Chapter Text
“Fuck!” Wooyoung screamed, kicking the nearest object on the floor. A box filled with what must have been bricks with the way his pain shot through his leg the minute he made contact with the cardboard. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
Now not only did he mess up the team's entire performance but his foot also hurt like a bitch. He deserved it though, for making such a careless mistake.
He had tripped over San’s foot after shoving him away during their choreography. He caught himself before he could fall but he had missed his final line and the crowd had absolutely taken notice. Their gasps and hushed murmurs evident that Wooyoung had fucked up the entire show. Classic.
“Hey, great work out there!”
Wooyoung turned to face the person behind him and the root of his mistake in the first place.
Choi fucking San.
The massive idiot stood there smiling at him like he couldn't wait to gloat about his mistake. Sweat dripping from his choppy bangs and Wooyoung had to try so hard to hold back an audible gag. Gross.
Gross, gross, gross.
“Whatever,” he replied, turning to leave but forgetting that he just smashed his foot against whatever mystery foot-breaking object sat in the box before him. He hissed, stumbling back to get the pressure off his tender foot.
“Are you okay?” San asked quickly. “Did you hurt your foot when you tripped on stage?”
There it was. The subtle jab Wooyoung knew was coming. It was like he couldn’t help it. He just had to go there. Had to point out Wooyoung’s every mistake. Had to make him feel like a fucking idiot every chance he got.
“Why don’t you mind your-“
“San!” Yunho’s energetic voice cut him off. “Dude you killed it out there! I swear you get sexier every performance.”
San laughed, ducking his head to feign embarrassment but Wooyoung just knew he was eating up the attention.
“And what about you? The crowd was going nuts at your part during the chorus. The fancans of your hips are gonna be crazy.”
“Hey,” Yeosangs voice was low, pulling Wooyoung’s attention away from whatever bromance was going on in front of him. “You okay?” He asked while eyeing Wooyoung’s foot.
“Ya. I’m fine. Just hit it on something while leaving the stage.”
“Do you want help back to your dressing room?”
“No,” Wooyoung shook his head. “I’ll be okay. Thanks Sangie.”
“It wasn’t that noticeable,” Yeosang added as he started limping towards his changing room.
“Yeah? Me tripping front stage wasn’t that noticeable?”
“I’m serious. You’re always your own worst critic. I bet the fans won’t even be talking about it.”
“Ya, you’re probably right,” he mumbled, making his way down the dark hall.
Yeosang was right, per usual.
That night when stalking social media Wooyoung saw next to no mentions of his disastrous mistake. One or two fans tweeting warm wishes and hoping he was okay, but other than that, it was near silence. Unfortunately for him his obsessive digging had been pointless all because the Ateez tag was clogged up with fancams of Choi San gripping his neck and rocking his hips.
Disgusting.
He had to admit, Deja Vu had some of their most provocative choreography to date and the fans were truly eating it up. It felt nice seeing compilations of himself and his members highlighting their sensuality this comeback but nothing made him absolutely despise this creative direction like seeing one of San’s parts going viral. He quickly closed the app as another velocity edit started and that stark black hair came into view.
Leave it to San to give the best performance of his life on the one night that Wooyoung happened to fall and make a fool of himself. He almost felt angry that his mistake wasn’t more noticeable now. Too drowned out by San and his overenthusiastic performances.
He had always been this way too.
Wooyoung could still remember their first group practice. He had been cast as one of the main dancers so he took his place in the front of the room, his best friend Yeosang on the other side of him. As the choreographer began teaching them the steps of the dance he couldn’t help but scan the room. Yes, they were all a part of the same group, but that didn’t stop them from needing to solidify their places in this team. He was a dancer and he would do whatever it took to keep his place as main dancer. The other members were good, Seonghwa showed great technique and Mingi had an effortless style to him, but overall Wooyoung didn’t feel much competition for his spot. Especially when it came to Choi San.
The quiet scrawny boy practically hid himself in the back corner, nervously glancing at all the other members as he stumbled over each move. Wooyoung grinned to himself. Yeah, no competition there.
“Okay we’re moving on to the next section. Any questions before we do?” The choreographer called out to the group.
The members shook their heads, staring straight ahead as they waited for their next directions.
“Um, excuse me,” a soft voice called from the back.
“Hm?” The choreographer nodded.
“I just, don’t really get that last eight count. Could you go over it one more time?” San’s timid voice barely above a whisper.
“Of course. Everybody, watch closely.”
The choreographer demonstrated the last few steps again, steps that were arguably very simple in Wooyoung’s opinion. Steps that he got the first try but San on the other hand was watching intently and imitating from the back of the room.
“Now you try,” he called to San over his shoulder.
“What?” His eyes blowing wide.
“You try, I wanna see if you get the steps correctly.”
“Um, okay,” San said nervously. He wound up his arms hitting the first two moves before the choreographer cut him off.
“Stop, stop. I can’t even see you all the way back there. Come up here, stand next to Wooyoung.”
San awkwardly shuffled his way up to the front of the room, standing on the other side of Wooyoung.
“Alright try again. Five six seven eight.”
He gave a decent recount of the steps, hitting most of the moves but lacking any real passion in his dancing.
“That was fine,” the choreographer said. “But you look a little too stiff.”
Wooyoung stifled a giggle.
“I want you to try it again but this time close your eyes and perform like 8 other people aren’t watching you. Just feel the moves okay?”
San nodded, taking a deep breath and shutting his eyes.
“Five six seven eight.”
This time when San performed it was like he was a different person. His moves were sharper, his brows furrowed in concentration. It was like a flip had switched and this performer took over his body.
When the eight count ended he slowly blinked his eyes open.
“How was that?”
“Shit, Wooyoung you might have some competition for that main dancer spot. San, stay up here in the front row. Everybody else, let's move on.”
Wooyoung’s stomach fell at those words. Sure San had looked fine performing that one section, but there was no way he could come close to Wooyoung’s skills. He had been training for this for years. He practically lived in the dance studio back in Ilsan so assuming that this country boy who hardly had any dance experience was a threat to Wooyoung’s spot and all of his hard work was an insult.
He felt his cheeks burning. His heart pounding in his chest. Fuck this choreographer and fuck Choi San.
Unfortunately for Wooyoung that had been only the first of many instances of San trying to weasel his way into situations where he didn’t belong. After that single dance practice San’s confidence bloomed and it was like anything he tried he succeeded at. It all just came so naturally to him.
He started getting more lines in their songs, more center features, the idiot even started working out and losing those scrawny little features. San was becoming an all around ace and Wooyoung could not stand it.
It felt like no matter how hard he tried, no matter how much he practiced, he would never be as good as San. He was always being praised, always standing out in their performances. It was like no one could ever say a bad thing about San and none of the rest of them even mattered.
The worst part of it all was how condescending he was with all of it too. Little whispers of ‘I’m sure you’ll get the next one’ when a line he auditioned for went to San instead. Asking him for help with a part of the choreography that he was already center for over Wooyoung. Laughing every time Wooyoung made a mistake and adding unnecessary comments of how cute it was whenever he messed up.
He was obsessed with making Wooyoung miserable. Always trying to be near him just knowing that his presence got so far under Wooyoung’s skin he was bound to make a mistake. Always begging to be picked for Wooyoung’s team knowing it was a chance to sabotage him and make him look bad as a leader.
He couldn’t escape San and it drove him absolutely crazy.
His frustration built for years. Becoming this never ending rage burning inside of him that was always ready to spill over at the slightest push from San.
He became a yeller. Wooyoung had never been a yeller before. Sure, his voice was loud and he would sometimes find himself playfully snapping at Yeosang but he never yelled at people out of anger.
Until San.
Something about that stupid smug face made Wooyoung lash out almost daily. Over his dishes being left on the counter. Over him taking 2 minutes longer in the shower than they were each allowed. Over every little mistake he made while filming. Over standing too close to Wooyoung and breathing too loud.
San turned Wooyoung into such an angry hate filled person and it was exhausting. He didn’t like feeling this way, really. Wooyoung always felt as though he was a kind and light hearted person. He got along with everyone but ever since joining this group it felt like all he could do was feel angry and hateful. It’s like all he could show the world was this person who was mean and aggressive but he couldn’t stop himself.
Wooyoung sighed. Throwing his phone to the other side of his bed. He needed to stop obsessing and ruining his own night. They had the next two days off and that meant that he had two days of peace and rest away from a certain someone.
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“Alright listen up everyone,” Hongjoong called, getting the group’s attention. Wooyoung glanced at him from where he laid across Yeosang’s lap. Yeosang was carding his fingers through Wooyoung’s hair and the younger was absolutely melting under his touch. “The next few weeks we’re focusing on promotions. The company scored some really amazing collaboration deals and that means that we are going to be doing some destination shooting. There were 16 companies in total that want to work with us and in order to get them all done in time the company has decided to send us in units.”
Wooyoung let his eyes roll shut. Hongjoong was a great captain but he tended to drone on and on instead of getting to the point. Especially when they were all here at the bright hour of 7 am.
“Now I want you all to remember, the company picked these pairs. I had no say in them or which companies you’d be working with. Is that clear?”
“Yes dad,” Jongho mumbled from where he sat on the floor.
“Alright the pairings are myself and Mingi, Jongho and Seonghwa, Yunho and Yeosang, and Wooyoung and San.” He rushed out the last two names like they would burn him if they sat in his mouth too long.
Wooyoung shot up from Yeosang’s lap, eyes wide as Hongjoong conveniently avoided his gaze. He heard a few muffled laughs from the other members. He knew he wasn’t the best at hiding his annoyance and everyone knew that he was not a fan of San to say the least.
“Anyways, go get ready for rehearsal, tomorrow you’ll get your schedules and head out for your shoots.”
Fucking great.
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“Sangieeeeeeee,” Wooyoung whined into the phone.
“I don’t know what you want me to do about this. Captain told us it was the CEO who decided the pairs.”
“Yeah but maybe I could convince him to change his mind. I can be pretty convincing.”
“You’re manipulative is what you are. Though I think the head of our company would be a bit too smart to know what you’re trying to do in this situation.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“It’s obvious to everyone how much you hate San. It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone if you tried to get out of this.”
“I don’t hate San,” Wooyoung huffed. “I just think it would be best if we didn’t have to spend two whole weeks together with no other members around.”
“1. You are a terrible liar. And 2. I think this actually might be good for you.”
“In what world could this possibly be a good thing for me?”
Yeosang sighed, the sound of him shifting in his bed muffling the speaker for a second before he finally spoke.
“I know that you have your reasons for the way you feel, but San is a nice guy Wooyoung. I really think you should give him a chance.”
“Nice?!” Wooyoung scoffed at the ridiculous accusation. “There is nothing nice about that two faced condescending little-“
“I’m not here to argue with you Wooyoung. You’re allowed to have your opinion of him and I’m allowed to have mine. Maybe you two will never get along but I do think it’s time you stopped actively trying to make his life a living hell.”
“If anything he’s the one-“
“Just promise me you’ll at least try to not kill him on this trip?”
“And why do you care so much if I get along with him?” Wooyoung felt oddly defensive, like he knew deep down that Yeosang was right about parts of what he had said, but he’d never admit that.
“I just hate that all the rest of the group sees is this ugly side of you. You’re not a mean person, but to all of them you seem like nothing more than an angry bully. They don’t know the you that I know and it hurts to see you do this to yourself.”
Wooyoung’s eyes began to sting. Yeosang was right. He always was.
“Ok,” he squeaked out. Trying to breath away the sharp feeling in his chest.
“I love you, I’m just a call away if you need anything. Remember that.”
“I love you too,” Wooyoung sighed before hanging up and throwing his sheets over his head.
He should get some sleep.
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The morning came far too quick and Wooyoung blindly swatted at his phone to turn off the god awful alarm ringing out through his room.
Today was the day.
Yeosang’s mini lecture still hung fresh in his mind and Wooyoung tried to hold onto that positive attitude as he got himself ready to head to the company.
He pulled up to the building feeling slightly less dreadful than he anticipated, especially when he realized he was the first member to arrive. He walked into the large building, making his way to their practice room. He figured he’d get some time in before the other members got there.
He threw on some headphones and spent a few minutes stretching out his sore muscles. Once he felt loose enough he turned on a playlist of his favorite songs to freestyle to. He let his eyes close and he lost himself to the music, feeling it move through him as he let his body flow to the beat.
This was where he felt happiest.
Dance always just made sense to him. He was never great with his words, never able to express himself the way he hoped to. But with dance, he could move a crowd to tears with three steps and no music. He was born to be a dancer.
As the song came to a close he let his eyes flutter open, nearly stumbling over his own two feet when they locked with another catlike gaze.
“What are you doing here?” He demanded, turning to glare at San.
“Oh, sorry. I came to find you but you just looked so lost in the music I couldn’t bring myself to stop you.
“So you decided to watch me like a creep instead?”
“Yes. I mean no. I just-“
“Well you found me. What do you need?” His annoyance was clear in his tone.
“Our car is here, it’s time for us to leave.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll be there in a sec.”
San simply nodded and turned to make his way out of the practice room.
Breathe. Wooyoung reminded himself of what Yeosang said, trying to breathe and keep his calm attitude. He could do this.
He collected his things and walked toward the parking lot, spotting a few black SUV’s.
“Car number 3,” the staff member handing out itnerarys said, barely looking up at him.
Everyone around him was so tense. Maybe Yeosang was right. Maybe everyone could see how much he hate- disliked being around San.
“Thank you,” he bowed, grabbing his schedule and heading to the vehicle that had a number 3 taped on the side.
Wooyoung opened the door, conveniently avoiding eye contact with the other person already sitting in the back seat. He climbed in and shut the door behind him, sliding the handle a bit more forcefully than he would have hoped to. Their poor driver flinched and he felt his stomach sink. Things were off to a great start so far.
The driver started the car and they slowly peeled out of the parking lot, kicking off these two weeks of torture.
“Hey, I got you a coffee,” San mumbled.
Wooyoung looked up from his phone to see the other man holding up an iced coffee.
“It’s an Americano. Black.”
“Oh, thank you,” Wooyoung mumbled, grabbing the cup from him. The condensation dripping over his fingers. “How did you remember my order?”
“Well it’s pretty simple.”
He wasn’t wrong really. A black americano was an arguably easy drink to remember, but hearing San of all people call it simple just got under his skin.
“Ya I guess so,” he gritted out. Just take the drink, it’s a nice gesture.
“I mean I don’t know how you drink those, they’re so bitter and bland. I always need at least some sugar in mine. But everyone has their own tastes I guess.” San smiled as he spoke, a mischievous glint in his eye as he practically called Wooyoung a tasteless simpleton.
His eye twitched.
Breathe in, breath out.
“Yeah. I guess we do have our own tastes. I could never drink such a nauseatingly sweet cup of diabetes,” he replied nodding towards the blended drink with extra whipped cream and caramel dripping off the sides.
San laughed, his dimples deepening. “You’re right, this isn’t the healthiest thing I could have chosen but hey, I work out enough, I think I deserve to treat myself a bit.”
Oh, so now he has no taste and he’s fat.
Great.
Awesome.
Cheers, asshole.
What the hell was Yeosang thinking when he called San nice?
“How much longer do we have?” Wooyoung asked their driver. His words harsh and angry.
“Three hours. If there’s no traffic.”
Fucking great.
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Update: There was traffic. A lot of traffic.
So much in fact that their 3 hour drive turned into nearly 5. Not helped in the slightest by the fact that San had to pee every hour on the hour and he begged that they stop for treats at a cafe along the way that he had heard people raving about on social media.
It was like he got off on making sure that they spent as much time as possible together knowing just how miserable it made Wooyoung.
“What kind of sweets do you like?” San asked over his shoulder as Wooyoung stared blankly at the display counter.
“I don’t,” his reply was blunt and honest. He wasn’t really a fan of sugary snacks. He never had been.
San gasped like Wooyoung had just called him a slur. “There’s got to be some sort of sweet that you like.”
Wooyoung shrugged. “I don’t hate croissants.”
“Just a plain croissant?” His voice was seeping with disappointment.
“Fine. Chocolate croissants are okay.”
San hummed, stepping around Wooyoung to speak to the waitress.
Wooyoung noticed something in the case that looked absolutely horrifying. It was a neon colored cake roll topped with cotton candy. His stomach hurt just looking at it and he seriously wondered what kind of people San could be following to suggest a place like this.
“Here,” San’s voice pulled him and his twisted face away from the display.
“What’s this?” Wooyoung asked, eyeing the brown paper bag.
“A chocolate croissant? I ordered it right in front of you. How did you not hear me?”
“Oh,” Wooyoung said dumbly. “I don’t… I didn’t ask for this.”
“I know. I just wanted to get you something. It’s my fault we’re stopping in the first place.”
At least he’s taking responsibility for that.
“Thanks, but I don’t like to eat much the day before a shoot.” That also was not a lie. Wooyoung had a very complex relationship with food that he was working on, but there were still some habits he found hard to kick.
“Oh. Okay. Never mind,” San looked gutted. He watched as the 5’9” man sunk in on himself, his tail tucked between his legs and now he looked as though Woooyung had called him a slur and kicked his pet cat.
“Jesus, fine. I’ll eat the damn croissant.” Wooyoung ripped the bag from his hand and tore it open. Stuffing a large bite into his mouth. “If I’m bloated tomorrow it’s your fault,” he threatened around the arguably very tasty bread.
San beamed at him. “You’re in great shape Wooyoung, one croissant isn’t gonna change that.”
Wooyoung huffed, rolling his eyes before he stomped back to their car.
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“Here are your room keys. You have the rest of the afternoon to rest and meet back here at 7:30 sharp. The brand manager of tomorrow's shoot will be treating you to dinner so don’t be late.”
“Okay,” the two of them mumbled back.
“I will see you then. Your guys’ room is 318. Go get some rest.”
“I’m sorry,” Wooyoung’s voice halted the poor staff member. “Did you just say our room?”
He cleared his throat. “Um, yes. You two will be sharing a room this trip. It was all outlined in the itinerary. Did you not read it?”
No. He hadn’t read it. He knew someone would tell him when and where he needed to be so why waste his time reading through some words he would just forget anyways.
“It’s fine. I can just get my own room,” Wooyoung began. “I mean I am just a super light sleeper and I’m worried that I won’t be able to get my beauty rest you know?” He smiled at him sweetly, hoping his little lie was enough to make it not seem like he was throwing a fit for just having to share a room when the problem was who he was sharing the room with.
“But these were the last two rooms that the hotel had. I mean, you can come stay in my room but I have sleep apnea and I wear a cpap machine and I don’t think that with be much help to you if you’re a light sleeper. But I can try to sleep without it! I haven’t done that in 25 years but what’s 1 night, you know?”
Wooyoung sighed. “No, it’s fine, thank you. I appreciate it, I do. I’ll just… have to wear some earplugs I guess.”
The poor sweet overworked staff simply nodded and hurried down the hall. Leave Wooyoung with San who could not wipe the smug grin off his face.
“Wow, seems like someone is super excited to share some quality time with me.”
Wooyoung just rolled his eyes and made his way to the elevator.
The ride up to the third floor was silent. As was the walk to their door and the full minute of Wooyoung fumbling with the room key until he finally got the stupid door open.
He breathed a sigh of relief when they stepped inside to find two beds. He wouldn’t put it past their captain to insist that they all share beds as well to save money.
“Which one do you want?” San asked, stepping in behind him.
“The one by the window. I never sleep by the door.”
San just tilted his head and gave him a confused look.
“In case someone breaks in. Then I won’t be the first one to get murdered.”
“Oh but you’re okay with me being murdered?”
“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
“Wow,” was all San mumbled before throwing his bag onto the nearest bed.
Wooyoung made his way to the bed by the window, setting his bag down before pulling open the blinds.
Busan was beautiful this time of year. It was early enough that the sun still hung high in the air and their hotel was only a short walk from the beach. He figured he’d make his way down to the water and bring his camera along to shoot a few pictures. His brother had gotten it for his birthday and he didn’t get out enough to make much use of it.
He got his things together and shuffled over to the door. “I’m going out,” he said awkwardly. Unsure why he felt like he owed San some sort of explanation. “I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Ok?” San replied, barely looking up from his phone. The older had settled into his bed and seemed entirely uninterested in what Wooyoung was up to.
Right, they are just rooming together for this trip. It’s not like they were roommates or friends who needed to keep each other informed. Honestly San could probably care less if he were to just go throw himself off a pier and drown right now. Maybe he would, just to spite him.
He stormed out of the hotel and made his way toward the beach. Why was he so bothered by this? He knew that he and San never got along. It’s not like he wanted him to be interested in whatever he was up to anyways. He probably would have asked to tag along, just to bother Wooyoung and annoy him the whole time.
His phone rang from his pocket, cutting off his spiraling.
He recognized the picture of his face squished against his best friend’s that they had taken years ago outside of their old practice studio.
“Hello?”
“Have you tried to kill him yet?” Yeosang’s voice was so nice to hear after spending the day away from him, even if he was accusing Wooyoung of being anything other than pleasant.
“I’ll have you know that I have been entirely cordial with him. I accepted his croissant and I let him take the bed next to the door like he wanted.”
“Right,” Yeosang didn’t sound impressed. “How’s Busan?”
“It’s beautiful Sangie. I’ll take so many pictures for you.”
“You better. The town we’re in is strange. I don’t exactly know why we’re meeting with pepper farmers but Hongjoong said that it’s important that we make a good impression and it’ll all make sense later.”
“Weird.”
“Totally weird. I’ll call you later?”
“Okay. I miss you Sangie.”
“Yeah yeah,” he muttered, shuffling the phone as if he were going to hang up. “I miss you too.”
The line died and Wooyoung smiled at the black screen of his phone. Leave it to Yeosang to brighten his mood even from the opposite end of the country.
He breathed in the crisp air and continued toward the ocean. On his way he snapped a few photos of the city. The buildings, the trains, even a cute little stray cat he passed on the way. He didn’t have much to offer it, other than a few crumbs from his bag but the cat seemed more interested in getting pets than conning Wooyoung out of food anyways.
By the time he reached the waterfront he felt entirely entranced by the city. There was something he absolutely loved about the beach. The fresh air, the laid back atmosphere, the rhythm of the waves. He always felt like in another life he was born to live in a small beach town, run a little shop and just spend his days watching the water flow in and out.
He paced up and down the waterfront for a few hours, feeling all the stress and frustration of his day float out to sea. By the time the sun started making its way toward the horizon his camera was full of pictures he couldn’t wait to show Yeosang.
He checked his phone and decided to make his way back to the hotel to get ready for dinner.
As he pulled the plastic card from the door a small beep and green flashing light let him know that he had finally unlocked it. Seriously, it was like they wanted to keep people out of these rooms.
He stepped inside to a completely empty room. Huh, that’s weird. Maybe San did go out too? It’s not like he would have mentioned it if he was planning on going anywhere.
He started digging through his bag to find the clothes he was planning on wearing tonight. That’s when a large crash and muffled ‘oh shit’ rang out from the bathroom.
So San hadn’t actually left. Had he really sat in this room the entire time like some sad little shut in? It was kind of pathetic really.
Wooyoung balled up his clothes and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for San to finish up so he could shower.
A few minutes later San opened the door and stepped out in a cloud of steam. He was wearing just a small white towel tucked around his hips and his damp hair was dripping onto his chest that was completely unclothed. Not to mention the towel around his waist could compete for the title of smallest towel in the entire world so as he stepped into their room he was practically naked.
Wooyoung felt his whole body freeze. His eyes shot frantically between his bare chest and his equally startled expression.
“I didn’t know you were back,” San said sheepishly.
“Um, yeah.” Was all Wooyoung could manage.
Had San really gained this much muscle? He typically wore loose shirts to their practices and Wooyoung did everything he could to keep San out of sight and out of mind during performances. He knew the older would talk about working out more frequently but he figured it was just a vanity thing. Like he was only working out his glamor muscles or going to the gym in order to take thirst traps.
Yet as he stood here, chest out for the world, Wooyoung couldn’t help but notice the striking definition. San was kind of ripped, and if it were on anyone else Wooyoung would have to admit that he had a pretty nice body.
He was staring. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that to be true, but he couldn’t really bring himself to care. That is until San had to go and open his big dumb stupid mouth.
“What, appreciating all my hard work?” His eyes were narrowed as he gave Wooyoung a challenging look.
Wooyoung huffed. “No. As a matter of fact I was glaring at you because I was worried you had used up all the hot water.”
“Don’t worry you little princess, there’s plenty of hot water left for you to wash that pretty little body of yours.”
He felt his cheeks burst with heat. What the hell?
“Don’t call me princess,” he blurted out. “And put some clothes on!”
Wooyoung stood up and stormed into the bathroom.
He stood there back pressed to the door taking deep breaths until his heart rate returned to normal. What was going on with him? His stomach felt all funny and his palms had started to sweat. It must be some sort of reaction to the temperature change? Or maybe he was just hungry. All he knew was that he had spent less than 24 hours alone with San and he was already losing his mind.
He made quick work of stripping down and showering away whatever this day had done to him. By the time he stepped out he felt far more relaxed.
Peeking his head out to make sure the room was safe to re-enter, he noticed San sat in front of the mirror at the far end. He watched for a moment as he raked his fingers through his mostly dry hair. Messing with it until it lay in messy strands over his forehead.
“You’re staring again,” he mumbled, not taking his eyes off his own reflection. Conceited.
“I was not staring!” Wooyoung defended. Though his shrill and defensive response did very little to make him seem not guilty of staring.
He stomped over to his bag and sorted through it looking for the things he needed to get himself ready for their dinner. He had his deodorant, his toothbrush, his cologne, and….. shit. Where was his hairbrush?
Well this is just great. He could have sworn he packed it. Since he had started growing out his hair it was too long for him to just run his fingers through it and call it a day. He needed to blow dry and style it or his bangs would do that weird thing that he absolutely hated.
This hotel must have something he could use. He rifled through the bathroom drawers only to come up empty handed. Fucking awesome. This is just his luck. Their first dinner with one of the companies they are promoting with and he would be showing up looking like an absolute mess.
Maybe he had enough time to run to a convenience store to pick one up. Or maybe one of their staff members had an extra he could borrow. Or maybe…
The realization dawned on him that the solution to his problem was sitting right outside the bathroom door. San most definitely had a brush, judging by the way his hair was completely styled after having just showered. The only problem was that Wooyoung had no idea if he’d be willing to let him borrow it. He didn’t exactly love the idea of using anything of San’s, and he wasn’t even sure he would be willing to share with him.
San would probably love to see Wooyoung make a fool of himself. He’d be so proud showing up all clean and done up while Wooyoung had sad, flimsy, air-dried hair that was still clumped in the back from the knots he couldn’t get out with his fingers.
He sighed, sucking up his pride and making his way back into the room.
As he stood there watching San yet again he felt himself growing nervous.
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat. “Hey, San?”
“Hm?” San asked, dusting a sheer powder under his eyes.
“Do you… have a hairbrush I could borrow?”
San stopped. Setting down his brush and fixing his gaze on Wooyoung. As they locked eyes through the mirror Wooyoung felt trapped by his sharp catlike stare. He had accentuated his eyes with a bit of dark eyeshadow around the edges, making him look even more like a ferocious wild cat. And the longer Wooyoung stood here he felt like nothing more than stunned prey.
“You want to borrow my hairbrush?”
”Yeah. I forgot mine and my bangs never dry right if I don’t use one.”
San didn’t say a word. Just continued to watch him through the mirror.
“If you don’t want to let me use it, that's fine. I can just go to the store.” Wooyoung felt himself getting worked up all over again. “I’ll have to run so I make it in time for dinner but fine. It’s fine.”
“No, stop. I wasn’t saying no,” San turned to face him. “I just wasn’t sure if you were being serious.”
“Why would I be lying about this? Do you think I want to be sharing a hairbrush with you?”
“I mean, right now it seems like you do.”
“You are impossible,” Wooyoung groaned. “Can I use it or not?”
San smiled, a sickly sweet smile that looked as if he were far too proud of winning and being able to hold this over Wooyoung.
“Of course you can. It’s in my bag, go ahead and grab it.”
San turned back to the mirror as if the conversation had never happened and he hadn’t just given Wooyoung permission to go root through his bag. He walked over slowly to the black D&G bag sitting on a chair.
As he did he could feel San’s eyes boring holes into him. He knew he was being watched but he didn’t want to give San the satisfaction of catching him peeking back at him.
Wooyoung bent down slowly, crouching in front of it and hesitating as if he were scared to touch the thing. To be fair, he kind of was.
“Go on, you can open it,” San encouraged.
Suddenly the sweaty palms were back. Something about the way he spoke with a sort of amused authority had his heart pounding.
He unzipped the bag and started carefully digging through San’s belongings. The room was entirely too quiet and he felt so exposed going through someone else’s bag while knowing that they were right there watching him.
Luckily he didn’t have to dig around long. Under a few folded t-shirts and what appeared to be a toiletry bag Wooyoung finally found the hairbrush. He grabbed it and quickly retreated to the bathroom. Mumbling a soft ‘thanks’ as he hurried to close the door behind him.
Once again he stood in the quiet of the bathroom trying to catch his breath. San made him nervous. That was one fact he could not deny. Though he had no idea the reason why his colleague made him feel that way.
This was going to be a long two weeks.
───ﾟ ⋆ ﾟ ☂︎ ⋆ ﾟﾟ ⋆───
“So how are you liking the city?”
“Oh it’s gorgeous!” Wooyoung replied as he sat across from the creative director of the streetwear brand they would be shooting for tomorrow. “I walked down to the beach earlier and I loved the way the town felt.”
“It does have a very specific feeling to it, doesn’t it?”
“Absolutely. It’s like a calm peacefulness even though the streets are full. One that you feel when you’re walking through your old neighborhood though I’ve never been to Busan before this.”
“I know exactly what you mean. It’s why throughout my life I always find my way back here. This town has a hold on me and I’m not very good at letting go.”
“I don’t blame you,” Wooyoung smiled. He was on his second shot of soju and the warm liquor was doing wonders to loosen him up for this dinner.
He had always liked meeting new people. He easily came out of his shell and he found that he almost always made a good impression. Wooyoung just really really liked people. It made it all the easier that the team taking them to dinner were all younger men about their mid 20’s to 30’s creating a clothing line that Wooyoung really enjoyed.
“And how about you?” The director turned his attention to San. The older man sat quietly in his chair staring down at the plate of half eaten food in front of him.
“Huh? Oh it’s beautiful, I really like it so far,” San’s cheeks were puffy and red and it looked like his eyes had started to droop.
“Yeah? Did you go down to the beach today too?”
San shook his head, his brows furrowing just the slightest. “No. I went for a run though, up in the hills a few kilometers back from our hotel.”
“Ah, the scenery up there is great. You can see the whole city, the water, everything. I can’t say I’m surprised you went for a run either. You definitely look like a no days off kinda guy,” as he spoke the director flexed his muscles playfully, hinting at San’s physique and his thick arms that were on full display in the thin white t-shirt he had worn to dinner tonight.
San giggled and hid his face behind his hands. Wooyoung watched as his ears burned red.
“Anyways let’s make a toast! To having the two of you here and a great shoot tomorrow.”
They were each handed another full shot glass of soju. Wooyoung took his happily and noticed the way San hesitated before grabbing his own glass.
“To Wooyoung and San!”
The table cheered and clinked their glasses together, everyone throwing their drinks back and swallowing down the harsh liquor.
Everyone except for San that is.
Out of the corner of his eye Wooyoung watched as he slowly sipped about half of his glass before coughing and setting down the mostly full cup.
“You okay?” Wooyoung whispered to him.
“Hm?” San’s eyes seemed a bit unfocused. “Oh. Yeah. I’m fine.”
“You know you don’t need to drink if you don’t want to.”
“I know that. I just didn’t want to be rude. And I like to be included,” as San spoke his lips began to poke out. Making him look like a pouty little cat.
Wooyoung sighed, reaching over to grab his half full shot glass and he quickly threw his head back, finishing the drink for him.
San’s eyes blew open wide. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t want to have to carry you back to our hotel or clean your puke off of my shoes tonight.”
San continued to look at him, glassy eyes flitting between his face and the empty glass in his hand.
“You’re nice,” he said softly and turned back towards the table.
Wooyoung rolled his eyes and focused his attention back on the director who had begun talking to the two of them.
“You know we’re really happy we got the two of you to work with for this shoot.”
“Really?” Wooyoung asked, taking a bite of his meat.
“Yeah. You both embody the style of our brand so well.”
That threw Wooyoung off a bit. The two of them were far too different to imagine in the same clothing line. Their styles and preferences almost complete opposites. Wooyoung had a darker and more edgy style, while San was brighter. More clean cut. Even their choices throughout this day. Sweet versus bitter. Mountains versus ocean.
“You are both so fierce,” the director continued. “And beautiful in such an effortless way. That plus your insane chemistry tells me tomorrow's shoot is gonna be a hit.”
Now that made Wooyoung choke on his next bite. Coughing a few times and chasing it down with some water.
Did he just say chemistry? They had exactly zero chemistry with one another. The two of them could not stand each other in fact. How could the director have been so wrong in his assessment and assumed that they had any chemistry whatsoever.
“So where is the shoot going to be?” Wooyoung asked, hoping to quickly change the subject.
“In an old warehouse. It’s mostly abandoned but it gives the right feel for this line. It’s a really cool spot, I snapped some pictures beforehand,” the director pulled out his camera, a beautiful and expensive Canon that would cost months of Wooyoung’s income to even put a down payment on.
He began flipping through photos and Wooyoung was blown away by the crisp quality of the images.
“Is this an EOS R5?”
The director looked at him in awe. “You really know your cameras.”
Wooyoung smiled sheepishly. “I’m getting into photography myself. I just have a point and shoot camera for now but one day I hope to buy something even half as good as this.”
“You shoot photography as well?” He asked and Wooyoung nodded. “Let me see some of your work.”
He nervously reached into his bag, feeling embarrassed for having brought this up at all. Here he was with the creative team of an entire clothing brand and he was about to show them his amature shots of the waterfront. He handed his camera over and watched as the team huddled around to flick through his pictures. He felt his stomach begin to ball itself into knots.
“Whew,” the director whistled. “I gotta say Wooyoung, you could give some of our photographers a run for their money.”
Wooyoung felt his face begin to burn. “It’s just a little side hobby. Nothing serious.”
“I mean it, you have an eye for this kind of stuff. Your work is really great.”
“Thank you,” Wooyoung nodded shyly, reaching for his camera.
It was quickly snatched from his hands as San pulled it into his lap. He squinted down at the screen inspecting the pictures for himself. He flipped through the shots that Wooyoung had taken today, nodding his approval quietly until he came across the picture of the small stray cat. It was an orange scraggly looking thing and Wooyoung had managed to catch the moment he yawned as he was scratching behind his ear. His face twisted up in the cutest little content stretch.
San rubbed his finger across the screen, much in the same place Wooyoung’s hand was in the picture.
“Cute,” he mumbled before handing it back to Wooyoung.
“Here’s to a great shoot tomorrow!” One of the photographers called, holding a shot glass up in the air. At some point all of their glasses had been refilled again and everyone raised them up.
They cheersed and Wooyoung quickly downed his drink before reaching over and snatching San’s away to do the same. San watched him with a rosy smile on his cheeks. Wooyoung huffed and slid his empty glass back over to him.
“This is just to avoid you puking. Got it?”
San nodded, his dimples growing deeper as he smiled up at him.
Gross.
───ﾟ ⋆ ﾟ ☂︎ ⋆ ﾟﾟ ⋆───
“Get him home safe okay?”
Wooyoung nodded as he pulled a sleepy San up from his seat.
“Sorry, we had no idea he was such a lightweight. We would have stopped offering him drinks but he seemed determined to keep up with us.”
The other members seemed genuinely apologetic. Wooyoung couldn’t blame them. It wasn’t their responsibility to control San’s drinking, it was his job to tell them no. Not to agree to two more shots while Wooyoung was in the bathroom.
Wooyoung looped his arm around San’s waist as the taller man clung to his shoulder.
“Th’nk you for tonight!” He slurred. “Can’ wait fer t’morrow!” San waved them all goodbye with the biggest cheesiest smile as Wooyoung started to drag him away.
He waited until they were a few blocks away before he started scolding San. “I thought I told you you didn’t have to drink anymore. Why didn’t you just say no? Or wait until I was back from the bathroom?”
“‘Cause you were takin a long time. ‘nd I wanned to have fun with em too.”
“Yeah well now I’m having to carry you home which is exactly what I told you I didn’t want to end up doing.”
San huffed, leaning his head on top on Wooyoung’s. “Yer mad at me.” His country accent was heavier tonight. Must slip out when he gets drunk.
“I’m not mad,” Wooyoung said quietly, trying to keep him from getting worked up. The last thing he needed was to be carrying a drunk and crying San home.
“No. Yer mad. I can tell by yer voice. m’sorry Wooyoungie. Didn’ mean t’ ruin yer night.” San sounded so young like this. So soft and vulnerable and Wooyoung almost felt bad for making him feel bad.
“You didn’t ruin my night, San. Honest.” He wasn’t lying. Overall he had had a pretty good time at dinner tonight. The team seemed cool and he really enjoyed their company.
“‘Kay,” San continued to pout. “Just don’ get how you c’n drink s’much. It’s ‘mpressive.”
“I don’t think someone with a normal alcohol tolerance should be considered impressive. You are just an incredibly-light lightweight.”
San shook his head rapidly, his hair rubbing against Wooyoung’s. “No. Yer ‘mpressive. You drink well, ‘nd yer good at ‘tography, ‘nd yer so nice, ‘nd you always do so good on stage, ‘nd-“
“Okay!” Wooyoung cut him off. “We seriously need to get you some water.” His rapid heart rate was back. Must be from carrying a two ton human all the way back to their hotel.
“‘Kay. ‘nything thing ya say, Youngie.”
Wooyoung cheeks burned with the stupid nickname that San in his drunken state chose to give him.
Stupid drunk San.
They reached their hotel a few minutes later and San was holding himself up with both hands clutching tightly to Wooyoung’s shoulders.
“Come on,” Wooyoung huffed. “Just a little bit further.”
He got them up to their floor and after a few minutes of fumbling with the door they were finally inside their hotel room. Wooyoung slipped his shoes off and pulled San to his bed, throwing him down on it and breathing a sigh of relief as the weight finally lifted from his shoulders (literally).
Wooyoung went into the bathroom and filled one of the plastic cups with water, bringing it back to set on San’s nightstand. He slipped San’s shoes off then made his way back up to check that the poor guy was still breathing. San snored softly and Wooyoung pulled the blanket over his sleeping body.
He turned to make his way to his own bed but a hand quickly shot up and grabbed his wrist.
“Where’re you goin’?”
“To my bed. We’re back in the hotel. You’re in your own bed, and you didn’t puke on the way back. Luckily.”
“C’n you stay with me?”
“Stay with you?” Wooyoung looked down at San who had sat up a bit. His eyes were still slightly red and his hair was all ruffled to one side from laying against Wooyoung the whole way back. He looked like a kid who had just woken up. He almost looked cute.
Wooyoung swallowed back that insane thought and sat down on the edge of the bed. San smiled and let himself sink back into the pillows. Still holding tight to Wooyoung’s arm.
“You know my bed is just over there, right?”
“Ya, but I like havin’ you ‘round.”
The pounding chest was back. Stupid, stupid, stupid drunk San.
He just furrowed his eyebrows and watched San as he looked up at him.
“‘Sides, yer cute when you get angry.”
“I am not cute,” Wooyoung huffed, still not pulling his arm away.
“Are too. The lil’ mole on yer lip looks s’cute when yer pouting. Jus’ like yer doin right now.”
San dropped his hand and reached up, almost as if he were going to try and touch his lip before letting his arm fall back to his side.
Wooyoung quickly sucked his bottom lip between his teeth. Biting it hard to drown out the pounding in his ears. This all felt like too much. It was far too intimate and the two of them weren’t even friends.
“Go to sleep, I’ll be right over here,” Wooyoung said softly before standing up and shuffling over to his own bed.
“Night, Youngie.” San mumbled before soft snores once again filled the room.
Wooyoung, for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, willed his breathing and heart rate back to normal. Falling into a restless half sleep as his ears focused on the noises of San sleeping