There is very minimal TWs for this chapter, so please be advised that if the following topics are sensitive to you, do not read any further: non-explicit sexual content, mentions of a loved one's passing, brief mention of grieving.

⸻⸻ .·:*¨༺ ♛ ♡ ∞ ♡ ♛ ༻¨*:·. ⸻⸻

"Young'ah?" San says softly as he walks back into the dorm, shutting the door gently behind him and turning the lock.

"Sannie?" Wooyoung peeks from around the corner, smiling at him once he catches his gaze. "I put on that anime we were watching, we're like halfway through the first season."

San approaches Wooyoung's bed, climbing over the younger to collapse down onto the mattress, immediately slinging his arms around Wooyoung and pulling him into his chest. Wooyoung grumbles a few times with a smile, but doesn't bother to protest, and instead hums contently the minute they both get comfortable and situated.

"Let's watch a few episodes," San sinks further down the bed, resting his head near the crook of Wooyoung's neck. "I don't know how long I'll be able to stay awake, if at all."

"It's okay if you fall asleep," Wooyoung mumbles, grabbing the remote and pressing play.

"It was a long day." San's eyes flutter shut, tilting his jaw forwards slightly to press a few gentle kisses against Wooyoung's lower neck.

"I hope you're not tired because of me," Wooyoung frowns, feeling San sigh against him and shake his head subtly. Wooyoung turns to his side, now facing San within his arms, watching the elder sleepily smile but his eyes nearly refuse to open.

"I'm not tired 'cuz of you." San mumbles, hands pulling Wooyoung slightly closer. "A lot happened today, Woo. I'm just tired because I'm tired."

"Go to sleep then." Wooyoung coos, slowly dragging his hand upwards to rest on San's jaw, thumb running over the skin it comes into contact with. San's breaths deepen just barely, a small smile still curled on his lips. Wooyoung watches him tumble further into dreamland, arms wrapped around the small of his back in a gentle hold.

"Maybe I am really tired." San slightly chuckles, admittance soaking his tongue the moment his eyes struggle to reopen.

"You can rest, jagi. I'll be alright." San falls a little deeper into his hazed state, his hold on Wooyoung's body lightening the more he allows himself to plunge further into dreamland.

"Don't wan'a. . . leave you alone." San tiredly admits, tone deeper and sluggish.

"I'm never alone," Wooyoung presses a kiss to San's forehead, but remains lingering, lips an inch from the elder's skin. "And I never will be."

San finally trails into a soft slumber, breaths evening out into mellow exhales that Wooyoung can't help but smile at. He's usually the one to fall asleep first thanks to the warmth of San's arms and chest, but seeing the elder so vulnerable in front of him and content, he can't help but melt into the sight of him. Wooyoung leans back, head greeting his pillow as he remains close to San with only enough room to breathe, eyes slowly beginning to flutter shut.

The anime continues to play in the background, bringing soothing peace to Wooyoung's mind as he allows himself to shut off. His lungs expand and contract, bringing deeper breaths to fill his organs as he drifts away in the comfort of San's arms.

A loud crack of thunder wakes Wooyoung from his deep sleep, sending his body upright at the waist. His eyes search for the windows, watching rain patter and run down the panes quickly, listening as the wind continues to berate the building in its entirety. Wooyoung's chest heaves, fleeting breaths escaping parted lips as his anxiety creeps over the sill of his spine and settles in his chest. The thunder was terrifying and not the exact wake up call he envisioned having, but as he turns to his right, he looks to see that San was no longer in bed with him.

Immediate panic settles into something softer the moment he hears the bathroom door click open, eyes turning to greet San's sleepy gaze as he walks out from the bathroom with a confused glance. "You alright?"

"San'ah." Wooyoung breathes, relief washing over his face and shoulders soon after. "The storm scared me."

"I know, it's been pretty wild for the last hour." San walks back over to the bed, slinging himself past Wooyoung's legs to collapse back into bed, immediately mumbling something incoherent into his pillow.

"What time is it?" Wooyoung watches San, then turns to look at his clock, now noticing that it was completely blank. Wooyoung's brow raises, now adjusting to look at the television that was also dark and shut off.

"It's around nine," San turns over, laying on his back with his gaze casted towards Wooyoung as the younger searches around the dorm for an explanation.

"Did the power shut off?" Wooyoung finally turns to look back at San who nods at him.

"Yeah. It'll come back soon, though. I got an email from our math professor saying that class was canceled due to the severity of the storm and the power outage, so we don't have to go anywhere."

"That's amazing." Wooyoung sighs, finally laying back down with his back pressed to the mattress. San immediately turns over, colliding into Wooyoung's chest carefully, greeting the younger's body with a few kisses pressed against his torso. Wooyoung's skin crawls with feathering electricity, smiling at the memory of shared words he expressed at the studio barely fifthteen hours ago.

The kisses don't stop and San refuses to let up, kissing slower and longer, breathing in Wooyoung's fading cologne with a hum. Wooyoung looks down at San, biting his tongue as he continues to press languid kisses to his chest. The further that San trails over, the more San wills to tower over the younger, limbs moving subconsciously until he's nearly straddling the male with one leg shoved between Wooyoung's.

Wooyoung's hands rise to rest behind San's neck, pulling his attention towards him, capturing his lips in a slow-moving, but heated kiss that he smiles into. Wooyoung's tongue slips through slotted lips, tasting familiar territory that slowly becomes intoxicating.

San's other leg moves to slide between Wooyoung's, parting them slowly and with subtle hesitation, unsure of any boundaries he may have just crossed. But Wooyoung welcomes him, holding the elder against his lips with passing kisses that turn sinful as seconds continue to fly past.

Wooyoung was still partially groggy after just waking up with a sudden alarm from mother nature, but everything felt so right. San was moving with him, not against him. San was doing everything he could to remain composed, trying not to rush their fleeting moment surrounded by rain and looming thunder. Wooyoung's hands travel down San's back, falling and falling until his fingers hide beneath the hem of San's shirt, scaling the fabric up the elder's skin as his hands trail gently over top. His nails are gentle, barely scratching the top of San's back, moving in delicate circles and lines to drag heat in their wake. San lips travel towards Wooyoung's jaw, pressing soft kisses further and further until he passes his ear lobe, kissing there too until he ultimately ends up sucking on the pulse in Wooyoung's throat.

Wooyoung is squirming beneath San's touch as his hands pin down the younger's waist, keeping him pliant against the mattress. Wooyoung liked how San's hands wrapped around his hips so easily, almost as if he was too small beneath his touch.

"Is it-" San breathes, pulling off the younger's neck. "Is it too much?"

Wooyoung blinks to look up at San, chest heaving with anticipation as San looks down at the younger, waiting for a response. "N-No. I'm okay. . . this is okay."

"Tell me if it's ever too much." San watches Wooyoung's head subtly nod, but his eyes are glued to his lips.

Wooyoung leans upwards slightly, connecting their lips again, feeling San's waist-placed hands travel towards his navel, lingering on the hem of his pants. Wooyoung's teeth drag across San's bottom lip, pulling and pulling gently until he can hear San's groan leave his throat. It was all the confirmation San needed to trap his hand below Wooyoung's sweats, catching a hiss between the younger's teeth the moment his hand meets flesh.

Rain taps down on the windows harder as Wooyoung crumbles beneath San's touch, allowing pitched breaths to leave his lips as San touches him and sucks on the skin near his pulse. It isn't enough. Wooyoung wanted more. He was afraid to ask for more from San, hoping that the elder didn't feel pressured to give into his sinful desires, but Wooyoung feels selfish. He wants him in a way he's never wanted anyone. Completely, devotedly; just any way he could have him.

Wooyoung isn't sure how to coax the words from his tongue as he groans and breathes, continuing to fall apart under San's grasp.

"P-Please," Wooyoung breathes, eyes fluttering shut for a moment just to break back open and stare up at San pleadingly. "Please, San'ah."

"I want you, Woo-" San leans away from the younger's neck, eyes delirious and casted in lust, teeth scraping past his lower lip. "I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you or th-that we have to do this right now."

Wooyoung leans up a few inches, slotting their lips again for a slow, slotted kiss that lasts barely a few seconds before pulling away and staring up at him assuredly. "But I want you."

"Are you sure?" San blinks down at him, concerned and confused, but watches Wooyoung smile all the same.

"Just have me, San'ah. Please." Wooyoung barely registers the words bleeding from his tongue as San stares down at him, sudden realization hitting him in an instant. San leans down, lips ghosting over Wooyoung's as he smiles against him.

"I love you." San mutters, feeling Wooyoung's hands creep back up towards his neck and resting there, pulling the elder into his lips for an achingly slow kiss that lights a fire between them.

Wooyoung pulls away, eyes shut, fingers gently curling into San's ebony hair. "I love you, too."

San's fingers curl around the bottom of Wooyoung's shirt, pulling up and up until the fabric is gently tugged over his head, only for San to toss it away towards the floor. San's eyes trail over Wooyoung's body, scanning every dip and every rise of his torso, memorizing each freckle and each imperfection, almost as if this would be the last time he'd ever see it. His head cranes down, lips kissing the soft skin nestled against his collarbones as San's teeth graze across the surface, biting down gently to leave loving bites trail across twitching skin.

His lips trek further, falling to each muscle in his chest then down his midline, kissing and kissing until he reaches the depths and curves of his abs, running his hand down the side of Wooyoung's waist. Wooyoung's breath hitches, head arching back the moment he feels San's teeth bite and gently tug at the skin near his pelvis. The hand that was once between Wooyoung's thighs drifts back down, and instead begins tugging the hem of his pants down towards his knees. Wooyoung's hands grab and tug further, kicking the fabric off of his ankles as he hears them drop to the floor below, leaving him fully naked and vulnerable in front of the one person he used to be scared to love.

But nothing felt safer than this. Wooyoung wanted this for probably as long, if not longer, than San did. San was his everything. His moon, his stars, his sun and his sky; Wooyoung was mad for the elder. He never pictured himself here, accepting kisses placed so delicately on his skin and so intimately, especially since he had told all of his past sexual partners to avoid kissing him for the sake of not growing attached. This entire experience was different, and in this context, Wooyoung wonders why he never wanted to be kissed like this before. Maybe it was just San being San, but Wooyoung was truly losing his mind over how he felt, tilting over the moon the moment San's hands pin his hips to the bed and drag his lips even further.

Wooyoung's hands grasp at the back of San's black tee, pushing the fabric up the elder's back. San begrudgingly pulls his hands away to yank the tee from his body, tossing it to the side to mesh with other items of forgotten clothing. Wooyoung's hands search San's chest, smoothing the skin he touches lovingly before he forces his lips to press against San's throat, holding the elder hostage by the back of his neck.

"Young'ah-" San grumbles, eyes blinking shut. "Do you have stuff here? Or do I need to-"

"Shit." Wooyoung presses one more kiss to San's skin before leaning back into the pillow again, face flushed and heart racing. "I don't. I stopped buying anything because Seonghwa was always around."

"That's okay." San looks over the bed curiously, thankful that he still had his pants on as he breathes through a plan that he wasn't sure was all that great. But, what other choice did he have? "I have stuff in my dorm. But that means-"

"You have to go get it? Hwa is probably wide awake by now."

"Mhm. That's the problem. I can probably sneak in there and try to not be obvious about it."

"Where is it at?"

"The drawer under my bed. I can act like I'm grabbing stuff to shower with or something-"

"San." Wooyoung deadpans, catching the elder's rambling tone off guard as he settles into silence, lips pursed and eyes looking down at the younger. "You've got about three minutes before I change my mind."

"I'll be back." San kisses his lips in an effort to keep the male content before rushing off and to the front door, hand swinging the handle downwards as the door swings open and he trudges into the hall. He takes a few quick steps towards his own dorm door, knocking a few times before he hears someone unlock the door and begin to open it; he just hoped any of the hickeys Wooyoung was trying to leave hadn't bruised yet.

"Sannie?" Seonghwa whispers, blinking a few times in confusion. "Here, come inside."

"Sorry, don't wanna disturb you guys. I just need my hoodie and some other things." San passes the threshold of the entryway, but not before feeling Seonghwa's hand on his shoulder.

"Just be quiet, please. I finally got Joong to fall asleep after finishing his work."

"I'll be like a cat, I promise." San whispers back, carefully treading further into the dorm as he makes way for his bed that was noticeably missing a few pillows. He couldn't blame Seonghwa and Hongjoong for taking his pillows, he surely did the same in the other dorm, but something about it made his stomach twist. He just hoped they didn't have sex with his pillows.

He kneels down at the side of his bed and opens the drawer in question, glancing over a few items within the plastic cubby before grabbing a familiar bottle and holding it to his chest. His head tilts upwards, glancing around the dorm to find any sight of Seonghwa to see if the elder was hovering or minding his business, but he was nowhere to be seen. San just prayed he was in the bathroom. There was no silent way to grab the other item in question, so he ripped it like a bandaid, hoping that the quick motion wouldn't be questioned if anyone heard.

Now, with both items in hand, he closes the drawer and heads for his closet, ripping a hoodie off of it's hanger without thought and hiding the items within the cover of his hoodie so he could leave peacefully. He heads for the door, nearly swinging it open before Seonghwa exits the bathroom, towel in hand as if he was about to take a shower.

"Is he doing okay?" San's heart nearly fell into his ass at the question, hopeful that Seonghwa wasn't trying to pry and was just genuinely curious.

"Yeah, yeah. He's fine. He's just tired."

"Did you hear back from your professor yet?"

"No." As much as San would like to talk about how nervous he was that his plan would fall through and his boyfriend would end up moving back into his abusive parent's house, there were other tending matters to get to, and he really did not want to make Wooyoung wait anymore. "I'm gonna go check on him though, he's been sleeping like a rock."

"We should all get lunch later, hm?" Seonghwa notes as San turns away, and something inside of San feels like he can't deny Wooyoung's close friend a chance of spending time with him.

"Sure. I'll have him text you." Seonghwa smiles at his response before disappearing back into the bathroom, leaving San to sigh through his lungs.

He hurriedly, but quietly, closes the door and enters back into Wooyoung's dorm, tossing his hoodie onto the kitchenette counter before walking back towards the bed, eyeing Wooyoung scrolling on his phone with a blanket tossed over his waist.

"I'm sorry." San mutters, setting down the brought items in his hand onto the side table.

"It's okay." Wooyoung sets down his phone, blinking up at the elder with a hazy gaze. "Come here."

San settles back into bed with him, hands pressed against the mattress on either side of Wooyoung as the younger tosses the blanket away. San timidly rests his knees back in between Wooyoung's thighs, watching the younger stare up at him lovingly, one of his hands coming up to move strands of hair out of his face.

"You seem nervous," Wooyoung mutters, watching San's eyes glance away momentarily.

"I am, but only a little bit." San leans down to rest on his elbows, listening to Wooyoung hum in understanding.

"We can go slow, San'ah." Wooyoung promises, tilting his head upwards to press a kiss to his jaw. San looks down at him, completely fond, craning down to catch Wooyoung's lips in a searing kiss before the younger can rest his head back down against the fluffed pillow. Wooyoung's hands find San's waist, gently toying with the hem of his pants timidly, afraid to press any further if it was too much. But San complies willingly.

San pulls his legs free from his pants and boxers, leaving both males pressed into one another and naked. The slow, longing kisses suddenly turn sharper and messy; hungry almost. The fire that was extinguished begins to relight, burning between meshing kisses as the storm continues overhead. San clumsily reaches for the bottle he had set down earlier, liberally coating his fingers before reaching down to press between Wooyoung's thighs.

San breaks away from Wooyoung's lips to gauge his expression, almost about to ask if he was okay, but Wooyoung rushes to nod and kiss him again, gasping against his lips the moment he feels San intrude. San feels Wooyoung's hip rise and press into his, which causes him to smile against Wooyoung's lips as their kisses turn sloppy and rushed, breaths hitching when San adds another.

Wooyoung's hands reach for San's bare back, resisting the urge to claw into his skin as his back slightly arches. Wooyoung feels like he can't hear and can't breathe, stuck in a limbo between the present and his own thoughts. His heart was racing, body electrified with anticipation the longer San wills to press his fingers into him; Wooyoung bites his tongue when San's lips leave his, holding back a whine. San moves down to kiss away at the younger's body again, biting and sucking all the same, kissing over older marks all while leaving new ones, finding satisfaction at his handiwork the moment he takes a second to glance over rounded hickeys splayed over Wooyoung's chest and collarbones.

"Sannie-" Wooyoung whines anyway, letting go of his grasp on his tongue. "I'm g'na-"

"Shh-" San hushes, rising back up to kiss Wooyoung's lips then his cheek, slowly pulling his hand free to reach for the packet sitting nearly on the edge of the table.

Wooyoung looks up at his ceiling, barely paying attention to San as he hazily blinks, listening to rain continue to berate his windows with the curl of the wind as he drifts further away from cloud nine. San leans back up towards Wooyoung, catching the younger's dazed attention with another kiss to his lips.

"You okay?"

"'M okay." Wooyoung needily nods, pulling San's face back down towards his, kissing his lips once, then twice, only pulling away to breathe. "Just, please."

San gently adjusts Wooyoung's thighs that were holding him in place, scooting even closer, tilting his forehead down to gently press against Wooyoung's.

Wooyoung can only babble cuss words the moment he feels San and their hips meet, listening to their breaths equally pace faster and slightly longer, overwhelmed at the sense of being completely blissed out by one another. San is motionless for a second, giving the younger time to adjust to the sudden change, breathing in Wooyoung's gasped exhales.

"Are you okay?" Deja vu.

"Yeah, yeah." Wooyoung nods, teeth sinking into his bottom lip as he experimentally shifts his hips, sending them both to gasp.

"Tell me if you need me to stop-" San is cut off by Wooyoung pressing a chaste kiss to his lips, fingers curling into his hair sinfully, drawing a groan out of the elder that sends chills up Wooyoung's spine. San takes that as a green light to proceed, detaching his lips from Wooyoung's to bury his face in the younger's neck.

Thunder continues to rattle the building that holds them, a quick flash of lightning sending brightness into the barely-lit room, filled only with sounds of Wooyoung's bed moving with the current pace of San's hips. Wooyoung feels wordless, trying to keep himself quiet due to paper thin walls between his dorm and Hongjoong's dorm, and he can't forget his other neighbor on the opposite side (basically the side they were having sex against). San is biting at his skin and kissing his jaw, trying to keep himself at the epitome of silence, but it was becoming harder the more Wooyoung drug his nails up his back to mark up his partner, too.

Wooyoung liked the idea of marking San, keeping his marks stowed away behind the hem of his shirts, only for him to see when they end up at each other's throats and begging to touch one another. Wooyoung also liked being marked, having San's dirty work bruised up his throat and down his chest; it felt possessive. He loved knowing that San felt the need to be possessive.

San, on the other hand, finds the sting of Wooyoung's nails dragging along his skin exhilarating, and it only spurred his lust further, causing his pace to speed up to chase after something blissful. San had admittedly been extremely patient waiting for Wooyoung's life to settle down in order to get to this point, not wanting to push their relationship into anything extreme while the younger dealt with his annoying parents. The last thing San ever wanted to do was to add to Wooyoung's stress, and somehow he hoped that all of this touching and all of this connecting would help release the pressure on his shoulders, driving him into a state of peace.

San wasn't blind. He knew Wooyoung was struggling in all aspects of his life right now. He knew the younger didn't want to sleep, didn't want to do his course work, and more importantly, he never wanted to leave his dorm unless it was to go to the studio and procrastinate on all other responsibilities. Yes, San did indulge his interests, but it was only because he wanted to see him smile. He wanted to hear his laugh, he wanted to see the way his smile reaches his eyes and how his nose slightly scrunches; all he wanted was to make him happy. San was truthfully neglecting his other course, but he was still passing, so he never made a big deal out of missing it. His professor was thankfully really relaxed on attending the class as long as students showed up for tests and showed their face at least once a week, so San spent most of his time planning around Wooyoung. He didn't have to study as much, so he just did his homework and devoted all of his other time to making the younger happy. All Wooyoung deserved was to be happy.

San had always been afraid that Wooyoung was hiding it all, or masking every emotion so San didn't worry about him. He had a feeling it was true, but he wouldn't dare to bring it up. Again, all he wanted was for Wooyoung to be happy, so he never wanted to make him upset by spilling an unknown secret or confronting the unknown. What would've happened if Wooyoung wasn't masking and was truly happy? San couldn't ask him if he's pretending when he's not, so it leaves San stuck between a rock and a hard place.

But as he looks down, pressing kisses across Wooyoung's face, wiping strands of hair out of the younger's face, San knows that they'll get through it. He can get through anything because he loves Wooyoung, and Wooyoung loves him. That's all he chases after.

"G'na-" Wooyoung breathes, back arching, teeth biting down on his lip.

"Me too." San manages to mutter, looking away to bury his face again, hands gripping the sheets next to Wooyoung's head. Wooyoung withdraws his hands from San's back, snaking them beneath the elder's intense grasp on his bedsheets, trapping San's grasp within his fingers. San smiles at the gesture, somehow finding it endearing regardless of how relentless he was railing the younger, tightly intertwining their fingers as he feels Wooyoung's body tense against his.

Before San can say anything, Wooyoung's back arches and his breath catches in his throat, sighing in relief the moment he finds bliss. Wooyoung tiredly peppers kisses to San's neck and shoulder, doing his best to try and leave loving marks along his skin. Wooyoung wraps his legs around San, pulling him even closer, drawing out the end of San's chase, listening as the male's breaths begin to hitch and stutter, hips slowing down and stopping almost completely.

Wooyoung's legs shakily fall away and land back on the mattress, feeling San drop his forehead to his shoulder, doing his best to catch his breath. Wordlessly, San begins to back away, carefully removing himself to flop back down on the bed next to the younger, arm lazily resting against Wooyoung's chest.

Wooyoung turns over, slotting their lips together languidly and tiredly, pressing a few long kisses to San's bruised lips.

"I love you," Wooyoung mutters, quietly catching his breath as he feels San's hand rise to cup his jaw.

"I love you more." San replies hushed against Wooyoung's lips, kissing him again. "I'm gonna take a shower. You should come with me."

"I've never taken a shower with someone before-"

San kisses him again. "Neither have I. But we're both a mess. I just wanna take care of you Young'ah."

"Mmkay." Wooyoung kisses him this time, pulling away with a smile. Wooyoung sits upright, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed and carefully planting both feet onto the floor below. He stands and waits for San, who follows almost immediately afterwards, taking Wooyoung's hand and slowly leading him towards the bathroom. Wooyoung follows devotedly, closing the door behind them once they pass the threshold of the doorway. San steps forwards to turn the shower on, placing the faucet on the warmer side, but nothing that would be too uncomfortably warm. Wooyoung reaches for the towels he and Seonghwa had always stashed in the bathroom, setting them closer to the shower before feeling San lean into the shower to test the water with his hand.

San looks back at him, nodding towards the shower. "Ready?"

Wooyoung nods back at him, following the elder into the shower as water cascades down them both. Wooyoung lets his eyes flutter shut, feeling the water trail through his sweat-slicked hair and down his spine. San presses his chest to Wooyoung's back just barely, running his hands through the younger's hair while pressing kisses to his shoulders.

Wooyoung is completely relaxed at the tips of San's fingers, head tilting back slightly with his eyes shut, breathing calmingly as the shower rains down. The storm overhead manages to calm down into a steady rain, thunder casting over another part of town to stop shaking the dorm with frequent rumbles and strikes of lightning. Wooyoung loved the sound of water, regardless of if it was the rain outside or the pouring shower; something about it always spoke to him wordlessly. Maybe it was the calm within the storm, or maybe it was the way water always flows regardless of what was in its wake; Wooyoung felt like the storm was his home. Even after the most intense thunder and flashes of lightning, the sun always shines after, regardless of the damage it inflicts.

"Seonghwa mentioned wanting to go out to lunch later. Think you'll feel up to it?" San mutters to break the silence between them, reaching for Wooyoung's shampoo bottle and applying some between his palms.

"I think so. I don't know if I'm gonna want to tell him that I have to move my shit out eventually."

"You don't have to, and actually-" San bites his tongue, unsure if he wants to admit his phone call to save the younger's place here at the school.

"Actually what?" Wooyoung settles back into San's touch as he threads his fingers through his hair, spreading the sudsing soap throughout his scalp.

"Nevermind. It's not important right now. If you don't want to tell Hwa, then don't. He doesn't have to know everything."

"He's kinda my best friend, though. I feel bad about lying."

"You aren't lying technically, Wooyoung. We don't even know if you're gonna have to move out."

"Why are you so sure of that? It seems pretty obvious to me."

"I just have a feeling, Woo. The world wouldn't give me someone so precious just to take them away." San presses another kiss to Wooyoung's shoulder, unable to see the smile that Wooyoung's lips curl to.

"You're being cheesy again, San'ah." Wooyoung hums, listening to San giggle quietly.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I just really love you, okay?" San coaxes Wooyoung to tilt his head back into the stream of water again, turning the male to face him in the process. Wooyoung looks up at him shyly, a smile curled on his lips as he bites back the urge to laugh. Something about the whole 'showering together' idea had Wooyoung slightly giggly, and he isn't completely sure why. They're exposed, riddled with hickeys and loving bruises, slightly dazed from exhaustion and lust, but Wooyoung feels so in love. It's been a long time since he's ever let himself be this vulnerable in front of anyone. Seonghwa has seen him emotionally naked a handful of times, but never to this extent. San was the only one to willingly wait for each and every reinforced wall to be taken down, and once he was inside, he didn't run away from Wooyoung's fucked up life. He stayed. Maybe that was why Wooyoung loved him so much, and partially why he was so scared to love him this much. He's never been so naked, so exposed; it was all new to him.

Then again, any of this was new. He isn't used to being doted on like this. All of his shitty hook-ups ended with dissatisfaction and relentless anxious thoughts of why or how he would end up in a stranger's bed but would leave hating himself. He wasn't happy with his lustful searches for intimacy, even if it gave him feelings he ended up resenting. He wasn't perfect by any means, nor were his habits, but it was always enough to get him by. He needed a release from his parent's hold on him, and sometimes it was having some random stranger blow his back out, and in his head, it was justified.

This, however, was completely different. Wooyoung feels softer. He wants San to touch him, to kiss him, to dote on him and to just be with him all of the time. He truly didn't expect to find someone so amazing at this college that he was forced to go to, but now he really never wants to leave. The thought of having to abandon San and Seonghwa ruins him internally, but he tries not to focus on that, eyes stuck to San's as the elder smiles right back at him, rinsing the shampoo from his hair with gentle hands.

"I love you most." Wooyoung mutters, catching San's eyes drift to his own, and for a second, Wooyoung swears he held the world in his gaze. It's so grossly intimate the way they look at each other, but Wooyoung wouldn't change it for a second.

San leans down and kisses him, unphased by the water streaming down both of them, wrapping their bodies in a haze of steam and warm water. Wooyoung could die here; he'd be happy with that. He just hoped San was happy, too.

"I was telling Joong that we should try to room together next semester," Seonghwa mentions lightly over their meal, sitting leaned in his cafeteria chair, elbows gracing the rounded table for a second. "Or we can all try to rent out a place? Don't you think?"

"I think we could." San nods, wiping his hands on a napkin that he sets down near his almost empty basket of chicken.

"It would be nice. That way we can still see each other, Hwa." Wooyoung smiles at his roommate that he sits across from, his left hand hidden beneath the table and resting on San's thigh.

"I think we should do it. I'm going to have to have an internship at that point, plus, campus housing is a bit cheaper than dorms." Hongjoong agrees lightly, looking towards Seonghwa. "Besides, we can all pitch in on groceries and stuff. It'll be easier on us all financially."

"That is a good point," San nods again, leaning back into the press of his chair.

"We should try. I mean, how many months do we have left of the semester?" Wooyoung looks at his small group of friends, tongue briefly swiping the corners of his lips.

"Well, we have to get through the winter and spring. So at least five-ish months. We all go home for Christmas, yeah?" Seonghwa looks at San and Hongjoong, nearly deadpanning once he reaches Wooyoung who suddenly seems rigid.

"I won't be. I was gonna stay at the dorm." Wooyoung shrugs.

"You can come with me." San mentions lightly, looking towards his partner with a soft expression. Wooyoung turns to look at him, nearly melting at the sight of his boyfriend, but he tries to remain composed for the sake of his friends and not be overbearingly (a.k.a, grossly) in love with his boyfriend.

"But do your parents know about-" Wooyoung points to the space between them, flicking back and forth between their bodies. "Us?"

San sighs, turning in his seat almost completely, both males ignoring the other pair sitting across from them. San reaches for Wooyoung's hands and takes them in his own. "Just come with me, okay? It'll be alright. My dad is barely home so we can basically have the house to ourselves."

"Okay." Wooyoung smiles at him, unaware of Seonghwa's eyes boring into the side of his head.

"You're right. Woosan attention span." Hongjoong mutters and Seonghwa chuckles.

"Huh?" San turns his head to look at their laughing friends, smiling awkwardly as he feels laughter bubble in his chest.

"Joong'ah has been referring to you guys as Woosan." Seonghwa reaches to grab his lemonade. "I think it's cute."

"Woosan?" Wooyoung smiles. "Are we an umbrella now?"

"Shut up," Hongjoong chuckles, pushing away his basket of food. "It was just easier to refer to you two that way. Woosan. Y'know? Wooyoung plus San."

"No, no. I get it," Wooyoung laughs, hand reaching back under the table to tangle his grasp with San's, resting on the elder's thigh. "It's cute. I agree."

"What are you guys doing after this?" Seonghwa barely moves when Hongjoong slings his arm over his shoulders, content in his shared warmth.

"Probably going to the studio-" Wooyoung looks at San, almost cutting himself off timidly at the sight of San's sudden change of stature. San had his phone out, practically staring into the device, screen open and illuminating his features dimly, eyes blinking at whatever had him so speechless. "San'ah?"

"Can you guys excuse me for a second? My mom needs to call me." San stands from his chair, barely giving the group time to speak in response as he lets go of Wooyoung's hand and quickly walks away. Wooyoung watches him leave, brows furrowed as his head turns back towards his friends, sudden anxiety drifting towards his chest.

"His mom never calls him." Wooyoung swallows, blinking up to look at Seonghwa.

"I thought his dad was the only one in the picture?" Hongjoong mutters quietly, and all Wooyoung can do is nod. "Why is she suddenly calling?"

"I'm worried." Wooyoung turns to look at the front door of the cafeteria, swinging back to look at Seonghwa. He didn't want to ruin their double lunch date, but he knew something was wrong by the way San raced for the doors without looking back.

"Go." Seonghwa says. "Make sure he's okay. We'll clean up." Seonghwa smiles at him briefly, and all Wooyoung can do is quietly mutter thank you. Wooyoung stands up and leaves, walking towards the doors he saw San exit barely two minutes ago. His hands reach for the handles, pushing the doors open gently, looking to his left, then his right, spotting San sitting down on a bench that was nestled in the grass.

"Sannie?" Wooyoung lets the door shut behind him, slowly and cautiously walking towards San, who was staring dejectedly at his phone, head tilted down. "Baby? Are you okay?"

Wooyoung reaches the bench, sitting down next to San as he listens to San's breath hitch. San leans back into the bench, tears streaming down his face with his phone lingering in the grasp of his right hand, teeth grabbing for his bottom lip.

"Sannie?" Wooyoung's heart breaks. "Please talk to me."

San reaches over towards Wooyoung's hands wordlessly, intertwining their grasp tightly before dragging their hold over to his lips, kissing Wooyoung's hand before resting them down on his lap. Wooyoung waits patiently, eyes watching San curiously as the elder slowly wipes tears away from his eyes. Wooyoung hasn't seen San cry like this, but whatever was wrong, Wooyoung wants to fix it. San has been there for him time and time again, and Wooyoung would refuse to leave. He would never abandon the one person he loves; ever.

"Woo." San finally breathes, feeling Wooyoung's other hand wrap around their grasp. Wooyoung waits again, watching San's head tilt back down, chest heaving twice before calming right back down. "My dad, he uh-"

Wooyoung feels San's hand grip his tighter, and a sudden pit of familiar despair settles into his stomach.

"My dad died this morning. I have to go home, and I have to be with my mom-"

"San-" Wooyoung frees his hands to wrap his arms around San's upper body. San barely moves, breaths becoming harder to control as he lets himself start to cry again.

"I don't know if I'm gonna be back before winter break." San mutters, finally reaching his arm around to pull Wooyoung closer to him and accept the hug. "My mom lives two hours away and I won't be able to do my courses here, I'm going to have to do them online. I just have to go home. I can't be here, I have to go be with my mom-"

"It's okay. Don't worry about me, San'ah."

"Can you please come with me?" San's tone is a hushed mutter, something that the younger barely hears, but Wooyoung doesn't hesitate in his response.

"Of course." Wooyoung presses a long kiss to San's cheek, then to his temple, resting his head back down to nestle into his neck. "Anything for you."