Work Text:
The keyboard's keys chatter incessantly while Nam-gyu works at his essay. He's seated on the sofa, back straight against it. He is clad in sweats and a matching sweater, hair tied loosely in the back.
Nam-gyu sighs, pausing to massage his temple and push his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. A quick glance at the clock, and a slight frown. Thanos should be home any minute; he said he would be home at six. He was running to the store to pick up something for dinner in celebration of Nam-gyu's promotion—nothing crazy of course, with the job he's got, but something worth celebrating nonetheless, considering their situation.
And right on cue, the door clicks open and Thanos steps through, a plastic bag in each hand.
"Hey," Nam-gyu greets placidly.
"Yo." Thanos steps behind the sofa and into the kitchen to set the bags down on the counter. He comes back then, and stands behind Nam-gyu before bowing down and resting his cheek on the top of his head, arms snaking around the base of his neck.
"Store any fun?" Nam-gyu asks him with a soft giggle. "You find anything good?"
"Yes, sir, I did," Thanos replies, voice muffled against his hair. "I got your favorite. But, not just anything. I'm gonna make it from scratch. Or, well, learn to. Probably good that I've never done it before, 'cause. you'll probably love it so much that you'll never wanna go to our spot again."
"Oh, yeah?" Nam-gyu raises his hand, letting his fingers curl in Thanos's undercut. "Thanos the Great is a chef now, huh? Never thought I'd see the day. No offense."
"Are you saying that I, the Legend Thanos, can't cook? You'll see, my boy. You'll never want to eat anything else again."
"Right. Do you not remember the time you burnt our noodles? No fucking clue how you managed to do that, by the way."
"Okay, that's like, not fair. It's not my fault you had the world's shittiest cooking supplies."
"My stuff was not the problem and you know it."
"Right, right, if that's what helps you sleep at night. Anyway, you're gonna love this. It'll have it's own Thanos spin on it."
"Oh, God," Nam-gyu laughs. "Only a prayer will save me."
"No need, my boy. One hundred percent edible. I swear. Come on, you love the bulgogi from that shady ass restaurant. Trust me. I can cook it. I even got the stuff to make banchan. Listen, you don't even know how my mom does it. You're in for a real surprise, Nam, I'm telling you."
"All right, all right. I trust you. And, hey— you know I'm just fucking around, right?"
"Huh? Yeah, bro, 'course." Thanos lifts his head and gives him a sideways look. "Obviously."
"Good, because I do really appreciate this. I'm, like, really excited to try it. I've been working on my paper all day, and I forgot to stop and eat, so."
"Well, don't worry your pretty little head. Thanos will take care of that. And you." He kisses Nam-gyu's head. "You ready now?"
"Yeah. A break sounds really good. My brain feels like mush."
"Perfect. Then a break is exactly what you'll get."
And it is. It feels great to be able to sit back and not have to worry about dinner, work, or any of his responsibilities. It feels great to know that Thanos has got him. Of course, he knew that already, but the reassurance sure is welcome.
About fifteen minutes later, Thanos calls, "Hey, Gyu! Come here, everything's done."
And immediately, Nam-gyu's hit with the pleasant smell of bulgogi. Part of him is surprised that Thanos was able to pull something like this together so quickly, but the bigger part of him is just glad that he has.
"You weren't kidding," he breathes as he sits down. There's a glass of wine for him on the table, too. "God. Thank you so much."
"Anything for you, baby," Thanos tells him, sitting down across the table. "You like it?"
And—Nam-gyu does. A lot. Thanos was right: it is the best bulogi he's ever had.
"Yeah— God, yeah. Holy shit, man. You said this is how your mom makes it?"
"Uh-huh." Thanos grins at him. "I told you. It's, like, a staple at home. I'm so glad you like it."
And Nam-gyu, overcome with love, with gratitude, slides out of his chair and steps around the table to give Thanos a kiss on the cheek.
Thanos startles a little, pleasantly surprised. He swallows his food before leaning into the kiss with his lips.
"Love you," Thanos murmurs when Nam-gyu pulls away. "I'm really proud of you. Always."
And Nam-gyu kisses him again, His chest swells with love, with pride—in himself, in Thanos. He could almost cry.
"I love you," he answers finally. "Thank you."
"You deserve everything. Everything and more. I want to give you everything."
Nam-gyu wants to say something, but the words die on his tongue. He can only hope that Thanos knows that he wants to give him everything, too.
When Nam-gyu returns to his seat, he eats the rest of his meal rather quickly. Drinks up the wine too, until a pleasant warmth spreads through his belly.
"I love you," Nam-gyu tells him again, quieter this time.
"I love you too. You done, baby?"
Thanos stands, collecting both of their dishes and placing them in the sink. When he comes back around, he digs his fingers into Nam-gyu's shoulders, firm but not hard enough to hurt.
"Massage, huh?" Nam-gyu grins. "Don't I feel special. Feels good. Thank you."
"Wanna go sit down?" Thanos asks. "I'll rub your shoulders if you want. You've been working so hard, you must be so tired."
"Could you?"
"Yeah, of course. Of course, Nam. Come on, let's go sit down. I'll put on a movie. Your favorite."
Thanos leads him into the living room, sitting down next to him on the sofa. He puts on the movie before he wraps his arms around him and resumes his rubbing on his shoulders.
"This okay?" he asks. "Feel good?"
"Yeah. Yeah, really good."
"You need to relax, Nam," Thanos says, breathing out a laugh. "You're gonna give yourself an ulcer or something."
"I think I'll live," Nam-gyu huffs. "As long as I've got you, or whatever."
"Awwh, my Nam-su! You're so sweet. I dunno why everyone thinks you're a bitch. Even if you are mean sometimes."
"Who says I'm a bitch?" Nam-gyu's eyes narrow.
Thanos laughs. "No one! No one, baby don't worry."
"Uh-huh."
Thanos leans in kisses Nam-gyu's temple. "Either way," he whispers, "I think you're such a sweetheart. My sweetheart."
Nam-gyu hums. "You think so? I think you're the only person on the planet who does." His tone isn't unpleasant or anything. Neutral.
"Good," Thanos answers firmly. "More for me."
"Yeah? 'Course all for you. Who else?"
"You're so pretty," Thanos says suddenly, gaze fixed on him. And it doesn't matter how many times Thanos looks at him like this. He'll always fluster and grow warm. Cold exterior giving way to something warmer.
"Thank you," he stammers. "Thank you, Thanos."
"You're always so pretty," Thanos continues. He tucks Nam-gyu's hair behind his ear. "You know, you've always been so gorgeous."
"Ah, come on," Nam-gyu murmurs. The nape of his neck burns, along with the tups of his ears.
"It's true!" Thanos lets go of Nam-gyu's shoulders and stands up hurriedly. "Let me show you!" And before Nam-gyu can reply, Thanos is down the hall, in the bedroom. When he returns, he's got their photo album in his hands.
"Oh, Thanos, come on. . ."
"No, no, look!" Thanos sits back down, flipping through each page with an almost boyish wonder. He stops then, pointing to one photo. "See, here! You were gorgeous here."
It's a photo of them on their first date. Thanos is taking the photo, so he takes up most of the space. He's holding up a peace sign to the camera. Nam-gyu is in the back, though, smiling awkwardly with a peace sign of his own. He's wearing his best sweater. His hair is done up all nice. A certain fondness washes over him, then. It was a simpler time for them both, but it was a horrible time for them as individuals. And now here they are. It feels like a lifetime ago.
Regardless, Nam-gyu's blush deepends, and he groans, "Oh, Thanos, no. Do not go looking at all my old pictures. Oh, my God."
"But you were so cute! Look, there's little Nam-su's high school grad—"
Nam-gyu snatches the album from Thanos's hands and shoves it underneath himself. Thanos laughs, delighted.
"Thanos. That is so fucking embarrassing, oh my God."
"But you really were cute! And you still are. That's the point I'm trying to make. You're cute."
Nam-gyu hums. Cute isn't exactly the word he would use to describe himself, but if Thanos thinks so then it must be true.
"Yeah?" he finds himself answering, a small grin on his face.
"Yeah. What, don't believe me?"
"And what if I don't?" He's only teasing, of course, but his curiosity's gotten the best of him.
"Well, then, I guess I'll have to prove it." And then his lips are on Nam-gyu's, and his fngers are carding through Nam-gyu's hair, and his body is pressing against Nam-gyu's.
When he pulls away he whispers, "Let me show you what I love about you."
And who is Nam-gyu to decline?
"Okay," comes his reply, quick and all too sure.
Thanos smiles at him. "Okay," he echoes. He brings his thumb to the space just under Nam-gyu's eye, the pad of his thumb gently caressing, back and forth in a smooth motion.
"I love your eyes," he says. "Love the way you look at me, only me. And I love how you refuse to wear your glasses, except for when you're staring at your computer screen because it hurts too much if you don't."
Huh, Nam-gyu thinks blissfully. Here is a man who notices things that he himself hardly notices. How lucky is he to be seen so deeply by someone so wonderful?
"I love your nose," Thanos continues, pressing a quick peck to the bridge. "And I love your mouth. I love the way you kiss me, and honestly, I love the way you bitch at everyone. It's great. I love the sounds you make for me when I fuck you good. Yeah. You make the prettiest sounds, all for me, only for me."
Nam-gyu's cheeks burn. Thanos adds, "And I love the way you get all flustered like that. I love that it's because of me."
"I love that it's because of you, too," he says softly. "You're amazing." And it's true. He loves Thanos. Every bit of him. Loves the way he can't seem to stand still for longer than half a second, loves the songs he writes for his ears only, loves how he's not afraid to be himself, not afraid of anything. He's not afraid to say or do something gross in front of him. And sometimes his gross behavior blends into mealtime. Normally Nam-gyu would be driven insane by a habit so gross, but it's Thanos. And he loves Thanos, gross eating and all.
"Oh, baby," Thanos says. Grabs his hand and presses kisses to his knuckles. He pauses for a moment, staring down at his hand. "You know what else I love?"
"What?" Nam-gyu squirms in place, overcome with giddiness. He's never felt so seen before, so loved.
"Your hands. I love painting your nails when you paint mine. I love how they fit in mine, especially when it's cold. But most of all, I love the moles on your fingers." And without a moment's hesitance, he kisses each individual one. Any other time, Nam-gyu would scoff and shove him playfully, calling him sappy and corny and every name under the sun. But there's something so romantic about this gesture, something so special. Nam-gyu can't help but follow along.
"And you know what?" Thanos adds. "You know what I'm gonna do?"
"What're you gonna do?"
"Gonna get a nice, big ring to go on this finger." And he kisses the ring finger again. Nam-gyu giggles, soft and airy. "A big gemstone on it too, if that's what you want. As big as you want. As big as you can imagine."
Nam-gyu hums, content. He leans against Thanos, head tilted up in order to really get a good look at him. He's excited. He's got one of those looks on his face. One that he gets when he's come up with one of his ideas and isn't going to let it go. He's grinning, eyes squinted. Talking excitedly, now about wedding plans, how he's thought all about it, how he's been thinking about it for a long while now. Everything, from clothing to food to music. And Nam-gyu's flattered. It's endearing, it's reassuring. To hear all that Thanos has been thinking, to know that he is included in all of it.
Even if marriage isn't a possibility for them, it's nice to know that Thanos cares so deeply about it. About them.
"I've even thought about a honeymoon."
"Oh, yeah?"
"How about Tokyo? Or maybe even the States. Beaches in California. What do you think about that? Get a real nice hotel on the beach and stay there for a whole week."
Nam-gyu cranes his neck, enough to kiss Thanos's jaw. "A whole week, huh?" he asks, and the smile in his voice is evident.
"We'll get room service."
Nam-gyu giggles again.
Thanos adds, quickly, "Unless you don't want any of that! Whatever you want, Nam, we'll do."
"You know that I'm happy as long as it's with you. It sounds nice, all of it. I'd love that. I love you."
Thanos pulls Nam-gyu in closer, kissing the top of his head again and again. "I love you more," he rebuttals. Stops for a moment, contemplating. Then: "But you're, like, not opposed to that?"
"To what?"
"You know. The whole getting married thing."
Nam-gyu's eyebrows raise. He laughs; not mockingly, not anything. Not anything but genuine, sweet laughter. "Of course I'm not opposed to that," he says, and he kisses him again. "I love you. When the day comes when we can get married, we will. I can promise that."
"You want to marry me?"
"Are you seriously going to ask me that?"
Thanos hums. Ponders again. Nam-gyu wants to kiss his bottom lip, but he holds off on doing so. Then, wordlessly, Thanos slides the ring off of his finger. And still, without a word, he slides it onto Nam-gyu's ring finger.
"H—"
"I know it's not a real engagement ring or anything. But. . . Until I can get you one for real, is this okay?"
For several moments, Nam-gyu's speechless. Thanos is proposing. Like, proposing. And he's wearing his old sweater and sweatpants, his hair is a mess, and he hasn't showered yet. He's a mess, and Thanos is proposing.
But, he supposes, that's the beauty of it. It doesn't matter if he's dressed in his most expensive clothes, if he's doused himself in his best cologne; if he hasn't changed his clothes in a day or two, if he hasn't washed his hair. Beneath all of it is the same Nam-gyu. Thanos knows this, and knows it well. Even if it's a little embarrassing, he's sort of glad that it ended up this way.
"It's perfect," he says, and he means it.
Thanos kisses him. Soft, yet firm. When they pull away, Nam-gyu gasps with a soft, "Oh!" and he removes one of his own rings. Presents it to Thanos with a grin, sliding it onto his ring finger.
"There." He grins, triumphant. "Now you have one too."
Thanos laughs. "I love you, you know?"
"I know. I love you too."
"Wait! I have an idea!" Thanos pulls his phone out of his pocket and turns the camera on. "Come on, Nam, let's show 'em off! For our album."
With an eyeroll and a smirk, Nam-gyu agrees. Thanos poses his hand at such an angle that it takes up half of the screen. But then again, so does Nam-gyu. Through the spaces in between their fingers, their smiles are wide. Captures their essence perfectly, even if majority of it is their hands.
When Thanos gets the photo developed, they stick it inside of the album together. It's place is directly underneath the one taken on their first date.