Sitting on Jongup’s lap, Daehyun cuddled under a blanket, feeling snug and safe in the other man’s arms. The change of clothing Youngjae had left him remained where they had fallen behind the couch during their confrontation, his phone sat on the table beside Jongup’s. He wouldn’t have even bothered retrieving that device if he hadn’t been worried about the kind of drama Youngjae might have told his parents if they contacted him, unable to reach Daehyun themselves. Laying his head on Jongup’s shoulder, Daehyun laughed at a particularly humorous part in the show that was on.

“Oh god. What even.” Chuckling, he snuggled against Jongup. “This. This is the kind of quality garbage I love to watch.”

“You’re the kind of quality garbage I love to watch.” Jongup replied, snickering at the scandalized gasp Daehyun gave him. “You’re beautiful, don’t give me that.”

“You’re beautiful garbage.” Scrunching his nose when Jongup poked the tip of it, Daehyun pouted at him a moment until the pair began to giggle at their own teasing. Their joy was short lived when their laughter was interrupted by the song Aphrodisiac blaring through the room. As much as Daehyun enjoyed the vocal stylings of Jin Akanishi, he couldn’t help but scramble to shut the volume off.

“Really?” Jongup watched him, arms around his waist and clearly amused with the turn of events. “That song sounded pretty dirty, Daehyun.”

“You shut your mouth, Lu.” Batting at Jongup, he found himself pulled into a soft kiss, feeling Jongup’s chest reverberate with laughter against his back.

“Okay. You make a fair point.” Nuzzling Daehyun’s neck, he could feel Jongup’s lips curl into a smile against his skin. “It’s really cute when you blush and get flustered, you know. I’ve always thought so,”

“Oh yay.” Rolling his eyes, Daehyun stuck his tongue out at the other man. “Being embarrassed around you isn’t exactly something I enjoy. I look like an idiot.”

“Not at all, actually. When you’re shy, it’s the sweetest thing I have ever seen.” Rubbing his cheek, Jongup gave him a sincere smile. “It’s so cute it’s physically painful. My heart is going to explode all because you are a literal angel.”

"Gross.” Chuckling, Daehyun pulled Jongup into a kiss. “I will try my best not to murder you with my deadly cuteness.”

“I would appreciate it.” Ruffling Daehyun’s hair, Jongup kissed his forehead. “But if you do manage to kill me off, just know that I died happy.”

“Jongup...” His confession was cut short by his phone ringing again. With a groan, he looked at the screen, seeing Junhong’s name glare across the display “ me...”

“That seems a bit sudden.” Chuckling, Jongup rubbed his hips and rested his chin on Daehyun’s shoulder. “What is it?”

“Well, when two men love each other very much one man puts his-” Jongup’s hand gently covered Daehyun’s mouth, causing the man to laugh at having his explanation silenced.

“No, no. I meant your phone.” Releasing Daehyun’s mouth, Jongup shook his head, rubbed the other man’s cheek. “Look at you, giving me the birds and the bees talk. I’m a grown man, Jung Daehyun. My ringtone is Lu after all.”

“Ah. Lu, the true status of adulthood.” Squishing Jongup’s cheeks playfully between his hands, Daehyun sighed heavily, frustrated that he couldn’t seem to escape the drama for more than a few hours. “It’s just Junhong. I don’t really feel like talking to that home wrecker right now.”

“Want me to talk to him?” Jongup’s questioned made him feel relieved. If the other man could get even just Junhong to leave him alone, it would be infinitely easier on him. Though, really, he still wondered why Jongup had always come to his rescue when he had never seen himself as worthy of a second of the man’s time.

“I wont say no as long as you get him to leave me alone.” Snuggling against Jongup, he played with his hair, kissing his cheek. “But you really don’t have to.”

“Oh trust me. I know I don’t have to. But I’d do anything for you.” Smiling, Jongup kissed the tip of his nose and nodded toward Daehyun’s phone. “Besides. I have a plan.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask...” Raising an eyebrow, his heart dropped when he phone rang again. “Speak of the devil...” Taking Daehyun’s phone, Jongup gave him a reassuring squeeze and nodded at him. Nervous, Daehyun felt the urge to cover his ears, the impending drama making his bruises from Youngjae seem to sting.

“Hey, Dae. Forgive me.” Holding his tighter, Jongup pressed talk and held the phone to his ear. “Sorry, but Daehyun can’t come to the phone right now. He’s busy being too good for your bull. May I suggest calling someone who cares. Maybe Youngjae. Thanks, bye.”

“You handled that in a lot nicer way than I would have.” Closing his eyes, Daehyun turned to face Jongup, pressing his forehead against the other man’s shoulder. Feeling hands rub his back calmed his growing anxiety.

“Well I figured you might get embarrassed if I answered it making noises so I thought I’d keep it classy.” Jongup shrugged slightly and Daehyun sat back to look him in the eyes, batting at the man’s shoulder.

“Oh my god but that would have been perfect!” Pouting, Daehyun poked his cheek. “Why didn’t you do that?!”

”Alright~ I’ll keep that in mind next time one of them calls.” Laughing, Jongup kissed him, sending butterflies through Daehyun’s stomach.

“You better, Moon Jongup.” Returning the kiss, he giggled softly and cupped the other man’s cheeks. He wasn’t sure he would get used to the tender way Jongup handled him and he wasn’t sure he deserved it, but here they were and he knew he’d fight for the right to remain by his side. He would do whatever it took to be good enough and when he was... Then he’d finally confess his feelings.

After a long moment of silence, Jongup yawned and pretended to stretch, wanting to seem as inconspicuous as possible before he attacked. Tickling the man on his lap, he stifled his laughter as Daehyun squirmed and tried to shoo him away, his musical giggles filling the room. The look on Daehyun’s face was equal parts youthful and gorgeous, causing his heart to skip a beat.

“Jongup~ Stop~” Squeaking as Jongup’s fingertips trailed up his side’s, Daehyun pushed at him. “You’re going to make me pee!”

“Then we’ll be Pee Hands and Pee Pants.” Smirking, he began his tickle assault on Daehyun’s armpits, earning a squeal as the other man tried to get away from him. Holding him with one arm, Jongup continued to move his fingertips along Daehyun’s side.

“I’ll pee on you~” The warning sounded serious but he could hear the undertow of giggles and that only fueled him.

“.” His words graced him with an embarrassed Daehyun beating his head with the couch’s throw pillow.

“Jongup~!” Half whining, the beautiful man continued his futile quest to get free until Jongup finally gave in. Wrapping his arms around Daehyun, he rested his chin on the other man’s shoulder as he calmed down in his arms.

“Fine~ But this isn’t over, Jung Daehyun. I’ll get you again.” Pledging to continue his dirty work later, Jongup playfully nipped at Daehyun’s shoulder. “You wont know where or when, but when I do... There will be pee.”

“I swear to God, Moon Jongup... If you make me pee my pants...” Despite his irritated tone, Daehyun still smiled, rubbing Jongup’s cheek.

“I’ll do your laundry and give you a nice shower and make you cheesecake.” His promise was met with a soft snort of suppressed laughter.

“Jongup!” His companion shook his head, chuckling at he hit the top of his head gently with the pillow. “You can not bribe me into allowing you to make me piss my pants.”

“Technically you’re wearing my pants so...” Wiggling his eyebrows, he couldn’t help but grin at the glare Daehyun gave him.

“It’s still a no, you weirdo.” Squishing Jongup’s cheeks in his hands, Daehyun made a kiss face at him. “So stop asking.”

“Well damn.” Moving Daehyun’s hands from his face, he laughed and kissed his companion. “It was worth a shot, I guess.”

“You and pee. I swear.” Scrunching his face up in mock disgust, Daehyun reached up to mess up Jongup’s hair.

“I love it.” Sure, he hadn’t dated much, being mostly, as he would consider himself, Daeual, but the few people he had been with didn’t hold a candle to how he felt next to Daehyun and that prompted Jongup to find his bravery and continue his train of thought. “You know what else I love?”

“Bellybutton lint?” The wide eyed, innocent look Daehyun gave him made him chuckle and bat at the man’s hip lightly.

“Ew. What the hell Daehyun?” Shaking his head, Jongup bit his lip, looking him over. “Try again.”

“Cheesecake?” His next guess made Jongup raise an eyebrow.

“That’s what you love.” Chuckling, he kissed Daehyun’s cheek. “Again? What else could I love?”

“Weird shaped trees?” Daehyun nodded as though that had to be the answer, no way around it.

“How weird are we talking?” Curiosity got the better of him. You don’t really think about the marvels that could come along with weird shaped trees until someone points it out to you and now Jongup was off track but he needed to know.

“Like. Shaped like people doing odd things?” Daehyun put his arms up in a cute pose, presumably imitating a tree. He was so adorable Jongup could hardly handle it.

“Yes... But no.” Grinning, he poked Daehyun’s hips, waiting for his next outlandish, precious suggestion.

“Then I give up.” Sighing in defeat, Daehyun pouted and folded his arms over his chest. “What else do you love?”

“You.” Once the word left his lips, Jongup knew he couldn’t take them back, nor would he want to. “I love you, Daehyun.”

“Jongup...” Excepting to be turned down, he braced himself, not expecting the passionate kiss he found himself in, much more heated than all the ones shared between them before. “I love you, too.” Daehyun, his Daehyun, Jung ing Daehyun, loved him too. Joy threatened to burst his chest as he pressed his lips to the other man’s again. His dreams were coming true and it had been well worth the wait.