Chapter Text
Endless meadows and fields pass by, somewhere in the pit of Joshua’s pupil staring right back at him. The darkness outside is obscured by the reflection of the dimly lit inside of the bus, humming along towards a destination unknown - or at least unknown to him. He doesn’t mind. It still makes a tired smile curl his lips up, thinking about Jeonghan scrambling to prevent the surprise from being spoiled at the station - by the timetables, by the other passengers, by the universe itself.
He looks away from the reflection of his own eye, towards his shoulder not pressed against the cool glass. Jeonghan looks asleep, which is just as well. Though he took motion sickness pills, sometimes the effect doesn’t come as fast or as strong as needed, so he’s glad his boyfriend is getting some rest without feeling nauseous.
His fingers twitch. He considers his options for a moment but then thinks why hold back - why would he hesitate to begin with? He tries to stay mostly still while he reaches towards Jeonghan’s head and tucks some of his hair behind his ear. The man doesn’t move at all, still pressed into his side. His lashes cast shadows on his cheeks, his lips are slightly parted, and Joshua realizes again just how lucky he is. It’s hard to take his eyes off.
But he should sleep too. Looking at himself properly in the transparent screen, he is forced to admit he needs it. Yet he doesn’t want to. Something about the vibe tempts him to stay awake. The purple lights shining enough to see but not enough to disturb, the low sound of the engine. His boyfriend’s fingers intertwined with his, his head on his shoulder. Joshua closes his eyes to drown everything out. Everything but Jeonghan. He reaches for him again, clasping his boyfriend’s hand in both of his.
Maybe it would work. Maybe he would indeed fall asleep, was it not that only a few short minutes later his anchor starts moving. And not just light stirring in his sleep - moving away. He frowns, whining softly in the back of his throat. Comfortably curled against the window, though, and tired by the journey and late hour, his eyes refuse to open.
It doesn’t matter. A familiar pair of lips is pressed against the exposed side of his throat before he can get too upset.
“You look so cute when you sleep,” Jeonghan whispers against his skin, words Joshua didn’t say aloud, quiet enough to be heard by him only, “Will you dream of me?”
His mind feels like it’s swimming. Somewhere between reality and unconsciousness, somewhere he can’t tell whether the sudden feeling of warmth is Jeonghan covering him with a blanket or his feelings for his lover spilling from his heart and filling him with gentle heat.
“My cute Shua,” the lips now move against his ear, the voice is lower and quieter. It almost makes him tremble. “Bet you tried not to move to let me rest.”
Did he? He thinks he did. He hopes he did. Jeonghan squeezes his hand and he tries to squeeze back.
“Aww,” his boyfriend coos and Joshua can feel him smile against his skin, Jeonghan’s nose now brushing against his cheekbone, “Sleep well too, hm?”
He pecks his cheek. Then the lips trail on, leaving behind kisses until they reach Joshua’s waiting lips. But Jeonghan doesn’t kiss them, instead pressing his own lips against their corner. Joshua frowns again, tries to squeeze Jeonghan’s hand tighter without much success. He feels sleep slipping further away. He groans a little, trying to shake it off-
“Shhh,” Jeonghan murmurs and Joshua can hear him move without pulling away, “I’m just teasing.”
First he apologizes by planting a kiss to his forehead, an immediate cure for his frown. Joshua feels himself melting back into the seat.
“That’s it,” Jeonghan encourages, “My sweet Shuji needs to sleep.”
Finally. Joshua feels Jeonghan’s breath against his lips, only a moment before he’s finally granted his wish. He does his best to kiss Jeonghan back lazily. It’s clumsy, between himself drifting off and Jeonghan’s wide smile. But it couldn’t feel better.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Jeonghan whispers, so quiet Joshua’s not sure if he really said it - and if he did, if he meant for him to hear, as he nuzzles into his neck, “Always trust me, Shua.”
And he knows he will. For as long as Jeonghan will let him.
Somewhere in the middle of nowhere, on the way to their mysterious destination, Joshua falls asleep only once he feels Jeonghan return to his previous spot. Only once he feels him pull their connected hands to his lips, kissing each of Joshua’s knuckles.