It took him a long time to realise that Jongdae was the one – the man he couldn't live without it. It wasn't a big, frothy romance. No, it was a slow burn as he fell in love with the man he considered his best friend. He jokes that he 'puts up' with Jongdae, but the truth is – he has no idea what he'd do without him. Part of that is just the length of time they've been together, but underneath – the part that scares him – is the part that just loves him too much to let go.

As it is, they've never truly considered splitting up. It's never really occurred to either of them to look for someone else. There may be greener pastures elsewhere, but Yixing is content with what he has. He's content to be with a man he respects, and a man who respects him in return. There aren't many people who would deal with his messy emotions about his uality, and there are even fewer who would be in sync with his weird sense of humour.

Jongdae is his choice. Not someone he settled for. He knows he's not very good at making that clear – decades later, and he's still at explaining how he feels – but deep down, Jongdae understands. He wouldn't stay, otherwise, because there is something inside of Jongdae that longs to know he's loved.

He doesn't exactly know why. Jongdae has never been starved of love; his family have never made him feel unwanted. He has always known he is important to someone. And yet – he needs reassurance, needs to know that Yixing will react when he reaches out for him.

And however bad he is at making it clear he loves Jongdae and the life they've built together, he will always be there when Jongdae wants him.

“I love you,” Jongdae murmurs, sleepy and sated. His hands – with their voracious, talented fingers – for once, are still, and he sounds as if he can barely keep his eyes open.

Yixing knows the feeling. “I love you too,” he mutters, wishing his cheeks didn't flush in embarrassment as he does so. He kisses Jongdae gently, sweeping the silver-streaked hair from his forehead. It suits him, strangely – gives him a roguish, gentlemanly air that is deceptively charming.

Jongdae is anything but gentlemanly, at least in the bedroom.

“What do you think the kids are up to?” He asks, yawning. Slowly, he stretches upward, so that his head rests against the pillow and not the bedsheet.

“Nothing good,” Yixing says wryly. He loves his children – more than anything – but that doesn't mean he trusts them any further than he can throw them. Which, considering how fast they're growing, isn't far.

Jongdae hums in agreement, luxuriating like a particularly satisfied cat in the comfortable bed. “I miss them,” he says, sounding a little put out. “And this is our honeymoon. I don't think I should be thinking about them.”

Yixing raises an eyebrow. “I certainly hope you haven't when we've been doing...things.” His lip curls in distaste. Ew.

“No, nothing like that!” Jongdae pulls himself upwards, leaning on his elbow. “I just mean...they're not here, and I miss them, and oh god – I'm one of those helicopter parents who can't stop worrying about whether or not their children have eaten enough.”

“I really don't think Mimi and Joonmyun have forgotten to feed our kids,” Yixing snorts, shaking his head at the ridiculousness of the idea. “And besides, they're old enough to feed themselves.” A smile tugs at his lips. “But, yeah...I miss them too,” he admits sheepishly.

Jongdae scoots a little closer, scowling. “This isn't how honeymoons are supposed to go,” he grumbles, fingers tilting Yixing's chin up as he surveys the damage done to his neck from last night. “Sorry about the hickeys, by the way.”

Yixing shrugs. “Hey, they'll fade by the time we get back home, so it doesn't matter.” Secretly, he kind of likes them. It's like they're teenagers again, consumed by each other with no thought for anything like bills or budgets. “And what do you mean, this isn't how a honeymoon is supposed to go? We've barely left our room.” He points out.

Actually, they haven't even left the hotel. They were going to – so they could join a group who were going to tour the local sites – but then Jongdae said something about this being a perfect spot for a and, well, to cut a long story short, they got...distracted.

Hey, they're making up for lost time. Living with two teenagers and a preteen girl doesn't leave time for anything carnal.

“I know, I know,” Jongdae seems to brighten at that, as if they've fulfilled some sort of aim Yixing didn't know they were striving for, “but I mean, I shouldn't even be thinking about them at all! I should just be thinking about, I don't know, my in your .”

“Or my in your ,” Yixing supplies cheerfully.

“Yeah!” Jongdae sighs. “I shouldn't be worrying about how much trouble my children are causing back home.”

“Honey, if it counts,” Yixing says, pressing himself closer to Jongdae – close enough for Jongdae to feel everything – “I don't think we've been thinking a lot.”

Jongdae chuckles, face splitting into a cheeky grin. He looks down as Yixing winds himself around him, eyebrows raised in question. “Already? I swear there's something in the water here.”

Still, he doesn't question it further, instead sliding down in the bed to take care of Yixing's little problem.

Yixing can't help but wish their honeymoon was longer.