There was something different about Hongbin's house. 

The brunet was standing in the middle of his living room when he pondered this thought at 4 in the morning. His house had definitely seemed different than how it was a month ago. It's not as if he had gotten entirely new furniture or he had unpacked all of his boxes, but something was different about the abode. 

Hongbin went over the possibilities; perhaps it was the three pairs of Nike Jordans sitting by his front door that made his home different. Perhaps it was the extra toothbrush in his washroom, or the fact that his fridge always seemed to be stocked with actual food. 

Eventually he went with the idea that the reason why his house was not the same was sleeping on his sofa. The reason why it changed so much was because of Ravi. The janitor was sleeping soundly on his living room couch, as if he actually belonged there.

Hongbin’s mind reeled back to a month ago, to when this ridiculous change started happening. Ravi was driving him home from work, as per usual. The janitor had always offered to carpool simply because his house was on the way and they could save on ‘global warming’.

“We’re here.” Ravi drove up the driveway and parked the car. He glanced at the bartender who didn’t get out of his seat or even move. “Hongbin?”

“Um...” The brunet nervously played with his seatbelt. “C-Can you... What am I saying; forget it.” He hastily opened the door and got out. Hongbin ran up to his doorstep and fished his pockets for his keys. As he did so, he heard the car turn off and eventually footsteps behind him. When he turned around, Ravi was standing there with a grin.

“You wanted me to stay over, right?” He gave a cute salute. “I’ll keep you company.”

Hongbin faced the door again to hide his incoming smile. “Come in,” he said when he finally unlocked the door.

“This place is still a dump,” Ravi pleasantly commented as soon as he stepped in. “It needs a bit more furniture, at least a table.”

The brunet snorted. “Don’t worry about it so much. It’s my house; I’ll handle my own furnishings.”

“Or you’re just going to ignore me and continue living in a white box.” The janitor strode into the kitchen and opened the fridge. “You hungry? I think I can make with what’s left in here.”

“Not really—” At that moment, Hongbin’s stomach decided to let out a loud rumble. “... Okay then. But you don’t have to make food (again). I’ll just order take-out or something.”

Ravi pulled out a carton of eggs. “I hope these aren’t expired. Hongbin, it’s fine. I’m going to eat too, and I’d rather you eat my cooking than have your stomach pumped.”

Hongbin pouted and let the janitor do whatever. “You need to stop worrying about my stomach.”

“If I didn’t, you would be in the hospital right now.” Ravi chuckled at the younger’s sulking and went about his business in the kitchen.

He magically conjured up some pesto pasta topped off with poached eggs, and once again they had their dinner on the floor.

"You really are lonely." Ravi suddenly said in the middle of their meal, causing the other to choke.

Hongbin hastily grabbed a glass of water and recovered. "Wh-What do mean?"

"I mean, your parents kicked you out and you're living in this house by yourself," he glanced around the premises. "And you keep having me over, so..."

The younger man flushed a shade of pink. "I—I'm sorry if I'm bothering you."

In turn, Ravi got flustered at Hongbin's flustering. "N-No! No, it's totally fine. I mean, I could come over every day if you want. I don't mind."

The brunet smiled embarrassedly. "... I'd really like that."

So he did. 

Gradually, Ravi would visit and sometimes Hongbin would insist that he sleep over because it was just really late at night and he wasn't risking a car accident at dusk. The janitor slept over so often that sometimes when they came home they'd both just crash on the living room floor.

The days went by and seeing as Ravi wasn't technically allowed to sleep at his own house anymore, he started to bring in some of his own things.

At first, it was a toothbrush and several DVDs. Then Hongbin found some of Ravi's clothes in his laundry and Ravi's art pieces hung on his walls. One time he assumed that the bar of soap that magically appeared in his shower was Ravi's. It was to the point that the older brought in his dining table and chairs for 'convenience purposes'.

Hongbin hadn't noticed his house slowly changing until it all hit him a month later, at 4 in the morning. There was no place in the abode that he couldn't see Ravi. His clothes were in his closet, his spoons in the cabinet, car in the garage, game console plugged into the TV and his stupid body on his living room sofa.

"This is getting a bit ridiculous." Hongbin blurted aloud, causing the janitor to stir from his sleep.

"... Hongbin...?" Ravi murmured sleepily, rustling under his blanket. "What are you doing up...?"

"This is ridiculous," the brunet repeated with a frown gracing his pretty face. "You're ridiculous."

Ravi hummed, not really listening; he was still fighting consciousness.

"I mean," Hongbin went on. "It's not like you live here. Then why is half of your house in mine?"

"Don't know," the other answered drowsily. 

The bartender went over and hit him in the leg. "Don't you think you're being a bit too comfortable in someone else's house?"

This time Ravi sat up. "You're the one who kept asking me to sleep over..."

"I know, but I didn't mean to bring all your furniture in here."

"Then do you want me to leave?"

Hongbin stiffened at his suggestion. "... W-Well, I mean... You don't have to..."

"No, you're right." The white-haired janitor stood up. "This is your house, not mine. I'll gather my things and go."

So Hongbin silently watched him go about the house, unhang his art pieces, pick up his clothes, put away his toothbrush, and take all the edible food from the fridge. Ravi had practically erased his presence in the household (sans the dining room table which he couldn’t fit into his backpack) and was on his way out the door.

“... Alright, so...” He pleasantly waved back at the stoic brunet. “Bye.”

“Wait, are you going to leave in your pajamas?!” Hongbin let out a small panic.

“Yep. Bye.” And with that, Ravi closed the door behind him and left behind a tense silence.

Hongbin stared back at the now empty house. A familiar feeling rushed up his body, and suddenly he felt the need to cry. The house was just too quiet and too empty. He hated this silence. He hated this emptiness.

He hated being alone.

Before he could control himself, Hongbin whipped the door open again and desperately called for him. “Wonshik!”

Ravi was still standing there with his things. He was staring at his watch when he looked up at Hongbin and grinned.

“It took you half a minute to realize your mistake. New record.”  The janitor entered the house again and elegantly dumped all his stuff onto the floor. Hongbin was still trying to process what just happened with a blank face. Ravi chuckled a bit and rustled his hazelnut hair. “If you’re lonely, just say so. I’ll stay with you, I promise.”

“... O-Okay.” He managed to utter, embarrassment flushing his cheeks.

Ravi took his hand and led him back to the living room. “Let’s go back to sleep.”

The two of them collapsed onto the floor and lay there. Their hands were still clasped tightly together, but neither man had the energy to let go. The janitor spoke after a moment.

“Hey?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you so lonely?” Ravi turned to look at him in concern. “Something must’ve happened for you to become this way.”

Hongbin blinked and let out a silent sigh. “Are you really that curious?” He sighed again when Ravi nodded. “... Well, it’s a little personal. Promise... Promise you won’t make fun of me. Or leave, please... Please.”

“I won’t.” With their other hands, they locked their pinkies and pressed their thumbs together. “I promise.”

The brunet hesitated before replying. “... My parents are those really, stereotypical, strict parents. For my entire life, they controlled everything. My grades, my activities, my friends, even my dates. They were completely against me becoming a bartender, or anything that wasn’t a doctor. I started getting rebellious, because you know, all sheltered kids do eventually. I guess that’s when my drinking habit came about... I can’t even get drunk anymore. They must’ve always wanted to throw me out, because all they’ve been doing is calling me a waste. I think they just needed one more reason to.”

Ravi stared at him carefully. “... And what was that reason?”

“... I told them...” He swallowed a lump in his throat. “... I told them that I was gay.”

A very long silence passed by and Hongbin assumed the other was rendered speechless because he was so disgusted. He expected Ravi to immediately let go of his hand and run away, screaming ‘oh my god, you !’

But that never happened. If anything, the grip on his hand became stronger.

“You’re gay,” said Ravi. “And your parents kicked you out because you’re gay.”

“Um, yeah. I don’t... Find women attractive. At all.”

“... Jesus Christ,” the older exhaled noisily. “That’s it? Your ‘rents are stupid as hell.”

Hongbin blinked in surprise. “... So you’re okay with it?”

“With what?”

“With me being gay.”

“Of course! I’m totally fine with it. In fact, I think it’s great—“Ravi hitched a breath and readjusted his words. “—for me, I mean. There’s going to more women available now that you’ve switched markets.” As soon as he said that, he wanted to jump off a cliff and die.

Hongbin’s cute laugh made up for his stupidity. “... Thanks, Wonshik. Really, I feel a lot better now.”

“You know what, you should tell the other guys too.” Ravi watched him stand up and saunter down the hall. “They really wouldn’t mind.”

“I know they wouldn’t. That’s why I’m going to do this!” Hongbin walked into his closet and closed the door. A second later, he stepped out and made a grand exit.

“Lee Hongbin has officially come out of the closet!”

you guys totally saw this coming. -v-
random rabean in the middle of all that Neo! wooo /shot
after the last chap, I think the next one that is really Hyuk-centric is chapter 23... otl 
there's a scene coming up but I want to keep this PG... ////sigh but it's so hot
hey guise wanna help me become the second most upvoted vixx tag on AFF? ;D (54 more votes!)