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Jaekyung always been about discipline. Without discipline there’s wouldn’t be a success. He once was a little scrawny kid that barely could win a bronze medal. But he didn’t gave up even in the toughest situations and kept fighting.
He kept his discipline.
That’s was one of the reasons why he was current reigning undefeated MMA Champion. Thats why he was so successful.
But recently, things were changing. Morning runs were pushed to a later start or skipped. Evening training sessions were little bit shorter. Second rest day was added on into the schedule.
Cause Jaekyung fell in love. And realized that there was this other form of success. One where he wakes up in a bed together with his boyfriend and gets to kiss the back of his neck first thing in the morning.
This was his greatest success.
First rays of a sunrise were creeping into their bedroom, painting room with the soft morning glow.
Jaekyung woke up maybe 10 minutes ago but he was not in rush to get up and start his day.
Not when he had Kim Dan in his arms like this.
His boyfriend was still asleep, one hand gently holding onto Jaekying, one of his leg was hiked up to fighter’s hips and his head was resting on Jaekyung shoulder.
Everything in this world could wait. As long as Jaekyung gets to hold Dan like this.
Kim Dan scrunched his nose and slightly opened his eyes:
- Morning… - he whispered, voice still so full of sleep but also so tender.
- Did I wake you up? Sorry. - Jaekyung whispered back. Dan looked up to face him, eyes meeting those soft, dark ones that looked nothing like the Jaekyung the world knew in the ring.
Here, in the quiet morning light, he wasn’t a beast or a fighter. He was just a man in love.
Soft smile bloomed on therapists face.
- Can’t believe you’re still In bed and not out on the run.
Jaekyung slightly shook his head from side to side.
- Wasn’t done holding you yet.
Jaekyung brushed hair from Dan’s forehead and leaned in to kiss him — slow and deep, with the kind of affection that made Dan’s chest ache in the best way. All this tenderness was just for him.
When Jaekyung broke off the kiss, Dan sighed:
- We really need to get up, or gonna be late, Jae. -
he rolled over to a side, trying to get up.
Only to be stopped by the pair of strong arms, sneaking their way around Dan waits and pulling him back to the rest of Jaekyung.
- Just few more minutes, Hyung…. - Jaekyung wasn’t above playing dirty. He knew his opponent weak points. Calling Kim Dan “Hyung” always worked like a charm. He would always get flustered and pliable in Jaekyng arms, no matter how many times fighter would use this word.
Jaekyung leaned and pressed a kiss to the back of Dan neck. Skin here was warm and soft, smelled strongly of the soap that they shared and was one of the favorite things for Jaekyung to kiss and leave marks.
Fighter kissed it. Slowly. Lazily.
Again.
And again. And again.
Small, reverent presses of his lips to the back of Dan's neck - between the vertebrae, along the curve where shoulder met spine, and right behind his ear where Dan twitched and gave a sleepy grunt of protest.
- Stop,- Dan mumbled into the pillow, voice muffled. - That tickles.
- No… - Jaekyung said against his skin. - I can’t…
He sucked gently at a spot just under Dan's ear until Dan squirmed and smacked him with one of the pillows without even turning over.
- You're ridiculous, - Dan groaned, face still buried in the sheets. - You’re being clingy.
Jaekyung hummed.
- I’m okay with that.
- You're leaving hickeys on my neck like a high schooler. - Dan rolled his eyes but you could hear the slight giggle he was trying to hide. Secretly he loved it but he was trying his best to not give in to Jaekyung temptations.
- They're tiny. They're not even visible unless someone's practically breathing down your neck. - Jaekyung paused. - And if they are, they will know that you’re happily taken by your boyfriend, right Hyung?
Dan finally lifted his head, hair sticking up in five directions, one eye squinting at Jaekyung.
- You used to be up by 6 a.m. Now you're glued to me like you're trying to become part of my neck and spine.
Jaekyung grinned and pushed the blanket down just enough to kiss the back of Dan's shoulder:
- I wouldn’t mind that. I like your neck and spine. It's so sexy. - Emperor slowly let his fingers caress Kim Dan back.
- You used to do go on the runs before breakfast.
- I used to be lonely before breakfast, and now I have you. And you are my priority. - Jaekyung said, more serious than he meant to.
Dan blinked, lips parting slightly. Now, knowing Jaekyung past, all the heartbreak that he experienced, all the time he was left and abandoned as a kid…. The second his walls wend down and he was able to love and trust again - it’s all made sense.
All that love and tenderness that he kept locked away for so many years - he has finally felt safe to give it to someone, to give it to Dan.
Overcoming his emotional blocks, unleashing the feelings. Jaekyung loved the same way he fought. With all his will and power, not holding back for a slightest.
Dan had no idea what he did in his life to deserve this intense, devoted kind of love, but after being scared of loneliness for his whole life he was so grateful for Jaekyung.
But Jaekyung didn't let the moment get too heavy. He nuzzled in again, brushing his mouth along the ridge of Dan's shoulder blade, voice softer now.
- I've done enough running. I'd rather start my mornings here - with you.
Dan let out a short laugh and smiled, locking his eyes with Jaekyung.
- What happened to the ruthless Emperor?
- He fell in love. - Jaekyung shrugged his shoulders, saying something so intimate so easily.
Kim Dan blushed, still not used to how freely Jaekyung admitted his feelings now, even after all this time.
He gave a sound somewhere between a groan and a laugh and shoved at Jaekyung's chest, but it was useless - fighter was far too heavy and far too determined to stay right where he was.
So Dan gave in. Like he always did.
And Jaekyung took it as permission to return to kissing every inch of skin he could reach, dragging his fingers gently down Dan's back, leaving lazy little love bites along his shoulder
blade.
The soft bites. The kind that say “I love you” in a language made of touch and patience and time.
Dan gasped for air, his face and shoulders covered in blush, showing how flustered he is and how much he loved the attention.
- …..You're really not gonna train this morning?
- Nope. - Jaekyung leaned and left him a soft kiss on the lips.
Dan shook his head with an exasperated smile.
- You're going to fall behind, Mr.Joo.
- I'm undefeated, - Jaekyung said smugly, rolling on top of Dan again, warm and solid and entirely too pleased with himself.
He was even more sure of himself now, that before. Sleeping next to Dan every night got rid of his insomnia, now that he was resting next to someone he felt safe with. Dan was devoted to Jaekyung health, always reading new medical research, learning more and more about Jaekyung craft, how his body functioned. Emperor was at his peak performance now, being taken care of, being loved. So forgive him for skipping a morning run here and there. Because:
- I’m undefeated. - Jaekyung repeats. - And more importantly, you’re worth staying in bed. If I get to wake up and see you like this, kiss you, Hyung - it’s all worth it. I like waking up next to you more than I like winning fights.
***
The smell of garlic and butter was beginning to overtake the kitchen.
It was subtle, but it clung to the warm air — mixing with the low hum of a pan heating too fast and the sizzle of something definitely on the edge of burning.
- I said medium-low, not “set the whole kitchen on fire”, - Kim Dan said, half-laughing, tugging the skillet off the heat.
Jaekyung held up his hands like a criminal caught red-handed — which he kind of was, spatula in one hand, confused bravado in the other:
- I was just trying to crisp the edges….
- You’re very close to crisping up the edges of our kitchen.
Jaekyung huffed and stepped back, hands on his hips, watching Dan with fake irritation, trying to hide the fact fact that his heart skipped a beat when Kim Dan said “our kitchen”.
- Why are you even letting me do this if you’re gonna micromanage?
Dan raised an eyebrow as he stirred the eggs back into motion with the skill of someone who had clearly done this more than once.
- Because you said, and I quote, “We’re a couple. We’re going to make breakfast together every day until we’re eighty.”
Jaekyung squinted:
- Did I say eighty?
- Exactly eighty.
There was a pause.
- I think we can bump it up to at least ninety.
Dan smiled without answering, just leaned over and left a soft kiss on Jaekyung lips while keeping the eggs from going dry.
And that was the whole thing, wasn’t it?
They moved around each other easily now — comfortably — sharing counter space and ingredients and quiet teasing like it had always been this way.
Like Jaekyung hadn’t once would sit at the kitchen table without meeting Dans eyes. Like Dan hadn’t once waited in silence, waiting awkwardly, unsure if he was allowed to stay when breakfast was served.
That part hit unexpectedly hard.
Because now? Now Jaekyung was right beside him, bumping hips and stealing spoonfuls and throwing dish towels over his shoulder like a househusband in training.
And when they sat down together at the dining table near the windows (Dan asked few months ago if they can move the table next to the window so they could be closer to the sunlight and the view, Jaekyung happily obliged, lazy display of incredible strength and devotion) — with too-much-butter toast and slightly oversalted eggs — Kim Dan didn’t have to hover anymore.
Jaekyung pulled his chair out for him. Poured him coffee without being asked. Took a bite of toast and made a satisfied little noise like he had cooked it, even though Dan definitely saved it from ruin.
Dan sat, quiet for a second. Just watching him.
- ...What’s wrong, babe? - Jaekyung asked, mouth half-full, noticing the way Dan had gone still.
Dan smiled, soft and lopsided:
- Just… remembering.
- Something good?
- Something different.
Jaekyung blinked. Then his face shifted — softened. Mixed with regret and love.
- Oh.
- Do you remember? - Dan asked. - You used to eat at this table with your back turned. I’d stand in the kitchen until you were done.
A beat. The toast forgotten in Jaekyung’s hands.
- ...Yeah, - Jaekyung said, quieter now. - I remember. I regret a lot of things.
Dan reached out across the table, palm-up. So open, without a flinch or a second thought. Never scared of Jaekyung anymore.
Jaekyung met him without hesitation — like it was instinct now. Like holding Dan’s hand was something his body had learned before his brain ever had.
- I’m not trying to make you feel bad. It just hit me. You had no idea. You grew up without any of that. - Dan said, brushing his thumb over Jaekyung’s knuckles, feeling small scars and rough skin - But you changed so much. I always feel at home when I’m with you.
Jaekyung smiled — not a grin, not cocky, just soft.
- You taught me.
Dan’s throat tightened.
Jaekyung leaned forward, kissed his cheek.
- Thank you for coming back to me.
And for a long moment, they just sat like that — hands tangled between their breakfast plates, the sound of the city below softened by thick glass, the morning light curling around them like a blessing.