Work Text:
Asahi doesn’t know where he is. Or frankly, who he is. A bright light above him, he tries to open his eyes all the way, but that proves to be a challenge when a light with the literal strength of the sun is burning his retina. Wait… the bright light? Is that the Sun? Is he in heaven? Is he dead? Is he going to see God?
He pinches his arm pretty hard, and is relieved (and pained) to find that yes, his nerves still work. Okay, so he’s not dead, but he sure as hell feels like he is. His feet are cold, his forehead tickles from the locks of hair that fall unceremoniously on his face, his mouth… Well, he can’t feel his mouth.
Shit.
Is his mouth gone? He frantically touches for it, but it’s not there. It should be right there beneath his nose. Oh no. How is he going to eat? How is he going to breathe? Wait, do you breathe out of your nose or mouth again? Asahi is pretty damn sure it’s out of his nose, but some people debate whether mouth breathing is more convenient. Well, fuck that debate. He only has his nose now.
‘Oh thank god, you’re awake,’ a voice says, seemingly muffled. Awake? For how long was he knocked out for? Where is he? And who is this guy staring at him like that-
Oh my god, he’s gorgeous.
Black hair in a cute fringe that ends right above his eyes, a white turtleneck beneath a blue jacket, and silver earrings paired with a simple chain necklace. His eyes crinkle slightly when he smiles, and God, his physique. Those shoulders.
Fuck, he’s being so gay right now.
Oh wait, he is gay.
‘Baby, why are you touching your chin like that? It’s dirty with saliva, don’t,’ the guy holds his hand, pulling his hand away from his mouth. Or at least, what used to be his mouth. Out of nowhere, an image of noodles pops up in his mind. Fuck, how is going to eat noodles now? He has no mouth. The familiar prick of tears forms in his eyes, and the guy’s face falters, now looking concerned.
‘E-Eh, wait, why are you crying? Are you feeling alright?’ He wipes away at the tears that roll down Asahi’s cheek, and the Japanese man only cries harder.
‘I don’t have a mouth… How am I going to eat… M-My ramyeon.’
In the moment, it doesn’t occur to him that without a mouth, he can’t speak. Maybe your voice comes from a speaker inside your body, and somehow, it’s connected to your brain. How would Asahi know? He basically scraped by biology class in high school. The guy begins with a look of confusion, then a chuckle, and two seconds later, he’s full hollering. He takes out his phone, a photo in its case. Is he… recording? How dare he! He’s having an existential crisis about his inability to inhale ramen and this dude is filming?
‘What’s your name?’
‘Huh?’ Asahi says between choked sobs.
‘What’s your name, baby?’
‘I think it’s… Yogurt.’
‘Oh my god, Jeongwoo will kill to see this,’ the guy says, doubling over with laughter. Who does he think he is? ‘Your name is Hamada Asahi, you’re 21 this year, and you’re in an idol group named Treasure.’
‘What’s Tuh-reh-shoore? Te-reh-sore? Where’s my boyfriend? Jaehyuk-ah?’ Asahi calls. He wants his boyfriend. Now.
‘Baby, I’m right here.’
Wait, this gorgeous asshole is his boyfriend? Has he struck gold?
‘You’re… my boyfriend? Since when?’ Asahi asks, unsure whether he is excited or terrified by the idea (read: he’s excited).
‘I confessed to you three years ago on the balcony and you said you liked me too. We kissed and have been dating ever since.’
They… kissed? With what?
‘B-But I don’t have a mouth, how could I kiss you…’
‘Baby, your mouth is right here,’ Jaehyuk says, guiding his hand to some random part of his face. Sure enough, there’s his teeth, his cheek, and… cotton? But it’s wet. Isn’t cotton supposed to be fluffy or something? He picks at it, pulling it out from between his teeth. It’s red. Huh.
‘Wait, Sahi-ya, don’t touch that.’
‘Hug,’ Asahi demands, making grabby hands at Jaehyuk after deciding that shoving the cotton back into his mouth is a good option. Why does his hands look so weird? Them and their five fingers or something.
Jaehyuk giggles, scooting closer to him before wrapping an arm around his torso and another on his head. He smells like oranges, and he’s really warm. Asahi decides that he likes this position, and anything lesser is a crime. He wraps his fingers around the elder’s arm, pulling him closer.
‘Am I cheating on my boyfriend if I hug you like this?’
Jaehyuk pretends to ponder on the thought, before answering, ‘I don’t think so, no.’
‘But Jaehyuk is my boyfriend, not you… Is he going to get mad at me?’ His grip on Jaehyuk loosens slightly.
‘Baby, I am Jaehyuk. I am your boyfriend.’
‘Then, can I kiss you?’
‘What?’
‘If you’re my boyfriend, can I kiss you? Because you’re really fucking gorgeous and I’m feeling very gay right now.’
This, Jaehyuk guy seems to flush at that comment, looking away. ‘B-baby, not right now. Your mouth is full of blood and cotton balls.’
Wait, blood? Did they take his tongue? Oh my god, that’s exactly why they’re here. The gurney, the medical charts on the walls, the light.
They took his tongue.
Suddenly, Asahi’s heart is racing. His eyes dart around the room, blooding rushing through his body. Right at that moment, a lady walks in, with a white coat and a surgical mask. He buries himself into Jaehyuk’s chest, terrified that the harmless, kind lady dentist is here to amputate more of his body. What’re they going to take from him this time? His ears?
‘J-Jaehyuk, s-she took my tongue!’ he squeals, pointing an accusatory finger at the dentist, who only cocks her head to the side before letting out a laugh that sounds maniacal to Asahi when it was nothing more than a giggle.
‘Ah, so you’re Jaehyuk,’ the dentist says, smiling. Jaehyuk smiles, bowing slightly as basic courtesy. How is this dude so calm right now?
‘Jaehyuk, I said she’s the one who took my tongue!’
‘Baby, no, your tongue is still in your mouth. It’s right there,’ he replies, pointing at his very much intact tongue. The dentist gives Jaehyuk a knowing smile, and the latter can only chuckle.
‘The anaesthesia effects will last for a few more hours. Just make sure he gets enough rest, and no solid foods for a week,’ she instructs, writing a couple things on her clipboard. ‘I’m prescribing him some painkillers as well, do come collect them at the counter out front.’
Jaehyuk thanks the dentist, and she leaves, closing the door behind her before Asahi lets out a sigh of relief. ‘God, I was gonna have a heart attack.’
‘Baby, I told you your tongue is still there.’
‘You wouldn’t know!’
‘It’s literally sticking out of your mouth right now.’
‘That’s my lip!’
Jaehyuk lets out a sigh. ‘Thank god Haruto isn’t here.’
🦷
‘Jaehyuk-ah, can we get McDonald’s?’ Asahi asks, knees to his chest while in their manager’s car. It smells of pine and… rubbing alcohol? Oh yeah, the dentists office. His head leans against the headrest unflatteringly, a band wrapped around his head.
‘Sahi-yah, you can’t chew food, remember?’ Jaehyuk replies, drawing circles over Asahi’s knuckles with his thumb. They’re at a red light, and their manager taps his fingers on the steering wheel, seemingly impatient. ‘Besides, I asked Mashi-hyung to make soup for you at the dorm.’
‘B-but my nuggets…’