Work Text:
The living room of the shared flat was dark. Curtains drawn but not completely closed, allowing in the smallest amount of the streetlights outside. Your flat mates were all away for holiday break and you're sitting in the corner, covered with a blanket, your knees to your chest. The quiet sobs being the only noise in the stillness of the usually lively space.
The sound of a truck engine turning off, followed by the muffled jingle of keys can be heard moments before the front door opens, and heavy booted footsteps make their way inside. You try to calm your breathing and remain quiet with your face still buried in the blanket between your raised knees. The footsteps briefly stop and keys can be heard being set down gently on the coffee table, the feeling of one of your flat mates presence in front of you and the subtle scent of his cologne drawing you fully back from the spiral you were sinking into, but you don't dare look up to expose your puffy eyes as the click of a lamp switch sounds and a soft dim light fills most of the room.
"Y/N?" He speaks softly, taking a seat close to you and gently pulls the blanket down away from your face. His voice is one you know all too well.
Slowly and reluctantly glancing up to meet his eyes, still not raising your head, the worried expression on Ni-Ki's face sends a jolt straight to your chest. You quickly look back down, biting her lip and trying to avoid the conversation you feel coming.
"Y/N-" Ni-Ki's tone saddened in worry. "-Are you okay, kit?" The question was enough to break the dam inside of you, tears flowing once more as you burry your face deeper impossibly deeper into the blanket.
Ni-Ki sighs as he cups the sides of your face, lifting it gently to meet his empathetic yet slightly annoyed gaze. "Kitten, Is this about him again?" He asks, wiping stray tears with his thumbs as he holds your face.
You take a deep shaky breath, trying to calm down enough to speak and trying to avoid his eyes, looking back downward.
"I-… I just don’t understand… Why-" You cut your sentence short, voice shakier than you'd like.
Ni-Ki sighs. "You can’t just let him take over your brain like this... It’s been three months.."
You roll your eyes pulling your face away and burring it back into the blanket.
Niki stops to think, letting you breathe, but only for a moment before he then leans in closer. "Want me to beat him up for you?"
It catches you off guard in the moment allowing an actual, weak yet real, laugh to escape. You look back up at Ni-Ki and bring your hands to cup 's face the way he had cupped yours. "Thank you, my sweet duckling, but it's okay." A small sad smile tugging at your lips.
His hands move to meet yours, removing them from his face and down to his shoulders before he wraps his long arms around your frame. “No, I’m not letting you do this to yourself anymore.” His voice is louder and more confident, fed up almost, as he lifts you effortlessly.
You immediately tighten your grip around Ni-ki, giving him the opportunity to grab his keys off the table and shove them in his dark denim jacket pocket with one hand.
“Ah! P-put me down what- Where are we going?" You protest as he heads to the front door, using the tips of his fingers to turn the door handle and his foot to open it the rest of the way.
"You'll see when we get there, princess." He teases, knowing you hate the nickname. Or, at least, you pretend you do, but you'd never admit otherwise.
"Listen here, Duck!" You pout as he opens the passenger truck door and places you inside shutting it and in turn cutting off any further protest then makes his way around to the driver’s side.
Jumping in he looks over at you and rolls his eyes, immediately leaning over you to grab the seatbelt and buckling it before putting on his own. After driving for about 15 minutes to the outside of town, Ni-Ki pulls off onto a dirt road leading through a small wheat field, arriving in the middle to a clearing, a fire pit and logs set as benches neatly in the middle. He backs the large black truck into the open space where a log bench was missing and jumps out, turning to you before shutting the door.
"Stay put."
You half scoff half laugh to yourself at the small command before shaking your head and looking down at the black phone screen in your hand. You hesitate, looking back through the tinted windows, feeling the bed dip slightly, and furrowing your brows. The combination of the tint and the darkness outside don't allow for much of a view through the back window. You shrug, taking it as an ‘all clear’, allowing Ni-Ki to do whatever it was he's up to in the back, and turn back to your phone before unlocking it. All you can hear is rustling around in the bed of the truck, the sound turning into an almost deafening rings and tears come to your eyes yet again as you look at your wallpaper, the picture of what used to be. His arms tightly around you, both laughing, covered in autumn leaves in their matching sweaters. A fond memory turned painful.
The toolbox lid shuts and Ni-Ki comes around, opening the passenger door, seeing the wallpaper before you're able to lock the phone and sighs, rolling his eyes. You brace, expecting a scolding about moving on or deserving better or any of the other small rants you've heard too many times from too many people these past few months. Instead, Ni-Ki reaches past you, opens the glove box, grabs the phone from your hand, and tosses it in before closing it. Not aggressive, not angry, but not saying a word. He then immediately takes you back into his arms, bridal style, and walks towards the back of the truck. All the while you wait for anything to be said, the look you give him turning slightly more and more confused by the second.
"Why are you being so mysterious, duckling?" You tease, trying to deflect. "I can walk fine on my own you know~” you giggle weakly, your nervousness shining through despite your best efforts to hide it.
He chuckles, shaking his head at your attempt, as he sets you down on the tailgate. "Would it kill you to let someone treat you right for once, kitten?" He smiles.
You looks away quickly, a twinge of pain in your chest at the playful jest that hurt a bit more than it should have in the moment "Ouch.." you mumble as you take in the view behind you. Lights lining the edges of the truck bed, soft blankets and pillows filling the bottom. It looks cozy and warm in contrast to the colder bite of the early winter night air. The smallest flames barely dancing across embers of a campfire in front of the tailgate, emitting just enough warmth. The smell of crisp clean rural air, kindling wood, and soft clean cotton surrounding the both of you. Like something out of a movie.
Blissfully unaware of Ni-Ki's stare as you take it all in.
"I figured you could use some fresh air..." He almost whispers, sitting next to you, immediately looking away when you look at him, a mix of emotions in your gaze, still led by slight growing confusion and a twinge of curiosity.
Before any questions could be asked, Ni-Ki moves back into the blanket pile, stretching out and getting comfortable. You watch him for just a single moment before following his lead, lying beside him and looking up. The stars shine vibrantly above speckled across a deep navy sky. You smile at the breathtaking view, your eyes wondering, lost amongst the shining sea above you. The heaviness on your heart dissipating in the peaceful silence.
After a moment and an odd feeling falling over you, you glance over at Ni-Ki who is staring at with a fond smile. Only this time, he doesn't look away, the thought never crossing his mind in this moment.
"What?" You question with a shy laugh.
"Do you feel better?" He asks, his eyes never moving from yours.
"I do … Thank you Ni-Ki~." You voice sounding stable for the first time in a while.
"I don't get it..." His face serious, eyes still locked, voice barely audible. If you weren't looking at him you may not have even known the words were spoken.
"Get what?" A confused look coming to your face again, but your voice softens a bit to match the quiet moment.
Ni-Ki tucks a lock of fallen hair behind your ear, using the opportunity to gently cup your face, somehow different compared to the same action from not even an hour prior.
"How he could let you go … or treat you the way he did..." His voice tender, he moves closer, pulling you into his side. "Because to me, loosing you would be a fate worse than death." This line was quieter, softer, vulnerable. A complete contrast from his usual feisty playfulness.
You stare at him for a moment, shocked at his bold statement but swayed by the sweet sentiment. By what it meant that he would let his walls down in front of you in this way. But also questioning everything about the phrase and its meaning, as if there was another way to interoperate it you just didn't understand.
"Duckling-" You start, gripping his shirt in your hands, Ni-Ki noticing your slight shivering.
"Are you cold?" He interrupts, instantly taking off his jacket and wrapping it around you, pulling you even closer before you could muster any type of answer. Postponing any response you may have to his confession, his composure crumbling bit by bit. "Better?"
Jaemin nods, a bit flustered at the close proximity, able to feel the rise and fall of his chest, even if barely. Ni-Ki settles fully and returns his gaze to meet yours, just now seeing how close you've become.
He instinctively starts to lean in, but stops himself just short, you not moving a muscle.
"Y/N?" His voice was so soft it was barely audible. A whisper so light, as if any louder would blow you away like a feather in the wind, but so close you could feel his breath on yours.
"Hm?" you barely manage to hum a response, heart racing.
"Can-" he stops for a moment taking in the details of your face, his hand moving to support the crease of your neck. "Can I kiss you?"
You and Ni-Ki matching shades of red, you stutter, unable to form actual words for a moment, before giving a shy nod. "Y-yes." Your soft whisper almost breathless.
Ni-Ki leans in the rest of the way, gently pressing his lips to yours. Your heart flutters as you melt into his embrace, wrapping your arms around him. He pulls you even closer, snaking his hands around your waist, grip firm but gentle.
After a moment the two of you pull away just enough to breathe, and he rests his forehead on yours, both breathless and smiling.
"I think you need a new wallpaper.” He chuckles, his voice low and a bit raspy.
You laugh at the breathless reaction, starting to believe in the possibility of happiness in moving on again. Your mind clear, feeling weightless, under the stars with him.