ZB1/ZeroBaseOne Oneshots

How much I care | Matthew x Gunwook

As always, Gunwook couldn't take his eyes off of the brunette running through the garden. Even when chased by a bunch of screaming four year olds, his smile was so beautiful and sweet, you could tell he genuinely loved his job. Gunwook had only started his work experience a few months ago, but he was already sure this was where he wanted to work once he finishes his degree. All because of the man who was now tumbling to the ground; getting piled on by all the children.

With an amused smile tugging his lips, Gunwook walks over to the pile, and starts gently removing the children until he reaches Matthew.

"I can't out run them." Matthew breathes out, his chest rapidly rising and falling, as he tries to catch his breath.

"Because you're old." One of the kids giggles.

"There's nothing wrong with being old Yujin." Gunwook tells the kid whilst helping Matthew off the ground. He receives a whack on his arm for that. 

"I'm not old." Matthew whines, pushing the younger away.

Gunwook nods apologetically. "I know, but compared to them...you kinda are old." He laughs at how his teasing causes Matthew to pout. The older was so adorable in his eyes, he just wanted to hug him and squeeze him, and keep him in his pocket.

Truthfully, Gunwook had been feeling this way from the minute he met Matthew. Despite being older than him by a few years, Gunwook had this strange urge to look after the man. He wanted Matthew to be happy, and did everything he could to do so. As they sat down for lunch that afternoon, he spent a good ten minutes picking out the tomatoes from Matthew's pasta. Matthew always complained when he did this, saying he could eat around them, or do it himself, but Gunwook never listened to him. He knew Matthew appreciated it, and enjoyed lunch much better without the tomatoes, so to him, the hassle was worth it.

"Who wants to do some painting?"

All of the kids scream in excitement, and Matthew leads them into the room. They all run haphazardly to the tables covered in paint, paintbrushes and canvases. Knowing what these kids were like, this was definitely going to get messy. Gunwook takes a seat beside Matthew, his eyes flickering to the canvas in front of him. He wasn't very artistic, but it's not like he was surrounded by a bunch of little Picasso's. He could probably get away with painting a blob of colour, and no one would say anything.

"Do you like my painting?" Yujin asks, lifting up his canvas. Both Matthew and Gunwook stare at it for a few seconds, unsure of what the boy had painted. It looked like two stick men, but everything was very messy since the boy had used his fingers.

"Yes it's lovely Yujin." Matthew replies, ruffling the boy's raven locks. "But what it is?"

"Can't you tell? It's you and Gunwook!" Yujin exclaims excitedly, he starts pointing to all of the sections of his painting. "Here you're holding hands, and there's a heart above you because you're in love!" 

Matthew's eyes go wide, whilst Gunwook chokes on thin air. These kids really were unpredictable.

"Um Yujin, that's nice, but me and Gunwook aren't in love." 

"Okay whatever you say." The boy mutters, sounding unconvinced. 

It got a bit awkward after that, neither man really sure of how to act around the other. Gunwook didn't think he was in love with Matthew, but he definitely knew he had feelings for the man. It kind of hurt to think that Matthew might be acting like this because he genuinely has no romantic feelings for him. Every time they'd lock eyes, Matthew would look away, or anytime their fingers would brush while reaching for the paint, Matthew would snap his hand back. He didn't want Matthew to feel uncomfortable around him, so at the end of the day, he pulls Matthew aside to talk.