship? Jihoon thinks, he's a hypocrite. It wasn't Sanghyeok who approached him, it wasn't him who shamelessly confessed to wanting to pet him in front of shit ton of people. It was Jihoon who kissed him, who thought about fucking him. Not the other way around.

So, when it's his time to own up to his feelings, why is he not doing it. Was he fine with Sanghyeok walking away from his life just like that?

It wasn't fine. It wasn't anything close to fine. The sight of Sanghyeok walking away, that pretentious smile to hide his disappointment- hit him harder than any other loss he ever had in-game.

'What are we?'

'You don't have to explain anything'

Fuck. Before he can even think about anything else, his body moves.

"Wait- hyung!"

He runs like a mad man. Runs like he's gonna miss his ticket to heaven, Sanghyeok is his heaven. He realized, he doesn't wanna see anybody proposing to Sanghyeok. He doesn't wanna see tears well up in his eyes, Jihoon doesn't want anybody touching him, kissing him, taking him. He wouldn't let Sanghyeok walk the ground bare feet, he will make sure Sanghyeok would slap him for being an idiot who can't own up to his own feelings. But he knows what an angel his Sanghyeok hyung is. He wouldn't even hurt a petal.

Jihoon catches up to a quiet Sanghyeok, his hands in his pocket, still no clue that he's running after him like a maniac.

He grabs the latter's wrist, fingers wrapping firm and careful around his sleeve.

Sanghyeok turns around, eyes red and startled. His lashes are wet, and the usual sunny eyes replaced by a teary one. His hood is on, but very noticeable if anybody decides to walk past them. But at this point, Jihoon has given up being subtle.

Jihoon steps closer, crowding into Sanghyeok's space like he had that night in the kitchen, on the couch. Only this time, there is no teasing, no playfully edging- it's just his desperation.

"I didn't answer yet," Jihoon says, his forehead pressed against Sanghyeok's temple, breath shaky.

Jihoon's other hand comes up, tentatively brushing against the older's jaw. His thumb trembles a bit as he trace the line of his cheek. He can feel Sanghyeok breathing heavily in anticipation.

"Hyung," Jihoon whispers, his grip tightens around him. "You ruined me for anyone else."

Sanghyeok opens his eyes, feeling offended as he tries to rip his hand out of the younger's grip. But Jihoon doesn't let him, "Let me finish."

"I'm a dumbass. I don't know how to say the right thing at moment like this. I don't have the mental capacity to memorize good speeches, and I am shit at observing things but what I do know is that, I like you. I like you so much that it scares the hell out of me, hyung."

His voice wavers, his frustration at himself clawing in, "When you're looking at someone else, when you smile at anybody else, I really want to kill them. Even if they are just fans. Sometimes I wish I was not Chovy. I wish I was just a normal guy living a normal life in Jeju. How I wish you would be my neighbor, and we'd kiss under the blanket of sea sky."

Sanghyeok looks up at him, hands trembling.

"I suck at this. But I don't want you walking away from me thinking I don't care. Because I do. More than I should. More than I know how to handle. I am a piece of shit and I'm sorry for always ghosting you even though you never complain. It took me so long to sort out my goddamn feelings."

His voice cracks on the last sentence, chest heaving with the weight of it all.

"I'm sorry I made you cry before saying I love you,"

Sanghyeok's lips parts, wanting to say something, eyes trembling a little, but Jihoon lifts his hands to cup his jaw softly, "I love you."

For a moment, all Sanghyeok could so was stare. He'd never imagined Jihoon to put him in this position after he ran away from him twice, thinking that maybe the feelings weren't mutual. Turns out, Jihoon is, much more accountable than him.

Jihoon feels Sanghyeok inching closer and he takes it as a cue to gently slip his hand around his neck to pull him even closer, "hyung."

Sanghyeok swallows, his voice quiet but uncontrollable.

"When you left this morning, I was actually doing fine. But when I thought that maybe, you've forgotten about the kiss. I realized, I wouldn't want you to forget about it. When you didn't text me, I tried to come up with all these ridiculous scenarios that maybe you got your phone confiscated, or you passed out of hangover, or you lost your phone. Then I saw you earlier, I felt embarrassed."

Jihoon mutters a quiet 'sorry'. Sanghyeok shakes his head, "I realized how deep I was in this, and you were not. I felt shameful. So, I ran away. It was not your fault. I just don't know how to handle attachments. I have never felt this way before so I couldn't handle it. I didn't want to see you not because I was angry, but because I was genuinely scared of rejection. It looked like rejection at some point."

Sanghyeok smiles, eyes back to being teary as he pokes the younger's nose, "Were you panicking?"

Jihoon nods, "I"m such a shitty human. I thought you'd disappear from my life if I let you walk away this time."

Sanghyeok breathes, "You know I love you too." 

Jihoon nods, again, "I love you. Took me some time."

Sanghyeok sighs a breath of relief. He didn't know how much he was holding everything in.

"Couldn't you have reacted faster? I shed a tear or two like an idiot."

"I know. I'm sorry. I'll do better," Jihoon pecks his cheeks, controlling his urge to just kiss his lips.

"You promise?"

"Promise."

And Jihoon pulls him closer, into a warm embrace. Sanghyeok let himself lean into it fully this time- his arms sliding around the younger's lower back, holding on like he'd never let go again, resting his head on the younger's chest and he realized, it was one of the most comfortable places to rest his head on, with Jihoon's now stable heart beating like music to his ears.

Sanghyeok barely remembers fumbling the lock, or the way the door shut behind them—it was all blurred beneath Jihoon’s mouth, insistent and desperate against his own. Somehow, in what felt like seconds, they were already half-collapsed onto the couch, Jihoon pressing him, hands braced on either side of his shoulders like he was caging him in.

Sanghyeok breaks the kiss only long enough to breathe, lips red and swollen, his voice shaky. “Jihoon—are you sure you won't get into trouble if you stayed over-”

Jihoon cuts him off with another kiss, firmer this time, his fingers sliding into Sanghyeok’s hair, tugging just enough to make him gasp.

“Stop talking” he murmurs against his mouth, breath hot.

Sanghyeok’s hands hovered uselessly at Jihoon’s sides, torn between pushing him back for air and pulling him closer. Jihoon leans in harder, pressing him into the cushions, their chests flush.

His kisses were messy, greedy, all heat and need, like he’d been starving for this and didn’t know how to slow down now that he had it.

“Jihoon—” Sanghyeok tries again, the protest weaker this time, muffled when Jihoon’s lips dragged along his jaw, down to the corner of his throat.

His breath hitched, traitorous, betraying the way his body tilted up to meet Jihoon’s weight. Jihoon laughs softly, low and warm against his skin, before lifting his head, eyes dark and intent.

“Don’t push me away,” he whispers, one hand sliding down to cradle Sanghyeok’s jaw, thumb brushing at the corner of his mouth, “hyung.”

Sanghyeok swallowed hard, his heart hammering so loud that it feels like it shook through both of them. Jihoon’s kiss landed again—slower now, but deeper, the kind that made Sanghyeok’s toes curl. His fingers finally gave in, clutching at Jihoon’s hoodie, holding on tight.

Jihoon groans softly into the kiss, his forehead pressing against Sanghyeok’s like he couldn’t bear even a centimeter of space. “God, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted this.”

And Sanghyeok, breathless beneath him, didn’t even try to stop him anymore.

-

"So, you're telling me Jihoon hyung has got the hots for Sanghyeok hyung?"

"hots? he is in fucking love with that man- SHUT UP WOOJE. That was Wooje by the way, he came to visit."

"So, the conclusion is Jihoon hyung got mad at Dohyeon hyung because he couldn't stop hanging out with Sanghyeok hyung and then the fight happened, he went to apologise and ended up drinking together. Then Dohyeon hyung told Siwoo hyung about Jihoon hyung's drunk confession about Sanghyeok hyung and how he drunk called Sanghyeok hyung to go to his apartment and Jihoon hyung allegedly somehow fucked up and to apologize to Sanghyeok hyung he stole Sanghyeok hyung from me later in the evening??"

"spot on"

"how do I believe your asses?"

"Well, you weren't qualified enough to see Jihoon hyung give starry eyes to Sanghyeok hyung during the Asian Games"

"Fuck off Minseok. Wooje, stop laughing as if you weren't there as the last option"

"hey"

"Cut the call. Let me ask Sanghyeok hyung for some more information. I hope Jihoon hyung didn't sleep over last night"

"About that uhh Jaehyuk hyung phoned Siwoo hyung early morning to report Jihoon hyung missing from the dorms yet again"

"Is he with Sanghyeok hyung??"

"looks like it. If I were you I would have broken down that apartment door by now knowing Jihoon hyung’s obsession wit-"

"shut up Wooje. I need to go. Bye"

"Keep us updated. Hyeonjun-ah"

Chapter Text

The knock on the door comes way too early for anyone who’d gone to bed at sunrise.

Sanghyeok blinks awake to the sound — soft at first, then impatient. He groans, dragging the blanket higher over his head. Beside him, a voice mumbles something that sounded like “five more minutes, hyung.”

Another knock. Louder this time. Followed by a voice that could only belong to one person.

“Sanghyeok hyung open up before we call security!”

His eyes fly open. He sits up too fast, smacking his forehead on another person's chin.

There's an annoyed voice cursing out at the noise, “What—why are people yelling at your door this early?”

It's 10 in the morning and oh, he totally forgot about his cough boyfriend cough sleeping over last night.

“It's Hyeonjun,” Sanghyeok mutters, scrambling out of the bed, “Which, honestly, is your fault.”

Jihoon blinks at him, hair a mess, T-shirt somehow halfway off one shoulder. “How is that my fault?”

To which, Sanghyeok rolls his eyes as he walks around the bed, grabbing a hoodie from the chair and tossing it over his head, “Now they surely gonna get wrong ideas.”

Another knock.

Then, Minhyung’s voice, “We just want to make sure you’re alive! If you’re okay, cough twice!”

Jihoon snorts, burying his face in the pillow to muffle a laugh. “He actually said that.”

Sanghyeok glares at him, then stomps to the living room to finally swing the door open. Hyeonjun and Minhyung — both holding takeaway coffee cups, both looking like they’d rehearsed an entire rescue mission on the way here.

“oh?” Hyeonjun said slowly, eyes darting past Sanghyeok to the disheveled figure stretching behind him, walking out of Sanghyeok's room, “I have so many questions.”

Minhyung blinks between them, trying not to shout. “Wait—did you two—”

“No,” Sanghyeok says too quickly.

Jihoon, ever helpful nods his head, “Yes, I slept over.”

That did not help.

Hyeonjun folds his arms, narrowing his eyes at Jihoon like a dad who’d walked in on something suspicious. “You sure you just ‘slept over’?”

“Dude,” Jihoon groans, dragging a hand down his face, “Please don’t make that sound weird. We literally just talked. And fell asleep.”

“Fully clothed?” Minhyung pressed.

“Mostly,” Jihoon says before he could stop himself.

Sanghyeok turns to glare at him, deadpan, “Just go grab your jacket and head back to the dorms.”

They indeed did not do anything else other than making out on the couch, the kitchen, bedroom and Jihoon almost grinding against his thigh in the middle of it but that's not the point. They were sane enough to stop and eat dinner before the young midlaner could change his mind. Jihoon is just too much of a touchy and a needy man. Someone who's so dangerous for him.

Jihoon pouts, “I was just kidding.”

Sanghyeok stirs from the memory, cheeks a little warm. He lets the two intruders in, while Jihoon who's still very much in sleep, walks into the kitchen like he owns the place.

Minhyung shakes his head, in disbelief, "I swear Minseok's onto somethin-"

“What about him?” Sanghyeok walks over to where they're seated on the couch, throwing at them two packs of cookies.

“Nothing. Just Minseok complaining about Siwoo hyung” Hyeonjun answers instead, already typing on his phone, “He said Jaehyuk hyung is blowing up his phone looking for Jihoon hyung since last night.”

Jihoon takes the exact moment to show up as he clears his throat, already clad in his hoodie, “He's an overprotective auntie.”

Sanghyeok turns around and says something about Jihoon forgetting manners which earns him a look from Jihoon. A kind of look that is borderline fond, and just Jihoon trying to be petulant for attention which, Hyeonjun finds utterly disgusting. Is Minseok really winning the delusional game here?

When Jihoon finally decides to leave for the dorms, Sanghyeok stands by the door to send him off and Minhyung swears at his perfect bangs, he saw the younger midlaner for a moment hold Sanghyeok's wrist before letting it go, a small smile on his face and ultimately turning around to leave.

huh?

He narrows his eyes at their captain, "Are you the reason behind Jihoon hyung's rampage?"

Sanghyeok blinks at him, standing in front of the now-closed door, "what"

"It's the third time in two weeks we found him in your apartment. You want me to believe that it's just friendly visits?" Hyeonjun's voice is a little momentous now, probably not too happy with Sanghyeok's poor pretense of a reply.

"What are you implying?" Sanghyeok walks over to them, still standing his ground.

"ughh come on hyung," Hyeonjun leans against the back rest, arms now crossed against his chest.

"you're seeing each other, aren't you?" Minhyung looks proud at that, eyes still narrowed and Sanghyeok needs a moment to combat the accusations.

But how is this fair. This is basically 2v1.

"That's completely false, Minhyung-ah," he tries to act as normal as possible, making his way to the kitchen counter, totally not avoiding the questioning eyes of his two teammates. He adds, "As much as I'd like to entertain you, No. Jihoon is just a friend who wanted to rant about his personal problems to me. He knew I wouldn't decline so he's been like that for a while."

They have talked about this last night. Sanghyeok wanted their relationship to progress further before breaking the news to everybody. It feels more safe, more ideal than to just blow off and see all their teammates lose it before Worlds starts. It's gonna be tough maintaining their secrecy but that is better than waking up to bunch of insufferable messages from their friends throughout the tournament.

"So, he usually barges in just like that?" 

Sanghyeok then nods, "Yes."

"But you're not even the closest buddy he's got?" Hyeonjun points out the obvious, because really why the fuck would Jihoon reach out to the most unapproachable senior in the vicinity and not just someone from his circle like Minseok or Siwoo for that matter.

Sanghyeok needs to work his brain harder. He isn't called 'clutch' of a player for no reason.

"He originally wanted to talk to Hyeonjoon and Minseok. But they're not in town and quite frankly, we did become kind of close during Hangzhou so, it makes sense why he'd rather talk to me than approach someone else outside his team. You know I'm quite the listener."

Solid.

Minhyung seems to ponder at the possibility while Hyeonjun hums, eyes still on Sanghyeok as he sighs, "I'll take your word for it."

"Then who is he pining over?" Minhyung suddenly looks up at them, looking genuinely confused.

"I'm not telling you that," Sanghyeok says before he exposes himself and very well, Jihoon.

"We won't tell anyone. Hyung, I promise."

"I would not like to break his trust."

"Or you're just lying about the whole thing," Hyeonjun accuses him again and the bot laner unsurprisingly nodding his head in agreement.

This is so hard.

"You can ask Jihoon directly. I'm sure he'd tell you if you ask nicely."

That seems to shut the duo up as they wave their hands in dismissal not before falling into another set of unwanted conversation. Hyeonjun going 'Whatever. Everything is still so sus' now and then.

-

Jihoon narrowly managed to dodge the heavenly interrogations from his teammates after pretending to be sick in the stomach and shutting the door in time. Few hours later, when he strutted down the hall for lunch, Jaehyuk and Giin had already gone out so that was a relief. Geonbu was on his power nap, Mingyu just gave him a look that clearly read 'Wait until Jaehyuk hyung returns' and that was scary.

"I just wanna know if you're okay, hyung."

Jihoon looks at Mingyu, who definitely looks more concerned than annoyed at his constant disappearances from the dorm.

He smiles, "I'm okay. In fact, I'm lowkey happy."

The younger player just hums, their footsteps echoing across the empty halls and Jihoon wonders how'd he react if he was to tell him he's dating Faker. He'd probably freeze and never recover.

Jihoon's chest swells with pride at the mere thought of securing Sanghyeok in his life after almost ruining his chance like an absolute idiot. It's safe to say he is the luckiest person ever.

He didn't know he was grinning until Mingyu made a gagging noise.

"I don't even wanna know. Good night." And he walks off.

Jihoon blinks, a little embarrassed for acting completely out of character but who wouldn't be if they were dating the Lee Sanghyeok. He can't wait to see him again and maybe take him out on a date.

He jolts from a sudden ping of notification. The phone isn't even unlocked yet, he sees four missed calls from Jaehyuk, five missed video calls from Siwoo, two from Minseok and one from Wangho. Really, even Wangho?

But his eyes catches the most recent one, the grin on his face getting bigger.

Hyeok hyung

Hi

Wangho wants to meet

us before Worlds.

Do you wanna go?

If you want me to

Why would I not

want that

I might kiss you in

front of them

You would not do that

try me

Dohyeon is gonna

be there

Jihoon rolls his eyes. Of course, there's no point in getting jealous after everything that happened in the last few days. They had made up, Sanghyeok is already his. But he's petty.

dats even better

he can watch me as

I eat you up

shameless

aw hyung r u blushing

Jihoon. I never thought

of Dohyeon as anything

more than a friend.

You know it right?

So don't be mad anymore.

Jihoon finds it adorable how his hyung uses proper punctuations and well formed sentences like he’s writing a formal letter. 

He scrunches his nose in adoration.

i was kidding. Don't worry.

Let's meet them.

Really?

I promise.

okay.

wat r u doing

about to sleep

show me

Show you?

You want me to take

a picture of me lying

down on the bed?

Jihoon gulps. His rotten brain not functioning well after reading 'Sanghyeok', 'picture' and 'bed' together in the same sentence. His mind wandering across the street inside a certain apartment, on Sanghyeok's bed, of what he could be doing instead of lounging in his dorms alone.

He is desperate.

yeah

oh

[photo]

Is that okay?

Jihoon opens the photo, his mouth going dry at the blurry image of Sanghyeok looking at the camera, arms raised above his head to take a selfie. Jihoon’s eyes rakes down below his loose T-shirt where he can see a flash of soft skin peeking out.

He zooms in to his lips, a very moisturized one which he's kissed multiple times until Sanghyeok pleaded for air, that pale skin looks so so tempting. He looks around the building before exiting the chat and opening his and Mingyu's chat.

I'm going out. Tell Jaehyuk hyung to not worry.

Don't call me. AT ALL 

He doesn't wait for the reply and shoots Sanghyeok a quick reply.

What's the purpose of having the most gorgeous boyfriend in the world if he can't visit him at random hours for no reason?

ure so fuckin cute.

can I see you?

Now?

yeah

But it's late. Aren't you

gonna get a piece

for staying out again?

only from jaehyuk hyung

am i bugging u

No. I kind of want

to see you too.

then im on my way.

ok.

hyung?

yes?

I miss you

Me too.

-

The apartment is quiet except for the soft hum of the computer fan and the flicker of the horror-game intro screen in the dim corner of Sanghyeok's room. His face is lit blue by the monitor, jaw set in focus, thumbs steady on the controller.

Jihoon stands behind Sanghyeok, face leaned in lower, close enough to feel his boyfriend's hair brush his nose now and then.

“Are you seriously this tense already?” Jihoon murmurs, voice light and teasing, right behind Sanghyeok’s ear. His arms resting on the back of the recliner

“I’m concentrating,” Sanghyeok clears his throat, adjusting his hands on the table.

For someone who has strict sleeping schedule, the older midlaner is astonishingly looking refreshed to even play some useless game.

“Mm,” Jihoon strays his gaze away from the screen and to his clavicle, his position allowing him to get a direct view of the pale skin just above his collarbone.

Jihoon, for most of the time cannot remember all the events happening around him but for sure he can name exactly when his hunger for Sanghyeok’s attention started.

It was when they shot a promotional video for the LCK summer finals, Jihoon was in HLE. They were intensely facing off with cameras rolling down the scene.

”Come closer, Chovy-ssi,” Sanghyeok had said to him.

The decision to step closer and analyse his rival more closely was the goal, but when Sanghyeok smiled at him throwing his signature thumbs up when they finally got the shot right- Jihoon wanted nothing more than to see that look on the legendary midlaner again.

He’s come a long way, from agonising over his defeat against Faker to celebrating his wins against him. But it’s even better now, he gets to see the side of Faker which nobody has the permission to.

"I'm not scared easily."

“Sure,” the younger’s not paying much attention. He straightens up and moves beside the older midlaner, hands just above his head. He wants to touch him so bad.

Earlier, he expected Sanghyeok to kiss him at the door, welcome him by a warm hug but all he got was a shy 'hi' and Jihoon following him to the room where Sanghyeok was already playing a horror game.

Don't get him wrong. Jihoon loves to spend time with his boyfriend in whichever way but right now, he'd rather participate in a passionate make out session with the man beside him.

Just as Jihoon shifts closer to the older male, something jumps out on the screen, and Sanghyeok flinched. His hand instinctively clutching Sanghyeok's arm, steadying him.

“there ...there, babe,” Jihoon teases him, fingers rubbing at his skin slightly for assurance. A series of laughter followed after at how flustered his boyfriend is with the simple gesture.

“you're crowding me,” Sanghyeok shifts.

Jihoon's hand leaves his arm but instead moves to the armrest to spin the chair around. Sanghyeok stills, eyes wide in surprise as he comes face to face with his boyfriend.

Jihoon leans in, to whisper, “wanna do something else?”

Sanghyeok could’ve rolled his eyes. Could’ve pushed him away with some dry remark reminding him of some decency. Instead, he finds himself watching Jihoon’s slightly purged mouth, noticing how his chapped lips are naturally pouty.

He exhales before letting his hands travel along the younger's neck to tug him forward, his mind straying further from his last thread of sanity, pressing his lips against the awaiting chapped one.

It wasn’t planned—just instinct, something that had been building up across too many thoughts.

The first press of lips is soft and slightly endearing but Jihoon instantly turns it over. One of his hands finds Sanghyeok’s jaw, guiding him closer, deepening the kiss like he’d been waiting for his permission all along.

Jihoon shifts, his knee brushing against Sanghyeok’s as he bends lower to circle his arms around Sanghyeok's frame, pulling him up.

The way he kisses—steady, confident. It makes Sanghyeok melt into him, hands clutching at Jihoon’s nape for balance.

Honestly, Sanghyeok was anticipating this. Jihoon looked so good just standing there behind him, arms too distracting and his musky cologne suffocating his chest. It’s a miracle how he was holding back for such long time.

Jihoon smiles into the kiss, breaking away, “bed?”

Sanghyeok just nods, eyes still closed and breath heavy.

That earns him another kiss, slower this time. Jihoon’s fingers slips into his hair, tilting his head just right, and Sanghyeok goes pliant under his touch, lost in the rhythm of it.

Jihoon’s thumbs brush over Sanghyeok’s bottom lip before leaning in again—just one more kiss, because he couldn’t just not.

Jihoon had always been the kind of person who moved with control — in matches, in interviews, in arguments but when it comes to Sanghyeok, he loses all of his etiquettes.

Sanghyeok’s back hits the mattress softly, his lips parting as Jihoon’s hands finds the hem of his T-shirt. There's a hesitation in Jihoon's movement— just a fraction, just long enough for Sanghyeok to look up and nod, eyes vivid and steady.

Jihoon exhales sharply, and with careful, shaking hands, pulling the shirt over Sanghyeok’s head.

The fabric catches briefly on his hair before falling away, and for a moment, Jihoon just… stares. Like he’d been handed something sacred.

His fingers hovers, tracing the air before finally making contact — palms warm against Sanghyeok’s skin. Are they really going to do it?

Sanghyeok shivers at the frail touch, his breath catching, but he doesn't flinch away. He tilts his head forward instead, as if pulled by gravity, his lips lightly brushing Jihoon’s jaw.

“Jihoon” His voice breaks around the name, soft but trembling.

"You look even prettier under me," and Jihoon is nosing his clavicle, hands that previously held his waist now travelling lower, at the ridge of his waistband.

He had imagined Sanghyeok going pliant under him a thousand times, but he never thought it would be this addictive. He couldn't stop but bend down to get the taste of his skin, just below his navel.

His hands slowly working on the strings of the latter’s waistband to take his pants off before he lose his mind.

"hyung," he looks up from below, hands working to get the offensive piece of clothing completely off of the older.

Sanghyeok looks messy, his cheeks have gone a darker shade of pink and Jihoon wonders how on earth was this man single for so long.

The older midlaner doesn't respond to him and instead furrows his eyebrows at Jihoon’s fully clothed body.

The younger smirks, "my clothes? you want them off?"

Sanghyeok turns his face away, shifting uncomfortably to escape the embarrassment but Jihoon is faster. He smiles at how cute his hyung is before pulling his own shirt over his head and throwing it somewhere across the room.

Jihoon then ducks down again to slot their mouths together in a messy kiss, Sanghyeok running his fingers on his scalp as the younger sucks at his bottom lip to draw out the sweet noises.

Jihoon drags his hands up on the older's bare chest as his fingers work on the hardened buds which earns him a satisfying groan from the man under him.

He takes the opportunity to slide his tongue inside the hot cavern of his mouth, drinking every sound as he continues to play with the already bruised nipples.

"ahh", Sanghyeok lolls his head back as Jihoon leaves his mouth to nip at the side of his neck, the sensation of teeth on his skin sending him into oblivion.

He gasps, "they're gonna see the marks."

Jihoon just hums and continues to suck around the exposed throat with no remorse. He's probably gonna have to apologize later when he comes into his senses, but for now he is barely conscious, hovering above a pleading Sanghyeok.

"How am I gonna fuck you if you're already like this," he pulls Sanghyeok closer by the thighs, the older midlaner's eyes wide in surprise at hearing such crude words.

Oh how cute

Without wasting another minute, Jihoon leans in to mouth at his jaw one last time before crawling off the bed to kneel on the carpet, hands following to grab at Sanghyeok's soft and slender ankle to pull him at the edge of his bed.

Sanghyeok, after what felt like a minute makes a sound, hands reaching for Jihoon's head to steady himself.

"W-what are you doing?" Sanghyeok's breath already ragged, eyes curious and so pretty looking at him like this from the bed.

Jihoon only smiles at him as he grabs both of the slender legs to pull them even closer to his face, resting them on either side of his shoulders.

He leans forward to brush his lips against one of his inner thighs as he feels Sanghyeok shiver, his grip on his hair tighter in response.

"Wait," Sanghyeok leans back on his other hand, sheets wrinkling under his palm. He swallows, "I didn't- Jihoon, I've never done this."

"With a man?"

"with anybody."

"Figured," Jihoon then chuckles, one of his hands caressing Sanghyeok's dangling leg and his other hand reaching forward to brush against Sanghyeok's lonely nipples. He gives it a hard tug, fingers rubbing into it to soothe it after.

"Jihoon," Sanghyeok falls back on the bed, hands now covering his face, unable to keep quiet and Jihoon takes the exact moment to pull the remaining fabric off of Sanghyeok's hip at one go.

"you're so beautiful," Jihoon takes a moment to take in the view, the unmovable, the legendary, face of esports- Faker, lying under him so bare and looking so fucking delicious.

A sense of pride engulfs him as he lowers his face to nose at Sanghyeok's awaiting pretty hole, "Can't believe you're real and all mine."

There's no doubt Jihoon is a whore for Sanghyeok, this has been discovered a while ago but holy shit he didn't know it was this bad. The moment he let himself get the taste of Sanghyeok, he just couldn't stop.

He came here with the thought of cuddling Sanghyeok to death, to kiss him senseless but God must love him because this is everything he ever wanted.

Jihoon takes his time brushing his tongue along Sanghyeok's already erect cock, the grip on his hair now diabolical, followed by a sharp gasp. But that was not Jihoon's motive.

He shifts forward to take the cock into one of his hands as he dips his head lower to swipe his tongue along the lines until it reached Sanghyeok's tight hole.

Sanghyeok trembles, mouth parting as he leans forward to look at Jihoon, who in turn prods his tongue into the sensitive hole. He lets out a quiet moan as Jihoon continues to lick at it like a starved animal.

"ahh fu- Jihoon!" Sanghyeok jolts at the sudden invasion of tongue inside his aching rim, the sensation so foreign to him. He doesn't know what to do with his hands, his eyes now closed, and his bottom lip all bitten.

He didn't know it was possible for humanity to feel such pleasure from being eaten out.

He wants to push the younger off him and at the same time push his face closer. It was confusing. Sanghyeok's hands flails at the side as he grips the sheets until his palms are red and angry,

oh God oh God oh God

Jihoon seems to enjoy it to the fullest as he clamps his hands around the other's hips to pull him even closer, his tongue now fully inside him, moving in and out of his spit smeared hole.

He repeats the movement until he hears Sanghyeok cry out in pleasure, a little smirk making it to the younger's face.

"s-stop," Sanghyeok's voice is now muffled, his mouth covered with his own arms trying to bite down the moans, the other hand pulling at Jihoon's hair to stop him.

He whimpers, "I'm feeling weird. I wanna do something but I don't know w-what."

Jihoon is too close to a growl to sound like words. Just how adorable is his hyung? even when he's being eaten out like a five-course meal and it's probably the dirtiest position he's ever been in.

He realized, Sanghyeok wants a release, and he will make sure to give him what he wants because after all, Jihoon is his devout worshipper.

As he continues to abuse Sanghyeok's virgin hole with a newfound speed, he gets brave and slowly removes his hand from his hips to rub a circle against the rim with his thumb.

Jihoon feels the thighs around him suddenly closing in, an unfiltered cry making its way to his ears like music.

Sanghyeok feels his tears threatening to fall as he opens his eyes to a new feeling bubbling in his abdomen. He shudders violently as he looks down and finds Jihoon looking directly at him, tongue deep inside him, his middle finger slowly joining in the tongue.

"Oh my God," Sanghyeok falls back on the bed, his eyes rolling at the back of his head. The heat in his body takes a different route and he no more wants it to stop. He wants to drop lower and push in deeper.

Jihoon mistakes his cry of pleasure for something else and pulls away, stopping all the ministrations. His other hand rubs gently on his hip, voice a little hoarse, "Are you okay?"

The other male just breathes shakily as he groans, "why'd you stop?"

Jihoon was so eager to fuck him, his brain completely missed out the fact that there is no condom. Forget about condom, they don’t even have lube.

Rare disadvantage of having a boyfriend who, in this case might have no idea how to use them even if he has one anyway.

"I don't have condom. I mean I am clean but it's gonna be hell for you if we don't lube up your hole," yet Jihoon wriggles his finger deeper, his eyes dropping down to look at view.

The ruined man is unable to form words, his arms now clamped against his eyes, a tinge of disappointment heavy in his voice, "d-do we stop?"

"Are you clean, hyung?"

"Well, I've never.." his words are incomprehensible; the only words Jihoon could make out was 'lotion' and 'is that safe' before he slowly stands up to move Sanghyeok at the center of the bed, who makes a sound of protest as Jihoon leaves him there to get a lotion from the table, “give me a sec.”

They draw back to silence. Jihoon quickly climbing up the bed and settling himself between the beautifully parted legs. He carelessly pulls at the thighs, pushing them apart with his left hand as he smears a generous amount of lotion in his fingers.

"relax, babe," Jihoon shifts forward to plant the other hand beside Sanghyeok's head, leaning in to lap his tongue around the older's parted lips who responds by kissing him back in fervour.

Sanghyeok gasps into his mouth as Jihoon tentatively inserts his finger again, the lotion now making it easier to completely enter him, massaging the muscles inside of him.

“so wet, hyung. So fucking wet for me,” they don't leave each other's mouth as Sanghyeok takes two fingers this time, body shaking at the stretch of it. Two turns into three fingers and Sanghyeok is crying out.

"Jihoon-," he stops mid-sentence as Jihoon curls his fingers inside him, which makes Sanghyeok wrap his legs around the younger's waist tightly, his mouth now formed an 'O' as he opens his eyes to stare at Jihoon, eyebrows tensed at the feeling of fingers spreading apart his insides, before chanting Jihoon's name like mantra, “don’t stop.”

Sanghyeok is sweaty, his arms now wrapped around the younger’s neck as he takes more thrusts.

”I’m gonna..nngh,” with that, he fails to hold it any longer and draws out a far cry, coming heavily untouched.

But that doesn't stop Jihoon from continuing to scissor his long fingers until the person under him sobs, his desire overtaking his rationality, “more?”

The older male just whimpers at the sensitivity, hands now grabbing Jihoon's to stop his movement, "Just fuck me."

That somehow seems to wake Jihoon up from his lust filled reverie, his eyes finding a teary eyed Sanghyeok who's grabbing his jaw in return to pat him, “Want you inside me, Jihoon-ah.”

Jihoon nods, his heartbeat running twenty miles per hour with the way Sanghyeok looks absolutely wrecked before he even gets to be inside him. This dirty mouth on his hyung right now, he will tattoo it in his memory.

"Will you be okay?" he unties his strings, removing both his pants and underwear at one go as he adjusts himself back in position.

Sanghyeok only manages to nod as he lifts his hip while Jihoon places a pillow under his lower back. Jihoon leans down to suck at the older's jaw while his hands are busied in slicking up his aching hard cock.

“Please,” he can feel Sanghyeok's faint tremble with how Jihoon’s cock brushed against his abdomen and it makes the younger bite his lips in desperation.

He can't wait to feel him clenching around his cock now that he knows how it tastes.

Jihoon wants to see more of Sanghyeok begging. He breathes, pressing the tip of his cock right at Sanghyeok's clenched rim. There’s a tug at his wrist, the older midlaner squirming and moaning before shifting his ass to take him better.

This fuels his desire to just fuck into him with no care, but he resists his urge as he slowly sinks inside the tight heat after Sanghyeok gives him a quiet nod.

"hah.. so good," he breathes, mouth still brushing the pale skin of Sanghyeok's throat. One of his hands under his arm and the other hand gripping his thigh to keep the legs open.

Sanghyeok cries at the stretch, the girth so overwhelming but so good. He can't help but experimentally buckle his hip up to meet him deeper and that's how Jihoon finds himself cursing out before hitting the prostrate spot on.

"So fucking tight," he gives a single hard thrust and after he feels his length easily slipping in and out of him, he jabs his hips deeper to feel more, repeating it until all he can hear is Sanghyeok's uneven breathing and his unguarded moans.

”there ahh right there fuck-,” Sanghyeok is drunk in aphrodisiac.

Jihoon had dreamed of this exact moment so many times that this shouldn't feel unreal, but it makes him feel beyond that. Sanghyeok clawing at the younger’s back while his thighs tighten around his waist, lips delivering those sinful sounds, his heat sucking in Jihoon so good- all of it does wonders to Jihoon.

He’s increasing his pace, Sanghyeok's body now rocking back and forth almost coming head on with the headboard.

"haa ...ahh J-Jihoon," Sanghyeok stammers as Jihoon dips his head lower to swirl his tongue around the forgotten nipples, the latter's hands instantly digging at the younger's scalp.

Sanghyeok lets out a particularly loud moan as Jihoon drags his hands lower, fingers reaching his butt cheeks and spreading them for better access as he fucks into his prostate with more vigor and intention.

This maybe Sanghyeok's first time having sex but the way he lets Jihoon take him, he thinks- No. He knows that he had saved a country in his last life, “lucky me. you’re mine to take.”

He loves every inch of him, his lewd sounds, his vulnerability, his tears, his mouth, his beautiful siren eyes. His fucking slender body that can challenge his wildest imaginations and his beautiful hole. All his.

"wanna fuck you all night," every movement between them feels inevitable, like gravity pulling too strong to fight.

Jihoon’s rhythm grows faster, rougher, but still careful — like even in his lust filled dilemma, he's memorizing how Sanghyeok reacts to him, teaching him the way he learned a map or a playbook.

And Sanghyeok—Sanghyeok meets his every thrust, eyes glassy, lips parted, giving more access with every breath, every sound, "can’t… anymore."

Jihoon suddenly shifts, his hands clamped at Sanghyeok's hips as he raises one of Sanghyeok's legs on his shoulder, the said male uncontrollably shaking in pleasure, nearly breaking down.

Too much, Sanghyeok wants to say but he simply takes all. Jihoon slamming his giant of a cock right against his pulsating bundle of nerves. He feels his release coming closer.

“come for me. Hyung, fucking come for me,” Jihoon is far gone to act sane. He can't stop chasing his high, his own release threatening to gush out.

He bends down for the last time to slot their drool filled mouths together, his cock repeatedly fucking into Sanghyeok’s sweet spot.

After long drag of his cock against the same bundle of muscles, Jihoon feels Sanghyeok choking into sobs as he comes for the second time, spurts of whites splattering between their bodies.

“Hyung,” following his impulse, the younger reaches between them to stroke Sanghyeok's cock to help him finish.

"No- too much. Jihoon ...ahh stop penetrating me!," Sanghyeok cries as he stops the unruly hands.

Jihoon groans, once again plunging his tongue inside Sanghyeok's mouth, tasting tears and all sorts of salt, finally letting out a loud moan as he comes hard, spilling inside Sanghyeok.

At one point, Jihoon just blinks and looks down at him- Sanghyeok’s hair all wet, his chest rising fast beneath Jihoon’s hands, eyes glazed but steady — and his heart nearly cracks open at how beautiful he looks. 

And Sanghyeok smiles — faint, wrecked, but sure. His hands find Jihoon’s face, pulling him close until there's nothing left between them but heat and heartbeat.

"you're perfect," Jihoon whispers, cock still buried inside him, still moving in and out to ride off his high. It's only when the older male heels him on the back, he painfully pulls out of him.

The older midlaner whines at the sudden emptiness, eyes rolling back yet again as Jihoon slowly shoves two of his fingers back inside his hole to collect the cum, gradually massaging the rim, “you’re craz- nghh Jihoon fuck!”

Jihoon looks at him and smirks, "I love you."

Sanghyeok simply shakes his head in retaliation, lips parting and closing again as Jihoon's fingers fucks his cum back into him.

And he takes it with no questions asked.

He had since long given up in taming the wild animal in heat, that is Jeong Jihoon.

He finally slaps the fingers away once the younger looks satiated. He sighs deeply, "I love you too, Jihoon-ah but I need to survive."

The other just laughs, his bright smile always so contagious. Sanghyeok mentally notes that- one, Jihoon is fucking crazy when he's horny.

Two, he has insane amount of stamina. Three, that was the best sex of his life although that's the only time Sanghyeok ever had sex. Jihoon is basically an Incubus in disguise.

He was so lost in thought that he doesn't register the empty bed, Jihoon disappearing into the bathroom to fetch a towel.

He exhales a deep sigh as he feels tiredness climbing up his almost ruined body. Sanghyeok tries to move his legs to rest his head on the headboard, he gasps when he feels pain shooting up his lower body like he just got electrocuted.

”I’m so fucked.”

Literally.

Not even a minute later, the said male returns to the room with a wet towel, face brighter than ever like he didn’t almost break him. He climbs onto the bed, careful not to crush Sanghyeok before throwing the blanket off of the bed.

“are you alive?” Jihoon leans in to press a soft kiss onto the other's lips, carefully dabbing the wet towel on his cheeks.

The older male glares at him, “you’re one horny dog.”

Jihoon snorts at that, “can you blame me, Faker seonsu.”

Sanghyeok's a bit sensitive at the crotch area, but when Jihoon caresses his thighs to soothe him, he relaxes- allowing Jihoon to wipe off the sticky liquid off his now-soft length and sensitive hole.

“better?” Jihoon then throws the towel on the floor, free hands now trapping the older as he leans in for another kiss.

Sanghyeok lets out a humm, mouth moving against Jihoon’s, too sleepy to retort.

They stay like this for a while before Jihoon pushes himself off to nuzzle his lips on his hair, "I'll bring in the new bed-sheet. Don't close your eyes yet, okay?"

Sanghyeok feels himself nodding a ‘yes’, but finds himself closing his eyes a second later, Jihoon’s soft voice still lingering in his memory.

There is some rustling, a quiet conversation fading into space as his vision darkens and he’s finally dreaming of Jihoon.

At night, he dreams of the strong arms carrying him across the bed and a kiss on his forehead. The man in his dreams, tall and flawless, a cat-like gaze, wraps him up in a blanket before pulling Sanghyeok against his chest.

Outside his slumber, Jihoon is watching his boyfriend cutely curling into him. Sanghyeok’s eyelashes fluttering against his cheeks, making it hard for Jihoon to stop trying to smooch him for the hundredth time today.

“Good night, hyung,” he smiles. His boyfriend already fast asleep.

Pulling the smaller man closer, tucking his boyfriend’s head under his chin, Jihoon tunes into the steady wave of Sanghyeok’s heartbeat looking like a sappy man in love.

Because indeed, he is a sappy man in love. One of the longest he's ever slept in over a year.

Chapter Text

"Never have I ever ...kissed a guy on the lips."

Han Wangho, in all his glory is smiling like a proud party host after spewing the most diabolical sentence, eyes scanning all the seated participants from left to right.

It's 11pm on a saturday camp night, almost twenty miles away from Gangnam and the spirits of the LCK players are high.

two days earlier

Wangho created a Groupchat "PEANUT SHRINE"

Siwoo: wtf is this name

Hyeonjoon: hi?

Boseong: oh what's going on

Jaehyuk: literally what is the reason

Wooje: Wangho hyung arranged his early farewell party n everyone in this gc are invited.

Kwanghee: even me?

Dohyeon: what do you think hyung

Jaehyuk: so where's he

Dohyeon: on a conference call with Hwanjoong and Geonwoo. they'll prolly bail on him

Hyeonjoon: let's go karaoke 

Siwoo: PLS GOD NO I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU

Boseong: is it that bad

Jihoon: trust me hyung you don't wanna know 

Jaehyuk: ur one to talk

Jihoon: u wish u had my golden voice

Jaehyuk: bitch

Wangho: can you two act civil for once

Wangho: anyway. are yall free on saturday

Jaewan: depends on what you have to offer

Wangho: food

Sanghyeok: I'm in

Boseong: wait. Sanghyeok hyung is gonna be there too

Jaewan: im sick of hotpot. let's go to a nice barbecue place

Jihoon: no

Siwoo: shut up Jihoon. what about we go camping?

Wooje: but isn't that too much work

Dohyeon: not if it's an unauthentic one

Kwanghee: I've heard a lot about nanji park. They have everything there. including barbeque

Jaewan: the one with hangang view?

Boseong : yes. perfect for a night stay

Jaehyuk: sounds tempting

Hyeonjoon: as long as we can have a good time there

Siwoo: I looked it up on papago. they even have vip area

wangho: i’m sold. let's book

Jihoon: wdym let's book? arent u paying

Dohyeon: he's shit managing transactions. I'll book the reservation

Wangho: thanks man

Dohyeon: dont forget ur paying

Wangho: i know u lil fuck

Jaewan: oh junsik said he's gonna be busy with family this week but he will send gifts

Sanghyeok: that's sad. i wanted to meet him

Wangho: we can do smt about it after worlds?

Jaewan: that way we can meet haneul and uijin

Wangho: like a little skt reunion

Jihoon: what about me

Wangho: are you skt

Jihoon: well you aren't either

Sanghyeok: he was.

Jihoon: hyung :(

Jaehyuk: what's ur problem man

Siwoo: he's doing it again

Hyeonjoon: are you secretly trying to get into t1

Jihoon: in some ways ;)

present

Jihoon realized, Wangho had invited all his former teammates along with the current ones in this small getaway and he's thanking the Gods above for Wangho and Sanghyeok being teammates before because he can cut his time here just by staring at his cute boyfriend who's cutting bell peppers and onions with Jaehyuk doing something over the barbeque grill.

He doesn't mean to be heartless, he sure loves his other hyungs and he'll be lying if he says he won't miss Wangho but the stress of upcoming tournament, weight of another international competition, the pressure- he's tad bit tired and given that he's just secured Sanghyeok romantically, he's distracted half of the time he's doing something.

"Why don't you go help set the table?" Hyeonjoon nudges him, his hands full of chopped wood, ready to go into the bonfire as Wooje puts them in one by one.

He must have looked like an idiot just standing and daydreaming for Hyeonjoon to call him out like that. He clears his throat and joins Boseong on the table.

"where's Jaewan hyung?" he asks him, following Boseong who's busy unfolding the chairs.

"Him and Kwanghee hyung are on a snack run. Wangho hyung and Dohyeon probably making another trip the car for more drinks."

"Geez how much are they planning on drinking," Jihoon looks around and finds two crates of beer already sitting at the corner.

"You didn't hear? Wangho hyung said something about a drinking game," Boseong laughs.

Siwoo takes the exact moment to show up with a tray of marinated meat, flipping off Jaehyuk who in return complains about it to Sanghyeok.

Sanghyeok just smiles, urging Jaehyuk to leave the work to him and help Wooje with the bonfire, "we'll take care of the barbeque. Thanks for helping, Jaehyuk-ah."

"Alright. call me if you need something," Jaehyuk side-eyes Siwoo, walking off like an offended kid.

He finds it funny how the bot duo acts like this most of the times but in hindsight, they're just inseparable and so annoying when they team up to bully Jihoon occasionally.

With Siwoo joining Jaehyuk a minute later, Jihoon slowly excuses himself from the table and makes his way to his boyfriend.

"Hi," Jihoon leans in from behind, trying not to be so obvious.

Sanghyeok clears his throat, nudging him with an elbow to push him away a little, "would you like to try some?"

"gimme the small one," Jihoon says.

The older midlaner just hums before flipping a piece of nicely salted pork belly, "try it with perilla leaves."

Jihoon, like a petulant child just shakes his head, "too lazy"

"It's literally two steps away from you," Sanghyeok sighs. He blows on the meat one more time before offering it to Jihoon.

"Can you feed me?" he pouts.

"Don't be ridiculou-"

Sanghyeok is about to retreat his hand but the younger firmly grabs his wrist- midair, still holding the tong with meat.

The older midlaner just stares at him, caught off-guard as Jihoon bends forward to bite the edge of the meat straight from the tong, chewing slowly, smug as ever.

He makes a satisfied sound, nodding his head and throwing him a thumbs up fully aware of how Sanghyeok is looking at him, deadpanned.

"you're impossible," Sanghyeok looks away, fingers adjusting his glasses, ears faintly pink.

Jihoon knows how reckless that was, openly sticking up close to Sanghyeok and feeding onto the suspicions of his almost busted ass but what can he do. His boyfriend just looks so cute with the oversized hoodie, the fire on the grill decorating his face with the warm glow, those soft lips looking so inviting. He almost kissed him on the spot.

"Mm that was juicy," Jihoon mutters, hands brushing his sides for a second before quickly leaning in into his ear. He whispers, "You look fucking adorable, by the way."

And he's walking away.

Sanghyeok is too stunned to look anywhere other than his grill, ignoring the way Jihoon's voice left him a little bothered. His mind reeling back to his bedroom a few days back, the same voice that brought him to the edge and he almost lost himself.

He can't help but shiver at the fact that Jihoon is so much younger yet he's always putting Sanghyeok into tough positions like it's the most natural thing. The next morning after they had an eventful night, Jihoon told him about his dream to own a big house where the kitchen counter would be bigger than his room so as to try bending Sanghyeok on top of it.

The older midlaner had kicked him off the bed, but who knew he was serious about it. He did bend him over on the counter top instead of having breakfast that morning because Jihoon is truly unsatiable and it's not a joke anymore. He really wanted to rearrange his gut like he promised-

"Hyung!"

what the fuck sanghyeok

Sanghyeok masks his pink face by pulling his hood a little lower, looking up at the familiar voice shouting his name and he's surprised to see them here.

"Minhyung?" he looks further and finds Minseok and Hyeonjun waving at him like children who just saw their father after a long vacation, "what's going on?"

"Hyeonjun called me. Said Wooje was nagging him to join y'all and since Minseok and I were already back in the dorm, Wangho hyung told us to pack warm clothes and rush here," Minhyung turns around and waves at Jaehyuk, who's calling him over.

Minhyung just nods and turns back to spectate what the midlaner is up to, "are you cooking alone?"

"Why are you doing this alone? where is Siwoo hyung? What about Wangho hyung," Minseok walks up to them and starts complaining about the other players overworking Sanghyeok and Hyeonjun snatches the tong from him and scolds him for being a pushover.

The captain is left helplessly standing between the trio as Minseok continues rambling, "Go and sit over there. We can finish this up."

"I'll wait here with yo-"

"Sanghyeok hyung!"

This time, it's Hyeonjoon. Sanghyeok sighs before turning around to give the younger a small smile, "Do you need something, Hyeonjoon-ah?"

Hyeonjoon huffs a little, hands on his knees to catch his breath after all the running.

He stammers, "They want to play a drinking game and that jackass jihoon won't stop causing ruckus. He's not letting anyone play without you and I'm at my limit. Let's go before I assassinate that seahorse."

"oh?" Minseok takes the tong from a blank face Hyeonjun and picks out the last piece of meat from the grill, "did I hear that right? Hyeonjun-ah, take this tray." 

"Barbecue's done any way. Let's not make them wait further," Minhyung says as he pats Sanghyeok on the back who was about to give them a word or two but is being nudged away by the trio, "we'll bring the food."

Hyeonjun makes a face at Minseok's evil snickers who's happily putting all the meat on the tray, "I don't like your smile right now."

The support just laughs further, walking away with two plates on both hands, "this is gonna be fun."

"Never have I ever broken things after losing a match. Doesn't matter if it's TFT, league, jump king," Jaewan says as Kwanghee groans, tipping the glass to his mouth.

Wangho is seated between Jaewan and Sanghyeok while the T1 top-jungle duo are seated with Wooje and Dohyeon on the adjacent. Jihoon looks at his side and finds Minseok and Minhyung already lost in their conversation, and it irks him.

That should have been me and my boyfriend

"guilty," Hyeonjun laughs as he drinks the shot. Boseong, who's sitting on his right shakes his head in embarrassment as he too downs his drink.

"I did break my mouse once. It was a sponsored one," Jaehyuk says, face that of a tortured prisoner. That would be his 8th glass.

"you people are boring as fuck. Lemme go next," Minseok stands up raising his glass, "never have I ever exchanged numbers with a fan."

Dohyeon rolls his eyes, taking a quick shot before telling everyone to shut up. Jihoon didn't expect Siwoo to drink it as well.

Jaehyuk makes a face, and his former support just glares at him.

"but when," Jaehyuk tries to pry the answer out, but Siwoo diligently puts his head down to ignore him.

"Sanghyeok hyung, your turn," Dohyeon says as he fills the older's glass with more soju and the midlaner just nods, eyes perking a bit towards Jihoon to make sure the younger is acting normal. Fortunately, he is complying.

For now

"uh never have I ever switched teams?"

Everyone on the table is complaining about how unfair that was and Hyeonjun claps his hands like a proud son, "nice one, hyung."

Wooje pouts and Hyeonjun side hugs him before whispering some comforting words, Hyeonjoon patting his head like a protective brother.

Sanghyeok smiles at them and unconsciously glances at Jihoon, who's already looking at him.

The younger midlaner just tilt his head backwards for a better angle to rake his eyes below the table and shamelessly puts his foot near Sanghyeok's. Jihoon doesn't even blink, sneakers now nudging Sanghyeok's calf, very lightly.

"Never have I ever dated in high school," Minhyung side eyes Wangho.

Sanghyeok exhales, breath already too warm because of the alcohol as he feels another drag of sneakers little lower on his ankle, now nudging at his foot. The older midlaner shoots him a look. Jihoon just shaking his head in feign innocence.

"That was targeted harassment" Wangho shouts and gulps down his soju at one go, fingers pointing at Kwanghee to drink his shot and not be a lying bitch.

"I mean half of us dropped out of school pretty early," Hyeonjoon mutters.

Sanghyeok feels Jihoon's foot brush his ankle for the second time, lingering and he had enough. He carefully kicks the invasive foot away before sending him a death glare and moving his foot further out of reach of the insufferable midlaner. 

"hundred percent sure that you dated a guy," Jaehyuk accuses Wangho, Siwoo laughing a little too loudly for his liking.

The jungler clears his throat, already standing up and as he eyes the duo with something menacing. Jaehyuk gulps. He slaps Siwoo who's still clutching his abdomen as he continues wheezing. 

"Never have I ever kissed a guy on the lips," Wangho finishes and he can see four people freeze but he ignores everybody as he his focus is on Jaehyuk like an eagle.

"Are we really going that far? I didn't even say anything remotely bad," Jaehyuk groans, eyes already half closed with how much shots he has taken.

Wangho hands him a beer this time, passing the other glass to Siwoo who's unusually very flustered.

The support coughs as he sips the liquid, hands soothing his own chest for leverage, "Before y'all come for me, that was one time and it was a dare."

Jaehyuk opens his eyes at that and smirks at Siwoo, "yeah. It was disgusting to have to put my mouth on you."

The support just rolls his eyes as Minseok snickers at the gagging sounds from Wooje and Hyeonjoon. Jaewan and Boseong exchanging looks as if they couldn't believe what they were hearing.

"Rue, when was this," Dohyeon says to particularly no one but himself, too much in disbelief, Wangho smacking the table in enjoyment.

The table is in chaos, Jaehyuk thinking about jumping into the river as Kwanghee makes a kissing sound like a complete dumbass.

Minseok, then suddenly lets out a loud gasp, startling the entire population as he stares at Sanghyeok.

"what was that," Hyeonjun blinks as he follows Minseok's gaze before he too turns into a statue, mouth hanging open.

"SANGHYEOK HYUNG?" Boseong clasps his palm over his mouth to stop the shock as Sanghyeok swallows the last drop of his beer, taking a glance at the flabbergasted audience, nervous gaze moving between the now-empty glass and the table.

Wangho stands there looking absolutely betrayed for being deprived of such important information as Jaewan is massaging his forehead in pure confusion and not to mention the T1 circus now closing onto Sanghyeok's space for answers.

Dohyeon eyes Jihoon, who's also staring at Sanghyeok, fingers fidgety around the glass before he too gulps the liquid down his throat.

Wooje takes the exact moment to slap his hands on the table as he looks at Jihoon, more eyes following him as the top laner blinks at Minseok for emotional support because what is going on.

"wow," Wangho is now seated, completely ignoring Jihoon and turning his attention towards Sanghyeok. He adds, "I need more details. How did you even end up in that situation?? I- wow wait a minute- was it a dare? Were you forced? Was it an accident- I am so confused.."

Jaehyuk then stealthily looks at Jihoon, who's nervously looking anywhere but at him, completely avoiding eye contact with anybody. Minhyung catches this and quickly nudges Minseok who in turn raises his eyebrows at Siwoo at the opposite end of the table.

Siwoo nods his head and lets out a fake cough, "let's continue. I wanna go nex-"

Ring

There's a loud sound of a phone ringing. Turns out it was Sanghyeok's phone.

The midlaner looks at Jihoon for a second and quickly averts his gaze as he picks up the device from the table and excuses himself, "umm I need to take this call, excuse me."

He looks at Hyeonjun and mutters a quick 'it's tom' as the younger nods at him and the older pushes himself out of the chair, the younger midlaner looking at the disappearing figure behind the tent.

Shit.

They almost busted themselves out.

"Let's continue. Don't pressure hyung into telling us anything, don't make him uncomfortable" Kwanghee claps his hands as he ushers the too stunned players into their seats again.

Hyeonjoon nods in agreement and shushes Wangho who's still desperate for answers.

"Now, who did you even kiss, Jihoon?" Jaewan chews into the meat as he eyes the Gen.G midlaner.

"Top secret," Jihoon uncomfortably shifts in his seat as he pours himself another drink.

"Considering it's Jihoon we're talking about, that person probably slapped him right after," Wangho snorts at his own joke as Jihoon gives him a disgusting look.

That was not even funny and he was magnificently wrong, but he keeps quiet to let the topic die down. Because there's no one to defend him unlike his cute little boyfriend who gets a pass for anything.

"Okay enough of that," Siwoo clinks his glass with the chopsticks to get everyone's attention, "Never have I ever dated a guy."

Jihoon visibly shivers. He is yet in another trouble.

He looks straight at Siwoo, who's already smirking at him from the opposite chair and downs his drink at one go. If he's going down this road. he may as well die in dignity

Boseong's ssambap falls onto the ground as Dohyeon chuckles at the scene in front of him.

"Never have I ever did anything more than kissing with a guy."

Hyeonjun quickly drops his chopsticks and covers Wooje's ears for child protection. The younger simply squirming in mock offense, "I'm twenty-one!"

Jihoon takes another shot. A series of gasps following after.

"Never have I ever jerked off thinking about a guy."

"JAEHYUK WHAT THE FUCK," Jaewan screams in utter disgust.

Jihoon takes another shot.

"JIHOON HYUNG WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK," Minseok screams.

Hyeonjoon is about to faint.

"Never have I ever picked a fight with someone because I was jealous of that person being close to the said guy," to everybody's surprise, it's Hyeonjun.

Dohyeon raises both his hands in surrender, "I didn't start anything. I just reteliated."

At this point, they're all ganging up at him, but Jihoon is too far gone to hide anything. He pours another one and swallows the repulsive liquid.

Everyone is now leaning forward on the table, waiting for more questions and more answers.

"Never have I ever thought about pursuing a romantic relationship with someone from the LCK," it's Minhyung this time.

Jihoon feels dizzy, the nerves already kicking in but call him crazy because he wants to see how far they all can go.

"Fuckin guilty," and he downs another shot.

Siwoo is slightly alarmed at his voice, slurred and impeccably roughed up. The other people around the table are shell shocked. They already know what's coming next.

"Never have I ever dated another midlaner from another LCK team whose team also qualified for Worlds and is currently on a call with someone."

All eyes turn to Dohyeon, who smirks as soon as the sentence leaves his mouth. The other people gaping at the two men between them contesting in a stare down.

Another shot taken.

"you're kidding me," Wangho gapes at the sudden realization.

"Alright. Time for some rest, Jihoonie," Siwoo takes the last bite of his meat.

There's a familiar sound of footsteps approaching the table to which Jihoon instinctively looks up. Sanghyeok looks a little confused at the lack of sound around the table, eyes now scanning them thoroughly before they land on Jihoon.

Sanghyeok gives him a small reassuring smile before realizing that everyone on the table is looking at him a bit weird and Jihoon is, well very very drunk. He blinks, "Is the game over?"

For a few seconds there's no answer. The older midlaner walks over to the empty space beside Jihoon, who looks like he's about to pass out at any given moment.

"Hyung," he hears Jihoon say before he's pulled into a sudden embrace as the younger clasps his arms around his torso. He hears him breathing a little too loudly on his hoodie as another string of gibberish escapes his mouth, "..m sorry."

The older frowns, hands now lightly patting the crown of his head, "what happened?"

"I couf not feep a secref and now fey know faf we are dafing."

Sanghyeok stills. He understood it perfectly. 

"he's wasted," Minseok announces as he stands up and signals Siwoo to follow him to one of the tents, "Sanghyeok hyung, can you bring him here?"

He nods, carefully patting the other on the back, “Jihoon-ah, come on.”

The younger makes a noise, somewhere between a whine and a sigh but gets up anyways. It’s other thing that he sways like a leaning tower the entire way to the tent.

Somewhere along the way, as he tucks Jihoon under a warm blanket, Sanghyeok realized that everyone here probably knows about their relationship by now. Minseok giving him a smile before leaving the tent somehow confirmed it but it's not so bad, is it?

"I didn't know he was THAT gone for Sanghyeok hyung. I mean I knew about his puppy crush but jesus christ he actually bagged the FAKER," Kwanghee shakes his head, still in shock.

"wait. you knew about Jihoon's hopeless crush on him?" Jaehyuk asks.

"It's hard not to. I've always heard about his shenanigans during the Asian Games, people talk alot."

Wooje can't wrap his head around the fact that it was so out in the open, yet no one suspected anything. He sighs, "Sanghyeok hyung must really love him. He never let anyone in before Jihoon hyung."

"I had a feeling about this to be honest. Whenever I asked Jihoon about his frequent sneak outs, he'd brush me off but then I find out he's with Sanghyeok hyung, reviewing VODs," Jaehyuk laughs, "I'm damn sure they weren't reviewing shit."

“Or that one time he kept begging me for Sanghyeok hyung’s address like? I thought he wanted to solve his problem. I didn’t know he wanted to bone him!” Hyeonjoon slaps his forehead, traumatised by the revelation.

”never say ‘bone’ again,” Wangho gags.

”but seriously, what did Jihoon do to impress Sanghyeok hyung though, I’m quite impressed of his determination,” Boseong sips on his water after abandoning the idea of getting drunk.

”probably his gameplay? Because what even impresses him outside of league,” Jaewan rolls his eyes, Minhyung agreeing a little too much.

-

The window is cracked open, letting in the cool evening air as the room smells faintly of the citrus detergent from Sanghyeok’s hoodie draped across the chair.

Sanghyeok lay half against the pillows, voice low, “We’re flying out to Beijing next thursday. Media day first, then scrims.”

Jihoon nods, his head resting near Sanghyeok’s shoulder. His hand draws absent circles on Sanghyeok’s chest, tracing the hem of his shirt like it's the most fascinating thing in the world, “That soon?”

“Yeah.”

“...feels too soon.”

Sanghyeok smiles faintly, his gaze on the ceiling, “If I win, we can meet soon and if I don't then I'll call every day.”

“I hate it,” Jihoon mutters softly, his fingers pausing a little before gripping at his hips harder, his thrusts becoming shallow and lazier, “I'll miss you.”

The older man doesn’t answer right away, breath steady against Jihoon's skin, thumb brushing against his collarbone like punctuation, “I'll miss you more.”

Sanghyeok turns his head, meeting Jihoon’s eyes. There's a flicker there—fondness, something warmer under the surface, “Can I be on top of you?”

“Yeah,” Jihoon says, tone quiet, unfocused. His hand drifts down, resting lightly against Sanghyeok’s side, “yes you can, baby.”

And Sanghyeok's pulled up, strong hands manhandling him into the younger's lap as he wraps his arms around the younger's neck.

Sanghyeok’s next breath catches slightly as Jihoon enters him again, “can I move?”

“If you want,” Jihoon murmurs, thumb brushing a slow line over the fabric of Sanghyeok’s shirt, pulling it higher until he bunches them under his arms.

Sanghyeok pushes the younger down, hands now splayed beside his head, he cries quietly as he sinks down on him. Jihoon smiles, hands now moving to caress the thighs trapping him in place, "Are you okay with them knowing about us?"

Sanghyeok nods, small gasps escape his beautiful lips, low and warm against Jihoon’s jaw, “as long as they won’t snitch.”

Jihoon feels his release coming, he leans up to capture Sanghyeok's lips as he drinks all the small sounds. All that's left is their breathing—steady, a little uneven and the delicious echo of their hips snapping against one another.

The younger tilts his face as Sanghyeok’s hand slips instinctively between them, milking himself off. The white streaks of cum painting them like canvas. The younger doesn't take long to finish as he pistons his hips deeper into him, "that's right. You're mine."

Jihoon deliberately shoots his load inside him, his voice almost a whisper, “Were you always this responsive?”

Sanghyeok shakes his head, tossing himself further into the younger's neck as he lay there on top of him, “Only with you.”

"I love you."

"I love you better," Sanghyeok chuckles as Jihoon grumbles before turning them over and now he's lying under him.

"Don't start," Jihoon leans down to bite his neck.

Sanghyeok pats his cheek lightly, "I need to pack my bags."

And they fall into another silence, Jihoon pretending to not listen as he dives back into his neck to leave more marks, "don't hide them."

"Possessive"

"I have to be."

There's a sound of sudden vibration next to his ear, Jihoon makes an annoyed noise as he retrieves the phone.

Jaehyuk Hyung

Stop fucking him and get ur horny ass in the office.

We have actual tournament to win.

He opens another chat.

Coach Kim

If I see one more article about Faker limping during scrims and find you absent in the dorms I swear Jihun I will deport you.

Another one

Hyeonjoon Hyung

Can you like stop harassing my midlaner?

You’re such a bad influence.

I will tell him to break up with you.

“who is it?” Sanghyeok slightly pulls the blanket over his chest.

The younger midlaner just turns off the phone and gets inside the blanket, hands already finding its place around him, “Just Geonbu asking me if I want to have panda express for dinner.”

Sanghyeok nods, telling him to sleep a little for the energy boost so that he can help him pack and later walk back to the dorms.

Jihoon dreams of marrying Sanghyeok that evening.

-

When Jihoon told him he’d be visiting T1 building the next day, he thought he was half joking but he’s quite surprised to see the younger midlaner lying on the couch, snacking onto some bread.

”oh look who’s here, Jihoon hyung,” Minseok sing songs, smacking the older’s knee, urging him to look up.

Jihoon scrambles down the couch and ignores the way Hyeonjoon fake pukes at him. He walks over to the older midlaner, arms coming up to pull him into a tight hug.

”Wanna go get lunch?” The younger man ask, face buried deep into his neck.

Sanghyeok wants to push him off in embarrassment. There’s quite an audience around them but he remembered, this is prolly the last time they’d be together before Worlds.

”okay,” he sighs, pulling the younger closer.

”Hotpot?”

The older man leans back, “you sure are not sick of it?”

Jihoon makes an amused face at that, “I love hotpot.”

“You almost threw up last time.”

”Well I overate.”

“dumbass,” then Sanghyeok pushes him off.

He can’t believe this is the same man who’s terrorising the entire world with his insane gameplay.

“Respectfully, scram yourselves before I develop some serious health issues,” Hyeonjun mutters, eyes glued to his ipad, reviewing some of their recent matches.

They didn’t need to be told twice.

-

Sanghyeok likes this. The slow walk after a satisfying meal, Jihoon’s silly jokes on animals and their sleeping habits, sometimes about his cat scratching his arms when he’s not giving her attention and unsurprisingly sometimes lewd jokes about how Sanghyeok would look good pregnant.

”you’re such a weirdo,” Sanghyeok looks away, a little flustered with the way Jihoon scans him up and down to note down his observation.

”no, seriously. I wish I could give you my babies. Just think about how gorgeous they would look,” Jihoon leans down a bit, entwining their fingers. He chuckles, “they’d have your beautiful eyes and those crescent lips. I’d be so jealous of them”

Sanghyeok looks at him in disbelief, “why would you get jealous of your own babies?”

”well. I didn’t get to suck your lactatin-“

The older midlaner clamps the younger’s inappropriate mouth with his hands. Nevermind. He doesn’t wanna walk with him anymore.

”spare me the details,” Sanghyeok mutters under his breath as they reach a flight of stairs. Sanghyeok removes his palms and glares at him,”are you never not horny?”

”with you around? Never.”

“I can’t stand you.”

Jihoon speed walks past him but quickly turns around to face the older, one step above. Sanghyeok startles for a bit but relaxes as Jihoon places his fingers around his jaw.

The younger smiles, “don’t misunderstand. I afmit, I want to fuck you all the time but that doesn’t mean my love weighs less than that. I can go on a sex ban for life if it means to keep you with me forever.”

Sanghyeok stares at him, the sudden confession ploughing his heart into tiny beads, warmth spreading across his ribs, “Jihoon..”

”I’m serious. I really do love you alot, more than I am capable of showing and I’m  learning them diligently so that I can express my feelings better. So that you won’t run away to marry someone smarter, cooler, more handsome or maybe find a better midlaner than me. I hate to even think about it.” Jihoon, this time, really looks at him. Those fox eyes so bright and his chapped lips a bit expectant but not demanding as he dips his gaze down to his lips.

Sanghyeok feels his eyes blur, chest still burning in unexpected warmth. He can’t help but smile, “Believe me, you don’t have to worry about me running away. I love you a lot too. More than I could show you through my words.. ”

He feels Jihoon leaning closer, his lips now grazing the corner of his mouth. They’re stil outside, there are people walking around them. But he’s far too infected with Jihoon to even worry about anything at this point.

“You’re so beautiful,” Jihoon says before pulling him into a searing kiss, plush lips capturing his awaiting ones as they stand there, bare and uncovered.

Jihoon lifts his other hand to pull him closer by the waist, the other hand still on his jaw tilting his head a bit further. Sanghyeok makes a noise of protest when Jihoon bites his lower lip by instinct.

They’re so lost in each other’s mouth that they fail to notice the street lights beginning to glow in the dusky air. Their faces are partly illuminated by the soft golden light as they stand there basking in each other’s warmth.

Sanghyeok hesitantly pulls away, breath heavy and loud. He breathes a quiet laugh, “why do we always do this out in the open.”

The younger just rests his forehead on his, breathing in the same air, chuckling lightly, “must be the food.”

Sanghyeok just nudges him before he’s being pulled into another warm hug, a kind of embrace that makes you forget about the world. Makes you forget about the responsibilities. Makes you forget about the pressure of being Faker.

And reminds him that they’re just Lee Sanghyeok and Jeong Jihoon.