Someone’s alarm was trilling, dragging Chanhee from his peaceful dream of a forest and into the real world. He gave a groan and rolled over to press himself into Minsu’s chest, he would protect him from the morning. 

He found nothing but more bed as Minsu was moving, taking the obnoxious noise and clicking it off. Chanhee frowned, he had been betrayed. 

A kiss was pressed to his cheek and he felt Minsu shift and climb from the bed. Chanhee rolled, taking refuge in Niel’s slim back and radiating warmth. Niel rolled, slipping his arms around Chanhee and kissing his hair. 

He could hear Minsu moving around the apartment. He kept his eyes closed. He wanted to snuggle and sleep. Niel began shifting as well.

Chanhee gave a frustrated groan. Niel chuckled. 

“Sorry, honey,” Niel whispered. “I told Jungeun and Kiyoung I’d meet them to study.”

Chanhee cracked an eyelid. Niel was propped on an elbow, looking down at him. Chanhee closed the eye again.

“Don’t pout.” Niel kissed his lips and then abandoned him in the bed.

Chanhee rolled onto his back, heaving a sigh. He wanted to sleep in and snuggle with his men. Neither of them had time to snuggle him. Chanhee knew this. The last week had been tense and curt with stress of exams hanging over their heads. 

He stayed quiet and alone in the bed. He didn’t even feel like getting up to join them in the shower as he heard the water start on the other side of the wall. He would not make a scene, but he did not have to be happy about being left on his own for his first day off in two weeks. He was tired, rehearsals were kicking his and coming home to a stressful house was not ideal. He just wanted a day where they didn’t all feel like they were being strangled to death by stress. 

Minsu returned first. He sat on the edge of the bed, hair damp and painting clothes already on. Chanhee pouted once more. He wanted to roll away and sulk. Instead he waved his arms in the air for a hug. Minsu obliged, coming down to give him a hug and kissing him lightly. 

“I hope you have a productive day,” Chanhee grumbled.

“Thank you.” Minsu’s voice was deep with sleep still lingering. “I’ll be back some time tonight. I’ll make you dinner.”

Chanhee gave an appreciative grumble and released Minsu so he could sit up once more. 

“Love you.” Minsu kissed him once more.

“Love you too.” Chanhee made a pile of their pillows and reclined against it. 

Niel flew into the room, snatching things off the floor and tossing them into his backpack. 

“I’m almost ready,” he told Minsu as he passed. 

He jumped onto the mattress and smooched Chanhee. He tasted minty fresh.

“Love you heaps.” He scrambled back off the bed and out of the bedroom.

“Love you too!” Chanhee called, unable to remain sulky. His smile shone through. “Do you have snacks?” He called to Niel, letting Minsu kiss him again now he was smiling. 

“I’m going to buy them!” Niel called back. He zipped by the door. 

“We’re leaving!” Minsu announced, taking one last kiss from Chanhee and squeezing his beneath the blanket. 

Chanhee jumped, laughing and batting at Minsu’s arm. 

“Have a good day!” Chanhee yelled as they rattled around the entryway. The door slammed shut. 

He sighed. Chanhee pursed his lips and looked around. The apartment was silent. 

With slow movements he climbed out of bed. If he was awake, he may as well get up. He sent a text to Byunghun, if he had the day off they could at least spend it gaming.

=====

Chanhee scowled at the apartment from the kitchen island. Byunghun had been called to work, he couldn’t spend time with Chanhee either. He rinsed his plate at the sink and rounded on the apartment again. 

He was sick to death of this mess! He began to tidy with a vengeance. Everything was sorted and piled on the table for Niel. He picked up the various clothes that had crept into the living room. He washed dishes, turning his music up loud and splashing water all over the bench and floor. He even cleaned the bathroom, sorting his makeup and tossing out what had gone bad or he didn’t use. He changed the sheets and made the bed, picked up all of the strange things left on the floor and sorted it on the quilt. 

When he was finished he felt better. His pent up aggression and frustration all expended on the house, and it was beautifully clean again. Chanhee stood in the shower, he wondered how long it would take them to wreck it once more. He would guess in exam block about three days, max. 

With nothing better to do, Chanhee stood at the mirror and applied his makeup and styled his hair. He curated an outfit, taking as much time as he wanted to choose. He snitched Niel’s felt hat to finish the look and slipped out of the apartment. 

Walking down the sunny street deflated his mood a little. It was such a nice day; the sun was warm on his skin and the breeze just a little cool. He wanted more than ever to have at least one of his boyfriends there to share it with. He sighed again.

The cafe was moderately empty when he arrived, the last of the lunch rush finishing up. He ordered a coffee, taking a seat in the window. There were no messages waiting for him on his phone. 

Chanhee leaned on his palm, staring at the cars going by. He couldn’t help but miss them. Some days when they were all together it was too much. He would crave just a moment of peace from their bickering and playful arguments. Lately there was less play and more just bickering, it had been so grating Chanhee enjoyed leaving for work and coming home later. Now, though, he missed them so deeply it actually sent a small ache through him. 

As he was making his way back to the apartment he tried to call Minsu. There was no answer, but Chanhee hadn’t really been expecting one. 

“Minsu, I hope the painting and study is going well. I love you.” He left the short message and texted Niel instead. The lit major would be in the library and wouldn’t pick up a phone call. 

How goes the study?

Niel sent back a photo of his sprawled mess of pens, highlighters, books and notes. In the background, Chanhee could see Kiyoung with his head in his hands.

Good. Niel’s reply read.

Study hard. Chanhee added a loveheart to it. He received one in reply. It was good enough he supposed. 

Chanhee was about to give up and put the phone away when the third message thread down caught his eye. Changhyun! He tapped out a quick text. A reply swooped in as he pushed back into the apartment.

Heck yes! Changhyun had written with his gamertag behind it. 

Chanhee beamed. Finally!

=====

He was still playing when the door opened and the students returned. 

“We’re home!” Niel called. “Woh, clean!”

“Hi!” Chanhee didn’t look away, clicking furiously as his champion flirted with death. 

Warm arms came around him, pressing a cheek against his. 

“Oh! E! E!” Niel cried, watching intently. “Now Ultie! Ult! Ahh!” He kiss Chanhee’s cheek. “Good job.”

Chanhee laughed, not turning away as the screen turned into a flashing technicolour of powers firing.

“When did you get so good at this?” Minsu teased, stopping by to kiss Chanhee’s hair. “Spicy.” He began a rapping beat. “Seafood. Fried. Rice. Spicy seafood fried rice!” He set his groceries on the bench. “You!” He called to Niel. “Come and help me.”

“I’m helping Chanhee.” Niel knelt beside his chair, head close beside Chanhee’s.

“I think he’ll manage.”

Niel sighed, rolled his eyes and stood. As he made it to the bench, taking the food Minsu was passing him to be put in the pantry, Chanhee let out a series of strangled noises and a loud “Ah !”

“I told you!” Niel announced, racing back to try and watch. 

“Just buy back,’ Minsu commented, coming to stand behind Chanhee as well. “Push top.”

“Mm.” Niel knelt once more, watching the map intently as Chanhee clicked rapidly. “What is your Nocturn doing?” Niel mumbled. 

“,” Chnahee replied with distraction. 

Minsu drew the other chair over, sitting on the opposite side to Niel and leaning close to Chanhee as well. 

Chanhee couldn’t help but grin and feel a flutter of warm happiness in his chest. The two of them grumbled about his useless team mate and coached him unnecessarily. The both kissed him as the enemy Nexus fell. Minsu standing and returning to the kitchen, dragging his hand over their shoulders. 

Niel climbed into Chanhee’s lap, cuddling in as much as his stingy form allowed. 

“How was study?” Chanhee asked, clicking out into the lobby and giving Niel his full attention. 

“I think I have this one covered. Tomorrow I’ll move on to Modern Poetry study.” Niel made a gagging face. 

“Good.” Chanhee smiled. He ran his hand over Niel’s back. His feet turned them around on the swivel chair so they were facing the kitchen. “What about your study, darling?” Chanhee called. 

“Mm. Good.” Minsu was washing vegetables. “I still don’t know why I need to be able to write essays to be an artists but…” He gave a shrug. 

Chanhee and Niel gave soft huffs of laughter. 

“Hop up,” Chanhee prodded Niel off. He moved to the kitchen and wrapped his arms around Minsu. He kissed him and smiled sweetly.

“You’ll do great,” Chanhee murmured. “Welcome home.”

“Mm.” Minsu finally smiled properly, kissing Chanhee in greeting. 

“You want help?” Chanhee asked, releasing him and examining the ingredients on the bench.

“No.” Minsu smiled. “Go and sit. It’s your day off.”

Chanhee rocked a little with happiness. He kissed Minsu again and turned away. Niel was in Chanhee’s seat, already playing another round. Chanhee leaned down and kissed him for a long moment. When he released Niel’s lips he was given an exasperated look. He laughed and booted up Niel’s computer beside his own. 

“Oh! Byung is online.” Niel’s voice was cheerful and impish. “Let me abandon.”

“No! That’s my account!” Chanhee winced as Niel selected to disconnect. There was no red penalty message and Chanhee frowned. 

“I was only in a practice,” Niel grinned. Chanhee pushed his chair with his foot, scooting Niel across the room. 

“Only one round,” Minsu called from the kitchen. “No eating at computers tonight.”

“Aww, daaad!” Niel complained as Chanhee picked up the voice call from Byung on his computer. 

“I definitely didn’t need to hear that,” Byunghun’s voice was dry through the speakers. 

There was a cacophony of noise as they all tried to reply at once.

=====

When they had finished dinner, at their freshly tidied table, they left the dishes to be done in the morning. Minsu pulled Chanhee down onto the couch and into his lap. He pulled Chanhee into his chest and held him there, kissing him softly. Niel fussed with the TV before coming to join them, sitting flush against Minsu and taking Chanhee’s feet into his lap.

Chanhee melted. He knew they were apologising for the morning. He settled in, getting comfortable across his boyfriends. It was always worth the wait. 

==========

A/N: OK i'm basing almost all of my description of  Chanhee playing LoL off my sketchy and very old knowledge of DOTA so don't @ me lol. 

Also feel free to prompt me. I'm just having fun with these three.