"Battle Trip"

Taekwoon was alone at home that day and had nothing much to do except to watch videos of his nephew from his phone. His sister sent him many videos of Minyul for him and he couldn't help but coo over how adorable his nephew was.

"Heh, so cute~" Taekwoon chuckled like silly just watching the videos alone.

After going through his phone the entire afternoon, he decided to make himself something to eat in the kitchen. He looked into the kitchen and opened the fridge to see what was left over for him to make. As he prepared the ingredients in the kitchen, he decided to turn on the television for some background noise so that the place didn't feel as lonely.

Taekwoon was happily humming as he made his special pasta for himself until he heard some familiar voices.

"We're Real V, VIXX!" it was Hakyeon's voice.

Taekwoon went out into the living room to see what was on the television and saw Hakyeon and Hongbin in the variety program 'Battle Trip'.

Ah, right. Those two went to Thailand together for this program, didn't they? Taekwoon got curious and hurried to finish his cooking.

He decided to sit down in the living room in front of the television as he ate his food.

Hakyeon and Hongbin went to Thailand last month for the show while everyone else was rather busy. Lately, it felt like wherever Hakyeon went, Hongbin would follow as well. The two of them kept their trip a secret to be honest and when the members asked if there was anything fun that happened during their trip, the two of them would look at each other and just smiled.

"Watch it if you want to know," Hakyeon grinned happily as he promoted the episode to his own members.

Whatever happened during their trip, Hakyeon and Hongbin's relationship seems to have gotten even better as if it wasn't already just as good before.

Taekwoon couldn't help but feel slightly jealous whenever he saw how good of a relationship those two has. After all, Hakyeon and Hongbin have known each other the longest compared to everyone else. Thinking about the past, Taekwoon often finds himself regretting the fact that he used to push Hakyeon away because he wasn't exactly comfortable with the leader's affections. Taekwoon was shy and didn't know how to react except try to maintain a poker-face whenever Hakyeon approached him. Even though Taekwoon himself have gotten rather clingy with the other members, he couldn't find himself to cling onto Hakyeon without his heart beating heavily. One way or another, Hakyeon always makes the shy vocalist even more timid.

Despite Taekwon becoming more comfortable with affections, Hakyeon no longer clung onto him like he used to. Instead, he'd cling onto Wonshik or Jaehwan more. Hakyeon would cling onto Wonshik just to tease the younger while Hakyeon clinging onto Jaehwan is just natural. Whenever Taekwoon saw that, he couldn't help but wish it was him that Hakyeon held closely to instead.

Taekwoon let out a sigh as he continued to watch the program.

Hakyeon and Hongbin landed in Thailand and slept overnight at the airport to wait for their morning bus to Pai. The two of them spent a night sleeping next to each other...

Their heads are so close together, Taekwoon felt a tingle of jealousy coming out already at the beginning of the episode.

There were many cute parts of the episode that Taekwoon couldn't help smiling and laughing though as he watched especially since Hakyeon looked more like the younger member as he ran behind or next to Hongbin a lot. When the two of them arrived at their tree top 'hotel', Taekwoon also found himself in awe of how beautiful it was.

"Wish I could go there," Taekwoon thought aloud. “... with Hakyeonie.”

Somehow, watching Hongbin and Hakyeon lying on their backs in the room, talking to each other about getting away from the city, or just relaxing, made Taekwoon ache just a little inside because of how much he would want to be there as well.

After settling down, the two of them went to a hot springs area in Pai. Taekwoon was rather surprised that such an open hot springs existed in a place that not many people knew about. He watched Hakyeon and Hongbin go into the waters, chatting and then, suddenly, playing the pushing game with one another.

"Don't fall forward! Fall that way, not this way!" Hakyeon scolded Hongbin as they started their game.

Hakyeon was very sneaky while he played the game, trying to trick Hongbin several times in order to win the game. Taekwoon found himself laughing a lot during this part because he could see how disadvantageous Hongbin was. Despite what Hongbin always say to tease Hakyeon in front of the members, everyone knew if anyone was going to spoil or let Hakyeon do whatever he wants, it'd be Lee Hongbin.

He's getting tricked so easily, Taekwoon chuckled a lot. As he saw Hongbin fell backwards during the game, he was just like the panelist, hoping that the younger would win against the sly leader.

After losing the second time, Hongbin had to go and buy some eggs as a punishment. Taekwoon watched the younger ask the staff in Thai and English in order to make his purchase, which he couldn't help but feel proud of having such a talented younger member. He remember that even before the two members went to Thailand, Hongbin was always studying Thai in the dorms rather than playing Overwatch or some other kind of video game with his friends. Taekwoon remembers hearing Hakyeon cheering and supporting Hongbin to study Thai for the two of them while Hakyeon was in charge of the itinerary for their trip. There were even times when they’d be sitting at the table during dinner and Hakyeon would be discussing about their trip to Hongbin. At times like those, Taekwoon felt a little left out since he wanted to be apart of the conversation as well.

Taekwoon let out a deep sigh watching the show.

Then, while it was completely dark, Hakyeon and Hongbin woke up in the morning to catch a glimpse of the sunset. He saw the two members having a toast of tea like it was alcohol and chatting once again about their trainee days or the usual temple days when Hongbin was still a little monk. No one would ever imagine that the visual of VIXX used to be a child monk and lived in the temple. Even Taekwoon was shocked when he found out.

As the two waited for the sunset and happily saw it rise, Taekwoon felt a tingle of envy once again...

I wish I could have been there, Taekwoon thought as he tried to imagine what it would have been like to travel with his lifelong friend for once. Taekwoon have never gotten a chance to travel with Hakyeon despite being friends of the same age. However, Hakyeon and Hongbin seems to travel a lot together.

It’s not like Taekwoon disliked the idea of travelling with Hakyeon but the other members would definitely make fun of him for being alone with the leader. Taekwoon didn’t like that but at the same time he wished he had the chance... after all, Hakyeon have travelled everywhere else with his friends especially Wongeun, the one friend who Hakyeon always talked about to the members but never introduced them to one another.

After the show was over, Taekwoon has a mixture of feelings inside. He didn’t know whether he found the two members to be cute together or if he was going insanely jealous or depressed after watching the getaway trip between Hongbin and Hakyeon.

He let out another sigh and turned off the TV. All he that was in his mind after watching the show was how he wished he could go on a vacation with Hakyeon, just the two of them, as soon as possible especially since they were going to be enlisted next year. After they enlist, there's no guarantee that the two of them would be together in the same sector and if that happens, it means that the two of them won't really see each other for two whole years. That was a scary enough thought that made Taekwoon even more anxious than before.

Just as Taekwoon drowned himself in misery, the front door opened and Hakyeon finally returned.

"Hak-" Taekwoon jumped happily from his seat but as soon as he saw Hongbin coming in from behind the leader, his face changed. "W-Why are you two together?"

“Hmm? We just met at the elevator?” Hakyeon asked a question back.

“Coincidence,” Hongbin answered.

Taekwoon looked at the two suspiciously and didn’t know if he wants to believe it. He quietly looked at the two and remained in silence.

“Um, did you eat yet Taekwoonie?” Hakyeon called Taekwoon by his nickname since the vocalist didn’t seem too pleased with his response. Even he didn’t know why he felt like explaining it.

“Not yet. I was waiting for you… two,” Taekwoon added the second person in as if it wasn’t suspicious enough already and despite him already have eaten, he found himself lying that he didn't. 

“You didn’t have to. Well, are you going to make dinner,” Hongbin asked.

“I’m about to. What do you guys wanna eat?”

“Anything is good as long as you make it,” Hakyeon laughs.

“Ew so cheesy, get out hyung,” Hongbin shook his head at the leader.

But Taekwoon was pleased. Just something so simple suddenly made him feel like he was on cloud nine. So, he went into the kitchen to make some of his specialty pasta while Hakyeon and Hongbin waited at the dining table quietly.

As Taekwoon turned around to check on the two of them, Hakyeon and Hongbin were talking quietly about something…

They’re leaving me out again, Taekwoon sighed. Why is it so hard to get in between those two?

It was something no one could do. Nothing could separate the bond Hakyeon and Hongbin had with each other and Taekwoon couldn’t help but be envious of it as well. If Taekwoon met Hakyeon before Hongbin did, would the outcome be different? Could he have the same impact on Hakyeon as Hongbin did? Taekwoon wasn’t sure.

“Here. Be careful it’s hot,” Taekwoon places a large plate of pasta on the table for the three of them to share.

“Here, you first hyung,” Hongbin grabbed a portion for Hakyeon.

“Thanks Kong,” Hakyeon said happily and had the first bite. “This is so good~ thanks Taekwoon-ah.”

“Sure…” Taekwoon wanted to be happy but still, it felt like something was missing. “Did you guys have fun in Thailand?”

“Huh? Why are you asking now? It’s been more than a month,” Hongbin asked.

“Just curious. The episode just aired earlier so I watched a bit.”

“It was great. It was very beautiful and it was very relaxing not to be stuck in the big city,” Hakyeon told him.

“I see… do you not like the city?” Taekwoon thought since he enjoyed being in the city very much because there’s so many things to do or see.

“It’s not that I don’t like it but getting out once in a while is good. Makes you forget being an idol and just being a normal human being for once.”

“I agree. It’s so tiring being an idol sometimes. I liked Thailand a lot actually. Hyung, you should come with us next time,” Hongbin invites Taekwoon happily with a smile that no one could refuse.

“Can I?” Taekwoon felt like he was interrupting something.

“Of course! Right, Hakyeon-hyung?”

“Mhmm! All six of us should go on a trip or something. Then again, whenever I do suggest it, you guys hate it… being with me…” Hakyeon sighed.

“That’s not true. You know we’re only joking, right?” Hongbin tries hard to cheer the leader up.

“That’s what you always say but I don’t know if I can believe that.”

“Com’on, are you sulking?”

“Maybe? Plus if it wasn’t for this TV program, you wouldn’t have agreed to go on a trip alone with me in the first place,” Hakyeon started to argue with the younger.

“That’s not true. I go wherever you want me to. I always have, haven’t I?” Hongbin suddenly felt bad.

“You two…” Taekwoon didn’t know where to intervene.

“You always hang out with Jaehwan or Hyogi and never refuses whenever either of those two asks you out but then whenever I do it, you always give me a thousand excuses before you actually agree,” Hakyeon continues.

“A thousand? That’s exaggerating. I like Jaehwan-hyung and Hyuk as much as I like everyone here. It’s just, whenever you ask me out, I have things to do. You just have bad timing,” Hongbin argues back.

“Um, guys…” Taekwoon was starting to feel a bit awkward between the two.

“Bad timing? Your gaming friends are always more important than me it seems. I guess I’m just a nobody in your eyes and just a business partner after all,” Hakyeon was being childish and using Taekwoon’s childish remarks from the past to argue back.

“What!? Now you’re being ridiculous. If I didn’t like hanging out with you, I wouldn’t go everywhere and staying by your side all this time. Maybe you’re just too clingy?” Hongbin finally got upset.

“Clingy? Me? I’ve already stopped being clingy to you since ages ago since you always ignore me like the rest. Only Jaehwan knows my heart and accepts me the most in this group.”

“Oh? Than why don’t you go find Jaehwan-hyung to travel or hang out with you instead?”

“Fine! I will!”

“GUYS!” Taekwoon finally raised his voice after enduring the two’s argument for who knows how long.

Hongbin and Hakyeon finally snapped out of their fight and looked at the vocalist.

“Stop arguing! You two are fighting over something so petty, it’s unlike the both of you. The Lee Hongbin I know would never choose anyone over Hakyeon and the Cha Hakyeon I know would never give up either. The two of you are inseparable, so why are you guys fighting over something so little? Is it worth it?” Taekwoon asks them.

The two stared at the vocalist without a word for a second, looked at each other and then scratched their heads in confusion.

“Um, sorry hyung,” Hongbin said to Hakyeon. “I really do like you a lot and I would never choose anyone else over you.”

“Uh… yeah, sorry for being so childish all of a sudden. I guess I’ve just been stressed out from work that I’m taking it out on you,” Hakyeon sighed. “I’m an idiot for thinking that you’d choose anyone else over me or the group.”

“No, I should be the one saying sorry. Next time you invite me anywhere, I’ll make sure to clear up my schedule for you,” Hongbin said.

“No it’s okay. I know how much friends mean to you. I was just slightly jealous that I don’t know much about gaming to talk to you about it like Jaehwan or Hyogi can.”

Gosh, they’re so silly and cute sometimes, Taekwoon thought to himself as he watched the two bicker and reconcile at the same time. Little moments like these really puts him in bliss because he realizes just how precious these moments are and not everyone can experience it.

“Taekwoon-ah,” Hakyeon noticed the vocalist smiling to himself in thought.

“Hmm?” Taekwoon looked at the leader.

“Thanks.”

“What for?”

“Putting us back in our senses,” Hongbin said. “Usually you’re the most childish one in the group but I guess you know when to be the oldest at times like these. It’s kind of refreshing.”

“Yeah, I agree. Thanks Taekwoon-ah. For many things and of course for the food,” Hakyeon smiles.

Both Hongbin and Hakyeon smiled happily at Taekwoon, their smiles were so beautiful and genuine, so adorable and precious, that Taekwoon couldn’t help him.

He grabbed the two of them by their shoulders and hugged both of them very tightly.

“Hyung?” Hongbin was surprised and tried to wiggle out of Taekwoon’s arms.

“T-Taekwoon-ah?” Hakyeon also felt a bit embarrassed by the vocalist’s sudden affection.

“I seriously love you both so much!” Taekwoon said.

I was stupid to think that I’d be jealous of one or the other when I love the two of them so much. I’m so glad to be tighter like this.  

A/N:

This is a really old chapter from more than half a year ago that I had drafted on my phone and never finished. But still hope you guys like it~