Work Text:
Ever since you started dating, Hyunjin and you have had a tradition of trying to surprise each other with little things, whether it be a small gift, food or drink delivery, or even an unexpected visit.
It’s fun and planning out what you’re going to do next helps to distract you whenever Hyunjin is overseas for schedules or touring. Your favourite part is that even after a couple years, Hyunjin never seemed to be able to anticipate what you were going to do next. On the other hand, Hyunjin was bad at lying and you had gotten fairly good at reading his tells, although you didn’t have to fake your delight whenever you received something.
Sometimes, things don’t quite work out, like when you had found out that Hyunjin had an evening off and decided to drop by the dorms on your way home from work. You had knocked on the door, arms laden with takeout, just to find out from a bewildered Changbin that Hyunjin had gone over to your place and was attempting to cook you dinner.
Today, you had spotted a florist that had recently opened near your workplace and slowed your pace to admire all the flowers being displayed. You’re drawn to the carefully made arrangements and selection of potted plants, but it’s one particular bouquet that catches your eye and makes you stop in your tracks. You know instantly that you want to buy it.
It’s small and simple, but features the birth month flowers for both you and Hyunjin. The combination is unusual, but you think they complement each other perfectly.
You’ve always liked flowers, but it’s Hyunjin’s fascination with them that led you to have more of an interest in the different meanings that they could hold.
You text Chan, who confirms that he’s available to let you into the dorms and that Hyunjin is in his room.
When you make it to the door and Chan greets you, his eyebrows lift at the flowers you’re holding.
“Are these for me? Aw, Y/n, you didn’t have to,” he teases, reaching out to grab them before redirecting to pull the door closed. He laughs when you pretend to ignore him and remove your shoes. “Hyunjinnie is still in his room, I’m sure he’ll be happy to see you.”
You knock on Hyunjin’s door, suddenly feeling nervous for some reason.
“Just a minute, hyung,” he calls out, sounding distracted.
You frown, but he clearly doesn’t know that it’s you, so you knock again.
“Hyunjin?”
“Y/n!?” he says, sounding panicked. “UH DON’T COME IN! I’M BUSY.”
“Jinnie, what’s going on?” you ask, starting to get concerned.
“Nothing is happening!! I just- I don’t want to see you right now!” he says frantically.
You step away from the door, feeling a bit hurt. Although he usually likes it, maybe you shouldn’t have tried to surprise him today. Right when you’re about to walk away, you hear a slap, as if Hyunjin is face palming, and then a loud clatter.
“I didn’t mean it like that, Y/n! I want to see you, of course I do! But not right now! Please go away for a little while!!” There’s rustling in the background and the sound of the balcony door, sliding open and closed a couple times.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes! Just- give me another minute please!”
“Hey,” Hyunjin says. He’s leaning against the wall and his voice is deceptively calm, at odds with his dishevelled appearance.
You can’t help but giggle at the splotches of paint that are all over his skin although it’s obvious that he just changed into clean clothes. You had suspected that he might be painting when you heard the balcony door open, Hyunjin only uses that area to store his paintings, but this confirms it.
“What? Why are you laughing?” he asks petulantly, dropping the cool act.
“I’m not!” you deny, even as you continue to laugh.
“You are! Tell me what’s so funny,” he insists.
“It’s nothing,” you say. “You’re just so cute.”
“Oh,” Hyunjin says. He looks away, but is clearly pleased based on the way that he presses his lips together to prevent himself from smiling.
“Come here.” You beckon him closer and he gladly steps into your space. “You’re very cute and did you know that you have something here-”
You reach out and use your thumb to touch a dot of purple that sits high on his cheekbone.
“-and here-”
You poke a smear of green that runs across his nose.
“-and here.”
You run your hand through his hair, fingers catching slightly on a few of the strands that have dried together in a blue streak.
“You know, you don’t need an excuse to touch me,” Hyunjin says, eyes crinkling into a smile as he pulls you even closer and wraps his arms around your body.
“Hyunjin…”
“What?”
“You know you actually do have paint everywhere, right? It wasn’t an excuse.”
Hyunjin’s smile dissolves and is replaced with a look of horror when he looks down and sees evidence of his earlier activities.
“It’s not paint!”
“It’s not? Then what is it?” you tease.
“It’s- it’s- I got tattoos!”
“You, a professional idol, got tattoos on your face,” you say, amused.
“Yes,” he nods his head vigorously.
“Of… paint smudges?”
“Uh yeahhh,” he says slowly.
“Why?” You can see that Hyunjin’s brain is working at maximum capacity, trying to think of a way to explain. It’s funny, but you don’t want him to suffer for too long. “It’s okay, you can tell me that you’re painting. I won’t ask you what it is or who it’s for,” you say and you watch as Hyunjin slumps in relief.
“So what brings you here?” he asks.
“Hmm, do I need a reason? Is it not enough that I want to see you?” you respond playfully.
“Well when you put it that way…"
“But I do have a reason, I got you something!" You pull out the bouquet from where you’ve placed it behind the couch.
“Oh,” he says in wonder, voice soft. He reaches out to brush the petals of the flowers. “It’s us.”
“There’s a new florist close to work,” you explain, passing over the bouquet. “I couldn’t not buy it.”
“Thank you, Y/n. I love it!” He links your fingers together so that he can tug you in the direction of the kitchen. “We need to put it in some water, I think that I have a vase somewhere.”
“They’re pretty, right?” you ask as Hyunjin opens and closes various cupboards.
“They are, but not as pretty as you!”
“Hyunjin!” you gasp. “That was so cheesy!”
“What?” Hyunjin plucks one of the loose petals from the bouquet’s wrapping and drops it on top of your head. “These are beautiful, but you’ll always be my favourite flower.”
—
Almost a week later, you wake up to a text from Hyunjin.
[3:20 am - received]
hiii
my petal~
can you come over later?
i want to see youuuuu
[7:03 am - sent]
why were you awake so late if you didn’t have a schedule ㅠㅠㅠㅠ
but yes i’m free this evening!
i want to see you toooo
[9:22 am - received]
i couldn’t sleep
was thinking of you
[9:23 am - sent]
stoppp
you’re going to make me cry at work ㅠㅠㅠ
[9:23 am - received]
sorry, but it’s true~~
anyway, i won’t bother you while you work
can’t wait to see you <3
Work seems to drag along and you’re relieved when you’re finally allowed to leave the office. When you get to the dorms, Hyunjin is already waiting for you, leaning with the top of his head peeking out of the doorway.
“You’re here!” he says, pulling you out of the hallway. Once inside, he helps strip you of your coat and shoes, handing you the pair of slippers that you usually use.
“What’s the rush?”
“I want to show you something.”
“Oh?” You glance over Hyunjin’s shoulder but can’t see anything out of the ordinary in the living room. “Where is it?”
“It’s in my room, but it’s a surprise. You have to close your eyes.” You follow his instructions, jumping slightly when Hyunjin’s hands come over your face. When he speaks again, he’s close enough that his lips brush your ear. “Just in case, I don’t want you to look.”
As the two of you are shuffling towards his room, you hear the shutter sound of someone taking a picture.
“Hannie,” Hyunjin complains. “Why are you taking pictures of us?”
“You guys are so cute together! Don’t worry, I’ll send it to you later,” Jisung says.
Hyunjin groans and continues leading you into his room, but you’re sure that if you had been able to see him, he’d be fighting back a smile.
When you reach his room, he leaves you standing for a second, before coming back to hold your hand.
“Okay, you can open your eyes now,” he says, sounding nervous.
You look up and gasp.
He’s painted a scene that’s from one of your favourite dramas where the characters are embracing in the snow. Although the facial features of the individuals are in Hyunjin’s distinctly abstract art style, with some modifications to their heights and hair styles.
Instead of snowflakes, flower petals swirl around the couple, ones that match the bouquet you had gifted him a few days ago. In addition, peonies border the painting. They’re one of your favourite flowers, both for their beauty and the way that they represent hope and a future of happiness and good fortune.
Speechless, you reach out and touch the painting, almost startled when your fingers brush against the rough canvas instead of silky smooth petals.
“It’s us,” you say, echoing Hyunjin’s reaction to your recent gift to him.
“You’re crying,” he says, concerned. “Is it too much?”
“Hyunjin-” you say, barely able to see him through the tears that blur your vision. You reach out and he meets you halfway. “Baby, it’s perfect. I love it and I love you.”
“I’m glad,” he murmurs, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of your head. “I love you too, my petal.”