Work Text:
Before Hanbin, there had only been a couple of relationships that Zhang Hao would consider serious enough to be labeled something, not that any of them could hold a candle to the enormity of what he shares with Hanbin now. It’s not that he enjoys reminiscing about his previous boyfriends, but as Zhang Hao pokes warily at the stew bubbling in their pot, he can’t help but wonder how exactly did he go from being strictly noncommittal to playing house husband, just like that?
Hanbin comes moseying soon enough—he’s never far behind wherever Zhang Hao goes, and it’s not often that the dorm fills with the smell of anything but their takeouts. “What have you been up to?” Arms wind around his waist, and Hanbin rests his chin over Zhang Hao’s shoulder. “Is that soup?”
“It’s for you,” Zhang Hao informs, giving the mixture a last, half-hearted poke before he retreats. Ma said to not disturb the stew in its final half-an-hour long boil on pain of death, and who is he to defy the deeply detailed instructions?
Behind him, Hanbin makes a curious sound and loosens his hold so that Zhang Hao can turn around. “And why did hyung decide to make soup for me?”
Messing with Hanbin’s hair is almost habitual as it is ritualistic. Hanbin’s mock-disgruntled expression would be much cuter if it wasn't belied by the faint purples underneath his eyes. “Because you’re overworked and exhausted. I’m worried about you.”
They’ve been dating for what seems like their entire lives now (one year, two months, and twelve days to be exact), and Hanbin still affects a startled hamster expression every time Zhang Hao frets about his well being. That’s okay though, because two months into their relationship, Zhang Hao had already figured out that he can be patient to a fault when it comes to Hanbin, and he has all the time in the world to get Hanbin used to being cared for.
“My mother gave me a recipe to make this nourishing soup for you,” Zhang Hao continues, and he casts another doubtful look at the mystery mixture bubbling away. “I followed the instructions carefully so I think it’s actually edible this time…”
“Hm,” Hanbin’s thumb rubs soothingly at his hip, “you know I’d drink anything you make for me.”
“You’d better,” Zhang Hao says, sugar sweet. “Come on, there’s half an hour to go. Let’s cuddle on the couch.”
They collapse onto the communal couch in a tangle of limbs, just the way Zhang Hao likes it. Without him having to ask, Hanbin hauls Zhang Hao up between his propped open legs so that Zhang Hao can rest on his chest. “Comfy?” Hanbin checks. It’s something that he doesn't have to do but he always asks anyway. So sweet, his Hanbinie, and so precious with his favorite hyung.
“The best,” Zhang Hao murmurs. He doesn't mean to get drowsy, but he’s long since associated Hanbin with comfortsafetywarmth and that’s a lethal combination to fight when he too, has been hard at work with his solo schedules coming into the mix.
Hanbin plants a brief, sweet kiss on his hair and together, they scroll through what must be dozens of reels featuring adorable puppies and kittens, interspersed with cafe recommendations and trending memes. With Hanbin’s body running warmer, it’s like lying on top of a radiator and being hugged by a weighted blanket. If this is what cats feel like when they lounge in the sun, then Zhang Hao can understand why they nap for fourteen hours a day, because his eyelids grow heavier with each passing minute. Eventually, he gives up battling himself and leaves his eyes shut for a second. Or two. Just to rest them, and then he’ll get up to check on the stew right away.
Under his back, Hanbin’s chest expands with a deep inhale, and then deflates again as he yawns, quiet but for a small sound in his throat. “Five minutes?” Hanbin mumbles, clearly as sleepy as Zhang Hao is. Unintelligibly, Zhang Hao grunts his assent. Hanbin promptly locks his screen and slides his phone onto the coffee table. Zhang Hao pats around blindly for Hanbin’s hand and finds it curling around his own reassuringly. With Hanbin’s hand in his, he breathes in once, exhales, and with the next breath, drifts off to slumber.
Something smells terribly bad.
It’s acrid enough that Zhang Hao cannot ignore it, so he begrudgingly gives up clinging onto the last wisps of his sleep. Just what on earth is that smell? Is something burning—
“Fuck!” He cries. Rolling off of Hanbin hurriedly, Zhang Hao ignores the pained ‘oof’ from under him in favor of stumbling over to the stove and wrenching the knob all the way down. What little liquid that is left in the midst of the blackened sludge is bubbling viciously and when the smoke wafts up to him, Zhang Hao gags.
“Hyung? Are you okay?” Hanbin’s voice, a small distance away, carries over sharply. He sounds panicked.
“I’m okay, I’m okay,” Zhang Hao coughs, willing himself to catch his breath quickly. “Baby, don’t come over. It smells really bad.” Steeling himself, he grabs the pot and thrusts it into the sink. The rush of tap water helps to kill the smell ever so slightly and he exhales in minute relief.
A body brushes past him and he turns to find Hanbin throwing the kitchen windows open, his nose stuck firmly inside his shirt collar. “I told you not to come in,” Zhang Hao frowns. With flustered, fluttering hands, he pushes at Hanbin’s lower back gently. Go outside, I’ll clean it up.
Hanbin, instead of obeying, reaches around him to turn the tap off. “Hyung-ah, let me help to clean up,” Hanbin soothes, his hands coming to rest on the ball of Zhang Hao’s shoulder and cupping his cheek. “Are you okay? Did the smoke…?”
“I’m okay,” Zhang Hao sighs. He ducks his head low, unable to meet Hanbin’s worried gaze. “Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep and burn the soup.” He had worked so hard all afternoon to cut the ingredients carefully and followed Ma’s instructions to a tee, only to end up putting a crease between Hanbin’s brows instead. Prickling with frustration, he blinks back the hot tears gathering in his eyes.
“Hyung-ah,” comes Hanbin’s voice, feather-like. “Please don’t cry? You’ll make me sad too.”
Zhang Hao can’t help the petulant pout as he watches the burnt soup swirl inside the flooded pot. In fact, he can't tear his gaze away from the pot until Hanbin cups his jaw and gently tilts his head to meet Hanbin’s gaze instead. “Gege,” he coaxes. “It’s okay. No harm done. We can clean up and it’ll be okay.”
“I really wanted to do something nice for you,” Zhang Hao mumbles, because any louder and his voice may crack under the tightness around his throat. He bunches Hanbin’s shirt in his fists and pulls gently. Hanbin steps closer, obliging. “I thought I could pull it off this time round.”
Hanbin’s face softens, and in a blink, his eyes too, are coated with a glossy sheen. “Hyung… it doesn't matter,” he promises, so sincerely that Zhang Hao’s heart twinges. “I didn't get to drink the soup but I felt your love. That’s more important, right?”
Instead of saying anything, Zhang Hao just purses his lips tight and presses his face into the side of Hanbin’s neck. Hanbin crushes him close, so warm and so safe. “Love you,” Zhang Hao mumbles, rather overwhelmed by all the emotions surging in his chest.
“Love you more,” Hanbin replies, equally choked with it.
They order delivery as usual. To appease Zhang Hao’s need to do something for him, Hanbin allows Zhang Hao to fret over their dinner menu alone while he spends all of the ten minutes gazing at Zhang Hao like a lovesick kitten. It does wonders for Zhang Hao’s mood.
The food is nothing spectacular, just their usual kongguksu and kalguksu order with a few sides, but Hanbin smiles with every bite like it’s the best meal he’s ever had. “You’re being weird,” Zhang Hao complains when he eventually gets too flustered by the blinding smiles that Hanbin keeps aiming at him.
“I’m just happy to be doted on by hyung,” Hanbin corrects.
And if Hanbin is happy, then so is Zhang Hao. It feels almost silly now to think about how emotional he got after his soup was burnt, what with how pleased Hanbin is with takeout. Watching Hanbin dig into his dinner with relish, it comes to Zhang Hao quite gently—he never had to cook just to take care of Hanbin. Hanbin has never let Zhang Hao’s culinary skills (or lack thereof) deter his endearment anyway. There are other ways he can take care of Hanbin and make him feel loved, aren't there?
With dinner taken care of, he shepherds Hanbin into the bathroom for one of their rare showers together. “A treat for helping to clean up,” he tells Hanbin.
“I should make myself useful more often then,” Hanbin peers at him with interest.
The hot water sluices over their bodies, washing away the sweat that they had worked up over the evening. Hanbin’s hair is plastered flat onto his head and he looks like an adorably soaked mouse before he pushes his hair off his face. “Let me,” Zhang Hao says, and squeezes the facewash into his palms instead. Hanbin stays placidly still, eyes shut and fully trusting as Zhang Hao massages the foam into his cheeks.
“I wish we could do this more often,” Hanbin murmurs, eyes still shut. Zhang Hao hums in sympathy. They’re lucky if they get to catch more than six hours of sleep a day now. Barring solo or unit schedules, they spend every minute together and yet sometimes, he still misses Hanbin so much that it aches even when they’re pressed together side by side in their waiting room.
With a gentle tap to tip Hanbin’s chin up, Zhang Hao runs the water over his face. “I’ll see what I can do,” he promises.
Between rubbing the soap off, Hanbin replies, “ah, hyung, you don't have to do anything, I was just thinking out loud—”
“Relationships take work, baby. I promised to give you lots of love and care, didn’t I?” Zhang Hao says, his voice so tender he can barely recognise himself.
“As long as gege doesn't overdo it,” Hanbin squints at him, unconvinced. Good thing Zhang Hao is extremely well-versed in the art of persuading Sung Hanbin.
He steps closer and rests a hand on Hanbin’s chest, delighting in the way Hanbin’s heart stutters the very next second. It’s a smooth, easy path down his ribs, his stomach, and lower. When Zhang Hao looks up through his lashes, Hanbin swallows. He looks wrecked already. “Massage?” Zhang Hao offers.
Even with twin spots of pink high on his cheeks, Hanbin’s gaze is anything but shy. “Only if I can return the favor.”
──────
240629 🐹💬
good morning
the weather is so good ㅎㅎ
──────
“If you had a younger sister, which member would you introduce her to?”
“If we write the name of someone here, wouldn’t it make their day?” Gyuvin hints. It’s obvious that he wants to narrow the scope of their attempts down to the five members in the room, and there’s only one right answer. Zhang Hao tunes the rest of them out and jots down his answer—he doesn't even have to think about it.
“1, 2, 3!” Hanbin counts, and they all flip their sketchbooks over.
While the rest grin at their matching answers, only Gyuvin’s gaze pauses on Zhang Hao’s sketchbook. “Hao hyung, what’s this…?” Gyuvin asks, eyes wide.
Zhang Hao stares back, eyes just as wide. “What? Matthew.”
“Isn't Hanbin-hyung the obvious answer?” Gyuvin blurts.
Zhang Hao frowns. “Why would I recommend Hanbinie to my sister? He’s mine,” he says bluntly.
“Hyung-ah, you don't even have a sister,” Hanbin pipes up, giggling. “It’s hypothetical anyway.”
Matthew looks at him like he’s crazy, or confused, maybe both. In Zhang Hao’s opinion, it’s crazier to think that he would even entertain the idea of a reality in which Hanbin isn't his.
──────
me
[live location]
jangjang
thank you gege 💗
how’s the food? :)
me
[picture]
we should eat here together!!!
soobin ordered the steak and i tried a bite
it was soooo good
jangjang
omg that looks delicious let’s go!!!
we have lessons tomorrow so
don’t stay out too late okay~ come home quickly and rest :)
me
ㅋㅋ is it not just because hanbinie misses me?
jangjang
…you caught me ^^
gege looks so cute and it’s dangerous outside 🥺
how about i rent a car and i can pick you up later!
me
really??
thank you baby…💗
jangjang
i’m getting ready to pick you up :)
the car i rented today is almost exactly the same as the one i got last time! this one is a little older though
is hyung almost ready to leave?
hyunggg :< answer me please~
[incoming call]
me
sorry again baby 🥹
we’re walking to the pick up point now!
jangjang
[live location]
ㅎㅎ it’s okay, i like hearing gege’s voice anyway
after this traffic light i’ll be there in 5mins~
me
i’m waiting 🥹💗
──────
When he wakes, it’s to the sound of Hanbin’s alarm.
Beside him, Hanbin whines, a series of broken-off squeaks and groans muffled by his pillow. Too sleepy to even grumble in protest, Zhang Hao just lays still with his eyes closed. Thankfully, the alarm cuts off mid-loop, courtesy of Hanbin smashing his fingers blindly into the right buttons. Then, it’s quiet except for the snuffling sounds of Hanbin slowly warming up to awareness.
Cocooned in his warm comforter, Zhang Hao drifts like this between sleep and consciousness for a while. He could probably slip back under if not for Hanbin stroking his arm, tender and sweet. “Gege," Hanbin whispers. His nose nudges Zhang Hao’s cheek gently. “Zao shang hao.”
It takes him a couple of seconds to work up the right words with his groggy mind. “Show off,” Zhang Hao mumbles, but he cracks his eyes open to a sliver. Hanbin is smiling down at him, looking entirely too adorable with his sleep-mussed hair and puffy eyes. “Good morning,” Zhang Hao whispers.
“Gege is so cute in the morning,” Hanbin leaves a small peck on his lips. “Not fair.”
Zhang Hao harrumphs. “You stole my line,” he mutters. “Five more minutes.”
“Mm-mm,” Hanbin hums, disapproving. “You need to go to your lesson.”
Whining, Zhang Hao rolls himself into Hanbin, squirming until his face is tucked squarely in Hanbin’s lap. Obligingly, Hanbin strokes his hair with light fingers. It’s so comforting to be pet like this, and before Zhang Hao knows it, he’s halfway to dozing off again.
“Hyung-ah,” Hanbin whispers, clearly loath to interrupt the moment. Zhang Hao pretends to not hear him. “Hyung,” Hanbin cajoles, shaking him gently with a hand nudging his hip. “Zhang Hao, kuai qi chuang,” Hanbin says, cutely accented in all the wrong places. It’s a fatal blow to Zhang Hao who has to break character to giggle, helplessly endeared.
“Ah, you’re so cute when you speak Chinese,” Zhang Hao murmurs as he rubs his eyes. He pushes himself upright. It’s Hanbin’s turn to huff, but Zhang Hao smooths his pursed lips over with a light, sweet kiss. “I’m up, I’m up,” Zhang Hao promises.
Hanbin chases his lips for one more kiss before he stands up. Eyeing Zhang Hao dubiously, he says, “don’t go back to sleep while I’m waking the kids up, okay?”
“Depends, what’s the incentive for staying awake?” Zhang Hao yawns, his jaw nearly unhinging with the force of it.
Hanbin casts a look around the room. His gaze snags on the closet and he visibly lights up. “I’ll let you pick my outfit for the day,” he announces. Zhang Hao, too, perks up.
“I hope you’re excited to wear a couple outfit,” he says, coy. His brain is already busy sifting through all of the matching apparel that their fans have gifted the two of them. Maybe the denim shirts? They’ve amassed quite the collection of couple accessories too.
“I’d dress myself in gege’s clothes from head to toe if I could,” Hanbin informs, and then promptly wanders off.
Left to his own imagination with an abundance of matching clothes, Zhang Hao finds himself breezing through his morning routine. The fact that Gyuvin groans when they emerge in identical sweaters only adds an extra pep to Zhang Hao’s steps.
──────
To Haohao:
If BingBing makes you angry, what would you do?
- Have him do aegyo ✔️
- Have him treat beef gopchang + zerocola
- Have him buy a gift
- Skinship ✔️
To BingBing ♥︎
If Hao is angry at you, what would you do?
- ✔️ Kitty aegyo ^3^
- ✔️ Treat him to a meal $
- ✔️ Try hugging him!
- ✔️ Kiss ♥︎
Kiss ♥︎
──────
“That’s not the point! I’m upset that you didn't bother asking me before you made the decision on your own!” Zhang Hao seethes. Before he can say anything he doesn't mean, he bites his tongue and turns away to take a deep, grounding breath. Across the room, Hanbin crosses his arms. He, too, falls silent.
The distance between them aches at his heart, but Zhang Hao cannot bear to look at Hanbin now either. “I’m going to cool off for a bit,” he mutters. Hanbin doesn't stop him as he leaves.
Gyuvin finds him curled up on the balcony and promptly drapes his lanky body over Zhang Hao’s back like the big puppy he is. “Don’t be too hard on Hanbin-hyung,” he murmurs. “He just wanted to make you happy.”
“I know,” Zhang Hao gripes. “I just don’t like that he still wanted to go ahead with it knowing that I don't want him to.”
Gyuvin sighs. He shifts to curl up with his head resting on Zhang Hao’s lap. “I bet Hanbin hyung feels really wronged that he was scolded for trying to do something sweet for you,” Gyuvin wheedles. “He’s probably crying now; you know how sensitive he is.”
A pang of guilt settles in Zhang Hao’s stomach. He chews at his lower lip. “You’re right,” he mutters reluctantly. “I should have handled it differently.”
Gyuvin brightens up. “Yeah, you should go comfort Hanbin-hyung now and say sorry,” he suggests.
Sighing, Zhang Hao ruffles Gyuvin’s hair lightly. “Sorry for making you mediate again.”
Gyuvin waves it away. “If you’re sorry, then fight less. It makes the rest of us sad to see Mom and Dad angry with each other.” Before Zhang Hao can swat at him, he’s already darting away. “Go find Hanbin-hyung!” Gyuvin calls, and then he vanishes.
Zhang Hao doesn't have to wander for long before he finds Hanbin huddled up under the comforter of their shared bed. There is a soft, muffled sniffle as Zhang Hao comes to a rest by their bed.
“Baby,” Zhang Hao murmurs. He lays down on his side behind Hanbin and rests a hand over Hanbin’s hip. “I’m sorry. I shouldn't have gotten angry at you,” he apologizes. “It was sweet that you wanted to keep driving tomorrow. I really appreciate how much you do for me.”
The blanket lump shifts and uncovers Hanbin’s red-rimmed eyes. “Hyung-ah,” he whispers. “I’m sorry too. I’m always so stubborn and I just keep making you angry—”
“Shh,” Zhang Hao interrupts, already knowing where Hanbin is going. They’ve had this argument before, and they’ll probably have it again. It still doesn't ever get easier to hear Hanbin tearing himself apart. “I like you the way you are,” Zhang Hao entreats. “I like that you spoil me and do these nice things for me. I’m just worried about you. I always am,” his palm curves around Hanbin’s cheek. It’s burning hot from Hanbin’s frustration, and Zhang Hao can’t help but find the pinkness of his cheek so endearing.
“Seriously, I think I’ll be okay to drive once I rest today,” Hanbin mumbles, petulant. Zhang Hao bites his lip. The drive to the east of Jeju isn't ridiculously long by any means, but he’s always a bit of a worrywart when it comes to Hanbin.
“I really don’t have to visit the east side,” he tells Hanbin again. Seeing Hanbin part his lips with a frown, Zhang Hao hurriedly adds, “how about you rest for today, and if you feel okay to drive tomorrow, then we’ll stick to the itinerary, hmm?”
Appeased, Hanbin sticks his hand out for Zhang Hao to grasp it. He strokes his thumb over the back of Zhang Hao’s palm. “I’ll be fine,” Hanbin insists. When he catches Zhang Hao’s gaze, he acquiesces, “I promise that I won’t try to drive if I still feel unwell tomorrow.”
“We can always just explore the cafes around here,” Zhang Hao suggests. “I’ve saved a lot of them on Naver map.”
“And I’ll take the prettiest pictures of you,” Hanbin murmurs, his eyes soft with affection.
“I’ll hold you to it.” Suddenly, like always, their argument seems so small and silly. Hanbin’s looking at him like he’s thinking the same thing.
When Hanbin opens his arms, Zhang Hao burrows in gratefully, wiggling only a little to make sure that Hanbin’s wrapped around him as much as humanly possible. “I love you,” he tells Hanbin, and he means it so, so much that it makes him breathless sometimes.
And what a relief it is to find the same awe reflected in Hanbin’s eyes every time. Zhang Hao knows that he can be a lot—he’s been told that he bites into his relationships with all the intensity of a dog guarding a bone and it hasn’t ever gone well with anyone before.
Hanbin lets Zhang Hao strip him past his flesh and sinew so that his teeth can sink in and never let go. That Hanbin delights in giving doesn't assuage Zhang Hao’s guilt in the slightest every time he takes. It’s why he tries to fashion himself into something like his other half, to provide and nurture for Hanbin the way Hanbin does him.
He worries sometimes, as he is wont to, that Hanbin might tire of his fumbling attempts to love him. But when Hanbin brushes his bangs out of his eyes and presses their cheeks together, Zhang Hao hears it in his quiet assurance; I love you just as much, I’m going nowhere.