Work Text:
🔆
"Guys, I don't want to sound rude, but... what the fuck are you doing?"
Their manager could be many things. He could be impatient, he could be bossy, he could be a pain in the ass with how much he constantly worried about them, but he would never be rude, even though he had every right to be, considering the image presented. Since he started this job, he had seen almost everything. Many things he would love to forget, many others for which he would be paid a significant sum of money. This was a perfect mix of the two.
Yeonwoo and Jinhyuk were in the living room, sitting on the couch eating ice cream, an idyllic and perfect Saturday night picture... if it weren't for the lack of space between them, plus the sole and exclusive use of a single spoon for both. Even the issue of space —or the lack of it— might have been normal if it weren't for the fact that Yeonwoo was sitting completely on top of Jinhyuk, staring at their manager blankly.
"...We're eating ice cream, hyung." As if it were the most obvious thing in the world, Jinhyuk brought a spoonful to Yeonwoo's lips, wiping away the left residue of the metal with the tip of his own tongue.
Seungjun brought a hand to his forehead, massaging the area vigorously, he could feel a growing headache slowly forming. "With the same spoon?"
"Yeah, then there's less washing to do later." Yeonwoo shrugged, wiping away vanilla residue from the corner of Jinhyuk's lips with his thumb, then bringing said finger to his mouth, as if he'd done it hundreds of times and one more time wasn't a big deal.
Managing a group of young adults, in the midst of experimentation and wildness, but with zero to no opportunity for social interaction outside of their small group of five was… interesting. He loved them, adored those five natural disasters as if they were his own family, after all, his mission in life was to protect them from any evil that dared to touch them. And honestly, he found their codependency adorable. The main problem was the fact that he wasn't their boss, and, unfortunately for him and his chicks, those who controlled their lives had a much stricter view on their relationships.
"Okay, okay, technically we're outside my work hours, so as long as the apartment is still standing and nothing's burning, you can do whatever you want." Sometimes Seungjun wondered what would have been like if he'd ended up managing a group with healthy, functional interpersonal relationships, but then he remembered the way he'd seen them have mental conversations with just a glance, and he seriously wondered what he should consider healthy and functional at this point.
✨
The two watched as their manager disappeared into the hallway. A few seconds passed in silence, only the television playing in the background, an anime they'd both become addicted to —Yeonwoo had done it, honestly, Jinhyuk just liked keeping him company.
Without saying anything, Yeonwoo moved, trying to get up before Jinhyuk pulled him back down, trapping him like an octopus, which made quite difficult for him to escape. "Where do you think you're going, sir?"
"To the kitchen." Silence reigned again in the living room, Yeonwoo tried to avoid Jinhyuk's insistent gaze, which, of course, was accompanied by that smug smile he loved so much. "Okay, fine, I was going to get another spoon, happy?"
It wasn't as if he wanted to go, Yeonwoo had been the one to prepare the ice cream and the spoon for their well-deserved Saturday night marathon, but something in Seungjun’s words, in his tone of genuine concern, had gotten his mind thinking about certain things that normally took him a long time and effort to silence.
"It seems a little unproductive for you to go get a spoon now, considering we've been shamelessly licking it for about half an hour now." And there it was, that unbearable I-know-you-too-well-hyung-you-can't-fool-me smile Yeonwoo found so hard to ignore, which always sent a particular tingle down his spine.
"Don't say licking, it sounds weird." Defeated, Yeonwoo gave up trying to get back up.
He knew Jinhyuk was right, they'd been sharing all kinds of cutlery, bottles, even lip products, for years. They'd done it in front of the cameras, they did it in the privacy of their apartment. It wasn't weird, of course it wasn't, it couldn't be if they'd been doing it for so long, right?
🔆
“…This time I'm not going to ask. I refuse. I don't want to know.” Again, as part of the entertainment industry, he'd seen a lot, and somehow, he'd convinced himself that if no one's life was in danger, the best thing to do was try to forget and move on. And that’s what he was going to do, until curiosity got the better of him. “Okay, I'll bite for once… What perfectly rational explanation do you have this time for whatever's going on here?”
“Yeonwoo was feeling lonely, so I came to keep him company.”
Adorable. Terribly adorable. If it weren't for the fact that they were both in the bathroom, Yeonwoo inside the full, foamy tub, with Jinhyuk sitting outside on the floor, his hand caressing Yeonwoo's arm underwater. At least he could be thankful one of them was clothed, right?
"You spend 24/7 completely glued together. Can't you survive the half-hour it takes to take a bath?" There it was again, that growing headache that had become his faithful travel companion lately.
"We can... But I was craving company today." Yeonwoo bend his knees to sink a little deeper into the water, leaving only his nose and eyes above the water. He supposed it was weird, he knew it was weird, but this was one of those days when he didn't feel like being alone, and Jinhyuk was willing to be there for him as always.
Seungjun was ready to protest. He could hear his bosses' voices echoing in his head, repeating over and over that it was his job to control them, to keep them in line… but they weren't doing anything wrong, nothing dangerous that could ruin their career —at least not in public— so he opted to do what he did best: ignore his bladder's pleas, turn around, close the bathroom door, and head to his room to think about the next job he could get when all this exploded in his face.
There are times when, when you find yourself in front of a closed door, the best thing you can do is leave it as it is. Especially since opening it could mean stumbling upon something you'd rather not see. As Seungjun had learned, ignorance was a great gift, especially if your job depends on it.
✨
"I think he almost had a heart attack this time."
"He's too young to have a heart attack… I hope." Yeonwoo resurfaced from the water, blowing away the piles of foam that drifted aimlessly across the surface. "I thought you locked the door, by the way."
Jinhyuk smiled embarrassedly, the truth was, he'd completely forgotten. It's not as if they were doing anything wrong, or shameful, anything he considered worth hiding. With his fingertips, he began to gently move the water, brushing against Yeonwoo's arm as he went, enjoying its softness.
"I like keeping you company, hyung. Even though we're always together, we aren’t always alone. Being alone with you is different from filming or being with the others." Jinhyuk whispered, resting the arm that wasn't submerged in water on the edge of the tub so he could lie his cheek there.
He knew it didn't make much sense, and it wasn't as if he could explain it with words, but there were certain days when Yeonwoo needed company. It was as if an emptiness took over him for no apparent reason, making him feel heavy and anxious, as if he constantly wanted to cry but had no real reason to.
"I know, but you could also, I don't know... refuse my stupid ideas once in a while." He knew that Jinhyuk would never deny him anything, and the truth was, Yeonwoo liked to take advantage of it from time to time. But situations like this made him feel bad, selfish, which didn't help his mood in general. Although, if he was honest with himself, even that feeling was better than being alone.
"I usually like your stupid ideas, that’s why I'm not saying no." Jinhyuk shifted again, resting his chin on his arm this time. "You know, I think we could both fit in the tub." His eyes traveled from the water to Yeonwoo, with a very specific gleam that was hard to ignore. "If we squeeze in."
Without saying anything, Yeonwoo splashed a few drops of water on Jinhyuk’s face, submerging himself completely in the tub to hide the growing blush on his cheeks. Maybe it hadn't been such a good idea to ask Jinhyuk to keep him company this time.
🔆
“Yoon-ah, have you seen Jinhyuk and Yeonwoo? We have to go soon.”
“I think they've gone to one of the empty rooms at the end of the hallway.”
It had been a long week, like all the others. Programs, interviews, taking them to the company, bringing them back —Seungjun was looking forward to all the work being over, getting some rest, even if it was just for a couple of days. They were just waiting on Siyun to finish changing and removing his makeup, then they could finally go home.
With a smile on his lips and a positive energy that not even he knew where it came from in moments like this, he headed to the room Yoon had pointed out. There was no one in the hallway, it was late, and for people with normal work hours, their shift must have ended ages ago. He might have felt jealous of those people who were able to enjoy a Friday night off… But at that moment, he had never felt more grateful for the empty hallway, considering the sounds that began to echo the closer he got to the door.
“A-ah, Jin-Jinhyuk, it hurts… Slow down, ah!”
No one had heard them. No one but him, of course —and unfortunately. He could leave, he could turn around and save himself from potential trauma, both for himself and for them. But the problem was that they were in a public place, risking another staff member passing by wasn't an option.
“Couldn't you just wait until we got h…ome?”
Yes, some doors were better left closed.
✨
When he was little, Friday nights were like a party, week after week. He was allowed to stay up late watching cartoons, he could eat any kind of junk food he wanted, and most importantly, he could sleep in the next morning without anyone yelling at him about being late for class. As the years went by, and especially since he started pursuing his dream of becoming an idol, the magic of Friday nights began to fade little by little.
Or at least, it did until Jinhyuk came into his life. It wasn't as if they had the time or desire to stay up late watching movies, and usually even on Saturdays they had to get up early to study or practice, but he had brought back a certain magic to their Fridays that Yeonwoo couldn't explain.
"It's been a tough day. Are you tired, hyung?" Yeonwoo had been the first to get change back, and Jinhyuk had just finished. Three more and they could finally go home.
"It's been a tough week." Yeonwoo moved to the side, leaving enough room for Jinhyuk. They still had a good half hour to wait until everyone was done, and wanted to be at least minimally comfortable. “My body hurts all over, ugh.”
They had been together for many years, so many that it was awfully easy to tell when the other was hinting at something, and Jinhyuk had a master's degree in reading Yeonwoo’s mind.
Without saying anything, Jinhyuk sat down next to him, watching out of the corner of his eye how Yeonwoo's body began to melt itself to his own, automatically and completely naturally, until, somehow, Yeonwoo’s legs were resting on his lap and the older was completely reclined, staring at his phone, even though Jinhyuk knew it wasn't exactly the screen that was capturing his attention at the moment.
“Are you trying to tell me something with this, hyung?” Jinhyuk gestured to his position, trying to sound as puzzled as possible. “Because, as far as I know, you have a fully functioning mouth.” And beautiful, he wished he had added. Perhaps another day, it wouldn't be the first time he'd say it. Nor the last.
After a few seconds of silence, Yeonwoo cleared his throat loudly, parting his legs slightly until there was enough space between his thighs for a hand to have full access. He wasn't going to say it, he wasn't going to even hint at it —in words, at least— especially considering Jinhyuk knew exactly what he was asking for. No, he wasn't to fall into his trap.
It was always like that, and Jinhyuk would be lying if he said he didn't like it. That stubborn way of being always sent a tingle through his body, which felt so good that he longed for it every day.
Not wanting to provoke him further, Jinhyuk moved his hands to Yeonwoo's legs, gently caressing the fabric of his pants. He was wearing one of his many sweatpants, perfect, stretchy, and comfortable for a long, intense day. And perhaps a very specific decision on Yeonwoo's part, knowing that Jinhyuk found the texture of the jeans somewhat uncomfortable under his fingertips.
Jinhyuk's hands began to travel up Yeonwoo's thighs, gently squeezing and massaging, going up and down just enough to make it feel normal. Yes, just a normal massage between teammates, exhausted and with muscles cramped after a long week of hard training.
"H-Hyuk-ah, my calves are really tight." And it wasn't even a lie. Yeonwoo’s legs were killing him, his back hurt so much that even lying down didn’t work, and what about his arms? Every muscle in his body was burning, and in Yeonwoo's head, Yeonwoo's exhausted head, the only thing that could relieve him was Jinhyuk's hands.
And for Jinhyuk, it wasn't a nuisance, it was an honor. Something about the way Yeonwoo's body seemed to melt beneath his touch clouded his consciousness, his mind raced and his pulse quickened, making him crave more contact. His fingers began to move, slowly inserting themselves between the gap his hyung had so kindly made for him, massaging and molding his skin… Jinhyuk hated summer, but in moments like these, he missed the heat's perfect excuse for wearing shorts.
“A-ah, Jin-Jinhyuk, it hurts… Slow down, ah!” Yeonwoo protested, not moving an inch, as if his body was saying something completely opposite to what his mouth had just uttered.
He hadn't realized it, Jinhyuk had become so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice the pressure he was applying with his hands. Just as he was about to apologize before continuing, the door burst open, making him jump.
“Couldn't you all wait until we got h…ome?”
Seungjun stood there, completely paralyzed. It didn't take a genius to understand his reaction, or worse, his words, but it had caught Yeonwoo and Jinhyuk so off guard that neither of them knew what to do, other than stay still, watching their manager's face go through all the shades of red until it returned to its natural color.
“…We had some free time, so I was giving hyung a little massage.” Jinhyuk's hands slowly began to move away from Yeonwoo's legs, like when you're trying to separate two magnets that can't help but attract each other.
“Yeah, hyung, my legs really hurt today.” Yeonwoo moved too, sitting back up on the couch, feeling his body heat up the same way it did when his mother caught him doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing.
“Oh.” The silence became heavy, even though it didn't last long. “We're about to leave. Gather your things and wait in the hallway.” His tone was low, so much so that, even surrounded by that awkward, deathly silence, they could barely hear what he'd said.
The drive home was silent, mostly because exhaustion was their closest companion at that moment. Still, for some reason, the echo of their manager's words kept repeating in both of their heads. "Until we got home."
🔆
Lately, everything had been very quiet. Training, practicing, studying, the occasional event, and repeat. It was routine, it was pleasant, his chicks were safe, happy, and healthy. What more could Seungjun ask for as a dedicated manager and devoted hyung?
Yeonwoo sighed for the fifth time beside him. He'd never been good at hiding his feelings, any of them really, which Seungjun liked to attribute to the fact that he knew them so well. The reality? The possible lack of normal social interactions and the extreme codependency that bound them together. But considering it made his job easier, he wasn't planning on complaining.
"Are you going to tell me what's wrong, or are you just going to keep sighing forever? I'm a busy man, I can't wait forever, not even for you." He gently pinched Yeonwoo's nose, smiling when he complained. It was like teasing his little brother a little, and he loved it.
Usually, it was easy to read them, yes, but it was never that easy to get them to talk about what was bothering them, especially Yeonwoo. He'd always been more reserved, he didn't mind complaining about superficial things like untidy laundry or poorly washed dishes, but when it came to expressing his feelings, you had to know which gears to turn, or the whole thing could explode.
"Come on, you know you can tell me anything. I get paid to listen to you. What better incentive is there for me to be a good listener than money?" Yeonwoo laughed, his plan was working. Carefully, he circled Yeonwoo's shoulders, hugging him affectionately. Sarcasm and physical contact, nothing worked better with Yeonwoo than that.
“Nothing’s wrong with me.” Seungjun pulled him a little closer in the hug, as if to say, “You can’t fool me, brat.” Yeonwoo couldn’t help but smile. “Seriously, it’s just… What did you mean the other day?”
He thought about it, he said too many things during the day, some he remembered perfectly, others that seemed like a fever dream, and he was never quite sure which were real and which weren’t.
“Until we got home.” Yeonwoo’s voice sounded weak, as if it was hard to say outloud. “Couldn’t you just wait until we got home?” he whispered again, feeling like maybe he hadn’t been clear enough.
But Yeonwoo had been clear, and the truth was, given the kind of relationship they seemed to have, Seungjun had been dreading the day this conversation would happen for a while.
“There are times when two people are bound by an inexplicable force, but the rest of the universe seems to look down on that bond, you know? They’ll say it’s weak, unrealistic, or just can’t exist.” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yeonwoo’s body tense, his fists clenched on his lap. “But you know what I think? Screw them. Yeah, screw them all, of course. That force is magical and irresistible. Listening to people who only have jealousy and a desire to piss you off is a mistake.” For a split second, he could see his future, wonderful, bright, and jobless if at some point someone discovered what was really happening between them.
Yeonwoo shifted beside him, standing up without saying anything, he knew what he needed to do. And so, Seungjun watched him leave the room. His job was to take care of them, advise them, and chauffeur them… and if he helped them out with their relationship problems along the way, so be it.
✨
Yeonwoo walked out the door, still thinking about Seungjun’s words. It was a mistake. A mistake. And he hated making mistakes.
His feet led him directly to the dance room, which he had shared so many times. With trainees in the past, with backup dancers, with his members, with Jinhyuk. From the other side of the door, he could clearly hear the music blasting inside. He always found it both funny and dysfunctional that a room like that was so poorly soundproofed. He paused to listen to the melody. It was strange. Normally, one of their songs would be playing, or some other artist’s depending on who was occupying it, but this time it was just notes, without any lyrics, following a rhythm he swore he'd heard before.
Trying to go unnoticed, he opened the door a crack, peeking in slowly. He knew who he was going to find inside, the speed at which his heart was beating told him so. Jinhyuk was there, analyzing his movements in the mirror, his hips moving awkwardly, his feet tangled together, his arms shaking slightly as he held them completely rigid in the air. That's when Yeonwoo realized what that melody was... It was music for a ballroom dance, one of those that required a partner to make any sense.
“I don't think you can do this kind of dance on your own, Jinhyuk-ah!” The music was loud, and despite his attempts to shout as loud as he could, his words were completely lost in the echo of the room.
Yeonwoo was just starting to fill his lungs again to shout even louder when Jinhyuk turned around, looking at him with an expression somewhere between surprise and a smile, gesturing for him to come closer before grabbing his phone to turn down the music. Yeonwoo bit his lower lip, he hadn't run there for that, he had a conversation in mind that he needed to have if he didn't want to explode. Despite that, he was completely unable to resist a smile from those lips.
“Hyung, I was about to call you for help, but I wanted to practice a little first.” If it weren't for the fact that Jinhyuk's voice sounded, by default, soothing, Yeonwoo would have sworn there was a certain nervousness in his tone. “Come on, you have to hold my hand. The other should be on my shoulder, and I have to put it on your hip… Yeah, it looks like it,” he said, while intently watching a video on his phone.
Yeonwoo leaned closer, bending down a little so he could see the screen as well. He had no idea what it was called, but he had been right in thinking it was a ballroom dance, one of those where a man and a woman twirled around and around nonstop. He couldn't help the twitching of his lips, there was something about that video that didn't quite sit right with him.
“Wait… Does that mean you're the lead?” Yeonwoo pointed at the screen, at how the woman's hands were positioned exactly the way he'd told him. “Why does it have to be you?” He felt a tingling inside, as if one part of him was very happy while the other was a bit resistant, which was completely silly, Jinhyuk had taken the lead in their dance sessions countless times.
“Because I've been watching videos for hours.” His tone was calm and sincere, simply stating a fact. “But we can switch places if you want, once you learn the moves, what do you think?”
After putting his phone on the floor and putting on some music, Jinhyuk stood up, taking Yeonwoo's hand in his. Maybe it was just his imagination, maybe it was the fact that he'd just realized certain things after talking to his manager, but something in Jinhyuk's tone, in his half-smile as he pulled him closer, made him believe those words were hiding something. Something that made him shiver.
“Mhn, okay.” He reluctantly positioned his hands as instructed, one on his shoulder and the other still clasped around Jinhyuk's. “Next time, I'll be the lead.”
Yeonwoo wasn't entirely sure why Jinhyuk had decided that this was a good time to learn ballroom dancing, he wasn't even sure if he was the person he really wanted to share this moment with, maybe he had found a girl he liked, one who was really small and graceful, one who could put her little hands on his shoulder and let herself go. Maybe. But as they twirled around and around, amidst the unintentional footsteps, stumbles, and laughter, all those thoughts began to fade from his mind, allowing him to enjoy the warmth of the grip on his waist and their intertwined fingers.
🔆
Seungjun had waited a long time, as long as he could before the rest of the members started demanding that he please take them home to rest. The truth was, he hadn't imagined opening the dance room door to find them... dancing, of all things, a fact he didn't know whether to be grateful for or not. On one hand, Yeonwoo seemed much calmer and happier than before, but on the other hand, it was clear that nothing important enough had happened to make them, at the very least, feel euphoric. Still, he couldn't help but smile when he saw their hands clasped together in the backseat through the rearview mirror.
It was Sunday, they hadn't arrived home that late —if you can consider midnight to be fairly early— so as soon as the six of them stepped into the dorm, they scattered. Maybe to shower, maybe to watch a series, maybe to go straight to sleep. Again, they were adults, if nothing and no one was on fire, his work schedule was officially over. At least for a couple more hours.
While Seungjun was in bed, trying to relax, listening to what sounded like the living room TV in the background and Kiwi rolling around on the floor in their hamster ball, his phone vibrated. A text, at that hour? It was never good news. It didn't have to be bad, but it was definitely going to be annoying. And, of course it had to be from the company, at least they weren’t sleeping either.
"Ah, Siyun, they've changed the schedule for tomorrow's Japanese classes. We have to leave two hours early." From his bed, Siyun complained loudly. They had just gotten back from practicing, and waking up so early was going to finish him off any moment. “Is Jinhyuk in the bathroom? I've already told Hyeonbin and Yoon, it's just him and Yeonwoo left.” He wanted so badly to just go to sleep.
“Yeonwoo’s room.” Siyun looked up, a peculiar twinkle in his eyes, as if he were sharing a secret out loud.
Nodding, Seungjun turned to face Yeonwoo’s closed bedroom door. He took a small step, just enough to position himself right in front of the handle. He could knock, he could just open it, but the sight of their clasped hands in the rearview mirror and the twinkle in Siyun’s eyes made him back away. For once, that door should stay closed.
✨
“And why a waltz? We have a ton of different choreographies to practice.” It wasn’t strange they’d run straight to Yeonwoo’s room as soon as they got home. It wasn't strange that they'd crawled straight into bed, covered by the sheets up to their heads. It wasn't strange.
"Mhn, I wanted to try something new." Jinhyuk leaned a little closer, pressing his forehead to Yeonwoo's, letting their noses lightly touch. "Are we that bad?" His fingers were playing with Yeonwoo’s clothes, crumpling and stretching the hem of his shirt without realizing it.
"We're pathetic. I think we should focus solely on what we’re good at." Yeonwoo couldn't help but laugh, his cheeks flushed from the warmth of the blanket and Jinhyuk's body pressed completely against his. His heart was beating so fast that he was absolutely sure even the younger could hear it.
"And I was going to sign up for a ballroom dancing competition..." Jinhyuk clicked his tongue, smiling. He loved being like this, as if lying under a simple sheet could truly transport them to a world that belonged to them and no one else.
The conversation had gradually died down, replaced by a pleasant silence. Yeonwoo could feel his breathing mingling with Jinhyuk's, the warmth of his forehead, the tickle at the tip of his nose, the softness of Jinhyuk's shirt beneath his fingertips. Little by little, the cogs in his mind began to turn again, likely due to the lack of timely distractions, making him remember the conversation with Seungjun, the reason he had rushed to the dance room only a few hours ago, the doubt behind Jinhyuk's motivation for wanting to practice such an... intimate dance.
"But... why a waltz?" Jinhyuk half-opened his eyes, not understanding the purpose of that question. Again. Yeonwoo decided to continue, after receiving only silence in response. "Why a couples dance? I mean... is there anyone you...?" Want to dance with? His words trailed off, stuck deep in his throat, giving him an almost nauseating feeling.
“I don't think I'm quite understanding your question.” Jinhyuk's voice sounded soft and warm, as if he knew that whatever it was, Yeonwoo was having a terrible time expressing it, even though Jinhyuk had no idea what his hyung was trying to say.
Yeonwoo swallowed hard, squeezing Jinhyuk's shirt between his fingers, as if it made him feel slightly more anchored to him. "Is... Is there someone with... maybe a girl?" He didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was harder for him to ask if there was someone else he wanted to dance with than if there was a girl he liked. He felt so stupid.
After a few seconds of awkward silence, something inside Jinhyuk clicked, as if he'd suddenly understood the most complicated problem in the world and didn't know how to react appropriately. "Are you asking if I've found a girl I want to dance with?"
Said that way, out loud and with all the words, sounded much stupider than Yeonwoo's hyperactive mind had let him believe. Still, he couldn't take it back anymore, so he just squeezed his eyelids shut and nodded, imagining the worst.
"Okay, wait, I need to process this." Jinhyuk pulled back slightly so he could get a good look at Yeonwoo's face, whose eyes remained completely closed. "For starters, when do you think I had time to start a forbidden romance with a girl? Because between rehearsals, classes, events, and sleeping, I barely even had time to go to the bathroom properly."
Yeonwoo half-opened his eyes, analyzing his words. Was he right? Yes, they spent practically 24/7 together, but still, there were online messengers, dating apps, the ten minutes a day when they weren't literally glued to each other's hips. Yes, he wished all that mental gymnastics would come back just to give him a well-deserved kick in that thick head of his.
"Besides, we're dating. Why would I want to dance with some random girl and not my boyfriend? Is it because I haven't let you take the lead? I've already told you, we can switch."
"I didn't mean... What? Say that again." Yeonwoo's eyes widened, staring at Jinhyuk's face, who was wondering in which universe he was in at that moment due to the sleepiness, so much less where this conversation was supposed to be going.
"I don't want to dance with a girl. I mean, if it's work, I'll be happy to, but that's pure professionalism, of course." Jinhyuk thought for a few seconds. "Or with a friend, but then again, it's not the same as dancing with you, hyung." Thinking the worst part was over, he tried to get closer to Yeonwoo again. All he wanted was to sink into his arms and go to sleep, but the older just moved away again, with the bad luck of crashing straight into the wall.
"Ah, fuck, that hurt..." Jinhyuk tried to get closer again to check for injuries, but Yeonwoo stopped him before he could. “I didn't mean… Boyfriend? Dating? When did that happen, and why did I miss it? I mean, I'm directly involved, I should know about it.”
For a moment, Jinhyuk wondered if he was dreaming, because it all sounded so unreal to him that he couldn't understand why they were even talking about it. Despite everything, he remained calm, especially considering Yeonwoo looked like he was about to explode. “Hyung, we've been dating for months, or do you think I just hang around watching other people while they're in the bathtub or sleeping in their beds? I thought it was obvious.”
“Clearly it wasn't! God, Jinhyuk, we never talked about this! Besides, you're always affectionate with Siyun and the others, I…” His head began to spin, analyzing all those little details he'd been trying to overlook all this time. The way he looked at him, the way he sneaked into his bed at night, his ability to make him laugh, blush, and have butterflies fluttering in his stomach for hours… He knew he was in love with Jinhyuk, but what he had avoided was acknowledging that, maybe, there was a possibility that Jinhyuk was in love with him too.
“What do you mean, there were no words exchanged? I remember perfectly! It was after our concert in Glasgow, we…” Jinhyuk’s breath suddenly stop, a series of completely unreal images flashing in slow motion across his retina. “We’ve never had a concert in Glasgow.”
The two of them stared at each other practically without blinking, listening to the seconds tick by thanks to the alarm clock on Yeonwoo’s nightstand. For a moment, all Jinhyuk could think about was jumping out of bed and rolling like Kiwi to his own room and never leave it again.
“Jang Jinhyuk. Jang. Jinhyuk. Are you trying to tell me that you’ve been thinking for months that we were dating because you had a dream!? A dream!?” Yeonwoo tried to shout-whisper, which ended with his voice breaking in a way that was more comical than was appropriate for a situation like this. “And you didn’t consider at any point how unreal that memory was? Or, maybe, that apart from sleeping together and holding hands and everything, we've never, I don't know... kissed!? Or done other couple things, it's just... Ah!”
Yeonwoo's hands moved on their own to grab the collar of Jinhyuk’s shirt, beginning to shake it desperately. When had he fallen in love with such a clueless person? And why did all of this make him feel so much more moved and happy than he'd ever admit in his life? Because if Jinhyuk's story was true, the poor guy thought he had been dating a person for months, when said person wasn't even clear about his feelings yet.
“I just thought you were shy, and that we'd get there eventually.” Jinhyuk closed his eyes, he was too tired. Maybe this was all a dream again, and he still had a chance to make things right for a change, although considering how real the shaking felt, he had little luck. “I'm sorry, hyung... I think I was just so happy that I didn't even think about it anymore. I just wanted to believe it was real.” And he really thought about it, although maybe, deep down, he knew it couldn't be true, maybe he never mentioned anything about it precisely because of that, maybe he was simply afraid of losing that magic that seemed to unite them.
Yeonwoo's movements ceased, as his hands slowly loosened their grip. He'd never been very good with words, but this seemed like a now-or-never situation. "It might be real, if that thing you call a brain still works after all that shaking... I'm sorry about that, but sometimes I feel like biting you because you're so clueless, ah."
"Don't threaten me with something so alluring, or I'll never stop being clueless." Taking advantage of the calm that seemed to return to normal between them, Jinhyuk approached slowly, testing first, lightly stroking his arms before gently embracing him, running his hands up Yeonwoo's back to check that he hadn't hurt himself after hitting the wall before. "I don't know about my brain, but my heart has been beating your name since the second I met you."
"...Ugh, what was that? No, I refuse. If this relationship is going to be based on cheesy nonsense, I'm leaving. Is that clear?" Yeonwoo savored that word with gusto, appreciating its sweetness. Relationship, he could definitely get used to it. "Well, is this where we seal the deal with a kiss or what?" He said sarcastically, hoping Jinhyuk would laugh or scold him for joking around at a time like this. But, as always, what you expect isn't always what happens.
At first, Yeonwoo struggled to understand what was happening. He'd seen it many times in movies or TV shows, read it in books and manga, and even, much to his chagrin, looked up the occasional tutorial when he was still a curious and stupid teenager, but he'd never, ever experienced it. Not outside his wildest dreams, at least.
Jinhyuk's lips were soft, warm, spongy, just as he'd always imagined them, like those afternoons at the amusement park eating cotton candy. He could feel his hands moving up his back to gently press against his nape, preventing him from moving away, as if he wanted to. He parted his lips, without thinking too much, with the sole need to savor the moment. Literally. They were sweet, like the cherry-flavored lip balm he was sure Jinhyuk’d stolen from his bedside table. Yeonwoo's hands moved hesitantly, clutching Jinhyuk's shirt so he wouldn't lose himself, or at least to lose themselves together. What had begun as an innocent first kiss began to transform more and more rapidly, as if a ravenous hunger were consuming them from within. It was clumsy, it was slightly painful, teeth clashing and shy giggles, but it was perfect. And it was real.
"You're so red, hyung." When they pulled away, Yeonwoo remained with his eyes closed, unable to snap out of the wonderful trance he'd just sunk into. "But red, red. Redder than when you had red hair." He could feel another soft kiss, this time no more than a brush, on his lips. "So red."
"Yah, stop it!”
And as if it were the only rational way he planned to silence Jinhyuk from that moment on, Yeonwoo closed the distance between them. Again.
🔆
Morning had arrived, and with it, a new to-do list to complete. And there he was again, standing in front of Yeonwoo's bedroom door, this time with no option to flee with his tail between his legs to his room. Whatever he was going to find on the other side, would definitely earn him a raise.
"Please, let them at least be dressed."
After knocking a couple of times, Seungjun opened the door. The room was dark, the only light coming from the hallway. He approached cautiously, sighing in relief when he found them cuddling, sleeping peacefully in each other's arms, and, most importantly, fully clothed. At least as far as the sheet allowed him to see.
Maybe they were going to fire him when their bosses found out about their more than probable new relationship, but seeing those two smiling faces together like that was, without a doubt, a job well done.