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Gotak doesn't know why he agreed to this, he really doesn't. Okay, that's a lie. He knows exactly why he agreed. Because Seongje asked, and he's always been a little bit (a lot) weak when it comes to that demon.
It's their first New Year's Eve as boyfriends, and Gotak really doesn't know what to expect. Things with Seongje have been good. So good, in fact that it scares him. If situationship Seongje was a nightmare, boyfriend Seongje is a dream come true. In fact, it almost seems like a fantasy. Like Gotak has entered into an alternate universe where Seongje is suddenly doing all the things Gotak always wanted him to do. And it's great, it is. But it's also a bit unnerving.
Because this is Seongje. The guy who never believed in love. The one who swore up and down that love is a weakness, insisting that love is not for him. When someone spends their entire life believing one thing, holding onto it like a vow, a lifeline, a driving force, can they really just let it go? Is it really that simple? Can Seongje really choose this, them, him, for good?
Or will the fear creep back in somewhere down the line? Will something happen, something too serious or real for him to handle? And when it does, will he run away again? Gotak fell in love with a flight risk. He knows that, he's always known. How can you ever fully bet on someone like that? He's not sure, but Seongje is worth the risk. He's always been worth the risk.
He's also always been a little too good at persuading Gotak to do what he wants. Which is how he'd ended up at the bar Seongje and his union guys frequent on New Year's Eve, sitting right on Seongje's lap as he sits at the bar, in plain view of everyone.
Now that they're boyfriends, Seongje likes to show him off. Everywhere they go he has his hands on Gotak in some way, laying claim to him, letting everyone around them know Gotak is his. It's his way of saying "back off, he's mine." And Gotak knows it. He should probably hate it, but he doesn't. Not even a little bit.
He's always liked how possessive Seongje is. Even when they had no label, when they were supposed to be casual, he had always insisted Gotak was his. Marking him up with his lips and tongue, leaving love bites for everyone to see. For Baku to see. Especially Baku. And now that they're official, that hasn't changed. If anything, the label has made Seongje more possessive. It's like he needs the entire world to know that Gotak is his boyfriend.
So, is it really any surprise that Gotak ends up in Seongje's lap as he sits on a bar stool, throwing back whiskey and enjoying the last hours of 2025? At first, he'd refused. Of course he had. But then Seongje coaxed him in the way only he knew how. First with alcohol, then with filthy words.
It started out with Gotak standing with his back against the bar top, in between Seongje's legs. It didn't take long for Seongje's hands to find Gotak's hips, sliding underneath the hem of his shirt, thumbs rubbing circles into his skin in a way that was far from innocent. He knew exactly what he was doing, they both did. And Gotak let him. Then he began leaning in close, whispering in his ear.
"You look so good, princess. And you're mine, all mine. Everyone in here is staring at you, but they can't have you, can they?" Gotak had just stared at him, cheeks flushing against his will. "Can they?" Seongje demanded, reaching up to hold Gotak's chin between his thumb and forefinger, just forceful enough to elicit a quiet gasp. Gotak shook his head. "That's right. Because who's princess are you?"
Gotak bit down on his bottom lip, glancing around to make sure no one was watching them, before leaning in to whisper in Seongje's ear. "Yours. I'm all yours, you psycho."
Seongje's eyes flashed with satisfaction. "Good boy."
"Fuck off," Gotak shot back, no actual venom behind his words. And when Seongje tugged him onto his lap, he went easily. He hooked both thighs over Seongje so he was straddling him, ignoring Hyoman's eyes burning a hole into the back of his head from where he stood behind the bar. And that's where he stayed.
It's been over an hour now, Gotak in Seongje's lap, Seongje's fingertips tracing shapes over Gotak's thighs, his lips occasionally finding his boyfriend's neck. Entirely wrapped up in one another. In a crowded bar full of people, but all they can see is each other.
"Hey," Seongje says suddenly, ripping Gotak from his thoughts, which had started wandering to all the things Seongje would inevitably do to him once he got him home. "I have an idea. Let's say our resolutions."
Gotak just stares at him. "Our resolutions." he repeats, voice dry, expression disbelieving. "You're the type to make New Year's resolutions now?" he asks, brows quirking in amusement. "What's yours? Give up smoking?" He smirks. "Lying is a sin, demon."
Seongje grins, shaking his head as he takes a drag from a cigarette Gotak hadn't even realized he'd lit, blowing the smoke out in perfect rings as he tilts his head back, showing off. "When I look this sexy doing it? Never."
Gotak rolls his eyes, but they track the line of Seongje's throat as he stares up at the ceiling. He does look sexy smoking, Gotak can't even deny it. It would be a crime against humanity if someone who looked that good sinning gave up their vice.
"Alright then. What's your resolution? I'm dying to know." His voice is dripping in sarcasm, because really? Resolutions? Seongje is definitely not the type. He has to be fucking with him. Surely he's about to say something stupid like "my 2026 resolution is to bend you over the kitchen table every single night." Which, Gotak actually wouldn't complain about. That sounds like a perfectly reasonable resolution to him.
When Seongje turns his gaze back to Gotak, he's caught off-guard by the sincerity in his boyfriend's expression. His eyes have softened in the way they only ever do when he looks at him. When Seongje gazes at anyone else, he glares. His eyes hold a thousand judgments, narrowed slightly in observation, guarded so you can't ever tell what he's really thinking. But staring into Seongje's eyes now, all Gotak sees is an openness that still takes his breath away. Seongje has been looking at him like that for weeks now, months even. But it still shocks him to his core. Because he never thought he'd look into Seongje's eyes and be able to see how much he loves him. But it's there, in every glance, a multitude of emotions in those eyes, a love that Gotak can feel in his gaze. When Seongje stares into his eyes, it's like he's seeing into his soul, like he's saying "I'm yours. For real now. I promise" every single time their eyes meet.
It's what his eyes are saying now, but even still, Gotak is surprised by the words that leave his boyfriend's lips. "I was actually thinking something like in 2026 I'll spend every single day making it up to you."
Gotak just stares at him. "Making what up to me?" Seongje blows out a breath, but he doesn't drop his gaze. "Running away."
"You've already made up for that," Gotak says quietly, furrowing his brow.
"You've seen nothing yet, princess. I have a lot more tricks up my sleeve. I'm a romantic now. Get ready. It's gonna be romantic gesture city all 2026." He smirks, laughter in his eyes now as he looks at Gotak. "How do you feel about tattoos?"
"Why? You going to get my face tattooed on your forehead?"
Seongje shakes his head. "Obviously not. That would be stupid. Why ruin a face crafted by the gods?"
Before Gotak can even counter that with a snide remark, Seongje continues. "But was thinking of maybe getting a G." He says it casually, like it's no big deal. Like he didn't just suggest getting Gotak's initial permanently inked into his skin.
Gotak just stares at him. He has to be joking. This is obviously a joke. There's no way Mr. Fear of Commitment himself would get a tattoo for his boyfriend. So Gotak just shakes his head, wrapping his arms around Seongje's neck, his fingertips playing with the ends of his hair. "Sure. Get a G. Then everyone will know you're mine. Can't run away if you're branded," he teases, the smirk now on his lips instead.
Seongje grins. "You think I'm joking." It's not a question. He knows Gotak well enough by now. He can read every emotion written on his face, every shift in his expression, the meaning behind the stare.
"Of course you're joking. You're not gonna actually get a G tattoo. Are you insane?" his smirk widens. "Wait. Don't answer that. Of course you're insane."
"Yeah. And you love it. Wouldn't have it any other way, would you Princess?" He leans in then, capturing Gotak's lips in a kiss that's much too heated for their present setting. But as soon as Seongje's tongue licks at his bottom lip, Gotak forgets where they are completely. His lips part, fingers tangling in Seongje's hair, shifting in his lap so there's no space between them at all. Seongje kisses him like he's starving, always has. It's what Gotak loves most about being with him. Because when Seongje kisses him, Gotak knows that he's wanted. Needed. Seongje kisses him like he's consuming him. Like he wants to slip beneath his skin and make a home there. Like it will never be enough. Every touch feels like he's trying to memorize him, every drag of his lips against Gotak's skin feels like he's laying claim. He kisses him like he owns him. And when Gotak kisses him back he's saying he'll never belong to anyone else. Only Seongje. He's only ever Seongje's.
After a few moments — or maybe twenty minutes, he can never be sure when he's kissing Seongje — he hears someone behind them clear their throat loudly. He pulls away quickly, hiding his face in his boyfriend's shoulder, cheeks red from something far more visceral than the whiskey. He doesn't have to lift his head to know Seongje's flipping Hyoman off.
"Fuck off. You never seen people kiss before?" Gotak smirks against Seongje's skin as he hears Hyoman grumble back "that was a lot more than kissing. the entire bar was watching you two suck each other's faces off."
"Good. Let them all watch. Probably the most action any of these losers will get all year."
Gotak lifts his head at that, glancing around. "Wait. Shit. Is it already midnight? Did we miss it?" Seongje glances at the tv behind the bar, the countdown and ball drop special is still on. "Nah. We still have ten minutes. So it's your turn."
"My turn for what?" Gotak narrows his eyes. "I'm not getting a tattoo. That was a joke. And neither are you."
Seongje pouts at that, actually pouts, his lip jutting out exaggeratedly as he stares at his boyfriend. "But how hot would a couples tattoo be? Maybe I should get an H, though."
"You don't even call me Hyuntak."
"Well yeah. But Baku's dumb ass is the one who gave you the nickname Gotak. Getting a G would feel like getting a piece of fucking Park Humin tattooed on me." His eyes light up then, and Gotak shoots him a warning glare. He knows that look in Seongje's eyes all too well.
"No. Whatever unhinged idea just popped into your head, the answer is no."
Seongje waves a dismissive hand in the air, as if the word no actually means continue. "I'll get a crown tattooed on me! On my middle finger. How fucking sick would that look?" He holds up his middle finger, as if to demonstrate how much better it would look with a little crown etched into the skin.
"Why the hell would you get a crown?"
It's apparently the wrong question, because Seongje looks like he's just won a prize. "Because you're my princess." He says it like it's so obvious, like it makes all the sense in the world. Gotak looks at him like he's questioning every life choice that led him to this moment.
"You're not getting a fucking crown tattooed on you to symbolize me." He can't help the way his lips quirk up at the corners when he sees the pout return to Seongje's lips. "And it would be a tiara anyways, wouldn't it? Princesses wear tiaras."
He can see the way his boyfriend is actually contemplating this, mulling it over as if it's a serious matter. "I guess. But a crown would look way cooler. A crown on my middle finger? Then when people ask if I'm single, I can be like. No bitch. I'm taken. See the crown? And hold up my middle finger." He demonstrates, waving his middle finger in Gotak's face. "That's for my princess. He's possessive."
"You're absolutely insane," is all Gotak says in reply. "Insane for you," Seongje counters, and well, Gotak can't help but kiss him for that.
"I'm serious," Seongje mumbles against his lips. "I want to get a tattoo. For you."
Gotak pulls away before resting his forehead against Seongje's, his eyes slipping closed. Seongje isn't drunk, he has a much higher tolerance than most people Gotak has met, but he is probably pretty tipsy. He should definitely chalk this up to tipsy ramblings. He shouldn't take it seriously. But he can't help the way his stomach flips when Seongje says he wants to get a tattoo for him. For Gotak. A symbol. That he's his. That this is real. That it means something. That he's staying.
As if he can read Gotak's mind, Seongje pulls back just far enough to look into his eyes. "I want to change my resolution. Well, add onto it I guess."
Gotak can't help but smile. "Oh yeah? Okay. What is it now?"
"In 2026 I'll prove to you that I won't leave. I'll stay. Not just this year." He doesn't say forever, that's not a word Gotak's sure is in Geum Seongje's vocabulary. But it's implied. It's definitely implied.
And Gotak, well? He's a goner. He doesn't say anything, because no words could ever capture how he feels in that moment. But as the bar fills will screams of 10, 9, 8, 7….Gotak cups Seongje's face in his hands and presses their lips together. And as the clock hits midnight, as they enter a new year, Gotak and Seongje make a promise to each other and seal it with a kiss.
And the next day, on the first day of the new year, Seongje goes to a tattoo parlor, in the middle of the day, completely sober. He comes back two hours later with a crown tattooed on his middle finger. His own kind of promise. A different kind of new year's resolution. Forever, in their own way.