Chapter Text
Dylan hated being right.
But he was always right, like all the damn time.
He had been right last month when Nano decided to dye his hair again, rightfully predicting that he would go for the color orange — just like he loved his hair back in the days, when they were first debuting as Mars.
He had been right a few years back — when they still had been a bunch of foolish trainees — how Pepper was definitely going to debut as a part of Mars, even if he was clearly thinking he wouldn't, way too insecure and not confident enough over his obvious talent. There was just no way Mars would have done decently enough to survive the business without the glowing all-rounder Pepper was.
He had also been right about Thame falling in love with the disgustingly, sweet director after never being able to shut up about him since the day they had met, popping his overly obvious heart eyes whenever he was near.
Surely, just as Dylan predicted again, Thame wouldn't dare to tell him though, always insisting he was only waiting for the right moment — the right timing — as if it wasn't obvious at all that he was just too scared of rejection to finally shoot his shot.
But even if it ruined his strike, Dylan would have never guessed how Jun fell even harder, face hitting the ground first for no less than a million times.
Well, at least not at the beginning.
Even when Thame and Jun could be like ice and fire — quite literally — they would always put each other first, never daring to ruin the deep bond they had grown over the years. Especially not over some stupid guy. That was at least what he had believed at first.
Until, at some point, Dylan couldn't pretend to ignore the obvious hints anymore, at a time even Jun didn't seem to notice his feelings himself.
It started off painfully slowly, when one day Jun truly lit up like a way-too-good smelling candle the moment Po rolled his eyes at his stupid antics of flirting. Then, the next day, he was suddenly unbelievably into actually working for the new song they had been producing at the time, always wanting to help their director the best way he could. Until, all of a sudden, he started paying honest attention — buying the older his favorite sandwich, finishing his work for him when the other was too stressed to do it himself or spending every free second he had with his presence.
At the end, Dylan, Nano and Pepper had to actually watch Thame and Jun fighting like some lovesick teenagers about someone who seemed too clueless to notice.
And Dylan had seen it coming before anyone else again.
While there never had been a time when he hated his stupid ability to see right through everyone the most.
"What are you thinking about?"
The curious voice of Thame brought him back out of his thoughts, ensuring how Dylan focused back on his opened laptop in his lap, which had been long forgotten for the last peaceful minutes — the still awfully empty sheet staring right back at him.
They had actually been trying to work on ideas for Mars' new song throughout the last hours. After the great success of "Who says" last month, everyone agreed on using their newfound strength and relevance as fast as possible, wishing to prove themselves to the company and probably also the world.
But after hours with no actual useful ideas and the image of erasing everything they had written immediately, Dylan just couldn't stop his stupid brain from drifting to that one topic he resented the most.
Shaking his head to stop himself from drifting off again, Dylan composed himself quickly while searching for an excuse that was good enough to shift the topic elsewhere.
"Nothing much.", he said with a raspy voice before catching the way Thame's phone lit up with a new message from Po on the coffee table. Immediately, he was reminded of the one topic that would always divert Thame's attention. "I only thought about how you haven't made any progress yet." Protecting his heart, Dylan didn't mention how Thame finally moving forward and possibly making the director his boyfriend would also be beneficial for him.
With a sharp look, Dylan quickly nodded his head in the direction of the phone, tempting the singer to check his messages. But the loud sigh leaving Thame's mouth the moment he unlocked his phone only emphasized on how serious his situation seemed to have become.
"It's not that easy."
Dylan could only guess what he meant.
But actually, it had been pretty clear how Thame's doubts and uncertainty only grew with every day Jun was involved, forcing himself between them any minute he could, like some pushy bug swirling around someone's head. Thame had always been scared of rejection, but since Jun was in the game, his fear seemed to double up, making a possible rejection even more real than before. Especially when Jun was actually able to flirt with the one he liked.
"Oh, come on. It could be easy."
At the sound of Nano's sudden shrieking voice, who obviously had secretly listened in to their conversation, both boys flinched for a second.
"Why is everyone so interested in my love life?", Thame only whined at that.
"Because it's embarrassing to watch.", Dylan explained stubbornly, "And at least, you have chemistry. Not like some other people. You know I'm on your team, right?"
"What reason could this possibly have?"
The teasing voice and the knowing look Nano sent Dylan's way after that only highlighted his statement.
While Dylan was the first one to know everything in their house, Nano would probably always be second, never actually far behind. There was this high possibility that the younger, in fact, knew more than Dylan wanted him to know. But this was nothing the silver-haired would want to point out, way too scared of the possible following embarrassment of an honest heart-to-heart talk he would've needed to endure.
"What are you fighting about this early in the morning?"
Dylan's heart involuntarily skipped a beat at the sound of that familiar voice.
Instantly, the actual pretty laid-back atmosphere moments ago came to an abrupt end, while Dylan immediately forced his attention back on his laptop, trying to act completely nonchalant — even when the smell of his strong-scented cologne already filled the room.
Dylan hated how he could feel Nano's knowing gaze on him.
"Nothing, nothing at all!", Thame shrugged in a manner that was not at all convincing before standing up from the couch like it was burning, "You know what? Mick texted me, I actually need to go to the company now."
Dylan tried his best not to show his irritation on his face, making it obvious to everyone else — especially to Jun — how Thame was clearly lying. But with one very quick glance in Jun's direction that he hated himself for, it was quite obvious how he already seemed to know.
During the last weeks, it actually hadn't been uncommon for his two bandmates to avoid each other — or rather avoid some really important topic — something that really worried Dylan, even if he didn't show it. The unbearable tension between the two of them hung low on their friendship, making everyone wonder how long it would take them to snap. And Dylan just hoped that it wouldn't end badly when the time came around.
"See you later, then."
When Thame hurriedly left the house, Nano only shrugged his shoulders before taking a quick leave too, excusing himself to go back to his room. Of course, leaving Dylan alone with his biggest problem.
Even though this shouldn't be that big of a deal, Dylan could already hear his strongly pounding heart in his chest — that damn traitor — going crazy over the fact that it was suddenly only Jun and him. Fully alone. In one room, surrounded by four shielding walls.
There was no way he could pretend to not feel the obvious shift in the air.
Dylan hated how nervous this made him more than anything. Especially when there should be no reason for this.
They were bandmates, in some way even friends.
They lived together and knew each other for a few years already.
All of these above should make him feel at ease, just like he felt when it came to Thame, Nano and Pepper.
But this was Jun. This would always be different. No matter what he tried.
Fortunately for Dylan, this was only something he seemed to notice. He would probably die if Jun ever knew how much his presence truly affected him, especially when they were alone. This was probably the only time Dylan was relieved, Jun never seemed to care enough to notice him.
Or maybe, Dylan was just too good at pretending.
With a loud sigh escaping Dylan involuntarily, the silver head broke the tense silence between them, staring at the screen in front of him and that damn empty sheet he still needed to fill. Even if Thame chose to flee the scene, Dylan wouldn't avoid the work they still needed to desperately finish.
It was better for Dylan's heart that he didn't catch Jun mustering him carefully from the kitchen counter after hearing the sound of his stressed sigh.
Trying to actually concentrate, Dylan closed his eyes for a second.
But no matter how much he tried, his whole being always came back to the lingering presence of the older, humming tones of their most recent song while preparing himself something to eat for breakfast. No matter what, Dylan couldn't hide how he still felt the obvious tension in the air.
So, without thinking, he gave up, let his mind wander completely free and typed three honest lines into the white sheet on his laptop.
Can't you feel the shift in the air
When there's just you and me?
How different it seems
No, this was definitely not what he wanted to let through.
Slightly ashamed, he stared at the screen for another minute, his finger hovering over the delete button to erase the proof of his feelings.
But in the end, it didn't matter how big the urge was to press, he just couldn't, feeling deeply how honest his words were. Deleting them would make him feel guilty. Guilty for himself.
Because this was the most honest part of him, he rarely talks about, even when his heart screams at him to do so. And a small piece of him felt relieved to finally put his feelings into actual words.
"What are you writing about?", a low voice asked — the one Dylan knew the best — right next to his ear, cutting him out of his trance and causing him to instantly close the sheet he was working on, too afraid of Jun figuring something out.
Dylan didn't answer and immediately felt Jun's burning stare at his side, which made him stir uncomfortably on the couch. All while Jun just shrugged, eating his food in silence and stealing a glance at Dylan every other minute. "So mysterious."
"I'm going to work at the studio.", Dylan mumbled, while making an effort to keep his voice straight and stumbled off the couch, the laptop still in his sweating hands.
Even when Jun's attention heated up his insides, he just couldn't stop thinking about how this was all in his head. Jun will never see him the way he wanted him to.
And don't you dare act like you know
All the things I'm scared to show
The moment he arrived in his room to pack his things, he quickly typed in two more lines that were flying through his mind, too scared of might forgetting them if he didn't. Sighing with tense shoulders, he closed the laptop, while trying not to think too hard about what he had written and moving on with packing his stuff to get ready for the studio.
Now, actually concentrating on writing a song for the band — something important.
He didn't even dare to bid Jun goodbye when he left.