There is discussions of a previous abusive relationship w/ a lot of confrontation and yelling throughout this chapter. Please do not read any further if these topics are sensitive to you.

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"Minho?" The voice next to him questions quietly, eyes failing to leave the siren calling him from inches away. His eyes were wide, almost afraid, but he did his best to relax his shoulders and calm his heart, staring into eyes that once struck fear into his mind.

"What's wrong, Minho? You didn't miss me?" Min-Ji smirks as she looks at Minho, her head gently tilting to the right. Minho's jaw tenses nervously, swallowing the saliva sitting on his tongue. He was wordless for once in his life, eyes staring into a face he thought he'd never see again.

"Let's go." Han gently tugs on Minho's hand, but for some reason, Minho stands like a statue, unwilling to move. "Minho?"

Han's eyes stare at him in confusion, eyes searching his face for some sort of clue as to why he was so speechless, but Han can hear the voices begin to scream in the back of his mind. Anxiety crawling over the hem of his spine, vibrating nervous thoughts as his eyes continue to search for something; anything.

"I didn't miss you, Min-Ji." Minho finally speaks with a slight mumble to his tone. Min-Ji can barely smile at him, gaze flicking upwards towards Minho as he stands with his hand gripping Han's.

"You never stopped lying, did you?" Min-Ji frowns, hand just barely reaching Minho's shoulder as she taps him gently. "Lying gets you nowhere."

"You were the only liar between the two of us." Minho's tone drops suddenly, causing Han to turn and look at him once more, but Minho doesn't bother to notice.

"You're so simple, Minho." Min-Ji manages a fake smile, trying to laugh away the painful tension that lingers between old partners as a crowd of people watches the entire encounter.

"Simple?" Minho's anxious trance is broken suddenly, and Han can feel the anger radiating off of his partner.

"Hey, hey. Now's not the time." Han reassures, hand finding Minho's chest as he tries to pull him away again.

"You're so fucking smug, Min-Ji." Minho takes a step backwards, finally succumbing to Han's persuasion. "Fuck you."

"Ah, well you did. Didn't you?"

Han takes a breath. "Oh no."

"You know what-?!"

"Time to go!" Han pulls with all of his strength now, pushing and pulling Minho backwards and further into the depth of the surrounding crowd, feeling eyes trailing them as he pushes and pushes.

"Bye bye Minho'ah!" Min-Ji jokingly waves after them, a smile curled to her devious lips.

"Hyung, please." Han begs, feeling Minho suddenly resist as he watches Min-Ji wink at him with a victorious grin. "This is not the place, okay?"

"I hate her." Minho stops in his tracks, finally breaking away from the eyes he hated so much.

"I know you do," Han tries to look Minho in the eyes, but watches as his gaze avoids him. "I just met her and I kinda hate her."

"Where's Chan?"

"I don't know. Probably by the front of the house somewhere?" Han raises his brow. "Why?"

"I need him to get rid of her."

"Minho, we can't just have him escort everyone we don't like."

Minho's eyes lull narrowly, causing Han to lean back slightly. "She's a roach."

"Okay," Han smiles nervously, eyes averting his gaze as he looks around, trying his best to spot their taller friend. "Let's find him."

"I don't-" Minho suddenly stammers for a moment, eyes tracking towards the floor. "I don't want to be here right now."

Minho's abrupt admittance of uncomfort catches Han by surprise, confusion lingering in his expression as he looks at Minho, waiting for more words or more of an explanation.

"Hyung?" Han reaches his hand down towards Minho's jaw, which feels too intimate to be doing in a room full of people, but the intention behind it is far from being intimate.

Minho's head raises immediately, following the direction of Han's hand as his eyes finally meet back into Han's gaze, nearly falling apart on contact. Han could tell that Min-Ji still had some sort of hold on Minho, and it was well rooted and deep, something he could never imagine having with anyone.

"Hey!" A voice breaks Minho's attention, almost as if he was afraid the calling voice was his tumultuous ex-partner, but instead, it was Jeongin, rushing over while pointing to the barely visible back door. "Changbin and Seungmin are outside. They wanna play a game!"

"I don't think he's in the mood, Innie-"

"Okay." Minho cuts Han off, a firm tone catching his tongue as he grabs Han's hand again and starts to trudge through the crowd, eyes focused on the frame of the back door.

"Minho!" Han asks and receives no acknowledgement, still being pulled towards the unfamiliar back door. "Minho'ah!"

Minho hardly shows any interest as he continues to pull his partner through the crowd and to the door, but before Han knows it, Minho is pulling the door open and dragging them outside.

"Minho!" Han finally snaps his hand away, paused by the open door as Minho turns around looking at his empty grasp.

"Wha-?"

"What is wrong with you all of the sudden? You get angry, then you want to leave and now you're charging outside like nothing has even happened?"

"I don't-"

"I understand that you might've been upset by seeing her, but can you slow down for a second? Please?"

Minho is dead silent. He knew Han was right deep down, biting his tongue and eyes trailing towards him. "I'm sorry."

Han walks towards Minho, hands reaching towards his shoulders as he gently pulls him into a hug, one that takes Minho awhile to register. Han's arms envelop Minho in a warm hug, holding him tightly for a second before feeling Minho's hands finally grasp the back of his shirt. "I don't know what she does to me. I just froze. I felt panic and anger and resentment all at once-"

"You don't have to explain it all right now, Minho. You can take a second to think about everything that happened and process it. I don't need an immediate answer. I just wanted to be sure that you're okay."

"I'm okay, Han'ah." Minho smiles slightly, voice lulling into a whisper. Han plants a soft kiss on the side of Minho's head before pulling away slowly to look at his eyes. Minho was hard to read at times, but Han had learned that the best way to gauge how Minho was feeling was to look him in the eyes. Anger swims in his expression while love fills his eyes and soul, but something about the look on his face when he stared at Min-Ji was cruel and hard to decipher.

"Are you sure you want to stay?"

"She's in there, we're out here. I'm okay."

"Okay." Han smiles at him briefly before turning around, watching Changbin dance with some random girls with a solo cup in his hand. Han rolls his eyes, feeling Minho's hand find the small of his back, walking forwards together as they search for Seungmin.

The music was quieter outside, but loud enough to keep people entertained in the backyard. Chan's yard was a decent size, set with patio furniture and a volleyball net in the grass, a few feet away from the concrete landing. There were pavers and professional landscaping decorating the outside area, nearly trampled over by drunk partiers and their dancing that no one seemed to pay attention to. String lights were hung around the gazebo near the house, and once Minho looked that way, it was only then that he spotted Seungmin.

"Over there," Minho says softly, pointing briefly towards the well-lit gazebo.

The night sky was clear, no clouds around to interrupt the constellations connecting overhead. Han looked upwards twice, spotting the north star and staring at it, hoping that they made the right decision in staying at the party. But, there was a nagging feeling pulling at his stomach; a gnawing resentment that they were wrong. But if Minho was insistent, Han didn't have the energy to pry.

"Seungmin!" Minho calls, watching their brown-haired friend turn to look at them with a beaming smile on his face.

"You found me!" Han feels a breath catch in his lungs as a not-so-shocking realization hits him; Seungmin was beyond wasted.

"Yes we did. Jeongin said something about a game?" Minho asks, hand still complacent on Han's back.

"Truth or dare. Right now." Seungmin leans forwards on the red couch he's sitting on, eyes landing on a solo cup that he questionably raises with confusion lingering in his gaze, almost as if he wasn't sure if the drink was his or not.

"Is everyone else coming?"

"I sent Jeongin to go get everyone but he's taking a long time." Seungmin looks inside the cup and chooses to set it back down, expression tinged with disgust.

"Alright, well, I'm sure they'll be here soon," Minho turns around, eyes landing on familiar faces. "There's Hyunjin and Felix."

"Fantastic." Seungmin leans back into the couch, a smile curled on his vodka-soaked lips.

"Game time?" Felix asks as he approaches, hand locked with Hyunjin's.

"I guess so." Han replies softly, turning back around to face Seungmin.

"Now we just need Channie-hyung." Seungmin frowns slightly, growing drunkenly impatient.

"Has anyone even seen him?" Minho looks to his group of friends, and no one seems to know where the elder went as they remain silent and looking towards one another.

Felix and Hyunjin make themselves comfortable on the couch next to Seungmin, leaving two small chairs and a smaller sofa to choose between for their remaining friends. Minho almost waits for Han to choose a seat, but instead watches Changbin lazily walk over, planting his drunk ass in one of the free chairs, laughing at something Hyunjin apparently said.

Minho sighs, realizing that either Jeongin or Chan won't have a seat if they decide to settle on the smaller sofa, so Minho walks to the chair, spreading his legs slightly as he looks up towards Han. Han was watching with an intrigued gaze, teeth biting the inside of his lip as he watched Minho's arm open, gesturing for Han to sit down.

Han does exactly that and he sits down. He's leaning against Minho's right shoulder, arm slung around the back of the patio chair, head nearly the same height as his partner's as he rests on Minho's right leg. Minho takes a breath once he feels Han's warmth coat his body, head turning to face towards Han. Han tilts his gaze downwards slightly, smiling as he looks down at Minho.

"There they are!" Seungmin cheers, pointing towards Jeongin and Chan as they approach.

"Sorry, sorry." Chan smiles. "What're we playing? Truth or dare?"

"Yes! Now sit down so we can play!" Seungmin seems incredibly insistent, excitement boiling in his eyes as he watches his last two friends settle on the empty sofa. No one seems to question Han sitting on Minho's lap.

"Felix?" Seungmin points towards his first victim who was sitting on the opposite end of the couch. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth." Felix smiles, watching Seungmin roll his eyes.

"In this group, besides Hyunjin, who would you kiss?"

"Oh god." Hyunjin chuckles, listening to Felix groan in embarrassment.

"I'd have to say Chan." Felix shrugs, watching Chan's face tint in redness.

"I would've guessed that," Han smiles, pointing at Felix. "I know you so well!"

"Okay, okay." Felix tries to quiet down his laughing friends, looking around the group before deciding on his own victim. "Minho-hyung?"

Minho makes eye contact with Felix, feeling Han's hand gently touch his shoulder. "Hm?"

"Truth or dare?"

"Dare." Minho says without thought, leaving Han to look at him in shock.

"I dare you to give Han a hickey. Right now."

"Oh, for fucks sake-" Minho almost refuses, but Han seems to like the idea for some unknown reason.

"No, no, no. It's okay. Come on." Han smiles, hand reaching for Minho's jaw as he turns his gaze towards him, almost embarrassed by the fact that he was so willing to do this.

"Fuck it." Minho hesitates for a second, but leans forwards, lips attaching themselves to a familiar place on Han's neck. He bites down gently, sucking and kissing his skin, almost with the intent to not leave a bruise, but the subtle groan in Han's throat that only Minho can hear makes him bite down harder.

"Keep it PG!" Changbin yells from his chair, watching in drunken horror. It's only then that Minho realizes that Changbin was the only one who didn't know about their relationship, but the sound of Changbin's voice does little to deter him away.

"Okay lovebirds, let's see it!" Felix encourages, watching Minho slowly lean away and Han's head turn to the side, showing a very visible red circle appearing on his neck. The longer everyone stares, the darker the mark burns.

"You guys are sick." Seungmin scowls, earning laughter from everyone as he takes another drink (from his own cup this time).

Minho looks at Han and only Han, eyes filled with something other than affection. Han looks at him for a second, cheeks tinted with red the moment their eyes meet. Han leans over and presses a kiss to Minho's forehead, laughing gently at the horrific noise that comes from Changbin's mouth.

"WHAT IS HAPPENING?" Changbin rises from the chair, now realizing that Hyunjin and Felix were holding hands.

"You're so slow," Jeongin laughs, watching Changbin scan the room with his mouth gaped.

"You two are fucking?" He points at Han and Minho, then turns to Hyunjin and Felix. "And so are you two?!"

"Gotta ask me for a truth or dare," Hyunjin smirks, watching Changbin sit back down in his chair and stare at Minho threateningly.

"Hyung! Ask me! Ask me!"

"Hm," Minho smiles, looking around the crowd of friends. He takes his time, listening to Changbin mutter obscenities under his breath until he finally decides to stop torturing his drunk friend. "Alright Changbin, truth or dare?"

"TRUTH!"

"How many girls did you kiss tonight?" Minho watches Changbin's reaction barely change as he spouts out an answer.

"SIX."

"Whoa," Han gasps quietly with a growing smile.

"Okay. Do you even know their names?" Minho smiles, but Changbin's attention is turned away.

"I'm the one who gets to ask a question now!" Changbin points to Hyunjin hurriedly. "Truth or dare!?"

"Truth," Hyunjin smiles, Felix's head leaning into his own.

"Are you two fucking eachother?" Changbin sits and waits, eyes wide as he watches everyone laugh at him, but he is dead serious.

"Yes, Changbin." Hyunjin chuckles, watching their friend's face fall in drunken horror again.

"Oh my god." Changbin stands from his chair and looks at Minho and Han, pointing to them again. "Are you two-"

"Yes! God Changbin!" Minho laughs. "Did you really not notice?"

"No." Changbin's sincerity drives the group into more laughter, which only causes him to start laughing too. "I'm too fucking drunk to be thinking about any of this."

"Sit down, then!" Chan laughs, watching their friend sit down sheepishly.

"Okay," Hyunjin eyes the group again once they all calm down. "Jeongin. Truth or dare?"

"Dare." Everyone gasps at his sudden choice.

"Alright. Go give Seungmin a nice kiss on the cheek."

"Oh, you're evil." Seungmin's once happy expression drowns in irritation, leaning back into the couch with his arms folded against his chest. For someone who hates skinship as much as Seungmin does, this was truly a sinful request.

"Come here!" Jeongin doesn't seem to mind the dare, rushing over with his arms outstretched as he reaches his friend. He places his hands on Seungmin's face preventatively as he feels the male start to resist, leaning in to press a long, wet kiss on Seungmin's cheek.

"Get off!" Seungmin laughs, hands pressed against Jeongin's shoulders as he pushes him away gently, listening to the laughter humming through his chest. "You're sick!"

"Love you, Seungminnie!"

"I want to play," A new voice comes around the corner, grabbing everyone's attention to the female walking up behind Changbin.

"Fuck off, Min-Ji." Minho threatens and Han turns towards him, watching his eyes boil with hatred. Han wanted Minho to stay as calm as he could, but knew the female's presence would trigger something deep within him again.

"What's the harm in joining?" She hums, hand trailing down Changbin's arm. "Does anyone else want me to go away?"

"Min-Ji, I don't think it's a good idea that you join." Chan says calmly, trying to keep his angry friend at bay.

"Why's that?"

"There's bad blood between the two of you, and this is just supposed to be a fun night. I don't want either of you to end up with hurt feelings."

"Aw, Chan." Min-Ji smiles, head tilted downwards to meet Chan's gaze. "I wouldn't hurt his feelings."

"Min-Ji, he's not comfortable with you here." Felix interrupts, watching her fake sweetness evaporate from her skin. Her once friendly smile is now a scowl.

"For why? Because I broke his heart?"

"Yeah, actually. You did." Han interrupts now to Minho's surprise.

"Jagi, you don't have to-"

"It's okay." Han smiles at him, then turns his attention back towards Min-Ji, who was watching with an unamused gaze.

"You're just a rebound, I hope you know. Minho and I have history, what do you two have?"

"Honesty." Han watches her eyes squint slightly. "Trust."

"But does he love you?" Min-Ji smirks, watching Han's tough exterior suddenly fall.

It's quiet for a moment. Han barely expects Minho to respond in the way he wants him to, listening as Minho's breaths hitch in his chest.

Minho wanted to tell Han in a more empathetic and caring way, or just in a moment spent alone and not with their drunk friends in the midst of a party, but he felt like he had no choice.

"Yes." Minho's affirmation catches Han by surprise, listening as the friend group falls completely silent. Min-Ji seems stunned at the answer, breath stuck in her lungs as she watches Minho reach for Han's hand.

"You're lying." She glares.

"You, once again, were the only liar between us." Minho is staring at her unphased, feeling Han's eyes still on him, but Han cannot find the words to express a reply to Minho's confession.

"I never lied to you." Min-Ji tries to act hurt, but no one seems to buy it.

"I used to listen to recordings of you yelling at him," Felix defends, earning a subtle thankful glance from Minho. "You're an abuser, Min-Ji."

"Has anyone ever heard my truth? Hm? No?!" Minho's heart sinks as Min-Ji's sudden outburst catches him off guard nervously. Seungmin was the only person disinterested in the entire fight, eyes scanning each solo cup ahead of him as he tried to figure out which cup was his to begin with.

"No one fucking cares!" Minho tries to wave her away, but a glance from Chan settles him immediately, feeling Han preventatively place a hand on his left shoulder. Minho knew he had to be calm, but everything this woman said through her teeth was a lie. The last thing Minho ever wanted was for Han to believe a single word that came from her poisonous mouth.

"Ah, since we're here then, let's do this." Min-Ji turns her focus back towards Minho, eyes locking with Minho's nervous gaze. "Truth or dare, Minho."

"You weren't asked last-" Seungmin tries to intervene, but is quickly shushed by Min-Ji.

"Truth." Minho's jaw is taut, heart fearful of the question hanging between them.

"Why don't you tell everyone about what you did?"

"I didn't do anything to you-"

"Bullshit! Tell them why we broke up, Minho."

"It's because of you! Everything was because of you!" Minho tries to lean out of his chair, but Han pleads for him to stay.

"You're not a fucking saint, Minho, stop acting so innocent! Tell them what you did!"

Minho is suddenly silent, watching tears beginning to fall from Min-Ji's eyes. Minho knew she wasn't completely heartless, but her sudden wave of sadness made him want to vomit.

"He's not going to be honest, so I will be." Min-Ji steps closer, hand reaching upwards to point at Minho aggressively. "Minho took my phone from me and read all of my text messages without me knowing, and when I tried to get my phone back, he put his hands on me and pushed me."

"No I didn't." Minho's eyes are avoiding her gaze and Han can feel his hand trembling ever so slightly.

"You're really going to lie in front of everyone right now?" Min-Ji is shocked, almost laughing in the wake of resentment filling her chest.

"Well, let's not forget what you did to him?" Felix rises from the couch, catching Min-Ji off guard. "You yelled at him every day. He could never do anything right for you and you have the nerve to sit here and lie to make him look bad in front of his new partner?"

"He should know what he's getting himself into-"

"So it is a lie?" Han scoffs. "I know what I'm getting myself into. I don't need some outsider putting her insecurities and problems into our relationship. Last time I checked, I'm dating Minho, not you. I don't have to listen to anything you're saying."

Han rises from Minho's lap, letting go of his hand and standing to face Min-Ji so her eyes fall on him and not Minho. "If you don't walk away, I'm gonna tell your company about your behavior. Your career will be over before it's barely started."

"You wouldn't." Min-Ji almost stammers, taking a step backwards preventatively.

"I will. Now, leave us alone." Han stands with his arms folded, watching Min-Ji glance at everyone for a second before turning and leaving without another word. Minho sits wordlessly in the chair, tears crawling over the threshold of his lashes, sinking down over the sill of his cheeks.

Han turns around and not a second later, Minho rises from the couch and engulfs Han in a tight hug. Felix timidly approaches them, hand reaching out to gently land on Minho's shoulder.

"Are you okay, Minho?" Felix asks softly, all of their friends watching curiously.

"I'm fine. I just-" Minho takes an uneasy breath, pulling away from Han. "She scares me sometimes. Even though it's been years, she somehow still makes me feel insignificant."

Han reaches up to wipe the tears from Minho's cheeks, smiling softly at him. "We all love you here, Minho. We're not gonna let her treat you like that."

"I never pushed her." Minho says in an almost-mumble, taking another breath to alleviate the stress in his lungs.

"I know you didn't." Han reassures as Felix agrees softly.

"I kinda think I need to go home." Minho looks at his friends apologetically, but no one seems to pry. "I'm sorry."

"That's okay." Chan rises from his seat now, walking over to Minho and giving him a hug also. Minho wasn't one to want affection from his friends, but in this circumstance, the hug from his only hyung was comforting. "Just text me when you two get home, alright?"

"I will," Minho assures, grabbing Han's hand before waving to their group of friends, starting to head back towards the house. He can hear them start talking again, but not once does he hear them start the game back up.

The walk home is uneventful and quiet. Minho drags Han back into his house just shy of eleven, pulling him up the stairs and into the safety of his bedroom. Han doesn't want to pry as he watches Minho change his clothes while sitting on his bed, worry filling his chest.

"Minho?" Han asks timidly, watching as Minho's shoulders stiffen slightly after putting on a new shirt. Minho's head turns slowly, just enough of a gesture to show that he was listening. "Did you mean what you said?"

"About what?"

"She asked if you loved me." Minho turns around completely now, eyes finding Han's as he makes his way over to the bed. "It's okay if you said it just to make her be quiet."

"Hannie-"

"Just be honest with me." Han asks as Minho settles next to him, and he knows he has to be honest. Han promised to be honest with him, and the last thing Minho wants to do is lie.

"I meant it." Minho is nearly afraid of Han's reaction, but Han's smile is all he needed to relax his worries. "I know it's fast and everything, so you don't have to say it back to me."

"I love you." Han smiles warmly as he watches Minho's dull reaction suddenly light up happily, head tilted slightly to the left. "I mean it. I mean every word of it."

"Jagi," Minho's heart is swelling, tears almost threatening to spill over as he looks at Han lovingly. Han knew he meant it from the moment he said it. But the affirmation makes it so much easier to believe that someone like Lee Minho, his Minho, loved him the way he loved him back.

"I don't deserve you," Han admits quietly, eyes searching Minho's gaze for a second before falling away. "My life is so messed up and you took a chance on me."

"I've loved you for a long time, Han." Minho sighs, finally admitting his longing feelings towards the younger male. "Ever since I saw you in dance class."

"Why'd you wait for spin the bottle at Felix's party if you knew I liked you?"

"I was scared. But the more time we spent together, as you know, the harder it was to ignore how I felt. I wish I would've been able to tell you under a different circumstance. I'm sorry Min-Ji made me act that way."

"I was a bit nervous watching you two interact," Han honestly remarks. "But I wasn't scared of you, Minho."

"She just makes me feel so small. Everytime she talks down to me I just get so nervous and I feel like I can't speak."

"I know. I understand." Han's hand reaches up to brush Minho's hair out of his eyes. "But you're safe with me."

"I'm supposed to be the one saying that to you." Minho says softly, watching Han smile in return.

"I'm allowed to protect you too."

"I know." Minho looks down, then looks back up, eyes tired and slightly red. Han feels his heart ache knowing Minho dealt with so much resurfacing pain tonight, wanting nothing more for him to just sleep it off.

"We can talk more in the morning. You should get some sleep." Han mutters softly, taking notice of Minho's suddenly tired expression.

"Yeah. Okay." Minho leans slightly closer, lips an inch away from Han's. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Han smiles as Minho kisses him. Though it only lasts a few seconds, Han loves every part of that kiss, more than any other kiss that they've shared.

There was something sweeter tinged to it, and laced with drowsiness, but Han loved it all the same. He knew he had fallen for Minho a long time ago, but now with the weight free from his chest, he can finally relax and sleep with Minho holding him without another thought.