Chapter Text
If not for the bruise across Taeyong's cheek and the split lip, Doyoung could almost pretend everything was fine. It was easy to imagine when Taeyong was asleep, curled up under Doyoung's jacket, that they were just kids again, tired out from playing the day away. There were no furrows between his brows, hurt and fire in his eyes, just peace upon his features.
He sighed, slouching back against the armchair. The sun was not quite up yet, and he had an exam in a few hours he wished he had studied more for. It troubled him... to pick between Taeyong and his own life and responsibilities. He kept picking Taeyong every time, but should he?
He shook his head to clear those thoughts. He wasn't about to weigh his best friend's well being against anything; that would be counterproductive. Even if Taeyong explicitly wanted ‘nothing to do with him.’ That was bullshit, and both of them knew it. He was determined to believe in him even when Taeyong himself didn’t.
Taeyong stirred for a moment, and Doyoung closed his eyes to a slit in a hurry, purposely slowing his breaths.
A soft groan came as he stretched, and Taeyong gingerly rubbed sleep out of his eyes. The jacket slid off of him when he sat up, ending up half in his lap. After a quick glance around the room, his gaze landed on Doyoung who willed himself not to blink and get caught awake. Glimmering there was innocence that Taeyong wouldn’t show these days.
But, he looked down at the faded black jacket in his lap, and the old Taeyong faded, striking a pang through Doyoung’s chest. Taeyong got up, letting it fall to the ground in a heap. He picked up his phone and keys off the coffee table and went straight for the door.
Doyoung opened his eyes again, blowing out a deep breath once the screen door swung into place.
A moment later, before he could do anything else, the door clattered open again, and Doyoung feigned sleep once more, turning his head away from the entrance. He heard Taeyong pad back into the room, and a warmth came over his chest— his jacket, he realised. There was a slight pause where Doyoung could feel him standing close, then Taeyong moved on towards the kitchen.
Even if he opened his eyes now, Doyoung couldn’t very well peek behind himself into the kitchen without letting Taeyong know he was awake, so he strained his ears best he could as the fridge opened, and something was chopped on a cutting board.
Then, Doyoung was shaken awake by his younger brother and he sat up in a hurry. His jacket slid down and hung off his knee.
“What time is it?”
“Seven thirty, I’m going to school.”
Doyoung rubbed one hand over his face. He fell asleep. Taeyong was long gone. At least he wasn’t late for his exam, but he should get some money for Donghyuck’s lunch since he didn’t have time to make anything, or maybe he could whip up a quick breakfast and give him the leftovers for—
Donghyuck was already at the door, backpack on and stepping into his shoes.
“Hyuck, breakfast? Lunch?” Doyoung called, gathering his jacket, so he could get up.
“Didn’t you leave me rice? It was in the fridge.” What. “I’m going, but the soup is tasty too, you should make it more often.” What.
And Donghyuck was gone, leaving Doyoung to wander in his sleep-addled state to lock the door after him, then head to the kitchen.
Soup, still warm from Donghyuck heating it up for breakfast, sat on the stove, and in the fridge was his own lunch box filled with kimchi fried rice. Doyoung stared at it before letting out a disbelieving laugh. He leaned forwards until his forehead hit the shelf, and he let the cold seep into his brain.
“I miss you,” he said aloud to himself.