Chapter Text
Ten rushed to Taeyong’s apartment and flung himself through the door. ‘I made it,’ he thought.
“You’re late,” the other’s voice differed.
“It’s not my fault! Blame Johnny! I told him if he wanted to copy my history homework he’d have to do it while I tutored Yang Yang but putting those two together in one room was the single worst decision I’ve ever made. We barely made it through Yang Yang’s study questions the whole hour I was there.” Ten whined loudly as Taeyong helped him remove his backpack and sat it down next to the table full of their study materials.
Taeyong flashed a sympathetic smile, “Are you sure you’re up for studying after all that?”
“Yes! You waited for me and our exam is next week,” Ten opened his book and immediately face planted onto the table. “Actually can you just quiz me for a few minutes. I don’t think I can read anything right now.”
Taeyong laughed and flipped through his notecards, “How about you just give me some facts we learned last lecture.”
“The mitochondria-” Ten’s words were quickly interrupted by Taeyong placing a hand gently over his mouth.
“I swear Ten, if you even mention the word powerhouse I will throw all our books out the window and call your mom,” Taeyong lifted his hand revealing an incredulous look from the other.
“NO! I was gonna say mitochondrial DNA is only inherited from our mothers,” Ten groaned. “I think that’s all I remember.”
“I’ll be right back,” Taeyong got up and returned with a tray of Thai tea and a slice of cream cake. “Maybe this will help.”
Tears could have poured out of Ten’s eyes if he wasn’t already grabbing the fork off the tray.
“At least let me set it down first,” Taeyong said through a giggle.
“Fine,” Ten conceded.
Taeyong watched Ten take a sip of tea and instantly glow with brightness, as if the cup were full of sunlight and that sip charged his entire being.
“How long have we been friends?” Taeyong asked.
“A looong time,” Ten answered as he studied the cake, investigating for hidden fruit.
“There’s no fruit, just eat it please,” Taeyong took the fork out of his friend’s hand and took the first bite.
“Heeey!” Ten protested.
“I made it,” Taeyong shrugged. “But as I was saying. We’ve been friends for a long time right?”
“Yeah. We’ve been inseparable since….middle school? Damn middle school?! That is a long time.” Ten tilted his head and Taeyong could hear the numbers whisper off his lips as he counted. “7 years??!? That can’t be right.”
“Sounds right to me,” Taeyong watched Ten stuff a bite in his mouth and felt happiness spread through him upon hearing the giddy gleeful sounds Ten made.
“Do you think we’re too inseparable?” Ten asked.
Taeyong looked up from the table with concern, “Why do you think that?”
“Not me but I know your mom does. She even thinks you came to this college because of me,” he laughed, though he missed Taeyong’s self conscious smile.
“This place felt right is all,” Taeyong tried to bite back his blush.
“I always wanted to come here after hearing my parents talk about it. I was surprised when you said you wanted to come too. I was really heartbroken thinking we wouldn’t see eachother anymore,” Ten smiled up at Taeyong with cream staining his cheek.
“How did you-? You really know how to make things difficult for me,” he chuckled and wiped the cream off Ten’s cheek with a napkin watching as Ten licked his lips. “In a variety of ways.”
“Sorry,” Ten managed through a mouthful of sweets.
“As I was saying though,” Taeyong cleared his throat and took a deep breath. “I was thinking...if it’s okay with you and I don’t want to make it weird but maybe-”
Ten’s phone dinged right at Taeyong’s crucial moment, eliciting a sigh from deep in his chest, already tight with nervousness. Ten ignored it and motioned Taeyong to continue.
“I don’t want to…” *ding* “Make it weird,” *ding* “But I thought if you feel the same way,” *DING*.
Ten put his hand up, asking Taeyong to give him a minute and dialed the number, still sitting in front of his friend. The ringer was loud enough for Taeyong to hear the other line as Johnny picked up, “Shut up and stop texting me!” Ten yelled. “I think it’s about to happen and you’re fucking it up for me!!!!!!”
Ten placed the phone back down and looked lovingly up at Taeyong, “Yes, my dear you were saying?” he said with beaming sparkling eyes.
Taeyong sighed as a smile couldn’t help but plaster itself against his lips, “Do you want to go on a date with me? A real date.”
Ten lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Taeyong’s neck, “Took you long enough.”
“Well you could have asked me if you were getting impatient you know,” Taeyong swept a long blonde lock of hair behind Ten’s ear.
“You’re nice to everyone. It’s hard to be sure and that made it more frightening,” Ten traced his finger along Taeyong’s jawline, like he wished he could so many times.
“And you’re a bit flirty with everyone. Makes it hard to be sure as well. The thought of losing you or being wrong...it’s terrifying,” Taeyong wrapped his arms around Ten’s waist and pulled him onto his lap.
“Just so you know, you could never lose me,” Ten pressed their foreheads together and locked eyes with Taeyong. “You look nice in this.” He traced the pearl buttons of Taeyong’s slightly oversized white linen shirt. “I thought so when I walked in. Did you dress up for me?” Ten pulled on the strings of his grey hoodie. “I feel a little lackluster.”
“You could never be lackluster. I was nervous enough without having to think about that too so yeah I put in a little effort,” Taeyong inched closer. His cotton candy pink hair slicked back on one side was styled exactly to Ten’s taste.
“You spoil me,” Ten responded.
“I want to,” Taeyong snaked his hands into Ten’s hoodie and ran his fingers along his spine making him shiver. “I want to spoil you, make you smile, giggle, dry your tears, make you just a liiiitle bit angry sometimes, touch you, tease you, fill you up, make a mess of y-”
Taeyong’s words were cut off by Ten’s lips, passionate and hungry. He couldn’t decide if the sweetness of the cake still lingered on Ten’s tongue or if this was the way he genuinely tasted, like sweet vanilla cream, but he wouldn't mind spending the rest of his life trying to figure that out.