Work Text:
If this moment was a photograph, it’d be slightly out of focus and fading at the edges.
It could be because of the stars forging their paths in the dark sky, or the little pocket of warmth they have despite the freezing cold outside. Maybe it’s because the distance from here to there feels like if Hwiyoung leaned just a little closer, his fingers could just brush the city lights sparkling across the water.
They’d followed the wrong road half an hour ago, then missed another turn ten minutes ago, but a joking suggestion turned into a ‘may as well’, and that’s how they’d ended up here on the lakeshore - Hwiyoung resting his head against the passenger’s window, Chani reclined in the driver’s seat, and both of them sipping their boba.
Chani sings along to a familiar song under his breath as Hwiyoung’s fingers waltz along in time. The lyrics are in a language he can’t understand, but does it really matter? It tugs on his heartstrings either way.
The track slows, and comes to an end. Hwiyoung’s hand stills.
“I don’t really want to go home yet,” he admits.
It’s barely a whisper, but it presses down, feeling heavy as the next song eases its way in to settle into their space.
He tilts his head slightly and looks over to his best friend. It’s hard to find the right word to describe him at this moment. Maybe it’d be something like relief, free, relaxed - like he has no care or worries left burdening him in the world. Maybe right now he really doesn’t.
“We don’t have to.”
It’s a simple response, and it’s enough.
He can allow himself this, surely, to let go of his worries for a single night.
Hwiyoung hums softly, then exhales.