Work Text:
The atmosphere in the car was suffocating.
Hyungwon’s grip on the steering wheel was tight, knuckles pale, jaw clenched.
Next to him, Kihyun sat angled toward the window, arms crossed, expression sharp enough to cut glass.
They hadn’t spoken since leaving their friend’s place.
Not a single word.
Just silence.
The kind of silence that wasn’t peaceful.
The kind that buzzed with electricity, with irritation, with stubborn pride.
Hyungwon glanced at Kihyun from the corner of his eye.
Nothing.
Kihyun didn’t even blink in his direction.
Fine.
Two could play the silent game.
But Hyungwon had a problem.
A habit.
It didn’t matter if he was tired, stressed, half-asleep, or mid-fight—when he was driving, his hand always drifted to one place:
Kihyun’s thigh.
It was automatic. Familiar. Comforting.
And his fingers twitched with the urge now, even though his pride screamed at him not to.
But the habit won.
Slowly, silently, cautiously…
Hyungwon reached out his right hand toward Kihyun’s thigh.
Just to rest there.
Just to feel grounded again.
Just to feel close.
But right before his hand landed—
Kihyun shifted.
Suddenly and purposefully.
He turned his entire body away, thigh pulling out of reach by a single centimeter—but enough to make Hyungwon’s palm meet empty air.
Empty.
Air.
Hyungwon froze.
His hand hovered awkwardly before retracting.
Slowly.
Stiffly.
Something hot and sharp stabbed through him.
Kihyun had never done that before.
Even during arguments.
Even when he was annoyed.
Hyungwon’s thigh-touch habit was the one thing Kihyun always let him keep.
Not tonight.
Kihyun didn’t say anything.
Didn't even look at him.
And that—that—made Hyungwon furious.
The drive to their shared apartment’s underground parking was silent but scorching with tension. By the time he parked, Hyungwon’s patience had snapped in two.
The car stopped.
The engine cut off.
Kihyun immediately reached for the door handle.
Before he could open it, Hyungwon was already outside, slamming his own door shut hard enough to echo through the concrete garage.
Kihyun frowned at the sudden movement.
Hyungwon stalked around to Kihyun’s side, face unreadable except for the burning frustration in his eyes.
He reached for the door—
But Hyungwon yanked it open first.
Kihyun blinked, startled. “What are you—”
Before he could finish the sentence, Hyungwon leaned in and scooped him up.
Bridal style.
Effortless.
Possessive.
Furious.
“Yah—! Chae Hyungwon!” Kihyun grabbed his shoulders on instinct. “Put me down! What are you doing?!”
Hyungwon didn’t.
He held him tighter.
“You moved your leg,” Hyungwon growled, as if that explained everything.
Kihyun stared at him, stunned. “I—what?”
“In the car,” Hyungwon grit out as he carried Kihyun toward the elevator. “You moved your leg so I couldn’t touch you.”
“Because I’m mad!” Kihyun hissed, kicking uselessly in Hyungwon’s arms. “I’m still mad at you!”
“I know.” Hyungwon’s voice dropped, deeper and angrier. “But you don’t block me.”
Kihyun’s breath caught.
Hyungwon stepped into the elevator, still holding him tightly, like letting go wasn’t an option.
“You can yell at me,” Hyungwon said quietly. “You can ignore me. You can tell me you don’t want to talk.”
His grip tightened on Kihyun’s waist.
“But don’t pull away from me like that. Not from me.”
Kihyun’s anger faltered—only a little.
“I didn’t think it mattered to you,” he muttered.
Hyungwon glared. “It matters. Everything about you matters.”
Silence filled the elevator, but not the cold kind anymore.
Kihyun shifted in his arms, embarrassed, avoiding Hyungwon’s eyes. “…Put me down.”
“No.”
“Hyungwon.”
“No.”
The doors opened to their floor, and Hyungwon carried him all the way to their apartment door without hesitation.
“Kihyun,” he said softly, voice a low rumble against Kihyun’s ear as he adjusted his hold, “if you’re mad, fine. But don’t shut me out.”
Kihyun’s cheeks flushed with guilt and frustration.
“…I didn’t mean to,” he whispered. “I was still really upset.”
Hyungwon finally sighed, forehead pressing briefly against Kihyun’s.
“I know. That’s why I’m carrying you. You don’t run away from me when you’re upset.”
Kihyun swallowed hard. “I wasn’t running away.”
“You were,” Hyungwon said simply. “But I’ll catch you every time.”
Kihyun’s heart stuttered.
Hyungwon gently—very gently—set him down only when Kihyun’s fingers curled into his shirt, holding on.
The apartment door clicked shut behind them, the sound echoing in the dim hallway.
Kihyun immediately slipped out of Hyungwon’s arms the moment his feet touched the floor, cheeks red, frustration simmering.
“I’m going to shower,” Kihyun muttered, avoiding eye contact.
But when he took a step—
Hyungwon’s hand wrapped gently but firmly around his wrist.
“Kihyun.”
“I’m tired,” Kihyun snapped. “I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“You’re not going to sleep like this,” Hyungwon said quietly. “Not when we’re still angry. Not when you won’t look at me.”
Kihyun pulled his wrist, but Hyungwon didn’t let go.
“Hyungwon,” he warned.
“No,” Hyungwon said simply.
That one word froze Kihyun in place—because Hyungwon rarely used that tone. Calm. Cold. Unmoving.
Hyungwon tugged gently, guiding Kihyun toward the couch. He didn’t force him, didn’t drag him—just held him in place, preventing him from running away again.
“Sit.”
“I don’t want to—”
“Sit,” Hyungwon repeated, softer this time.
Kihyun hesitated… then reluctantly dropped onto the couch with a frustrated sigh.
Hyungwon sat beside him, close but not touching.
Not yet.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy.
Finally, Hyungwon spoke.
“You really hurt me today.”
Kihyun’s head snapped up, surprised.
Hyungwon wasn’t glaring.
He wasn’t pouting.
He wasn’t stiff with anger.
He looked genuinely wounded.
Kihyun swallowed. “…Because I moved my leg?”
“It wasn’t just that.” Hyungwon’s voice softened. “You shut me out. Completely. For the first time.”
Kihyun looked down at his hands. “I was still mad.”
“You were protecting your anger,” Hyungwon murmured, “not protecting us.”
That hit Kihyun straight in the chest.
Hyungwon leaned back, exhaling slowly. “I reach for your thigh without thinking. It’s my habit. It’s where my hand goes every time. Even when we fight.”
“I know,” Kihyun whispered.
“So when you moved away…”
Hyungwon finally met his eyes.
“I felt like you didn’t want me.”
Kihyun’s breath caught at the honesty in his tone.
The rawness.
Hyungwon wasn’t someone who admitted vulnerability easily.
“Hyungwon…” His voice cracked. “That wasn’t my intention.”
“What was your intention?”
“To stay mad,” Kihyun said honestly. “I wasn’t ready to stop.”
“And you think I was?” Hyungwon laughed—quiet, sharp. “I was furious. You drove me insane all night.”
Kihyun looked away. “Then why did you try to touch me?”
“Because it’s you,” Hyungwon said simply.
“As angry as I am, I still want to feel you. I still want to know we’re okay underneath all the yelling.”
Kihyun bit his lip, guilt twisting in his stomach.
Hyungwon leaned closer, lowering his voice.
“You tell me not to bottle things up, right? But you did exactly that in the car.”
Kihyun’s eyes flicked up, defensive. “I needed time to calm down.”
“And I gave you that,” Hyungwon replied. “I didn’t talk. I didn’t push. I drove silently. I waited.”
Kihyun’s chest tightened.
“But pushing my hand away like that…” Hyungwon shook his head. “It felt like you were pushing me out of your heart.”
Kihyun’s breath hitched. “Hyungwon, no—never.”
“Then tell me,” Hyungwon said, leaning in just a little.
“Tell me what you were feeling.”
This time, Kihyun didn’t run.
He didn’t turn away.
He didn’t hide behind anger.
“I was hurt,” he whispered. “You brushed off my concerns in front of everyone. You made me feel dramatic.”
Hyungwon’s face softened instantly. “I didn’t realize it came off that way.”
“I know,” Kihyun murmured. “But it stung. And I didn’t want to forgive you too fast.”
Hyungwon slid a little closer.
Still not touching.
Still waiting for Kihyun to meet him halfway.
“You don’t have to forgive me fast,” he said.
“But don’t punish me by pushing me away physically. Not like that.”
Kihyun’s eyes glistened.
And finally—finally—he scooted closer until their knees brushed.
“Come here,” he whispered.
Hyungwon didn’t hesitate.
He cupped Kihyun’s cheek, thumb brushing gently across his skin.
Kihyun leaned into the touch, eyes fluttering closed.
“I’m sorry,” Kihyun breathed. “For hurting you. For shutting down.”
“I’m sorry,” Hyungwon whispered back. “For making you feel small.”
Kihyun slid his arms around Hyungwon’s waist, burying his face against his chest.
Hyungwon exhaled, relief washing over him, and immediately wrapped Kihyun in his arms—tight, warm, protective.
“You’re not sleeping angry,” Hyungwon murmured into his hair.
“I can’t sleep when you’re not okay with me.”
Kihyun clung to him tighter. “I’m okay with you.”
“You sure?”
Kihyun nodded against his chest. “Yeah. I’m done being mad.”
Hyungwon kissed the top of his head. “Good. Then we can sleep.”
Kihyun pulled back slightly, eyes narrowed. “But you carried me bridal style.”
Hyungwon smirked. “And I’ll do it again. Anytime you try to run from me.”
Kihyun shoved his chest lightly, face red. “Don’t you dare.”
Hyungwon only pulled him back into his arms.
“We’re sleeping together tonight,” he announced.
Kihyun rolled his eyes. “We sleep together every night.”
“Exactly,” Hyungwon said, brushing their noses together.
“So don’t make me chase you next time.”