Chapter Text
A puppy. A large stupidly adorable dog. That's what Gamin looked like to Sehyun. Gamin's eyes, wide behind his thick glasses, had an unshakable enthusiasm that could only be rivaled by the purest of canines. His cheeks had a perpetual flush that made them seem perpetually squishy and begging to be pinched. And when he talked, it was with a bumbling energy that made his words spill out like a waterfall. It was ridiculous, really. The guy had the strength of a martial artist, but the demeanor of something you'd want to tuck into bed with a warm blanket.
Sehyun tried to shake the image of Gamin as a giant puppy out of his head as they settled into their usual spot in the library. It was a battle he lost every time they met. He'd swear he saw Gamin's tail wag if he could only grow one. But alas, the guy was as human as he was, which was just as confusing. How could someone so obviously strong be so...so...bubbly? It was like a bubblegum-scented enigma wrapped in an innocent shell. Sehyun rolled his eyes at his own thoughts. He didn't do 'cute'. He did textbooks, and deadlines, and cold, hard reality.
But as the hours of the study session ticked by, and Gamin stumbled over another algebra problem with a cute furrow of his brow, Sehyun found himself leaning closer, his hand itching to ruffle the other boy's hair. It was like watching a puppy try to solve a Rubik's cube. The sheer endeavor was adorable. And even though he knew Gamin could overpower him without breaking a sweat, the urge to protect him, to help him, grew stronger. He bit his tongue, reminding himself that he was here to study, not to play nanny to the school's resident gentle giant.
The tension grew as Gamin's frustration mounted, his pencil creaking under the pressure of his grip. Sehyun couldn't take it anymore. He reached over and gently took the pencil from Gamin's hand. "Here, let me show you." He said, his voice softer than he meant it to be. He began to explain the equation step by step, their hands brushing occasionally as he guided Gamin's. It was a simple touch, but it sent a spark through Sehyun's body, making him feel alive in a way he hadn't for a long time. And when Gamin finally got it, that dumb smile breaking out on his face, Sehyun couldn't help but feel a swell of pride that had nothing to do with the math. It was as if he'd just taught a puppy to sit.
Their two-man study group broke up for the evening, and as they left the library, Gamin thanked him for his help. The words were genuine, and Sehyun felt his heart skip a beat. "No problem." He mumbled, his cheeks heating up. He couldn't admit it, not even to himself, but maybe, just maybe, he was starting to like this giant puppy more than he cared to admit.