⊹ lobby.

@kim mingyu. minghao's eyes widen a little at the man's antics, and he averts his gaze, feeling his cheeks warm once again. this idiot, he thinks to himself, mildly annoyed. "got what? you're just unreasonably big," he grumbles, and decides that it's better to ignore mingyu's pout for now—or minghao may give in... to whatever mingyu is planning. he crosses his arms, and still with an averted gaze, he answers, "i thought the silence was nice, for once."

@xu minghao. mingyu has to admit he's proud once he's seen that minghao has calmed down somewhat, that the tension has disappeared. an extra two days without seeing one of his best friends had been quite terrible, and he can't imagine how minghao must have felt without prior warning to their extended supply run. still, mingyu considers it his job to cheer up the smaller male. grinning teasingly, he lifts his arm up and flexes, winking at minghao in an attempt to lighten the mood. "i still got it, don't i?" at the mention of rest, however, he can't help but pout. "i'd rather talk to you— it feels like it's been forever since i've seen you. did you miss me, hao?"

@kim mingyu. minghao scoffs one more time, and it's only this time that the worry has completely disappeared from his shoulders. it's obvious in the way he relaxes, and the scowl on his face lessens in intensity. still, it has been a very taxing two days for him. in this world where everything has already ended and everyone's lost anything they could hold, it would kill minghao if he loses mingyu in a place he couldn't see. "no thanks. you're probably stronger than the others, anyway," he says, voice becoming more silent as his eyes flicker downwards. he then looks back at the taller lad, and clears his throat. "aren't you tired? you should be passing out right now."

@xu minghao. minghao always feels nice in his arms, even if he never reciprocates any of mingyu's many affections — but he doesn't mind, really. he knows how minghao is, and he knows that the other shows his affection in different ways. in fact, even the fact that minghao's letting mingyu hug him already speaks volumes. mingyu shows his affection enough for the two of them; although he always has to keep himself from being too excited when he sees the smaller male, otherwise he'll end up picking minghao up and spinning him around. he's sure the other wouldn't appreciate that.

it's dark, but mingyu likes to think that he sees the barest hints of a flush spread across minghao's cheeks. he might just be deluding himself since the smaller is scowling like he always does — but still, he can't help but grin. he must be crazy for thinking his friend is absolutely adorable during moments like these. mingyu beams as he shows off his intact limbs, shaking his head proudly. "no injuries! i'm completely fine — you can even go and check me yourself!"

@kim mingyu. minghao visibly and very obviously freezes at the sudden embrace that engulfs his being, infinitely smaller than mingyu. he doesn't pull away, however. he isn't a stranger to mingyu's affections anymore—but he still isn't used to it, despite the many years they have stayed together. gentleness, affections, and everything in between are foreign to the lad, but he lets himself melt against the other's arms, but never wrapping his own around mingyu. it's a sort of vulnerability he can't show as casually as mingyu does, and for that, he envies the taller.

he does release the breath he hasn't realized he's been holding this whole time at the other's words, and this almost triggers a smile from minghao's lips. almost. he blinks, tries to calm the warmth that spreads across his cheek when mingyu pulls away, that smile on his face almost instantly sending a scowl on minghao's lips as his default reaction to whenever mingyu even becomes the slightest bit of cute—"maybe. are you sure you aren't wounded? injured?"

@xu minghao. mingyu thinks he sees minghao move in his direction, but maybe he's imagining things. it's not like minghao to jump for joy at the slightest glimpse of his friend — but that's fine, because mingyu is exactly that type of person. he can't help but grin despite minghao's glare, immediately leaning over the table his friend is seated at to crush him in an affectionate hug. maybe it's a little creepy when he inhales minghao's scent, but that's okay — despite the world literally having ended, xu minghao still smells so good.

"we couldn't find enough stuff nearby," he explains, voice muffled because he's buried his face in minghao's hair. "but i'm here now, aren't i? and i didn't get into any trouble this time!" he pulls away proudly, nothing but a fond smile on his face as he looks down at minghao. "are you proud of me?"

@kim mingyu. when minghao hears the door open—it's quiet, but minghao's used to the silence enough to notice the slightest change in it—his head is quick to snap toward its direction. his eyes easily brighten at the sight of mingyu's large figure, and in a moment of vulnerability, he's about to move, push himself out of the table he's sitting at, but he catches himself. his cheeks flush a little, and he hopes his visage is hidden from the other's gaze with his long hair. was he just about to hug mingyu?

yeah. maybe. but he will not say that.

"... you idiot," he says instead, mustering a glare to the other. "what took you so long? you were supposed to come back two days ago! did your get in trouble again without my supervision?"

@xu minghao. Mingyu has to admit he's exhausted. He doesn't normally mind volunteering himself for supply runs when the group runs out of food, but two extra days of finding next to nothing hadn't been what he'd expected. They'd had to go farther than the city to find the supplies they needed, and Mingyu couldn't help but miss his best friend in the time they'd spent searching high and low. Normally, Minghao would have accompanied the scavenging group, but he'd been riddled with a fever, and no way is he going to let the other male run around the city while he was sick.

All that doesn't matter now, though — they're back. Way off schedule, but that's fine. He can't help but let out a wide, dopey grin once he sees Minghao waiting in the lobby — it feels like it's been far too long since he last saw his friend. "Guess who's back?" he grins teasingly, beaming.

@kim mingyu. Minghao's foot taps against the floor in a fast, unsteady beat. He's been sitting in the lobby for how many hours now—has ignored those who try to get him away from the place, to maybe rest. But he's stubbornly refused to do so, and instead chooses to stare at the door as though doing so would make it open any time soon. See... the last scavenging team hasn't arrived in their scheduled time—which was supposedly two days ago. And his friend, Kim Mingyu, is part of that team. How the // is he not supposed to worry about that? That guy could get in all sorts of trouble! He doesn't even know how Mingyu's going to survive without Minghao.

And so, he bites his lower lip. He knew it. He should have just asked to come with them, fever be ing damned.