Running to You | Park Han + JL + Steven | Haneulz + Stejay AU

Chapter 3: A Quiet Stirring

The fame hadn't gone to JL's head.

If anything, he seemed even more unsure of where to place his eyes and hands whenever someone shouted his name in the hallway or slid a juice box into his locker -- or snuck post-its that said "*~FIGHTING SHINING STAR!!~*" in glitter gel pen. Someone had dug up his old moniker from back home. JL cringed, then shut his locker door. 

He still bowed to everyone. Still smiled sheepishly, and still spent far too long trying to figure out how to use the coffee machine in the team lounge. It was hard to hate the guy.

It was Kyungho who suggested the beach run. Not for fun, he said. For fortitude. 

It was 5 am and he insisted the entire team gather up before getting into the van. "The sand'll test your balance. Stride control. Mental discipline."

Shuaibo, who was still groggy, rolled his eyes. "I need to be bribed with chinese dim sum to do this. Like I could really go for some spring rolls."

Juwon said brightly, "It'll be fun! I love beach runs." 

"Of course you do." Woongki threw a towel at him. 

Chih En didn't even respond to anyone, sitting on the track with his eyes closed and head thrown back as if he had died in that position.

Steven, leaning against the wall in shorts and a dry-fit, nodded in approval. "No better way to see who's really top runner."

Han didn't wince at the wording. But he did glance at JL, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor lacing his shoes, hoodie up, head ducked in concentration.

The beach wasn't far, a twenty-minute van ride from campus. They arrived just after sunrise, the sky still blushing orange and grey. The tide was low and the sand was damp and firm, which made it ideal for sprint drills.

JL jogged slowly behind the others, eyes drinking in the expanse like he wanted to commit it all to memory. The beaches back home were still his favorite, but this was a different sort of sky. Big, and full of possibility. Even the air smelled different.

Juwon tossed him a towel. "You ready?"

"I think so," JL answered. "But if I eat sand, avenge me."

Woongki clapped his shoulder. "One must always die pretty. That's the rule."

They broke into teams: Han, JL, and Juwon on one. Steven, Chih En, Kyungho on the other. Jeongwoo, Shuaibo and Woongki ran hydration and time.

The first round was tame: Sprints in pairs. 

JL kept pace with Han the entire stretch. Second round: uphill through a sandy ridge.

Han observed JL the entire time. He wasn't just fast, he enjoyed it. There was a joy in the way JL smiled mid-run. The natural movement in the flex of his spine and the kick of his legs. He wasn't straining to prove himself, it was just his way of being. 

By round four, most of them were breathless. But JL... still smiling. Laughing even, when a wave nearly knocked Woongki over and he screamed like a siren.

Juwon sat on the sand, complaining, "No fair, JL, where do you get the energy? Mister Shining Staaaaaar, " then shrieked and ran away laughing when JL threw sand at him. 

Jeongwoo was pouring cool water on his head, eyes closed. He yelled after the pair, "I thought you had no energy! These young whippersnappers."

Kyungho said, "You are literally in your twenties." 

Jeongwoo grinned. "An old man. Put me on an ice floe and kick it off to sea, Eskimo style."

Steven came up beside Han during cooldown. "Monster transfer indeed." 

JL had beaten all but Han's scores. They alternated best times, JL taking first, or Han taking first, and at the end of the day everyone was happy to conclude they could BOTH be best runner. 

Han didn't respond.

Later, as they stretched in the shade, JL sat quietly beside Chih En.

"You don't talk much," JL said, handing him a water bottle. 

Chih En accepted it, nodding. "You talk enough for both of us." 

But he smiled, and JL grinned back. A few feet away, Jeongwoo was joking with the interns. He glanced over, his gaze always measured and calm. Jeongwoo was the sort of person who knew everything that was going on, and didn't necessarily voice out his thoughts all the time out of consideration.

He caught JL's eye once and offered a kind smile. The kind that said: you're doing okay.

JL felt tired but good from exercise, and all of a sudden it struck him just how lucky he was to have teammates that supported and encouraged him here at KNSU. He gave a thumbs up back at Jeongwoo, smiling. 

His heart was full. 

* * * 

On the ride back, the van was quiet. Most were half-asleep or swiping through their phones. 

JL dozed off with his head tilted against the window. 

At some point, the van hit a bump, and he slumped sideways onto Han's shoulder.

Han froze.

JL didn't stir. He was warm. Soft. Just close enough for Han to notice the freckle under his right eye and the way his long lashes settled into his cheek. JL's skin had a ruddy glow from being in the sun and fresh salt air, and he was snoring very softly.

Han didn't move. Didn't even breathe too loud. He didn't adjust his shoulder or fidget. He just looked at the sleeping boy on his shoulder. Finally, he looked out the window, his expression unreadable.  

Steven, seated across from them, looked up from his phone. Han and JL had their heads together. It seemed like JL had dozed off, and Han was letting him sleep it out. 

He stared at the two of them for a long time. And for reasons he didn't fully understand, there was a small, unexplainable tightness in his chest.

From the back, Woongki elbowed Shuaibo in the ribs. "Do. you. see. that!" Shuaibo groaned, a towel over his face. "No. Shut up and let me sleep."

* * * 

That night, JL stepped out to the dorm balcony for air. The breeze lifted his hair. The stars were faint, but visible.

He leaned on the railing, arms folded, heart still skipping from the van ride. At some point, JL had woken up, a few minutes before they pulled into the dorm parking lot. Han hadn't said a word about it. He hadn't recoiled or pushed him off, he just... he just let him sleep the entire way. 

And that felt scarier than anything else. 

Behind him, the sliding door in the room next to his opened. Han. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked.

 "Thanks for today," JL said quietly. "For... letting me rest."

Han looked over, his profile bathed in the moonlight. Han's prominent nose made his outline striking, and his pale skin practically glowed even in the dimness.

JL wished he could capture that outline somehow. Then he caught himself. The heck was that thought? He blinked, as if to shake it off.

"I didn't mind," Han said.

JL's breath caught. For a second, it felt like the world stilled around them. The insects stopped chirping.

JL wished he could see Han's face, but the dim moonlight made it impossible. 

For the same reason, he was a little glad Han couldn't make out his expression either. 

[Your comments and votes each chapter mean the world and support this story. Thank you for reading, and see you in the next chapter! ✩✩✩ - Martiné]