Cute.

Adorable.

Saccharine words that make him purse his lips in displeasure. 

Ugh, how he detested those words, especially the word cute.

Hongbin being someone that didn't really like to admit that he adored such things or that he melted when he saw kitties and puppies or lit up when he saw a cute stuffed animal in the store. Because he was a man and he wasn't supposed to like cute things (yes, he knew it was stereotypical BS, but he couldn't help it), and it would allow people to call him cute too, which he didn't want. (No, he definitely didn't want that, how mortifiying.)

He wasn't a kid anymore, a baby anymore, so he still shouldn't be pinched in the cheeks by his hyungs while they called him cute and adorable as they did so. Thinking he was okay with their laughter and name calling whenever they were with him, his hyungs never saying that he was handsome, striking, or heaven forbid y on all the occasions they hung out with him. Almost as if Hongbin could never be such a thing while he was with them (Hongbin y? Noooooo.), even though they had other viable options to do this type of torture to.

Like Sanghyuk for example.

He was cute and adorable and had pinchable cheeks as well, so there was definitely no need to do the same things to him. 

He was a man, dammit, and he wanted to be treated as one. But when you had Hakyeon giving him that 'But Binnie, You're so cute and cuddly, so don't talk back to me' stare, it was kind of hard to keep the others from doing the same thing. (Jaehwan was even worse than Hakyeon, and that was saying something. The who liked to make his life hell... At least Hakyeon looked cute when he did such things, while Jaehwan just looked like a creeper, taking absolute glee in torturing him in the worst ways possible. Death by cute, that was definitley going to happen to him someday.)

At least Taekwoon knew not to do such stupid things to him and just left him be, usually softly talking to him as if he was an equal – okay, maybe not an equal, but at least something more substantial than kid little brother like the others liked to think of him on various occasions.

A thinking that was almost similar to what girls had thought about in grade school, puberty finally happening as they realized that not all boys had cooties and could become objects of affection to them. However, their vocabulary was so stinted at the time that all they could do was call boys cute and look at them as if they were the cutest things on the planet, as if any other adjective wouldn’t do (because there was no other adjective that would tell people what they actually thought, cute being the most basic word they could come up with that worked).

He didn't like it then and he didn't like it now.

The word was absolutely demoralizing and totally ruined his man card, often being used as a poor excuse to say 'you're there and I see you, but I don't really care that much to do anything.'  Almost as if he was just something off a checklist that didn't have much meaning, but needed to be there anyway for reasons unknown. Or a placeholder for some type of feeling akin to grade school fondness that didn't really mean that, but was more along the lines of 'you're not exactly handsome and y, but you're good enough for me to stare at' instead. 

He couldn't help but cringe at the thought, because then that meant he was like a piece of meat, mediocre meat that is, and he didn't like to feel that way at all.

The word 'cute' was repulsive in every way that counted when talking about a man – a manly man at that too. And at twenty years old, Hongbin was just as manly as the next guy, even more so than most (especially compared to Hakyeon who didn't care about his man card and just accepted being cute as if it was the coolest thing in the world... It wasn't, and Hongbin wished that the guy would stop with the cheek pinching and smiles that seemed to rip any terrible thoughts he had away, like punching Jaehwan in the face whenever he got too terrible with his teasing.).

And sure there were times where he didn't exactly seem that manly because he usually cried a lot and he wasn't exactly the strongest of men when it came to things like being able to lift a lot of weight like Taekwoon was able to do or watch scary movies like Sanghyuk could do without batting a lash, but he was still a man, and he wanted to be treated as such.

Because to him, 'cute' meant baby animals like puppies and kitties and those cute little baby monkeys at the zoo, stuffed animals, and those stupid perfumed and littered with Hello Kitty or Rilakkuma cartooned cell phone cases that all the girls liked to use because they thought that they were their style and was the type of thing that was, or even the stuffed animals that he kept on Sanghyuk's bed in case of being found out. (Luckily no one realized the purple stuffed bear and orange kitty were his.)

He wasn't really any of those things, so how could he like being called cute?

How could anyone like being called cute?

He definitely didn't, so he didn't understand why so many people (i.e. girls) were okay with that word, when he obviously wasn't. It was a stupid word and would always be a stupid word, and yet, girls continued to use it.

And for years he had always had this complex about the word, about the connotations that the word had brought and how it cramped his style and the image he was going for. He wasn't supposed to be the cute and adorable dongsaeng, because that was Sanghyuk's job, but the cool and mysterious visual of the band instead. An image that he wanted to maintain, thank you very much.

'Cute' was literally blacklisted in his vocabulary and should be illegal to use as well, effectively bannishing it from the planet.

It was so bad that he did his best to barely even think or talk about the word, unless there were people around that made him do such things.

At least that's what he told himself until he had met stupid Kim Myungsoo and his idiotic ways and inability to walk straight or his stupid relationship with gravity that usually left him on his on the ground rather than actually standing up.

He never really thought a man could be cute - or at least as cute as Myungsoo, who had made him feel like he should make the guy chicken nuggets and cuddle with him for oblivion. A feeling he was sure many noonas had felt when they looked at the kid.

Sanghyuk was cute, but he never made him feel like that, especially since the kid was a manipulative little when he wanted to be. But he was usually that way with Hakyeon or Wonshik who readily gave in to his ways. (And Taekwoon, because no matter how cool Taekwoon wanted to be seen, he still spoiled the kid rotten. It kind of wasn't fair, but Hongbin wasn't going to say something in fear of the older man getting him back and treating him like all his other hyungs.)

At first Myungsoo was all dark, serious eyes, lean muscles, and exuded this manly charm that drew Hongbin and many others to him. The boy liking sports like baseball, disliking sweet things like candy and cakes (even though he kind of had a thing for waffles), and having this manly kind of smell that only Myungsoo had, it kind of smelled like wood and sweat and just Myungsoo. Things that were usually associated with handsome men instead of cute boys like Hongbin.

Until the boy had smiled and talked and walked that is. Because as soon as the boy opened his mouth or moved his feet or looked happy, it was an entirely different story. The boy was cute in every way possible with those stupid dimples (much cuter than Hongbin's that's for sure) and those shining eyes and that stupid laugh of his, always laughing at everything, even if it wasn't funny.

The boy was so stupidly cute that Hongbin couldn't believe the boy existed. And when you had people like Sungyeol, who Hongbin thought exuded manly charm and strength as much as the next guy, say the younger guy was so cute that he could die, then it was pretty serious. The boy was obviously some type of alien that was made to be overly handsome but then was neglected in the personality department so it wouldn't match the looks they were given, making them adorably wonderful instead.

A feat that Hongbin hadn't thought impossible until Woohyun and Hakyeon had decided to have a VIXX-Infinite play date and have them all meet. A day that made Hongbin realize the difference between L and Myungsoo and curse the very beings that created such a person.

It wasn't natural to look that good and be that cute, and yet, Myungsoo somehow pulled it off.

And what was even weirder was that the boy didn't mind being called cute or enjoying cute things like shojo manga or cute pastries (even though he didn't like to eat them... unless they were waffles or contained these sour straw candies that Myungsoo sweared he didn't like but ate them anyway) or Rilakkuma bears that he had a habit of holding onto like a child. (He had seen the fancam... Myungsoo was the only one that had seemed to treasure those bears while the rest were like 'meh' about them, even Sungjong who was supposed to like them wasn't so enthused, which was kind of impossible but just made Myungsoo's cuteness that much more apparent.)

It was so adorable that Hongbin wanted to rip his hair out.

(Especially since if Myungsoo was a girl, he would most likely be the female version of IU and probably be even cuter with his gorgeous looks, adorkableness, and that sweet and kind of cute awkwardness the boy seemed to carry with him everywhere. Hongbin just knowing that people would think the same and would be so taken with Myungsoo that they would probably make shrines for him.)

But how dare his hyung be so cute and adorable and actually not mind being called such a thing.

Myungsoo wasn't Hakyeon or even a dongsaeng to Hongbin, so he shouldn't be having such feelings, but he couldn't help it. Myungsoo was just too cute to not think about like that, especially when everything he did just happened to be cute (except when he was angry that is, but even then, Hongbin thought the older boy looked kind of sweet in an angry-kitten sort of way).

Which was maddening because when one thought cute, Myungsoo was probably the poster boy for everything not cute... Well, that wasn't true as L was literally the poster boy for all things uncute and manly. While Myungsoo was totally beyond such things that it made Hongbin feel disgusting and warm and good all at once.

Something that made him think that he was getting sick because when he was thinking such thoughts like that, it wasn't right. Especially when people like Sungjong, Sanghyuk, or various other idol group members should have been thought of instead when it came to those that were seen as adorable. Myungsoo being near the last one on the list as Hongbin should have seen the boy as a hyung he could look up to, talk sports, go on little dates to take pictures (something they already did, because as soon as Myungsoo had realize Hongbin liked to take pictures too, the boy literally begged to take pictures with him that is), and be able to see and feel his manly charms.

But that wasn't the case and it hadn't been the case ever since the two had met, the older boy falling on his the first time Hongbin had ever really laid eyes on the kid other than on TV or music shows, tripping over air as if there were a huge pile of rocks in his way. (To this day, Hongbin didn't know how Myungsoo could do such a thing, but then again, Hongbin still didn't understand how he was a black hole at games. So he didn't think too hard about it, unless it pertained to the older boy being cute that is.)

So in his head, there literally was no other words to describe such a boy. And when one has been denying that very word for years, hating it and just wanting to banish it from every language in the world, it was really difficult to get over such a thing. Well, at least that's what Hongbin thought.

Myungsoo's looks didn't exactly make him look cute (unless he smiled that is), but it was his personality and how he acted that essentially sealed the deal, making Hongbin swoon or feel warm and tingly inside whenever he was with the other man. Myungsoo easily being someone that Hongbin couldn't help but adore and love.

Even Sanghyuk who he had gotten along with right away or Hakyeon who he thought was great, even if annoying sometimes, wasn't on the same level as Myungsoo. No one seemed to be and if they even tried, Hongbin just wanted to face-palm and wonder why people tried to be such things.

(Like Woohyun who tried to give him hearts whenever he saw him or Sungjong, who... Well, Sungjong wasn't that cute, he was actually kind of fierce and scary when Hongbin thought about, but to others he was cute, especially Hoya who seemed to have a crush on the kid. Which was odd, because Hoya exuded manliness and seriousness and snark and just everything not cute. But then again, him liking Sungjong was kind of cute in itself, but that was beside the point. To Hongbin, people may do or have done cute things, but nothing topped Myungsoo's adorable and natural cute nature.)

If Myungsoo wasn't cute, then Hongbin wasn't the visual of VIXX, both things being untrue. Because if Myungsoo wasn't cute, then Sunggyu probably would not have liked him that much and Hoya wouldn't allow him hugs and Sungjong would probably hate the kid or something along those lines. But that would never happen, because everyone just seemed to like Myungsoo and view him that way. Even Taekwoon was kind of taken in by the kid, occasionally letting Myungsoo get away with skinship on occasion or listening to him blab about stupid shojo manga that Taekwoon had no interest in. Or Hakyeon taking the kid under his wing and letting him hang off him as if it was a natural occurrence, just lapping up all the love Myungsoo was willing to give, which was more than a lot.

It was kind of impossible for everyone to not think the boy wasn't cute. Because Myungsoo just did so many cute things, almost subconsciously that Hongbin couldn't view him as anything else. Even L was kind of blending in with Myungsoo's charms and it was only a matter of time until Hongbin thought L was cute too. Especially since Hongbin was attracted to the other and had to hide some uncomfortable boners from the other man, hormones getting the better of him sometimes.

He really liked Myungsoo and even though he thought the reason was kind of a cop out since Korean dramas usually liked to make a thing out of it, he didn't want to associate himself with such garbage. Because for some odd reason, the main male character's reason for loving the female lead was something to do with the main guy thinking the other girl was 'pretty.' It wasn't because they were pretty in the ways that others saw, but in ways that only showed up when they were with the main guy after getting to know them and falling in love with them. It was such a simple statement, a fact really, that Hongbin couldn't help but feel the reason was too simple.

Myungsoo didn't have one reason for why Hongbin liked him. In fact, he had many reasons for why he liked the older boy, reasons that couldn't be summed up with 'He's cute, that's why I like him' type thing. He didn't want summarize what he thought about Myungsoo in one statement, in one small word, in a word that he had hated, but somehow he find himself doing that.

Everything Myungsoo did, whether it was laugh at his jokes, talk anything and everything with him, or just go over their pictures together, Myungsoo was just so ing cute that Hongbin could barely handle it.

Hongbin genuinely liked – no, loved the older boy and when he did stupid things like giggle or pout or even fall on his , Hongbin couldn't help but feel butterflies in his stomach and a fiery warmth that encased his heart and made him feel beyond awesome. Feelings that he thought he could control, that he could keep to himself, but after months of not seeing the boy due to comeback activities and Myungsoo traveling around the world on his World Tour, Hongbin couldn't keep such things to himself anymore.

So when they saw each other at the end of the year festivals, Hongbin couldn't help but give the boy a hug and welcome him back home. Even though he wanted to do so much more like kiss him or hold hands or even take him away so he could have him all to himself. But he couldn't do such a thing, but afterward, after everything was over and both groups had some vacation times to themselves, Hongbin ended up calling his hyung and inviting him out on a small little date.

Taking him around the park to take some pictures, go to a nearby Japanese place and get some udon, and then find themselves with a blanket and snacks and a front row seat to watch the stars.

Throughout the day it had taken all of Hongbin's willpower to not pull the other boy against him, hold him tight, and kiss him for all he was worth. Myungsoo not knowing the extent of his feelings just yet, that when the time came and they were settled next to each other, wearing winter jackets and breathing out white smoke and so close that their hands were almost touching, Hongbin knew it was time.

He knew that he couldn't keep everything that he had been feeling for what seemed like years now, but was actually only for a half a year or so, he turned his body towards the other boy so he could get a better look at his features. Myungsoo's dimples showing as he pointed out constellations to him, getting more than half of them wrong as he did so, but Hongbin didn't call him out because he didn't have the heart to do so.

But knowing that it was now or never, he took a deep breath to softly say, “Hyung,” not caring if he interrupted the other boy's astronomy lesson, knowing that this was more important. While Myungsoo could only turn to him and ask, smile tugging his lips, “Yeah, Hongbin-ah?”

Feeling more than a bit nervous now, especially since Myungsoo's attention was on him, but knowing that he had never been a coward, Hongbin just charged his way through, unleashing everything that he had been feeling for months now. His emotions being laid across the table as Myungsoo could only listen to what he had to say, not once talking or saying anything to deter him from going on (luckily he didn't say anything too embarrassing about how cute he thought the other boy was). Only for him to end his speech a couple minutes later with a breathless, “I really, really like you hyung and I've liked you for a long time now and I really, really hope you like me too,” hope lining his chest.

He couldn't help but avert his eyes, embarrassment running through him like molten lava, he almost had a heart attack when Myungsoo could only whisper, “Yes.”

Looking up and seeing Myungsoo's dimpled smile, eyes shining so bright with adoration and love, Hongbin could only return the gesture before launching himself at the other man, embracing him so tight that even Myungsoo had trouble breathing. But neither cared, because a second later, Myungsoo returned the gesture with a laugh, telling the other boy how much he liked him too, but was too afraid to admit anything, especially since Hongbin was younger and he didn't want to ruin their friendship.

Laughing at how stupid Myungsoo could be (as if Hongbin could ever hate Myungsoo or think any less of him), Hongbin could only hold onto the boy tighter.

Minutes passed, the two quite comfortable in each others hold, they slowly broke apart, smiles on their faces, Hongbin looking down on Myungsoo, taking in his lips. Wondering if he could kiss him and hold onto him even more, Myungsoo just gave a small nod, Hongbin's cheeks heated up at the sight before he brought his lips upon Myungsoo's and quietly kissed the boy.

Lips tingling and fireworks going off in his brain, Hongbin slowly pulled away, only for Myungsoo to grab onto him and deepen the kiss. Obliging, Hongbin continued to kiss back, lightly nipping Myungsoo's lips, silently asking permission to deepen and prolong the kiss even more. Myungsoo melting against him, hands grasping onto his shirt to keep himself steady, even though they were both lying down, Hongbin couldn't help bu think the gesture was cute and kiss the other even harder.

Hands entangling themselves in Myungsoo's soft hair, the boy letting out a small gasp at the new sensation, Hongbin continued the kiss with a grin, keeping the kiss just chaste enough that when Hongbin pulled away, breathing hard, Myungsoo's kiss still lingered along his mouth. Lips lightly bruised, but happy with what had happened, ecstatic at the other returning his feelings, he gave Myungsoo one last kiss on the side of his mouth before settling himself right next to the other boy and taking his hand in his.

Myungsoo blushing at the sweet gesture, quietly letting out a “Like a prince,” Hongbin couldn't help but chuckle as he caressed circles along the back of his hyung's palm. Quietly asking if Myungsoo could go over the constellations again, the two spending the next couple of hours stealing kisses and Myungsoo cutely getting 'Orion's belt' and the 'Milky Way' wrong in between.

Myungsoo was definitely too cute to be legal, but Hongbin wouldn't have it any other way.