FIC: The Sweater
Konbanwa, minnasan! Hope everyone out there in Cyberland is doing well.
Just thought I'd post a little HanHae fic I penned about half an hour ago while mapping out plot points for the next "Impasse" chapter. I hope you enjoy, I think it's a sweet little fic. Thank you for everyone's support!
"The Sweater"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING: HanHae
GENRE: Mild Angst/Friendship/Mild Romance
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Donghae thinks he's lost something very, very important.
*****
Hankyung really didn't think it had mattered that much. But as he had come to realize in the light of the morning, the situation was quickly snowballing.
It had been a simple misplacement of a singular item. Nothing that would have concerned the Chinese man to any degree. But to his companion it had been the worst thing ever to happen to him.
Eeteuk looked up from his book that he was reading. The two friends were standing in the kitchen, Hankyung carefully steeping a cup of tea. He was frowning mildly. Eeteuk reached out and gently placed a hand over the other man's.
"He'll find it." he assured Hankyung.
"Even if it's lost, hyung, it's really not that big of a deal."
"To Donghae it is though. You know how much it means to him."
*****
An old sweater.
It was once a very vibrant shade of white, but near continual wear and countless washings had left the fabric with a well loved dingy shade. The elbows of the sleeves had been worn out and two patches in light tan had been sewn over. The collar was a loose cowlic style that had been pulled out even more. The sweater itself was almost two sizes too big for Donghae. Hankyung knew that because it was a size too big for himself. The sweater had been once in his possession. He had been ready to throw it away when Donghae had come bouncing into the room.
"What's that, hyung?" the younger man had asked excitedly.
"Oh this?" Hankyung had responded. "It's a sweater I've had for a really long time, since I was a teenager in China. I was going to throw it away."
"No, don't do that!!" Donghae had exclaimed.
"But it's very old, Donghae."
"I know, but I like it." the smaller young man had responded.
Hankyung had looked at his friend curiously and offered the sweater to him. Donghae had pulled it over his shaggy brunette head. The sleeves went well past his hands and the sweater collar hung a little too far forward, revealing a touch of his t-shirt underneath. Donghae had then laughed happily and twirled around a couple times, enjoying the swing of the long sleeves. He had beamed at Hankyung.
"Can I have it, please?!" Donghae had begged.
Hankyung had smiled just slightly then.
"All right."
With that, his friend went bouncing out of the room, off to show Kibum his new sweater. Hankyung had just shook his head and laughed quietly, thinking that it was just one of Donghae's peculiar habits.
*****
Donghae had been tearing through his bedroom since five in the morning. The young man appeared briefly with watery eyes. Before Eeteuk could say anything, Donghae locked himself in the bathroom. The bathroom door popped open only a few moments later and the brunette had fled back to his room.
"Hannieah?" Eeteuk questioned softly.
"Yes?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, Eeteuk." Hankyung said quietly. "The sweater honestly didn't mean that much to me. But for Donghae..."
"It's the closest thing he has to you."
Hankyung paused as he finished straining the tea. He blinked and looked at his older companion.
"What do you mean?"
Eeteuk smiled and shook his head.
"You really don't know, do you?"
"No, but feel free to fill me in."
"Donghae likes you. I mean in the 'more than friends' way too."
The Chinese man looked around the room nervously. He coughed slightly and then gazed back down at the steaming cup in front of him.
"And," Eeteuk continued. "he's been too scared to actually say anything to you. So when you gave him that old, ratty sweater, well to him that was like having you with him all the time."
Hankyung felt a half smile tug on his lips. He looked up at Eeteuk and then nodded slightly.
"So what should I do?"
"I'm just the Umma of the group, Hankyung. You'll have to decide that for yourself."
"You're a very aggravating man, you know that?"
"I'm your friend." Eeteuk corrected. "Now why don't you take that cup of tea up to Donghae?"
Hankyung let out a mild laugh.
"I can see why Yesung adores you." Hankyung added off hand.
"Ah. Wait, what was that, Hannieah?" Eeteuk demanded.
Hankyung didn't even bother to turn around. He just smirked and headed up the staircase.
*****
Donghae pulled out the last box he had underneath his bed. The room he shared with Eunhyuk looked like a disaster zone. There was clothing and shoes everywhere, along with knocked over books and an assortment of magazines and paperwork scattered over the floor. Donghae desperately opened the last box and gazed inside. The only contents were some old fan mail and a box of rubber bands. Donghae's face fell and he could feel more tears rising up in his eyes. He sat back on his rear and pulled his knees to his chest.
He had lost Hankyung's sweater.
It felt like a part of him was suddenly missing. His arms seemed a little too naked and he felt a little bit too cold. The fabric of his long sleeved hooded sweatshirt was fine, but it didn't feel as soft. The color wasn't the off-white and he could still see his hands out of the bottom of the sleeves.
Most of all, the sweatshirt smelt wrong.
Eeteuk didn't believe Donghae the day they were doing laundry together. The brunette had swore up and down to their leader that no matter how many times he washed the sweater, it still smelt like Hankyung. It was that day that Eeteuk asked Donghae how he felt about the Chinese member. Donghae had blushed and the oldest member had smiled and hugged him gently.
Donghae rested his forehead against his knees trying his hardest not to cry. A soft knock on the door caught his attention.
"Go away." he mumbled.
"Donghae, may I please come in?" Hankyung asked softly.
The young man quickly scrubbed at his eyes. He tried his best to look like he hadn't been crying his soul out.
"Y-y-yes." Donghae stuttered out.
Hankyung opened the door to the dorm room quietly. He slipped in and shut it behind him. The elegant man side stepped a number of strewn objects before reaching Donghae. He knelt down on a pile of clothes and offered the youth the tea.
"I thought this might make you feel better."
Donghae looked at the drink before looking back at Hankyung.
".......I'm sorry." he whispered.
"For what?"
"I lost it. It's all my fault."
"Donghae, it was just an old sweater." Hankyung tried to reason.
"No! It was your sweater!!" Donghae burst out before covering his mouth. Embarassment touched his cheeks causing them to tint pink.
The older man tilted his head slightly. He manuevered himself to sit next to Donghae, resting the teacup off to the side. Pausing only a moment, he slipped his arm around Donghae's shoulders and pulled him against him. Donghae went very stiff for a few tense moments. Finally, his body relaxed and he fell against Hankyung.
"Donghae?"
"Yes." he sniffled.
"Why did you want that old sweater?"
"Why?"
"Yes."
The brunette bit his bottom lip gently. He focused on his socks for a long period before finally speaking again.
"Because it was yours."
Hankyung nodded once and then smiled very gently. He lifted his free hand and used his finger to catch Donghae's chin. He turned the young man's head to look at him. His eyes were soft and quiet, making Donghae's breath catch slightly.
"Can I tell you something?"
Donghae nodded slightly, the feel of Hankyung's finger light and ticklish under his chin.
"I don't have any old sweaters like that one any more, but you're more than welcome to take whatever you like out of my closet."
The younger man blinked in surprise before his face lit up.
"You... You mean that, hyung?"
"Yes. I think there's nothing that breaks my heart more than to see my little fish sad."
Upon hearing those words, Donghae looked at Hankyung wide eyed.
"'Your little fish'?" he repeated.
The taller man nodded and then picked up the teacup. He offered the drink to Donghae once again. The young man took it and began to drink happily. He scooted even closer to Hankyung, the older man's arm sliding down to wrap around Donghae's waist.
"However, I think we had better clean up your side of the room. Though I know Eunhyuk isn't the neatest person around, this is quite a mess."
"I still wish I could find it though."
Hankyung smiled. He gave Donghae a gentle squeeze around his waist before something off white caught his attention.
"Stay here, Donghae."
The Chinese man rose to his feet and crossed over to Eunhyuk's side of the room. On the wall was a series of pegs made for hanging both Donghae and Eunhyuk's jackets. Underneath one of the black coats, an oversized sleeve could be seen peeking out. Hankyung removed the article of clothing. Hanging underneath was the old, slightly dingy, white sweater.
"You found it!!!" Donghae cried happily.
The young man sprang to his feet and scurried over. He took the precious garment off the peg and immediately pulled it over his head. Hankyung saw the expression change on Donghae's face. His smaller companion hugged himself in the fabric. Hankyung smiled warmly and hung the coat back up. He then turned and pulled Donghae to him, burying his face in his neck.
"HYUNG!" Donghae laughed loudly.
"Sorry, just wanted to remember why you liked this sweater so much."
"Because it's almost as soft as you are." Donghae stated proudly. "Hankyung?"
"Yes?"
"I really like you."
"I like you too, Donghae. You make me even like that old sweater."
Donghae's bright face made Hankyung feel warm inside. He pressed a kiss to the top of Donghae's head.
"Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat. Then we'll come and clean up this room, all right?"
"Can I wear the sweater?"
Hankyung gave a gentle nod.
Donghae happily attached himself to Hankyung's side, his fingers lacing through the taller man's hand. Hankyung mused as he walked down the hallway with Donghae pressed tight against him. He had always pictured an interlude with perhaps candles and classical music. Or a moonlit walk down the beach where he'd confess some romantic ideal. Instead, he got a hyperactive young man, a messy room, and best of all, an old sweater.
And he realized it couldn't have been better.
Just thought I'd post a little HanHae fic I penned about half an hour ago while mapping out plot points for the next "Impasse" chapter. I hope you enjoy, I think it's a sweet little fic. Thank you for everyone's support!
"The Sweater"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRING: HanHae
GENRE: Mild Angst/Friendship/Mild Romance
RATING: PG
SUMMARY: Donghae thinks he's lost something very, very important.
*****
Hankyung really didn't think it had mattered that much. But as he had come to realize in the light of the morning, the situation was quickly snowballing.
It had been a simple misplacement of a singular item. Nothing that would have concerned the Chinese man to any degree. But to his companion it had been the worst thing ever to happen to him.
Eeteuk looked up from his book that he was reading. The two friends were standing in the kitchen, Hankyung carefully steeping a cup of tea. He was frowning mildly. Eeteuk reached out and gently placed a hand over the other man's.
"He'll find it." he assured Hankyung.
"Even if it's lost, hyung, it's really not that big of a deal."
"To Donghae it is though. You know how much it means to him."
*****
An old sweater.
It was once a very vibrant shade of white, but near continual wear and countless washings had left the fabric with a well loved dingy shade. The elbows of the sleeves had been worn out and two patches in light tan had been sewn over. The collar was a loose cowlic style that had been pulled out even more. The sweater itself was almost two sizes too big for Donghae. Hankyung knew that because it was a size too big for himself. The sweater had been once in his possession. He had been ready to throw it away when Donghae had come bouncing into the room.
"What's that, hyung?" the younger man had asked excitedly.
"Oh this?" Hankyung had responded. "It's a sweater I've had for a really long time, since I was a teenager in China. I was going to throw it away."
"No, don't do that!!" Donghae had exclaimed.
"But it's very old, Donghae."
"I know, but I like it." the smaller young man had responded.
Hankyung had looked at his friend curiously and offered the sweater to him. Donghae had pulled it over his shaggy brunette head. The sleeves went well past his hands and the sweater collar hung a little too far forward, revealing a touch of his t-shirt underneath. Donghae had then laughed happily and twirled around a couple times, enjoying the swing of the long sleeves. He had beamed at Hankyung.
"Can I have it, please?!" Donghae had begged.
Hankyung had smiled just slightly then.
"All right."
With that, his friend went bouncing out of the room, off to show Kibum his new sweater. Hankyung had just shook his head and laughed quietly, thinking that it was just one of Donghae's peculiar habits.
*****
Donghae had been tearing through his bedroom since five in the morning. The young man appeared briefly with watery eyes. Before Eeteuk could say anything, Donghae locked himself in the bathroom. The bathroom door popped open only a few moments later and the brunette had fled back to his room.
"Hannieah?" Eeteuk questioned softly.
"Yes?"
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know, Eeteuk." Hankyung said quietly. "The sweater honestly didn't mean that much to me. But for Donghae..."
"It's the closest thing he has to you."
Hankyung paused as he finished straining the tea. He blinked and looked at his older companion.
"What do you mean?"
Eeteuk smiled and shook his head.
"You really don't know, do you?"
"No, but feel free to fill me in."
"Donghae likes you. I mean in the 'more than friends' way too."
The Chinese man looked around the room nervously. He coughed slightly and then gazed back down at the steaming cup in front of him.
"And," Eeteuk continued. "he's been too scared to actually say anything to you. So when you gave him that old, ratty sweater, well to him that was like having you with him all the time."
Hankyung felt a half smile tug on his lips. He looked up at Eeteuk and then nodded slightly.
"So what should I do?"
"I'm just the Umma of the group, Hankyung. You'll have to decide that for yourself."
"You're a very aggravating man, you know that?"
"I'm your friend." Eeteuk corrected. "Now why don't you take that cup of tea up to Donghae?"
Hankyung let out a mild laugh.
"I can see why Yesung adores you." Hankyung added off hand.
"Ah. Wait, what was that, Hannieah?" Eeteuk demanded.
Hankyung didn't even bother to turn around. He just smirked and headed up the staircase.
*****
Donghae pulled out the last box he had underneath his bed. The room he shared with Eunhyuk looked like a disaster zone. There was clothing and shoes everywhere, along with knocked over books and an assortment of magazines and paperwork scattered over the floor. Donghae desperately opened the last box and gazed inside. The only contents were some old fan mail and a box of rubber bands. Donghae's face fell and he could feel more tears rising up in his eyes. He sat back on his rear and pulled his knees to his chest.
He had lost Hankyung's sweater.
It felt like a part of him was suddenly missing. His arms seemed a little too naked and he felt a little bit too cold. The fabric of his long sleeved hooded sweatshirt was fine, but it didn't feel as soft. The color wasn't the off-white and he could still see his hands out of the bottom of the sleeves.
Most of all, the sweatshirt smelt wrong.
Eeteuk didn't believe Donghae the day they were doing laundry together. The brunette had swore up and down to their leader that no matter how many times he washed the sweater, it still smelt like Hankyung. It was that day that Eeteuk asked Donghae how he felt about the Chinese member. Donghae had blushed and the oldest member had smiled and hugged him gently.
Donghae rested his forehead against his knees trying his hardest not to cry. A soft knock on the door caught his attention.
"Go away." he mumbled.
"Donghae, may I please come in?" Hankyung asked softly.
The young man quickly scrubbed at his eyes. He tried his best to look like he hadn't been crying his soul out.
"Y-y-yes." Donghae stuttered out.
Hankyung opened the door to the dorm room quietly. He slipped in and shut it behind him. The elegant man side stepped a number of strewn objects before reaching Donghae. He knelt down on a pile of clothes and offered the youth the tea.
"I thought this might make you feel better."
Donghae looked at the drink before looking back at Hankyung.
".......I'm sorry." he whispered.
"For what?"
"I lost it. It's all my fault."
"Donghae, it was just an old sweater." Hankyung tried to reason.
"No! It was your sweater!!" Donghae burst out before covering his mouth. Embarassment touched his cheeks causing them to tint pink.
The older man tilted his head slightly. He manuevered himself to sit next to Donghae, resting the teacup off to the side. Pausing only a moment, he slipped his arm around Donghae's shoulders and pulled him against him. Donghae went very stiff for a few tense moments. Finally, his body relaxed and he fell against Hankyung.
"Donghae?"
"Yes." he sniffled.
"Why did you want that old sweater?"
"Why?"
"Yes."
The brunette bit his bottom lip gently. He focused on his socks for a long period before finally speaking again.
"Because it was yours."
Hankyung nodded once and then smiled very gently. He lifted his free hand and used his finger to catch Donghae's chin. He turned the young man's head to look at him. His eyes were soft and quiet, making Donghae's breath catch slightly.
"Can I tell you something?"
Donghae nodded slightly, the feel of Hankyung's finger light and ticklish under his chin.
"I don't have any old sweaters like that one any more, but you're more than welcome to take whatever you like out of my closet."
The younger man blinked in surprise before his face lit up.
"You... You mean that, hyung?"
"Yes. I think there's nothing that breaks my heart more than to see my little fish sad."
Upon hearing those words, Donghae looked at Hankyung wide eyed.
"'Your little fish'?" he repeated.
The taller man nodded and then picked up the teacup. He offered the drink to Donghae once again. The young man took it and began to drink happily. He scooted even closer to Hankyung, the older man's arm sliding down to wrap around Donghae's waist.
"However, I think we had better clean up your side of the room. Though I know Eunhyuk isn't the neatest person around, this is quite a mess."
"I still wish I could find it though."
Hankyung smiled. He gave Donghae a gentle squeeze around his waist before something off white caught his attention.
"Stay here, Donghae."
The Chinese man rose to his feet and crossed over to Eunhyuk's side of the room. On the wall was a series of pegs made for hanging both Donghae and Eunhyuk's jackets. Underneath one of the black coats, an oversized sleeve could be seen peeking out. Hankyung removed the article of clothing. Hanging underneath was the old, slightly dingy, white sweater.
"You found it!!!" Donghae cried happily.
The young man sprang to his feet and scurried over. He took the precious garment off the peg and immediately pulled it over his head. Hankyung saw the expression change on Donghae's face. His smaller companion hugged himself in the fabric. Hankyung smiled warmly and hung the coat back up. He then turned and pulled Donghae to him, burying his face in his neck.
"HYUNG!" Donghae laughed loudly.
"Sorry, just wanted to remember why you liked this sweater so much."
"Because it's almost as soft as you are." Donghae stated proudly. "Hankyung?"
"Yes?"
"I really like you."
"I like you too, Donghae. You make me even like that old sweater."
Donghae's bright face made Hankyung feel warm inside. He pressed a kiss to the top of Donghae's head.
"Are you hungry? I'll make you something to eat. Then we'll come and clean up this room, all right?"
"Can I wear the sweater?"
Hankyung gave a gentle nod.
Donghae happily attached himself to Hankyung's side, his fingers lacing through the taller man's hand. Hankyung mused as he walked down the hallway with Donghae pressed tight against him. He had always pictured an interlude with perhaps candles and classical music. Or a moonlit walk down the beach where he'd confess some romantic ideal. Instead, he got a hyperactive young man, a messy room, and best of all, an old sweater.
And he realized it couldn't have been better.