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Euijoo likes Nicholas the best when he’s asleep.
He feels lucky to be an early riser. It is his duty as the leader to make sure the rest of the team wakes up and is ready by the scheduled time for their departures which gives him an advantage, considering Nicholas has a hard time waking up. Sometimes when there’s no one else around, or so he thinks, he will sneak into Nicholas’ bed and lay beside him. Seeing his chest slowly rise and fall brings him comfort, so relaxed and so soft… His hair is a mess and he’s curled up into a ball just like a cat.
They often tease Nicholas and tell him he’s too much like a cat, something personally coined by EJ.
Nicholas is stubborn and looks intimidating. He won’t easily open up to others and this makes him feel particularly special, because he was able to push those walls down and see everything of him just like he has shown everything about himself to him as well.
The peaceful dates to restaurants where they’ll sit down and have beer, talk about everything and nothing at all over a bowl of gyudon. He gets all of those to himself.
They’re best friends, it’s natural.
But lately, Euijoo is scared. He’s scared of his own happiness. What if it’s too much and the universe will agree that it is time that changed? What if the universe decides Nicholas has to change? What he thinks about him.
About them.
What if destiny is cruel enough to separate them in the end? He doesn’t want that. Nicholas stirs in his sleep and Euijoo knows that is his cue to get out of the bed, a small smile adorns his lips regardless. “Nicho, we’re leaving soon.” And he receives nothing more than a soft grunt which announces he’s close to fully opening his eyes. The tallest's fingers linger on the faintly perfumed pillow case, maybe from the cologne he wore last night to dinner when they went out. He traces a hesitant line towards his lips, but stops as soon as he feels his warm breath.
As much as my heart flutters, I'm worried
The destiny is jealous of us
Just like you I'm so scared
When you see me, when you touch me
They're filming for their joint show dressed as butlers today. It's a little silly to him but in Japan butlers have become very popular, or so he's been told. He watches Nicholas from the corner of his eye as their makeup is being applied and Nicholas does not need to open his eyes to know Euijoo looks at him, offering his hand. "You're nervous aren't you?"
Yes. "No... Well... Maybe. I usually mess up while filming because I stumble a lot with my Japanese." Euijoo reaches for his hand, taking it into his own. His hands are clammy and sweaty but Nicholas doesn't seem to mind, one of the things he likes the most about him. He doesn't recoil, he doesn't shy away from his touch even if it's a little... unhygienic.
"You'll be fine, you literally practice your Japanese every day. And if you stumble, I'll be there to catch you. You know I will."
Euijoo wants to stop his heart from further fluttering. All of those promises they keep making each other. Future plans, trips, even tomorrow's dinner... They all feel just as exciting. "Do you want to order room service at the hotel?"
"Yes, I don't want to go out tonight."
"What do you want?"
"Gyudon?"
"Again?"
"Is that a complaint?"
Euijoo looks down with a shy smile. "Of course not. I'm not sure of how much more can you take though."
"As much as you need. I'll get my payback one day and make you eat unagidon too."
This finally drags a soft chuckle from EJ, and Nicholas seems to have been hoping for that judging by the way he squeezes his hand in response.
After wrapping up the first part of the show, they both go back to the hotel where they take a bath and change back into their pajamas.
It's early but they don't have anywhere to be.
There's two big beds, but they have chosen to use one instead. It's a waste when one of the beds is big enough for both of them, additionally, the bed serves another purpose all made up which is to hold the large array of clothes Nicholas has brought with him for whenever they go out. There's shirts, pants and the accessories are scattered across the navy blue covers looking like little silver constellations.
His long arm reaches for a random piece of jewelry.
A ring.
He entertains the idea of trying it on, switching it from finger to finger. The cold metal slowly warms up to his own touch and for some reason it seems to fit best on his ring finger which makes him feel strangely giddy.
"It looks good on you?"
"You think?" Euijoo's eyes search for Nicholas, following the direction of his deep voice. "I should wear gold though... Silver doesn't seem to look as good with my features."
"I'll find you a gold one."
The youngest just laughs and shakes his head, reaching to place the ring back onto the bed just to be intercepted by Nicholas. He just smiles down at him and slides the ring onto his own finger. "Thanks for warming it up."
Euijoo feels shy again, unsure of how to respond.
Nicholas lets himself fall onto the bed next to him, the bounce prompting Euijoo to turn his head in his direction and move closer to him.
They can spend hours just looking at each other in silence. There's a certain look in Nicho's eyes that's saved just for Euijoo and he likes to bask in it whenever possible, and maybe it was the filming or the frequent schedules they've had to fulfill lately but the eldest looks sleepy already.
"Are you tired?" Euijoo mumbles, already making his way under the covers of the bed.
"A little." Nicholas hums. "Are you?"
Euijoo half smiles, shaking his head.
"Hmm... I should do something then to wake myself up."
"But if you're tired just sleep, I'll fall asleep sooner or later anyway."
"I want to stay up a little longer with you."
Euijoo reaches out to play with the necklace around Nicholas' neck idly, still looking into his eyes. "See? This is relaxing."
Nicholas smiles at that, reaching to hold his hand.
To stop him from playing with the silver chain, the youngest thinks.
But there's something about his hold. It's gentle, and he doesn't seem to want to let go. Perhaps it's his way to start a little tug-of-war with him, that's his best guess at least. Nicholas finds a very smooth way to transition this hold though and manages to slide his fingers between Euijoo's delicately, almost as if he's testing something.
He knows Nicholas the best. This is not a coincidence anymore.
They just keep staring into each others' eyes, their fingers laced with an unspoken confession.
The universe has moved for us
Without missing a single thing
Our happiness was meant to be
Cuz you love me, and I love you
They don't say anything else that night, but Euijoo braves his fear and slowly finds his way into the eldest's arms after months of only dreaming about doing so. Nicholas allows for this invasion of his space, probably because he's his Juju. This bravery is lasting, encouraging him to slowly approach Nicholas' face just enough so he's inches away from his lips, until he feels his warm breath. He runs his tongue along his bottom lip hesitantly, not expecting to have come this far but is soon met with Nicholas' lips gently pressing onto his own.
His kiss tastes unexpectedly sweet.
Nicho falls asleep not too long after that, protectively curled up around him. This time it was not just Nicholas who looked so much like a cat, but Euijoo as well.
He's become a cat too.
You're my penicillium, saving me, saving me
My angel, my world
I'm your Calico cat, here to see you
Love me now, touch me now
Just let me love you (let me love, let me love you)
Just let me love you (let me love, let me love you)
Since the creation of the universe
Everything was destined
Just let me love you (let me love, let me love you)
Just let me love you (let me love, let me love you)