*Rooftop – 12:02 AM*
The second Han stopped crying into Taejoon's shirt, the teasing started.
"AWW," Lorenzo cooed, hands on his cheeks. "He said yes in a slipper! That's so Han!"
"You are proposed to in a hoodie!" Ace cackled, filming with his phone. "This is going in the group chat!"
"FIANCÉ!" Hudson yelled, pointing at Han's hand. "Let me see! Let me see the rock!"
Han's face went nuclear. "Shut up! Shut up! I'm disowning all of you!"
Taejoon just grinned. Wide. Stupid. Happy. Then he bent down, hooked an arm under Han's knees, and lifted.
"Wha— TAEJOON!" Han squawked, instantly wrapping his arms around Taejoon's neck so he didn't fall. "Put me down! My ankle—"
"Is fine," Taejoon said, and spun him. Once. Twice.
Han's yelp turned into a laugh. Helpless. Bright. It bounced off the rooftop and mixed with the fireworks. "You're gonna drop me! I'm gonna die engaged for five minutes!"
"Never," Taejoon said, still spinning. "I've got you."
He set Han down eventually, but kept him close. One arm around his waist like Han might float away.
"Happy New Year!" Caleb yelled, throwing the rest of the rose petals in the air.
"Happy New Year!" everyone shouted back, voices overlapping. Hudson tackled Harrison in a hug. Jace ruffled Kai's hair. Even Jace smiled and clinked his water bottle against Lorenzo's.
For a few minutes it was just chaos. Hugs. Hudson getting cake smushed on his cheek by Ace. Adriel-from-Alpha-Boys stealing Hudson's Birthday Boy hat and putting it on Adriel-from-idols.
Then it quieted.
They all drifted to the edge of the rooftop. The city was spread out below them, still lit up. Fireworks popping in gold and red and silver, reflecting in twelve pairs of eyes.
Taejoon ended up behind Han without even thinking about it. Han leaned back into him on instinct, Taejoon's arms coming around his waist, chin resting on Han's shoulder. Han's left hand covered Taejoon's. The ring caught a firework and flashed.
To their left, Adriel-from-idols and Adriel-from-Alpha-Boys were standing shoulder to shoulder. Then fingers brushed. Then they were holding hands. Neither of them said anything. They didn't need to.
Kai had backed up until he was leaning against Caleb's chest, Caleb's arms loose around him, chin on Kai's head.
Ace and Jace were a little apart from everyone else. Not touching. Not yet. But they were standing close. Watching the sky. Watching each other out of the corners of their eyes. Like something was there, waiting.
The fireworks hit a crescendo. Loud. Bright.
And one by one, the couples moved.
Taejoon turned Han in his arms. "Hi," he said again, stupidly soft.
"Hi," Han said, and pulled him down into a kiss. Slow this time. No anger. No panic. Just _yes_.
Adriel-from-idols tugged Adriel-from-Alpha-Boys closer by their joined hands. They kissed. Then longer.
Kai tilted his head up. Caleb was already looking down. Their kiss was easy. Practiced. Comfortable.
Ace looked at Jace. Jace looked at Ace. Then Jace rolled his eyes, grabbed the front of Ace's shirt, and kissed him. Ace made a surprised noise and then melted into it.
Three people didn't move.
Hudson, with cake on his face. Lorenzo, arms crossed. Harrison, phone still in his hand from videoing.
They stood there. Watching four couples kiss under New Year's fireworks.
Awkward silence.
Then Harrison sighed. Loud. Dramatic. "Well." He shoved his phone in his pocket. "I guess they all have a happy ending except us."
Lorenzo snorted. "Speak for yourself. I'm gonna be the hot single uncle at their wedding."
Hudson licked cake off his thumb. "It's my birthday and I'm third-wheeling my own party. This is abuse."
Han broke away from Taejoon, face red but grinning. "You're not third-wheeling. You're… support staff."
"Wow," Hudson said flatly. "Thanks, fiancé."
"Don't call me that," Han said, but he was still smiling. He held his hand up. The ring flashed again. "Okay call me that."
Taejoon kissed his temple. "Mine."
"Gross," Harrison said. But he was smiling too.
Hudson was sitting on the edge of the roof, legs dangling, licking frosting off his fingers. Lorenzo had stolen his Birthday Boy hat and was wearing it sideways. Harrison was scrolling through the videos on his phone, already typing in the group chat: _"Evidence of Taejoon's public indecency saved forever."_
The couples had drifted apart, but not far. Ace and Jace were leaning against the railing, shoulders touching, not saying anything. Kai had his head on Caleb's shoulder, eyes half-closed. Adriel-from-idols was fixing Adriel-from-Alpha-Boys' collar, fingers lingering.
And in the middle of it all, Han was still tucked against Taejoon's chest.
He wasn't crying anymore. Just quiet. Warm. His hand kept drifting up to touch the ring, like he couldn't believe it was real. Like it might vanish if he didn't keep checking.
"You okay?" Taejoon murmured into his hair.
Han nodded. Then shook his head. Then nodded again. "I got engaged in sweatpants," he whispered, horrified. "With one slipper. My mom's gonna kill me."
Taejoon laughed, soft. "She's gonna kill _me_."
"She should," Han said. Then he turned his face up, eyes still a little red, but smiling. Really smiling. "Thank you. For waiting. For… all of this."
"I'd wait a hundred New Years for you," Taejoon said. Simple. True.
Han's throat bobbed. He didn't answer. He just pushed up on his toes and kissed him again. No anger this time. No jealousy. Just soft. Sure. Like _home_.
Around them, someone started clapping. Slow. Then Hudson whooped. Then everyone was whistling and Ace was yelling "GET A ROOM" and Harrison threw a rose petal at them.
Han broke away, laughing into Taejoon's shoulder, hiding his face. "I hate them."
"No you don't," Taejoon said, pressing a kiss to his temple.
"I hate you a little," Han mumbled.
"Liar."
Han looked up at him. The lights caught the tears still clinging to his lashes. The ring. The stupid, happy look on his face.
"Yeah," Han admitted. "I'm a liar."
Taejoon squeezed him tighter.kiss his forehead and look at the sky