Work Text:
The sun was set high. The heat double-folded because of their outfits, and Felix could definitely feel the damp on his back run down his hips. The sand, dust, and dirt were all irritating him, the same way they irritated his eyes covered with contact lenses.
He was on the far side of the set, just waiting for the solo shots of the members to finish before he and Hyunjin got their time. He was sleepy, he was bored, he was irritated, he was flushing from the heat, he was also thirsty, and he was everything at that point. All that he ever wanted to do was to just lie his back down the mattress and sleep for the day.
Every time they film for their music videos, he’d only get a maximum of two hours of sleep, and it was okay, only if it wasn’t for the fact that his eyes sting so much because of his contact lenses. He blinked more than he could ever see.
And he definitely cried a tear or two.
“Yongbok-ah,” he heard someone call him from his right. The voice was distant, but that only made him turn his head around while feeling his tears brim on his lids. This was definitely not a good day.
Hyunjin was standing at the corner of the tent where the sunlight was rightfully washing his already milky white skin. He held his hand up to his hip, probably holding something to show Felix that Felix couldn’t see because of his love-hate relationship with the contact lenses.
He blinked harder, proposing that his eyeballs are red than they are white.
“Why?” He answered with a loud voice.
Hyunjin didn’t move at first and was startled with his loud voice. Hyunjin couldn’t help but pout. Hyunjin didn’t try to move and just watched Felix squirm in his seat, and getting no sort of reaction from the endearing voice that he used to call Felix’s name with, made him pout.
Felix grinned.
“Why are you shouting at me?” Hyunjin sulked as he moved slowly to Felix who still had one eye closed, and the other open to try and keep Hyunjin in his sight.
Needless to say, Hyunjin looked better. He looked happier, and most especially livelier. Felix knew just how much Hyunjin missed being with them—it was clearly written on the way his face glowed at every mention of their scheduled activities. It was written in the way his shoulder would shake, in the little hops he’ll make, and in the way he smiles.
Hyunjin looked peaceful and beautiful in that white shirt of his, and tucked hair by hair pins.
And he looked extra beautiful in Felix’s eyes.
“Stop pouting, Hyunnie,” Felix mumbled. His tone was masked with adoration and his grin stretched wider. “My eyes hurt earlier.”
Hyunjin quickly squatted down. His eyes are on Felix’s level, menacingly looking through the tears that melted the mascara off of Felix’s eyelashes. Delicately, Hyunjin poked his cheeks, and his fingertips dabbed the sides of his eyelids.
You see, even up close, Hyunjin is beautiful. Felix didn't know when he started feeling this way for Hyunjin, but he just did. He didn’t know either how he started giving double meanings to the things that Hyunjin does for him, and even the attention that Hyunjin spares him—he didn’t want to know.
He didn’t want to know why his body felt warmer when Hyunjin touched his eyelids and carefully removed the tears that already threatened to fall. He didn’t want to know either why he leaned to the touch of the taller, and inwardly smiled at that.
“Are you okay now?” Hyunjin worriedly asked him while his fingers were still lingering on the side of his face.
The ghosts of Hyunjin’s touch were addictive. They were gentle, soft, and sometimes, they made Felix feel like he was being loved. Of course, he is loved, not just by Hyunjin, but by all the members. But he wanted a different type of love.
A love that everyone could give, but here he was, yearning for Hyunjin's.
“Yes.” He muttered with a low tone.
And with that Hyunjin smiled at him.
He would’ve closed his eyes still by the time Hyunjin runs his fingers against his skin; he would’ve leaned more against Hyunjin, and make him do the job of appreciating the make-up that was decorated on him, but Hyunjin’s hums made him open his eyes.
Hyunjin had a slight grimace on his face that eventually turned into a small smile and Felix never felt that lovestruck.
“I actually have something for you. Can you stand up?”
The sun was set high, and the heat was just blatantly roasting Felix’s skin. It was maddening, and he couldn’t see the point of it. But seeing Hyunjin smile that bright at him was way worthy to stand up for and exert extra effort.
So he did.
And Hyunjin is the most beautiful with his hand holding a small stem of daisies that he reached out to give to Felix.
The gesture was small, the movements were too subtle to capture, but Felix is delicate when it comes to Hyunjin. He saw it. He saw the slight flush of rose on Hyunjin’s cheek with the help of the sunlight. He saw the jittering of his feet, and the slight tremble of Hyunjin’s fingers. He saw the reluctance that Hyunjin was vibing off his expression, and for sure, he was about to pull his hand and hide from the embarrassment.
But Felix, in his 171 cm body, smiled so wide he really felt his cheek hurt.
“Hyunnie,” he called out slowly and just let his eyes wander to the small petals that lay flat to Hyunjin’s palm and reflect the sunlight. “This is so cute!”
It was hot and he hated the contact lenses on his eyes.
But Hyunjin and the daisies were enough to make him feel better.
//
He didn’t let go of the bud and Hyunjin’s hand.
The solo shots of the members were long forgotten and they stick with each other just by moving around, not letting the sun affect them so much, and casually take photos of each other. Hyunjin never failed to compliment his extensions, as if Felix could have had enough of Hyunjin’s dark green tips, but that is a point for another time.
It was funny to him how he clutched the flower to himself, afraid to lose what Hyunjin gave him, and still softly hold it to his fingers.
He couldn’t help but stare down at it.
“Felix,” Hyunjin snapped him out of trance. He looked back at the taller who was holding and pulling his hand to catch his attention. “Look at that!”
The amusement that was on Hyunjin’s face was Felix’s edge.
Hyunjin is beautiful. He keeps on reiterating that, and he will never be tired of doing so if it needs to be done. But Hyunjin, his adorable dimples, and crinkling eyes were too much for his small, weak heart.
The sun was set high and he still couldn’t get the point why he needed to wear a double layer of clothing, but the sun wasn’t doing its job in making him feel the heat, Hyunjin was.
He blushed furiously, and if Hyunjin was looking at him, Hyunjin would definitely see. But Hyunjin wasn’t, and he blushed even more—he’s a mess, he knew that.
“We should take photos there!” Hyunjin exclaimed with a shake of his shoulders, too excited for the idea.
And even if it would cost Felix’s eyesight and tears just to be able to get up there, he’d do it, if it makes Hyunjin happy.
“Okay.” Whipped.
Hyunjin turned his head around, trying to catch anyone who’s nearby and who’s kind enough to wait for them to climb that mountain of sand, and Jeongin was fortunately just passing by.
“Iyen-ah!” Hyunjin called the youngest and Felix smiled harder at the way Hyunjin squealed. “Go get your phone and take a picture of us!”
Felix should’ve been sending a small smile to Jeongin yet here he was, too enamored by Hyunjin. Hyunjin was too easy to be with. Even in the silence, Hyunjin was one with the quiet. Even in the loudness, Hyunjin was one with the noise. Hyunjin is everywhere, is everything, and most especially, his everything.
Hyunjin was the first one to try and step his foot on the slope. The sand molded on his feet and pulled him down, making him tighten his grip on Felix for support.
“Yongbok-ah, this is dangerous.” Hyunjin said worryingly. He looked like he’d back out if it weren’t for Felix’s other hand that held him.
“I’ll hold you.” The daisies were now in his pocket and his hand now only held Hyunjin. Reassuringly, he nodded and repeated his words. “I’ll hold you.”
When two of Hyunjin’s feet were finally flat on the sand, Felix quickly joined him. Hand in hand, they held each other for support. Everytime Felix would step, Hyunjin would be quick to look at him and watch him, letting his whole hand wrap around Felix’s hand, and everytime Hyunjin would step, Felix would use both of his hands for one could not do much.
It was supposed to be annoying under the mercy of the reigning sun, but Felix couldn’t find any more reason to be mad. Let him sweat profusely, let him cry tears after tears for the dust particles that irritate his eyes, but nothing will ever compare to the way Hyunjin chuckles at every clumsy attempt to move forward.
“Lix, be careful!” He will never get tired of listening to Hyunjin’s voice. So even if it was Hyunjin who should be alerted with the same statement, he didn’t bother trying and just held tight, like he was afraid to let him go.
Hyunjin was two steps ahead of him, and the sun was still glaring, threatening to blind him.
But Hyunjin.
“Lix, hey, come on.”
Hyunjin.
“Here, I’ll pull you.” Hyunjin.
“Lix, hey.” Hyunjin.
“Yongbok.”
Hyunjin.
The sun was set high, but in front of the sun was Hyunjin on top of the hill, waiting for him. It was absurd to think about how he let his sweat drop to his hips without batting an eye and palming his forehead out of frustration. It was absurd to think about how Hyunjin could easily enter his life and swoop him out of his dreamy bubble.
The sun was set high, and Hyunjin was still the brightest.
Hyunjin could easily grab his hand and pull him to the top, but he’d still be living in the moment where finally, he found love in the heat.
It is Hyunjin.
He blinked once, Hyunjin was smiling so wide, patting his shoulder for successfully climbing. He blinked twice, Hyunjin was glowing with purity and innocence. He blinked thrice, and he realized Hyunjin was the daisy.
“Hyunnie,” he whispered, clearly living in the moment without sparing attention on the youngest that was waiting to take their photo, “I think I like you.”
And Hyunjin definitely did not just stumble and fall down.