His white hoodie was securing him from the slight cold. He hugged his knees as he was placing them on the couch. He needed a good night's sleep, but could not. He has not been able to get proper sleep lately.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. The weight of recent schedules, expectations, and his own thoughts seemed to press down on him. At first, he hadn't told anyone, not wanting to be a burden, but it had begun to show in the smallest ways-his energy dipping during practice, his focus faltering during rehearsals. His state was not normal.

Hanbin, as perceptive as ever, noticed.

"Hao hyung, you've been quieter these days," he had said one night during a break in practice. "Is everything okay?"

Zhang Hao had tried to brush it off with a smile. "It's nothing, Just tired. Don't worry about me." Zhanghao did not want to throw his weaknesses at others.

But Hanbin did worry. He always did.

That night, as Zhang Hao stared at the floor in the darkened dorm, resting his chin on his knees, the sound of the door clicking open startled him. Hanbin stepped in, his hoodie pulled up, and his hair slightly messy. Hanbin's hair was still slightly wet.

"Bin?" Zhang Hao sat up, surprised. "Why aren't you asleep?"

Hanbin shrugged, closing the door behind him. "Couldn't sleep," he said simply. But the way his eyes scanned Zhang Hao told a different story.

Without another word, Hanbin walked over and plopped down next to him on the couch. He pulled Zhang Hao into a hug, wrapping his arms securely around his hyung. Zhang Hao froze for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden closeness. Hanbin tightened his wrap around Hao and snuggled as close as he could. Zhanghao could smell the soft cologne he had. His slightly wet hair made Zhanghao chill. Hao could do nothing but snuggle into Hanbin.

"Bin, what are you-"

"You've been struggling, hyung," Hanbin murmured, his voice soft but firm. "You don't have to hide it from me. you know that hyung... You can tell me anything." Hanbin placed Hao's head on his chest, ruffling the older's silky brownish hair.

Zhang Hao felt a lump form in his throat. He didn't realize how much he had needed this-someone to see him, to acknowledge his struggle without judgment. He felt so warm. Zhang Hao gripped Hanbin's attire.

"I just... I haven't been able to sleep," Zhang Hao admitted quietly, his voice cracking slightly. "There's so much going on in my head. I feel like I can't keep up sometimes." His words muffled as he breathed hanbin's scent, still his head on hanbin's chest.

Hanbin pulled back just enough to look Zhang Hao in the eyes. His gaze was steady, filled with concern and something deeper-something that made Zhang Hao's chest tighten.

"You're doing so well, Hao hyung," Hanbin said, his hand resting gently on Zhang Hao's cheeks, rubbing his thumb on the soft moist skin. "You're strong, talented, and you've worked so hard to get here. It's okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes, but you don't have to go through it alone. Hyyung, I really really admire you"

Zhang Hao blinked, his vision blurring slightly with unshed tears. He hadn't cried in so long, but Hanbin's words broke through the walls he had built around himself.

"Thank you, Hanbin" Zhang Hao whispered, his voice trembling.

Hanbin smiled, pulling him back into the hug. "From now on, whenever you feel like this, just tell me. I'll be here. Always."

Hanbin's fingers gently combed through the soft strands of Zhang Hao's hair, his touch steady and comforting. His other arm was wrapped securely around the older's waist, holding him close as if shielding him from the weight of the world. A few muffled sounds escaped from Zhang Hao, but Hanbin didn't press him for an explanation. Instead, he began to hum a soft lullaby, his voice low and soothing, as his hand continued its tender movements.

Zhang Hao, overwhelmed by the younger's warmth and care, felt a rush of emotions welling up inside him. Before he could stop them, silent tears slipped from his eyes, dampening the fabric of Hanbin's hoodie. Hanbin noticed the wetness against his shoulder but chose to ignore it, a small smile playing on his lips. It was Zhang Hao's tears, after all-that was his Hao hyung. To Hanbin, something so fleeting and raw was far more precious than any concern over his clothes.

All that mattered was holding him closer, letting him know he wasn't alone.

The soft, comforting scent of Hanbin wrapped around Zhang Hao like a warm blanket, lulling him into a gentle drowsiness. Nestled securely in Hanbin's arms, he slowly drifted into dreamland, his breathing growing slow and steady. A few minutes later, Hanbin heard soft snorts escaping from the older, a sure sign that he had fallen into a deep, peaceful sleep. The sound brought a wave of contentment to Hanbin's heart, and he couldn't help but smile.

His eyes softened as he looked down at Zhang Hao, who was snuggled up against him like a child seeking solace. Despite being older, Zhang Hao often had a way of melting into Hanbin's presence, letting himself be doted on like a little boy. It was a side of him that Hanbin cherished deeply.

Hanbin's gaze lingered on Zhang Hao's serene expression, his chest rising and falling in a calm, rhythmic pattern. Unable to resist, Hanbin leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to Zhang Hao's tousled hair, the familiar scent of their shared shampoo filling his senses.

"You smell nice," Hanbin whispered softly, his words carrying a playful warmth as a small smile tugged at his lips.

For a moment, he simply held him closer, letting the quiet intimacy of the moment speak louder than any words ever could.

That night marked the beginning of a new routine. Whenever Zhang Hao felt the weight of everything becoming too much, Hanbin would hug him as soon as they got home, holding him close and reminding him that he wasn't alone.

It became a habit-one that Zhang Hao found himself looking forward to. The warmth of Hanbin's embrace, the steady rhythm of his breathing, and the quiet reassurance of his words became Zhang Hao's anchor.

One night, as Hanbin hugged him tightly after practice, Zhang Hao found himself leaning into the younger boy's touch, his heart pounding in his chest. He didn't know when it had started, but his feelings for Hanbin had grown beyond friendship.

"Bin," Zhang Hao murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Hmm?" Hanbin replied, his chin resting on Zhang Hao's shoulder.

Zhang Hao hesitated, his fingers curling tightly around the soft fabric of Hanbin's hoodie. His chest rose and fell with unspoken emotions, and after a pause, his voice came out in a whisper, barely audible. "Thank you... for everything."

Hanbin leaned back just slightly, enough to meet Zhang Hao's gaze. His eyes, warm and searching, locked onto the older boy's face, and in that moment, the world seemed to fall silent. The space between them grew charged, heavy with words that didn't need to be spoken.

"You don't have to thank me, hyung," Hanbin murmured, his tone tender and unwavering. "I just... I care about you. So much."

The raw sincerity in Hanbin's voice hit Zhang Hao like a tidal wave, leaving him momentarily breathless. His heart stumbled in his chest, and before doubt could creep in, he leaned forward, letting his forehead rest softly against Hanbin's.

"I care about you too," Zhang Hao confessed, his voice quivering with vulnerability.

Hanbin's lips curved into the kind of smile that felt like coming home-gentle, reassuring, and full of love. "Then let me take care of you, hyung."

A tear escaped down Zhang Hao's cheek, shimmering in the soft light. He nodded, his defenses crumbling in the warmth of Hanbin's words. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, the weight pressing on his chest lifted, and he could finally breathe again.

As they sat there in the quiet dorm, wrapped in each other's arms, Zhang Hao realized that he had found something he hadn't even known he was searching for-

a love that felt like home.

ᝰ.ᐟ

My very first one shot story post on tumblr. And this work is mine. I've uploaded this on wattpad too.

Haobin is my roman empire ₊˚⊹♡

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