Work Text:
click click click click click
It's the first thing Jeno groggily registers when he comes to. He doesn't know how long he has slept nor what time it could possibly be. There are numerous and continuous clicks coming from beside him, but he has no desire to find out what these are as the burning feeling behind his eyelids desperately tell him to keep them closed. In his sleep-filled state, he ignores the sounds and chooses to return to his slumber.
clack clack clack clack clack
He's pulled back from falling asleep once again, furrowing his eyebrows at the loud and harsh sounds. Although still feeling drowsy, he finally makes the connection that those were the sounds of someone typing on a keyboard. He also realizes that there could be no other culprit than Jaemin, who he was most definitely cuddling before he fell asleep.
He's even more surprised that the younger is still awake despite the exhausting week they had. For the past days, they would already be at work before the sun was up and only got home past midnight. All Jeno can really recall doing after getting home was fixing their things while he waits for his boyfriend to finish showering, taking his shower, going to bed, and then drifting off to deep sleep. Or so he thought they both did.
When the sounds of the keys don't cease and he's sure it isn't a figment of his muddled brain, Jeno blearily opens his eyes. Once he blinks away the blurriness, he is greeted by the sight of Jaemin seated with his back against the headboard, absorbed in whatever he's typing on his laptop. Notably, he notices his wrinkled eyebrows, squinted eyes, pursed lips, and tense jaw.
When Jaemin lets out a a particular deep sigh before aggressively slamming the backspace key, Jeno makes his wakeful state known by placing his hand on top of the other's.
Jaemin quickly looks down, his earlier frown turning into a soft and apologetic smile. "Hi, did I wake you?"
Jeno shakes his head before asking, "Why are you awake?"
He watches as Jaemin's smile falters. "Just… finishing something up." Jeno stays silent at his response.
Truthfully, he already knows what the younger was doing. Jeno doesn't really know when Jaemin had started this routine—organizing notes from their meetings, typing out his thoughts, and listing what could be done better.
He had always admired Jaemin's diligence. Jeno used to only see the results of this through cleanly formatted files, charming smiles, and captivating performances. But with how long they had known each other, Jeno was bound to see the numerous sleepless nights behind these, whether the younger liked it or not. Ever since they were officially in a relationship and started living in the same space, Jeno was given a front row seat to almost every one of these efforts.
"Jaeminnie, we have a rest day tomorrow. You sure it can't wait?" Jaemin purses his lips as he shakes his head.
"It's fine… Can't sleep anyways either," he replies while turning back to his laptop. Although said in a determined tone, Jeno doesn't miss the uneasy look on his face.
He decides to probe a little more. "Baby, what's really bothering you?" Jaemin opts to stay silent, keeping his gaze fixed on the screen and his hands on the keys.
When Jeno sees the internal conflict in his eyes, he properly sits himself up and moves his hand to intertwine it with the other's. He keeps his gaze on Jaemin as the other boy stares at their interlaced fingers.
"I want this to go well," a small voice says.
Jeno can't help himself from softening at the words. "Me too."
They've spent the past months preparing for their duo unit's debut. Ever since they were given the green light, they worked earnestly to make the dream a reality amidst their busy schedules. However, anxiety never fails to creep up behind their backs and whisper into their ears any chance it gets.
Jeno leans his head on Jaemin's shoulder, pulling their joined fingers to his lap and caressing them with his other hand.
"I really did try to sleep… But no matter how tired I felt, I couldn't calm myself down with all these thoughts in my head," Jaemin whispers as he leans his head on Jeno's.
"Such as?"
There's a pause in the conversation as Jaemin hesitates. "I think I'm wasting time. I could be doing something more productive instead."
Jeno furrows his eyebrows as he lifts his head to look at Jaemin. The latter turns to him with a sheepish smile. "I know it's irrational, but I can't help it," he continues. "Time lost doing nothing means time wasted."
"You're not doing nothing," Jeno firmly says as he squeezes the other's hand. "You're resting."
Jaemin shakes his head, letting out a forced laugh as he looks down. "I can't rest yet."
"Jaemin." The older gently puts his hand under the younger's chin and lifts it up. When Jaemin looks at him, Jeno feels his heart clench as the laptop's light accentuates the other's dark eye bags and exhausted eyes. "You've already done so much."
"But it's not enough, I can do so much more."
"Sure, but you can do that after you rest," Jeno counters. "And I disagree, you've done more than enough. In fact, you've gone above and beyond."
Jaemin raises an eyebrow to contest. Jeno mirrors the look back before saying, "You were the one who pushed this to reality."
"Yeah but—" "And I've been with you throughout the entire process. I see how much effort you're putting into this."
Jeno moves his hand to cup Jaemin's face, the other hesitating but ultimately melting into his touch. "It might not feel enough because you want this to go perfectly, and I understand. I want things to go well too, my Jaeminnie."
He carefully thumbs the cheek of his beloved before continuing, "But I don't want all this to be at the cost of your health—physically, mentally, or emotionally."
Jaemin bites his lips at the statement. "A few sacrifices along the way isn't unusual."
"Yeah, but you're not a sacrifice. You're everything," Jeno sternly says.
He watches as Jaemin's eyes widen at the statement. He doesn't give his boyfriend any time to think of a response as he rapidly follows it up.
"I know you think the same for me. It's why you also do so much for me," he whispers, gratitude and affection bleeding into his words. "I see what you do, Jaemin, even if you can't see it for yourself. Your passion is one of the things that made me fall in love with you in the first place. But please, don't burn yourself out, my love."
Jeno watches Jaemin close his eyes as he takes in the former's words. When more than a minute passes of Jeno softly caressing his cheek, he eventually responds by leaning forward to wrap his arms around his lover. Jeno quickly reciprocates the hug, squeezing the love of his life tightly.
He still feels an ounce of tension in the boy, so to fully seal the deal for good measure, he adds, "If you'd like, we can go over whatever you want later on if it helps eases your worries. But I'll always be here to remind you that what you're doing is enough. That you are enough. I couldn't ask for more nor would I even think of it."
He hears Jaemin sigh, and finally, the tension leaves the other's body as he deflates and buries his face into his shoulder.
"My Nono really knows what to say." Jeno beams at the nickname, an indication of a more positive Jaemin, and presses a light kiss onto the other's neck.
They stay embraced for a few more moments until Jaemin complains about the uncomfortable position with his laptop still on his lap.
"Alright, alright. let's go back to sleep, shall we?"
Jeno watches Jaemin put away his laptop before lying down and pulling the blanket up to their chins. They stare at each other, letting themselves bask in the silence in their shared space.
It's Jaemin who breaks the silence with a soft voice. "I'm sorry that I woke you up, baby. You're exhausted too."
Jeno shakes his head. "It's okay, I really don't mind," he whispers back. "And besides, it's my duty to remind my princess that he needs his beauty sleepy."
His boyfriend quirks up an eyebrow with a teasing smile on his face. "You only think I'm beautiful when I sleep?"
Jeno lets out a small groan. "Not what I meant, baby."
Jaemin giggles at his reaction. "So what did you mean?" he asks with a light tone to his voice.
He takes a moment to look at the boy in front of him. Jaemin, who he had known for more than half of his life. Jaemin, who has changed so much over the years but is still the same boy who he had fallen for years ago. Jaemin, who would give the world to anyone he loves in a heartbeat if they asked. Jaemin, who Jeno would give the whole universe if it would make his beloved happy. Jaemin, who he can't imagine a future without.
He decisively settles on a response. "That I love you, Na Jaemin."
Jeno smiles at the surprised look on the other's face. If the lights were on, he was sure that he would see Jaemin's reddening ears too.
Jaemin quickly regains his composure by leaning forward and landing a chaste kiss on Jeno's lips. Before the latter can even try to reciprocate, Jaemin is already leaning back.
"I love you too, Lee Jeno," Jaemin declares as he smiles at him. With his hair all over the place, cheek squished against the pillow, and tired but bright eyes staring at him, Jeno can't help but think that Jaemin is the most beautiful person in the world.
Silence envelopes them as they press themselves impossibly closer to each other. Jeno feels Jaemin's breath quickly even out, a testament to how drained the other one really was. With a small smile on his face, he presses a quick kiss to the other's forehead before finally following suit.