Work Text:
2:56 am
Theo was currently laying on his bed, the spotlessness of his hotel room making him feel a weird mix of familiarity - from their past touring - and uneasiness, from knowing he was not in his home, where he would be trying to sleep while the babies played some games together instead of getting their much-needed rest. He turned his head to the right, where the bed on the two-person room would usually lay, occupied most likely by Jiung or by any other member who decided to take it over for the night. But there was nothing but a wall, reminding him he was alone.
It was not as dramatic as he made it sound, Theo simply had a schedule different from the other members for the next couple of days, everyone else being too busy to keep him company, “having to keep Theo company” not being good enough of an excuse to be in Los Angeles with him. The logicality of his situation, though, did not stop Taeyang from constantly whining to the staff about “how much it sucked being alone” and “how boring this was.” The poor staff couldn’t do anything but assure him it would not be for much longer, to which the blonde would only reply with more complaints, not really directed at them, just the situation before him.
His head was buzzing with the foreign quietness of it all, the room only being filled by his own breath and the heavy rain pouring outside. A sentimental part of him remarking that the weather matched how he felt on the inside. Theo wanted to roll his eyes at his own thoughts. It’s not like Jiung himself was much of a talker, neither of them were, which is probably why they always shared hotel rooms. There was no need for meaningless chit chat when it was Jiung… but he wouldn’t mind some meaningless chit chat right now. Probably coming from Keeho going on about his day or any new comeback from a girl group Theo hasn’t even heard of; or Jongseob, chatting about something new he discovered about the way americans do things, or all the new rap ideas he has for the upcoming songs; or even Intak.
It’s not like he missed them, Theo wouldn’t say. He knows how to spend time without his band members, he’s not that clingy. It was definitely the solo schedule getting to him. Or the rain. Or the late hours. Or the lack of sleep. Why couldn’t he sleep, again?
As if it was some kind of divine intervention – or the universe making fun of him for his sentimental mind – his phone started ringing, interrupting his thoughts completely. He rushed to get it, allowing himself to be at least a little embarrassing, considering he was completely alone in the room. He first checked the name “Hwang Puppy ❤︎” before checking the hour – he was not in the right state of mind to calculate the time zone difference, but he did know it definitely wasn’t 3:23 am in Seoul. Before he could even attempt to pretend he was good enough at math to do this, he answered Intak’s call, putting his phone on his right ear and turning to look at the droplet-covered hotel window.
No amount of quiet and soft scenery could make Intak’s “HYUNG HYUNG HYUNG HELLOOO” introduction to the call less loud, making Theo pull the phone apart from his ear with a laugh, as the brunet kept making nonsensical sounds, definitely too excited to talk to him. Theo’s heart fluttering a little at that.
“Goodnight to you too” Theo said back, when his phone stopped transmitting Intak’s high energy, putting the speaker to his ear again. “What time is it there?”
“Around 8 pm, I think” the brunet replied, definitely distracted by something “why – did I wake you up?”
“Nah” Theo curled up a little, eyes still transfixed to the rain pouring outside, not seeming to want to slow down or stop anytime soon “what’s with the energy?”
Intak took a few seconds to reply, the sound of different objects being knocked over being heard in the background “what do you mean?”
“Your energy” Theo said with a little laugh, as Intak cursed a little under his breath, the chaos on his side of the call being a huge contrast to Theo’s hushed setting “it’s all over the place – what are you breaking over there?”
“Nothing!” the brunet responded, a little defensive “I’m just – damn it – putting away stuff is definitely harder with one hand, you know?”
“I’m impressed you’re even tidying up at all” Theos eyes trailed to the drop of water he was rooting for to win on the window race “who are you?”
“Oh you funnyyyy” Intak mocked him in English, making the blonde laugh once more “it’s just the last thing I need to do today, ok? Just a sec.”
“You could have called after you were done with your tasks.”
“What’s the fun in that?” a heavier object could be heard once again falling to the ground “Shit – give me a moment.”
Theo chuckled as he could still hear Intak’s various complaints while he tried to clean what the blonde could only imagine to be the messiest room he’s ever seen. “So stupid” he added fondly, knowing the brunet was not hearing him at all. In the window, his water droplet lost the race by just a couple of seconds. Maybe next time.
He checked the time. 3:32 am. A sigh.
“Ok!” Intak exclaimed in English again, letting out a huff as, Theo assumed, he sat on his bed and brought his attention back to the call. “All done! Now my attention is all on you baby.”
“Shut up” Theo tried not to laugh, changing his phone to his left ear so his arm could lay on the bed. He let a beat of silence pass, these couple of days making his conversation skills get completely fumbled, not used to talking so much. “What were you guys up to… today?”
“Hmm… why, do you miss us?” the brunet teased.
“Definitely not” Taeyang hugged his knees with his free arm. Focus, focus, tease him back, don’t be weird. “Just trying to make conversation… You seem desperate for attention anyway.”
“Am not!” Intak scoffed.
“Sure thing” the blond smiled. A flash of light cracked at the sky, the sound of thunder following not much later. This was good. “So?”
“Well if you insist” the younger joked, playing hard to get as if he wasn’t the one that called him. “We’ve been at dance and vocal practice most of the day, just finished about an hour ago.”
“Fun times” Theo quipped.
“I know right?” Intak matched his energy right back. “Idol life, so exciting!”
“Totally” the blonde snickered, another beat of silence passing as he chose another droplet to focus on. Surely this one will be the one. “Nothing more? We’ve been apart for 3 days, you can’t be that boring.”
“Hey!” the brunet soft-yelled “not all of us can be doing a solo schedule in LA, Mr. Popular!”
Theo’s breath stopped for a second, his water race long forgotten as Intak’s words accidentally hit exactly where they shouldn’t. Silence falling heavy once again as this time Theo did not attempt to pick the conversation back up. He didn’t know how, either.
“Um…” Intak continued awkwardly, hesitantly, softly. “Sorry.”
“Don’t” Theo’s eyes threatened to water, his voice only a whisper. This was not what he wanted at all. He needed things to feel normal. Like this stupid schedule was over and he was there, sitting on his bed right next to him, talking about nothing after a long busy day. He was making this conversation so difficult and he didn’t know how to not be weird. “Please.” God, he was so embarrassing.
Intak took a long inhale, definitely sensing the gloomy mood coming from the oldest’s side of the screen. Theo squeezed his eyes, trying to regulate his breath. God this was weird. “Well.. actually – we went to eat some jjajangmyeon after the practice.”
Theo sighed – trying to not make it audible – glad that Intak was trying to keep the conversation going. “All of you?” his tone was still quiet, afraid that speaking louder might make his voice crack.
“Yeah” the brunet said happily “I mean – Jiung decided to pass, something about having to write some lyrics, you know how he’s been lately.” Theo hummed as a response. “We went to that new place; you know the one that was near that pancake place? It finally opened.”
“Was it good?” Theo’s voice came out a little raspy, quickly clearing his throat. Be normal, please, you cannot possibly be this clingy, Taeyang. His thoughts were not helpful, either.
“No” Intak said, sounding way too happy for a negative response, the contrast of the two making Theo laugh unexpectedly “it really wasn’t! I promise – dude – you did not miss on anything by not eating here, it was the worst jjajangmyeon ever.”
Theo was set into a fit of giggles as Intak went on and on about how dreadful that restaurant he’s never seen himself was, pick-pointing anything he could remember about it like he might as well be talking about an actual dumpster. In the middle of his nonsensical rant, Theo did realize he was only doing it because it was making Taeyang laugh. His heart skipped a beat, holding his breath for a second as to not lose his composure while the brunet was in the other line literally talking crap about a rookie restaurant. He turned his body to the ceiling, figuring the tears threatening to leave his eyes would have a harder time coming out if he did so. Maybe he was meant to be the droplet that won the race.
“Anyway – Soul finished that bee game while we were at the restaurant so now he has to find another one, have you ever heard of anyone who finished a mobile game? I swear that kid is not from this world, hyung”
“He’s an alien” Theo added weakly. Please don’t cry.
“He really is” Theo could hear Intak’s smile on his voice. God he was so glad. A sob scaped his mouth without him allowing it to, feeling betrayed by his own body. “…Tae?”
Theo hurried to cover his eyes with the back of his palm, having a hard time keeping it together. Part of him wanted to hang up on Intak immediately, a stronger side of him advising him against it, as being alone with his own thoughts sounded way more troubling. “Yeah…?”
“Are you ok?” Intak’s voice sounded even quieter than his. The brunet had a hard time speaking of serious topics, usually one to make jokes to lift the mood until the sadness was completely forgotten at the moment. The mere act of trying to have this conversation made a couple more tears escape his eyes.
Maybe it was that effort what helped Theo mutter the next words, deciding ripping the band-aid would make everything hurt less. With a hushed tone as if he didn’t want even Intak to hear, irrationally afraid of his reaction, Theo whispered “I miss you.”
Intak sighed, giving a weak laugh before inhaling again, these kinds of conversations clearly being difficult for him. He took another breath before his response came out, matching Theo’s quiet tone “I miss you, too.”
Theo let out a watery laugh - feeling so ashamed to be crying - he looked at the clock in his night stand, 4:03 am. God. “Isn’t that just so-“ Theo vaguely signed at nothing in particular, trying to think of the words to say “…pathetic?”
“How so?” Intak’s voice was so soft and careful it made Theo want to hug him through the phone, wanting to take the burden of dealing with his feelings away from the brunet.
“I just-“ the blond whipped his eyes, mentally cursing himself for letting out another sob “I’m acting like we haven’t seen each other in ages” he turned his head towards the window again when another flash of light crossed the sky “its so needy of me.”
“Yeaaah, you are pretty clingy” the younger joked, trying to release some tension.
Theo let out a mix of a laugh and a sob, tears rolling onto his phone as he placed one of his palm on his eyes, trying to contain some of them. “Stoooop” his tone definitely came out whinier than intended, deciding the conversation was already mortifying enough to try and stop himself “I’m being serious.” Another sob.
“I know you are” Intak’s unbearably soft and gentle tone was back, making his heart ache inside of his chest “I guess I’m just gonna have to hug you extra hard when you come back.”
The blond gave a weak nose exhale as a laugh, curling into himself once more as he grabbed his chest, the longing making him ache all over. “I wouldn’t complain.” He might as well be dying.
“That’s great, because they’re gonna have to tear me away from you when you come back” they laughed together this time, the movement on his part sounding like he also laid in bed. In Theo’s perfect world, they would be laying right next to each other right now, cuddled up in a bed that was definitely not meant to be used by two people at a time. In his perfect world, he would not be away from Intak at all. Maybe he was the one who had to be pulled away from Intak instead.
In his train of thought, he didn’t realize he had been silent for a while, his crying slowing down a little, mirroring the rain outside, which was now barely a sprinkle. Despite neither of them saying a single thing, the simple fact that Intak was on the other side, ready to listen to whatever he had to say healed his heart, if only the tiniest bit. “Will you stay with me?” he murmured, after accumulating some courage.
“In the call?” Theo hummed “all the time you need.”
The blond smiled to himself. “You get so sweet when people are gloomy around you.”
“Well, yeah” Intak made a sound like he was stretching a little “I don’t want you to be sad.”
“Because you love me” Theo added matter-of-factly.
“I do” Intak hummed back, not a single trace of his voice signalizing he could be joking. Theo did not need to see his reflection on any surface to know why his face burned right now. He did not dare respond, picking the last droplet to win the race, now that the competition was over. “What time is it?” Intak breathed, like there was some barrier he was afraid of breaking by speaking too loud.
Theo glanced at the clock of his phone in what he hoped was the last time for today, putting the call on speaker instead and laying the phone on his pillow. “It’s 4:38 am.”
“We should go to bed” and if the way he made it sound like they were right next to each other made Theo’s eyes water once more, that was no one’s business but his own.
“Will you stay?” The sentimentalism of it all made him ask again.
“Forever.”
Theo chuckled softly “I thought I was the sappy one.”
“Hmm I guess it’s contagious” Intak’s growingly sleepy voice made Theo’s own eyes get heavy for the first time all night, glad that Intak was the cause of him finally getting some rest after so many sleepless nights. “You just make me go all lovey-dovey.”
Theo paused for a second, sleep quickly catching up to him “I love you, too.”
Intak glowed at that, his giggle infecting Theo as well, whose face felt unbearably warm. “I knew it.”
The conversation quickly died down after that last comment, with promises of endless cuddles and love confessions from an ocean away, Theo finally got some rest for the next days until he could come back home.
And if the staff really did have to separate Intak and Theo when he came back so they could get into the car, that was a story for them to tell.