Chapter Text
A knock on the front door.
Jongho and Mingi had returned from their holiday two days before and it felt almost like a felony that someone would disturb them at that moment. Mingi knew who it was though. He had received a message earlier about the visit.
He went over the door, twisted the door knob and in front of him appeared his (smaller) older brother. He seemed on edge. Mingi knew that because the only expression he showed with distinction was happiness and he wasn’t showing it that day, nor in the recent past.
Jooheon was a good older brother. At least, no one could argue that Jooheon saw Mingi as an actual human being rather than an incapable newborn. He never really infantilized Mingi. He never used being older as an excuse for anything, so Mingi was safe on this side. Their relationship started to drift apart when Mingi understood that his older brother was willing to do a lot for their parents for reasons they disagreed on. In Mingi’s opinion, Jooheon was either idolizing their parents or their parents were guilt-tripping him. It might be a mix of both, who knew? In the end, these were the reasons Mingi never held any heavy grudge towards him.
“Come, we’re gonna talk in my room. Leave your shoes here first this time.”
They walked past the kitchen where Jongho was and sat uncomfortably. Jooheon was quick to talk because a heavy silence would have been insufferable.
“I wanted to apologize first. I lashed at you in your living room and I can’t believe I did that. You’re my little brother, I shouldn’t treat you like that, I’m sorry Mingi.” He lifted his eyes to see Mingi on his desk chair. “I’m also sorry for what I said. The past three months, there have been some things that made me realize that what I did was hurting both you and me. I felt so terrible yelling at you but I also felt so bad when our parents told me that they were in need in any way. I just thought that it was my duty to help them and I could just not grasp why you wouldn’t think the same. Now I know that they were dishonest with us but you were the one who saw that right away. So I’m sorry for not believing you and being so stubborn.”
“It’s not your fault.” Mingi immediately responded to that. “They were lying and manipulating things around to make us the bad kids when all we did was tell the pure truth. Don’t blame yourself for being vulnerable in front of your parents.” Jooheon nodded, looking at the floor, only thinking that his brother was too indulgent with him.
“I’m actually going to cut contact with them.” Mingi announced. Jooheon lifted his head once again, listening.
“I am seeing a therapist for a few problems that were heavily caused by their burden in my life, and I don’t believe I can stay afloat having them around. I… It’s just not possible, you know? And at this point, they don’t bring anything positive to me. They haven’t been for the last three years anyways.” He paused, Jooheon didn’t move.
“I’m going to write them a letter to tell them that I don’t want them in my life anymore and once it’s delivered, I’ll block them and erase their numbers.”
Jooheon shifted, thinking about what Mingi had just said, and processing his feelings about it.
“It’s really mature of you. I’ll maybe have the courage to do it one day. But I need to save up enough money to move out. I am seeing a therapist too.”
“It’s actually my boyfriend who convinced me to do it.”
“You have a boyfriend? We definitely have some catch-up to do.” He chuckled and Mingi too.
Looking at each other’s eyes made them realize that their parents had messed up their relationship as brothers, but nothing was ruined forever. They got up and got into a hug. It felt like they hadn’t touched each other for eternity, but they had the future ahead of them.
_
Yunho’s mind was everywhere.
The rock summer festival his city held every year was today and Mingi was supposed to meet the members and Yixing afterwards. On top of that, Mingi’s birthday was three days later. It didn’t have to be perfect, but it had to be right.
His boyfriend was supposed to arrive at 2, their concert was scheduled at 3:40 and ended around 5. It was 2 and Mingi was still stuck in the line with Jongho. He offered to make them skip the line but Mingi refused several times, saying that “it wasn’t fair” and that “they were people who had never seen you live unlike me”.
Yunho couldn’t argue with that, so he just checked on him once in a while between preparations.
When they got on stage, he knew that Mingi and his friend were there, so he gave it all. He had no worries about his outfit or makeup, it was hot outside and the scene was big. So Yunho just concentrated on his skills, on going hard on his drums and giving the public a reason to come, making them glad to have spent their money on them, making them proud of being a fan.
All of them ended up wet because for some reason they thought having a water fight on the stage was a good idea. As planned, they went to the artist’s changing rooms to freshen up and change before heading to the artist's tents to enjoy the rest of the day before wrapping up and going home.
Yunho excused himself, knowing damn well that everyone saw what was coming.
Outside the tents, Mingi was waiting alone. Jongho had another artist to see, so he went to mind his own business, letting Mingi act suspicious all alone outside the tents. Yunho spotted him and quickly made him enter the barriers before anyone snuck there.
“Hey babe, did you enjoy the show ?” He put his arm around his waist while walking.
“Of course! You have a lot of energy in this heat !”
“We have to! But we were in the shade, it was okay. Come on, are you ready ?” Yunho cheered in front of the tent.
“Yeah, it can’t go that bad.” At that, Yunho kissed Mingi, squeezing his waist, and led him through the entrance.
“Hey guys, Manager Xing, this is Mingi, my boyfriend. Mingi, well you know everyone except our manager, Yixing.”
“Hi everyone, thank you for inviting me here.” Mingi presented.
“Oh no, he’s tall too.” Escaped Hongjoong’s mouth.
“Sorry about that...” Mingi jokes, with a big smile nonetheless.
“I already like him, let’s keep him.” Yeosang signed to them.
“Aw thank you !”
The expression on Yeosang’s face when he saw that Mingi understood what he said was fantastic. Everyone gasped in sync, even Yunho.
“You can do that ?!”
Mingi smacked Yunho’s head.
“I’ve known you guys for, like, four years and you think I wouldn’t try to learn? It's not like I'm fluent or anything.”
“Yeah, Yunho you’re keeping him. Mingi, you’re more than welcome. In fact, you were probably an angel sent to us.” San cheered, offering the seat next to his and Yunho’s.
Yunho’s face beamed and his chest rose with pride, seeing everyone accepting his partner.
While Mingi made great conversation, Yunho’s eye landed on Yixing who gave him an approving nod.
Around two hours later, it was time for them to start packing up with the staff. Mingi was drinking a soda, and talking with Yixing and Yunho while the others were shuffling things around, making the job easier for the employees.
“I had a great time, thank you guys !”
“It was nice to meet you, stay safe on the way.” San smiled at him.
“Take care of Yunho for us !”
“Thank you, I’ll do my best.”
As Mingi went back into the festival field to find Jongho and head home, the boys gave a bag to Yunho.
“You told us that it was going to be his birthday soon. And we decided together that if we liked him, we would offer him something. So here you go !” Hongjoong stated.
“That’s so sweet of you, thank you for him !”
“It’s nothing. He seems to genuinely like you and you care for him a lot, so that’s the least we can do.” Yixing explained.
Yunho could only feel grateful.
_
“Mingi, hey, wake up.” Jongho was shaking his flatmate’s shoulder to wake him up.
Mingi growled a little before turning his head towards the sound he heard. As soon as he opened his eyes and frowned, Jongho shook him again.
“Happy birthday! Wake up, today will be a great day !”
Mingi sleepily smiled and mumbled a “thank you” while trying to open his dry eyes properly. Jongho went to the kitchen to make coffee as he knew Mingi wouldn’t suddenly jump on the floor and hurry.
So Mingi just stretched on his bed, then took his phone to respond to the “happy birthday” texts he received from classmates, Jongho’s friends he knew and old acquaintances he was somehow still in contact with. He decided not to spend too much time on his phone today and let the day entertain him by itself. He soon took a trip to the bathroom and joined Jongho in the kitchen.
They ate some crepes Jongho had made along with the coffee without much talking. It was nine and Jooheon was supposed to come pick them up around 11:30 to eat. So before that, Jongho pulled out his gift.
On the cleared table, Mingi tried to open it without damaging the packaging too much. He finally pulled out a big framed poster of the Series Dr WHO.
When he was really happy, Mingi liked to jump and move around a lot, like today. The poster was a retro one, and he thought it would look great in his bedroom. The early teenage memories he had with this TV show were precious to him so he could not be more grateful.
He hugged Jongho for a moment, thank you’s floating around. Jongho weakly protested, just for the principle, and told him it was time for him to take a shower.
Mingi obliged, and two hours later, the boys were just fooling around, waiting for the big brother to get there.
At lunch, Mingi was truly thriving. Jooheon was sweet, trying his best to be a brother to him and he was grateful. Jongho and him got along so there was no problem on this side. Eating without a care in the world was something Mingi didn’t know he needed. His mind was light, the sun was shining and the food was good.
Someone was waiting for him outside as he walked out with the two men and his brother’s gift in a bag.
A tall man, nicely dressed with a flower bouquet in his hands was standing on the sidewalk. Mingi smiled widely, teeth out, because what could be a better situation than seeing your loved one with a bouquet on a sunny day when your stomach was full? He immediately went for a hug, because no, there was no better situation to be in for him.
“Happy birthday princess. Did you eat well ?” Yunho mumbled in his ear.
“I did thank you !” Mingi felt so bubbly today, he couldn’t help the excitement. Yunho smiled again fondly before handing him the bouquet.
“Here, for you.”
“Thank you, they look so nice! Ah, yes, so Yunho you already know Jongho and this is my older brother, Jooheon. Jooheon, you meet Yunho, my boyfriend of three months.
“Hi, nice to meet you.” Jooheon went for the half handshake half check.
“Same for me.”
“We should have dinner sometimes, to get to know each other.”
“That’s a great idea !” Mingi decided to interject, “After all, you guys are the three people who are closest to me and you barely know each other.”
“I’m fine with it. But, I’ll be taking Mingi for myself this afternoon. I’ll return him later, have a good day !”
Immediately after that, Mingi jumped on him to ask questions.
“Where are you taking me ?”
“I’m taking you shopping babe, I wanna spoil you.”