The warmth of a crackling fire cast the room it heated with a comforting orange glow, a calming distraction from the raging storm outside.

Three boys stood rather awkwardly at the entrance to the cozy house, each shuffling quietly to take off their wet jackets and shoes and leave them in the entryway.

"Sorry," the hushed voice of a fourth boy resounded as he ushered the three into the main living space. "My grandma's sleeping. I don't wanna be too loud."

This kid, Yang Jeongin, was incredibly hopeful that he wouldn't get in trouble for letting guests in at random hours of the night. It had taken the others a good while to get there due to the storm, and numerous apologies had already been thrown at him from every which way.

"Oh, Chan, you can put that over there," a sort of host-responsibility seemed to jolt into Jeongin all of a sudden, as he gestured at the table for the eldest boy to set a small bag at.

"Your name is... Jisung?" Jeongin pointed to the light-haired boy awkwardly drying the screen of his phone off with the hem of his shirt.
Jisung nodded.

"And Minho?" Jeongin pointed to the taller boy clinging to Jisung's shoulder, who gave a tiny nod as well.

"Right," Jeongin clapped his hands together softly. "Since this is all kinda last minute, I'll let you guys take this as you will," he started, before taking a breath. "There is only one spare bedroom."

Minho raised a hand at once. "Mine."

Naturally, Jisung elbowed him in the side for this comment.

"What. You think I wouldn't share? I still call dibs." Minho kept his hand in the air.

Jeongin crossed his arms. "You alright with sharing, Jisung?" he asked, clearly too little in the know.

Before the boy could even answer, Minho cut in: "Why would he not be? We're dating."

Jisung sent the elder a wide-eyed glance which suggested that was news to him too. Yet he didn't comment, instead giving an absentminded nod of agreement.

Jeongin spared a look towards Chan, as if asking whether or not the eldest was okay with it.

Chan sighed. "It's fine. I expected it."

"I guess I'll show them to the room then," the youngest gestured, waving the group to follow along through the dimly lit halls of the house.

Small talk was only briefly able to fill the space left by the strangest of tensions in the air. The floorboards creaked beneath soft footsteps.

"Here you go," Jeongin said, reaching a sweater-pawed hand out and turning the handle to the door. "You guys can poke around in there, I don't care."

Minho and Jisung only shared a little look before stepping inside, Jisung's fingertips lingering at the other's wrist.

Chan stayed leaning next to the doorway, not feeling up to the task of following the lovebirds inside and dealing with any more of their antics that day.

Jeongin seemed to pick up on this.
"Ah," he snapped his fingers. "Right. You need somewhere to sleep."

Chan nodded slowly, as if the thought had just now occurred to him as well.

"Let's see. The couches are free, obviously, but that feels kinda rude. I also have an air mattress..." Jeongin tapped his fingers against his hip as he thought. "You could always share with me, though that's kinda awkward...? I don't mind though."

Chan made the mistake of glancing into the guest bedroom for a split second, laying eyes on the view of Minho squeezing Jisung's cheeks in his hands and leaning in for—

"Your room," Chan decided a little too quickly, not wanting any chance of seeing all that from the common areas of the house. "Weirdly enough, I don't feel that sleepy anymore. I just want to sit down."

"Me neither," Jeongin shrugged, not so subtly reaching over and tugging the door to the bedroom shut.
"I have some games, if you want?"

Chan smiled at this. He couldn't deny that notion sounded more appealing than just waiting around to pass out.

So he let Jeongin lead him down the hall to his room, a little paper Keep Out sign hung up which hadn't been there the last time Chan visited.

"Are people breaking into your room?" Chan asked, trying to keep the tone humorous at least.

Jeongin snorted at this. "Ever since Grandma started renting out the spare room, people keep going into the wrong one on accident. It got really annoying."

Chan couldn't help but laugh at that explanation. Honestly, the kid had changed since Chan had first met him. Back when he'd first briefly made his acquaintance, Jeongin had been... much shyer, bordering on silent most of the time until they'd sort of become friends.

"Do you still have the DS?" Chan asked once he found himself sitting on Jeongin's floor.

"No," he admitted, grimacing at the thought. "Broke it a while back. You don't wanna know how."

Jeongin loaded up the main gaming console, and the screen's bright light filled the room as he passed the elder one of the controllers.

Chan let out an airy laugh at the sight of the loading screen. "Mario Kart? Damn, I haven't played this since..."

He paused for a second, a little melancholy memory resurfacing of the last time he'd been in his lovely best friend's room, under the quilts at unholy hours of the morning with a game console between their bodies.

He realized he'd stopped talking. "Well, I haven't played in a while. I was never that good at it."

Jeongin let a lazy grin rest on his face as he started a round of the game. "I got some good practice in recently. Try and beat me."

The talking died down and gave way to cartoon car sound effects, and Nintendo character's catchphrases breaking the silence every so often.

Quiet, evil laughs came from Jeongin every so often as he dominated the playing field.

Ages passed by, caught up in the excitement of the rounds. Finally, Jeongin bothered to pause the game, and leaned back against the side of his bed.

"It's not fun if I keep winning so easily," he spoke, and had to pause in between for a yawn. "Maybe... let's change games?"

Chan scoffed at this. "You're just too good."

"Nahh, nah," Jeongin insisted, yet relaxed with his eyes closed, as if letting his tired self dictate his thoughts and words. "I thought I was great, but I made this one friend who just beat my ass every time. It was amazing."

Chan let out an amused exhale at this.
"Yeah," he spoke quietly. "I know how it feels. My best friend was just like that. I could never beat him."

The corner of Jeongin's mouth quirked upwards in a half smile. "I thought maybe I'd just started sucking at the game, but I beat his boyfriend so easily, so I knew he was just too good."

"Takes practice, I guess," Chan mused, and scooted back to lean against the bed frame as well, next to the younger.

"I guess so," Jeongin agreed, before letting a lull fall into the conversation.

The pause menu on screen flashed simple reminders of the controls, as if they needed it.

"Now that I think about it, aren't you Australian?" Jeongin turned to look at the elder, one eyebrow raised. "He's an Aussie too. Funny how I know two now."

This didn't pique Chan's interest as much as it probably should have.
"Mm," he showed he was listening. "Not too many of us over here."

Jeongin let a long breath out.
"I wonder how Felix is even doing," he mumbled, mostly to himself. "I should visit."

In his tired daze, Chan found himself nodding at this.

Then it hit him.

"What did—" Chan sat upright, staring at the younger boy. "Could you repeat that?"

Needless to say, Jeongin was a little startled at this.
"Um, I said..." he struggled to recall his words. "I wonder how Felix is doing... and I should visit?"

"Felix?" the elder emphasized the word just to be completely sure. "That's your friend's name?"

"Yeah???" Jeongin questioned, beginning to wonder what the sudden burst of energy was about. "Why?"

"What does he look like?"

And now Jeongin was looking at him like he was crazy. "Uhh... blonde? Pretty? Kinda fairy looking?"

Chan kept staring at him.

"I don't know what you want me to say...!" Jeongin fumbled with his words. "He, like, I don't know... Ah! He has these really cute freckles. I thought they were fake at first, but no, they're re—"

The elder stood up.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" his voice slipped into a scarily serious tone, more so than Jeongin had ever heard him use.
"You're talking about him?"

"You know him?" Jeongin asked, looking up at the elder with a bewildered expression.

"He's my best friend!" Chan blurted out, forgetting for a second how late it was. "I've been looking for him for so long, and...!"

His words halted abruptly.
"Did you just say something about... beating his boyfriend at the game?"

Jeongin held his gaze for a long while.
"Yes?" he answered cautiously. "Why?"

"He has a boyfriend?"

Somehow, the younger boy felt like he was breaking delicate news that he wasn't supposed to. He nodded, carefully and slowly, and watched a sort of motivation drain from the elder's face.

Chan sat himself back down, legs crossed.
"I can't believe it's true," he spoke with resignation, burying his face in one hand.

Jeongin didn't even know what to question at this point, but clearly this wasn't any of his business.

Sure, the theory had already been thrown out there that Felix had been traveling with someone. And although the others had jokingly suggested it being a partner of that variety... it had seemed near impossible. Felix had never hid anything like that from them before.

Hesitantly, Jeongin patted a hand against the elder's shoulder. "Like, an actual boyfriend? And we're sure this is the same Felix we're talking about?" the denial came rushing forth.

"He's doing fine," was the first thing that came out of Jeongin's mouth. "He's safe. If you've been worried, you can calm down."

Radio silence from Chan.

Then, came a "Where is he?"

Jeongin almost cringed at this question. "Chan, I don't think I can tell you tha—"

"Where. Is. He?" Chan's inquiry was more of a demand, spoken through gritted teeth.

"I can't tell you without his approval!" Jeongin insisted.

"What approval? He went missing, Jeongin!"

"He ran away!" Jeongin retaliated, standing his ground once and for all. In any other situation, it would've made the elder proud. "I'm not gonna just tell you. He clearly wanted to be left alone for a reason!"

The elder laughed it off. "Alone with his boyfriend?"

"Look," Jeongin's voice was firm. "I can tell you how he is. I can tell you who he's with. But I'm not gonna tell you where, okay?" 

Chan crossed his arms. "Who's he with then?"

"The boyfriend and my other friend, Sookyung," the boy answered truthfully. There was no way anyone could glean information from that. He'd googled Sookyung's name before, and turned up nothing but a missing persons report.

"And you expect me to just trust this?" Chan's laugh was incredulous. "Without even seeing him?"

"Just believe me!" At this point Jeongin was getting desperate for this conversation to end. "Hyunjin treats him well, I promise!"

Finally, Chan fell silent.

"Fine," he said, gathering himself and getting up once more. "I'll find him whether or not you help me."

"Hey—" Jeongin reached out as the elder strode towards the door, in a futile attempt for reconciliation. "Chan? I didn't mean to be r..."

The door shut harshly as the other disappeared from sight.

Jeongin just sank down where he sat, hoping and praying he hadn't done anything too horribly wrong.

He hadn't even lied.
Hyunjin definitely was treating his lover very well, in every sense of the phrase.

If only Jeongin knew of the circumstances regarding the very two he spoke of at that moment.

Felix felt, that night, like his world had been redefined.

He was a little planet stuck in the orbit of that bright sun known as Hyunjin; that beautiful dark haired boy that comprised the center of his universe.

All Felix could even think about was him, him, him.
His hands buried in blonde locks, his soft skin, his warmth... and his name, which Felix repeated like a mantra under his breath with every little touch.

"God, Lix," Hyunjin's low voice was music to his ears, and though naming another deity, the way he spoke made Felix feel worshipped under his hands.

He didn't even know how things had spiraled to this. Playful pecks and innocent shoves had turned into deeper whispers, phrases exchanged that no other living soul should be privy to hear. They'd pulled each other farther into the deep end with every word, guiding themselves ever further with time.

And Felix knew he was in love, because even when feeling his own bare self wholly against the elder, arms wrapped around his back, all he could think about was the little smile he felt playing upon the elder's lips while he left a kiss against his jawline.

The overwhelming experience of giving your all to someone, Felix thought, would be terrifying. Nothing like this, getting butterflies at every hushed giggle that Hyunjin would let out when he left a mark on the younger's pale skin.

And if the blonde had to guess how many of those littered his body by now... it'd be in the dozens. He was almost afraid to count the number that dotted the insides of his thighs.

It almost felt too hot under these damn sheets, but they were the only thing covering their bodies from this cold bedroom's air.

"Lixie," the elder called softly, trying for said boy's attention. Felix had quickly discovered that the number of pet names increased the more intimate the mood in the room became.

"Mm, yeah?" the blonde questioned, and Hyunjin leaned before bothering to say anything, kissing him slowly, lingering in the softness between them.

"You're beautiful," he hummed, and to be honest, that compliment felt a little extra nice for someone who was completely naked.
"You even have freckles here," Hyunjin murmured, leaving a trail of pecks lighter than air across Felix's shoulders.

His warm breath against Felix's skin was enough to drive him insane—to bring up those crazy urges to do stupid things and say stupid things, and...

"I love you," Felix's voice was breathless, and he was saying it out loud without even thinking. "I love you, Hyun, I..."

Hyunjin's grip on the younger seemed to immediately tighten.
"Say that again," he ordered, voice soft.

"I love you," the blonde admitted it as easily as his heart beat.

"Fuck..." the elder moved his hands up to pin Felix's down to the mattress, intertwining their fingers. "I love you," he responded, gaze locked on those dark doe eyes that watched his every move.

He felt like he was dreaming, living through the most vivid, realistic manifestation of his desires. But Hyunjin was so real, and tangible, and proved him conscious with every playful bite.

Bliss was the word of the night. It perfectly described every sensation racking his body, beneath every gentle squeeze and sound of pleasure.

By the time their highs came and crashed, both were more delirious than tired, drunk on love and kisses and desire, and consumed more than anything by the near-feral need to become one another's everything.

Felix had already sworn long ago to love the elder violently, tirelessly, and without reason, and this raw, euphoric feeling was his reward.

The room soon grew quiet, and Hyunjin now laid at the younger's side, arms wrapped around him, head resting upon his shoulder.

"Good movie night," was the first thing Hyunjin said in a whisper, but it made the younger burst out laughing anyway.

"Yeah," he agreed in a lazy sarcasm, reaching up and brushing blonde fringe out of his eyes. "That plot sure was interesting."

"Hmm, yeah," Hyunjin rolled with it. "I really liked the scene where the love interest confessed."

He shot a look up towards Felix.

"I liked that scene too," Felix agreed, nodding sagely as if an expert film critic. Once again his messy bangs fell into his eyes.

This time, it was Hyunjin who reached up to tuck his hair behind his ears. "Could've been a little less cliché, though. I mean, who actually uses Netflix as an excuse to—"

"Are we still talking about the movie?" Felix's voice had the undertone of a playful scolding, as if warning the other to stop lest he retaliate.

Hyunjin let himself relax against the pillows, threading the younger's hair through his fingers.

"This is kinda cute," he played with a blonde lock of hair, observing the way it faded into a dark brown at the base. "Your hair's grown. Roots are starting to show."

"Why do you find that cute?" Felix inquired, only to be given a shrug in return.

"Dunno. Looks nice on you," he stated. Then, after a moment, he added, "Plus I'm the one who bleached it. This means we've been together long enough for it to grow out."

Felix stayed silent at this. He knew he was a total hopeless romantic, but that kind of statement felt way more like something he would think to himself in private when being sentimental.

"If we," and Hyunjin took a breath before saying this, "lived together—like, normally—you know what I'd do right now?"

"What?" Felix asked, comfortable drowsiness making him too lazy to take guesses.

"I'd put one of your shirts on and go to the kitchen to make us tea," the elder stroked the top of Felix's head as he spoke. "Or hot chocolate. Something. Whatever you want."

"Coffee, probably," Felix leaned into the elder's touch.

"Noo," Hyunjin insisted, low voice making his playful protest sound more sleepy than anything. "Caffeine after sex is bad. Stops you from relaxing."

Felix couldn't help but feel a bit warm at that blunt statement. "Tea also has caffeine in it," he argued.

"Not all of it," the elder's fingers came to rest just behind the blonde's ear. "Herbal doesn't."

"Herbal doesn't," the blonde mocked quietly, and Hyunjin tugged on a lock of his hair in retaliation.

"You're just jealous I knew that and you didn't," the elder mumbled, to which Felix scoffed.

"I knew herbal teas don't have caffeine. I was just saying most do."

"You didn't know," Hyunjin repeated confidently, making the younger just whine at him for being annoying.

"How could I not know? Everyone knows that," Felix retorted. "This is so stupid. I'm changing the topic."

"Sure. Admitting defeat is admirable."

Felix glared at him for that. "Maybe you should've specified what kind of tea?"

"Thought we were changing the topic?"

The younger was speechless.

"Mm, kidding, love," Hyunjin hummed after a moment, and nuzzled up against the blonde's neck.

Felix pulled the bedsheets away from the elder with a huff.

"Hey," Hyunjin complained, yanking them back. "Rude. It's cold as hell in here."

"Get some tea to warm up then," Felix spoke bitterly, but had to bite his lip to fight back a smile.

The elder gently kicked Felix's shin for this, to which he feigned being way more hurt than he actually was.

The blonde couldn't help but giggle while doing this, and his grin quickly mirrored itself on his lover's face.

"You are so cute," Hyunjin leaned in all of a sudden, and Felix almost squeaked in surprise as the elder's hands squished his cheeks when he gave him a little peck.

"Cute enough for you to make me a hot coffee?"

Hyunjin could only groan at this.

"You win," he said, sitting up and reaching off the bed towards the floor where Felix's shirt lay abandoned.

"Love you," Felix bid from the bed, head laid on the pillow with a big smile.

Hyunjin just rolled his eyes as he stood up, then pulled the shirt and his sweatpants back on.

"You're lucky I love you too," he said through a wince at the temperature. "But I'm gonna get you decaf."

"No, decaf tastes bad!" Felix shouted as the elder hurried over to open the door. He picked up a pillow and flung it across the room at him, but missed as Hyunjin slipped out quicker than he could throw.

Through the shut door came a muffled, "Come out here if you really care enough to stop me!"

But Felix just huddled deeper under the sheets.

He knew he'd accept anything Hyunjin would give him anyway.

Even disgusting, decaf coffee.