〉i love you. ― how they say "i love you" for the first time.
〉ind. xikers/reader、wc1.5k、 fluff、 established relationships、 mentioned alcohol/intoxication、 suggestive moment mentioned in yujun's
⟢ minjae wants it to be special. he plans everything down to the minute. when, where, how you're feeling, how he's feeling, what people are around, everything ― only to completely scrap it and blurt out during a deep talk when you both get drunk with your friends. it's impulsive, obviously his try at keeping an awkward silence away (though you didn't think of it as such), and much louder than he expected, but he doesn't back out. he knew, subconsciously or otherwise, that it was going to happen this way instead, and he was grateful for the excuse of alcohol for if you react badly. you don't, and you manage to pull him into another conversation about it after you're both sober and alone.
⟢ junmin lets it come as it does. he's a little worried it's early, or that you don't quite feel the same, but he doesn't want to stress himself out over never knowing where you both stand in this. it slips out after a good date; a night on the town, a bit of drinking, good food, dancing ― wherever the night pulled, you both followed until you were joking about hours before at your front door. there'd been less of a plan than either of you expected. nothing to insinuate him staying the night or coming in to continue, just a good end to a night you were both sure to remember well, and the words come out as though he'd said them millions of times before; "goodnight, i love you, i'll message you when i get home."
and you respond like you've heard it all the same, like it's habit. "stay safe, i love you too, sleep well when you do."
⟢ sumin wants it to come as it does. he wants to be so aware of himself and so open with you that you don't even question whether or not he means it, but he's so in his head about he doesn't even get the words out before you. he planned your birthday dinner, invited all your friends and the family you're close with, picked the restaurant you loved so much, and was shocked when you thanked him midway through ― leaning gently into him in the center of the booth, guests drowning out the words just above a whisper, just for him. it's so natural, so quick, he almost forgets to respond. he brings it up later, wondering how you knew that was the moment to say it ― if you'd stressed about it like him ― only to find out he was just as open as he wanted to be. he may have gotten into his head, but there wasn't a moment when he realised he loved you that you didn't know or believe he did.
⟢ jinsik tries to wait for you to say it first. it's not that he needs the ego boost, or that he only wants to say it when you do, he just wants to be on the same page without embarrassing himself. he makes it a point that no matter how much he feels like he'll burst if he doesn't say anything, he waits for you instead. he may accidentally play hot and cold, stressing out when he realises how long it's been since he knew he loved you, and hurting himself with thoughts of whether or not you feel the same and if he's just waiting for something that won't happen. it bubbles out of his chest one night when you corner him during a cold spell, asking if he really wants to be together or if he's just playing with you, and he feels so guilty for crying but he just can't keep everything locked away after that. it's safe to say you're on the same page, but you check in on each other more after that night, even on little things.
⟢ hyunwoo tells you basically when he realises it himself. he just feels a little more romantic one night, a little clingy and too affectionate, but it only clicks when you smile so sweetly at him in your doorway. he just planned to drop you off, but you're both a little intoxicated, a lot in love, and it comes out before he can stop himself ― a little hesitant, maybe a little forceful, but he's not had a moment to himself to think about the consequences of anything. he can barely see your face ― backlit from your hall light ― but the way you pull him into a kiss and invite him to stay the night says more than he needed to understand. he says and hears it over and over, both as he's drifting off and as you're waking him up the next morning, breakfast on the counter and his jacket and shoes hung right next to yours.
⟢ junghoon doesn't realise he has to say it aloud. he'd gotten so used to being able to converse with you through gestures or looks, that it doesn't even cross his mind to say he loves you instead of just squeezing or poking you three times. it's safe to say that when those words DO leave his mouth, he's confused by how you melt into him. hadn't you known? had he misread your squeezes back? millions of questions flood his mind, going a trillion km a second, until you respond in kind and suddenly he blanks. he realises how different it is hearing it aloud, how reassuring and heartwarming the words sound in your voice — even during something as mundane as cuddling up together on the couch watching a drama. he can only assume that that's why you melted, that you too realised how nice it sounds coming from him, and he makes a mental note to say it more often.
⟢ seeun doesn't exactly say he loves you, and it tends to get him into trouble. he doesn't realise when he starts treating you more like a friend instead of someone he has a crush on, or when he stops being so flustered and giddy when you come around, but he does know it has nothing to do with losing feelings for you. you've finally just... solidified your place in his life, and he's gotten used to you being beside him. it genuinely takes him aback when you confront him about it — borderline crying, thinking he's going to leave you any day now — and he has to take a few breaths to realise how his actions have come across. to you, he's treating you like one of the guys; like a friend instead of a partner. but to him, he's been treating you like he treats everyone in his life that he loves; like a constant.
⟢ yujun says it quick, almost immaturely and worryingly so, but don't get him wrong — he's known that he loves you, not a maybe or a kinda-sorta. he's not the type of guy who would get into a relationship with someone he just "likes," there has to be substance, so you probably went on more than the average amount of dates before he asked to be official. he wanted to be sure, and now that he is you'll hear it every chance he gets. when you leave, when he leaves, when you're brushing your teeth, between kisses or thrusts, when you look him in the eyes, or even when you just breathe in his general direction. it genuinely might start to get annoying, but he'll get to where he knows you know and he'll save it for when he wants to be affectionate or when you're saying goodbye/goodnight.
⟢ hunter wants you to say it first. he's well aware of how he feels and knows he's good about showing such, but he can't read your mind and doesn't want to pressure you into saying it back if you're not ready. he and yujun are the same in this — that they won't be official until they know they love you — but hunter wants to know you're on the same page before he spills his heart aloud. he's patient, consistent with showing his love, and moves entirely at your pace — but until you say it, there's a little fly in his ear asking if you're just going through the motions. he never pays it any mind, chalking it up to insecurity or the general anxiety of a new relationship, but it's squashed for good when you kiss his cheek and he parrots a "bye, I love you" as you both start your day.
⟢ yechan is nothing if not a yapper, especially with the people he loves, but it takes more than a while for him to actually say anything. not because he doesn't know, or because he thinks you don't, there's just... no need? he could fill your conversations with words he could say all day long, but he's adamant that they're just words until you do something about them. he says them to his friends daily, jinsik hears it 100 times an hour, but the only person who gets an "I love you" through his actions alone is you. you're someone he wants to keep around, and his actions reflect that like a diamond. the first and only time he says it verbally is over the phone — when he can't physically show that he loves you. you may not hear it face to face unless you say something, but even then it'll be paired with a kiss.
; navi
