Ship/Member: Seungcheol/Jihoon, Wonwoo/Seungcheol
Major Tags: N/A
Additional Tags: Break-ups, Ambiguous relationships, Drunk dumb boys
Permission to remix: Please ask

***

Seungcheol didn't answer his phone anymore after the texts 3 hours ago that went,

FUCK HE BROKE UP WITH ME FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!

wonwoo his clothes are gone

he left his key

hes gone

So it was left to Wonwoo to figure out where Seungcheol was and whether or not he was still alive. Is that dramatic? But Seungcheol was not immune to such grandeur. Last time, when his nomination to be promoted as General Manager went down the drain, he'd gone radio silent for a whole two months. And then earlier this year when Jihoon had said no to Seungcheol's idea to move back to Daegu, somehow confirming to him this nagging and vague suspicion he had that Jihoon was not serious and was avoiding any long-term form of commitment with him, he'd threatened him: I SAID I WILL SHAVE MY HEAD! To which Jihoon just replied, Go ahead. Which, lo and behold, Seungcheol went ahead and did it.

He showed up February with a bald head.

Five months later and his hair had grown, but it's all the same.

Wonwoo got off the cab somewhere in Myeongdong and walked into one of the bars lining up the street. No Seungcheol there.

The next one, surprisingly, he wasn't there either.

Myeongdong was where he and Seungcheol went to drown their sorrows. When Wonwoo lost the role and he was already at his second callback, the farthest he'd gone for any audition ever. When he had to accept work at an advertising start-up instead, swallowing his pride and the fucking bitter pill that acting was nothing but a pipe dream. He just was not cut out for it. When Seungcheol wasn't promoted. When just some months later, management changed and Seungcheol was, although they refused to say was demoted, shuffled to a smaller team under an industry outside of the company's 2021 Big Bets instead. When Jihoon arrived in Seungcheol's life. Many, many nights since. Many sorrows since.

When he got to the third bar, the one they went to most recently, the guy at the bar instantly waved at Wonwoo.

"He's here?"

Mingyu nodded, fast and with relief. He pointed a thumb towards the dark hall leading to their restroom.

"Been in there for," he glanced at his wristwatch, "twenty, thirty minutes since?"

Wonwoo sheepishly apologized.

"S'okay. It's a slow night, anyway. Earlier, when one other male customer needed to pee, I just let them use the shared urinal in the staff room," Mingyu explained.

Once again, Wonwoo apologized and then headed to the restroom. He slowly pushed the door open and there he was. On the floor, his head leaning against the cabinet under the sink.

Seungcheol stared up at Wonwoo. His face is streaked with tears. Big, sad, child-like eyes. Like a small bird with a terrible hunger.

"Get up," Wonwoo said, looking away. Looking at his reflection in the mirror instead. He brushed his sidebangs neatly, fixed his glasses, as he softly kicked at Seungcheol's leg with his boots.

"Get up, I said," he repeated.

Seungcheol just made a wounded sound. And then in a hoarse voice said: "I want to d– nope... I'm going to die. How can he just– ? Just like that?"

Wonwoo huffed and squatted patiently in front of Seungcheol.

"You're most definitely not going to die. Look," he flicked at his forehead lightly. "You're alive."

Seungcheol just shook his head. His eyebrows furrowed as he sniffed.

"No, I don't want to be. No, this time. It's, fuck it's real. He just. He's just gone."

"Seungcheol, I keep te–"

"Jeon Wonwoo, am I hard to love?" Seungcheol asked, cutting into Wonwoo's scolding.

This was ancient history, but before all the sorrow, before all the injustice in the world, Wonwoo was brave enough to kiss him. To ask him to bring him home. In Seungcheol's one-bedroom, Wonwoo slipped out of his dress shirt, unzipped his perfect slacks. In the half-light, while Wonwoo took his time, Seungcheol turned around and retreated into his small pocket of a terrace. When Wonwoo called for him, Seungcheol soundlessly stepped back into his room and Wonwoo startled, swayed on his feet. Put his hand on his heart.

Jesus, you scared me.

"Will you please," Wonwoo breathed, the sharp sting of leftover pee and the cheap reed diffuser over the sink, the smell of a drunk Choi Seungcheol, hitting him all at once. Why was Jihoon so fucking heartless? "Get over it. You’re always– it's always. Like this. Get up, come on. Come here."

He hauled Seungcheol up until they were almost embracing each other.

"I am, aren't I?" Seungcheol slurred, insistent. His face was so close to Wonwoo's that it should be disgusting how hot his breath was against Wonwoo's cheeks, but it was just... it's Seungcheol.

It were comfort forever: just to look at Seungcheol, while he looked at Wonwoo and it’s just the two of them.

"You know my answer to that." Wonwoo leaned away as Seungcheol steadied on his feet. And then he added, just to be sure: "You know you are. You're the hardest."

Seungcheol rolled his eyes but he smiled. Pleased.

On the cab on the way back to his building, Seungcheol made the driver pull over so he could throw up on the side of the highway. Afterwards, he leaned into Wonwoo's right arm, tucking his warm and wet mouth into Wonwoo's neck.

When they arrived, Wonwoo whispered for the driver to wait as Seungcheol stumbled off.

He tugged at Wonwoo's hand, and for a moment, he thought Seungcheol would ask him to go up with him, to accompany him for the night, and already, Wonwoo had balled in his other fist in his coat pocket the cash he'd use to pay for their ride. He would walk inside with Seungcheol, ride the elevator up to the 12th floor, help him find his way to his door and fall into bed with him. Tucked together. The night, warm and silvery.

"Will you," Seungcheol hiccuped, then giggled. "Sorry, will you spot for me for the ride? I'm not sure where my wallet is."

Wonwoo pulled the cab door open again behind him and stepped back. He nodded and pulled out of his pockets both his hands to wave Seungcheol goodbye.

Back inside the cab, he gave the driver his address. He cackled and said, "That's a long way from here!" Sure, that's funny, isn't it? Wonwoo laughed with the driver as his phone vibrated. It's Jihoon.

hey did you find him? he ok?