Fellas, is it Gay to Kiss The Homies? <TEN-CENTRIC>
Genre: Light Hurt/Comfort
Pairings: Kunten (Qian Kun x Ten Lee) and implied (Ten x Everyone) [ALL SHIPS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PLATONIC]
Warnings: Fluff overdose, might give you diabetes /t
Synopsis: Ten just really likes kisses and he wants to give them to his friends. Thatโs it.
A/N: I wrote this wanting it to be Platonic!Kunten but tbh it may have gotten away from me a little bit so believe what you want ig
AO3 Link:ย https://archiveofourown.org/works/30021543
Ten has always been overly affectionate. In the eyes of Weishennies, Winwin and Yangyang bear the brunt of it. On variety shows and lives Ten can sometimes be found floating around one of his two didis or entirely attached to them. Itโs become a joke among fans and members, the way Ten calls Yangyang baby while the maknae responds with countless protests and whines. But something fans are unaware of is that off-camera, the Thai maleโs affection extends to all the members. Ten is known to demand touches from most any friend in reach. Even Kun, despite the pairsโ constant bickering. The WayV members have grown used to Tenโs insatiable need to hold and be held. Thereโs a silent understanding between the 7 roommates. All the boys know that comforting Ten is just more of a physical thing. Each member understands, and some have even become fond of the actions. Most surprisingly Winwin. Though he seems like a total skinship anti, heโs all smiles whenever Ten envelopes him in a hug.ย
For the endless love and acceptance of his bandmates, Ten feels so incredibly blessed. But even in such a wonderful situation, there are things Ten canโt have. And lines he dare not cross.
To Ten, thereโs nothing inherently romantic or sexual about his lingering touches. To him, spooning with his friends is his way of showing platonic affection. Obviously some things are reserved for romantic/sexual partners: making out and things of the like. But the lines between friendship and partnership are far thinner to him than most.
He hasnโt told his friends about his affinity for kisses, having only recently come to terms with it himself. All through his life heโs had these fleeting urges to kiss his friends, and heโd always passed them off as intrusive thoughts. But lately, these urges have become more persistent. When his members are especially kind to him, he feels his attention float briefly to their lips, wishing to give them a small peck. Itโs always a peck. A forehead kiss, eskimo, cheek, knuckle, nose; always something innocent. A mere grazing of lips to skin. No matter how innocent the intent or the action, Ten canโt help but feel completely and utterly ashamed.ย
Friends arenโt supposed to want to kiss each other, he chides to himself. The dancer already feels like enough of a bother asking to cuddle and hold hands, he fears that by taking the extra step, heโll lose all 6 of them entirely. So he pushes these feelings deep down, and continues on, hoping the others donโt notice his worry.ย
Unfortunately for Ten, Kun prides himself on being in tune with his membersโ emotions. Kun first realizes something is wrong during one of the groupโs rare off days. He and Ten had opted to stay home, the younger practically BEGGING him to continue watching Doctor Who with him. The two eldest boys have been watching it together for a couple months, and have already plowed through 2 seasons (thatโs quite impressive considering how packed their schedules are). Since itโs nearly impossible to refuse Ten anything, Kun finds himself lazing the day away on the couch, carding his fingers through the soft brown locks strewn across his lap.
โFuck. Everything,โ Ten says after they finish the season 2 finale. โWhoever made this episode is a monster.โ
Kun giggles, leaning down to wipe stray tears from Tenโs cheeks. โYou knew it had to end eventually Tennie.โย
โYEAH BUT THAT WAS SO M E A N!โ Ten removes his head from Kunโs lap as the older laughs harder. โItโs not funny!โ The Thai man pouts, only eliciting more laughter.ย
โAw you poor thing,โ Kun teases, pushing himself off the couch and holding a expectant hand out to the pouting brunette. โCโmon you big baby. Let me make you something to cheer you up.โ
Never one to turn down free food, Ten trudges to the kitchen and sits down at the table while his ge gets to work. Ten watches Kun work for 15 minutes before turning to the table and placing a bowl of noodles in front of Ten. The younger looks up at the singer then, an almost indecipherable look on his face. In those few seconds of silence, Kun sees hesitation in Tenโs eyes, an uncharacteristic moment of pause. Itโs like Ten wants to do something but heโs restraining himself. Then all too quickly, the look is gone. Ten thanks Kun for the meal before scarfing it down.ย
Kun doesnโt bring it up then, or when he sees the same look directed at Hendery the next night while theyโre playing Monopoly. He waits a week before finally confronting the boy, having seen the same hesitant gaze 5 or more times by now.
He decided to confront him after their biweekly Just Dance tournament. Kun and Ten were on a team together and kicking everyone elseโs asses. After winning their 4th consecutive battle theyโd hugged victoriously. When they pulled back, Ten had โthe lookโ written all over his face. And without warning, he pecked Kun on the nose.
Ten stood straight in horror, he didnโt even give Kun a chance to say anything before bolting out of the room. The 5 other members followed him with eyes full of worry and concern. Theyโre only semi-placated with Kunโs promise of โIโll talk to him.โ
Kun opened the door to Ten and Henderyโs shared room to see Ten facing the wall dejectedly, curled tightly into his blankets. The older made sure he moved softly and quietly, not wanting to spook the boy. He sat himself on the bed across from Tenโs huddled figure, not missing the other boyโs flinch. Kun lays down behind the boy, wrapping his arms around his middle.
โIโm not mad Yongqin, if thatโs what youโre worried about,โ Kun uses Tenโs Mandarin name, knowing the younger loves the way it rolls off his tongue. โI just want to understand, ok?โ The older rubs soothing circles on Tenโs arm with his finger.
โIโm sorry,โ Ten whispers, almost imperceptibly quiet.ย
โQinqin I told you thereโs nothing to be s--โ
โNo but I am sorry,โ Ten says, turning himself in Kunโs hold to face the older, but still not making eye contact. โI-I shouldnโt have done that.โ
โI could tell it was bothering you.โ Kun says, raising the eyebrow of the dancer.
โYeah,โ Kun confirms. โSo do you have a crush on me?โ
โNot at all,โ Ten says honestly. He fiddles with his fingers between their parallel chests rather than meet Kunโs gaze. โI justโฆ hhh I donโt know how to begin to explain it.โ
โTake your time.โ Kun assures which Ten is exceedingly grateful for. Kun has always been patient and level-headed that way.
โItโs kinda likeโฆ you know how you hug your friends? To show them you care about them?โ Kun nods easily. โWell, for meโฆ kissing is kinda equivalent to a hug with a friend. Itโs just...my way of showing affection I guess,โ Kun nods again, taking in every word Ten says. โIt became apparent a few months ago. But I didnโt want to bother you guys with it, so I kept quiet. And I know itโs weird and itโs really no big deal if you donโt want to I can--โ
โYeah, Itโs too much isnโt it? Can we just pretend this never happened? Iโm really sor--โ
โLook Kun donโt worry about it. Itโs really fine. I just want to--โ
Ten finally ceases his baseless ranting. Kun rubs up and down the boyโs upper arms.
โTen itโs fine. I never said I disliked it. If platonic kisses are something you wantโฆ something you need,โ Kun smiles lightly. โThen I donโt see a problem with that.โ
This time Ten actually does look Kun in the eye, cat-like eyes wide with disbelief. โWhat?โ
โJust explain to me what you need Yongqin,โ Kun whispers understandingly, and for some reason it makes Ten blush a little. โIโm all ears.โ
Ten was left completely dumbfounded. He had just proposed somethingโฆ crazy.... and yet Kun isnโt running. He doesnโt seem weirded out, or scared, or disgusted. Heโs still there.ย
โU-umโฆโ Ten starts. โJustโฆ small ones, I guess. Like cheek, nose, knuckles, forehead, hair, that kind of stuff,โ Kun processes all this again. โA-and pecks on the lips are nice sometimesโฆ i-if thatโs not too much.โ
Kun shakes his head and smiles, โSounds good to me!โ And to punctuate it, he places a small kiss on Tenโs forehead, setting the boyโs cheeks aflame once more.ย
โT-Thanks,โ He says genuinely.
โOf course Tenten,โ The older contemplates giving him another kiss for assurance, but he decides that he shouldnโt overwhelm Ten too much just yet. โAnything for you.โ
I call this one: AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH