bunnies also bite and various drabbles
i. bunnies also bite. leo/hongbin. pg-13.
taekwoon is an absolute sucker for hongbin. and hongbin knows it.
sometimes, hongbin does a terrible thing.
sometimes it’s backstage before their recording or maybe first thing in the mornings, when hongbin will meet taekwoon’s eyes and whisper a quiet “it hurts.”
it’s a terrible thing because lovers should never purposely hurt one another, especially by taking advantage of the other’s weakness and manipulating it just so that he can get a few more reassurances of love. it’s almost disgraceful, the way hongbin will let out a painful whine when taekwoon nudges him against the wall (hand cupped around the younger’s head so he doesn't run into the cold stone) or the way he will squeeze out a few tears whenever taekwoon presses into him (oh so gently and slowly after so many questioning looks).
he can’t help it though, not when taekwoon immediately runs soothing fingers over his face, small lips carefully moving along hongbin’s neck as he whispers “i’m so sorry i love you i love you” into his skin. it burns into him, almost as much as taekwoon’s gaze when he makes sure hongbin gets first dibs on the shower or doesn't get any bruises because “wonshik, stop jumping onto hongbin like that.” and there will be times when hongbin thinks maybe he’s overdoing it because he’ll see the way taekwoon’s eyes slant down a little further, alarm evident as they flit towards him, or how taekwoon will bite his lips all day until they’re red and raw and hakyeon throws him a pack of chapsticks. those will be the moments when hongbin thinks maybe he's taking it too far.
but the next time they’re left alone in the apartment with the foyer door bolted and the bedroom door blocked by jaehwan’s dresser, and as taekwoon leans over him with a hesitant stare, hongbin will shut his eyes and put on a pained scowl because he knows taekwoon will murmur into his ear and grasp desperately at his sides just so hongbin will smile at him.
hongbin does it all because that’s how he knows taekwoon loves him.
ii. rising sun. leo/n. pg.
in which hakyeon is a pharaoh and he likes his tribute.
when jaehwan had mentioned tributes, hakyeon had been anticipating jewels or maybe a herd of camels. the royal vizier had informed hakyeon that a distant empire wished for peace with Egypt and, as a sign of goodwill, had sent a rare gift.
“well....it’s not exactly jewels,” hakyeon had sighed. the ‘gift’ had been a human, a male to be exact, with grimy skin and matted hair, clothed in the tattered remnants of a robe. he had glared defiantly at hakyeon from the moment he had arrived, as if daring the pharaoh to underestimate his worth. but so far, his worth seemed anything but impressive.
“if you don’t like it, we can always go and invade their kingdom,” jaehwan shrugged, jumping back when the ‘gift’ turned his scowl upon the vizier.
hakyeon chuckled as he stepped down from his throne, pushing jaehwan away to approach the man.
“not much of anything, are you?” he murmured, gazing at the various scars and bruises that covered the man’s body. reaching out, hakyeon raised an eyebrow when he felt the man’s biceps.
“well then, what is this?” hakyeon grinned, prodding at his chest. “you have a surprisingly good physique. can you fight?”
the man stared at him impassively, fists clenched so tightly hakyeon could see prominent veins across his arms. hakyeon laughed at his silence, waving at the guards to take him away.
“i like him,” he said. “make him my bodyguard.”
“are you crazy?” jaehwan hissed. “he’ll probably kill you before anyone else gets the chance to.”
hakyeon watched as the man wrenched free of the guards’ grasps, chains clanging loudly as he turned to throw the pharaoh one last angry glare. jaehwan gave an indignant gasp before shrieking at the guards to take away the animal.
“kill me, huh?” hakyeon smiled. “only if i should be so lucky.”
iii. working for the needy. leo/n. pg.
sometimes hakyeon thinks this friendship might be futile.
apparently, the word ‘teammates’ meant nothing to jung taekwoon.
and it wasn't just because taekwoon didn't talk - didn't acknowledge their existence. hakyeon could tell that taekwoon was more often than not amused by the members, cracking up silently at the lame jokes jaehwan made, smirking to himself when sanghyuk decided to be especially bratty, or offering a one-worded piece of advice to hongbin when the younger was having a particularly rough day. even wonshik, loud and obnoxious wonshik, received the occasional side hug or fond punch.
but hakyeon had to work for every reaction he got from taekwoon. it was a bit tiring, when he saw taekwoon’s back more often than his face or when hakyeon would find himself talking to air because taekwoon left him wordlessly minutes ago. and it would always get to the point where hakyeon questioned the purpose of chasing a futile friendship when he would be treated to rare smiles- complete with the most adorable eye squints- or a soft pat on the head with warm eyes, and suddenly he was willing to do a million embarrassing things if it meant taekwoon would just look at him like that again.
and hakyeon thought he had made some progress. until that fateful recording.
when taekwoon had said he would never want to be friends with hakyeon if given the choice.
hakyeon had laughed it off, smiling and pouting cutely for the cameras and for the amusement of his oblivious teammates, but he couldn't help whispering to taekwoon later, in the safety of the van.
“did you really mean that?” he asked, keeping his voice low. sanghyuk stirred in his sleep beside them but only latched onto hakyeon’s arm before continuing his slumber. “do you really regret being friends with me?”
taekwoon looked at him briefly before turning away, his broad back facing hakyeon once again as he put on his headphones. but hakyeon had caught his gaze- the annoyed one, the one that hakyeon had seen more often than all the other members combined, the dark nothing that made his chest pang in anxiety and defeat.
and hakyeon knew.
iv. demons in the night. leo, child!hyuk. pg.
heavily inspired by this.
“hey hyuk, wanna play a game?”
“a game?”
“yeah, let’s play hide and seek. close your eyes and count to ten.”
“...to ten?”
“and close your eyes.”
“like this?”
“yeah, just like that. ready?”
“okay! one...two...”
---
“ten! i found you, hyung!”
“yeah, you found me.”
hyuk grinned at him, clapping his small hands gleefully, before wrinkling his nose. he peered around, trying to locate the source of the acrid smell, when taekwoon gently pushed his head down.
“time for your nap.”
hyuk frowned, ready to complain when a yawn escaped instead. taekwoon grinned, watching as the little boy drooped his head wearily down against taekwoon’s shoulder. he hummed a soft melody as hyuk drifted off into sleep, wiping away the blood that stained his hands.
v. cherry blossom. leo/hongbin. pg-13.
historical!au in which hongbin is bait for the emperor.
hongbin flushes as he sees -feels- taekwoon’s eyes roam over him. he helplessly clutches at the silk robe that covers his body, the skimpy material practically see-through in the bright moon light.
“stop,” he hisses, moving into the darker corners of the room. “close the windows and leave me alone.”
“why...” hongbin sees taekwoon shut his eyes, throat bobbing nervously, before he continues. “why are you dressed like that?”
“you know why,” hongbin rolls his eyes and offers a half-hearted grin, hiding his shaking hands behind his back. “i’m meeting the emperor tonight.”
taekwoon doesn't say anything, his dark eyes screaming volumes as he slowly walks towards the other.
“i have to do this.” hongbin doesn’t even know why he’s pleading with taekwoon, especially since this had all been planned from the start, before they were friends or childhood playmates, before the war had begun and their parents had died before their eyes, before it was just the three of them.
“hongbin.”
“this is the only way i can see wonshik again!” hongbin breathes heavily, tears threatening to spill as he clenches his fists in frustration. “if i can just know that he’s okay, that he’s still our friend, then everything will be fine.”
“they can’t just send you off to die like this.” taekwoon grits his teeth. “not after everything i did to-”
“i won’t die.” hongbin smiles, tugging on the small charm that hangs from his neck. “you’ll be there to protect me.”
“and what if i die,” taekwoon asks. “what will you do if i die?”
hongbin steps back. “but you won’t. right?”
he had always prided himself in understanding taekwoon, being the only one in their village who could tell what each of taekwoon’s small motions and curves of the eyes meant, but at that moment, he couldn't see anything past taekwoon’s impassive gaze. hongbin jumps back when the elder suddenly moves forward.
“make a deal with me.” taekwoon grabs his arm and hongbin can feel his desperation in the cold fingers that dig into his pale skin. “if i make it out alive, promise you’ll be mine.”
a/n: a few drabbles, most of which are excerpts from much longer projects i am working on. i just needed a small outlet for the ridiculous amount of feelings i have for this group.
a/n 2: also, i have yet to read/watch shingeki no kyojin and i feel like i might be missing out on an integral part of life? but i'm already overwhelmed by enough emotions.