Nectarine Sunset 6/14
Title: Nectarine Sunset
Pairing: Eunhae
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Fluff, Romance.
Summary: Hyukjae has never had an easy life. He has been sheltered, living the only way he knows how. A simple meeting with a cheerful young man named Donghae will change every feeling Hyukjae has ever had.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Epilogue |
-
“Hyukjae... Hyukjae? Hyukjae!”
Hyukjae opens his eyes and blinks. He frowns at Donghae and closes his eyes again when he realizes the sun is not fully up yet.
“Merry Christmas,” Donghae whispers and Hyukjae's eyes open again. “It's still early but I wanted to wake you up and tell you before anyone else could...”
Hyukjae smiles a little but frowns immediately upon realizing that he could still be asleep. He closes his eyes again and snuggles deeper into the bed.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions, confused. “Is something wrong? Are you sick?”
Hyukjae shakes his head and hugs Donghae like a teddy bear, trying to fall back asleep.
“It's Christmas morning and you want to sleep?” Donghae asks, poking his boyfriend's side.
Hyukjae nods and hugs Donghae tighter.
Frowning, Donghae wraps his arms around Hyukjae as well and starts to roll. Hyukjae blinks and tries to struggle out of Donghae's hold but it's too late. Donghae rolls until they fall off of the bed with a loud thump, Hyukjae landing on top of him.
“Ow...” Donghae groans, stiffening his muscles.
Hyukjae moves to take his weight off of Donghae and looks at him, concerned, touching his cheek and silently asking if he's okay.
“For a second I thought I was still twelve and that wouldn't hurt,” Donghae says with another groan, shifting until the pain in his back lessens. He smiles up at Hyukjae, playfully reaching his cold hands up and slipping them under his shirt.
Hyukjae gasps at the cold on his sides and grabs Donghae's hands, pinning them above his head on the floor and glaring at him.
“What was that noi-”
Hyukjae and Donghae look up from their position to see Donghae's mother along with Donghwa standing in the doorway, staring at them. A moment of awkward silence passes before Donghwa speaks.
“The things I walk in on,” he mumbles before walking away.
Donghae's mother stares at them for a moment before shrugging and closing the door.
Donghae starts to laugh after she leaves and Hyukjae gets up to throw all of the blankets from the bed on top of him in mock anger.
After wrestling for the rights to use the bathroom first, Hyukjae and Donghae make their way downstairs, greeted by the sounds of children opening presents and chattering about Santa.
Hyukjae smiles at the sight and nibbles on a sugar cookie in the shape of a reindeer, its blue and pink icing a clear indication that it was decorated by a child.
Donghae steals a bite from the cookie before skipping in to play with the kids, not looking back to see Hyukjae pouting at his half-eaten reindeer.
The presents under the tree slowly disappear as the morning ticks on. Donghae opens presents from his family: Batman underwear from his brother, new soccer gear from his parents, a souvenir t-shirt from an uncle's trip to Hawaii.
Hyukjae smiles as he watches from the couch, eyes unable to leave Donghae as he plays with one of the children, letting a little boy try on his soccer jersey and laughing when another child ends up with the Batman underwear on his head. Hyukjae sneakily takes a few pictures while everyone is busy with presents and discussing the leftover cookies that Santa didn't eat.
He sighs a little to himself, still smiling in the happy atmosphere when Donghae shoots him a smile.
“Oh, Hyukjae, seems like Santa left you something too,” Donghae says, picking up a present from under the tree and walking to Hyukjae, setting it in his lap.
Hyukjae stares at the red package and gently touches the green bow. The small card attached to it is the same as the rest of the presents, only indicating that it is from Santa. He knows that Donghae hadn't bought him anything, they had promised to wait until they were home to exchange gifts. He glances around the room, noticing a few conspicuous smiles from Donghae's family members.
Donghae sits on the floor in front of Hyukjae, resting a hand on his knee. “Open it,” he says.
Hyukjae hesitates before tentatively opening the package, taking out the small box within it and opening it, finding a square and compass tucked inside. He picks it up slowly, running a finger over its silver edges, noting the carefully crafted design and the 'G' in its center. It's a decoration, made with a small stand to keep it upright on a shelf, a small trophy significant to those in his line of work. He smiles, carefully tucking it back inside of the box for safe keeping.
Donghae squeezes his knee and smiles before standing up.
“Who's ready for a snowball fight?” He asks, standing with his hands on his hips and addressing the children still scattered about with their toys.
After a surprisingly enthusiastic response from both the children and adults, Donghae runs off to help Claire find her coat while Hyukjae cleans up the mess of wrapping paper around the tree.
“Excuse me, Hyukjae?”
Hyukjae turns to see Donghae's aunt holding a baby and he blinks.
“Can you put his warm clothes on for me while I take a call?” She asks with a kind smile.
Hyukjae nods quickly and cautiously takes the baby and clothing from her arms before she leaves. He stares down at the baby and it stares back, both of them examining each other. Carefully, Hyukjae sits on the couch and puts a tiny pair of socks on tiny feet, followed by tiny boots and a tiny coat and hat. He smiles at his work, happy that the child hadn't cried or struggled.
“I see you've made a friend,” Donghae says as he takes a seat next to Hyukjae.
Startled, Hyukjae looks at Donghae and then back to the baby, smiling a little. The baby smiles back and lets out an adorable baby giggle, making Donghae laugh.
Donghae takes a picture of the two of them before Hyukjae has to give the baby back to its mother. He smiles at Hyukjae and moves in to peck his cheek when suddenly Donghwa pushes to sit in between them, separating them.
“We need to have a little talk,” Donghwa says with a sarcastic sigh.
“Can we not?” Donghae says with a groan, scooting away from his brother who ignores him.
“No more kinky food sex, okay? Because that is just disgusting. Especially in our family house! What if I wanted to use that whipped cream for my pie?! I'd have to think about you two... ew!”
Hyukjae is holding his stomach and silently laughing while Donghae is covering his face in embarrassment.
“Is that what you think we were doing?!” Donghae asks.
“Well.... wasn't it?” Donghwa asks. “I mean... you were in the kitchen with a-”
“Yeah, okay, I know where I was but I was there because I was hungry and that... thing I had just... I don't know how it happened, okay?!” Donghae says, still covering his face.
“Oh...” Donghwa starts, “I have a pretty good idea of how it happened.
Hyukjae stops laughing and blinks. He gets up from the couch and runs to join the kids as they run out the door into the snow, faintly hearing Donghae and Donghwa wrestling on the couch behind him. He laughs to himself again and joins a group of kids in building a small snow fort.
They decide on a snowball fight, kids against adults, and as Hyukjae is making snowballs, he notices that Donghae is on the wrong side.
“Hey Donghae, why are you over there?” Someone asks.
“I don't want to be over there,” he says, glaring at Donghwa.
Hyukjae laughs to himself and notices Donghwa's wife out of the corner of his eye, suddenly holding her stomach as she walks inside. Curious and slightly worried, he ditches the arguing brothers to follow her, catching up to her and holding her arm to help her stand as she leans on a wall.
“H-Hyukjae?” She asks, startled by his presence. “I just need to get to the bathroom.”
Hyukjae nods and helps her into the bathroom where she rushes to the toilet, kneeling and throwing up. Hyukjae quickly kneels next to her, holding her hair and rubbing her back until she stops. He stands again to grab a towel and glass of water, helping her rinse her mouth.
“Oh no,” she says, almost a whisper as flushes the toilet and sits on the floor. “I'm so sorry you had so see that, Hyukjae.”
Hyukjae shakes his head, letting her know it's okay. She nods back to him and bites her lip as she places a hand over her stomach.
“We were going to announce it at dinner but...” she sighs, “I guess it's okay if just you know, right?”
Hyukjae blinks and his eyes widen. She smiles at him.
“Only a few weeks but I'm definitely pregnant,” she says. “I can trust you to keep a secret, right?”
Hyukjae grins at her and types out a message on his phone.
“My lips are sealed.”
She laughs at the message and he helps her stand again. She thanks him and leaves to get some rest in her room. Hyukjae continues to smiles as he looks out the window, seeing Donghae shielding himself from snowballs and clearly targeting only Donghwa as he throws his own.
Hyukjae smiles and sighs, deciding to stay inside and watch, enjoying the fun from a distance.
-
Donghae is kicked out of the kitchen repeatedly for coming in just to steal food and see Hyukjae. Hyukjae playfully ignores him as he helps make dinner, a task that has taken them nearly the entire day. It is an hour from sundown when dinner is finally complete and Donghae is finally glad to be able to sit next to Hyukjae at the dinner table and brag to everyone about how perfect he is.
Hyukjae ends up with a hand over Donghae's mouth after a while and only minutes after everyone has started eating, Donghwa stands, telling everyone he has an announcement.
“We're pregnant!”
Gasps, small screams of joy, and squeals of congratulation are heard throughout the room and Donghae only stares. Hyukjae blinks at his boyfriend, wondering why his expression is so hard to read.
Donghae stands from his chair to hug his brother tightly and Hyukjae understands. It's a real brother moment. Not a moment for teasing, a real moment of love. He smiles a little, listening to Donghae ask a million questions about the pregnancy and ignore his food in favor of smothering his brother and sister-in-law with hugs and questions.
After the hype dies down and dinner draws to a close, Hyukjae makes his way into the kitchen to start on the dishes, taking a moment to think as he washes.
When Donghae finally realizes that his boyfriend is missing, he excuses himself from his family for the night, somehow knowing where Hyukjae will be.
“You okay?” He asks, leaning against the counter next to Hyukjae.
Hyukjae looks up at him and nods, drying his hands on a towel before typing out a message on his phone.
“I wanted you to have time with your brother and the rest of your family since you don't see them often.”
Donghae takes the phone from Hyukjae and sets it aside, taking his hands, still warm from the water, and smiling at him.
“Thank you,” he says. “But they're all heading to bed and I'd like to spend a little bit of time with my boyfriend while it's still Christmas.”
Hyukjae smiles back and follows Donghae to his room, making sure to lock the door before they both change into comfortable clothes for bed.
Hyukjae takes his glasses off and sits on the bed as he waits for Donghae. He holds the box containing his present from Donghae's family and opens it, staring at the square and compass again, smiling. It glistens softly in the light of Donghae's bedside lamp and he touches the silver letter in the middle, wishing he could express how grateful he is for such a beautiful gift.
“You like it?” Donghae asks as he slips under the covers next to Hyukjae.
Hyukjae nods, setting the box aside again and snuggling next to Donghae. Donghae seems to fidget for a moment, thinking about something.
“I wanted to... um...” he starts, “talk about last night...”
Hyukjae stiffens and waits for Donghae to continue.
“I know you probably want to avoid talking about it but... I think we should.” Donghae feels Hyukjae nod against his shoulder in agreement. “We're adults, we live together, we love each other... so it's perfectly normal for us to... have these feelings... and want to act on them.”
Hyukjae is wincing inwardly at the awkwardness in the room. He shifts a little to look at Donghae and finds even more awkwardness in his expression. Donghae sighs.
“I want to but I'm nervous,” Donghae says. “I don't know why...”
Hyukjae reaches for his phone, staying close to Donghae as he types a message.
“I'm nervous too... I know what you mean. We'll wait until we're both ready or until neither of us can stand the urge anymore. I can't help wanting you, you know. You're kind of irresistible.”
“Look who's talking,” Donghae says and smiles at the message. “But you're right, we can wait until the time is right.”
He sighs and stares at the ceiling for a while, expecting Hyukjae to type another message but he frowns when he realizes there's no movement next to him. He turns his head and finds Hyukjae already asleep, phone still in his hand. He chuckles softly and puts the phone on the bedside table before cuddling his exhausted boyfriend and falling asleep as well.
-
One more day is spent with Donghae's family, mostly cleaning and saying goodbyes. The next morning, Donghae is calling a taxi while Hyukjae is preparing a container of leftovers to take home.
“Hey, Hyukjae,” Donghwa says, patting Hyukjae on the back. “It was nice meeting you and getting to know you a little.”
Hyukjae nods and smiles as a response, grateful to have met Donghwa as well.
“So, um... I just wanted you to know that I think you're really great for my brother and... I'd be happy to call you a part of our family. Come back next Christmas, yeah?”
Hyukjae's smile fades for a moment as he takes in the words, heartfelt and warm. Rather than responding with a nod, he hugs Donghwa briefly, making him laugh.
“I guess that's a yes.”
It is a yes, Hyukjae thinks as he helps Donghae load their luggage into a taxi. More than anything, Hyukjae knows that he wants to be with Donghae for a full year and end up right back at this place, spending another Christmas with his family. He grins as they wave one last time before climbing into the taxi together where he clings to Donghae for warmth and waits for them to be home.
After a few hours of napping in between texting each other to have private conversations in the back of their taxi, Hyukjae and Donghae arrive at home, sluggishly carrying their things inside, greeted by their Christmas tree.
“Home sweet home?” Donghae says, making his way to turn the Christmas lights on.
Hyukjae takes their suitcases upstairs, feeling sad that he is no longer surrounded by the warmth of family. It is dark now, the light in the house dimmed, and he sighs to himself at how cold he feels. He decides that unpacking can wait and comes back downstairs to a bright living room, completely lit up with nothing but Christmas lights.
Hyukjae looks at Donghae, noticing him smiling cheekily, hands behind his back. He takes a few steps forward, trying to peek around and see what he's holding but Donghae keeps his hands out of sight.
“You don't get your present until I get mine,” Donghae says stubbornly.
Hyukjae pouts a little and thinks, remembering that Donghae's Christmas present is safely stored in his closet. Slowly, he takes several steps backwards, heading towards the stairs again.
“Is it... upstairs?” Donghae asks, inching forward.
Hyukjae shakes his head but continues to step backwards. Just as Donghae is about to call his bluff, Hyukjae turns and runs for the stairs. He almost makes it into his room safely but before he can close the door, Donghae pushes inside.
“Where is it?” He asks as if he's interrogating Hyukjae. “Where is my present?”
Hyukjae laughs silently and holds Donghae back when he starts heading for the closet.
“In the closet?” Donghae questions. “Really? You've hidden it in there this whole time and I didn't notice?”
Hyukjae nods and continues to try and pull Donghae away from the closet, wrapping his arms around his chest from behind and restraining him completely.
“Oh... I forgot that you're all super strong,” Donghae grumbles, stopping his struggle and sighing. “Can I just have my present now?”
Hyukjae grins and presses his lips against Donghae's cheek, mouthing the word “no” and listening to Donghae whimper.
“But...” Donghae starts. “Fine. If I can't have my present, then...” rather than finishing his sentence, Donghae wiggles an arm free to tickle Hyukjae, immediately attacking his weak spot and feeling his hold weaken. He takes this opportunity to push Hyukjae away and make for the closet but Hyukjae easily pulls him back and pins him to the bed.
Hyukjae glares and Donghae frowns, knowing that the tickling would only resort it being tickled back even more. But Hyukjae doesn't tickle Donghae, he kisses him. Confused, Donghae doesn't respond and Hyukjae pulls away with a frown.
“Shouldn't you be... hurting me or something?”
Hyukjae stares at Donghae before mercilessly tickling him. Donghae laughs and squirms a little too hard, moving so much that he hits his head against the headboard of the bed. Silence follows, Hyukjae ceasing his tickling and waiting for a sign that Donghae hasn't been injured too badly.
“It huuuuuurts,” Donghae hisses, bringing a hand to his head and rubbing out the pain as he glares at Hyukjae. Hyukjae continuously mouths “I'm sorry” but Donghae shakes his head. “No. Sorry isn't going to make my head hurt less... but tickling will!”
Hyukjae laughs an uncontrollable, silent laugh as Donghae gets his revenge, pinning Hyukjae to the bed and tickling him until he's almost in tears. Hyukjae finally manages to push Donghae off and he struggles to catch his breath, still laughing until he feels Donghae's breath panting against his ear, nose resting against Hyukjae's temple.
His smile fades entirely and he shivers, suddenly gripping Donghae's arms out of instinct. He expects Donghae to do something, say something, to tickle him again and laugh some more, but Donghae doesn't move.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hyukjae can see Donghae's fist curling slightly in the blue sheets.
“Hyukjae...” Donghae whispers, breath still hot against Hyukjae's ear, making him shiver again.
Donghae's lips trail slowly across Hyukjae's cheek, leaving soft kisses, and Hyukjae's hands slowly loosen their grip on Donghae's arms.
“Hyukjae,” Donghae whispers again before he kisses Hyukjae, surprised when he is met by aggression.
Hyukjae pulls Donghae closer, letting his hand move to curl in his boyfriend's hair. He deepens the kiss, finally sliding his tongue along Donghae's until he hears a moan. He wants more of that moan, wants to be the cause of it, he wants more.
Is this what I want?
Hyukjae suddenly pulls away, panting, and he looks at Donghae.
Yes, it is.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions almost shakily, and Hyukjae smiles at him.
In that smile, he tries to tell Donghae what he wants, what he needs. Donghae stares back at him, searching his eyes, taking the hint of the hand sliding under his shirt.
“Do you... want to...” Donghae starts, watching Hyukjae nod slowly. “Are you sure?” He asks, bringing a hand up to caress Hyukjae's cheek.
Hyukjae cautiously brings their mouths back together for a slow kiss. Donghae responds just as slowly, careful not to rush.
Yes, I'm sure... Donghae...
Hyukjae allows himself to be lulled to sleep that night by the sweet exhaustion from the day, by the warm man beside him, by the occasional whispers against his ear, the whispers saying “I love you, Lee Hyukjae.”
-
Donghae wakes up the next morning with a yawn. He blinks, feeling around and sitting up slowly, remembering the events of the night before. He blushes furiously and smiles, hiding his face in his pillow. Then he realizes that Hyukjae is not in bed with him. He pulls the pillow from his face and hears the shower running. He grins.
“Maybe I should join him in the-” his sentence is interrupted by the sound of the shower being shut off. “Damn it.” He waits instead, perking up when the bathroom door opens and Hyukjae steps out, a shy smile on his face as he approaches the bed wearing only sweatpants.
Donghae clears his throat and turns his head away until Hyukjae is sitting next to him and nuzzling his cheek, a silent invitation for a good morning kiss. Smiling, he turns and accepts the invitation until Hyukjae pulls away, leaving him frowning.
Hyukjae walks to the closet, opening it and digging around inside until he finds what he's looking for and returns to Donghae with a small, wrapped box.
“Ah, wait,” Donghae says, struggling to remove himself from the blankets. “I left mine downstairs so I could chase you. Let me... um...” he stutters as he pulls on a pair of pants and stumbles downstairs.
Hyukjae laughs to himself and waits until Donghae enters the room again with a box much larger than he had expected. He eyes Donghae curiously and Donghae only smiles at him, giving him a quick kiss before sitting across from him on the bed.
“I get to open mine first,” he says and Hyukjae rolls his eyes.
Donghae grins and pulls the wrapping paper from the box and opens it, pulling out a picture frame and looking it over carefully. Inside of the frame is a picture of the soccer field where they had first met, taken early in the morning to capture the slightest sunrise glow over the green. He smiles, about to thank Hyukjae until Hyukjae turns the picture frame over in his hands and Donghae sees the writing across the back of it. Hyukjae buries his face in a pillow as Donghae reads silently.
“Lee Donghae, will you always remember when we first met? When you thought I was deaf and I ran away from you? Maybe it was fate that I dropped my iPod and that we met again the next day, on that same field. I told you I could not speak and instead of questioning me, feeling sorry for me, or pushing me away as many have done before, you accepted me. That one small fact made me want to meet you again, made me curious, made me break away from myself to know you. I took this picture not long after we met, actually, because I was hoping that someday it would mean something. Now it does. It means the world to me. This field brought me to you and you are everything to me. Because of you, I've never been happier. I smile every day because of you. Before you I don't remember genuinely smiling for anyone. You are my happiness, Donghae, and without you I don't think I'd ever smile again. I love you. No matter what happens, I'll promise you that my love will only grow stronger. Whenever you look at this picture, I want you to remember that. Don't forget, okay?”
The letter is signed with a small, detailed drawing of a nectarine almost in the shape of a heart, Hyukjae's signature in the middle.
Donghae hardly realizes that he's gripping onto the frame as if he'll lose it and tears are on the brink of spilling from his eyes. He takes a breath to steady himself and sets the frame aside to pull Hyukjae into a hug.
“I love you...” he whispers, “I love you so much.”
Hyukjae hugs back tightly, feeling his heart beat faster with Donghae's words. Donghae eventually pulls away, peppering kisses all over Hyukjae's face until they're both smiling again and Hyukjae points to the still unopened box.
“Oh, right,” Donghae frowns, “my gift is gonna seem really lame now.”
Hyukjae shakes his head to let Donghae know that no gift from him could ever be lame. He opens the gift quickly, widening his eyes incredibly when he finds a new laptop inside.
“Yours was kind of old and big,” Donghae explains, “so I figured you could use a new one.” Hyukjae frowns. “It wasn't as expensive as you think! And look, it's small enough for you to carry around easily so it'll be easier to talk to people.”
Hyukjae sighs but accepts the gift, turning it on and typing “thank you” to Donghae.
“You're welcome,” Donghae says, pecking Hyukjae's cheek. “Now we have to take Christmas down so we can have a clean house to return to at the end of the day since we both have to work tomorrow.”
Hyukjae frowns and Donghae kisses it away. Hyukjae gives in to the kiss and only pulls away when he has an idea. He shoos Donghae out of the room and locks the door without explaining anything to him.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions, knocking on the door. “What just happened?”
The only answer is a shuffling behind the door and Donghae sighs, going downstairs and starting to take down decorations. Two hours later, Donghae has taken down every decoration, save for the tree, and the door to Hyukjae's room finally opens.
“Finally,” Donghae says, greeting Hyukjae with a kiss as he reaches the living room. “What were you doing up there?
Hyukjae excitedly takes Donghae's hand, pulling him up the stairs and into the bedroom, pointing to the wall across from the bed. A small shelf is hung on the wall, surrounding both the picture of the soccer field and the square and compass given to Hyukjae by Donghae's family. The shelf doesn't hold the items but frames them instead. It is made of all of the materials left over from the model Hyukjae had made for Donghae's family, small bits of colored wood fastened with glue.
Donghae stares at the shelf and wonders how something so simple and simply crafted out of leftovers could be so beautiful. He turns to Hyukjae who is standing with his arms crossed, a triumphant smile on his face. Donghae kisses Hyukjae unexpectedly and despite his confusion, Hyukjae kisses back, turning fully to thread his fingers through Donghae's hair.
“It's beautiful,” Donghae says in between kisses, “you're beautiful, everything you touch is beautiful, you're amazing, I love you.”
Hyukjae shuts his boyfriend up with a flick of his tongue and a push towards the bed.
-
Pairing: Eunhae
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Fluff, Romance.
Summary: Hyukjae has never had an easy life. He has been sheltered, living the only way he knows how. A simple meeting with a cheerful young man named Donghae will change every feeling Hyukjae has ever had.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 | Chapter 11 | Chapter 12 | Chapter 13 | Chapter 14 | Epilogue |
-
“Hyukjae... Hyukjae? Hyukjae!”
Hyukjae opens his eyes and blinks. He frowns at Donghae and closes his eyes again when he realizes the sun is not fully up yet.
“Merry Christmas,” Donghae whispers and Hyukjae's eyes open again. “It's still early but I wanted to wake you up and tell you before anyone else could...”
Hyukjae smiles a little but frowns immediately upon realizing that he could still be asleep. He closes his eyes again and snuggles deeper into the bed.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions, confused. “Is something wrong? Are you sick?”
Hyukjae shakes his head and hugs Donghae like a teddy bear, trying to fall back asleep.
“It's Christmas morning and you want to sleep?” Donghae asks, poking his boyfriend's side.
Hyukjae nods and hugs Donghae tighter.
Frowning, Donghae wraps his arms around Hyukjae as well and starts to roll. Hyukjae blinks and tries to struggle out of Donghae's hold but it's too late. Donghae rolls until they fall off of the bed with a loud thump, Hyukjae landing on top of him.
“Ow...” Donghae groans, stiffening his muscles.
Hyukjae moves to take his weight off of Donghae and looks at him, concerned, touching his cheek and silently asking if he's okay.
“For a second I thought I was still twelve and that wouldn't hurt,” Donghae says with another groan, shifting until the pain in his back lessens. He smiles up at Hyukjae, playfully reaching his cold hands up and slipping them under his shirt.
Hyukjae gasps at the cold on his sides and grabs Donghae's hands, pinning them above his head on the floor and glaring at him.
“What was that noi-”
Hyukjae and Donghae look up from their position to see Donghae's mother along with Donghwa standing in the doorway, staring at them. A moment of awkward silence passes before Donghwa speaks.
“The things I walk in on,” he mumbles before walking away.
Donghae's mother stares at them for a moment before shrugging and closing the door.
Donghae starts to laugh after she leaves and Hyukjae gets up to throw all of the blankets from the bed on top of him in mock anger.
After wrestling for the rights to use the bathroom first, Hyukjae and Donghae make their way downstairs, greeted by the sounds of children opening presents and chattering about Santa.
Hyukjae smiles at the sight and nibbles on a sugar cookie in the shape of a reindeer, its blue and pink icing a clear indication that it was decorated by a child.
Donghae steals a bite from the cookie before skipping in to play with the kids, not looking back to see Hyukjae pouting at his half-eaten reindeer.
The presents under the tree slowly disappear as the morning ticks on. Donghae opens presents from his family: Batman underwear from his brother, new soccer gear from his parents, a souvenir t-shirt from an uncle's trip to Hawaii.
Hyukjae smiles as he watches from the couch, eyes unable to leave Donghae as he plays with one of the children, letting a little boy try on his soccer jersey and laughing when another child ends up with the Batman underwear on his head. Hyukjae sneakily takes a few pictures while everyone is busy with presents and discussing the leftover cookies that Santa didn't eat.
He sighs a little to himself, still smiling in the happy atmosphere when Donghae shoots him a smile.
“Oh, Hyukjae, seems like Santa left you something too,” Donghae says, picking up a present from under the tree and walking to Hyukjae, setting it in his lap.
Hyukjae stares at the red package and gently touches the green bow. The small card attached to it is the same as the rest of the presents, only indicating that it is from Santa. He knows that Donghae hadn't bought him anything, they had promised to wait until they were home to exchange gifts. He glances around the room, noticing a few conspicuous smiles from Donghae's family members.
Donghae sits on the floor in front of Hyukjae, resting a hand on his knee. “Open it,” he says.
Hyukjae hesitates before tentatively opening the package, taking out the small box within it and opening it, finding a square and compass tucked inside. He picks it up slowly, running a finger over its silver edges, noting the carefully crafted design and the 'G' in its center. It's a decoration, made with a small stand to keep it upright on a shelf, a small trophy significant to those in his line of work. He smiles, carefully tucking it back inside of the box for safe keeping.
Donghae squeezes his knee and smiles before standing up.
“Who's ready for a snowball fight?” He asks, standing with his hands on his hips and addressing the children still scattered about with their toys.
After a surprisingly enthusiastic response from both the children and adults, Donghae runs off to help Claire find her coat while Hyukjae cleans up the mess of wrapping paper around the tree.
“Excuse me, Hyukjae?”
Hyukjae turns to see Donghae's aunt holding a baby and he blinks.
“Can you put his warm clothes on for me while I take a call?” She asks with a kind smile.
Hyukjae nods quickly and cautiously takes the baby and clothing from her arms before she leaves. He stares down at the baby and it stares back, both of them examining each other. Carefully, Hyukjae sits on the couch and puts a tiny pair of socks on tiny feet, followed by tiny boots and a tiny coat and hat. He smiles at his work, happy that the child hadn't cried or struggled.
“I see you've made a friend,” Donghae says as he takes a seat next to Hyukjae.
Startled, Hyukjae looks at Donghae and then back to the baby, smiling a little. The baby smiles back and lets out an adorable baby giggle, making Donghae laugh.
Donghae takes a picture of the two of them before Hyukjae has to give the baby back to its mother. He smiles at Hyukjae and moves in to peck his cheek when suddenly Donghwa pushes to sit in between them, separating them.
“We need to have a little talk,” Donghwa says with a sarcastic sigh.
“Can we not?” Donghae says with a groan, scooting away from his brother who ignores him.
“No more kinky food sex, okay? Because that is just disgusting. Especially in our family house! What if I wanted to use that whipped cream for my pie?! I'd have to think about you two... ew!”
Hyukjae is holding his stomach and silently laughing while Donghae is covering his face in embarrassment.
“Is that what you think we were doing?!” Donghae asks.
“Well.... wasn't it?” Donghwa asks. “I mean... you were in the kitchen with a-”
“Yeah, okay, I know where I was but I was there because I was hungry and that... thing I had just... I don't know how it happened, okay?!” Donghae says, still covering his face.
“Oh...” Donghwa starts, “I have a pretty good idea of how it happened.
Hyukjae stops laughing and blinks. He gets up from the couch and runs to join the kids as they run out the door into the snow, faintly hearing Donghae and Donghwa wrestling on the couch behind him. He laughs to himself again and joins a group of kids in building a small snow fort.
They decide on a snowball fight, kids against adults, and as Hyukjae is making snowballs, he notices that Donghae is on the wrong side.
“Hey Donghae, why are you over there?” Someone asks.
“I don't want to be over there,” he says, glaring at Donghwa.
Hyukjae laughs to himself and notices Donghwa's wife out of the corner of his eye, suddenly holding her stomach as she walks inside. Curious and slightly worried, he ditches the arguing brothers to follow her, catching up to her and holding her arm to help her stand as she leans on a wall.
“H-Hyukjae?” She asks, startled by his presence. “I just need to get to the bathroom.”
Hyukjae nods and helps her into the bathroom where she rushes to the toilet, kneeling and throwing up. Hyukjae quickly kneels next to her, holding her hair and rubbing her back until she stops. He stands again to grab a towel and glass of water, helping her rinse her mouth.
“Oh no,” she says, almost a whisper as flushes the toilet and sits on the floor. “I'm so sorry you had so see that, Hyukjae.”
Hyukjae shakes his head, letting her know it's okay. She nods back to him and bites her lip as she places a hand over her stomach.
“We were going to announce it at dinner but...” she sighs, “I guess it's okay if just you know, right?”
Hyukjae blinks and his eyes widen. She smiles at him.
“Only a few weeks but I'm definitely pregnant,” she says. “I can trust you to keep a secret, right?”
Hyukjae grins at her and types out a message on his phone.
“My lips are sealed.”
She laughs at the message and he helps her stand again. She thanks him and leaves to get some rest in her room. Hyukjae continues to smiles as he looks out the window, seeing Donghae shielding himself from snowballs and clearly targeting only Donghwa as he throws his own.
Hyukjae smiles and sighs, deciding to stay inside and watch, enjoying the fun from a distance.
-
Donghae is kicked out of the kitchen repeatedly for coming in just to steal food and see Hyukjae. Hyukjae playfully ignores him as he helps make dinner, a task that has taken them nearly the entire day. It is an hour from sundown when dinner is finally complete and Donghae is finally glad to be able to sit next to Hyukjae at the dinner table and brag to everyone about how perfect he is.
Hyukjae ends up with a hand over Donghae's mouth after a while and only minutes after everyone has started eating, Donghwa stands, telling everyone he has an announcement.
“We're pregnant!”
Gasps, small screams of joy, and squeals of congratulation are heard throughout the room and Donghae only stares. Hyukjae blinks at his boyfriend, wondering why his expression is so hard to read.
Donghae stands from his chair to hug his brother tightly and Hyukjae understands. It's a real brother moment. Not a moment for teasing, a real moment of love. He smiles a little, listening to Donghae ask a million questions about the pregnancy and ignore his food in favor of smothering his brother and sister-in-law with hugs and questions.
After the hype dies down and dinner draws to a close, Hyukjae makes his way into the kitchen to start on the dishes, taking a moment to think as he washes.
When Donghae finally realizes that his boyfriend is missing, he excuses himself from his family for the night, somehow knowing where Hyukjae will be.
“You okay?” He asks, leaning against the counter next to Hyukjae.
Hyukjae looks up at him and nods, drying his hands on a towel before typing out a message on his phone.
“I wanted you to have time with your brother and the rest of your family since you don't see them often.”
Donghae takes the phone from Hyukjae and sets it aside, taking his hands, still warm from the water, and smiling at him.
“Thank you,” he says. “But they're all heading to bed and I'd like to spend a little bit of time with my boyfriend while it's still Christmas.”
Hyukjae smiles back and follows Donghae to his room, making sure to lock the door before they both change into comfortable clothes for bed.
Hyukjae takes his glasses off and sits on the bed as he waits for Donghae. He holds the box containing his present from Donghae's family and opens it, staring at the square and compass again, smiling. It glistens softly in the light of Donghae's bedside lamp and he touches the silver letter in the middle, wishing he could express how grateful he is for such a beautiful gift.
“You like it?” Donghae asks as he slips under the covers next to Hyukjae.
Hyukjae nods, setting the box aside again and snuggling next to Donghae. Donghae seems to fidget for a moment, thinking about something.
“I wanted to... um...” he starts, “talk about last night...”
Hyukjae stiffens and waits for Donghae to continue.
“I know you probably want to avoid talking about it but... I think we should.” Donghae feels Hyukjae nod against his shoulder in agreement. “We're adults, we live together, we love each other... so it's perfectly normal for us to... have these feelings... and want to act on them.”
Hyukjae is wincing inwardly at the awkwardness in the room. He shifts a little to look at Donghae and finds even more awkwardness in his expression. Donghae sighs.
“I want to but I'm nervous,” Donghae says. “I don't know why...”
Hyukjae reaches for his phone, staying close to Donghae as he types a message.
“I'm nervous too... I know what you mean. We'll wait until we're both ready or until neither of us can stand the urge anymore. I can't help wanting you, you know. You're kind of irresistible.”
“Look who's talking,” Donghae says and smiles at the message. “But you're right, we can wait until the time is right.”
He sighs and stares at the ceiling for a while, expecting Hyukjae to type another message but he frowns when he realizes there's no movement next to him. He turns his head and finds Hyukjae already asleep, phone still in his hand. He chuckles softly and puts the phone on the bedside table before cuddling his exhausted boyfriend and falling asleep as well.
-
One more day is spent with Donghae's family, mostly cleaning and saying goodbyes. The next morning, Donghae is calling a taxi while Hyukjae is preparing a container of leftovers to take home.
“Hey, Hyukjae,” Donghwa says, patting Hyukjae on the back. “It was nice meeting you and getting to know you a little.”
Hyukjae nods and smiles as a response, grateful to have met Donghwa as well.
“So, um... I just wanted you to know that I think you're really great for my brother and... I'd be happy to call you a part of our family. Come back next Christmas, yeah?”
Hyukjae's smile fades for a moment as he takes in the words, heartfelt and warm. Rather than responding with a nod, he hugs Donghwa briefly, making him laugh.
“I guess that's a yes.”
It is a yes, Hyukjae thinks as he helps Donghae load their luggage into a taxi. More than anything, Hyukjae knows that he wants to be with Donghae for a full year and end up right back at this place, spending another Christmas with his family. He grins as they wave one last time before climbing into the taxi together where he clings to Donghae for warmth and waits for them to be home.
After a few hours of napping in between texting each other to have private conversations in the back of their taxi, Hyukjae and Donghae arrive at home, sluggishly carrying their things inside, greeted by their Christmas tree.
“Home sweet home?” Donghae says, making his way to turn the Christmas lights on.
Hyukjae takes their suitcases upstairs, feeling sad that he is no longer surrounded by the warmth of family. It is dark now, the light in the house dimmed, and he sighs to himself at how cold he feels. He decides that unpacking can wait and comes back downstairs to a bright living room, completely lit up with nothing but Christmas lights.
Hyukjae looks at Donghae, noticing him smiling cheekily, hands behind his back. He takes a few steps forward, trying to peek around and see what he's holding but Donghae keeps his hands out of sight.
“You don't get your present until I get mine,” Donghae says stubbornly.
Hyukjae pouts a little and thinks, remembering that Donghae's Christmas present is safely stored in his closet. Slowly, he takes several steps backwards, heading towards the stairs again.
“Is it... upstairs?” Donghae asks, inching forward.
Hyukjae shakes his head but continues to step backwards. Just as Donghae is about to call his bluff, Hyukjae turns and runs for the stairs. He almost makes it into his room safely but before he can close the door, Donghae pushes inside.
“Where is it?” He asks as if he's interrogating Hyukjae. “Where is my present?”
Hyukjae laughs silently and holds Donghae back when he starts heading for the closet.
“In the closet?” Donghae questions. “Really? You've hidden it in there this whole time and I didn't notice?”
Hyukjae nods and continues to try and pull Donghae away from the closet, wrapping his arms around his chest from behind and restraining him completely.
“Oh... I forgot that you're all super strong,” Donghae grumbles, stopping his struggle and sighing. “Can I just have my present now?”
Hyukjae grins and presses his lips against Donghae's cheek, mouthing the word “no” and listening to Donghae whimper.
“But...” Donghae starts. “Fine. If I can't have my present, then...” rather than finishing his sentence, Donghae wiggles an arm free to tickle Hyukjae, immediately attacking his weak spot and feeling his hold weaken. He takes this opportunity to push Hyukjae away and make for the closet but Hyukjae easily pulls him back and pins him to the bed.
Hyukjae glares and Donghae frowns, knowing that the tickling would only resort it being tickled back even more. But Hyukjae doesn't tickle Donghae, he kisses him. Confused, Donghae doesn't respond and Hyukjae pulls away with a frown.
“Shouldn't you be... hurting me or something?”
Hyukjae stares at Donghae before mercilessly tickling him. Donghae laughs and squirms a little too hard, moving so much that he hits his head against the headboard of the bed. Silence follows, Hyukjae ceasing his tickling and waiting for a sign that Donghae hasn't been injured too badly.
“It huuuuuurts,” Donghae hisses, bringing a hand to his head and rubbing out the pain as he glares at Hyukjae. Hyukjae continuously mouths “I'm sorry” but Donghae shakes his head. “No. Sorry isn't going to make my head hurt less... but tickling will!”
Hyukjae laughs an uncontrollable, silent laugh as Donghae gets his revenge, pinning Hyukjae to the bed and tickling him until he's almost in tears. Hyukjae finally manages to push Donghae off and he struggles to catch his breath, still laughing until he feels Donghae's breath panting against his ear, nose resting against Hyukjae's temple.
His smile fades entirely and he shivers, suddenly gripping Donghae's arms out of instinct. He expects Donghae to do something, say something, to tickle him again and laugh some more, but Donghae doesn't move.
Out of the corner of his eye, Hyukjae can see Donghae's fist curling slightly in the blue sheets.
“Hyukjae...” Donghae whispers, breath still hot against Hyukjae's ear, making him shiver again.
Donghae's lips trail slowly across Hyukjae's cheek, leaving soft kisses, and Hyukjae's hands slowly loosen their grip on Donghae's arms.
“Hyukjae,” Donghae whispers again before he kisses Hyukjae, surprised when he is met by aggression.
Hyukjae pulls Donghae closer, letting his hand move to curl in his boyfriend's hair. He deepens the kiss, finally sliding his tongue along Donghae's until he hears a moan. He wants more of that moan, wants to be the cause of it, he wants more.
Is this what I want?
Hyukjae suddenly pulls away, panting, and he looks at Donghae.
Yes, it is.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions almost shakily, and Hyukjae smiles at him.
In that smile, he tries to tell Donghae what he wants, what he needs. Donghae stares back at him, searching his eyes, taking the hint of the hand sliding under his shirt.
“Do you... want to...” Donghae starts, watching Hyukjae nod slowly. “Are you sure?” He asks, bringing a hand up to caress Hyukjae's cheek.
Hyukjae cautiously brings their mouths back together for a slow kiss. Donghae responds just as slowly, careful not to rush.
Yes, I'm sure... Donghae...
Hyukjae allows himself to be lulled to sleep that night by the sweet exhaustion from the day, by the warm man beside him, by the occasional whispers against his ear, the whispers saying “I love you, Lee Hyukjae.”
-
Donghae wakes up the next morning with a yawn. He blinks, feeling around and sitting up slowly, remembering the events of the night before. He blushes furiously and smiles, hiding his face in his pillow. Then he realizes that Hyukjae is not in bed with him. He pulls the pillow from his face and hears the shower running. He grins.
“Maybe I should join him in the-” his sentence is interrupted by the sound of the shower being shut off. “Damn it.” He waits instead, perking up when the bathroom door opens and Hyukjae steps out, a shy smile on his face as he approaches the bed wearing only sweatpants.
Donghae clears his throat and turns his head away until Hyukjae is sitting next to him and nuzzling his cheek, a silent invitation for a good morning kiss. Smiling, he turns and accepts the invitation until Hyukjae pulls away, leaving him frowning.
Hyukjae walks to the closet, opening it and digging around inside until he finds what he's looking for and returns to Donghae with a small, wrapped box.
“Ah, wait,” Donghae says, struggling to remove himself from the blankets. “I left mine downstairs so I could chase you. Let me... um...” he stutters as he pulls on a pair of pants and stumbles downstairs.
Hyukjae laughs to himself and waits until Donghae enters the room again with a box much larger than he had expected. He eyes Donghae curiously and Donghae only smiles at him, giving him a quick kiss before sitting across from him on the bed.
“I get to open mine first,” he says and Hyukjae rolls his eyes.
Donghae grins and pulls the wrapping paper from the box and opens it, pulling out a picture frame and looking it over carefully. Inside of the frame is a picture of the soccer field where they had first met, taken early in the morning to capture the slightest sunrise glow over the green. He smiles, about to thank Hyukjae until Hyukjae turns the picture frame over in his hands and Donghae sees the writing across the back of it. Hyukjae buries his face in a pillow as Donghae reads silently.
“Lee Donghae, will you always remember when we first met? When you thought I was deaf and I ran away from you? Maybe it was fate that I dropped my iPod and that we met again the next day, on that same field. I told you I could not speak and instead of questioning me, feeling sorry for me, or pushing me away as many have done before, you accepted me. That one small fact made me want to meet you again, made me curious, made me break away from myself to know you. I took this picture not long after we met, actually, because I was hoping that someday it would mean something. Now it does. It means the world to me. This field brought me to you and you are everything to me. Because of you, I've never been happier. I smile every day because of you. Before you I don't remember genuinely smiling for anyone. You are my happiness, Donghae, and without you I don't think I'd ever smile again. I love you. No matter what happens, I'll promise you that my love will only grow stronger. Whenever you look at this picture, I want you to remember that. Don't forget, okay?”
The letter is signed with a small, detailed drawing of a nectarine almost in the shape of a heart, Hyukjae's signature in the middle.
Donghae hardly realizes that he's gripping onto the frame as if he'll lose it and tears are on the brink of spilling from his eyes. He takes a breath to steady himself and sets the frame aside to pull Hyukjae into a hug.
“I love you...” he whispers, “I love you so much.”
Hyukjae hugs back tightly, feeling his heart beat faster with Donghae's words. Donghae eventually pulls away, peppering kisses all over Hyukjae's face until they're both smiling again and Hyukjae points to the still unopened box.
“Oh, right,” Donghae frowns, “my gift is gonna seem really lame now.”
Hyukjae shakes his head to let Donghae know that no gift from him could ever be lame. He opens the gift quickly, widening his eyes incredibly when he finds a new laptop inside.
“Yours was kind of old and big,” Donghae explains, “so I figured you could use a new one.” Hyukjae frowns. “It wasn't as expensive as you think! And look, it's small enough for you to carry around easily so it'll be easier to talk to people.”
Hyukjae sighs but accepts the gift, turning it on and typing “thank you” to Donghae.
“You're welcome,” Donghae says, pecking Hyukjae's cheek. “Now we have to take Christmas down so we can have a clean house to return to at the end of the day since we both have to work tomorrow.”
Hyukjae frowns and Donghae kisses it away. Hyukjae gives in to the kiss and only pulls away when he has an idea. He shoos Donghae out of the room and locks the door without explaining anything to him.
“Hyukjae?” Donghae questions, knocking on the door. “What just happened?”
The only answer is a shuffling behind the door and Donghae sighs, going downstairs and starting to take down decorations. Two hours later, Donghae has taken down every decoration, save for the tree, and the door to Hyukjae's room finally opens.
“Finally,” Donghae says, greeting Hyukjae with a kiss as he reaches the living room. “What were you doing up there?
Hyukjae excitedly takes Donghae's hand, pulling him up the stairs and into the bedroom, pointing to the wall across from the bed. A small shelf is hung on the wall, surrounding both the picture of the soccer field and the square and compass given to Hyukjae by Donghae's family. The shelf doesn't hold the items but frames them instead. It is made of all of the materials left over from the model Hyukjae had made for Donghae's family, small bits of colored wood fastened with glue.
Donghae stares at the shelf and wonders how something so simple and simply crafted out of leftovers could be so beautiful. He turns to Hyukjae who is standing with his arms crossed, a triumphant smile on his face. Donghae kisses Hyukjae unexpectedly and despite his confusion, Hyukjae kisses back, turning fully to thread his fingers through Donghae's hair.
“It's beautiful,” Donghae says in between kisses, “you're beautiful, everything you touch is beautiful, you're amazing, I love you.”
Hyukjae shuts his boyfriend up with a flick of his tongue and a push towards the bed.
-