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The comments flooded the livestream as Beomgyu sat in front of his phone, kimchi and rice on his lap. The adrenaline of the concert was still pumping through his veins — he could almost feel the buzzing aftermath slowly drain from him.
Beomgyu chewed his food lazily, slumped back into the couch with soft music playing creating a calm ambiance. His eyes closed occasionally for periods of time which felt too long for a blink but too short for proper rest. He could easily fall asleep right now, he thought.
“Why is everyone telling me to go wash up?” he mumbled, chewing slowly. “I just sat down.”
The comments flew quickly, too quick for his sleepy eyes to read, or even process. The background music felt like it was lulling him, soothing.
“Is there no machine that will take off your makeup for you?” he stated with his eyes shut, a slight nag to his tone. “Like, if you’re just laying down like this, it would take off all your makeup for you.”
Moments like truly felt draining — almost midnight, finishing a concert, and still needing feed himself and get himself ready for bed. The faint sting of dried sweat lingered at the back of his neck, trapped under hair still stiff with hairspray. That alone was enough to make him cry out. How was he supposed to get adequate rest for tomorrow’s concert?
The truth was, the idea of standing at the sink right now felt impossible. His limbs were heavy. His shoulders ached from choreography. Even lifting his arm to eat felt like effort.
Beomgyu’s eyes blinked open with a sigh, picking up his chopsticks again to eat a piece of chicken. His gaze flicked back over to the comments, his chewing slowing at a certain name.
Taehyun.
“Want me to come take it off for you?”
Beomgyu blinked, a small smile forming on his lips. He huffed out a laugh, playing it off.
“No sorry, it’s alright.” he replied, ignoring the flutter in his chest. “I feel like you’ll take it off painfully.”
The live continued for a while longer, talking lazily to the screen about his performance at the concert. He had been proud of his presence, he felt like he had done well. Evidently, to the point of draining himself.
Eventually, Beomgyu decided to end the live, he was mere seconds from falling asleep and choking on the food in his mouth. He waved goodbye to the camera before ending the live and slumping back into the couch instantly.
The music had stopped. The comments were gone. It was just him and the faint hum of the air conditioner.
Beomgyu’s eyes drooped shut, sighing loudly at the thought of getting up. There really should be a machine to take off your makeup.
Before he could muster the energy to stand up, a light knock on his hotel door interrupted his thoughts.
“Hyung, it’s me.” Taehyun’s voice comes through the other side of the door.
Beomgyu’s lips quirked into a lazy smile. Of course he would come.
“It’s open, Taehyun-ah.” He replied loud enough to be heard through the door.
The door clicked open as Taehyun steped inside, shutting the door carefully behind him.
“You really shouldn’t leave your door unlocked.” Taehyun scolded gently as he walked over to Beomgyu who was still slumped on the couch.
Beomgyu looked up at Taehyun as the younger stood in front of him. He knew why he was here — he could never underestimate how thoughtful Taehyun was even if he didn’t seem like it on the surface.
He shrugged his shoulders slightly in response, barely moving as if that alone was too tiring. “I’m tired.”
Taehyun sighed and walked into the small ensuite bathroom, fetching the older’s makeup remover and skin care before returning to the couch. He sat beside Beomgyu, close enough that he could smell his shampoo — something clean and faintly sweet. Taehyun soaked a cotton pad carefully, then lifted a hand to steady Beomgyu’s chin
“Close your eyes.” he instructed.
Beomgyu did.
The first swipe across his cheek was cool and slow. Beomgyu felt a chill run down his spine.
Taehyun moved carefully, rubbing the cotton pad gently over Beomgyu’s eyes to remove the pretty eyeshadow he had on.
Beomgyu hummed contently in response, too tired to speak. He found it almost comical how people always dismissed Taehyun’s real attentiveness for the members. He cared more than he let on.
Taehyun threw the cotton pad away then got a new one to clean Beomgyu’s cheeks. He wiped gently, as if Beomgyu’s face was fragile which, maybe in this moment, he thought he was.
After a minute, Beomgyu’s head tipped forward slightly.
“Hey.” Taehyun said softly.
“I’m awake.” Beomgyu mumbled.
His voice was slurring now.
Taehyun’s hand moved to the back of his neck instinctively, steadying him and guiding his head to lay back on the couch.
Once he had finished wiping all the makeup off, he quietly got up to throw the cotton pads away before returning to the couch. Beomgyu’s eyes were still shut, his breathing steady. Taehyun couldn’t tell if he had actually managed to fall asleep, but he wasn’t surprised. Without the stage lights and glitter, Beomgyu looked softer. Younger.
He then started to apply some of Beomgyu’s skincare gently on the older’s face, his strokes careful and slow to ensure that he didn’t wake him up if he had fallen asleep, which he was almost certain he was now that he could feel Beomgyu’s steady breathing.
Taehyun capped the skincare products and returned them to the bathroom, washing his hands.
Taehyun walked back to the couch, a small smile on his face at Beomgyu’s slack shoulders. He felt almost guilty knowing that he would have to wake him up.
“Hyung,” He started, gently patting Beomgyu’s shoulder.
Beomgyu stirred, a frown forming with a small questioning noise. “Tyun..”
“I’m here, hyung.” Taehyun replied with a sigh, caressing the older’s shoulder in hopes of coaxing him. “Let’s get you into the bed, you’ll sleep better.”
Beomgyu groaned in protest but slowly blinked his eyes half open, rubbing at them. Taehyun’s heart swelled at the sight. He slid his hands under Beomgyu’s arms, hoisting him up carefully. Beomgyu was warm and pliant, leaning into him without hesitation. For a seance, he simply rested there, forehead pressing into Taehyun’s shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“One step at a time.” He said gently as he adjusted his grip, walking Beomgyu the short distance from the couch to the hotel bed.
If Beomgyu had been less out of it, he would have definitely protested at being babied so much. Definitely.
When the back of Beomgyu’s knees hit the mattress, he practically flopped into the bed, half on the pillows, half not. His eyelids shut again almost instantly.
Taehyun stared at him for a moment.
“Seriously?”
Beomgyu didn’t move. He had on sock on, the other one disappeared somewhere between the couch and the bed. His arm was bent awkwardly under him.
Taehyun crouched beside the bed and gently tugged the other sock off then gently manoeuvred Beomgyu into a more comfortable position.
“Roll over.” Taehyun said softly, pressing a hand to Beomgyu’s shoulder.
Miraculously, Beomgyu obeyed, turning just enough for Taehyun to pull the blanket over him and tuck it around his shoulders. He sighed — Beomgyu was needy. Then again, he had willingly helped him.
Taehyun smiled as Beomgyu’s soft snores filled the quiet room.
“Good night, hyung.”