*Back in the Human World*
The first night back was weird. Han's apartment felt too small after the castle halls. Too quiet after weeks of people constantly around.
His phone rang at 11:47 PM. Taejoon. Video call.
Han answered, already flopping onto his bed. "You miss me already? It's been six hours."
Taejoon was in his own room, leaning against his headboard. His hair was damp from a shower. "Shut up. Just checking you didn't fall down your stairs."
"I don't have stairs," Han said. "I have an elevator. Much safer."
"Good." Taejoon didn't hang up. Neither did Han.
They talked about nothing. The flight. How weird real coffee tasted again. How Ace almost got them detained at security for "medical documentation." At some point Han yawned and curled onto his side, phone propped against a pillow.
"Go to sleep," Taejoon murmured. His voice was softer now.
"'M fine," Han mumbled, eyes already closing. "Keep talkin'."
So Taejoon did. He talked about his schedule tomorrow, about how Hudson texted him a picture of cereal, about anything, until Han's breathing evened out. Even then, Taejoon didn't hang up. He just watched Han sleep, a small smile on his face, thumb brushing over his own screen like he could brush Han's hair back.
He finally ended the call at 3 AM.
*Day Turned to Weeks*
Life slammed back into place fast.
The Alpha Boys were back to idol schedules — dance practices, vocal training, fan signs. The idols were worse. Two comebacks overlapped, plus variety shows. Jace and Kai were on TV three times a week. Their Adriel was trending for a fancam where he blinked wrong.
They saw each other. All the time. Award shows. Music bank recordings. Year-end stages. But they didn't interact. Couldn't. Not with cameras everywhere and fans dissecting every glance.
A nod in the hallway. A look across the waiting room. Taejoon catching Han's eye from the next stage over while Harrison fake-coughed to cover it. That was it.
It sucked. But it was safe.
*Meanwhile – Secret Operation: Proposal*
Group chat name: "DO NOT TELL HAN"
*Lorenzo:* _update. found a venue. rooftop.
private. view of the whole city_
*Ace:* _can i hide in the bushes to film_
*Taejoon:* _no_
*Ace:* _can i hide in a different bush_
*Taejoon:* _no_
*Jace:* _we handled flowers. Kai says white roses. no lilies. he's allergic_
*Kai:* _i'm not allergic i just think lilies are ugly_
*Caleb:* _i made a playlist!!! it's 6 hours long_
*Harrison:* _six hours??? the proposal is not a concert_
*Caleb:* _in case he says yes and they want to dance after_
*Adriel (Alpha):* _i'll handle lights. not fairy lights. he'll think it's tacky_
*Adriel (Idols):* _i'll handle food. nothing with garlic. for kissing reasons_
*Hudson:* _i'm security. if any paparazzi shows up i'm body slamming them_
*Alexander:* _I sent the ring box. The nicer one. Don't lose it._
*Taejoon:* _i hate all of you_
*Taejoon:* _thank you_
Taejoon would get texts at 2 AM. _Does he like candles?_ _Is 7 PM too early?_ _What if it rains?_ He'd answer all of them.
He was terrified. Every day. But every day, someone checked in. Harrison sent him breathing exercises. Caleb sent him pictures of rings "for inspiration" even though he already had one. Jace sent him Han's favorite songs to play in the background.
And every night, Han called him. Or he called Han. They'd talk until Han fell asleep on video again. Sometimes Taejoon fell asleep first, and he'd wake up to Han's sleeping face on his screen and 47 texts in the group chat.