Into the Hornet's Nest

7

          For most of the night, things went smoothly. The movie was good, they played a few rematches, Han actually won a few games. Minho convinced Han somehow to let him cook something for them, Minho groaned in fake annoyance as Han tailed behind him to 'keep him company' in the kitchen. By keeping him company, Han had actually meant that he would be stealing the occasional bite of the cooking food whenever he thought Minho wasn't looking. If Han hadn't looked so happy with his cheeks full and his legs dangling over the edge of the counter, he would have told him he knew he was doing it. He did, however, swat him off the counter again much to Han's annoyance. He had rolled his eyes, Minho catching the action as it was ending, flicking the boy's ear and reminding him to not be rude to a hyung, much less a hyung making him food. While Han was holding his ear and glaring, Minho heard him grumble something about 'just don't spit in my food.' Minho was tempted. He liked to think he was, anyway.
          They had carefully brought their plates up to the attic, Minho threatening Han about the many ways he will hurt him should he mess up the bed. With a passive flick of the wrist, Han sat and nearly immediately dropped a small portion of sauce onto the bed, giving him a wide-eyed apology. Minho was shocked at how fast he was talking, his eyebrows furrowed at the stumbling words. Near the end of it, Minho made out just enough of the chatter to feel his face soften, 'I'm sorry hyungie,' making him flush enough to turn away and tell him to calm down before he makes a bigger mess. Minho hadn't been specifically talking about the food, but Han didn't need to know that.
          Now, as Minho walks back upstairs after quietly rinsing the plates and silverware, he swears he can hear soft giggles from inside the fort. He lingers, loving the resemblance to windchimes, smiling fondly at the makeshift structure before snapping himself out of it enough to enter with a neutral expression. Han throws something away from him last minute, faking a casual pose much like every bad comedy movie. Minho squints at him, crawling over Han's extended legs and sitting cautiously. Minho feels around for his phone, clicking it on to check the time and staring at his lock screen for a bit longer than he means to. He can't help it, not when he's suddenly met with a rather appealing selfie of the boy beside him, who is currently staring too intently at the screen with his hoodie pulled over his nose. In the photo, he's smiling with a peace sign held to his face, Minho blinking for a moment before realizing Han hadn't been wearing a hoodie earlier. Minho looks at him, tightening the strings of the hoodie so it shuts over Han's eyes, a whine muffled from beneath the fabric. 

          "How did you get that?" Minho tries to scold, a chuckle more evident in his tone than he'd like. Han shrugs, adjusting the hood just enough to peek one eye through. "Yah, that one is my favorite!" Minho says, trying to ignore how close to a whine it is. He can feel Han grinning beneath the hoodie, knowing he's probably smug about the acquired warmth.
          "It was on the back of the couch," Han says passively, the smile coming though in his tone. "It was soft, it smelled nice, I wanted to wear it." Han states matter-of-factly, shrugging again while Minho just stares in disbelief. At least he smells nice, he supposes. Minho sighs, shaking his head lightly at the hoarding squirrel and sliding himself to rest his head against the pillow. Minho pulls the blanket up to his chest, folding his arms over the top of it and watching their second movie of the night. Han and Minho watch as the characters on the screen begin an all too sloppy make-out session, Han flushing and looking at Minho to see if he's as shy about it as he is. When he looks at him he sees a face of near disgust, the corners of his mouth frowning and his eyebrows scrunched up. "Not one for kisses in the middle of a life or death battle?" Han asks, trying to calm himself down by picking on the older. Minho makes a sound halfway between a snort and a scoff, responding without looking at Han.
          "Not one for girls always ending up with the hot male lead." Minho says, definitely not realizing the words as they drive a shock into Han's heart, Han just nodding with a few too many blinks before returning his eyes to the screen.
          "Not one for girls at all, I take it." Han says, trying his best to not sound as suffocated as he feels, Minho pausing before turning to look at him. They look at each other for another eternity, Minho clearing his throat and turning away. He shrugs. Shrugs as an answer.
          "I'm sorry if you're bothered by it." Minho says softly, scooting a bit farther away from Han and hugging the blanket tighter to himself.
          "I'm not," Han rushes out, reaching over and turning Minho's face a bit too harshly in order for them to lock eyes. Minho gives him a tight-lipped smile, nodding once in understanding and glancing at the way Han is holding his face similarly to how he had done to him not long ago. Han looks down at his own hand, letting it pull away gently after swiping his thumb over the small impressions his fingers had left. "Don't worry about it, hyung. I'm not one for girls either." Han says just above a whisper, smiling at him with soft eyes and an even softer chuckle. They look at each other for a moment, the movie completely forgotten. It feels too close, too warm, too hard on Minho's nearly aching heart. He doesn't know why he was so concerned about Han taking it poorly, even if he hadn't meant to let it slip. Minho can't tell if it's the atmosphere hanging heavy around them or if it's the mutual ache of someone finally understanding, but he's convinced Han has moved closer to him. He's convinced he sees Han's eyes flicking from his eyes to his lips, swears he can feel the warm breath fanning over him as his eyes flutter shut. He stays still, letting whatever may happen happen and deciding to worry about the rest later. It feels like forever, waiting like this, his eyes fluttering open right as Han moves his head away from the interaction that never actually happened despite both of them feeling as if it had. Minho is terrified. Did he read the situation wrong? Han and Minho look at each other with equally flushed faces, Han awkwardly lifting Minho's hand for a one-sided fist bump as a replacement for their lips. The action makes both of them choke out a relieved laugh at the realization that neither of them are sure what it meant or how to handle the almost of it all. They return to their original positions, Han with his knees to his chest and Minho laying himself flat again. They each sigh quietly, choosing to ignore the looming what if in their minds. Yeah, a long night indeed. 

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Three total songs in this chapter, one of which is in the video space but it wont let me add the others. 

(Please listen to them in order if you listen :) )