Into the Hornet's Nest

6

           Minho is in the attic, epipen at the ready in his back pocket while he happily stands on a ladder to string star shaped lights across the walls and ceiling. It's not too hot up here for once, and since Han and him cleaned out any gross bits from being left alone for six years, Minho had brought small bits of furniture up shortly after Han had left. Now, there is a small loveseat and coffee table for board games or games - the decent sized television already hooked up to the console he brought along with him. The attic is far less intimidating to be in now, the lights and furniture filling up the once too-empty space. Minho brings himself down from the ladder, checking on the loudly inflating air mattress. Han has been busy for the past week or so, not often able to come see the progress being made. Han hasn't seen the clean kitchen or properly decorated bathrooms, Minho had been too excited for him to come over again now that there was so much more to show off. While the mattress continues to fill, Minho pulls out the small couch so the frame is ready for the air mattress as soon as it's done, tediously setting up the gaming system before rushing down to gather as many blankets as he can find. He bundles sheets and thick blankets into his arms, making a total of three trips in order to have enough blankets for both the bed as well as the fort to be made. He originally wanted to surprise Han with it already finished, but at the last second he had decided it may be more fun to build it together. So, he texted Han while preparing, Minho currently scrambling to at least finish the bed since the boy should be arriving any minute now. He leaves the folded blankets in a neat display on the bed, running down to grab pillows and freezing when the front door creaks open. He stares, Han giving him a confused look.
          "Pillows? Why are you carrying those?" Han teases, taking his shoes off and sliding along the newly redone wooden floor. He slides up to Minho, nearly running into him. Minho holds a pillow out to stop him gently, Han chuckling and mumbling something about having his own personal airbag to protect him. Minho rolls his eyes and tosses the pillows back onto the bed, grabbing Han's arm and giving him a grand tour of everything that has changed. Han gawks at the insane amount of progress that has been made in only a week, stepping into the shower and moving the curtain back and forth as his way of 'testing them.' Minho tuts at him, telling him to come and see the kitchen, Han immediately running out and nearly tripping over the tub in the process. He runs out before Minho even gets the chance to follow, Han's loud praise able to be heard while Minho walks calmly into the kitchen and bursting into a fit of laughter when met with Han sitting on the countertops and looking far too interested in the new cookware.
          "Off, off," Minho chuckles, swatting Han off of the counter and remaining unswayed even as the shorter boy pouts. Han is still holding the large whisk in his hand, waving it in circles in front of Minho's face as if it were a wand. Before Han speaks, Minho holds the whisk still. "Yes, I know it's leviosa and not leviosah." Minho chuckles, taking the whisk entirely from his hand and laughing at how shocked Han looks because of how apparently predictable he is to Minho. Han frowns.
          "Just because you finished my joke doesn't mean it isn't funny." Han states, arms crossed and back pressed against the countertop. Minho taps his nose with a hum, walking out of the kitchen knowing Han will tail behind him without being told to. Minho makes a comment for Han to take the pillows and come with him. Han does, throwing one of the pillows to Minho and trying to hold in his laughter when it messes his hair. Minho leads them into the attic, a soft gasp from Han making it's way directly into his heart. He helps Han up the last stair, taking the pillow and laying it on the bed. When he turns to Han, he is immediately crushed into a hug, Han sniffling against his shoulder. Minho slides his hands across Han's back as a comfort, one hand holding him steady while he shakes in Minho's arms. "I'm sorry for crying," Han whines, pulling away from the embrace and wiping his eyes with a large smile. "I'm just shocked." He looks at the set up, Minho ruffling his hair as he leans to inspect the blankets. 

          "I thought we could make a fort," Minho says casually despite being able to feel his heart in his ears. Han nods quickly, handing him a blanket and helping him make the best fort they can out of the large colored sheets and patterned blankets. If there is ever a time when Han is meticulous, it is during things like this. He needs every blanket to fall perfectly, the colors to make sense next to each other and he needs there to be no gaps. The sight of him micromanaging the fort makes Minho smile, far from offended whenever Han adjusts a blanket Minho placed too far from another. He sits on the bed, admiring how Han will take a step back to check his work before attacking whatever small problem he sees again, standing back once more before moving on to another section. After a few minutes of preening the fort, Han sits beside Minho with a dopey grin, leaning in to quickly brush their noses together. Minho may or may not flush at the action, but he smiles nonetheless. Now isn't the time to get sheepish. Not while Han is the happiest he's seen him, not when there are games for him to destroy Han in. He hands Han a controller, glad they thought to tuck the blankets behind the screen rather than covering it accidentally. He admires Han's handiwork, noticing the way he even managed to make a tent-like door for them to come and go as they need.
          After many, many games, Han pouts at Minho. He shoves the controller into Minho's hands while Minho just laughs at the tantrum. Han sighs dramatically, claiming to only be bad at the one specific game. Minho agrees half heartedly, assuring him that he never had a chance to beat him in this game. Han slaps his thigh from his laid back position, Minho sitting up and patting Han's side in mock sympathy.
          "Not my fault you suck, Han Jisung." Minho teases, switching the screen to put on a movie of some sort.
          "I suck, but not at games." Han mumbles, Minho raising his eyebrows and wiggling them at the suddenly bashful Han. "Not what I mean!" Han whines, taking the pillow from behind his head and hitting Minho's back with it. Minho just chuckles, saying something along the lines of yeah, sure, earning him another whine from behind him. "Even if I did, I wouldn't do it to you anyway." Han grumbles, sitting himself up and crossing his arms to emphasize his grumpy tone. Minho looks at him with half real, half fake sadness.
          "You wouldn't?" Minho dramatically pouts his lip, scrunching his eyebrows together. "Even if I asked nicely?" He adds, Han's face turning a lovely shade of red at the implication. He looks away, Minho replacing his expression with a smirk. Han glances up at him, yanking the controller from his hand and scrolling through movies. After a moment of Minho being smug and Han quietly searching, Minho hears Han mumble under his breath.
          "I guess if you asked really, really nicely I would consider it." Han mumbles, seemingly unaware Minho could hear him. Either that or he didn't care if he heard him; Minho isn't sure which of those possibilities makes him blush worse. Minho clears his throat, trying to level his voice into the non-flustered version.
          "You can stay the night, since you don't have work." He says, trying to casually rest his head on his hand and having to play it off as his elbow slips off of the arm of the couch. Han looks at him as if he never said anything remotely similar to the words that just left his mouth, an innocent smile making Minho smile sheepishly. Han nods, telling him he just needs to call his grandmother to tell her. When Han excuses himself and leaves the fort to call downstairs, Minho groans to himself. He rubs his face. How is he getting attached so fast? "Snap out of it." He whispers to himself, despite the fact that he is completely whipped for a certain Han Jisung is entirely evident in his mind. And heart. And d-

          "All set." Han chirps as he slides back into the bed, handing Minho a drink he brought up with him. It's going to be a long night. 

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BTW, there is a whole playlist for this. The link will be in the last chapter :)