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The front door clicks open with the softest sound, barely louder than the whisper of the midnight wind outside. The apartment is wrapped in darkness, only a faint amber glow from the streetlight slipping through the curtains and stretching thin lines across the floor. Seokmin steps inside carefully, easing the door shut behind him with practiced hands. He pauses for a second, listening. There is silence. The kind of silence that tells him Joshua is already deep in sleep.
He slips off his shoes slowly, placing them neatly by the door instead of letting them drop. His coat follows, folded over his arm rather than tossed aside like he usually does. Tonight, he moves like a secret, like a quiet shadow crossing familiar ground. His shoulders are tired from work, but the thought of Joshua waiting unknowingly in their bed makes something warm bloom in his chest.
He walks down the hallway, each step deliberate, avoiding the one loose floorboard that tends to creak. The bedroom door is slightly ajar. He pushes it open just enough to slip inside.
Joshua is exactly where he expected him to be.
Curled slightly on his side, hugging a pillow to his chest like it's something precious. His hair falls softly over his forehead, lips parted just a little. The blanket is tangled around his waist, one leg stretched out, the other bent lazily. His breathing is deep and steady, rising and falling in a rhythm that fills the quiet room.
Seokmin stands there for a moment, just watching.
His expression softens immediately. The exhaustion from the office drains away, replaced by something gentler. He shuts the door carefully and moves toward the wardrobe, changing out of his office clothes with small, efficient movements. Fabric rustles quietly. The zipper of his bag is closed slowly. He even places his watch down without letting it clink against the table.
When he finally lifts the blanket and slips into bed, the mattress dips slightly under his weight. Joshua stirs faintly but doesn't wake, only hugging the pillow tighter for a second before relaxing again.
Seokmin turns onto his side so they're face to face.
Up close, Joshua looks even softer. His lashes cast faint shadows on his cheeks. There's a tiny crease between his brows that only appears when he sleeps deeply. Seokmin smiles like a fool, eyes tracing every feature as if he's memorizing him again. His fingers hover for a moment before gently brushing a strand of hair away from Joshua's face.
"You're so pretty it's unfair," he whispers, voice barely audible. "You know that?"
Joshua doesn't answer, of course. His breathing stays slow, steady. But Seokmin continues anyway, his voice warm and fond. "I worked so hard today just to come home to you. You have no idea."
He reaches for the pillow Joshua is clutching and carefully, carefully tugs it away. Joshua resists unconsciously for a second, arms tightening around it before loosening again. Seokmin slides the pillow out and places it behind his own back.
Now there's nothing between them.
He shifts closer, closing the small distance until their bodies are nearly touching. Joshua stirs again, mumbling something unintelligible in his sleep, and Seokmin freezes for a moment, waiting. When Joshua settles again, Seokmin exhales softly.
He lowers his head, resting it on Joshua's arm that lies stretched across the mattress. The position brings him face to Joshua's chest, close enough to hear the steady thump of his heartbeat beneath the thin fabric of his sleep shirt.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
It's comforting and familiar.
Seokmin wraps one arm around Joshua's waist, fingers spreading gently across his back. Then he nuzzles forward, pressing his cheek against Joshua's chest. He rubs his nose lightly there, breathing in the scent that is unmistakably Joshua—soft detergent, a hint of shampoo, something warm and personal that makes his chest ache in the best way.
Joshua's hand moves instinctively. Half-asleep, barely conscious, his fingers curl into Seokmin's shirt and pull him closer. It's automatic. Muscle memory. Even in dreams, Joshua chooses him.
Seokmin's lips curve into a small, lovesick smile. "Even asleep, huh?" he murmurs.
He lifts his head slowly and presses a soft kiss to Joshua's lips. It's gentle, lingering, barely there. Then another at the corner of his mouth. A slow trail to his jaw, down to the curve of his neck. His lips are warm against Joshua's skin, his kisses light and affectionate, nothing hurried.
Joshua makes a tiny noise in his sleep, something between a hum and a sigh. His fingers twitch against Seokmin's back. Seokmin can't help but chuckle quietly, the sound low and fond.
"You're so cute," he whispers against Joshua's neck.
He nuzzles there, pressing his nose into the warm skin just below Joshua's ear, breathing him in deeply. He leaves soft kisses along the side of his neck, small and unhurried. His forehead eventually rests there, pressed against the pulse point. He can feel Joshua's warmth seeping into him, steady and safe.
Joshua shifts slightly, tilting his head to the side as if giving him better access even in sleep. Another soft mumble leaves his lips.
Seokmin laughs under his breath again, quieter this time. He presses his face fully into the crook of Joshua's neck, holding him tighter. Then, slowly, he trails one last path downward, pressing a tender kiss over Joshua's chest, right above his heart.
He lingers there.
His palm spreads over Joshua's ribcage, feeling the steady rhythm beneath it. "I love you," he whispers softly against his skin, the words barely louder than a breath.
Joshua doesn't wake. He only exhales slowly, chest rising under Seokmin's cheek.
Seokmin shifts slightly, settling comfortably. He buries his face against Joshua's chest, one arm wrapped securely around him while Joshua's arm remains draped over his shoulders. Their legs tangle naturally beneath the blanket.
The room is quiet, filled only with the synchronized sound of their breathing.
Seokmin closes his eyes, the steady heartbeat beneath his ear acting like a lullaby. The faint streetlight glow paints them in soft gold, and within minutes, the tension leaves his body completely. Held close, safe and warm, he drifts into sleep with his face pressed against the place where Joshua's heart beats steadily beneath his skin.
The first thing Joshua becomes aware of is the faint bluish light filtering through the curtains. It's soft and thin, the kind of early dawn glow that makes the room feel hushed and suspended in time. His eyes flutter open slowly, lashes sticking together for a second before separating. He doesn't move immediately. He just lies there, suspended between sleep and consciousness.
It is five in the morning. The world is still quiet.
His gaze drifts forward automatically, unfocused at first, then slowly sharpening on the familiar outline of his dressing table across the room. The mirror reflects a dim silhouette of the bed, the curtains gently stirring from the faintest breeze. Everything looks exactly as it should. Safe and still.
Then he notices something else. A familiar warmth and weight. An arm around him.
Joshua blinks once, then twice, and lowers his gaze slowly.
There, pressed against his chest like he belongs there, is Seokmin.
His face is turned inward, cheek squished softly against Joshua's shirt. His hair is slightly messy from sleep, strands falling over his forehead. His arm is wrapped tightly around Joshua's torso, fingers curled securely at his side like he's afraid Joshua might disappear.
A small smile curves on his lips, sleepy and fond. "When did you get here, huh?" he whispers under his breath, voice still rough with sleep. "Sneaky."
Seokmin doesn't stir. His breathing remains deep and even, warm against Joshua's skin through the fabric. Joshua can feel the steady rise and fall of his chest, can feel how solid and large he is even while folded into him like this.
Joshua shifts slightly, careful not to disturb him. His arm, which had been resting loosely around Seokmin's shoulders, tightens gently. His hand slides up, fingers slipping into Seokmin's hair. He tangles them there slowly, combing through the soft strands with lazy affection.
He lowers his face and presses it into Seokmin's hair, inhaling deeply. It smells faintly of shampoo and the outside air, a trace of something crisp and night-cool still clinging to him. Beneath that, it's just Seokmin. Warm and familiar.
Joshua exhales softly through his nose, lips brushing the top of his head. "You must've been tired," he murmurs quietly. "Coming home this late..."
He notices the blanket has slipped down Seokmin's back, leaving part of his shoulder exposed to the cool dawn air. Joshua lifts his head slightly and reaches for the blanket, pulling it up carefully. He drapes it over Seokmin's shoulders, smoothing it down his back with a gentle palm, tucking it around him securely as if wrapping something precious.
"There," he whispers. "You'll get cold."
Seokmin sighs faintly in his sleep at the added warmth, his hold tightening unconsciously for a second. The sound makes Joshua's smile deepen.
His fingers return to Seokmin's hair, combing through it slowly, rhythmically. Each stroke is unhurried, nails lightly grazing his scalp. He feels Seokmin melt further against him, his body completely relaxed, completely trusting.
Joshua leans down as much as he can in their position and presses a soft kiss to Seokmin's forehead. Then another at his temple, lingering there for a second. Those are the only places he can reach comfortably, but it feels enough.
"I love you." He whispers quietly into the stillness of the room, lips pressed to Seokmin's temple.
The words hang between them, warm and real.
He shifts slightly, adjusting his hold so that Seokmin's face is pulled closer into the curve of his neck. Joshua presses his cheek gently against Seokmin's forehead, his chin resting lightly atop his head. He tightens his arms around him, holding him fully now.
He loves this, how someone so much bigger than him fits so perfectly in his arms. How Seokmin, who carries so much strength in his frame, becomes soft and vulnerable like this. Peaceful, safe and his.
Joshua runs his fingers once more through his hair, slower this time, until his own eyelids begin to grow heavy again. The quiet of the dawn wraps around them. The faint light brightens by a shade, but the room remains calm, untouched by the world outside.
Seokmin breathes steadily against his neck.
Joshua closes his eyes, tightening his embrace just a little more. His fingers remain tangled in Seokmin's hair as sleep gently pulls him back under. The last thing he feels is the warmth in his arms and the steady heartbeat pressed close to his own, both of them cocooned together in the peaceful early morning hush.
Morning comes softly this time, not in blue but in gold. Sunlight slips through the curtains in thin, warm stripes, stretching across the bed and climbing slowly over tangled sheets and quiet bodies. The room feels warmer than it did at dawn, filled with the gentle hum of a waking city far below.
Joshua stirs first. His eyelashes flutter, and he blinks against the brighter light. For a moment he doesn't move, just listens. To the steady breathing near his collarbone, to the faint rustle of curtains, to the quiet comfort wrapped around him.
Seokmin is still tucked into him, face resting in the curve of his neck. One arm is slung securely around Joshua's waist, fingers loosely curled against his side. He looks impossibly peaceful.
Joshua smiles faintly. "Seokmin," he murmurs softly, voice still thick with sleep. No response. Not even a twitch.
Joshua narrows his eyes slightly, studying him. The breathing is just a little too even. The way his lips are set is just a little too composed.
"You're awake," Joshua whispers suspiciously.
Nothing.
Joshua hums quietly and shifts one hand down from Seokmin's hair to his side. His fingers hover for a second before lightly brushing along Seokmin's ribs. Then again, more deliberately.
A small twitch.
Joshua's smile widens. "Oh, you're definitely awake."
He starts to tickle him gently, just enough to tease. His fingers dance lightly along Seokmin's side, careful but persistent. Seokmin squirms almost immediately, a muffled laugh escaping despite himself. His hold loosens as he wiggles out of Joshua's embrace just slightly, lifting his head from Joshua's neck.
Their faces come into view of each other at the same time. Seokmin's eyes open slowly, betrayed and amused. Joshua is already smiling, soft and victorious.
"You're evil," Seokmin mutters, voice low and rough from sleep.
Joshua laughs quietly. "You were pretending."
"I was resting my eyes."
"Oh really?"
Seokmin doesn't answer that. He just smiles in that helpless, lovesick way he always does when he looks at Joshua up close. The sunlight catches in his eyes, making them warmer, softer.
Joshua's hand returns to Seokmin's hair automatically, fingers slipping in and combing through it with familiar tenderness. He smooths it back from his forehead, then lets his thumb trace lightly over Seokmin's eyebrow, following its shape. His touch drifts down to his cheek, brushing over the soft skin there.
"You stole my pillow," Joshua says casually, though his voice is affectionate.
Seokmin's lips curve slowly. His hand, which had been resting on Joshua's waist, slides gently beneath the hem of Joshua's shirt. His palm meets warm bare skin, and his fingers spread slightly, caressing the small of his back in slow, lazy strokes.
"You stole my heart," Seokmin replies without hesitation.
Joshua rolls his eyes, but the smile tugging at his lips betrays him. "Is that so? Quite a fair trade, then."
"I think I got the better end of the deal," Seokmin whispers. His hand moves softly against Joshua's skin, thumb brushing absent circles just above his hip. The touch is warm, unhurried, familiar. Joshua's breath catches slightly, but he keeps his hand steady in Seokmin's hair, fingers threading deeper, gently tugging him closer.
"Did you sleep well?" Joshua asks quietly.
"Best sleep I've had all week," Seokmin answers, gaze never leaving Joshua's face. "You're very comfortable."
Joshua huffs softly. "I know."
They stay like that for a moment, just looking at each other. No rush. No urgency. Just quiet adoration. Joshua's fingers move again, tracing the curve of Seokmin's cheekbone, brushing his temple, smoothing over his eyebrow once more as if memorizing him in daylight this time.
Seokmin leans into the touch instinctively. "Don't look at me like that," he murmurs.
"Like what?"
"Like I'm something precious."
Joshua's expression softens. "You are."
Seokmin's breath falters for a second. His hand tightens slightly at Joshua's waist, pulling him closer until their chests press fully together. The warmth between them grows, not hurried but deep and steady.
Joshua's fingers curl more firmly in Seokmin's hair. He tilts his head slightly, eyes dropping briefly to Seokmin's lips before returning to his gaze.
"Come here," Joshua whispers.
As if he wasn't already impossibly close.
Joshua pulls him in by the hand tangled in his hair, guiding him forward. Their lips meet slowly at first, soft and familiar. Then deeper. Joshua's other hand slides to Seokmin's cheek, holding him steady as the kiss grows more intent, more consuming.
Seokmin exhales softly against his mouth, his hand still warm beneath Joshua's shirt, thumb pressing lightly into his skin as if grounding himself there.
Joshua tightens his grip in Seokmin's hair just slightly, tilting his head to deepen the kiss further. Their breaths mingle. The sunlight spills across them fully now, warming their faces as they hold each other close.
The world outside continues waking. But in that bed, tangled in sheets and each other, they stay suspended in that kiss—slow, deep, and full of everything they never need to say aloud.