Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Let’s go to the beach hyung.” Yechan looked up at Sangyeop, putting his violin into its case.

“…huh?"

They had just finished their rehearsels for another festival. Throughout the rehearsals, Yechan had messed up over and over. Even though everyone in the room were patient, Yechan could tell they were incredibly tired from having to rehearse for such a long time. Yechan had let that guilt weigh down his heart.

“You’re having those thoughts again, right?”
“What are you-"
“You’re biting your nails again.”

Sangyeop bent down to grab his hyung’s hand, turning it over so the back of his hand faces up. “See? Your nails are bleeding.” He carefully caressed Yechan’s hand with his thumb, looking at him. Yechan looked back, staring into his deep, shining eyes.

“Please hyung.” Sangyeop squeezed his hand. “Please.”

Everyone else had already gone home at Yechan’s insistence, telling them that he’ll be the one to pack their equipment since they were all so tired and he’ll be the one to close up for the night. Sangyeop stayed behind much to Yechan’s dismay and basically begged his hyung to let him help. Fast-forward, Sangyeop was asking Yechan to go to the beach with him. Yechan pursed his lips in hesitation before giving up.

“… fine, just let me get my things.” Yechan moved to get his things but Sangyeop was quick to interlace his fingers with Yechan’s, tugging him towards the door. “Don’t worry about that now. I have my wallet if we need to buy any snacks and drinks. We’ll just go back in the morning.”

“We?” “Of course, i’ll just sleep over at yours.”

Yechan’s face flushed with embarrassment before he handed his car keys to Sangyeop. “Okay, but we’re using my car.”

—————————

With Yechan in the passenger seat and Sangyeop in the driver’s seat, they drove towards the beach. The drive was silent until Yechan reached for his phone, connecting it to the car’s stereo. Classical music filled the silence of the empty car. Sangyeop looked at Yechan before fixating his eyes on the road. “It’s Schubert.” Yechan said, picking at his nails.

“The piece is called Serenade.” Sangyeop reached out and placed a hand over Yechan’s fumbling fingers, stopping him from doing any further damage to his cuticles.
“It’s beautiful."
“It is.”

Yechan interlaces their fingers.
“My hands are cold.”
“They always are.”

Yechan looks out the window, the street lights illuminating the roads and casting a light glow on the metal railings separating the land from the sea. “How did you know?”
Sangyeop hums. “Know what?” He squeezes Yechan’s hands softly and Yechan squeezes back.

“That I was having those thoughts again.”

“Well, you were biting your nails again.” Sangyeop thumbed Yechan’s raw cuticles, careful not to hurt him. “Bouncing your leg, biting your lip, pulling your hair…” At every example, he squeezed Yechan’s hand just a little bit tighter. “And you had this look on your face that you always have when you’re troubled.” Yechan looked down at their hands, the shadows of the night obscuring his embarrassed expression.

“It was the same as last time.”

“When we went to the beach and took pictures and videos of us playing?”
“Yeah… when you were having those thoughts and it was only the two of us awake in the dorm…”
“And you wanted to drive us there even though you were nervous?"

Sangyeop smiled softly as he brought their intertwined fingers to his lips and brought them up to his lips.
“I’ll always drive for you.”

—————————

When they arrived at the beach, Yechan stood near the water. He couldn’t see the horizon anymore, the dark sea blending in with the starry sky. Yechan fished his phone out of his pocket and looked up. He took a picture of the moon before he felt a cold hand on his arm, squeezing his bicep. He looked up and was met with Sangyeop’s gaze. Sangyeop, with the hand that wasn’t holding him, held up a paperback with two bottles of Soju. “I don’t have shot glasses.” He admitted sheepishly. Yechan laughed before grabbing his hand.

“I have some in my glove box.”
“Why do you have shot glasses in your glove box?”
“For occasions like these!”

After they retrieved shot glasses from Yechan’s car (though Sangyeop still wonders why they’re there in the first place), they both took their shoes off and sat on the beach. Their bodies were flush against each other, Yechan occasionally dropping his head on Sangyeop’s shoulder in a fit of laughter.

“Yeop-ah…” Yechan said softly. He poured himself a shot before putting the bottle back inside the convenience store paper bag. He quickly downed it before staring Sangyeop in the eyes. “Have I told you how beautiful your eyes are?” He lifted his hand to caress the younger man’s cheek, tracing his thumb over his cheekbone. Sangyeop gulped, trying to keep his composure.

“I think they’re rather plain.”
“Mm. They’re beautiful, like glass.” Yechan moved closer, their noses nearly touching. “I can see my reflection in them.” He whispered. Their breaths mingled as the space between them felt impossibly close, but not close enough.

“Yechan-ah…” Sangyeop said, his voice barely above a whisper as he leaned forward.

Just as their lips were about to touch, Yechan moved his hide slightly, letting it fall on Sangyeop’s shoulder. He let his hand fall from Sangyeop’s cheek and onto his lap.

“I-i’m sorry… did I read that wrong…?” Sangyeop placed his hands on Yechan’s shoulders, preparing to push him away before Yechan snapped his head back up.
“No you didn’t.”
“So why…”
“I’m just…” Yechan bit his lip nervously, fingers finding each other in a nervous fervor. Sangyeop frowned and moved his hands to squeeze the older’s.

“Just what?”
“… I don’t want you to regret this.”

Sangyeop’s eyes widened before placing a hand under Yechan’s chin and tilting his head up. “Hey, hey look at me...” Though tears were not visible, Yechan’s cheeks and nose had turned significantly red, maybe from the cold, but his wet sniffles said otherwise.

“Yeobie… you’re always taking care of me like this and I feel so guilty.” Yechan said softly, choking back a sob. “You’re so perfect and I mess up so much… I get all these negative thoughts and you always do things to make me feel better.” He finally let his tears fall as he clutched at Sangyeop’s shirt. “Aren’t you tired of me?”

Sangyeop bit his lip, a hard frown on his lips before pulling the older man into a tight hug. “How could I ever be tired of you, hyung?” Sangyeop kissed him on the cheek softly as Yechan let out a muffled sob. “If I'm perfect, then you’re beyond that. You work so hard and you make so many people happy.” His hands slowly worked their way down to Yechan’s waist. ‘So small…’ Sangyeop thought, circling his hands around him before lifting Yechan the slightest bit so he could sit on Sangyeop’s lap. “You take care of others… you even take care of me… I’m doing this as a way to say thank you for being such an amazing person.” He gently pushed Yechan away from his shoulder, cradling his face in his larger hands. He carefully wiped Yechan’s tear stained face before knocking their foreheads together. “And I love taking care of you… It’s also my way of saying I love you, you know?” Sangyeop looked at Yechan’s face one more time, taking in all the little details like his identical moles on his upper lip, his perfectly shaped nose, and his soft cheeks. Yechan gulped, circling his arms around Sangyeop’s shoulders, taking the moment to feel the world around him. His legs around Sangyeop’s waist, his feet digging into the sand, the material of Sangyeop’s shirt under his fingertips.

“And I won’t regret it, you know.”
“Regret what?”
“Kissing you. I think i’ll regret not kissing you more, actually.”

Sangyeop then brought their faces closer, their lips touching. Yechan leaned forward and reciprocated the motion, the space between them swallowed by their presence. Yechan moved his hands from Sangyeop’s neck to his hair, tugging it softly. Sangyeop let out a soft noise before moving his hands back down to the younger man’s waist, squeezing them and pulling him closer. They could only feel each other in that moment, their hands on each other and the warmth of their bodies, spreading all across them like wildfire. They separated for just a quick breath, cheeks flushed red with messed up hair and messed up clothes. “Yeop-ah…” Yechan said, catching his breath. “Mm?” Sangyeop caressed the elder's jaw, not taking his eyes off of Yechan at that moment. His hair was a mess and his cheeks were flushed, his lips glistened with spit. ‘I did that.’ Sangyeop thought proudly as Yechan leaned back in. “Your hands are so cold…” he whispered on Sangyeop’s lips before diving back into him, swallowing the younger’s bubbling laughter.

They stayed there for an hour more, Sangyeop’s hands wandering under Yechan’s sweater and tracing patterns into his waist with his thumbs. Yechan mussed Sangyeop’s hair up in return for the new marks he received on his neck and collarbone. Their lips were red and swollen and slicked with spit before they realized how late it was. “Shit…” Yechan muttered moving off of Sangyeop and dusting the sand off of his pants. “I forgot to call Seongchan” Sangyeop chuckled, stretching his legs from being in that position for a long time. “I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.” The younger man said before putting an arm around Yechan’s waist.

“Let’s head over to my place and go back to the studio tomorrow to get our stuff.”
“I left some of my clothes there from the other night so i’ll just use those.”

As they headed back to Yechan’s car, the glow of the streetlight illuminating their faces, Yechan intertwined their fingers once more. “Yeop-ah, what are we?”

“Mm, I’d like to be your boyfriend Yechan-ah.” Yechan smiled at the answer before lacing his arm around Sangyeop. “I’d like that as well.” Sangyeop kissed the top of his head softly before opening the door for him.

As they clambered into the car, Sangyeop leaned into Yechan’s space and stole a quick kiss from him. Yechan giggled softly before leaning towards Sangyeop, kissing him once more. “If we continue this we’re gonna have to sleep at the side of the road.” Yechan joked. Sangyeop laughed before starting the car.

“I’d sleep on the side of the road for you, jagiya.
“How long have you been wanting to call me that?”
“Oh, you wouldn’t want to know.”