Work Text:
1.
The studio is cold. The studios are always so cold and Jeonghan is also cold and it never really goes very well together because when they put him in layers they’re not enough. The sweaters and shirts they put them in feel like tissue paper and Jeonghan sits down in the folding chair, trying to suppress his shivers. He’s absolutely freezing and his hands are balled into fists around the fabric of his too-long-yet-too-thin sleeves. He’s hoping someone who’s warm sits next to him, like Seokmin or Seungcheol, because they will definitely let him borrow their body heat. They know he’s cold all the time and they both have a tendency of running hot.
Neither of them do, though. Mingyu sits next to him, Jeonghan sitting at the end of the top row of the members and Jeonghan resists groaning out loud.
Mingyu runs hot. This is a fact. He’s always so hot, he wanders around the dorms without his shirt on a lot of the time and whines when Jeonghan turns up the heat above 20 degrees, even in the dead of winter. He would make the perfect personal heater but Mingyu’s just not usually one of the people Jeonghan uses to stay warm.
Seokmin will let him curl all the way around him and let him rest his head on his shoulder and Seungcheol will wrap an arm around his waist to pull him into his side. They’re great for staying warm because they don’t mind that Jeonghan can be clingy. They don’t mind that he’s always cold and has freezing cold fingers and he likes resting his head on their shoulders. He doesn’t do that with Mingyu because… he just doesn’t and he doesn’t actually know how well it’ll go over if he did.
So he braces himself to be cold until this interview is over, curled into himself even though he’s absolutely freezing. With all the lights on you would think it would be warm but he’s forced to settle back in his chair and clench his teeth lest they start chattering while he’s trying to answer a question Jihoon is directing to the group.
It’s one of those ‘pull a question from a box’ interviews, where they’ve answered all of these questions at least ten times over the course of their careers but they answer them all again and there’s always something new to laugh about. There’s always a new story to connect to one of these questions and Jeonghan smiles small and content when everyone starts trying to talk over each other as 13 boys are all wont to do.
It’s when Mingyu rests a hand on his thigh that he jumps, a shiver causing goosebumps to erupt all over his body. God, even Mingyu’s hands are warm and the head of his palm permeates through the thin denim of his jeans as he uses Jeonghan’s leg as leverage to lean forward but not fall over the backs of the seats in front of them. He’s talking to Wonwoo, all the way across from them on the bottom row and Jeonghan presses his lips together, hopeful his expression just looks like he’s listening intently as Mingyu presses his big, warm hand down on Jeonghan’s cold leg.
When he moves backwards to sit back in his seat his hand remains on Jeonghan’s leg and Jeonghan shifts slightly closer to Mingyu. He really does just radiate heat, Jeonghan discovers, leaning towards his younger member and basking in the warmth of his body heat. Mingyu doesn’t seem to notice, or if he does he doesn’t mind, so Jeonghan pushes his luck, tired of feeling like an ice cube.
Mingyu is bigger than him, bigger than all of them, which means his shoulder is the perfect height for Jeonghan’s head and Jeonghan takes the chance to borrow it, resting his cheek against the side of it. His body leans in towards the warmth of Mingyu and Mingyu goes still for a moment before relaxing, this thumb brushing gently along the outside of Jeonghan’s thigh. Mingyu is so unbelievably warm and Jeonghan is so glad he did this when he can press in closer, hooking his chin over Mingyu’s shoulder, listening to Joshua talk about something from a previous stage performance.
“Are you cold?” Mingyu asks, voice barely above a whisper. It’s not loud enough that a mic will pick it up, they’re passing around a couple of mic packs as it is to answer questions, and he only turns his head minutely. Jeonghan nods but doesn’t verbally answer. Mingyu hums, shifting backward to offer more of his body heat and Jeonghan all but plasters himself to his side, turning his head to rest his cheek on Mingyu’s shoulder, arm slipping between Mingyu’s arm and body so he can curl his fingers around the crook of Mingyu’s elbow. He’s actually pretty comfortable, Jeonghan considers, settling in.
2.
“If you even think about turning down the heat I will come over there and take out your knees, Kim Mingyu,” Jeonghan threatens from the other side of the room and Mingyu sags against the wall. Chan snorts where he’s sitting on the couch, Jeonghan still wrapped up in two blankets despite the fact he’s turned the heat up to a sweltering 25. It’s not so bad in the dorm and for those that run hot they’ve all retreated to their bedrooms where they can strip down and be relatively comfortable. This isn’t quite enough for Mingyu, however.
A cold blast rocked Seoul only a few days prior and it’s been especially difficult for Jeonghan to deal with, absolutely freezing at all hours. The way he’s perpetually cold, from the inside, gave him the inner group nickname Ice Fairy, courtesy of one Boo Seungkwan. A nickname that none of them have managed to say to his face quite yet but it’s only a matter of time before someone’s loose tongue manages to inform him of it. Regardless, he’s been keeping the entire dorm hostage, turning the heat up as high as the managers will allow until the temperature rises again.
Mingyu’s been having an especially hard time with it.
“I’m sweating, hyung,” Mingyu whines but Jeonghan doesn’t dignify him with a response, instead curling deeper into his blanket cocoon with his phone held close. “Hyung, it’s so hot. Can I please turn it down a couple of degrees?”
“No,” Jeonghan replies, voice empty but certain. Mingyu groans so loudly Jeonghan actually lifts his eyes from his phone to survey his dramatics. They are, honestly, the worst drama queens in the entirety of the group and they both know it. He’s on the floor, so low that Jeonghan can only barely make him out around the edge of the couch where Chan’s feet are dangling over the armrest. He might actually be lying on the floor, Jeonghan can only make out his feet but he’s feeling victorious regardless.
Jeonghan knows immediately when someone changes the temperature the next morning because his teeth are chattering while he’s lying in bed. He’s curled himself into a ball in the middle of his mattress even though he has three covers on his bed and when he forces himself to his feet he nearly hisses like a deranged cat at how god awful cold the hardwood flooring is in his bedroom.
He knows immediately who’s responsible when he finds Mingyu in the living room, reading a book and wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants like he wasn’t shirtless most of yesterday and complaining about heat stroke. Jeonghan’s still in his thick sweatpants and sweater when he tromps into the living room, wearing one of his throw blankets like a cape and doesn’t even ask when he climbs into Mingyu’s lap.
“Hyung!” Mingyu shouts, Seokmin bursts into laughter where he’s sitting on the couch, Seungcheol’s head whipping up from his laptop when he hears the ruckus. Jeonghan pays them no mind as he gets comfortable in Mingyu’s lap, using his dongsaeng’s thighs as a seat, which earns him additional groans about how his ass is too bony. Mingyu, it turns out, makes an excellent chair and Jeonghan settles in, using Mingyu’s chest as a backrest and getting his fluffy blanket in Mingyu’s mouth in the process.
“Are you comfortable?” Seungcheol asks as Jeonghan finally stops wiggling around. Mingyu has given up on complaining and looks just plain put upon, arms limp at his sides and book hanging from his fingers. Jeonghan feels entirely pleased with himself as he settles down, blanket wrapped tightly around himself as he uses Mingyu as both a chair and his own personal heater.
“Yes. Thank you for asking,” he replies, snuggling back into Mingyu’s chest, phone open in front of him. Seokmin and Seungcheol share a look while Mingyu huffs.
Jeonghan half expects him to dump him on the floor but Mingyu is a good boy so he merely wraps an arm around Jeonghan’s middle to keep him in place and hooks his chin over his shoulder, lifting his book again to read around him. Mingyu is immensely warm and surprisingly cozy in terms of being a chair and Jeonghan contents himself on not moving for at least the rest of the morning.
3.
“What?” Seungkwan asks as soon as he opens the door and Mingyu flinches from the volume alone. “Oh, it’s you,” he replies, voice falling to a normal volume. “Hansol’s been over like five times today to ask me for something. What’s up?”
“Is Jeonghan hyung in? We were supposed to go to the studio together,” Mingyu explains and the smile on Seungkwan’s face is nothing short of shit eating. It’s mildly frightening.
“Oh really?” He drawls. “Well, unfortunately Mr. Yoon is quite unavailable right now,” he states, with a grin. “Come, see for yourself,” he insists, propping the door open. It’s a strange thing to say and even stranger that he wants Mingyu to witness it but he steps into the dorm, a tad hesitant. The door shuts loudly and Seungkwan leads his member into the living room.
It’s apparent that Jeonghan isn’t available the moment Mingyu sees him because he’s napping. He’s turned himself almost entirely on his stomach, his face smushed into a throw pillow, absolutely dead to the world. And that’s odd sheerly due to the fact that Jeonghan doesn’t nap. He’s a chronic busy body and even when he’s relaxing he’s doing something that keeps his hands and mind busy. It’s a terrible habit and it leaves him extremely drained much of the time but no one in the group is going to try and tell him that.
“He doesn’t nap,” Mingyu says, keeping his voice low as he turns to Seungkwan, incredulous.
“I know,” Seungkwan giggles. “It’s weird as hell, right? He’s been out for over an hour now,” he insists. “You could wake him up if you want but I don’t know how pissed he’s going to be if you do.”
“I’d rather not find out,” Mingyu admits. Seungkwan snorts and is on his way, clearly not interested in keeping up this conversation. He disappears to his room and Mingyu tilts his head as Jeonghan curls into himself.
He’s managed to kick his blanket to the floor and he’s only in a pair of shorts and a t-shirt, which makes Mingyu sure he’s doing it because he’s cold. Even in his sleep Jeonghan acts like a lizard and Mingyu snorts to himself at the idea. It’s not actually a surprise and Mingyu walks over to scoop up the blanket. Up close, Jeonghan is shivering in small tremors and Mingyu spreads out the blanket to cover him. It’s just a throw blanket but it’s probably one of the ones Jeonghan brought out from his own room. His bed is piled with sleeping covers.
His hair is a mess over his forehead and eyes, Mingyu carefully reaching out to brush it back. His eyelids flutter softly and Mingyu snatches his hand back in surprise and slight fear that he’s going to wake him up but Jeonghan doesn’t remains quite asleep as he tugs at the blanket, no longer shivering but bringing it all the way up to his chin.
“Must be tired,” Mingyu mutters. “Sleep well, hyung.” He tucks the blanket in a little bit closer and closes the door as softly as he can as he leaves. Studio work can wait.
4.
“Let’s do Going Seventeen outside. In tents. In ten degree weather!” Jeonghan complains, sitting in his folding chair, perfectly still, wrapped in an oversized blanket, in front of the fire. He’s wrapped up like it’s the middle of December when it’s already March and Jihoon rolls his eyes emphatically as he helps Wonwoo finish up with pitching the third tent. Hansol and Chan are still struggling with the last one and they need all they help they can get.
“The only person who didn’t agree was you!” Minghao points out, helping Mingyu with the multitude of folding chairs they have. “And it’s just because you’re cold blooded.”
“I’m sorry I’m cold all the time! What do you want me to do about it?!” He shouts above the din of the boys putting their tents and chairs together.
The cameras are off and they are still setting up but Jeonghan is already on his tirade. In social situations and events he’s rather close lipped about his discomfort because he’s always clung tightly to the idea of being a good role model for their fans and their younger members in terms of their career. On his own, however, his complaints are loud and common, complaints that usually fall on deaf ears considering they’ve all grown more than used to the sound of his voice when he’s whining.
“Do you need another blanket, hyung?” Mingyu sighs as he sets his folding chair firmly on the ground.
“I want to not sleep in a tent tonight,” he retorts and Joshua scoffs where he’s padding the floor of his tent with blankets. He’s being purposefully difficult and they all know it.
“Well, we’re all sleeping outside tonight,” Mingyu points out.
“Don’t entertain him,” Seungcheol warns Mingyu. “He’s only gonna get worse.”
Jeonghan is nothing if not a professional and sucks it up to engage in the games the boys play while they’re filming but he doesn’t miss the way Mingyu lends him his extra blanket halfway through filming. The fire is warm enough that he’s not frigid but the blanket is a kind gesture anyway. The kindness only goes so far, however, when Mingyu turns around and murders him in mafia.
In a fun game of drawing sticks they are randomly assigned roommates for their tents (“tentmates,” Soonyoung insists on calling it). They have five tents, leaving them with three people in three tents and two in two of them. Jeonghan is, understandably, extra annoying as soon as he gets a stick with the same color as Joshua, throwing himself at his best friend’s back with a loud shout ws excitement.
“I thought I got rid of you,” Joshua grumbles, only for Jeonghan to grin extra big, giggling at the way Joshua is acting entirely put upon.
“Room for one more?” Mingyu asks, waving around his equally blue-ended popsicle stick.
“Yes!” Joshua cheers.
Three grown men in a tent isn’t the most comfortable thing but they make due. Due to Mingyu’s size difference the older two force him to sleep in the middle to try and make the sleeping arrangements a little less cramped. It’s by no means perfect but they manage alright.
In the morning, Joshua is awake first, no surprise. Most of his members can sleep like logs and as he sits up he surveys the tight tent.
He suppresses the snort that threatens to come up when he sees Jeonghan cuddled right into Mingyu’s side. He shrouded himself in both of his blankets and wiggled his way underneath the blanket Mingyu brought with him as well. Joshua can barely make him out underneath all the covers as well as the way Mingyu has turned into Jeonghan’s form, the two of them tangled up tightly beneath the blankets. The temperature did drop a little last night and it’s just like Jeonghan to try and worm his way into whatever warm nook he can find. Joshua sighs softly before crawling out of the tent to stretch out properly.
Jeonghan climbs out of the tent a number of minutes later, after most of the group has already appeared from their own tents. He’s still in his hoodie and wearing one of his blankets. There’s morning ramen being cooked over the fire and he slumps down on the ground next to the fire, blankets tight around him like a cocoon.
“Sleep well, Hannie?” Joshua teases him from where he’s sitting across the fire from him.
“Slept fine, thanks so much, Shua,” Jeonghan retorts, grumpy from sleep and hiding his ruddy cheeks in his hood.
5.
Doing fansigns through the phone is a weird change that Jeonghan still hasn’t quite gotten used to. It’s just not the same as meeting up with Carats in real life, getting to hold their hands and play games, but he is thankful they’ve found a way to make it work and even reach out to Carats in other countries that can’t go to normal fansigns.
He always has nerves before a fansign even though he’s done it so many times. It’s exciting but still kind of anxiety inducing, having conversations with their fans and even more so with the idea that there are people all the way on the other side of the world that want to talk to him. Being famous still feels weird in that way sometimes.
His nerves make it hard to eat and his hands shake, only amplified by his chills. He’s wearing a warm sweater today but it’s cold in the studio and his nervousness is giving him the shivers. A few of the members are already having their phone calls while he waits for his first call of the day, running his hands over his thighs and arms to work out the nervous energy.
“Are you cold?” Mingyu asks when he walks into the green room. Jeonghan lifts his head, surprised to hear him. He knew Mingyu had his calls today as well but he wasn’t expecting him to come into the green room. He’s standing next to the mini fridge though, water bottle in hand.
“Kinda,” he answers, trying to sound casually, looking away. Mingyu laughs softly and crosses the room, his heavy footsteps preceding the feeling of a jacket landing on Jeonghan’s shoulder. It’s warm and smells like Mingyu’s cologne, a heavy bomber style jacket that’s a little too big in the shoulders to fit him. When he looks up Mingyu is walking away, shaking his head gently. He’s only in his graphic long sleeve now but casual looks good on Mingyu and Jeonghan leans back into the couch, tugging the jacket a little bit closer.
He has four calls that day and wears the bomber jacket in every single one, the cuffs of the sleeves falling over his fingers a little bit.
+ 1
The boys from Seventeen are not frequently ill. In fact it hardly ever happens, but that’s generally to do with the fact that they know that if even one of them gets sick it’s going to travel through most of the group until it eventually stops. They spend practically every waking moment together so it’s only a matter of time before most of the group gets infected and they have to quarantine the ill to their bedroom.
Jeonghan is loath to admit he brought it this time. It was extra scary due to the pandemic but after testing negative it was confirmed to be a simple flu. Said flu, however, didn’t take long to transfer around, specifically to Soonyoung which then transferred to Mingyu. Which is where they are now, with Mingyu complaining of a fever and barely able to eat anything.
“He’s your fault!” Seungcheol insists, leaving Mingyu in the 8th floor dorm, wearing a mask and not leaving the doorway. “I don’t want him infecting anyone in our dorm so he’s staying with you until it clears up,” he warns Jeonghan, who groans but looks over his shoulder to see Mingyu curled up on the couch.
He’s pale and shivering, wrapped up in a cocoon of blankets, slumped on his side. Jeonghan is back to normal and Soonyoung is well on his way there so it makes sense to leave the sick one with people who’ve already had it and can’t catch it again but Jeonghan’s not going to admit to that. Even if it is to his leader.
“Shouldn’t he be sleeping in his own bed?” Jeonghan points out mildly.
“His own bed is in a shared room,” Seungcheol reminds him. “It should clear up in a couple of days. It did for you.” Jeonghan sighs, leaning against the doorway. “Just keep an eye on him. Mingyu’s a big boy who can take care of himself. I just don’t want anyone else getting sick.”
“Yes sir,” Jeonghan drones, getting a playful glare in return. Seungcheol leaves afterward, Jeonghan pushing the door closed gently behind him. When he looks back over at Mingyu he’s still just the same, lying on the couch in blankets and almost falling asleep while a mindless kdrama reruns on the television.
Jihoon chose to practically live in the studio as soon as Jeonghan brought home the illness and no one has seen hide nor hair of Seungkwan since the confirmed diagnosis so he’s probably hiding in Vernon’s room. Soonyoung is still getting over his own lingering sniffles leaving Jeonghan practically alone in the dorm with the sick Mingyu.
He falls asleep some time in the afternoon and Jeonghan leaves him to his nap until dinner, when Soonyoung emerges but Jihoon and Seungkwan are still missing. Dinner is a simple affair and Jeonghan makes Mingyu sit in the living room and not move while he puts together rice soup. It is by no means anyone’s favorite but it is good for him and Mingyu mumbles his thanks, still shivering as he pulls the blanket closer.
“Are you still cold?” Jeonghan asks when Mingyu lies back down on the couch.
“I’m freezing and I know it’s not cold in here because you always have the heat so high,” he complains, making Jeonghan roll his eyes.
He sits on the side of the couch, pulling the blankets up around him and even lending him a couple of his extras. Mingyu’s still hot to the touch and it’ll be good for him to sweat the fever out but even though his hairline is damp he’s still shivering. The couch is not wide enough for the both of them but Jeonghan’s worry is shining through and isn’t so sure he wants Mingyu to be alone tonight.
“C’mon,” he says, getting up and offering his hands. Mingyu’s brow knits. “Get up. You’re sleeping with me tonight.”
“Hyung-”
“You feel like a hot rock and you’re still cold. I keep a million blankets on my bed and you’re worrying me. Get up,” he explains shortly and in one breath. Mingyu smiles tightly and pushes himself up to a sitting position so he can take Jeonghan’s hands.
Jeonghan’s bed doesn, in fact, feature at least six blankets and the bed isn’t spacious but it is big enough to fit the both of them. Jeonghan forces Mingyu in by the wall to keep him insulated and then goes about covering him in at least four layers of blankets before climbing in after him. It’s a bit early to go to bed but Mingyu could use all the rest he can get and Jeonghan won’t complain about a few extra hours of sleep as he settles down, Mingyu turning onto his side so he can lay his head on Jeonghan’s shoulder.
“Thank you,” he mumbles into the fabric of Jeonghan’s sleep sweater and Jeonghan sighs softly, lifting a hand to run his fingers over Mingyu’s temple. His hands are perpetually cold and Mingyu settles down further, turning his head into the cool touch.
“Go to sleep, Mingyu-yah,” he tells him. It doesn’t take long before his illness takes him under and Jeonghan presses forward to kiss his forehead sweetly.
The morning brings the rude awakening of Mingyu climbing over him to strip himself of his extra layers. Jeonghan nearly whacks him in the head when he bats a hand against the intrusion on his sleep and Mingyu stumbles out of the covers, just barely landing on his feet. Jeonghan turns over to look, blinking through the dim light trying to force its way through his curtain to see Mingyu shedding his extra sweater and sweatpants.
“You’re gonna get cold,” Jeonghan mumbles.
“I’m sweating so much I’m damp,” Mingyu replies before climbing back into bed. Jeonghan’s still woozy from sleep but he slaps his hand to Mingyu’s head, feeling around his forehead. His fever must’ve broken during the night, only a little warm to the touch. When he lowers his hand he blinks at Mingyu, who curls in close anyway. His skin is damp to the touch but Jeonghan slides into the empty space anyway.
“Then keep me warm,” Jeonghan tells him, head landing on Mingyu’s chest.
“Yes, hyung.”