Puppy Love • Seungchan/Chanmin

•⊱•••• 9 ••••⊰•

Seungmin sits quietly in the passenger seat of Chan's car as they make their way to the public ice rink.

Chan didn't come to the front door, he didn't say hi to his parents, instead he had sent a message that said "here" upon arrival and had remained in the car. Chan didn't even turn his way until he'd hopped in and closed the door, and even then, the glance he got was brief and empty.

Seungmin had wanted to lean over to give him a kiss, but the broody vibes that were rolling off of Chan had Seungmin stopping in his tracks. As Chan had placed both hands on the wheel and pulled away from the curb, Seungmin focused on his seatbelt instead.

Minutes later, despite the radio playing, the silence between them only felt more suffocating the longer they were trapped inside together.

Seungmin had no idea what the cause was, nor how he was supposed to handle this side of Chan. He wasn't sure he could fix things either, even if he did know what was wrong.

Seungmin wanted to say something, he needed Chan to say something, but it felt like any tremor could anger the giant next to him, and Seungmin didn't want to get caught in his rampage.

So Seungmin sits, his hands tightly clasped in his lap as he stares at the road ahead, and distracts his thoughts with the music on the radio.

Not before long, Chan is parking in the car park, and it's only as Chan sits, making no move to get out of the car that Seungmin realises he had to do something, otherwise he was sure their date was only going to crash and burn.

Seungmin unclicks his seat belt, slowly and carefully reaching out his hand to grip Chan's arm, but before he even touches him something happens. Like lightning Chan unclicks his belt, turns in his seat and pulls him into his arms.

Seungmin is frozen in place as Chan squeezes him, but the air shifts and Seungmin is no longer hesitant to grab Chan, so over the console he reaches his arms around Chan and holds him steady.

"Chan? Are you ok?" Seungmin asks, his voice quiet. Something must have happened. Did someone die?

Chan pulls back and looks out towards his side window, avoiding eye contact, again.

Seungmin is quick to reach for the older's cheek and turn his face back.

"It's nothing, don't worry," Chan states as he pulls down Seungmin's hand.

Seungmin frowns. Although Chan still wasn't quite meeting his eyes, the emotions suddenly painting themselves across his face spoke volumes.

It wasn't "nothing"

"Chan, it's not nothing. Tell me what's wrong?"

Chan was clearly battling against something, and it frightened Seungmin that he had no idea what to do.

Chan's chest rose up and down and the word "Breathe" falls from Seungmin's lips.

Chan's large shoulders heave and the older takes a deep breath.

"I'm not going anywhere," Seungmin adds. He may have been frightened, but he had no plans to run. So Seungmin stays, and he waits.

Chan inhales and exhales out a few more times. "I had a fight with In-ah...over you..." he then expresses quietly.

"Did you already talk to Jeongin?!?!" Seungmin gasps, expressing his thoughts outloud. Had Chan already spoken with his brother about them?

Chan shakes his head rapidly, his next words tumbling out. "No! No! Not exactly. Jeongin asked me why I was dressed up and I said I was going on a date, and he asked me if it was the guy, aka you, that was over the other day. I couldn't lie so I said yes and then he assumed that I was sleeping with you and then he told me that you probably don't care about me, and that relationships are pointless and pretty much that I should give up. But I don't want to give up. It just hurts knowing he's already shutting us down and we haven't even begu-"

Seungmin leans in and pulls Chan into his arms, ceasing the boy's words. It made sense now as to why Chan was acting how he was; he was angry and upset. "Shhhh," Seungmin hushes. It hurt knowing Jeongin was so hurt he was expressing his unrest on his brother, but there wasn't anything Seungmin could do right now to help Jeongin, what he could do however was help Chan.

"Chan, don't take Jeongin's words to heart, he's just hurt right now." Seungmin says as he holds Chan tighter, running his fingers through the base of the olders hair. "Contrary to what Jeongin thinks, I like you, a whole damn lot. I care about you too, and I don't believe relationships are pointless, otherwise I wouldn't insist on making sure what we have is strong before we make things official. I also wouldn't be with you, about to go on our first date, right now either if that were the case"

Seungmin strokes the back of Chan's head a few more times as the older calms down. Soon Chan pulls back and Seungmin sits back as well.

"I'm just so worried that when we talk to Jeongin about us- because I'm sure there will be a time when we will, that he's not going to respond positively." Chan pauses with a sigh. "I want to explore these feelings between us openly, I just don't know what I'm going to do if he says no to us."

Seungmin sucks his lips between his teeth, and looks down at his hands. They were in a tough place right now, Seungmin could see Chan's growing commitment towards him. It was still early days, but Seungmin could feel it there like the soft beating of his heart. But he could also see Chan's loyalty to Jeongin, they were brothers after all and Seungmin himself was just a boy they had both fallen for.

Seungmin sighs. "No matter what Jeongin says, I'll respect whatever decision you choose, even if it hurts"

Chan quickly grabs his hand. "It shouldn't have to hurt. I don't want you to hurt"

"-And I don't want you to hurt either. Jeongin's my ex and my friend, but he's your brother. We can work things out down the track if we have to. If Jeongin says no, maybe we can convince him otherwise, and if you wanna end things...well, let's not worry about that now, ok? Right now, we are here together, we like one another and we're going to have the best date ever, despite this bumpy start. Sound good?"

Chan smiles finally and nods his head. "Sounds good. I'm sorry I've been a grump. This isn't entirely how I planned things to go when I suggested I come pick you up"

"Oh?" Seungmin questions.

Chan puffs out through his nose, "I actually wanted to come to your door, yenno like they do on dates in old fashioned movies?" Chan pauses and suddenly points to the back seat, "I even bought you a rose! A ROSE MIN!"

Seungmin spins in his seat to see a singular rose sitting behind the passenger seat and his lips curl up in an uncontrollable smile. He hadn't noticed it at all.

"I was fully prepared to say hello to your parents as well," Chan continues, pulling Seungmin's gaze back to him. "I was ready to demand they extend your curfew too, if you have one"

This makes Seungmin laugh, "I don't have a curfew! But I appreciate the thought, maybe- maybe next time. I know my parents would love to meet you, I'm also sure they'd be very happy that I'm dat- I'm with, someone kind-hearted, thoughtful and smart, like you- and thank you for the rose too." Seungmin finishes with a brief glance at the rose on the back-seat before setting his eyes back on Chan.

Chan smiles at him, and Seungmin feels a warmth rising to his cheeks with each second they're eyes remain connected. The fuzzy feeling in his chest only grows fonder as Chan leans in, whispers "You're welcome," and kisses him.

It's tender and sweet, as if Chan was channelling all his feelings and emotions into the very touch of their lips. Seungmin was sure no one had ever kissed him like Chan kissed him. He didn't rush, he wasn't pushy, instead he was slow and gentle. Seungmin really could kiss him for hours.

But right now, they needed to do a little more than kissing, so he reluctantly pulls away, not before peppering the older with a few more butterfly kisses as he tried to lean back in, chasing his lips for more.

Once they finally made it out of the car Chan hugs his arm around his back, and he feels bubbly inside as Chan then gingerly strokes down his side as they walk, a simple reassurance that they were going to be ok.

Seungmin simply smiles and then does the exact same thing; slipping his hand around Chan's back and around to his hip, sharing the affection and comfort too.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵