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It was midnight when Sunoo heard a knock on his door.
He was lucky he had to finish his skincare before bed, or else he wouldn’t have heard it. Sunoo rubbed the cool cream from his fingertips into his smooth skin before finally getting up and going over to the door. When he opened it, his brows furrowed in confusion, staring worriedly at the sight before him.
“Jungwon-ah..?”
The younger boy was in tears in front of him. His cheeks were rosy, the skin splotched and puffy. His hands shielded his face in an attempt to hide his red-rimmed eyes, his clumped lashes, and the heavy exhaustion in his expression. Jungwon’s gaze finally lifted and met his. He tried to croak out a response, but he choked, fighting back tears before going silent.
Sunoo placed a hand on Jungwon’s back gently and, assuming the younger boy wouldn’t be able to say anything, ushered him inside before any of the other hyungs woke up.
“Come in, Jungwon-ah,” he whispered, his voice soft and kind.
The boy nodded, swift and shaking, as he followed him in, letting Sunoo guide him to his bed. As Jungwon sat down on the plush mattress, he pulled his knees up to his chest and tucked his head in between them, still sniffling but attempting to be silent.
“Do you want water?” Sunoo asked quietly, keeping a concerned eye on the other as his hand hovered above the water jug next to his bed.
“Please,” Jungwon rasped, his voice hoarse and broken.
With a nod, Sunoo poured the water into a cup, placing it in Jungwon’s hands before sitting next to him and resting his head on the boy’s shoulder. He gave the younger a once-over glance, his gaze concerned and caring. After a beat of silence, he asked, “Want to talk?”
The ravenette nodded. “M-my brand deal,” he mumbled, curling up tighter into himself and looking down miserably, wincing at the way his tears seemed to drop from his cheeks, splattering against the wooden floor. “PD-hyung—no, PD-nim t—” Jungwon choked on his words, causing Sunoo to bring himself closer and wrap his arms around the ball Jungwon had formed of himself. He felt Jungwon’s body freeze momentarily before he collapsed into the elder’s shoulder, letting out a tired sob.
“What’d he do?” Sunoo asked softly, wanting to know what exactly happened to hurt their usually composed leader so badly.
Jungwon swallowed hard, his eyes still fixed on the patterns of Sunoo’s floor. “He-he took it away,” he whined miserably, his voice growing weak as he finished his sentence. “He said I-I wasn’t suited for the image they wanted. B-but… it was going to be my first one this year, hyung—!”
He sobbed, clutching the older boy’s pyjama shirt tighter as his composure cracked. That was what encouraged Sunoo to finally pull the boy completely into his arms.
“Hey, nooo, Jungwon-ah. It’ll be alright. You’ll get a new one in the future. I know you will. You’ll get a much, much better opportunity made just for you,” he tried to reassure, one of his soft hands instinctively rubbing the younger’s back.
The action made Jungwon pull closer in response before settling into a calmer position as he wiped away his tears, still sniffling.
“I hope I do,” he whispered, shakily sighing before his voice cracked and he went quiet, simply letting his hyung hold him close.
The older only nodded at this. “Exactly. I’m sure our engenes will send trucks. Or trend the tags. They usually do,” he murmured, trying to ease the mood as he pulled Jungwon closer. “If not, I’ll do it for them,” he added, giggling.
The other laughed, more genuine this time. “Mh. Engenes always have our backs, don’t they?” he replied, playful and smiling—even through the tears—as he leaned into Sunoo’s comforting arms.
Their laughter calmed into an intimate quiet, only broken after a few minutes by a softer, more shy voice from the younger boy.
“Hyung, you won’t tell the others, right?” he murmured nervously, looking up at Sunoo.
Sunoo smiled, nodding. “Mhm. I won’t. Your tears are safe with me, okay?” he reassured, watching as the other relaxed at his words.
After a long, comfortable silence, Jungwon looked up at Sunoo. “Can you… do my skincare, please?” he asked.
With a bright, star-eyed grin, Sunoo nodded. “Of course,” he replied, slowly pulling away from the boy and bringing over his fridge. Sunoo sat back on top of the bed, turning Jungwon toward him as he opened a cleansing serum.
Jungwon relaxed against Sunoo immediately, feeling the liquid being massaged gently into his skin. Almost immediately, he let out a comforted sigh. The last time he’d had this treatment was after a large argument with their director—months ago—when he’d once again gone to Sunoo’s room in tears and received the same care. He’d been comforted, held, and his skin had been unsurprisingly softer the next day. And that same night, Jungwon would always sleep soundly in Sunoo’s room, tucked into the older boy’s arms, his heart much lighter than it had been hours before.
But today felt different from the other times. Before, Jungwon wouldn’t have collapsed so openly. It had taken some urging from Sunoo, and even then, he hadn’t let himself lose complete control. Today, he couldn’t hold back, and he didn’t want to. He let go entirely, and it felt freeing.
As they sat quietly, the younger boy closed his eyes, waiting for his hyung to continue his pampering. Jungwon heard the soft snap of a container lid before a light, airy lotion was spread over his face and gently rubbed in, the careful touches deeply appreciated.
Sunoo worked diligently, speaking only now and then. Jungwon could tell his hyung was relaxing too, his worried breathing slowing until it matched Jungwon’s now steady pace.
The elder continued for several minutes, until Jungwon felt his eyes grow heavy. His head tipped against Sunoo’s chest, and his lids slipped shut. The older boy’s presence was always grounding; a quiet reminder that someone was here for him. That even when Jungwon didn’t want to talk or act, Sunoo would simply be there for him.
Jungwon stayed still, letting Sunoo linger as he worked whatever he wanted into his skin. The only step Jungwon could recognise was the night moisturiser at the end. It smelled faintly of something herbal and felt smooth as butter, gliding easily over his face. Though that also could’ve been because of Sunoo and the way his fingertips would press in and delicately spread the cream in slow, soothing strokes.
Finally, Sunoo pulled away. “All done, Jungwon. Feel good?” he hummed, lightly inspecting his work.
Jungwon nodded; of course he did. His hyung’s gentle care always made him feel cherished, like he was worthy of such kindness. As the serums and creams settled into his skin, he tucked himself closer to Sunoo’s chest.
“Sunoo-hyung. Can I stay here for the night?” he asked quietly, his tone hesitant even though he’d done this so many times before—and as if Sunoo would ever deny the boy anything.
Sunoo nodded easily and rested his chin atop the younger’s head. “Of course,” he replied, smoothing a hand through Jungwon’s hair. “But go get changed first. You’re still in your practice clothes,” he added teasingly before patting him away.
With a small nod, Jungwon stood and changed into his pyjama top and shorts, the ones he always kept in his hyung’s room for situations like this, before returning to where Sunoo waited. He slipped beneath the duvet, shuffling closer and closer until he was pressed against Sunoo’s chest, fingers curling into the elder’s shirt to stay close.
Sunoo didn’t resist, wrapping him in a tight, caring embrace. Jungwon’s heart thumped softly, the only sound in the cold, still room. He smiled faintly as warmth spread through him; it felt good, it felt safe. In Sunoo-hyung’s arms, he'd always be loved.
Still curled together, the two slowly drifted to sleep, Jungwon’s expression finally peaceful and his body snug against Sunoo’s.