The F5 (Fraternal Five)

Special

In the end, Gun never came. Off waited until he fell asleep on the sofa, moved to bed at around three, but still no signs of Gun.

His phone is turned off when Off tries to get ahold of him again this morning, so Off tries Krist instead. The nong says he hasn't heard of Gun since half past one, after the small senior bade him goodbye saying he's heading toward Off's place.

Stomach tight in panic, Off gets off the phone and hurriedly takes off to find Gun. He practically flies past the lobby so it's a miracle that he catches Gun's little figure curling up in one of the sofas there.

"Ai Teacup, you ...!" Off is too speechless for words to scold.

Gun stirs and opens one eye half-awake. "Who ...? Ugh, my back ...."

"'Your back' is right! You slept sitting all night!" Off sighs exasperatedly. "Why didn't you ring me up?!"

"Hm? Oh." Gun rubs his eyes in a daze. "I was too exhausted I guess. I remember I was just taking a break from walking but—"

"You walked all the way from Kit's place??!" Off shouts in disbelief. "Why didn't you call me to pick you up??!"

"God, you're so loud, Papii." Gun presses a finger to his temple, frowning as Off's shrill hurts his head. "I brought my car okay, but s'not like I could park right outside your unit, so."

"Huh ... true. Still! Fucking send me your schedule a week ahead from now on! I'll drive you whenever I can!" Off pulls back, breathing deeply to calm himself down. When he speaks again, his anger has gone, replaced by his low, steady voice. "This is not me being possessive, Ai Gun. You can hire a driver for an alternative. But I won't take a no—you're not allowed to drive when you're working. It's really for your own safety, since you seem to fall asleep everywhere."

"Okay, okay ...." Gun chuckles weakly. "But first, can I please have some coffee?"

Off nods, offering his hand. "Let's go. Can you walk?"

Gun gets up, grimacing. "I'm not some invalid, okay—" His legs give out even before he finishes talking.

Off catches his arm without missing a beat. "You stubborn brat." He picks Gun up bridal style and walks briskly to the lift, trying not to draw attention all the while. It's embarassing he knows, but it's the fastest way to go. And all he wants is to just get the conversation done.

Gun tightening his little arms around Off's neck without saying anything catches him off guard, but at the same time kinda feels amazing.

*

A cup of black coffee, a warm shower, and a snuggle under Off's duvet later ....

"Hmm ... I could get used to this." Gun sighs, hugging a huge bear he managed to smuggle into Off's condo, head resting on his boyfriend's shoulder.

Off chuckles. "You know you're welcome anytime."

Gun glances at the clock. "Hu ... I need to go in an hour."

"I'll drive you." Off quickly says.

Gun beams. "Thank you, Papii."

"And about what we've talked earlier ...."

Suddenly, Gun looks down dejectedly.

"What is it?" Off turns to his baby, voice laced with worry. "What did I say this time?" Instead of Gun, he looks annoyed with himself.

"No but Papii, my agency specifically told me to keep our relationship lowkey during the filming and later, the promotion. And in exchange feed the fans' hungry imagination of me and Oab, to boost the rating." Gun shoots Off an apologetic look.

"Oh ...." Off is stunned for a good minute. "So it was all set up?" He prompts carefully.

"Yesterday, on Twitter? Well I wouldn't go so far to call it acting, too, Oab's just really playful and we like to play around but I don't really meet the guy outside work. And we're both taken so we know when to stop, it's always been like that so rest assured, Papii, okay? In fact, you should meet him. I promise you, he's cool. Alrisa, too."

Off frowns. "What kind of lunatics ship two taken people together?"

"Pii, it's kinda the purpose of our fanservice."

With heavy heart, Off nods. "Okay, okay. I just have to know though. That Oab guy, is he your ex?"

"What?" Gun turns to Off, baffled. "I would never humiliate you like that Papii. My ex's not a public figure nor our uni's graduate, he's way older and didn't really blend in in our time, so yeah, we don't have any mutual friends and in result, I haven't talked to him in a long while." He smiles. "Anyway, it pains me to say that I'll have to make you stay in the car all the time, Papii, but I'll take you up on your offer if you don't mind."

Off sighs. "I don't." He really doesn't. It pains him more to see his baby down.

Gun flashes him a small smile. "It's tiring, huh? Keeping up with my life?"

Off growls. "This is nothing."

"Aww, Papii!" Gun jumps to kiss Off's cheek. "That's just so hot, I'm drooling."

"What the—did you do it on purpose?!" Off glares at Gun who immediately gets off him after one suggestive line and a freaking peck.

"Huh? Do what?" Gun smiles back innocently.

"Seduce me, what else!" Off reaches out, but the little guy's already steered clear of the bed, giggling. "Get back here you brat!"

Off chases Gun around the room, trapping him in a hug just outside of it. They fall into the living room's sofa, laughing, as Gun desperately pushes Off and his puckered lips away.

"Papii! Time out, please! Papii please?"

Off easily gives in at the sight of Gun's big, puppy eyes. Damn, he's a simp.

He moves to lie in Gun's lap, lazily admiring the view from below. And by 'view' he means Gun making silly faces at him.

His hand shoots up involuntarily to caress the trace of Gun's dimple, the gesture turns the small guy into stone. A cute, adorable stone at that.

"Papii, thank you." Gun whispers ever so softly, Off's doubting his own hearing.

And there it is again, the warm feeling that Off feels in his chest. Of what, he's still unsure. Probably the little things Gun does. Or the little lights in his eyes whenever he looks at Off. The little touches, the little kisses, the little things that makes Off feel safe. And content, and special. And before he realizes, he says, "Hey, I know it's sudden and you're completely welcome to say no, but do you maybe want to go with me to my family gathering this weekend? Mae wants to meet you."

It's not a lie. But. It's not mandatory either. Technically, Off could always brush it off, but Gun doesn't need to know that, heh.

Gun studies Off. "Does your mae know I'm a guy?"

Off sits up, frowning in disagreement. Of all things to be concerned about .... "Of course she knows—I'm dating a celebrity. And either way, being a guy isn't wrong, okay? I don't want you to feel like it is ever again."

Smiling softly, Gun answers, "Then, sure. I don't feel wrong about myself, I just don't feel right to ruin your family gathering. Still, thank you, Papii." He stands up abruptly. "Let's go now? I wanna buy an ice cream cone on the way."