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Minseok is truly, completely, exhausted. He throws the word around a lot: in the mornings after an especially long solo-queue grind, in the car on the way back from LoL Park, in the elevator up to their streaming floor. But today he is absolutely fucking drained. He tries to keep his face from falling until the camera is off and the steady whirring of his computer fades into silence, but the exhaustion sinks into his bones and bleeds into his muscles, making him feel physically incapable of moving an inch.
"Fuck," he mumbles under his breath as he spins around in his chair, throwing his head back against leather and basking in the comforting cold. The recent schedule feels quite literally impossible, with hours and hours of streaming piled on top of scrims, preparation for the upcoming season, meetings, and filming schedules.
“Why are there only 24 hours in a day?” Minseok laments into the buzz of the lights, squeezing his eyes shut before resolving to finally move from the seat he had been rotting in for the past 7 hours.
At an almost painful pace, the support drags himself up to his feet, staggering as the room sways a little. Gosh. He really needs to get some sleep. Minseok quickly checks his phone and the numbers 4:32 blink back at him, taunting. “Shut up,” he snaps, annoyed at nothing yet everything at the same time.
“Getting mad at your phone now?” An amused voice hums from somewhere above him. Minseok startles. He hadn’t even noticed the door opening.
Minhyung stands there in all his glory, the back of his hair mussed up and his glasses slightly crooked. Minseok knows; the hair meant that he had been napping, and the glasses meant that he had just woken up. He smiles with that look in his eyes, melting the tension out of Minseok’s body that he didn’t even know he had.
“Minhyung,” the support breathes out, “what are you still doing here?” The last time he had checked, the ADC had turned off his stream and logged out of his League client.
“I was waiting for you,” Minhyung explains, “I didn’t know you were going to be streaming for so long, though. I fell asleep.” He shrugs, stepping forward into the room. Instinctually, Minseok reaches up to fix the crooked frame resting on his nose.
Minhyung laughs, catching Minseok’s hand before it could fully fall back down and pressing a kiss to his knuckles as thanks. “Come on, let’s go home. You need some sleep,” he declares.
It almost feels like Minseok’s exhaustion evaporates at Minhyung’s existence. Like his ADC just naturally shares his overflowing energy with him. Like they’re connected, and Minseok constantly steals from that never-ending pool of love that Minhyung holds in his heart. Some days he feels guilty. Who was he to take and take and take from such a generous person?
Today is not one of those days. Today he’s too tired to think about it, and Minseok’s selfish. He wants to drown in that pool, hide in it and let it protect him from the stress of the outside world. So that’s exactly what he does.
Minseok walks towards Minhyung, groaning, “I’m so fucking done. It’s just too much.” Minseok had almost been scared to say anything about his exhaustion thus far, an irrational fear that he would be seen as lazy or unmotivated. But he knows that he can be unfiltered with Minhyung, the air clear of judgment.
Minhyung coaxes him into a hug, resting his chin atop of Minseok’s head. “I’m sorry,” he whispers, “I know it’s been hard. We can go back and you can take a hot shower and we can cuddle afterwards. How does that sound?”
Minseok hums in pleasant agreement, but it's muffled in Minhyung’s hoodie. He faintly observes how nice the warm fabric feels on his face, consciousness already slipping away.
“Hey, don’t fall asleep on me,” Minhyung exclaims, lightly tapping on the back of Minseok’s neck before peeling the support off of him. “We have to make it back to the dorms first.”
“Fine,” Minseok grumpily agrees, reaching behind his ADC to flick off the lights. Minhyung leads them both out of the room, leaving the door to swing shut and heading down the hall towards the elevator. Minseok trails behind, clutching the edge of Minhyung’s hoodie. A part of his brain tells him he’s acting like a child, but the rest of him is too fogged over with exhaustion and Minseok can’t find it in him to care.
By the time the elevator arrives on their floor, Minseok is on the edge of falling asleep yet again. Minhyung has to keep shaking his support awake, mumbling reminders into his ear in hopes that it would keep him awake. Together, they stumble into the elevator, Minhyung giggling while Minseok grumbles vague protests.
Somehow, miraculously, they make it out into the cold Seoul night streets without Minseok falling asleep in Minhyung’s arms. They begin the trek back to their dorm building, breaths coming out in short puffs that float up and mix together to form a singular cloud that fades into the pitch darkness.
“It’s so cold. Warm me up,” Minseok demands, the biting cold of the dawn freezing his fingertips. Without waiting for an answer, he shoves his hands into Minhyung’s hoodie pocket, bursting out into laughter when the other yelps at the sudden cold. The angle’s awkward, and Minseok has to shuffle sideways to intertwine his hands with Minhyung under the fabric. It’s worth it, though.
“Gosh, what would you do without me?” Minhyung teases, rubbing his thumbs against the back of Minseok’s hand. It feels intimate, a secret just for the two of them. “You’d freeze your fingers off without me here to warm them up,” he says, dramatically leaning down towards his support to emphasize his point.
“Oh dear, I would never be able to play League again,” Minseok replies, equally dramatic. At this, Minhyung laughs, eyes scrunching up into crescents. Minseok’s heart fills with so much warmth at the sight, his partner’s face dimly lit by the streetlamps. He can’t help but stretch up, placing a small peck on Minhyung’s lips.
Minhyung returns the favor, chasing the support’s lips with his own. “You’re so pretty,” he says almost reverently. Realistically, Minseok knows he probably looks like shit, with eyebags from the minimal sleep and a breakout forming on his chin. But Minhyung says it with so much weight that he finds himself believing the words.
“All mine,” Minhyung proclaims. It’s almost a wish, the way his gaze doesn’t break away from his support’s. It feels desperate; Minseok can’t seem to grasp why.
“All yours,” Minseok naturally agrees, squeezing Minhyung’s hands out of affection and relishing how he immediately squeezes back.
The rest of the short walk is spent in comfortable silence. They walk in the frigid air together, their steps falling in sync against the familiar path. Minseok’s right hand is still in Minhyung’s hoodie pocket, tangled between the other’s fingers. His left hand hangs to the side, swinging along to the rhythm of their strides.
“Finally,” Minseok says in relief, “I’m really looking forward to that damn shower.” Minhyung just giggles and gently leads them into the building. But by the time they reach the hallway of their dorm, Minseok’s exhaustion takes control again and Minhyung has to open his door for him.
“You said you were looking forward to this,” Minhyung quietly urges, not wanting to wake up Wooje in the neighboring room. Minseok conjures up a response, but it’s lost in his struggle to form words, coming out as an incoherent murmur. Fondly exasperated, Minhyung simply pushes his support towards the bathroom door and flicks the light on. The bright fluorescent lights are a stark contrast to the muted dimness they had just been walking in, and Minseok groans lightly in protest.
Minhyung guides Minseok to sit on the toilet and turns to get him his pajamas, but is stopped by a hand on his wrist. The grip is surprisingly strong, considering how sleepy Minseok is. “Mmm… with me,” the shorter half-demands, half-questions. He slides the hand looped around Minhyung’s wrist down to his hand, interlocking their fingers in an attempt to keep him in place.
“Not today,” Minhyung replies, gently freeing his hand and bringing it up to rest on Minseok’s head.
Minseok whines, “But I’m so tired… and the hot water is going to make me sleepier.” Minhyung shakes his head, much to the other’s disappointment. Truth is, Minhyung’s half sure it’ll escalate into something more if he joins his support and he didn’t really want to tire either of them out this late into the night.
“I’ll bring your clothes,” Minhyung offers as a compromise, “t-shirt and flannel pants, right?” Minseok reluctantly nods, his bottom lip jutting out. His ADC just laughs before tapping it with his index finger. “Stop pouting, you’re not convincing me.”
“Whatever,” Minseok huffs out in a show of disapproval, “just bring my stuff.” Minhyung does exactly that, stepping out to rummage through the drawers to find a shirt and Minseok’s favorite pair of gray flannel pajamas.
When he cracks the bathroom door open, the water is already running and Minseok’s humming some new K-pop song that was just released. Minhyung places the clothes on the side of the sink and decides to lay down while waiting for Minseok to finish showering. He closes his eyes, content to finally let his own exhaustion creep over him.
The schedule is getting to him too, as preparing to go back to season has proved difficult. The pressure was huge; the title of world champions felt so liberating yet heavy. On one hand, he had proved himself to the world on the highest stage possible, but he now holds the obligation to live up to the name carved onto the trophy.
With various thoughts swirling in his head, the steady humming from the bathroom lulls him to sleep, sprawled on Minseok’s bed with his legs hanging off the side. Minhyung vaguely registers that the water in the bathroom had trickled to a stop, but he’s already too deep in sleep.
The next thing he feels is a shock of cold on his cheek, forcing his eyes open to a frankly adorable sight. Minseok is squeezing the tip of his bangs to drip water onto his ADC’s face, laughing when Minhyung discontentedly swipes it away. “It’s too cold,” he complains, “get away, you gremlin.”
Minseok just laughs harder, sitting back and retrieving the towel he had thrown onto the bed. He raises it to continue drying his hair, but Minhyung stops him.
“Nuh-uh,” he snatches the towel out of Minseok’s hands and pats the space next to him. “What use am I if I won’t even dry your hair?”
The support playfully rolls his eyes, “I guess.” Despite the reaction, a wide smile adorns his face as he shuffles closer to Minhyung. They sit together on the edge of the bed, Minseok pressed up against the other as he dries his hair.
His touch is gentle and Minseok subconsciously leans against the warmth that Minhyung’s body radiates, seeking the comfort it gifted him. It’s almost painfully domestic, the only light from the bathroom that Minseok had forgotten to turn off. There aren’t any words exchanged, but they can feel each other’s happiness in a way they had always been able to.
When Minhyung is done, he stands up to toss the towel into the laundry bin, leaving Minseok to dramatically spread himself over his covers. “Hurry up,” he demands, already impatient from the five seconds they had been apart.
“Yessir,” Minhyung chuckles, quickly turning off the bathroom light and plunging them into darkness. It only lasts for a second though, as he turns on the lamp on the nightstand before carefully placing his glasses to the side.
Ever so obedient to his support’s words, Minhyung joins him on the bed, yanking the blankets back to tuck them both in. When they’re comfortably situated, Minseok naturally slots into Minhyung’s arms. It’s where he feels the safest: anything threatening him would have to get through his door, then his blankets, then Minhyung. He supposes he doesn’t particularly trust in the first two layers, but he knows that nothing could get through Minhyung. Not here, not now.
“What are you thinking about?” Minhyung asks, voice low as if scared to break the moment. Minseok scoots himself up so that they’re nose-to-nose.
“Just about how nothing could get through you,” Minseok honestly responds, not giving his ADC a chance to formulate a reply as he leans in to kiss him. Minhyung’s hand flies up to cup his head, tangling itself in the semi-damp hair.
The kiss is slow, just like how the night has been. It feels like they have all the time in the world. They don’t, but they kiss like they do: Minhyung’s fingers carding through Minseok’s hair, Minseok’s arm slung over Minhyung’s body. The bot duo always have that effect on each other, slowing the other down when needed and accelerating themselves to unbelievable heights in competition.
Tonight, there’s a need for stability. Minseok’s slow to swipe his tongue across Minhyung’s bottom lip, and it feels all too natural. Minhyung tilts his head to grant himself a better angle before licking into his support’s mouth. The whole thing is achingly affectionate, tinged with a sense of longing despite the fact that they both have all they want. Perhaps it's a longing for the future, but Minseok can’t seem to think past that because Minhyung curls a strand of hair around his index finger and slightly tugs.
All of Minseok’s attention rushes to that one action, and he instinctively tilts his head back and lets Minhyung break off the kiss. But he’s busy again soon enough, placing little pecks down his neck before carefully sucking on Minseok’s left collarbone. The support sharply breathes out at the sensation, enjoying how Minhyung’s lips stretch against his skin in what he knows is a grin.
“Come here,” Minseok whines lowly, and he almost has half the mind to be embarrassed at how he sounds before Minhyung’s hands slide under his shirt and everything disappears but him. Minhyung is careful in handling his partner, laying him down and slowly rubbing circles of his skin above his waistband with his thumbs.
When the ADC leans down to kiss Minseok again, it's at a faster pace than the last one. He gives a little pressure behind it, squeezing the shorter’s hips and causing his breath to hitch against Minhyung’s lips. The need for air breaks them apart and Minhyung rests his forehead against Minseok’s as they pant into the silence of the bedroom. Almost as if in habit, Minhyung slides a finger under the waistband of Minseok’s flannel, eliciting a murmured curse from him.
“Wait,” the support stops him, still out of breath, “I’m kinda tired today.” Despite the heat that had been overtaking him, Minseok feels his eyelids practically fighting to stay open and they have scrims the next day.
“Oh baby, of course,” Minhyung instantly retracts his hand and goes back to lay down next to his lover, pulling him close into a hug instead. “Sorry, I got a little too into it. You need to be sleeping right now.”
“No, it’s okay,” Minseok giggles, “don’t apologize.” He tries to continue his words, but is instead met with a finger on his lips and exaggerated shushing.
“Shhhhh, close your eyes,” Minhyung says, unable to keep the amusement out of his tone. “We both need our beauty sleep.” With his other hand, he reaches up to jokingly cover Minseok’s eyes, holding back his laughter.
Obediently, Minseok lays there, still and quiet, but is unable to keep his giggles back and they burst out of his mouth in a breathless rush, bordering on a little too loud for this deep into the night. “Stop it, you’re making me laugh,” he protests, opting to take the hand on his face into his own.
“Okay, okay,” Minhyung brings their intertwined hands under the warm covers, laying on his back and reaching over with his other arm to turn off the lamp. They’re plunged into darkness, and with it, a peaceful silence.
A few minutes flow by like this, and the only sounds in the room are their mingled breathing and Minseok occasionally shifting under the covers. Until a whisper cracks through. “Minhyung? What if we don’t live up to it?”
It. There’s no need to name what it is, they both know.
“We will,” Minhyung murmurs back. It’s quiet, but it’s void of any doubt and filled to the brim with confidence. “We have to believe it.”
“I’m scared,” Minseok confesses into the night, voice breaking at the last syllable. “I’m scared everything will go to shit and MSI will be a failure and summer will be like last year and,” he takes a shaky breath, “and the year will end with another disappointment and our team won’t be ours anymore and Wooje and Hyunjoonie and you’ll leave.”
The last two words are spluttered in a rush, like he didn’t actually want the other to hear it. But Minhyung catches it all too well, instantly tensing up at the idea. Minseok feels it because they’re still hand in hand under the covers, and his ADC stiffins almost comically at the end of his rant.
There’s a long pause after Minseok speaks, and as it stretches on, fear begins to trickle through his blood. Did he go too far? Unable to stand the uncertainty that seems to linger in the air, he opens his mouth. “Maybe I shouldn’t ha-”
“I love you.”
Minseok’s stunned into silence.
“I love you, you know,” Minhyung simply states. He says it like it’s common knowledge, like he’s telling the time or discussing their next play in game. “Probably more than you know,” he continues, “I honestly can’t really grasp how much.”
Minseok tries to find the words to say something, anything, but Minhyung beats him to it.
“So you shouldn’t worry about me leaving you. Something tells me I should be more worried about you leaving me, you legendary genius monster,” he muses, half-joking.
Minseok finally finds his voice at this point. “I’m never fucking playing on a team without you,” he declares, “if I sit in that seat at LoL Park and you’re not next to me… I can’t even imagine it anymore.”
Minhyung huffs out a light laugh, “All of us think that, Wooje and me and Hyunjoonie and Sanghyeokie hyung. So don’t run off with silly thoughts when we have the Golden Road ahead of us.”
“Golden Road…” Minseok thinks about that indescribable feeling in his chest when he lifted that trophy above that head in November. He thinks about that, four times a year, with his team right there next to him.
“Yeah,” he decides. “This is our year.”
“There we go.” Minhyung’s voice is full of adoration.
His tone pierces through Minseok’s skin, warming him in a way the blanket on top of them never could. “I love you too, you know,” he tells Minhyung, trying to convey the mix of overwhelming affection swirling in his mind into 6 simple words.
“I know,” Minhyung hums back, sounds slurred with sleep, “I’m never letting us go.” Not you, but us. The support smiles at the idea of them as a whole: after all, they’re the world’s best bot duo.
“Me too,” Minseok murmurs quietly. He doesn’t know if Minhyung hears him, but he knows that his partner knows.
Satisfied, Minseok lets himself fall asleep in Minhyung’s arms just as the sun peeks over the horizon. The Seoul sun’s rays bleed through the drawn curtains, painting the two in a golden glow, as if trying to reassure them of their future.