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Donghyuck was lounging on the living room couch, a series he’d been meaning to watch for months illuminating the TV screen. It was currently 4am and the rest of the members were in their rooms - though most were unlikely to be asleep. Too used to the long nights of practice, it seemed that everyone now had a tough time sleeping early. Donghyuck knew his nocturnal habits would bite him in the ass later in life but that was future Donghyuck’s problem, not his.
After an exhausting schedule, they had all mercifully been given the next few days off. And yet now that he finally had a rare sliver of free time, Donghyuck couldn’t concentrate on the show. He found himself spacing out, eyes unfocused as he stared blankly at the TV. Letting out a sigh of resignation, he grabbed the remote and turned the TV off but felt too tired to retire to his room - it was 20 steps too far and he was perfectly content with settling back into the comfortable couch with his blanket. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time he or his members had fallen asleep on it. So he snuggled into the blanket and closed his eyes, exhaustion fully settling into his bones and anchoring him to the couch.
But despite the heavy weight of his fatigue, Donghyuck couldn’t sleep. His insomnia had been awful lately, barely allowing him a few precious hours of shut-eye every night. It frustrated him to no end- he’d wake up more tired than when he went to sleep, energy already depleted and a day of packed schedules ahead. Tonight, it seemed, would be no different. He lay restless for hours, watching as the sky awoke and rays of yellow, pink and orange brushed rooftops and pavements; painting the living room a soft, warm light. At least he got to watch pretty sunrises when his insomnia was acting up, Donghyuck supposed.
Eventually, he heard the sound of the front door unlocking and closing softly and the quiet shuffling of feet heading towards the living room. Donghyuck glanced at the time on his phone to see that it was now 9am. He sat up and turned to see who it was, both out of curiosity and worry, only to see Taeyong enter the room looking like death on his feet. He must’ve stayed in the studio after his schedules, Donghyuck realised. His bleach-fried blonde hair was wild, sticking out in all directions as though Taeyong had run his hands through it one too many times. His now coffee-stained white t-shirt was wrinkled, something Taeyong was usually very particular about- going so far as to always adjust his clothes when sitting in a car to ensure that they wouldn’t crease. His skin looked dry and sallow, bruise-like bags under his tired eyes and lips chapped with his mouth set into a frown. His broad shoulders were hunched forward like he was carrying a great burden upon them, making him look small and pitiful as he trudged into the entrance of the living room.
Taeyong paused when he saw Donghyuck, and there was a beat of silence as they stared at one another before Hyuck wordlessly opened his arms. There was something in Taeyong’s eyes, a silent plea to be held perhaps, that made him want to hold his hyung close. Taeyong let out a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding as he staggered towards Hyuck and sagged into his open arms. No words were exchanged as Taeyong wound his arms tightly around Hyuck’s waist and buried his face into his neck. Hyuck held Taeyong gently, a consistent and reassuring warmth and pressure - but never restricting. Taeyong marvelled at the fact that Hyuck seemed to instinctively know when Taeyong wanted to be held tightly to keep from floating away and when he just wanted to be cradled. Hyuck seemed to always be good at knowing what people needed; he was always silently observing and patiently offering open arms and ears and a shoulder to cry on. Where Haechan was loud and larger-than-life, Donghyuck was soft-spoken and subtle. Donghyuck was like the sun: a constant, revitalising light that warmed all those it touched; he was a source of energy when everyone was beyond exhausted and stretched thin from demanding schedules and too-little sleep. Taeyong felt a surge of fondness and pride cascade through his veins and fill his heart, Donghyuck had grown up so well. And though Taeyong wanted to take care of the younger, it always seemed that Hyuck took care of him instead - he’d make Taeyong food after a particularly tiring schedule or massage his back for him without complaint if Taeyong ever asked (Hyuck was very good at them but Taeyong was very bad at letting on when he was in pain, let alone asking for help).
Hyuck wasn’t really as physically affectionate towards Taeyong as he was the others, he seemed to still hold that quiet respect he’s had for Taeyong since they were rookies but at least he teases him a little (little) less nowadays; TY-track followed Taeyong around for years like a recurring nightmare thanks to Donghyuck. Off-camera, Hyuck was actually someone Taeyong often relied on and found comfort in. Their love was one of mutual respect and admiration; cooking for one another after a late schedule; late-night conversations about everything and nothing and silent but reassuring touches. Taeyong felt Hyuck’s fingers gently carding through his hair, pulling him out of his reverie as he hummed in content, nuzzling into Hyuck’s hand like a cat. He felt more than heard Donghyuck’s fond chuckle but he definitely heard the quiet “cute” that was mumbled. They stayed like that for a while, bathed in sunlight and comfortable silence, until Taeyong’s hold slackened and he felt like he could breathe again. “Do you want anything to eat, hyung?” Donghyuck asked softly. Taeyong nodded but whined when Donghyuck let go of him, keeping his arms firmly circled around Hyuck’s waist. Taeyong wasn’t usually this clingy but he did not want to let go right now, he was in a pleasant Donghyuck-induced haze that he didn’t want to leave just yet. Hyuck laughed softly, “How am I supposed to cook for you if you won’t let me go?”
“Easy,” Taeyong replied. He lifted himself up from the couch, pulling Donghyuck with him as he still refused to unwind his arms, and repositioned himself so that he was back-hugging Hyuck with his chin comfortably propped on his shoulder. Donghyuck shook his head, grumbled a “ridiculous” under his breath but still put his hands over Taeyong’s and gently squeezed them for a second. Hyuck made a quick breakfast for Taeyong, commenting that if it tasted bad it was because he had a koala on his back the entire time making it hard to cook, and even indulged Taeyong’s request to let him sit in his lap (“I’ll buy you food if you let me.”)
Once Taeyong finished eating, Hyuck asked if he wanted to sleep but he shook his head, claiming that he’d slept at the studio. Taeyong needed a scolding for doing that when he already had such a busy schedule, Donghyuck will have to tell Doyoung to do so later. For now though, Hyuck still had a lapful of Taeyong despite the fact that he’d now finished his food.
“Uh, Hyung?” he tried.
“Yeah Hyuck?”
“You planning on getting out of my lap anytime soon?”
“No, actually,” Taeyong replied casually.
“Oh. Okay then,” was all Hyuck could say as Taeyong’s hands grabbed his own to wound them around his waist.
Hyuck felt like this was worth at least three meals now and told Taeyong as much but only received a pat on the hand and a “nice try” in return (still not a definite no so he’ll probably pester the other two meals out of him another time). Taeyong grabbed the remote and turned the TV on, flipping through the channels until he landed on a random cooking show.
Hyuck thought that holding Taeyong was nice, though he would rather admit that Jeno is actually funny than admit that out loud. He’d missed Taeyong while he was resting, his absence felt both in promotions and the dorm. Thinking about how much pain Taeyong had been in for the past couple of years made a pang of guilt hit Hyuck’s heart because he couldn’t do more, couldn’t be more helpful and couldn’t take Taeyong’s pain away. But Taeyong’s cheeks look fuller now (“The ones on your face,” Hyuck specifies to Taeyong when he returns, a shit-eating grin on his face as Taeyong glares at him and flips him off) and eyes brighter after his break- it brings Hyuck great joy and relief to see that. He just hopes he’s healed up well because he doesn’t like seeing his hyung in pain; he doesn’t like the gaping hole left in the group without their leader; he doesn’t like not being able to witness Taeyong baby-talk his fish in the dorm or randomly burst into Johnny and Hyuck’s room, dramatically flop onto his bed but remain silent until Hyuck finally asks him if he needs anything; he doesn’t like and cannot imagine a life without Taeyong by his side. Lost in his musings, he had subconsciously gripped Taeyong a little tighter and when Taeyong asked what was wrong, Hyuck mumbled out a shy “Nothing, I just missed you.”
Taeyong craned his neck to look back at Hyuck then, a fond and happy smile gracing his lips as he pinched Hyuck’s cheek and replied “I missed you too, baby.”