They enter the apartment and are automatically greeted by Yixing who is wearing oven mitts and a smile. He pats both of them on the shoulders like a mother meeting her children afterschool, takes their coats and hats, and ushers them to the couch. “You’re strangely courteous today, Lay…” Luhan remarks “are you feeling okay?” “Anything for the married couple.” Yixing stifles a laugh and Minseok looks extremely confused. Luhan translates for him and he flushes bright red. Yixing can’t handle it anymore and begins to laugh “You two are hopeless. Okay, have fun…” he leaves for the kitchen again, adjusting his oven mitts.

So, what did I miss while we were all snowed in?

Ah…not much. One thing: My family is planning a holiday reunion because we haven’t seen each other all together in a while, and you’re invited if you’d like to come!

Oh, really? I’d love too…who will be there?

Um…my mom, my dad, sister, aunt and uncles, cousins and their kids, Jongdae, most everyone! I’ve got a rather large family.

Alright! I’m excited to meet them. Will it be a formal or a casual event?

I’m not sure. I’ll tell you when I know, but it will most likely be casual! And probably a dinner, of course.

Casual dinner…okay. Got it. Luhan puts his arm around Minseok’s shoulders again and they lean back into the grey-blue plush of the couch, the smaller’s head resting slightly on his companion’s shoulder. Minseok reaches for Luhan’s hand and they interlace their fingers. His hand is warm and dry and Luhan closes his eyes and breathe in the faint now-familiar smell of the man beside him, delicate shampoo and hair product, and the warm coffee and pastries of the coffee shop that has become like a second home. He feels Minseok’s lips brush gently against his cheek and opens his eyes to greet the bright grin and smiling eyes of his significant other.

So…it’s correct to call you my boyfriend, isn’t it?

Of course.

And then they kiss, and Luhan feels like flying.

***

Minseok stays for dinner and joins Luhan’s rowdy roommates in yet another intense game of Mario Kart. Kris is determined to reclaim his position as the king of Mario Kart and his seriousness surrounding the game is almost enough to make Luhan laugh out loud. Tao sits on Kris and chews at his nails, eyes fixed on Kris’s part of the glowing tv screen. Yixing sits in the corner with his worn-but-beloved guitar and creates background music, his eyes half closed. Playing cheerleader, Luhan grabs a pair of socks and waves them like pom-poms. Minseok, very focused on his game, doesn’t notice but Yixing starts up a dramatic rhythm for Luhan to wave his makeshift pom-poms along to.  Tao joins them and soon they have two rival cheer teams in the small living room. Kris’ Mario falls off the track and Tao boos and jumps up, waving his socks. Luhan laughs and cheers on Minseok’s Yoshi with his own pair although the latter is still trying his best to stay focused on the game and so hasn’t been watching most of the mayhem happening around him.

Yixing breaks a string with his dramatic strumming and Kris is startled away from the game, letting Minseok come in second place while Kris is left in eighth. The tall man curses and Tao comes back to sit on him again, putting the socks on Kris’ face. Minseok stretches and yawns, turning to Luhan and reaching for the socks.

Your turn.

Luhan trades the sock-pom-poms for the remote and takes his turn playing as Yoshi.

***

After the gaming, Tao and Minseok begin to sign to each other again and Luhan tries not to stare creepily, but he can’t help but wonder what they’re discussing. Most of the vocabulary is far beyond what he knows and he’s pretty lost but he does his best to try and understand. He catches sleep, house, and an ‘L’ name that he guesses is probably ‘Luhan’. After a while Tao turns to him “We all want to have a slumber party.”

“Uh…who’s idea was this?”

“Mine. You in?”

“Thought so…and sure.” Minseok, are you staying?

Yes, I think it’ll be fun.

Alright…do you need pajamas?

If that’s okay, I’d appreciate it!

Luhan nods and gets up, gesturing ‘one second’. He only owns two pairs of pajamas and one of them is dirty so he surrenders his clean pair, white with tiny green dots, to Minseok.

Kris and Tao hog the bathroom taking what seems like an eternity to brush their teeth, and Yixing sits outside the bathroom door waiting patiently for them to open up. When they do he’s almost smacked in the face by the frosted glass-paneled door and he scoots away down the hall while Zitao exits wearing a facial mask and a tired-looking expression.

Once Yixing is done doing his business Luhan lets Minseok have his time and then showers, the water quite cold now that the hot water has been running for four other people. All