fic: together (hanbin/jinhwan)
Title: Together
Pairing: Hanbin/Jinhwan (Binhwan), side!Bobby/Donghyuk
Rating: pg-13
Word count: 3.2kAuthor's note: written for my scout (you know who you are bb ;~; <333)
The bell rings and Jinhwan swiftly packs up his stuff, shoving sheets of paper into his brown knapsack. He jogs to his locker and isn't even surprised to find Hanbin there, leaning against his locker, playing a game of sudoku on his phone, his lips puckered, whistling to some girl group song.
"Move, Hanbin. You're blocking me from getting my things." Jinhwan softly mumbles, pushing Hanbin lightly out of his way. Hanbin only grins, full of teeth, before scooting a little. Jinhwan glares.
"So, how was Math?" Hanbin breaks the silence, gaze still fixed on his game, biting his lower lip in pure concentration. Jinhwan huffs in annoyance.
"It was fine I guess. You ask me the same stuff every day, Hanbin." He replies, unlocking his locker to retrieve his chemistry materials.
"Well, I don't really have much to ask. And plus, I really want to know." Hanbin shrugs, finally putting his phone away, stuffing it in his back pocket.
"So, lunch?" Hanbin asks when Jinhwan doesn't reply. Jinhwan nods
"Yup, lunch."
"Can we have lunch in the cafeteria like the other kids, why do you always seclude yourself up there again?" Hanbin questions again, his eyebrows scrunched in confusion.
Jinhwan always had lunch on the rooftop regardless of weather. He also brought packed lunches in cute bento boxes. It was kind of endearing to Hanbin, the fact that the older boy woke up early to prepare lunch for himself. Even when Jinhwan's tired, he'd still at least have an omelette in his bento box. On really special occasions, Jinhwan would even make sushi and omurice. Hanbin really, really likes special occasions.
"Look, Hanbin. If you don't want to be my friend it's okay. Don't have to force yourself to be friends with the school's outcast." Jinhwan snorts, his lips forming a thin line.
"What are you talking about? It was my decision to befriend you. You do know that right?" Hanbin says, a polite and reassuring smile splaying his lips.
Jinhwan does know that.
In fact their first meeting wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. As a matter of fact, it was raining cats and dogs and Hanbin was the only one at the bus stop just across their school, silently hoping for the rain to stop so that he can get to school on time. He sat there on the bench, school uniform slightly damp and teeth chattering due to the frigid weather. Jinhwan had alighted from a bus then, quickly making a beeline for the shelter. Hanbin was hesitant. And he had every right to be. Especially when Jinhwan looked so unapproachable and grumpy as he whipped out his umbrella from his bag pack, his circle glasses slipping down his nose cutely as he fumbled with the said umbrella, a frown tugging his lips. But Hanbin did it. He asked politely, voice timid and small.
"Hey, um. Can I- uh do you mind sharing your umbrella with me? Uh, we're from the same school so-uh." Hanbin asked, head bowed, eyes wary.
Jinhwan grunted, asked him to come in and Hanbin couldn't stop his huge smile from splitting his face.
They crossed the road and made it in time before the bell rung. Hanbin insisted to treat the older to a meal for his kind gesture but Jinhwan shrugged him off, telling him that he should probably hurry to class.
"Well, at least, tell me your name?" Hanbin was gripping, albeit a little too tightly for Jinhwan's liking, on the older's wrist. Jinhwan pulled away from his touch, still refusing to look at the younger in the eye.
"Jinhwan. Kim Jinhwan." He had mumbled with an annoyed expression on his face. Hanbin grinned and Jinhwan hated how smiley he was about everything.
"Well, thank you Jinhwan hyung! See you around and have a nice day." Hanbin had said before sprinting off to his lessons, leaving behind an extremely flushed Jinhwan.
"I think you're already regretting that decision." Jinhwan mutters in reply, slamming his locker shut. He walks ahead and Hanbin follows him closely, trying to catch up with his hyung's fast walking speed.
"Wanna know what I think?" Hanbin says, voice a little breathless from catching up with Jinhwan.
Jinhwan purses his lips and shakes his head.
"Nope." He pops the 'p' purposefully and Hanbin sighs. They've reached the stairs and Jinhwan was already climbing up, not keen on wasting any more precious lunch time. Hanbin follows right behind him.
"I'm just going to say it anyway," Hanbin says before pushing the door to the rooftop, the strong wind smacking him in the face and even making his untucked uniform fly in all directions, exposing his toned stomach. Jinhwan pretends to not notice anything.
"Just shoot." Hanbin bites his lower lip, a little nervous of what he's going to say.
"Well, I think. You're not a social outcast, hyung. You're just afraid of people. That's all." Hanbin says quickly, laying out the usual blue color picnic mat. Jinhwan frowns.
"I am not afraid of people." Jinhwan mumbles in defense. Hanbin chuckles, adjusting the mat.
"Hyung, you can't even order food from McDonalds without having an anxiety attack."
"Anxiety attacks are not funny, Binnie." Jinhwan deadpans, sitting down and taking his lunch out, laying it out neatly on the mat.
"My point, exactly." Hanbin replies, taking the empty spot next to Jinhwan. He opens up his lunch, the one Jinhwan prepared for him earlier today and was delighted to find out that it's sushi.
Hanbin casts Jinhwan a worried look when he doesn't reply and belatedly realizes that Jinhwan was barely even touching his food. His mind was absorbed, too busy thinking about what Hanbin just said. Hanbin takes a bite out of his sushi, chewing it slowly, savoring the taste in his mouth.
"Look," Hanbin starts again, his mouth still masticating the sushi. Jinhwan raises his head to look at Hanbin. And Hanbin gets temporarily distracted by the way the older seemed to be glowing underneath the sunlight. He swallows his food down.
"What I'm trying to say is, stop building all these walls, hyung. It's okay to let your guard down, meet new people, smile, laugh and you know," Hanbin pauses to look away before he melts under Jinhwan's scrutinizing gaze.
"Love." He quietly concludes and Jinhwan chokes on air, breaking into a coughing fit. Hanbin tosses him a bottle of mineral water and the older immediately opens it up, gulping down mouthfuls.
Goodness, Kim Hanbin will be the death of him.
"Love huh?" Jinhwan repeats and this time, Hanbin's the one with cheeks tinted pink.
"Well yeah, but that can wait I guess. For now, I suggest you talk to people, make new friends, expand your social circle and all that jazz you know?"
Jinhwan huffs.
"Hanbin, people barely notice my existence."
"Well it's not really their fault you're like two heads shorter than everyone else and not to mention the fact that you practically blend in with the walls."
"Gee, thanks Hanbin. For once there I thought you were rooting for me." Jinhwan rolls his eyes, taking a bite out of his maki roll.
"Really though, hyung! Main point is, you can't leave everything to people. You must initiate okay? Give and receive. Simple as that." Hanbin's smiling again and Jinhwan wants to applaud him for having so much faith and confidence in the older because Jinhwan himself isn't too sure about this.
"I'll think about it." Jinhwan replies shortly, eyes fixated on the building opposite their school. Hanbin grins.
"And also, I have a match tomorrow. Promise me you'll come and watch?" Hanbin pleads, his eyes soft and gentle. Jinhwan regrets looking into them.
"I'll have to check my sch-"
"It's at 7pm, you'll be done with the library club by then."
Jinhwan squints.
"You creep, how do you even have my day memorized?"
"Well, it's not that difficult. You don't even do anything besides attending lessons and library club anyway." Hanbin chuckles, finishing up his last piece of sushi.
Jinhwan thwacks him in the back with the water bottle.
-
People.
There were so many people. Sure, he recognized a few students: Junhwe who was in the same Biology class as him, Seolhyun the pretty girl from Math and then there's Youngjae, from library club. He only notices them though. Honestly, everything else was a blur. Strangers jostling their way to the bleachers, some queuing for popcorn and hotdogs, others dressed in school colors to support the school's team. Jinhwan thinks it's a plausible attempt at promoting school spirit. He spots the school mascot lumbering around with cautious steps, the class president awkwardly clutching at its arm. Their mascot was a fox, with a fiery orange tail and cute triangular ears. Its tail proved a little too hazardous though, constantly whacking passers-by who were trying to make their way past the fox.
Jinhwan takes a deep breath before shuffling to an empty bench. He inwardly hopes that no one would sit next to him. His hopes, however, were immediately crushed when a brunette made his way up the stairs, easing himself next to Jinhwan. Jinhwan stiffens.
He hasn't seen this boy around. Perhaps he was a freshman, just like Hanbin. He's clad in a leather bomber jacket and what looks like the school's 'Flaming Foxes' jersey underneath, wearing a pair of ripped skinny jeans that fit him perfectly.
Give and receive. Give and receive. Just give and-
"Hi?" Jinhwan squeaks, and the boy next to him turns to look at him.
Oh god, why did he do such a thing?
A small smile crept on the boy's lips and Jinhwan feels slight relief washing over him.
"Hi! I'm Donghyuk." Donghyuk extends a hand out to Jinhwan and he hesitantly shakes it, silently celebrating in his head. Donghyuk pulls his hand away.
"I-I'm Jinhwan. Uh, so you're here to support the boys?" Jinhwan says, gaining a little bit more confidence. He watches as Donghyuk nods excitedly, his eyes forming pretty crescents.
"Yeah! Uh, my..." Donghyuk pauses, looking mildly uncomfortable, biting his lower lip consciously. Jinhwan's eyebrows furrow.
"My boyfriend, actually. He's playing tonight in the starting line-up, he's a striker." He finishes and offers Jinhwan a timid smile.
Jinhwan had to admit that he was slightly taken aback by the younger boy's bluntness. But Donghyuk wasn't afraid of being who he was and Jinhwan really likes that fact about him. Donghyuk falls silent and that's when Jinhwan realizes that he hasn't replied.
"Oh, me too! I mean- I'm here to support my boyfriend. Wait, I mean my friend who is a boy. Yeah!" Jinhwan fumbles with his words and Donghyuk's chuckling a little.
"I get it, hyung. You're not homophobic are you?"
Jinhwan shakes his head violently.
"Hell no, I’n sorry if I came off as rude. But I admire your courage. I mean, I wouldn't say what you said to people I just met, so I guess you're really cool and open about it." Jinhwan surprises himself with his lack of distressfulness. He half expected himself to fuck shit up but here he was attempting (not to mention continuing) a good conversation with a nice kid.
And it doesn't matter if he likes boys or girls because love is love, regardless of everything else and that's something his mother taught him from young.
"Thanks. Jinhwan right?" Donghyuk asks again and Jinhwan smiles even brighter than the field lights.
"Yup, Jinhwan."
-
The Flaming Foxes breezed through the entire game, gaining easy possession of the ball and even making accurate passes. Hanbin's really good for a freshman, maneuvering through the field with skill and expertise. His jersey was a number "6" and Jinhwan has no idea why he decides to mentally note it down. The crowd goes berserk when player number "3" shoots and scores, Donghyuk even getting out of his seat, screaming loudly and giving hi-fives to random strangers around him. Jinhwan whoops along, belatedly and Donghyuk shakes his head. The final whistles blows and that marks the end of the match.
Flaming Foxes, three. Fearless Tigers, one.
Jinhwan watches as the supporters of their opponents hang their heads in shame, looking down in the doldrums. Jinhwan spots Hanbin, who's drenched in sweat with the same old foolish grin on his face and Jinhwan finds his lips quirking up, forming a smile.
As the boys made their way to the locker rooms, the screams from his side grew deafening, everyone cheering collectively in good ol' school spirit. The school band was playing their celebratory school anthem when he feels Donghyuk tug at his arm.
"Let's go and meet the boys!" Jinhwan let's himself be pulled by Donghyuk who's glistening with sweat himself. The boy shrugged off his jacket earlier to tie it around his waist and Jinhwan finds himself admiring Donghyuk's nice figure. He had a really, really nice body. Whoever that striker was, he sure was lucky.
Jinhwan nearly gets shoved in the face with a horn and he's having a terrible headache from clashing with all these blurry faces but everything's good when he finds himself outside of the locker room, Donghyuk still holding on to his hand. He lets go then, eyes filled with anticipation. Donghyuk pushes the door open and the both of them make their way in.
"Donghyuk?" A low, gruff voice comes out of nowhere and suddenly a shirtless boy jumps at Donghyuk, enveloping him in a bone crushing hug.
"Congratulations, baby." Donghyuk mumbles, his arms snaking around the taller male in front of him.
A chorus of "oohs" and "awwws" filled the locker room and Jinhwan finds himself smiling at the couple, a tinge of jealousy behind that smile.
"Hyung! You came?" Hanbin exclaims, startling Jinhwan a little. He was even more startled when Hanbin practically smothers him in a hug, lifting him up slightly. When he pulls back, Jinhwan punches him lightly in the chest.
"Congratulations, Binnie. Didn't know you could kick ass!"
"Technically, I kick balls but god, I'm so happy that you're here! I thought you wouldn't come." Hanbin pouts and Jinhwan flinches, wrinkling his nose in disgust.
"Well, whatever. It's no big deal." Jinhwan flushes, pinching Hanbin's nose playfully. They break into random peals of laughter, too happy about the occasion.
Hanbin has always been a strong boy. The one who's never scared of taking risks, the careless one who never thinks about consequences, the ultimate dare devil.
Meanwhile, Jinhwan has always been afraid. Always overthinking, always presuming, never trying. But that fact is slowly changing.
Jinhwan finds himself trying, he finds himself initiating and he finds himself loving.
Jinhwan initiates the hug this time, letting Hanbin wrap his arms around his waist. It's oddly comforting and Jinhwan likes being held like this. He likes being held by Hanbin.
"So proud of you." Jinhwan mumbles into Hanbin's chest and one of Hanbin's hands move up to rest at Jinhwan's nape. Jinhwan chooses that time to look up into Hanbin's eyes and he instantly regrets it.
Their faces are very near and Hanbin looks very attractive up close, his nose not looking so bad after all.
He likes this, the slight height advantage Hanbin has over him, the way Hanbin gazes at him with longing eyes, the way he has to tilt his head to look up to Hanbin. And if Hanbin tips his head forward he can actually swoop down for a-
Oh.
Jinhwan stills for a moment as Hanbin kisses his mouth, his full lips soft against Jinhwan's. Hanbin pulls away shortly after and Jinhwan blinks. Hanbin has this crestfallen look in his eyes and he quickly starts apologizing.
"Fuck, sorry hyung. I mean you probably didn't-" Jinhwan shuts him up with a kiss, longer this time and Hanbin sighs into Jinhwan's mouth, Jinhwan's arms finding their way around Hanbin's shoulders.
When they pull back, Hanbin knocks Jinhwan's forehead playfully with his and the older boy yelps in pain.
"Idiot." Jinhwan curses under his breath and Hanbin chuckles, shoulders shaking.
"You're the bigger idiot." Hanbin pecks his cheek and Jinhwan flushes pink, pinching Hanbin's side.
-
"Hyung, Bobby's asking if you want to join him and Donghyuk for lunch tomorrow?" Hanbin yawns, resting his head on Jinhwan's shoulder, fidgeting with his phone.
They're in the bus, on the way back home from the match and Jinhwan doesn't mind that Hanbin's practically pressed up so close to him and that he reeks of manly deodorant spray.
Jinhwan raises his brows.
"Bobby? Is he Donghyuk's boyfriend?"
Hanbin nods and Jinhwan stares out of the bus window.
"Are you sure this isn't some ploy to get me eating in the cafeteria? Because I'm not buying it, Binnie."
"We're boyfriends now and the level of trust you have in me still disappoints me to no end."
Jinhwan blushes.
"Who says we're boyfriends?" He splutters, moving away from Hanbin's shoulder. Hanbin gnaws at his lower lip, nervously.
"I-I mean not yet, I mean... Like we don't have to make it official yet? Let's just not label it and all, okay?" Jinhwan quickly adds and Hanbin looks so relieved it's almost funny.
"We're whatever you want us to be, hyung." Hanbin smoothes his palm over Jinhwan’s bangs and the older smiles, a little thankful that Hanbin wasn’t pressuring him into anything he wasn’t comfortable with.
-
Donghyuk doesn’t go to their school, Jinhwan belatedly finds out. Donghyuk isn’t even from Seoul, he took two buses and a train to get to their school to watch Bobby play for the match. Bobby had to bribe the class president with two packs of gum and also his black casio watch to get him to silently sneak Donghyuk into the cafeteria.
Lunch at the cafeteria didn’t seem too bad at all.
“He texted me saying that he couldn’t make it. I was so bummed, you have no idea!” Bobby sighs, dropping his fork into his empty plate. Donghyuk cackles next to him, his arms draping naturally from Bobby’s shoulders.
“That’s true, he was so close to tears. And Coach had to physically psych him up for the match, it was crazy.” Hanbin adds, taking one of Bobby’s fries into his mouth. Bobby scowls, throwing a crushed napkin in Hanbin’s direction but the latter simply dodges in time.
“But yeah, Coach made me run a couple of rounds, it was tiring but well, it’s Kim Jiwon we’re talking about here.” Bobby smirks and Hanbin fake gags, Jinhwan laughing beside him.
“Hope you weren’t too mad, I just wanted to surprise you.” Donghyuk pokes Bobby’s cheek with his finger and Bobby laughs, shoulders shaking lightly.
Jinhwan watches quietly as the two lovebirds indulge in some couple time, yet again, while Hanbin scavenges for leftovers from their trays.
“So, are you and Hanbin a thing now?” Donghyuk suddenly asks and Jinhwan’s eyes widen by tenfold while Hanbin chokes on the piece of lettuce he took from Donghyuk’s plate.
Bobby being Bobby, laughs loudly, slapping his knee in glee.
“Uh, we are… I guess? We’re taking things slow. For now.” Jinhwan answers, wiping the corner of Hanbin’s mouth with a napkin.
“That’s cool, there’s no rush man. Things like these are meant to be savored, so just take one step at a time. It’s not about lasting forever, it’s more about the journey. So just enjoy each other’s company.” Bobby sips at his soda, lifting the can as though making a point.
“Uhm.” Jinhwan stifles his laughter while Hanbin clamps his own mouth shut with his hand.
“Yeah, I kinda liked you better with your mouth shut.” Donghyuk finally says and everyone breaks into laughter.