The End of the World Can Wait
Pairing: Leehan × fem!reader
Warnings: Zombie apocalypse AU, survival themes, mentions of zombies and danger, minor injuries, mutual pining, confession, kissing, fluff, established friendship.
Summary:The world ended months ago. While searching an abandoned apartment complex for supplies, Leehan decides there’s no point hiding his feelings anymore. After all, what’s the worst thing that could happen?
The building appeared at the end of the street just as the sun was beginning to set.
After walking for hours, any place with walls and a door that could be closed felt like a luxury.
“We could stay here tonight,” Sungho said as he looked up at the apartment complex.
Their backpacks felt heavier than usual after spending the entire day walking, scavenging for supplies, and avoiding crowded streets.
Jaehyun glanced up at the upper floors.
“Too quiet,” Taesan muttered.
Like always, they moved carefully.
Without letting their guard down.
The first few floors seemed empty.
Some apartment doors were already open.
Furniture had been overturned, clothes were scattered across the floor, and belongings had been abandoned as if their owners had run out one day and never come back.
After checking several hallways and confirming there were no immediate signs of danger, the group finally relaxed a little.
“We can stay here,” Sungho decided.
Jaehyun dropped his backpack against a wall.
“There’s still some daylight left. We should search for supplies before it gets dark.”
It was a routine they knew all too well.
Find food. Find water. Find batteries.
Find anything that could help them survive one more day.
“We should split up,” Riwoo suggested.
“But don’t close any doors,” Woonhak added. “If a zombie shows up, I want an easy escape route.”
“For once, I agree with him,” Taesan said.
After deciding on groups, Sungho and Jaehyun headed one way.
Riwoo, Taesan, and Woonhak took another hallway.
And before you could say anything, Leehan had already stepped beside you.
“Was that an invitation or an order?”
You lightly smacked his arm.
Then the two of you headed upstairs.
The third floor looked untouched.
Or at least as untouched as anything could look in the middle of the apocalypse.
The first apartment had several cans of food hidden in a cabinet.
The second was almost completely empty.
The third looked like it belonged to someone whose entire diet consisted of instant ramen.
“I think this person would've died from something else before the zombies got them,” you muttered.
They also found bottles of water.
And a half-full first aid kit.
By the time they finished searching, both backpacks were noticeably heavier.
That was when you found an open bedroom.
The closet was still full of clothes.
You looked down at your torn sleeves.
Then at the clean clothes.
Leehan continued searching through a few drawers.
“I’ll check the kitchen again.”
For the first time in weeks, you were wearing clean clothes.
They weren’t exactly your style.
When you stepped out of the bedroom, the apartment was quiet.
The front door was still open.
Just as you were about to step into the hallway, someone grabbed your wrist.
The scare was so bad you almost swung your bat at their face.
“Because you appeared out of nowhere!”
“I called your name twice.”
Before you could answer, you heard something.
Dragging itself down the hallway.
Leehan’s smile disappeared immediately.
Both of you turned toward the doorway.
Without thinking, you carefully peeked outside.
A zombie was shambling down the corridor.
It had probably come from the first apartment you'd searched.
And it was much closer than you liked.
You immediately stepped back.
You shoved him back inside.
Both of you lost your balance.
And a second later, you were on the floor.
Leehan wrapped his arms around you before you could slam into a nearby table.
But when you opened your eyes, you realized you were lying right on top of him.
For a second, neither of you spoke.
You could hear his breathing.
And the way his hands were still holding onto you.
“ I didn't mean to fall on top of you.” You said
“There’s a zombie outside.”
Despite everything, a laugh almost escaped you.
You had to bite your lip to keep quiet.
Then a growl sounded right outside the door.
Leehan shifted slightly and pulled you against his chest so neither of you would accidentally make a sound.
The zombie continued wandering through the hallway.
Until your legs started going numb.
“Did it leave yet?” you whispered.
You couldn’t hear anything.
You had to cover your mouth to stop yourself from laughing.
“I’m evaluating the situation.”
This time he finally let go.
He looked just as embarrassed as you felt.
And for the first time since the apocalypse began, he seemed unable to look you in the eye.
Then offered him your hand.
Looking down at the floor.
Leehan took a deep breath.
And when he finally looked up, he seemed more nervous than he ever did fighting zombies.
“I know this is probably the worst possible time to say this.”
He let out a nervous laugh.
Your heart stopped or at least it felt like it did.
Leehan looked down again.
The apartment went completely silent.
“And I know the world is ending.”
“Let me finish before I lose my nerve.”
“I’ve liked you for a long time.”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“And I figured if zombies haven’t killed me yet, I probably shouldn’t keep hiding it.”
That earned a small smile from you.
The one he always had when he was nervous.
Like he expected you to laugh at him.
And somehow that made him even more endearing.
The apocalypse was still happening outside.
Tomorrow you'd probably be running for your lives again.
But for a moment, everything felt strangely normal.
Enough to leave Leehan completely frozen.
“Do you need another one to be sure?”
Until someone cleared their throat from the doorway.
Both of you turned at the same time.
Jaehyun was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.
“I’ve been looking for you two for ten minutes.”
“And besides, we all already knew.”
Leehan looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
“Congratulations on finally confessing, by the way.”
And then he walked away before Leehan could throw something at him.
Leehan dropped his forehead onto your shoulder.
“I want to become a zombie.”
And started walking toward the door.
“Because you’re my boyfriend now.”
It took Leehan a full two seconds to process that.
And then he followed you with a smile that never left his face for the rest of the walk back.
