Work Text:
"Chenle.”
The aforementioned boy does not listen, instead aiming his basketball towards the hoop across the court. With his tongue poking out in concentration, he shoots.
"Chenle.”
The basketball misses the hoop and hits the ground, bouncing haphazardly and nearly colliding with Renjun’s thermos. Well, that's never good.
When he meets Renjun’s eyes, the older doesn't look very happy. It's not a shock, Chenle has been ignoring him for the past three minutes and Renjun isn't a very hard person to irritate. Biting his cheek, he prepares for an earful.
Renjun gently closes his laptop, looking directly at Chenle. "You,” Renjun points at Chenle, "Need to learn to listen to your gē. It's nearly five, we need to head back before Yangyang shows up.”
Chenle breathes out, a white cloud appearing in front of him. Now that he isn't moving, the effects of the cold weather are kicking in, and he runs to grab his basketball. It had landed in a pile of snow just a couple feet from the court, and he brushes off excess snow with his gloves.
When he returns to Renjun’s side, he already has his things gathered. "Am I being sexiled today?” Chenle asks casually, shoving his free hand into his pocket.
Renjun bumps into Chenle, hard, and it was obviously intentional. "What the fuck, Lele!”
Chenle throws his head back and laughs, nudging Renjun’s shoulder. "Figured I would ask! What else am I supposed to expect when you invite your boyfriend over?” Chenle teases, delighted when Renjun’s ears redden.
"Shut up," Renjun insists, quickening his pace. "Mark’s coming, too. Game night. Also, how the fuck do you play basketball in the winter?”
Chenle shrugs, meeting Renjun’s pace and walking closer to him for warmth. "You're the one who came along. You could've easily written your essay at home, biǎo gē, I know you have a soft spot for me.”
Chenle’s still smiling even when Renjun punches him in the shoulder, blow softened by Chenle’s padded coat. "Keep talking and I'll set your bed on fire.”
"The landlord would kill you.”
"Fuck, I hate when you're right," Renjun grumbles, taking a sip from his thermos. Chenle links his arm with Renjun’s and grins, victory thrumming through his veins.
"Don't let your ego get too big,” Renjun remarks. "I'll kick your ass during game night.”
"Uh huh, try winning Monopoly against a business major.”
Renjun’s lips curl up into a smile. "We aren't playing Monopoly tonight. Mark’s turn to choose, remember? Last time he chose was three weeks ago.”
Chenle frowns. "Damn. What if he picks it, though?”
Renjun snorts. "Oh, please. We've played Monopoly the past two game nights. I'm sure he’s sick of it.”
"Right," Chenle says, deflating.
Renjun ruffles his hair, then smacks him on the back of the head. "You can’t always win, biǎo dì.”
🏁
There's a knock at the door and Chenle almost chokes on the handful of chocolate chips he just dumped into his mouth. He doesn't bother to slide off of the counter, instead waiting for Renjun to get it.
Renjun ignores him as he passes through the small kitchen, instead heading straight for the door. It’s out of Chenle’s view, but he can hear Yangyang greeting Renjun, followed by Mark’s voice.
The two of them come over weekly for game night, a tradition that has been held for the past six months. Yangyang is Renjun’s boyfriend, so it's a given that he comes over. Mark, on the other hand, is Yangyang’s best friend and roommate, tagging along just for the hell of it, and since he’s shared a class with Chenle for the past year.
Chenle shoves another handful of chocolate chips into his mouth, unbothered when Mark walks into the room. "It smells like chocolate in here.”
Chenle grins, holding out the half empty bag, shaking it as a way to offer it to Mark. He swallows, clearing his throat. "You can have some," Chenle comments.
Mark takes the bag, popping a few pieces into his mouth before handing it back to Chenle. Chenle hops off the counter, licking his lips as he returns the bag to its proper spot in the cabinet. "Have you chosen a game yet?” Chenle asks, turning around to face Mark again.
"Dude, I just got here.” Mark laughs. "I'm not picking Monopoly, by the way.”
Chenle groans, earning an amused laugh and a pat on the shoulder. "Oh, c’mon,” Mark says. "Last time we played, you threatened to burn Yangyang’s shoes.”
"To be fair, he deserved it.”
"Yeah, whatever.”
"Are we doing a console game or a board game?” Chenle asks, swinging an arm over Mark’s shoulders and leading him out of the kitchen. "The Wii is still set up in my room, Renjun has the physical games.”
Mark is silent for a moment, and Chenle watches as his face scrunches up in thought. Cute. "I wanted to play Mario Kart, but Yangyang broke the fourth controller a few weeks ago, right?” Mark says.
Five game nights ago, Yangyang accidentally threw his controller against the coffee table while attempting to play Wii bowling. Since then, Yangyang has been banned from Wii sports, and it is strictly enforced that controller users must actually wear the safety straps on their wrists.
"It's alright,” Chenle says. "We can share the gamepad somehow. Where are Renjun and Yangyang?” Chenle asks, raising an eyebrow at the empty living room.
"They immediately went out to buy beer and snacks.”
"Let's set up the game, then.”
🏁
By the time Renjun and Yangyang get back, Chenle and Mark have blasted through three rounds of Mario Kart against each other. A bottle of wine was cracked open somewhere during that time, Mark’s cheeks are tinted red.
"You two started without us?” Yangyang whines, dropping down onto the floor next to where Mark is settled on Chenle’s beanbag chair.
Chenle hums, pushing against the joystick to avoid an incoming green shell. "Not our fault you were gone for thirty minutes. It shouldn't have taken that long.”
Renjun sighs, setting the bag of snacks and drinks in the middle of the floor. "It wouldn't have taken so long if Yangyang had remembered to bring cash. We had to find an ATM.”
Mark tilts his head, trying and continuously failing to hit Chenle with more green shells. "Doesn't the store around the corner take cards, though?”
"They ran out of kkokkalcorn, plus Renjun wanted the pepero flavors from the other store,” Yangyang explains, grabbing a can of Cass Fresh from the center of the floor. "How many rounds have you played?”
"This is our fourth," Mark says. "Chenle, please go easy on me. I'm tipsy.”
"You've had barely half a glass of wine, aeongi.”
From his peripheral vision, he can see Mark pout, and Chenle can't help but grin.
Mark has always been adorable in Chenle’s eyes. The fat crush he's been harboring on him ever since their first game night probably makes him biased, but sue him. He's a hopeless romantic.
"How are we gonna play with three controllers?” Renjun asks, settling down next to Yangyang and hugging the younger’s waist. "Are we making Yangyang sit out?”
Yangyang scrunches his nose at Renjun’s comment, letting him steal a sip of his beer. "One mistake, and suddenly I'm banned from the console?”
"No, Chenle and I are gonna share the gamepad.”
"Yeah, okay. Good luck with that.”
Chenle’s character speeds across the finish line, and he cheers, hearing Mark groan in defeat. "No fair, man, you're too good at this.”
He turns to the side, unable to stop himself from squishing Mark’s cheeks in his palms. "Aeongi~ don't fight battles you know you won't win,” Chenle coos, laughing when Mark pushes his hands away and complains.
When he's done basking in his short-lived victory, he steals Mark’s freshly opened can of beer. He hates it, but he can't find it in himself to care when Mark flushes and snatches his drink back.
Renjun dramatically flops onto Yangyang’s shoulder, Wii controller dangling from his wrist. "Come on, lovebirds, start the game. Dibs on Rosalina, by the way.”
"You have no right to complain, it took you half an hour just to get snacks.”
"Okay, biǎo dì.”
Chenle reaches for his gamepad, starting up a new game and gesturing for Mark to scoot closer. He does, and Chenle hooks his chin over his shoulder, letting his normally hidden clinginess shine through.
"Wait,” Mark says, "we normally play as Mario and Princess Peach. How are we gonna match if we both have the gamepad?” Mark asks.
Chenle melts. He can see Renjun looking at him with something akin to disgust, and he ignores his cousin in favor of offering Mark the right side of the gamepad. "We can play as Yoshi.”
"But I wanted to play as Yos—”
Yangyang’s protest is cut off by Renjun’s hand over his mouth, a sharp glare being sent his way. "Play as Daisy. We can be racer lesbians.”
Yangyang raises his hands in mock surrender, selecting Daisy and earning a kiss on the cheek for it. When Chenle looks back at the screen, Mark has already chosen Yoshi, and Chenle beams.
"Teamwork makes the dream work,” Chenle says, looping his free arm through Mark’s. "What do you dream of, Mark?”
"Will you two just be quiet—”
Chenle shushes Renjun, making it a point to clasp his hand with Mark’s and squeeze. "Markly?”
Mark hums, seemingly oblivious to the blatant gestures around him. "Doesn't matter what I dream about. Can we do a practice round to get used to the controls?”
"This has already taken long enough, I'm going to scream.”
Chenle cackles, still holding tightly to Mark’s hand as he shakes from amusement. "We don't need practice. We know each other well," Chenle says.
Mark purses his lips, attempting to eye Chenle but failing due to Chenle’s position in the crook of Mark’s neck. "Soulmates,” Mark says, Canadian accent coming through thick on the English word.
If Chenle’s heart skips a couple beats, that's for himself to know only. Well, maybe Mark knows too, due to their close proximity and the fact they've been close friends for the past year.
If Mark knows, he doesn't show it, he just goes back to being his stupid adorable Mark Lee self and Chenle is enamored when Mark selects the exact cart specifications that Chenle uses because he ‘always remembers things about Chenle.’
When Mark selects Rainbow Road for their course, Renjun groans. "Hyung, I thought you hated Rainbow Road," Renjun complains, sending a pointed glare towards the oldest.
Mark shrugs, wrapping his free hand around Chenle’s waist and squeezing. "It’s Chenle’s favorite.” From the way Renjun is staring at Chenle, he kind of wants the ground to open up and swallow him whole.
Yangyang simply looks amused. "At this point we should just switch roommates.”
"I’ll move in with you once you stop leaving your clothes on the floor,” Renjun says, scrunching his nose in distaste. "At least Chenle keeps his room clean.”
"So you’re saying there’s a chance.”
"Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Liu.”
Chenle tries to turn his focus back to the console, but Mark’s hand on his waist is a slight distraction. Nonetheless, he lets the others start the game.
🏁
Surprisingly, Mark and Chenle win by a landslide. While sharing the gamepad proved quite difficult at first, Renjun and Yangyang absolutely suck and it wasn't too hard to gain leverage once they got the controls down.
They end up blasting through seven full rounds, Renjun and Yangyang eventually giving up after five consecutive losses. "You two are crazy at this," Yangyang comments, placing his controller on the coffee table.
Chenle’s eyes trail Mark as he gets up to turn off the console. "You two also suck, and you're drunk.”
"I'm not drunk,” Renjun scoffs. "I had four cans. I watched you down nearly a full glass of wine before the games even started.”
Mark returns to his seat next to Chenle. "You're not making a good point for your skills, admitting you aren't drunk just means you suck at the game even more.”
Renjun curses, turning away from them and setting his own controller to the side. "At least I don’t suck at recognizing my feeli—”
Yangyang clamps a hand over Renjun’s mouth, smiling sheepishly. "Ignore him, we’re both kinda drunk," Yangyang admits, before he yelps and pulls back. "Did you just fucking bite me?”
Chenle glances at Mark, noting a flush on his cheeks. It's not from the alcohol, Chenle and Mark stopped drinking five rounds ago and have been chugging water since, so he wonders what he's embarrassed about.
"Are you staying over?” Chenle questions, earning Mark’s attention again. "You’re probably already sober, so if you want to leave…” Chenle trails off.
Mark hums, eyes trailing around the room as he thinks. Chenle waits patiently, picking at a loose thread in Mark’s shirt.
"I’ll stay,” Mark says, causing Chenle to perk up, "but you have to make me breakfast.”
"Of course, I would've made it either way.”
🏁
If there's one thing about game night, it's that it isn't just for games.
Typically, they begin with games, but once they [read: Renjun] become a bit drunk, they switch to mindless chatter and break out snacks and water to try and prevent the next morning’s hangover.
Chenle and Mark have been completely sober for the past hour and a half, meanwhile a tipsy Yangyang has to deal with Renjun’s drunk ramblings.
"I'm just saying , I don't really feel like an Aries,” Renjun says. "I feel like a Pisces. My sidereal chart says I'm a Pisces, and I’ve got Mercury and Venus—”
"Do you have any idea what the hell he’s talking about?” Mark whisper-shouts, flicking his gaze to Chenle.
Chenle has to squint to see Mark’s face without being blinded by the ceiling light. His head is in the older’s lap, good for comfort but bad for face to face conversation. "Yes, but I wish I didn't. He doesn't shut up about astrology.”
Mark doesn’t respond, one of his hands coming to rest in Chenle’s hair. Chenle hums contentedly, eyes half open from the bright light.
"Chenle, do you think I'm a Pisces?”
Chenle groans, looking over. "Renjun gē, I will kick you out of my room.”
"Typical Scorpio—”
"Alright!” Yangyang says abruptly, standing up and forcing Renjun with him. "I think it's time we move this conversation elsewhere. Or, even better, end it.”
Renjun scoffs. "You're just mad because Pisces and Libra aren't compatible.”
"You aren't a Pisces, you can't self identify your zodiac sign.”
"I told you, my sidereal chart!”
Chenle blocks out the rest of the conversation, instead choosing to slip his eyes all the way shut and hum softly to himself. He can hear Mark say something to Yangyang about dimming the lights, and in response, the glowing behind Chenle’s eyelids disappears.
After a few moments, it goes quiet. Chenle doesn't say anything.
"They're gone now," Mark says.
Chenle opens his eyes, no longer suffering from the light. Instead, he's met with Mark’s soft eyes staring down at him, lips curled in. Chenle has to bite his tongue to stop himself from impulsively saying something embarrassing about how cute Mark is.
Mark moves to get up, and on instinct, Chenle grabs his leg. "Where are you going?”
Mark smiles, ruffling Chenle’s hair. "It's late. We should get ready to sleep. Where's the air mattress?”
"Renjun’s closet,” Chenle says, sitting up to allow Mark to free himself. "You can just sleep in the bed, I don't feel like getting it out.”
"Can I borrow your clothes?”
"Hyung, just do whatever you want. I don’t mind.”
Mark gets to his feet, stretching his arms out until they pop. "Thanks, Le.”
"Mhm.”
🏁
Chenle thought he would pass out as soon as he hit the mattress. Instead, here he is, wide awake and staring at the ceiling above him. Moonlight casts itself onto the ceiling, the only source of light other than the light spilling under Chenle’s door.
He doesn't know how long he lays there before the bed dips, Mark having finally come back from getting ready. Chenle remains silent as Mark shuffles to get comfortable. When he stills, Chenle glances over, startling himself when he comes face to face with the older.
Mark laughs, propping himself up on one elbow. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Mark says quietly.
Chenle breathes out, shifting to his side so they're facing each other. "It's fine.”
Mark hums, breaking his gaze with Chenle’s to look elsewhere. Chenle doesn't follow the gaze, instead using this chance to get a better look at him, even in the dark.
He’s always been pretty, at least in Chenle’s eyes. There's a red spot above his eyebrow and a healing scratch on his chin. Mark has always seemed a little too real, too human. Yet, even in the dark, Chenle can see the way his moonlit eyes shine, and he finds himself wondering what Mark is staring at.
Before he can look, Mark meets his gaze again, catching him staring. Chenle stays there, frozen, pinned even by Mark’s soft eyes. He doesn't look uncomfortable, only… curious.
"Chenle," Mark says, and Chenle can’t read his tone.
"Mark.” He tries to sound confident, but it comes out small.
Mark doesn't say anything for a moment, but when he does, he breaks eye contact and stares behind Chenle. "You have a crush on me.”
It isn't a question.
It feels like ice water was poured over him, soaking him from the inside out. He can hear his blood rush through his ears. "Yes.”
There's a hand on his jaw, and he jolts. "I'm not mad at you, you know?”
This is it, he's about to get rejected.
Mark sighs, squeezing Chenle’s cheek. "I'm sorry I don't have the same feelings for you.”
There it is.
Chenle forces himself to take a deep breath. "If you’re uncomfortable, I can—”
"I want to try, though.”
Chenle’s eyes shoot open. "What?”
Mark bites his lower lip. "You're the type of person I could see myself falling for,” Mark says quietly. "So I want to get to know you better first.”
"Oh.” Chenle is stunned into silence. Out of every possibility he’s imagined, it's never been this. "This isn't out of pity, is it?”
Mark looks startled, hurt flashing through his eyes for a moment. "It’s not. I really have been wanting to ask you out for a while, to see how things go.”
"You're sure?”
"Absolutely, Chenle.”
"You're not just doing this because you feel bad?”
"No.”
"You—”
Before Chenle can continue, he's cut off by a pair of lips meeting his own, effectively shutting him up.
It only lasts a second, and when Mark pulls away, Chenle is speechless. "You're serious," Chenle whispers, dazed.
Mark laughs softly, reaching forward to push Chenle’s hair away from his forehead. "You can say no, if you want. I don't want you to feel like I'm taking advantage of you by asking you out. Let's be on the same page.”
Chenle pulls Mark into a tight hug, burying his face into his neck and breathing out. "Let’s try.”
He feels Mark squeeze back, a hand resting in his hair. "I'll take you on the best dates ever, I promise.”
"You've already wooed me, you don't have to do it again.” Chenle chuckles, pinching Mark’s side. "Shouldn't it be my job? What can I do to win your heart?”
Mark loosens his grip, and his voice comes out softer. "Just keep being you, Chenle.”
Something in Chenle’s chest warms, and he smiles, doubts slowly erasing themselves from his brain. He knows it's okay, he knows he can trust Mark.
He pretends to be asleep when Mark presses a kiss to the crown of his head.
"You won't be very hard to fall for, Zhong Chenle.”