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Chapter Text

Seoul University Hospital is one of the top most prestigious hospitals in South Korea. It has some of the top rank doctors that work there, known for their quick response and excellent service. Among those doctors is Kang Yeosang. 

He had to work his way to the top to earn a spot in the top five doctors. He’s quite young too. Most people are flabbergasted when they find out his age, finding it unreal someone so young in the medical field. He works long hours, usually picking up his shifts with patients but occasionally working in the ER when he’s on call. 

It’s no surprise that he has a fan club. Most of them being his patients, other patients and some of the staff. Despite all of that, he’s lonely. He doesn’t have many friends outside of work. He comes home to an empty house, which makes his heart twist in pain at the thought. He rarely goes out for any fun. 

He hates it but that’s just how his life is. 

“Dr. Kang, you have a patient!” 

He’s brought out of his thoughts by one of his nurses and nods, collecting his things. He’s handed a file as he steps out into the hallway, making his way to the emergency department that held the patient inside. He reads over the records, surprised someone is here so late. He’s having to cover a shift for one of the night doctors. It must be a pretty bad case. 

He pulls the curtain aside, seeing a guy that has to be around the same age as him. His face is pretty battered up and he’s holding onto his left shoulder. Yeosang clears his throat, walking further into the area. “What brings you here tonight?” 

The man sighs, looking up at him with his big brown eyes. “I’m a boxer and tonight’s fight didn’t end so well.” 

Yeosang hums, starting to examine the boxer. He grabs a pair of gloves, pulling them on before examining the boxer’s shoulder. He presses gently, asking where it hurts before starting to lift his arm. The boxer winces, the pain clearly coming across his features. Yeosang grabs his charts for the patient, writing some things down. 

“How bad is it, doc?” 

The doctor takes his gloves off and throws them away. “I’ll have a nurse tend to your face wounds then you’ll be taken to get some X-rays. We will go from there, okay?” 

San nods, thanking him and Yeosang turns to leave. As he shuts the curtain, he can’t but overhear the boxer mumbling to himself. “I didn’t know this hospital had hot doctors working here.”

Yeosang chuckles to himself before going to his next case for the long night ahead. 

-

San didn’t expect for his little fight to turn out so bad. He already knows he’s going to get an earful when he gets home with bandages on his face and a sling on. He quietly opens the door to their house, trying to sneak in. 

He’s barely made it pass the living room to the stairs when he hears someone clear their throat. He accepts defeat and turns his head to see Seonghwa sitting in one of the chairs, his arms crossed. San comes to sit on the couch next to him, a pout forming and he looks down at his lap. 

“What happened?” 

San picks his words carefully, knowing how the elder man acted the last time he got in a fight outside of a boxing match. He was not hurt as badly as he is this time so he’s not sure how Hwa will act this time. 

“Honestly, I ran into a group of people with some of my friends. I’m not sure who they were or why they held such a grudge against our team but their goal was to hurt me.” 

He motions to his injured shoulder and winces a little when lifts it in a shrug. Seonghwa takes his words in before getting up from his chair. He walks over to the boxer and cups his face gently between his two hands. San winces when Hwa’s thumb runs over his bruised cheekbone. 

“Did they seem to be working for someone?” 

San shakes his head, truly not knowing why he had a target on his head. Maybe someone from the group he’s supposed to fight against for the next match sent them after him. He sighs, leaning into Hwa’s touch and closes his eyes. He hears the doctor hum, gently rubbing his cheeks. “You need to let Joong know.” 

The boxer unconsciously pouts, knowing Hongjoong won’t be too happy. Even more so since it was a fight that San couldn’t control. “Do I have to do it right now?” 

Hwa nods, removing his hands and patting his good shoulder. “The sooner you do, the less likely he will be mad.” 

San groans but gets off the couch. He stands for a moment, the room swimming before his eyes. He’s more beat up than he realizes. His head feels heavy and he needs a minute to let everything stop moving. Seonghwa wraps an arm around his waist, helping him stand. “You okay?” 

The boxer hums, “I am now. Let’s go.” 

-

Hongjoong has not been home long. He only arrived about thirty minutes ago and made his way up to his own bedroom. He rubs a hand down his face, a pounding headache behind his eyes. He places his things down onto the chair that is situated in the corner of his room. He’s in the process of taking his shirt off when the door opens up. 

“Joong?” 

He turns his head, his eyes widening when he sees the state San is in. “Sannie, what happened?” 

He leaves his shirt half unbuttoned to rush up to the younger man. He gently cradles his face between his hands, eyeing the marks on his face and his arm being in a sling. San does the same as he did with Seonghwa a few minutes ago. He explains the whole story, not leaving anything out. 

Hongjoong hums, a different look crossing his face before quickly disappearing. “I’ll take care of it. For now, why don’t you get some rest?” 

The boxer sighs, wanting to be in his hyungs presence for a little longer. The lawyer seems to pick up on that and chuckles, leaning in to press a kiss over the bandage. “You can curl up in my bed if you’d like,” he whispers as he pulls away. 

San’s face lights up with a smile, “I’ll go change first!” 

Hongjoong smiles, watching San hurry off. Well, to the best of his ability as of right now. He turns his head to look over Seonghwa who is also watching with a fond look before turning to meet his gaze.

“Do you think?”

Hongjoong nods, pinching the bridge of his own nose and closing his eyes for a moment. The headache that was dulled at the sight of his boyfriends comes back full force. It has to be them. They always have a vendetta against their boxer team. There’s no doubt who it is. 

“I’m going to shower. We will focus on this tomorrow. For now, let’s all get some rest,” he decides to say. Seonghwa hums, walking over to the lawyer and pressing a kiss to his temple. Hongjoong gives him a tired smile before leaving for the bathroom. 

-

It’s six am before he finally gets home from his shift. He rubs at his neck, a yawning escaping him as he puts his code into the door. The sun is already starting to rise, making him wish he had a little longer to himself before his next shift. He’s exhausted and truly needs more rest. 

At least he has one more shift then a day off. The thought almost seems heavenly to him. He steps into his apartment, taking his shoes off and picking them up to slide onto the shoe rack. He slides on his slippers and hangs his bag onto the coat rack. He locks up for the time being, checking his watch to see how long he will get to sleep before getting up to start it all over. 

He walks to his room, grabbing a pair of sweats and heading to the bathroom to shower. It’s a quick one, the promise of crawling under his blankets sounding much better. He finishes up and steps out, grabbing a towel to dry off with. He’s trying his best not to think about his shift. It was a rough one. The night ones usually are, draining more out of him than the day ones. 

He pulls his sweats on then goes through his nightly facial routine. He finishes up brushing his teeth before going to climb under his blankets. He sets his alarm before settling his head on his pillow and finally succumbing to sleep. 

-

The whispers fill the hallway. This perks Wooyoung’s curiosity. What could cause such a ruckus early in the morning? He grabs the files he needs for the day before stepping out into the hallway, walking to where the others are gathered. He rolls his eyes and can’t help the fond smile that forms when he sees Seonghwa crouched down in front of some children. The children seem upset but whatever he’s saying to them has them giggling. 

Wooyoung feels his own heart warm at the sight. It’s always so sweet to see his hyung work with children. He’s so good with them. He’s happy that he gets to spend the rest of his life with the pediatrician. He watches as the children finally smile and hurry off to their mom who is approaching them. The mother thanks Seonghwa multiple times before leaving. 

Seonghwa looks over, finally meeting the younger’s gaze. He walks over, lifting a hand and pushing some of Wooyoung’s hair behind his left ear with a warm smile present. The younger one can't help but lean into the touch. “You enjoy helping children so much, hyung.” 

“Of course. That’s why I chose this job.” 

Wooyoung understands why there were so many whispers coming from the hallway now. Seonghwa is a gorgeous human being with a kind nature. Most can’t help but stop to stare at the stunning man. Thankfully, this man is his and he doesn’t have to worry about him going after anyone. 

The two only talk for a bit longer before the older kisses his cheek and hurries off to his next patient. Wooyoung smiles, a hand to his cheek before shaking his head and heading to his first appointment of the day. He’s got a long day of surgeries ahead. 

-

Wooyoung is stepping out of the OR from his last surgery with a dreary sigh. This one had been five hours. The first one was four. His feet hurt but the ending of his shift is close. He finishes washing his hands before drying them off and heading to his office. He catches sight of Yeosang walking in, the one doctor he’s always kept eyes on. He’d like to know about him but hasn’t found a way to approach him for a casual conversation. It’s usually just work related. 

He can’t help the worry that comes over him when he sees the bags under the doctor’s eyes. He’s heard from others that the man doesn’t take care of himself well. He has a tendency to worry for others before worrying about himself. He sighs and walks into his own office, grabbing his things before heading out. Maybe he will gain the courage to speak to him about something soon. 

-

“Yeosang-ah!” 

The doctor turns his head. He was in the midst of gathering his things. It’s one of the other doctors who works nights who approaches him, a smile bright on his face. 

“It’s your day off, right?” 

He nods slowly, unsure of where this conversation is going. 

“Would you like to join me and some other colleagues tonight at a bar?” 

He sighs, really wanting to do nothing but sleep. The thought of going out does not sound that appealing. At the same time, he wants to make friends. It will help ease some of the loneliness he feels every time he goes home. He nods, deciding to agree to the outing. 

“Great! I’ll message you!” 

Yeosang smiles tiredly and waves at the person. He watches them leave before letting out another sigh. Maybe it will be worth the sacrifice of sleep. 

The first thing he does when he gets home is search his closet for anything worth going to a bar with colleagues. The weather outside is quite chilly with winter approaching so maybe a cute sweater? He finds a white one further back in the closet, laying it on the bed. He finds a pair of black slacks to go with it. He really doesn’t have many cute outfits. He is not one who goes out much so why should he? 

He finds one of his light brown coats to pair with the fit, smiling a little. That will have to do. His next order of business is a shower and a quick nap. If he wants to be rested for the get together, he needs some sleep. That’s what he does next. He showers and changes into something comfortable. Once he’s under his covers, he sets an alarm for later before letting himself get some sleep. 

-

The atmosphere in the bar is nice. It isn’t super crowded. Waiters and waitresses are walking about, serving drinks with actual smiles. The people are nice, keeping the place light and welcoming. When Yeosang walks into the place, he looks around for the face of the person who invited him to the restaurant. He sees them waving and he hurries over, a nervous smile present as he bows his head to them all. 

He takes a seat, being welcomed by the rest of the doctors and nurses who joined them. He sees some other familiar faces, one with pink hair and one with dark brown hair. He’s pretty sure the one with the pink hair works in the pediatric area. He’s seen him a few times when works day shifts. The other is a neurosurgeon. He’s also spoken to him quite a few times at work. He thinks his name is Wooyoung? 

He tilts his head to the side, his mind still caught up on trying to remember each of his coworkers names. He feels bad for not remembering each of their names but he can’t help it. He’s not one who socializes very often with his coworkers. Maybe he needs to try better so he can make friends. 

“-eosang? Hello?” 

He blinks a few times and turns his head to the right. One of the pretty nurses is speaking to him? Mingi, he thinks? 

“Yes? What is it?” 

Mingi chuckles, offering him a glass. “We were trying to ask what you’d like to drink.” 

He accepts the glass with a smile and bows his head. “I’m sorry for getting distracted.” 

The nurse shakes his head, holding his own glass up to cheers. “I’m glad you could join us. And by the way, you look cute.” 

Yeosang feels his cheeks heat up and he quickly drinks the liquid. He nearly chokes when the whiskey hits the back of his throat, burning as it makes it down his throat. It’s been a while since he’s been out to drink. He’s always so busy with work and trying to make it to another day. He clears his throat as he sits the glass down, his cheeks still warm. 

“I didn’t expect the forward compliment but thank you. You don’t look too bad yourself.” 

Mingi smiles, his own cheeks pink. Yeosang mentally cheers, knowing he still has it in him to flirt back. The two talk for a little while, unaware of two other people watching them. The other two doctors don’t seem to mind, happy to see Yeosang actually talking to someone and having a good time. They might not personally know the doctor but they’re aware of how he doesn’t speak to many people. Plus, it’s rare to see a smile on the cute doctor’s face. 

They’d like to see more of it. 

Chapter Text

A few weeks have passed since the fight. San spent his free time at the hospital, having his shoulder checked and attending physical therapy. His shoulder is doing better but he’s also hesitant to get back into the ring. What if it gets hit and he’s back in a sling? 

The only good thing from his visits at the hospital, other than getting to occasionally see his boyfriends, is seeing the cute doctor. He can’t help the flirty comments he sometimes makes, getting a chuckle or a smile in response. It’s nice to see Dr. Kang smile for once. He doesn’t seem like he does so often. 

Doctor Kang had recommended he do some physical therapy and that should help strengthen his shoulder. That means he gets to see the doctor more. As the weeks passed, he got closer to the doctor. Well, as much as he could despite not truly seeing him all the time. He’d try to go by the doctor's office if he was in there, giving him a smile and waving. Sometimes San would bring the doctor some food. He had heard from other nurses how the doctor doesn’t eat much. That worried him so he’d bring him a Tupperware full of warm food. (He’d pack some leftovers of the food Wooyoung cooked.) 

Today, he has another appointment with his therapist. He’s going through the usual routine, doing the exercises that the therapist gave him to do. It’s coming to the end of his appointment when he sees Doctor Kang walk by the glass doors. He frowns when he sees how pale the doctor looks. He doesn’t make a comment though. He wants to finish with his appointment. 

“Okay, last stretch then we will put some ice on it to conclude the day.” 

San nods, following the steps given to him. The last exercise does him in, a wince creasing his features. The therapist has him be done for the day and directs him to one of the beds. He lays down on his stomach, getting comfortable and an ice pack is placed onto it. A timer is set, and he lets himself relax. He gets his phone out to scroll through some of the apps, even answering some text messages. 

-

A day off from work leaves him with nothing to do. He cleans around the house, even gets some laundry done. He’s working on hanging up some of Hongjoong’s outfits when arms wrap around his waist and a kiss is placed on his cheek. “Hyung.” 

Yunho chuckles, turning his head to the whiny man. He lifts a hand to run through the dirty blonde hair, the younger man leaning into his touch. It’s just the two of them at home today. Jongho didn’t have any classes today, so he spent it at home with the bartender. “What is it, baby?” 

“Come watch a movie with me.” 

The bartender hums, patting the side of his face and moves away from him. “Let me finish up the laundry then I’ll join you.” 

Jongho lets out a sigh but nods, going back to the living room. Yunho finishes up with the clothes, putting on another load before he goes to join their youngest on the couch. Jongho is quick to curl up into his side, pulling a blanket over the two of them. He finds a movie to turn on, both of them agreeing to it. 

It’s a few hours later when Hongjoong returns home to the two of them still curled up. The two of them must have fallen asleep during their movie marathon. He smiles at the two of them, sitting his bag down on the end of the sectional and walks over. He shakes Yunho’s shoulder gently, watching as his eyes move under his eyelids before finally opening them. 

He blinks a few times before smiling tiredly at Hongjoong. The older man smiles back. “You don’t need to sleep the entire day away, Yunho-ah.” 

The other yawns, gently waking Jongho up too. The law student groans, burying his face further into Yunho’s chest. Yunho chuckles, “Wake up. You won’t sleep tonight if you keep napping.” 

Jongho pouts, wrapping his arms around the older’s waist. “I don’t wanna,” he mumbles. 

“Hongjoong hyung is here.” 

Jongho pulls away, seeing their hyung standing in front of them. The law student rarely gets to see him with his own schedule busy with classes and pulling late nights at a restaurant. Everyone told him he didn’t have to work and just focus on school, but he was determined. He didn’t want to be the only one who did not work. He felt bad if he didn’t pull his own weight. So, between working and classes, he didn’t get to see Hongjoong. Plus, Hongjoong stayed busy with his own job and rarely came home as it is. 

“Hyung?” Jongho’s eyes light up and Hongjoong is reminded of one of the reasons he fell for their youngest. The law student tumbles out of the blanket and onto his feet to bombard Hongjoong into a hug. He’s not one for much physical affection but getting to hug his Hongjoong hyung was an exception. 

Hongjoong laughs, wrapping his arms around Jongho’s waist to hug him back. He presses a kiss to his cheek, smiling at the warmth coming from the law student. He misses seeing Jongho. It’s hard for them to see each other. Some nights he will come home late and crawl into bed with Jongho, wanting to see him even if it means just cuddling him at night. 

The law student pulls away, a bright smile present. “I need to tell you about the recent things we learned about this week and also, I need help with a paper. There’s also...” 

Hongjoong puts a finger over the younger’s lips, chuckling. “Calm down. You’ve got the rest of the day to tell me everything.” 

-

Ever since the dinner party, Yeosang has found himself with a set of new friends. Shortly after his conversation with Mingi, the nurse introduced him to Seonghwa, and he already knew Wooyoung. Come to find out, he gets along with them not very well. He left the dinner party with three new numbers in his phone and a happy heart. 

He will occasionally receive some text messages checking in on him, asking him if he’s eaten and slept. He couldn’t help the fluttering in his heart when he got those texts. He doesn’t have many people in his life who care for him. It’s been just him ever since he left home to achieve his dreams of being a doctor. He made it this far by himself. So, suddenly having three people texting him and asking how he is? 

Then there’s San. The boxer started doing physical therapy in the hospital about three weeks ago now. In the midst of his appointments, he will come by to just say hello to Yeosang. But he rarely leaves without dropping at least one flirty comment. The doctor isn’t complaining. He thinks it’s funny and San is a good guy. 

The point still stands though. He’s never had someone to truly take interest in him, much less flirt. 

He’s got a long shift today. His head is pounding, and he feels nauseous, but he needs to work. It’s been a while since he’s worked a day shift, so maybe he will get to see Wooyoung. He smiles at the thought but is reminded of the headache when a sharp pain shoots through his right temple. He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment and rubbing at the area. He will be okay. It’s going to be okay. 

He opens his eyes and goes to his closet to pick out clothes for the day. He goes for something a bit more comfortable, pulling out a pair of dark blue scrubs. He pulls them on and goes to his vanity to style his hair out of his face. He’s already did his facial routine and brushed his teeth. He just needs to grab his things from the foyer. He grabs his phone and heads out of his bedroom. 

He’s quick with breakfast before he’s sliding his shoes on, grabbing his bag and jacket. He’s out the door and climbs into his car. He eyes the time and lets himself relax a little. He’s got time. 

-

He arrives at the hospital, greeting the rest of the staff who work today as he walks to his office. He sits his things down and changes into the pair of shoes he usually wears in the hospital. Yeosang notices the files laying on his desk and picks one up to read through. He has a few appointments today and has to cover part of the evening shift tonight in the emergency room. 

It looks like the appointments are just previous patients coming in for checkups. That makes things a little easier. He sits the folder back down and grabs his coat to pull on over his scrubs. He also grabs his stethoscope to wrap around his neck. His name tag is already clipped onto his coat and anything else he needs is in his pockets. He lets out a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment as the painful reminder of his headache pounds behind his eyes. 

He just has to make it through his shift. He’s got this. He grabs the first file of his first appointment and leaves his office. 

-

It’s midday. His lunch is approaching, and he can finally get off his feet. He bids goodbye to his patient and smiles, leading them out of the room. He steps out into the hallway and makes his way back to his office, his work iPad in hand with the folder of the patient. His plan was to go back to his office to order some lunch. Or maybe Sannie dropped him something off. 

He smiles a little at the thought of the boxer again. Ever since his first appointment, the boxer finds a reason to come see him. He even books appointments with Yeosang to have his shoulder checked occasionally. Yeosang doesn’t mind, the boxer is a breath of fresh air every time he comes. Speaking of said boxer, he looks up ahead to see Wooyoung and San talking to one another. He’s not sure about what. 

As he gets closer, a sudden wave of dizziness overcomes him. He grabs onto the wall next to him with his free hand and takes a deep breath. 

“Yeosang? Hey, is everything okay?” 

He tries to focus on the person in front of him. He recognizes the voice, but his vision is hazy as the headache he’s been trying to ignore comes back tenfold. He can practically hear his heartbeat in his ears. 

“Hey... let’s get you to your office. Can you walk?” 

He tries to nod but that makes things worse. He moves away from the wall. A hand is placed on the bottom of his back, guiding him. He really does try to move but everything is spinning. He tries to focus on one thing, but it’s too loud. He needs to breathe. 

“Sangie? Hey…Yeosang!” 

You’re too loud… it’s too loud. 

I’m sorry, Sannie. 

Then everything is black. 

-

San is quick to catch Yeosang and Woooyoung is at his other side. “Fuck.” 

The neurosurgeon whispers under his breath, placing a hand on Yeosang’s forehead. “He’s burning up. Can you help bring him to his office, San? He has a bed in the side room.” 

San nods. The two of them get the unconscious doctor off the floor and both manage to carry him to the doctor's office. Wooyoung pushes the door open to the small room that’s in the back of the office. They gently lay him down onto the bed and Wooyoung leaves to go grab some things. San frowns, taking Yeosang’s shoes off and pulls the covers over him. He sees a bathroom also somehow managing to fit in this huge office and goes in there to find any washcloths. He understands that he is at a hospital but wants to start taking care of the doctor. 

He turns the sink on, thankful it has more than one setting and wets the cloth with warm water. He walks back into the room, sitting on the edge of the bed and lays the cloth onto Yeosang’s forehead. A few minutes later, Wooyoung returns with what he needs plus Seonghwa is with him. Their hyung looks quite worried as he lets himself go into doctor mode. He checks his pulse along with other things that San isn’t sure of. 

The boxer just sits beside Yeosang, letting the two of them do what they do best, take care of someone. 

-

When Yeosang finally comes to, he looks around the room. His eyes widen he realizes he’s at the hospital still and goes to get up. He still has patients to see and the night shift to cover. A hand is placed on his chest and gently pushes him back down. 

“Everything has been taken care of. You focus on resting.” 

He meets the kind eyes of Wooyoung, who holds nothing but concern in his eyes. Yeosang wants to object but he’s shut down immediately. He sighs, sitting up and leaning back against the headboard of the bed. He turns his head to finally see San sitting in the chair that’s in the room. He gives the doctor a dimpled smile, but he can also see worry in those eyes too.

“Yeosang.” He looks back at Wooyoung, not prepared for the talk that is about to come. He wrings his hands together, letting out a shaky breath. 

“Yes?” 

“You’ve got to cut back on some hours. I understand you work so much because of your own reasons but it is taking a toll on your body.”

“I know it is, but I- “

Wooyoung shakes his head and folds his arms over his chest. “Do you? Because right now, with you passing out in the job and running a high fever, it doesn’t look like you do.” 

Wooyoung continues to go on, telling him the cons of not getting enough sleep and eating regular meals. The list keeps piling on. A knock on the door has him stop momentarily and it is Seonghwa walking in. He gives Yeosang a small smile and comes to stand by the bed. 

“How are you feeling?” 

“I’m okay,” he mumbles out, his voice small. 

“I do agree on Wooyoung’s behalf. You need to start taking better care of yourself. You are not a robot, Yeosang. You are still a human who needs rest and nourishment like everyone else.” 

Yeosang listens to the two other doctors as they continue to speak. He looks down at his hands, finding it hard to believe that someone truly cares for him. He has no one else in his life. It’s just him. No one has taken the time out of their days to take care of him. And now, he has three people who have sacrificed their own time to take care of him. Before he knows it, he feels tears running down his cheeks and he’s sniffling. 

“Guys, enough. Give him a break. I think you have gotten your point across,” San speaks up. Yeosang looks over at the boxer who is pouting, looking at both Wooyoung and Seonghwa. San moves to sit beside Yeosang on the bed. “Can I hug you?” 

Yeosang nods, a bit hesitant. San wraps his arms around the doctor in a warm hug, pulling him close. The doctor can’t help but let himself cry even harder as he hurries his face into San’s chest 

“Oh... I didn’t mean to make him cry!” Wooyoung exclaims, coming to sit on the other side and rub a hand up and down Yeosang’s back. “I’m sorry. I should’ve backed off.”

Yeosang tries to get the sobs back under control and breathe normally. San whispers soothing words to him, doing anything to help calm him down. Yeosang finally takes one last deep breath and sits back to wipe the tears from his face. He’s met with two guilty looking doctors who are waiting patiently for him to speak. 

“Y..you didn’t do anything wrong. I haven’t had anyone care for me like that in a very long time, so it was overwhelming.” 

Seonghwa comes to crouch down beside the bed, reaching out a tentative hand and resting it on Yeosang’s knee. He rubs his thumb over his knee and gives him a smile. “We do not care to give you the care and attention that you need. Everyone deserves to be taken care of. Over the few weeks that we’ve grown close to you, we have seen another side of you. We’d love to get to know you better and be there for you whenever you need it.” 

A few more tears fall down Yeosang’s cheeks as he smiles and nods his head. He rests his own hand over Seonghwa’s hand and squeezes it gently. “Thank you, hyung.” 

With that, Seonghwa knows they’ve been accepted. Yeosang had been hesitant for the past weeks to even call him Hyung despite being given the permission to do so. He can’t help the way his own heart skips a beat when he sees the smile form on the younger doctor’s face. He can see why Wooyoung had a thing for Yeosang before they decided to reach out to form a friendship. 

From now on, Seonghwa is determined to keep that smile alive. He wants to keep him protected and possibly have him around more. “I’m glad. You will always be welcomed to be with us.” 

The way Yeosang’s face lights up more will always be ingrained into all of their minds for the rest of their lives. He’s finally on the road to being happy. 

-

It’s later in the day when the two doctors and San return home from work. Wooyoung yawns, stretching his arms above his head as he slides his shoes off in the foyer. He hears a chuckle from both San and Seonghwa. He walks into the kitchen, checking their cabinets and fridge for what he can cook. 

Arms sneak around his waist, and he turns his head to see black and red hair come into view. He smiles. “Yunho-ah.” 

A kiss is pressed to his cheek. “We can just order in if you’re tired.” 

Wooyoung hums and hears some laughing from the living room. “Oh. Did you greet the newcomer, Yunho?” 

“Yeosang?” 

Woo nods, smiling. He turns to face the taller man. “We decided to bring him home with us since we are worried about him. Plus, he lives by himself.” 

Yunho smiles, feeling warmth in his heart. Wooyoung has such a caring personality and he’s glad to call him one of his boyfriends. He’s heard plenty about the doctor who is currently speaking to the rest of their family. The other doctor seems very friendly and seems like he needs a little bit of love. He doesn’t mind being introduced to someone new. 

“I’m sure he will fit right in with the rest of us. It looks like Jongho has already taken a liking to him.” 

Chapter Text

Time always seems to go by in a breeze when you are having fun with those who bring you comfort. Before Yeosang knew it, it had been nearly two months. His hours were not as hectic as before and he was putting aside time to see the others. Come to find out, three of them worked in the same building as him. They were just in different areas. 

He continued to learn more about the seven. He learned that San is a boxer, a good one at that. He competes in big fights, even had a tournament coming before he was injured. With the fact of him being a famous fighter, he was on people’s lists. There are people out there who do not like him and sometimes they will take measures against him. Anything to keep him out of the ring. Yeosang simply told him that those people are just sore losers and don’t know how to play fairly. 

That only made San laugh and maybe kiss him on the cheek for being so cute. Yeosang had turned bright red. 

-

Some days Jongho would stop by the hospital to see his boyfriends and Yeosang. He would stay longer just to speak to the doctor on his break, eating lunch with him and talking about school. It was a nice distraction from some of his workload, letting him relax and focus on something else. 

Once he was gone, Yeosang would sigh and return back to work.

 Other days, Hongjoong would drop by to see Hwa and Wooyoung. Mingi had a different schedule as a nurse. It was hard to catch him at work. Sometimes Yeosang would see the lawyer when he’d leave one appointment and go to the next. He’s definitely been pulled aside by Hongjoong a few times, even if it was just for a small hug. It always seemed to energize Yeosang. Small hugs from Hongjoong were not an often thing so he enjoyed them. 

The one he didn’t get to see as often was Yunho. The man worked at a bar, so he was often working night shifts. Yeosang either was asleep or working a night shift himself. He hated that he couldn't see the man as much as he’d wished. But tonight, he will go see him. He doesn’t have work the next day so he can stay out a little later. 

Once he’s off work, he goes back home to find something to change into that is a bit cuter. He doesn’t have a whole lot to choose from. He’s not one who really goes out. He finds a pair of white slacks and a brown button up. He frowns, not knowing if it would be any good. He lays the outfit on the bed and goes to take a quick shower. 

He dries his hair with a hair dryer once he’s out and digs through his vanity for some discarded makeup. He’s lucky and finds some. It’s only eyeshadow and mascara but it will do. He gets his makeup brushes out before he sits down on the bench. He starts doing his makeup, humming a soft tune while does so. He’s nearly done when his phone rings. He gets up to go grab it from the bed, seeing it’s Mingi. 

He answers it and puts it on speaker, sitting it on the vanity and continues to do his makeup. “ Yeosang-ah? You there?” 

Yeosang smiles, applying the mascara now. “Yes. Sorry. What is it?” 

“ Were you still planning on coming tonight?” 

“Yes. I’m working on getting ready and I’ll head that way. Why?” 

There’s some shuffling on the other end and the sound of a door shutting. He’s confused, wondering what the younger man is doing. He faintly hears the sound of an engine starting. “ I’ll come get you! Stay put!” 

Yeosang chuckles, agreeing to wait for him. “I’ll see you when you get here then.” 

They hang up after that and he finishes up. He puts his clothes on, looking into the mirror. He frowns, eyeing his outfit before deciding to undo some of the buttons. He’s never one to show much skin but he likes it. Plus, ever since the other seven have taken him under their wings, he’s gained some weight back and some color. He goes to the jewelry box, pulls out a silver necklace to put on. He even finds a pair of earrings to match with the outfit. It’s a simple outfit but it’s the best he can do. 

He lets out a sigh and looks in the mirror one more time. He smiles, happy with how he looks. He grabs his phone to take a mirror selfie and sends it into the group chat with the boys. He doesn’t wait for their responses because there’s a knock at his apartment door. He hurries to the door, grabbing a jacket to pull over his outfit and sliding some shoes on. He opens it up to Mingi, who takes his breath away with the mere sight of him. 

The younger man is just wearing a pair of jeans with a white t-shirt with a brown cardigan that has some blue designs on it. He still looks gorgeous and Yeosang can’t help but reach out to push some of his hair from his forehead. Mingi’s cheeks dust a pretty pink and Yeosang smiles. 

“Are you ready to go, Sangie?” Mingi asks, stepping aside to let him through. Yeosang checks to make sure he has his wallet and keys, his phone already in his pocket. He nods, stepping out and makes sure his door is locked. 

-

He steps into the bar with Mingi at his side, the taller having his hand on his lower back. He turns his head to see Yunho behind the counter, a smile on his face as he pours a drink and speaks to a customer. 

“Can we go see him, Mingi?” 

The other man chuckles and nods. The two walk over to the counter, discreetly taking a seat on two of the stools. It takes a moment for Yunho to even notice them, he’s having to serve more drinks. Yeosang takes the time to take the bartender in. He has his black and red hair styled to frame his face nicely. He is wearing a white shirt tucked into a pair of black slacks and a black blazer over it. He’s also wearing a silver necklace with white pearls. He looks so stunning, the bright smile enhancing that. Yeosang is falling so fast for these seven men and not just for their looks either. Their looks are just a bonus. 

Yunho sits a glass down, pushing it over to a customer before he turns his head in their general direction. He does a double take when he thinks he sees something and when his eyes land on them, his entire face lights up. His eyes seem to sparkle before he practically skips over to them. Yeosang is sure he can imagine a tail wagging at how happy Yunho is to see them. 

“Mingi-ah and Sangie!” 

He puts his hands onto the counter and leans forward. Mingi giggles, leaning in to kiss his cheek before sitting back. Yeosang can’t help but blush at the interaction and looks down at the wooden surface. “Hey, no need to get shy, Sangie.” 

He feels a finger under his chin before his face is lifted to meet the warm eyes of Yunho. He smiles at him softly. “Would you like a drink?” 

Yeosang nods with a small smile, asking for something light. He doesn’t do too well when it comes to drinking. Yunho hums and turns to go fix him a drink. He lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and hears Mingi let out a laugh. “Your cheeks are so red, Sangie-ah.” 

He covers his cheeks with hands and pouts. “Shut up,” he mumbles, flustered. He’s not used to so much attention. He knows he will get even more eyes on him when he takes his jacket off. He takes a deep breath and pulls his hands away from his face to do so. When Yunho returns with a drink, his eyes go wide at the sight. 

“Oh.. it’s so much better in person.” 

“What is?” Mingi questions before turning to look at Yeosang, too. He lets out a low whistle. Yeosang feels warmth spread through him and his own confidence grows as he takes the glass from Yunho. He’s happy he decided to come here tonight, feeling safe with two of the men he’s starting to fall in love with. 

-

It’s quite clear from the way he stumbled over his words and how red his cheeks were that Yeosang had clearly had too much to drink. He nearly had his full body weight on Mingi who kept an arm around his waist. Both Yunho and Mingi were enamored by the sight, glad the doctor was letting go. When he went for another glass, the bartender took it from him and shook his head. “No more. I’ll get you some water.” 

Yeosang pouts, “But..” 

Mingi clicks his tongue, readjusting his grip on the other man and sitting him up some. “No more, baby. You’ve had enough.” 

Yeosang’s pout deepens but he nods, sitting up onto his stool. His neck and chest were also red. His cheeks were hot, and he can see why the other two men were so worried. He willingly takes the glass of water that is handed to him and takes a drink of it. He lets out a sigh when it soothes his throat. 

“Ah! I knew I’d find you here,” a familiar voice says. He turns his head to see San who has a bright smile on his face, but it seems off. His grip is tight on Mingi’s left arm, his fingers shaking. 

He looks past San to see Wooyoung who is talking to Yunho in hushed voices. He frowns, not thinking much of it since his own vision is hazy from drinking so much. A hand is placed onto his shoulder, and he turns to see Seonghwa. He’s talking to Mingi too, but his grip is gentle. He leans into the touch. Suddenly, it gets loud in the bar. The gentle touch isn’t there anymore and he turns his body to see San standing face to face with a strange man. 

He’s not sure what they are saying. He’s too far away to hear anything. When one guy takes a swing at Mingi, hitting his face, all hell breaks loose. His eyes widen and he moves to get out of the way. A hand grabs his arm and he’s suddenly behind the counter, a body hovering over his. “You’re safe back here. Just stay down.”

Yeosang nods, his eyes blinking up at the older man. There's the sound of things being thrown and shouting. Then he hears sirens, making him frown more. He’s definitely sobered up now. Yunho leaves him, going to check on the others. He lifts his body up, peeking over the counter and grabs his glass of water. He finishes the rest of it as he watches the scene in front of him. He crouches back down, looking for a first aid kit behind the counter. He lets out a sound of excitement and hurries over to the boys. Mingi’s cheek is bruising and there’s a scratch on his cheekbone. The guy must’ve been wearing a ring. 

He opens the first aid kit, putting gloves on and immediately he’s in his doctor mode. He tends to each of their wounds, his hands steady despite the drinks. He knows what he’s doing. When police finally enter the establishment, Yunho greets them first. He tells him the rundown and brings San over to tell his part. 

When Yeosang gets to Seonghwa, the doctor grabs his wrist, and he looks up to meet the older man’s eyes. “Hyung.”

Seonghwa shakes his head, his thumb gently rubbing over his wrist. “I’m okay.” 

Yeosang frowns, using his other hand to cup the side of Hwa’s face and turning it each way. He sighs, seeing the prominent bruising on his left cheek. “It’s just bruises but don’t think you’re getting out of a thorough check up when we get back to the house.” 

Seonghwa is amused to say the least, smiling. “So, you’re inviting yourself to our place?” 

“Yes, I am. Someone has to make sure you are all okay after those assholes hurt you,” Yeosang stands up and steps closer to the older. Hwa still has a hold on his right wrist. He runs a thumb gently over his cheek, leaning his head against the older’s forehead. His voice is quiet when he speaks this time, for only Hwa to hear. “Is this the same group who hurt Sannie’s shoulder?” 

“Yes,” Seonghwa hums, his other hand finding purchase on Yeosang’s waist and pulling him close. “Joong is already working on it.” 

Yeosang hums, pulling away and turning his attention to the others. Now that he thinks about it, he must have enough still in him to have the courage to do what he just did. His cheeks heat up in embarrassment and he can hear Seonghwa laugh. He just rolls his eyes fondly and lets himself be held by the older man. He already knows the night is far from being over. 

-

Hongjoong arrives home around two in the morning. He hears the television playing some show before he sees the light of it. He slides his shoes off and puts them onto their shoe rack before walking further into their home. He smiles at the sight of the seven men all wrapped up on the couch together, some barely awake and the others asleep. 

Wait… seven? 

His eyes blink a few times and sure enough, Yeosang is between Seonghwa and Mingi. He’s sound asleep but the grip he has on Seonghwa’s hand is undeniable. Seonghwa is still awake though, his eyes finding Hongjoong’s in the darkness and he smiles. He’s tired, Joong can tell that much. The lawyer walks over to him, crouching down in front of him and gently touching the bruise on his cheek with his fingers. 

“How bad?” 

The elder man sighs, turning his head slightly to kiss Hongjoong’s palm. “We were on the way to Inception from the hospital. It’s not a far walk so we figured we’d get some fresh air. They attacked us on the way, getting a few hits on Sannie and Wooyoung. We ran the rest of the way to the bar, and they followed us. Thankfully, none of us were arrested but we still had to go to the station and explain what happened at the bar.” 

Hongjoong sighs, standing up from his spot. He leans down to press a kiss to the top of Hwa’s head before leaving the room. He walks into his office and over to the desk. He pulls out a file, sitting it on top of everything else. He rubs at his temples, a headache already forming but he’s got to do something about this group. 

-

Yeosang wakes the next morning with a killer hangover and feeling too warm. His nose scrunches up and he opens his eyes, looking around the room. His eyes flicker back and forth before realizing he’s at their house. He sits up, detangling himself from two bodies. He looked down to see it was Wooyoung and Mingi. 

He smiles and pulls himself before getting up from the couch. The room spins a little from the hangover but it’s nothing he can’t handle. He’s still in last night’s clothes and he sure doesn't smell the greatest. He walks into the kitchen, seeing Hongjoong leaning against one of the counters with a cup in his hands. 

His eyes flickered up to meet Yeosang’s and a smile formed on his lips. Yeosang smiles back, hoping his hair isn’t a hot mess. Hongjoong reaches back with one hand to grab something before offering it to him. It's a bottle of painkillers. He gratefully takes them, opening the lid and popping two into his hand. He hands them back and finds a glass to get some water in. 

Once he’s taken the medicine, he asks for the time. “It’s nearly noon. Seonghwa went into work with Mingi. The rest are still here.” 

Yeosang nods, sitting down at the dining table. He lets out a breath, his mind reeling from everything that occurred last night. It was a lot to take in and he’s sure Hongjoong could answer his questions, but he didn’t want to bother him about that. Hongjoong comes to sit next to him, reaching a hand out to squeeze his forearm. 

“Everything is fine. I’m already working on getting these men behind bars.” 

Yeosang nods, smiling a little and puts a hand over the lawyer’s. “I’m just worried about Sannie. His shoulder was pretty bad when he came to see me that time and the fact that this group attacked the rest of them,” he sighs and squeezes Joong’s hand. “If there’s anything I could do to help..” 

Hongjoong shakes his head, “I need you to stay safe. That’s all I want you to do.” 

Yeosang frowns, “But hyung.”

“No. Your safety is my number one priority. All of your safety is. I don't want anyone else to get hurt,” the lawyer remarks, his voice stern but soft. 

The two sit in silence for a while, just soaking in each other’s presence. He looks out the windows that are in the dining room. It’s raining. It makes for a dreary day but he’s getting to spend it with the rest of them. He yawns, rubbing at his face with one hand. He hears some footsteps approaching the two of them and looks up to see Wooyoung. His hair is pulled back, so it doesn’t look as messy as his own. 

The younger man yawns, stretching his arms above his head and greets good morning to the two of them. He makes his way over to the coffee pot and grabs a mug for himself. Yeosang looks over at Hongjoong and nervously twiddles his thumbs. “Do any of you by chance have clothes that could fit me, and I could take a shower? I feel really gross.” 

The lawyer gives him a fond smile and nods. “Sannie might have some that will fit you. I’ll go look.” 

Hongjoong excuses himself and a sudden weight drape over his shoulders. He turns his head a little to see black and red hair and can’t help but smile, leaning back into the touch. Yunho presses a small kiss to his cheek and holds the doctor close to his own body. Yeosang goes willingly, letting the older man hold him. It feels nice to be wanted by someone and not regret the feeling afterwards. 

Wooyoung comes to join them at the table, and he chuckles at the sight. “He’s usually clingy when he first wakes up. I hope that doesn’t bother you.” 

Yeosang shakes his head. “Quite the opposite, really.” 

He feels warm to be in someone else's arms and he would not change it.

Chapter Text

The leaves are starting to turn and the weather is much cooler. It’s the perfect weather for late afternoon walks, a coffee in hand and enjoying the soothing breeze. Yeosang used to go on walks by himself after his short shifts. It’s nice when he needs time to just relax and not worry about the pending appointments that lay ahead. 

Now, he has someone to go on walks with him. Wooyoung is at his side, talking about different things. A smile is on his face as his hands move as he talks. Yeosang cannot help the warmth he feels as he listens to him. They were heading to the location of San’s fight. This will be the first one he’s been in since his injury. To be honest, Yeosang is afraid of the outcome. 

He doesn’t want San to get hurt more than he already is, but the boxer is determined. 

-

They soon arrive and the boxer greets them. He’s all smiles, excited to see them. “Sangie! Woo! The others are already here!” 

Yeosang gulps at the sight of a shirtless San but he needs to get used to the sight. He will be seeing it more often if he sticks around. San seems to pick up on his flustered state and he smirks, coming up to the doctor. “Do you like what you see, Sangie?” 

The doctor pushes him away gently, a blush on his cheeks. “Go get ready.” 

San smiles, moving to walk to the ring. Yeosang takes a deep breath and grabs onto his arm. “Wait.”

The boxer lifts an eyebrow, stopping in his step. Yeosang steps closer and kisses his cheek. “Good luck today.” The tip of San’s ears are red as he hurries off with a wave. Yeosang smiles then turns to see Wooyoung looking at him with a smug look, arms folded over his chest. 

“What? I thought it was pretty clear how I feel about all of you.” 

Wooyoung only chuckles and follows him to the rest of the group. He’s greeted warmly by Mingi, who wraps an arm around his shoulders. It's not long before the fight starts. They all cheer as San walks out onto the ring. Despite everything, the boxer still wears a smile with his dimples present. Once he’s face to face with his opponent, the smile is gone and a serious look crosses his face. 

The bell sounds and the fight starts. The two are clearly quite evenly matched, Yeosang can’t help but keep his eyes glued the entire time. The way San moves around the ring is quite remarkable. His opponent doesn’t move as fast or with stealth as he does. The crowd lets out a loud “ouch” when San is caught off guard with a hit to the face. The round ends and San goes to catch his breath. His coach says something to him and he nods, letting the blood be wiped off his face. 

The next round starts, a look of pure determination on San’s face. He dodges the first few moves, keeping his face protected. Then he makes his own move. He starts hitting back, getting more hits before landing a final blow. His opponent lands on the floor with a thud. The crowd cheers loudly. 

Yeosang is impressed. He’s always been impressed by this group of men but seeing San fight in person. He finds himself hot and wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead.

-

They all meet outside of the building. Wooyoung immediately greets San with a kiss who blushes under the compliments. San finally looks over at Yeosang, walking over to him. “So what did you think?” 

Yeosang smiles, reaching a hand up to ruffle San’s hair. “You were amazing.” 

The boxer preens under the compliment and he smiles widely. They all decide to go out to eat, ending up at some KBBQ restaurant. It’s nice and comfortable. They all talk amongst each other, leaning into each other for warmth. Yeosang can’t help but smile the entire time as he’s around them. 

-

“So who is the new guy that they’ve been hanging around with?” 

A manila folder is slid across the desk. The man picks it up, opening it up. On the front page, there’s a picture of a man with blonde hair. A white doctor's coat. Kang Yeosang. 

The man hums, throwing it back onto the table. “Looks like they have a little pet.” He looks up to meet the eyes of the other, a smirk creeping onto his face. “You know what to do.” 

-

It’s early in the morning. It’s been a few days since the fight. Yeosang had to work the night shift so he’s finishing up his rounds so he can go home. He’s on the last one. It was someone who was a walk in with a bad injury. 

He steps inside, asking what is going on and pulling on gloves. The nurses tell him and he gets to work stitching the cut up. With that done, he was finally able to step out and head to his office. He lets out a sigh, running a hand down his face and closes the door behind him. He grabs his things, rubbing at the tension in his neck. He checks over everything one more time before he leaves. 

The sun is barely peeking over the horizon when he walks out the door. The first bus will be running soon and he heads for the bus stop. There’s not much waiting so he stands, pulling his phone out to check for any missed calls. His phone happens to light up with a call from Jongho and he smiles, pressing the answer button. 

“Jongho-ah, why are you up so early?” 

“Early class. Plus, I wanted to talk to you before I head to uni,” he can hear the smile in the other’s voice and he can’t help but fond a little over how cute the maknae is. The two of them talk for a little bit. That’s until Yeosang feels a prick in the side of his neck and everything starts to blur. His grip loosens on the phone before falling to the sidewalk. He turns to see two men in masks, stepping back and away. 

He hears them chuckle before everything goes black. 

“Hyung? What’s going on? Hyung?!” 

One of the men pick up the phone to respond. “The boss said you’d know where to find him. See you soon, Choi Jongho. Tell your leader we said hi.”