Work Text:
Jihoon didn’t think he depended on Soonyoung a lot.
Well, that could be a lie, if one were to consider how the two of them had always been attached at the hip. It had been 14 years since they met, and despite their relationship having a rocky start, Jihoon knew that there was none in this world who loved him more than Soonyoung.
Soonyoung had always been there to support him through his highs and lows, when he felt stuck or uninspired. Soonyoung was undoubtedly his muse, his artistry overflowing every step he took. And maybe, just maybe, that’s what drew Jihoon into him more. But there was much more to him other than his artist persona. Soonyoung was talented, yes, but he was also kind, gentle, charismatic, a good listener, a great advisor, and an even better boyfriend.
Jihoon wasn’t entirely sure at which point in their friendship he started liking Soonyoung as something more than a friend. He knew, though, the moment they exchanged their first kiss, there was not another person in this world that could make him happier than Soonyoung. All Soonyoung’s kisses were full of love and adoration, even the smallest of his touches gave him butterflies (yes, even after all these years).
The clock in his studio’s wall read 4am. It was another one of his sleepless nights. He was sitting alone, quietly strumming his guitar, letting the last moments of his day slip by.Jihoon was not used to being alone, at least not anymore. Even at the dead of the night, a very special someone would typically be lying on his sofa, scrolling through his phone, watching videos or simply talking to him, shyly asking questions about whichever piece of music he was currently working on. It was those little moments, among others, that he missed the most.
With a soft sigh, he pushed his chair away from his desk. There was no use to this. He tried so hard to concentrate and yet the only thing currently filling his mind was Soonyoung. How he was doing, how he was adapting to this new life, where his thoughts might be drifting.
Jihoon knew that Soonyoung would put on a happy mask and try to conceal how hard this transition was for him. Because that's who Soonyoung was - always a hard worker and above all, a happy person, always the sunshine for everyone else around him.
He was about to get up from his chair when he heard a soft knock on the door. Considering how early in the morning it was, it could be anyone out there starting their day early on, it wouldn’t be uncommon. Hell, maybe it was Bumzu trying to tell him to rest yet again too. But Jihoon could just not pay attention to them, not right now.
“Come in!” he said, loudly enough in order to be heard, although he never turned around nor actually noticed who entered the room after the door shut. All he wanted to do was save the files currently open on his desktop and call it a day.
And that's what he did, at first. Until he noticed how quiet it was. A few minutes had passed and none had disturbed him. That was until he decided to turn around only for his motions to be interrupted by a pair of hands covering his eyes.
Jihoon abruptly stilled, which only made the person behind him come closer to him.
That was when it hit him. It was the familiar scent of cologne at first. Then he started noticing the little things: the cold ring resting against his right cheek, the height difference, the way his body seemed to fit into the other's embrace so well, the timing.
“Kwon Soonyoung” he whispered, a small gasp following his words too. He heard the other giggle behind him, his hands slipping from covering Jihoon’s eyes, until his arms were tightly wrapped around his waist from behind.
“Hi baby”, Soonyoung whispered back, resting his head on Jihoon’s shoulder.
Jihoon froze. He wasn't someone overly fond of surprises, but this one he could accept. He had missed his boyfriend a lot more than he let on. Truth was, he couldn’t allow himself to voice those thoughts to him, he knew things were already difficult enough on Soonyoung’s end. Enlisting was never easy.
Jihoon slowly relaxed into Soonyoung’s embrace, his head falling back into the older boy’s shoulder.
“Soonyoung…” he said, this time a bit louder than a whisper. “What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at-”
“No I really shouldn't. I have the weekend off you know.” Soonyoung replied and Jihoon could hear the smile in his words.
Despite feeling comfortable in his embrace, Jihoon was the first to pull away. He needed to turn around. He needed to see his boyfriend and confirm with his own eyes that he was the one looking back at him.
When Jihoon turned around, Soonyoung was there, wearing a loose black hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, a soft smile on his lips and eyes full of adoration. Yeah, the person in front of him was definitely his boyfriend.
Without even realising, Jihoon’s arms were wrapped around Soonyoung’s neck and now he was the one pulling him into yet another embrace.
“Why didn't you tell me you were off this weekend? If I knew you were coming I would have prepared something or-” he began.
“You know, I really wanted to surprise you this once. Considering the last time we saw each other was on my enlistment day.” Soonyoung said, once again wrapping his arms tightly around his boyfriend.
It's been too long, a voice in his head was saying. It's been too fucking long.
“I missed you, you know. A lot.” Jihoon said as he pulled back a bit, his forehead now touching Soonyoung’s, his lips ghosting the other’s. One of Soonyoung’s hands instantly cupped his cheek.
“I missed you too, you know. A lot.” The latter offered, earning a small giggle out of Jihoon.
“No Soonyoung, you don't get it. Things were so…dull without you. Sometimes I think I can't function anymore without having you around. Not in a dependent kind of way but…I'm so used to your presence around, silence was too loud at times.”
The words were out of Jihoon’s mouth before he could think them over. That was the effect Kwon Soonyoung had on him. No filter. Just layers upon layers of trust built through the years, which only pulled them more into each other.
“Hey, it’s okay” Soonyoung whispered, “You know…this is just temporary. You’re leaving soon too and then…you’ll see, time flies, we will both be back in no time. We got this, we are Hoshi Woozi after all; things may be hard for us at times, but when have we not made it?”
Soonyoung pulled him closer, once again minimizing the distance between them. Jihoon’s face was in Soonyoung’s neck while the older one was stroking his hair lovingly.
“I can’t really say this is easy either. Up till now, it has been hard on me too, Jihoon. Just…think about it. Once this is over, we get to be together all the time. No restrictions. Just me and you, against the world.”
Soonyoung’s voice echoed in Jihoon's mind. Just me and you, against the world. He liked that. The idea of him and Soonyoung being just Jihoon and Soonyoung against all hardships, the sadness, all people against them, all things no matter how big or small. And Jihoon wanted to face those, if it meant having Soonyoung with him.
He let himself slightly relax in Soonyoung’s embrace.
“We really are going to be okay, aren’t we?”, he asked, hating how vulnerable he sounded. He knew at the back of his head that right now it wasn’t ideal for him to feel like this, he needed to be strong for the both of them. The past few days though, had been so harsh on him; he couldn’t focus enough to finish writing his songs, he couldn’t focus while practising, heck he couldn’t even eat without spacing out.
“We are. We are the best duo for some reason.” Soonyoung chuckled and pressed a soft kiss on Jihoon’s forehead.
“I guess,” Jihoon takes a long breath, his hands wrapped around Soonyoung’s waist. “I guess you’re right. Again.”
“What can I say, it’s my charm after all.” he said, giggling all over again, the sound making Jihoon’s heart flutter.
“You know I love you, right?” he asked, instantly feeling the smile forming in Soonyoung’s lips.
“I do. And I love you too Jihoonie.” he said and pulled slightly back, only to be able to see Jihoon’s face before pulling him into a soft kiss. Every demon existing in Jihoon’s head was suddenly away the moment he felt Soonyoung’s lips on top of his, a soft smile finding its way in both their faces.
“So”, Soonyoung began when he pulled away. “What were you working on?” he continued, earning an eye roll from Jihoon.
“It’s just this song I’m currently working on. But no matter what I do I feel stuck.” the younger explained as he watched Soonyoung nod in understanding. “I was just about to leave actually.”
“Well, the Jihoon I know wouldn’t leave this early.” Soonyoung grinned. “We could work on that song for a couple more hours!” he exclaimed, earning a look of confusion in return.
“Aren’t you tired, Soonyoung?” he said, noticing just now the backpack hanging from his boyfriend’s shoulders. “Did you come here right after you arrived?”
“Where else would I go?” Soonyoung said, finally moving further away from Jihoon to discard his backpack before moving all the way to Jihoon’s desk and sitting on his chair.
“I just needed to be with you, there is nowhere else I’d rather be, you should know that.” he said, instantly knocking the air out of Jihoon’s lungs. Fuck. “Now,” Soonyoung continued while patting his lap, “come here and let’s work on that song Jihoonie!”
Jihoon hesitated.
“Are you sure you don’t wanna go home?” Jihoon asked. Because right now, the offer of going home and cuddling with his boyfriend on their bed sounded just as appealing as the offer presenting itself to him. But he needed to make sure that’s what Soonyoung wanted too.
“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t sure. We can go home later.”
Jihoon smiled before closing his eyes and shaking his head in defeat. The smile never left his face though.
At the end of the day, he wouldn’t want the first rays of sun to find him anywhere else but his studio, headphones on (or well, one of them,his other ear just had to listen to whatever Soonyoung had to offer him) with his boyfriend’s arms wrapped around him. At the end of the day, all he needed was to be with Soonyoung too.
And maybe, the feel of Soonyoung’s lips on his, between all those harmonies and giggles, was all Jihoon needed to breathe a little lighter, as the sun began to fill the morning sky.