The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Balance

"How are you?" Off breaks the silence as they finally settle in his condo.

Sitting cross-legged on the sofa, Gun laughs. "Seriously, Papii?"

"I haven't heard of you since Thursday, except for bits and pieces of your adventure in Chiang Mai with two hot guys from your ig stories, so. What's new, I guess?" Off says in satire.

Gun breaks into a laugh. "I'm the third wheel, Papii! Geez, talk about petty."

"Still. I was left alone and miserable the whole weekend while other guys get to be with you." Off sulks.

"Papii! I come home to you, don't I?" Gun giggles, pulling Off in a hug. When Off doesn't return it, Gun slowly draws back. "I'm sorry I cut you off." He looks down dejectedly.

Off sighs, then moves to ruffle Gun's hair. "And I'm sorry I overreacted. I'm new to this sharing thing, so." He shrugs. "But I've learned my lesson now."

"Apology accepted, Papii." Gun lets out a soft laugh. "It's partly my fault, too, for not telling you things and just kinda assuming you know."

"I know ... about what?" Off prompts.

"About me. About my schedule, about my past. About how I've been letting you, and no one else, in. I may lack initiative but I for sure don't lack effort, Papii, it stung a little when you said that." Gun looks up to meet Off's attentive gaze. "I could always choose to lie about my schedule on Singto's departure day. I could always ask you to keep our relationship private as it may hurt my image. I, too, am trying here, Papii."

"I'm sorry .... Baby, I'm really sorry." Off pulls Gun in a hug. "Let's keep trying to find our balance, shall we?" He pulls back a little and smiles, staring at the small guy he grows unexpectedly fond of in his arms. Wondering how he gets to this point, but regretting nothing.

He's comfortable where he is. Unbalanced, anxious, restless as he's pulled into Gun's world of surprises.

"Yes. I'd like that, Papii." Gun flashes his dimpled smile; though Off's sitting right next to him, he still feels weak in the knees.

"Still ... there are certain things I'm not willing to share, Ai Gun." Off says after a while, eyes flashing dangerously. "Under no circumstances."

Gun chuckles. "Okay, okay. P'New warned me about this. Let's hear what you have to say, shall we?"

"Well, for one, can you hold back a little on touching other guys?" Off groans. "And you won't even let me touch you!"

"Because ...!" Gun pouts. "I know I'm very cuddly but I'm ticklish, Papii, so it's only one-sided! No one touches me."

"Huh. Come to think of it ...."

"Just let me do the touching, okay? I'll try not to touch anyone else, will that do?"

Off sighs. "Yeah, okay."

Gun grins at him. "Anything else?"

"Can you, please, wear your pants a couple sizes bigger? I understand it's a big favor to ask and it's entirely true that I don't have the right to decide what you wear, but. But. Please reconsider it, Ai Gun, I can't have other guys fantasizing about you." Off's voice turns desperate. "I really can't."

"You don't call me Teacup anymore ...." Gun abruptly points out a completely different thing. "Is it because I'm no longer cute?" He pouts, eyes peering up gingerly at Off.

Off sighs. "Gun."

Gun doesn't answer.

"Tsk ... Teacup."

"Ung." Gun responds, still pouting.

"Answer me, please."

Gun purses his lips even firmer.

"Gods, you're just so ...." Off sighs exasperatedly. "Teacup stays, okay? Like it or not."

"So then why—"

"Because I don't use pet names when I'm being serious, sheesh!"

"Oh." And just like that, Gun falls silent again.

Off sighs. "Can you answer me now?" He repeats his question patiently.

Instead of answering, Gun gets up and stalks toward Off's walk-in closet.

"Gun?"

"Gimme your shirts! They're bigger and longer and would certainly cover enough. And don't you dare saying no! It's boyfriend culture, you know?" says Gun, already on a shirt hunt.

Off lets out a breath he's been holding. "I sometimes wonder what's going on inside your little head."

"Honestly? Me too." Gun giggles.

Off breaks into a smile eventually. "Take whatever you want. I don't really mind. Just don't let them go crazy over your waist, can you please do that for me?"

"Papii, you have the weirdest fetish." Gun chuckles, pulling out a shirt with a big picture of a cartoon character. "Anyway, if it's work, I'll try my best to talk myself out of it but I'm really sorry in advance if I can't, okay?"

"...I understand, thank you."

"So? Are we good now?" Gun asks, does a giddy yelp when he finds a neon green shirt.

"Yes. I am. What about you?"

"What about me?"

Off blinks. "You have no conditions?"

"Yes Papii, just keep showering me with love and affection and never get tired of my whims and I'm good." Gun grins from ear to ear, showing his picks. "And on that note, I'll take these two."

"Sure." Off gives a small smile and not so much as a glance toward the shirts' direction. "Not even interested in learning about Mook?"

Gun smirks. "Oh trust me Papii, everything you need to say, I already heard it from her."

"You're on speaking term with her??" Off asks baffled.

"Yeah, we're cool."

Off barks a weak laugh. "Just know that everything has ended long before you came. No matter how serious the thing we had between us, it's over."

Gun smiles. "Thank you, Papii. But you really have nothing to worry about. Don't read too much into it now but even if we can't work this out, I think I'd rather see you with her than some random girl."

"Okay ...?" Off winces. The fact that Gun can calmly have this talk stings a little.

"Oh, I know that look, Papii." Gun groans. "It's because she's the one girl I know who doesn't see you as a trophy, okay, nothing more! I thought my intention's pretty clear but if it's not obvious enough, I've been practically putting you on display to show the world just who you belong to. Don't think I don't know girls still hunt you down like animals."

"Whoa, what? Are you stalking me, Teacup?" Off immediately turns defensive.

"I don't need to, my fans—and antis—report to me on hourly basis." Gun's eyes glint dangerously.

"Should I be scared?" Off laughs nervously.

"Oh, don't be. You've been doing perfectly well, Papii." Just like that, Gun's back to his bubbly self.

"Good to know." Off shudders, not in the least looking relieved.

TBC

A/N Got a little carried away writing about these two lovebirds so I had to split it into two parts. Hehe. Look forward to the continuation na ....