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Considering how skinny they both were, Yuta-Hyung made for a surprisingly comfy cushion. Jisung snuggled deeper into the older man's embrace. They were watching Anime together in Jisung’s room. To be honest, Jisung was not really all that interested in the show. He was just glad to spend some time with his Hyung. Lying there in the elder man’s arms, he started to think about how their former amicable but distant working relationship had evolved into one of his most important friendships during the last half a year.
This development was definitely an unexpected one. But then again, nobody had expected the other events of the last year either, so he probably shouldn't be surprised. In the end, at least some good things came from SM‘s initial plans being cancelled, this new friendship being one of them.
After spending time together during the NCT 2020 activities as well as Work It preparations and promotions they had started talking more. Even though Jisung couldn't dance or perform, all the other members of NCT U’s Work It unit made an effort to include him. And Yuta taking care of Shotaro brought the elder to the Dreamie Dorm more often too.
Somehow, taking care of their new Japanese member ended up with Yuta also taking care of Jisung. It should not have been anything special. All the members loved to baby their Maknae after all. But with Yuta it was different. Maybe it was because they only got close when he was finally (almost) an adult. While he was still very caring, the elder tended to treat Jisung more like an equal instead of a younger brother. The older members of 127 and WayV tended to treat him like a baby, and with the other Dreamies it was always playing around and being childish. While he enjoyed both of those things too, his friendship with Yuta was different. With him, he could joke around and get babied, but Jisung also took care of the older man in return. The Japanese came to him with his worries or the homesickness he still sometimes felt, despite having lived in Korea for so long already.
It was a great friendship. Jisung smiled. Then, a sudden explosion on the screen made the younger one flinch so hard he almost fell off the bed.
“Shh, big guy, it’s okay.” Yuta pulled the younger back against his chest and lowered the volume of the show. “What were you daydreaming about again, hm?”
“Nothing.” The room was silent except for the Japanese shouting coming from the laptop on Yuta’s lap. “Just...”
“Hm?” Yuta’s hand started to card through Jisung’s hair.
“Just thinking about how I’m glad we became friends.”
“Yeah, me too.” The older man’s voice was soft.
Jisung yawned, the head massage was making him sleepy.
“Do you think we would have become friends, even without the pandemic and NCT 2020 and all that?” Jisung asked, not meeting the elder’s eyes.
“I sure hope so. Maybe it would have taken us a bit longer, but I think so, yes. But even though I would gladly have done without this chaos, I’m still glad I got to know you better through it. That’s at least one good thing to come from this stupid virus.”
“Ok. Thanks, Hyung.” Jisung yawned again, his eyes were fluttering shut. He felt so warm and comforted in his Hyung’s arms.
“You’re welcome, big guy. But now I think we should go to sleep. We both had a long day and I think you have a schedule early tomorrow morning?”
“Yeah, but it’s just shooting for ChenJi, and Chenle is gonna be late anyway,” he complained, but mostly on principle. He really was tired after all. Luckily they had already changed and brushed their teeth before they started the Anime, so now he could really just fall asleep right there.
“Sure, sure. It’s bedtime now, child.” Yuta obviously knew it was all for show. He got up to put the laptop away and turn off the lights, then walked back to the bed with a big yawn of his own.
Jisung slipped under the covers, holding one side up for his bandmate to join him. He scoffed. “Like you’re any better, Hyung. You’re practically falling asleep standing there, old man.”
“Yah, Park Jisung, respect your elders!” Yuta got under the covers, immediately clinging to the younger man, knowing it would annoy him.
Jisung wanted to struggle and shake the older one off, but he was honestly too tired, so a grouchy “Hyung!” would have to suffice. If he was honest, he loved this casual, brotherly skinship. He would never tell Yuta though. It was better not to encourage him, or the elder would never leave him alone anymore.
His alarm was set, so he allowed his eyes to finally close fully, feeling warm and loved in his brother’s arms.
“Love you, Hyung” he mumbled, already half asleep.
He felt the older one press a kiss to his forehead. “Love you, too, big guy. Now go to sleep.”
Jisung obeyed, slipping away into dreamland with a smile on his lips. He was so glad to have found a friend like Yuta.