Work Text:
Jihoon never liked being clingy or people clinging to him.
He knows it's strange. He's an idol who's known for his aegyo and he's an actor that has played in more romantic films than he can count.
But none of those mattered. They were all for work purposes. Jihoon can and will separate his idol and actor work from his personal life.
He thinks he's done well so far, until he met Choi Hyunwook.
At first it was subtle.
Hyunwook was shy and subdued when they first met. Perhaps a tad bit awkward around him, but it was nothing groundbreaking. New acquaintances tend to have that, and actors aren't immune to it.
The longer they filmed and got to know each other, however, the harder it is to not notice.
Choi Hyunwook is clingy. And it was not just a casual touch here or a side hug there. It was as if Hyunwook wanted Jihoon to always have his hands on him and vice versa.
When the filming of Weak Hero class 2 began, Hyunwook and Jihoon were both busy with their own work which made it hard to talk with one another. Fortunately or unfortunately for Jihoon, Hyunwook loved texting him. He bombards him with texts and gets sulky everytime Jihoon forgets to reply that he's not even sure which is worse: Hyunwook and his sulking habits, or Jihoon even finding it remotely cute.
Jihoon doesn't know what it is about the other, but every joke and teasing jab made him feel warmth spreading throughout his whole body even if it's just a short conversation about how they were both doing and if they are taking care of themselves.
It was light. It felt good for Jihoon, even when he won't admit that he missed the confident and casual touches of the other.
But then Netflix announced the Homecoming Guest Visit, and when Jihoon saw Hyunwook's name beside his, his heart admittedly stuttered.
Now that the event was tonight, Jihoon was nervous. It's been a while since he saw the younger, and he didn't know what to expect.
“Jihoon-ah!”
Speak of the devil.
Jihoon's smile dropped from his face just as his heart dipped when he turned and took in the other's appearance.
Hyunwook looked good. He looked so much better than good with his curled hair, clip on earrings, and leather jacket.
The last thing he saw was Hyunwook's bright grin before he was engulfed in a hug and the familiar scent that is just Hyunwook's alone permeating his nose.
“Hyunwookie, you're here,” Jihoon felt tears suddenly prickling his eyes as he returned the hug.
He didn't know why, but Jihoon gets into his roles so much sometimes, that he finds it quite difficult to identify where Jihoon ends and the character begins. And that was just what he felt with Yeon Sieun. Perhaps the character has rubbed so much into Jihoon that even Hyunwook who played as Ahn Suho felt so familiar with him to this extent. Comfortable.
Jihoon thinks it's as close to what the feeling of home really meant.
“Of course,” Hyunwook was the first to pull away to give him a grin. “I wouldn't miss out on seeing my favorite hyung in the world.”
Jihoon rolled his eyes then and slapped the other playfully. He was about to speak until his manager called him for a touch up, so he looked guiltily at Hyunwook while the other only smiled and encouraged him to go.
They didn't get to talk again until the event started. They were all stiff at first, which was only a natural response, given that there were countless eyes on them. But the host made them feel at home that, soon enough, they were joking and laughing. Soon, Hyunwook went back to touching Jihoon.
It was the hand reaching out to him, the glances, the lip bite, and everything that had to do with who Hyunwook was.
It was subtle. Casual. It meant everything to Jihoon.
The event with the Weak Hero class 1 casts ended too soon and Jihoon felt himself deflate. He still had fun with the casts from class 2; they were all such great and amazing actors he has worked with. But there was no denying, even to himself, that Hyunwook had left an impression on Jihoon.
He felt himself close to disassociating in the middle of the conversation when he heard it. An unmistakable voice that penetrated through the haze in his mind.
“Sieun-ah, I'm getting jealous,” Hyunwook's voice echoed through the place as Jihoon's eyes widened, peering through the curtained side as if he could see where the other was hiding. “You seem to be doing well.”
Jihoon, in fact, was not.
But what little of his voice left him when he saw Hyunwook's confident strides coming towards him. Not once did he look at anyone else but at Jihoon, and that made him feel lightheaded.
“I'm back,” Hyunwook patted Jihoon's shoulder while they both gave each other a smile.
“Welcome back, Hyunwookie.”
It was safe to say that Jihoon had a smile on his face the rest of the evening.
After the event, Jihoon was exhausted.
They had other things to film before he could go home, but he thinks he could only go on for so long due to Hyunwook's presence.
Hyunwook, who was always rooted at his side– knuckles touching Jihoon's own or a casual arm slung around him– made the whole thing more eventful for him. More charged. He wouldn't dare say it out loud, but when Hyunwook's there, Jihoon seems to always rely on the other for strength.
“Okay, the last event we'll do for the day,” One of the staff stood by with three Iphones at hand before handing it out to Jihoon, Minjae, and Hyunwook. “Is picture taking. Take photos of what you think the audience will go crazy for. Let your creative liberty shine.”
With that, they left and gave the cast the rest of the time to themselves.
When the cast members started partnering up, Hyunwook turned to him with a glint in his eyes.
“Oh no,” Jihoon wanted to show his exasperation over the younger's mischief, but it only came out more fond as he couldn't help but smile. “What is it this time, Hyunwookie?”
“Do you trust me?”
Yes.
“Depends. How bad is it?”
The question only made Hyunwook's smile turn to a full on grin as he took Jihoon's hand and dragged him in front of the mirror.
Jihoon was going to ask what the plan was, when Hyunwook bent at eye level, looked at him in the mirror, and closed the distance between them, cheek to cheek.
To say that Jihoon was surprised was an understatement. He was stunned into silence as they just stared at one another through the mirror.
“This okay?” Hyunwook's voice was so small and laced with doubt, Jihoon thought he must’ve misheard it.
There was a time where Hyunwook tried kissing him and their current position reminded him of just that. Jihoon wondered at times whether he shouldn't evade the next time Hyunwook tried to do it, just to see what the other would do next.
But Jihoon must have let the silence drag on too long as he felt the other pull away. Without thinking, he dragged Hyunwook's cheek back to his own.
“I don't mind it,” Jihoon's voice sounded too unsteady in his ears, so he cleared it before speaking once again. “Take a photo, Hyunwookie.”
The smile that graced Hyunwook's lips made Jihoon feel dizzy. But when the other lifted the phone in his hand, Jihoon let the smile drop and gave him a side eye instead. Who was he if not a professional actor anyway?
After that came the group photos he took with the other cast members. Before he knew it, it was time for him to go home.
The other staff told him about an afterparty, to which he declined politely and mentioned waking up early for another shoot.
They looked at him in understanding then and waved goodbye. Jihoon was just starting to look for the boy with clip on earrings and leather jacket when he felt arms circling around his waist and a chin propping up on his shoulder.
Jihoon didn't have to turn to see who it was. The scent and the steady build on his back already gave it away.
“Can't you come just a bit to the party, hyung?” Hyunwook's voice bordered on sulking that it made Jihoon laugh.
“You know I can't, Hyunwookie, I'll have huge bags under my eyes if I stay any longer.”
Hyunwook only hummed as they stayed in the position for longer than what was supposed to be casual. Between friends.
Jihoon felt his heart bursting at the seams.
“I'll miss you,” Hyunwook's voice was softer; as warm as the blush spreading throughout Jihoon's neck all the way to his cheeks.
He patted the other's arms still on his waist and twisted his head to look at Hyunwook. If he moved an inch more, they would kiss. Jihoon tried not to dwell on it too much.
“Let's go on that walk you promised me then.”
Jihoon felt Hyunwook shift before he was turned to face the other by the hands at his waist.
“Okay,” Hyunwook's eyes held so much emotion that Jihoon fought hard to not look away with its intensity. He could still feel the heat radiating from Hyunwook’s hands snaked under his jacket and pressed on his thin shirt, making him tremble.
“Okay.”
When Jihoon went home and collapsed on his bed, he could still smell Hyunwook on him. This time, he thinks he doesn't mind it. He doesn't mind this time when the lines have gotten blurred, as his work life spills into his personal feelings.
Jihoon doesn't mind the clinginess of it all if it comes from Choi Hyunwook.