[fanfic] Promise There Will Be a Next Time (one shot)
Title: Promise There Will Be a Next Time
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Lu Han/Sehun
Length: 1,700+ words
Summary: Sehun comes to the realization that he desperately needs Lu Han by his side every day.
In the beginning, he didn’t think it would hurt this much.
It was obvious they were going to be separated into the different groups. He, after all, could not speak Chinese fluently. A part of him had secretly hoped that Lu Han would be with them, simply because his Korean was so fluent.
He knew it was useless to dream, but he did it anyway.
“So you’re leaving tomorrow.”
“Yeah.”
The two boys stood side by side on the rooftop of their dorm building, their arms ever so casually brushing against each other as they leaned against the wall, watching the flickering lights of Seoul at night.
“When are you going to be back…you know, for good?”
“I don’t know, but it won’t be a while that’s for sure. I’m guessing around May.”
“What?” Sehun quickly turned to look at the older boy who looked equally sad.
“Well, we’ll be returning to Korea before then but only for a little while. Besides, you will have many events to attend also. Things are finally picking up for us. Isn’t this great, Sehun-ah?”
Sehun was suddenly reminded of their trainee days, where they had sat and chatted for hours into the night on a similar rooftop. They had shared their hopes and dreams, their feelings… He had been the one who hugged Lu Han tightly when he finally broke down over missing his family in China. The day they were waiting for was finally approaching but Sehun found himself subconsciously desperate to slow down time, to rewind, if possible.
All he wanted was to go back to those precious moments when time seemed frozen, when he knew day or night, Lu Han was there.
It was time for the EXO-M members to leave for the airport. EXO-K had gathered in the front of the dorm room at that early hour to say their goodbyes and wish them luck in China. Their managers bustled around like busy bees, making sure all their suitcases and passports were accounted for.
Tao was the one who had started crying first, as usual. He bid his tearful farewells to the members, embracing each and every one in a strong hug, feeling that actions were stronger than words in this case.
Kris gave a solemn wave before he climbed into the company van. Lay quickly followed, smiling brightly before also disappearing into the car. Soon enough, the only one who remained standing outside was Lu Han, who wasn’t quite finished talking yet.
“And make sure to ice yourself immediately if you feel any soreness, you got it?” he sternly lectured to Kai, who smiled meekly. “And you will have to be in charge of waking Baekhyun up in the morning. Don’t play video games so late at night. Oh and - where’s Se Hun?”
“Here.”
Lu Han turned around to see the shy boy standing a few feet off to the side, shuffling his feet slowly, as if the slower he walked, the longer Lu Han would stay.
“Thought you weren’t going to come say goodbye,” Lu Han sniffed before giving a warm, friendly smile.
“Of course not,” Sehun answered in a quiet voice, avoiding his hyung’s gaze. He was afraid that if eye contact was made, it would make everything even more difficult than it already was. The already jumbled thoughts in his mind were scrambled even further when he found himself being pulled into a tight embrace, his body tensing a bit as he felt Lu Han’s breath against his neck.
Could Lu Han feel how fast Sehun’s heart was pounding?
“Take care,” was whispered directly into the ear before Lu Han pulled away and climbed into the car. The door was already closed and the car already just a dot in the far off distance before Sehun realized it.
Goodbye, hyung.
Everyday he stared at his phone, half expecting to see a message from Lu Han pop up, suggesting that the two of them go to Sehun’s favorite bubble tea place, or that they go shop around Myeongdong after dance practice.
Of course, nothing came.
Normally he disliked having his hyung be on the complete opposite side of the city for his studies. That was already enough.
The ocean was a whole other story.
“We are ONE! Hello everyone, we are EXO-M!”
The light from the computer emits onto Sehun’s face as he watches, intently, another interview by EXO-K’s other half. The earbuds were secured tightly in his ears, even though he himself could barely comprehend what the MC was talking about or what anyone was really saying. It didn’t matter. His eyes were focused on only one certain handsome, smiley man.
He didn’t understand the words Lu Han spoke, but still he smiled and even giggled a little bit as he watched Lu Han’s very animated facial expressions.
“Haven’t you already watched that one before?”
Sehun jumped from being startled and immediately felt the pain as his head bonked against the ceiling. He winced in pain, his hand flying to his head, where he could feel a bump forming, slowly but surely.
“Ow. Thanks, Jongin.”
Kai flashed an apologetic look. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you like that. You should be sleeping. We have recording in a few hours.” He rested an arm against the ladder of the bunk bed.
“I…couldn’t sleep,” he lied, closing the laptop lid shut and placing it by his side. “Hope I didn’t disturb you too much.”
Kai gave a small smile. “I miss them too. They’ll be back before you know it.” He patted the maknae on his head before retreated to his own spot on the lower bunk.
Sehun closed his eyes, visions of Lu Han’s smile filling his head as he drifted off to sleep.
“Do you miss Lu Han?”
“Pardon?” Sehun looked into the face of the young woman who stood before him as she waited for his autograph.
He noticed Kai shift uncomfortably in the seat next to him, having heard what the lady had asked.
She repeated herself and smiled, sliding a piece of paper in front of him. He looked down and realized they contained the exact same words she just asked him.
Sehun smiled shyly, feeling a blush creeping onto his cheeks, and drew a dot above to the word “Miss”.
“Yes.”
Looking at the calendar had become too painful. The days seemed to creep by too slowly for Sehun. He tried to absorb himself in all of their many activities and promotions, feeling a sense of satisfaction in exhausting himself so that his brain wouldn’t stay awake at night thinking for too long.
How many weeks left? How many days left? Hours? Minutes?
How much time remained before they could stand in each other’s presence once more?
“Oh, Lu Han says he hopes you feel better.”
“What?” Sehun leaned over the edge of his bed to get a good look at Kai. “Lu Han hyung…called?”
“Yeah, when you were asleep. I told him you were slightly sick and he said don’t overwork yourself too much. Oh and to get more rest. He says you need to be healthy at all times.”
Sehun gave a small grunt as a response before letting his head flop back against the pillow.
That hyung of his had such bad timing with his calls. Darn him.
“They’re back! They’re back! They’re back!” Chanyeol seemed to be bouncing off the walls in excitement, eager for everyone to share in the joy that he felt. He had already linked hands with Baekhyun as they danced around the room.
Sehun didn’t move from his seat on the couch. It felt like every nerve in his body had frozen except the ones in his fingers, which were nervously tapping against his legs. A mixture of emotions ran through his mind, ranging from excitement to nervousness. He had been waiting for today for how long? Yet why wouldn’t his body move?
“Kyungsoo-hyung,” Sehun called when D.O walked by. “Is the van here already?”
D.O walked over to the window and peered below. “Nope…wait…. Now it’s here. THEY’RE BACK!” he joined the celebration with Chanyeol and Baekhyun as they bounced out the door to rush down the stairs.
Why was he so afraid to walk down and greet Lu Han? Was it because so much had happened in the time they had been separated? Or was it because he simply had no idea what to say to him?
Hey, Lu Han. Long time no see.
No, too formal.
Hyung, you’re back! I’ve missed you so much!
Too … awkward.
“What are you doing by yourself over there?”
That voice belonged to one person only.
Sehun jumped and whipped around, immediately meeting the gaze of Lu Han, who stood in the doorway pulling his suitcase behind him as he adjusted the large headphones that rested around his neck. “I was expecting a more enthusiastic welcome from you, Sehun-ah,” he pouted, feigning annoyance.
Sehun-ah.
He didn’t know how he ended up there, but suddenly he was in Lu Han’s arms and warm embrace. Sehun felt his lips curling up into a smile. This was the thing he had missed the most about that cute 22 year old hyung. In a way, he provided the stability Sehun so desperately needed and desired in his life.
“I missed you, loser.”
“I’m gone for a month and you start speaking so rudely to your hyung?” Lu Han chided jokingly, making a tsk tsk noise as he shook his head.
“Want to get some bubble tea, Luhannie-hyung? I barely got any this entire time you guys were gone. Going there alone just wasn’t the same,” Sehun said, grabbing Lu Han by the arm.
“You’re paying then.”
“Hyung, you have to treat me! You’re older!”
“I treat you everytime we go there! Which is too often, if you ask me.”
“Luhannie,” Sehun whined, pouting his lips and widening his eyes. After Tao’s demonstrations in interviews, he had secretly been practicing in the mirror over and over again to perfect the art of begging cutely.
“….fine. It’s my treat. But next time, YOU’RE paying.”
Sehun didn’t reply but instead pulled him out the door and started running down the stairs, ignoring the cry of “Sehun-ah, WAIT! This isn’t fair, you’re younger and you have more energy than me!” He realized it was going to be okay the next time an ocean separated the two of them, just as long as there was always the promise of a next time. He could live.