Seventeen bxb One Shots

Playdate (GyuCheol)

Request by; Lala1234na
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Mingyu sat in the circle of chairs, fingers anxiously tapping against his knee as the group session droned on. His mind wasn't here, though. He'd been thinking about his family coming to visit, about how the tension had been building all week. Today, it was so bad that spilling his coffee that morning had nearly made him snap. As the others spoke about their struggles, his thoughts wandered to the knot of anxiety that had taken permanent residence in his chest.

"...And that's why I’ve been so on edge lately," Mingyu finally admitted when it was his turn to share. "I feel like I'm just waiting for something to go wrong. My family's coming to visit, and I'm already stressed out of my mind."

Across the circle, Seungcheol nodded, offering him a quiet but understanding look. It wasn't the first time they'd exchanged these small, silent reassurances. Despite the eight year age gap and only knowing each other through these weekly sessions, they'd developed a kind of unspoken connection- both there for the same reasons, both trying to rebuild parts of themselves they'd long since lost control of.

Once the session ended, the group broke up into smaller conversations. Mingyu found himself standing next to Seungcheol, the two of them lingering on the corner of the room.

"Your family's coming to visit, huh?" Seungcheol asked, leaning against the wall. "I get it. I had something similar happen with my brother earlier this year. We don't get along, but we had to visit our mom together when she got sick. I remember being tense for weeks before that visit. I wasn't great to be around, especially at work."

Mingyu gave a small, appreciative nod. "Yeah, it feels like everything is setting me off. Even the smallest things."

Seungcheol let out a quiet chuckle. "I know the feeling. Look, I’ve learned that preparing for the worst doesn’t always help, but controlling what you can, does. Maybe you could... set some boundaries with your family? Give yourself space when you need it."

Before Mingyu could respond, his phone buzzed. "Sorry, I have got to go," he said, glancing at the screen. "It's work."

Seungcheol nodded, then offered, "We should exchange numbers. I can text you some more advice or just... talk, if you need it."

Mingyu agreed. After exchanging numbers, they parted ways.

The next evening, Mingyu found himself out with Seungcheol, eating ice cream at a small outdoor cafe. Seungcheol had brought along his white puppy, an energetic ball of fluff that served as his emotional support dog, named Kkuma. As they talked, Seungcheol explained how much having a dog had helped him manage his anxiety and anger.

"I wasn't sure about getting a dog at first," Seungcheol admitted, watching his puppy play at his feet, "but she's been the best thing for me. If you're thinking about it, I can give you the number of my doctor. He helped me with the process."

Mingyu thought about it for a moment before Seungcheol handed him a business card. "Thanks," he said, pocketing it. They spent the rest of the evening chatting about everything and nothing, like they'd known each other for years.

This became their routine- late-night ice cream runs, quiet coffee breaks, or trips to the bakery, often with Kkuma tagging along. She had a calming effect on Mingyu, and he found himself considering getting one of his own. A month later, he did.

A month after that, they met at the park for a puppy playdate. Mingyu's new dog, Bobpul, was just as energetic as Kkuma, and the two pups ran across the grass, barking and chasing each other. The sun was setting, casting long shadows as the men laughed and filmed videos of their puppies and each other with them.

At one point, Seungcheol sat down to throw a ball, only for both puppies to tackle him, knocking him flat onto the grass. Mingyu laughed, the sound surprising him with how free it felt. For a moment, everything felt... right.

Later, they sat on a bench, their dogs curled up at their feet, resting after their playdate. The air between them was heavy with something unspoken. Mingyu glanced over at Seungcheol, and before he realized what he was doing, he leaned in.

Their lips met, tentative and soft, but the moment felt charged. They pulled back almost immediately, both of them staring straight ahead in silence.

Mingyu cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "Thanks for helping me through all of this... with my family, with everything. When I'm with you, I feel... normal. Like I can handle things."

Seungcheol's gaze softened. "I've felt the same. But... I don't know what this is, between us. I've never felt this way before, and I don't know if it's just friendship or something more."

Mingyu nodded. "Maybe we need some time to figure it out?"

Seungcheol agreed, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice. They shook on it, agreeing to take a step back, to give each other space.

When their next group session rolled around, things felt surprisingly normal. Afterward, they found themselves talking, as they always did.

"Bobpul's been missing Kkuma," Mingyu joked, trying to lighten the mood.

Seungcheol smirked. "Yeah? Kkuma's been whining for another playdate too."

Mingyu looked at him, holding his gaze a little longer than usual. "I... Bobpul isn't the only one who's been missing the play dates.."

Seungcheol's eyes flickered with something- understanding, maybe hope. "Yeah," he said softly, "same here."