Work Text:
🌌
"Do you believe in aliens?"
"Hyung, did sleep deprivation finally get you?"
"Nah, I'm completely fine. Took a nap during Sunghoon's turn."
"Who's in?"
"Jay. I'm after him."
Jungwon cranes his neck to see Jay better. But they were too far out into the field. All he could see from this distance was the flash of cameras and a few staff walking to and fro, helping with the concept shoot.
"You could've slept more. Touching up your makeup wouldn't take much time anyway."
"It's alright. Besides, you haven't answered my question. Do you believe in aliens, Jungwon?"
"Do I look like the type to?"
Sunoo tilts his head.
"I mean, you could be the type to. Don't look at me like that! It's true. You could really believe in aliens if you wanted to, Wonie." Sunoo smiles.
The sun has barely broken out of the horizon. The early morning light was still blue, still trying to shake off bits of last night.
"Because it's your thing, to believe in things firmly and with all your heart. I've seen it in you the very first time we met, Won. I still see it in you right at this very moment."
A gust of wind blew in their direction. It made the grasses dance, momentarily kissing their ankles.
It was cold but something warm is coursing through Jungwon. He has half a mind to think he's coming down with fever, but when his knees accidentally brush with Sunoo's and he jerks away from the electrocution, he thinks it's something else entirely.
For a moment, he almost believed in aliens if it meant making Sunoo happy.
🌌
"You said you want to go to the amusement park!" There was a pout in Sunoo's voice, and Jungwon couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips.
"Well, yes I did say that. But I didn't expect we'd be riding this."
"What's so bad about it?"
"Are you sure we're going to survive that?"
"Hmm." Sunoo considers for a moment. "Let's find out."
Jungwon's head snaps towards his hyung, who only grinned at him in response.
Sure, Jungwon did want to visit the amusement park with Sunoo. But what he expected were bumper car rides, and weird couple hats, and too-sweet fruit shakes. Maybe even some hand-holding inside the photo booth. Not this maverick of a rollercoaster.
The way it was winding gave him the impression of coiled wires and he wasn't exactly keen at finding out how it would feel like to be turned upside down 17 meters off the air.
"Please, Wonie?" Sunoo searches his eyes. His lips, reddened by the fruit shake they were drinking, were jutted out in plea. "We're already here. We should at least try."
Jungwon takes a second look at the ride again, breathes deep, and strengthens his resolve.
"Okay."
"It wasn't so bad." Jungwon starts once their handheld camera was turned off.
"I told you so."
"Will not ride it again though."
"Actually..." Sunoo laughs. "Me too."
They walked side by side through the throng of people lining up for the other rides. When they finally made it out in the clearing, Jungwon asks.
"Where do you want to go next?"
"I'm not sure actually. Maybe another ride?"
Before he could suggest a gravity defying one, Jungwon pipes up. "Or, maybe we can go get our photos taken?"
It was how the pair found themselves squeezed together in the small photo booth. While Sunoo was constantly complaining about how it was so hot and cramped, Jungwon was smiling like an idiot.
They were so close he could almost fool himself into thinking it was the way things had always been. They were always made to be as close as possible to each other, like two celestial bodies attracted to each other's gravity.
🌌
He faintly recalls a lesson from one of his physics classes, on the rare occasion he was able to attend.
Something about massive objects causing a distortion in the space-time continuum. But his brain was short-circuiting, and for the life of him, he couldn't recall what the concept was exactly about.
"Wonie, are you even listening?" Sunoo waves his hand over his face.
Maybe it had something to do with Sunoo.
Everything has something to do with Sunoo if Jungwon tries enough.
"I am." Jungwon responds. "What was it again?"
Sunoo rolls his eyes in annoyance. He walks away, mumbling about how younger people these days rarely listen to their hyungs.
It made Riki laugh. Their maknae was busy building Legos with Jake on the floor.
"Hyung, wait." Jungwon walks past the two towards Sunoo. "I'm sorry, I was thinking of dinner. I missed what you said last, something about clothes?"
Sunoo turns around. Despite the sour expression on his face, he stops half-way through the door of their room. "We just had lunch and you're already thinking of dinner?"
Jungwon only offers a sheepish smile.
"I was asking you what you think of my outfit."
"It's good."
"Is that half-assed?"
"No!"
"Hm, really?"
"Really." Jungwon stops and considers. The hoodie and sweatpants combo was a bit big on Sunoo. But it made him look like a teddy bear, a really warm and huggable teddy bear.
Jungwon remembers having the same pair of hoodie and sweatpants. It's almost identical to what Sunoo is wearing.
He smiles to himself when a thought crosses his mind.
"Okay?" Sunoo looks at him weirdly. Perhaps curious why he was suddenly smiling to himself. "You brought out the dimpled smile, I'm believing you now."
Jungwon chuckles and reaches out to hold his hyung's hand.
He gently coaxed Sunoo's pointer finger. Jungwon then brings it to his face and dips it to the center of his dimples.
"Yeah, brought out the dimpled smile. It's the pinnacle of my honesty."
This made Sunoo laugh, and without even realizing it, Jungwon was echoing that laughter too.
It occurs to him suddenly. The physics concept he was thinking about.
Something about general relativity and how massive objects often cause a warp in the space-time continuum because their gravity is so strong it attracts all other bodies in their proximity.
There is something about Sunoo's happiness that brings him happiness too. His bright-eyed laughter, his quick and huge reactions, and the honesty of his heart through it all.
Sunoo is a massive object in the space-time continuum, and everyone else are just but celestial bodies attracted to his warmth.
Jungwon, he could be any of those celestial bodies. But he feels more like the space-time continuum itself. He bends around Sunoo, his chest making space for the shape of him, as if he can house such a massive star in the safety of his ribcage.
When Sunoo pulls him to their room, talking about another horror movie, Jungwon simply sighs.
Even physicists would understand.