Chapter Text
This Juhoon thing started one morning.
James was trying to make coffee. Full of sugar, none of caffeine, you see. He was standing in front of the kitchen counter, waiting for the water to boil, humming softly.
“you’re telepathic and it’s turnin’ me on…”
Then he felt two warm arms encircle his waist. A familiar scent slipped into his senses.
Now, it wasn’t unusual for Juhoon to be this affectionate early in the morning even though he only shows these certain parts of himself to James only (and don’t ask James why either because he’ll stutter and blush and giggles, hands covering up his face like a girl with her crush yeah just don’t). But the way Juhoon snuggled his head against James’ shoulder and neck and the way he inhaled deeply, slowly, right at the curve of his neck, huh?
That was new.
So, James asked, “What are you doing, Juhoonie?”
And Juhoon, the absolute brat that he is, simply untangled his arms and said, “Nothing, hyung.”
And just like that, he was gone.
That should’ve been enough. James didn’t question it further.
But then it happened again.
The second time was even stranger.
James was in the bathroom, washing his face. In the middle of brushing his teeth, actually, when Juhoon suddenly appeared behind him. James froze for a second, toothbrush still in his mouth, and just stared at Juhoon through the mirror, mouth full of toothpaste.
Juhoon stepped closer.
James thought maybe he wanted something from the mirror cabinet. That would make sense. That would be normal. But instead, Juhoon just stood very close behind him.
Too close.
Then he tilted his head towards the back of James’ head. And inhaled. This time slower. Unhurried. As if he was taking his time memorizing the scent at the curve of James’ neck.
James went rigid.
He caught Juhoon’s eyes in the mirror. For a split second, their gazes locked. But just like the first time, Juhoon said nothing. He only smiled faintly at James through the reflection, then turned and left the bathroom.
And strangely, James’ back felt a little cold after Juhoon left.
The third time it was the most caught off guard moment for James.
It was after some intense dance practice; the room is almost dark. Only one corner lamp is left on, casting a soft amber glow across the wooden floor. Their reflections are faint in the mirror now, blurred and tired. Music has long stopped and the other members went home already and usually Juhoon stayed to help James tidy up.
Juhoon is sitting on the floor, back against the mirror, chest rising and falling slowly. Sweat clings to his skin, his shirt is damp at the collar. James is lying flat on the floor a few feet away, staring at the ceiling.
Silence.
Then,
“You’re not going back to the dorm?” Juhoon asks quietly.
“In a bit,” James replies. “Too tired to move.”
A pause, Juhoon pushes himself up with the palms of his hands slowly and walks over. James doesn’t sit up. He only turns his head slightly when Juhoon stops beside him.
“What?” James asks, half amused. “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Juhoon doesn’t answer. He crouches. Slowly. One knee on the floor. Then the other. James’ breath shifts almost imperceptibly.
“Juhoonah?”
Juhoon leans down. Not touching. Just hovering close enough that James can feel his body warmth. And then, he inhales. Deep. Right at the side of James’ neck. James’ fingers twitch against the floor.
“…You’re doing it again.”
Juhoon hums softly. “Doing what?”
“That.”
Another slow inhale. The room is so quiet the sound feels louder than it should. Juhoon’s voice drops, softer now. “You smell different after practice.”
James swallows, “It’s sweat.”
“It’s you.”
That surprised James and he turns his head slightly toward him.
“You’ve been doing this for days.”
Juhoon shifts closer, one hand now resting beside James’ shoulder on the floor.
“No one’s here,” he murmurs.
“That’s not the point.”
“Then what is?”
Another pause. Juhoon leans in again, slower this time, nose brushing just slightly against warm skin. Not a kiss. Not yet. Just scenting, breathing.
James exhales shakily.
“Kim Juhoon.”
A faint smile curves on Juhoon’s lips, though James can’t fully see it.
“Does it bother you?”
“…It’s distracting.”
Juhoon tilts his head, “In a bad way?”
James doesn’t answer immediately. Instead, he pushes himself up onto his elbows. Now they’re face to face. Close, nose to nose. Too close for exhausted sweaty teammates.
“You keep smelling me like you’re trying to memorize something,” James says quietly.
Juhoon’s eyes flicker, “…Maybe I am.”
Silence swells between them. The AC hums faintly in the corner, James’ voice lowers.
“Why?”
Juhoon’s gaze drops briefly to James’ lips. Then back to his eyes, “So, I don’t forget.”
Forget what? He doesn’t say and just like that the moment breaks.
James stayed on the floor for a long moment after Juhoon left. His neck still felt warm where Juhoon had been breathing and the worst part was, James wasn’t confused about what Juhoon was doing. Not really.
Juhoon’s affection had always been obvious in small ways. The lingering looks during practice breaks. The way his gaze sometimes dropped lower when James changed shirts in their room. The way he stood just a little too close whenever they were alone. The way their beds are getting closer and closer each day that it’s almost connected now.
Once, during choreography rehearsal, their positions had them standing too close, Juhoon’s hand brushed against his waist. It lingered half a second too long. Neither of them said anything.
James noticed.
He just chose not to acknowledge it because acknowledging it meant admitting something else. That the attention didn’t make him uncomfortable. If anything, it made his pulse quicken in ways that were very inconvenient for two members of the same group who were just debuted.
So, obviously James ignored it.
Pretended Juhoon’s gaze meant nothing.
Pretended the strange tightness in his chest meant even less.
Two nights after that confusing encounter with his roommate, James lay alone on his bed. Juhoon wasn’t beside him because his roommate had gone on a trip with his parents. The room felt bigger, quieter. And James’ mind wandered.
Since when did Juhoon start this… habit? Smelling his scent? His neck? How did that even begin?
Then he remembered.
There was one fansign.
James and Juhoon were seated beside each other, shoulder to shoulder beneath bright stage lights and soft smiles. A fanboy sat in front of James and said, almost shy but steady.
“Oh James, I love your perfume. Is it different from yesterday? When we met at the previous fansign?”
James, ever the professional and polite boy, smiled gently.
“Yeah. Thank you for noticing such small details about me.”
They shared a contented smile. But throughout the exchange, James could feel it. Juhoon’s intense stares at him.
When the fanboy finally left, James turned to him slightly, brows lifting in a silent question. Juhoon was staring like he had just noticed something or like he didn’t like the idea of someone else noticing it first then he looked away. That was it and nothing more.
And yet after that day, the habit started. The subtle leaning in. The slow inhaling at the curve of James’ neck. Not careless, not playful. Almost like he was checking, memorizing. Claiming.
Morning came again.
James woke to the quiet click of his bedroom door opening. And there he was. The culprit of his confusion for the past few days.
James stayed still under the sheets, watching quietly as Juhoon stepped inside. He took off his jacket, movements unhurried, then sat on the edge of the bed with his back facing James. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Juhoon stood up again, as if to leave.
But before he could reach the door, James moved. He stepped forward and trapped Juhoon between his body and the door, both hands pressing against it so there was nowhere to slip away.
“Juhoonah… are you smelling me on purpose?”
Juhoon tilted his head slightly, his back was pressed lightly against James’ chest. Close enough that James could feel the warmth of him through his shirt.
“What do you mean, hyung?”
“These past few days, you keep getting close just to smell my neck and then you leave without saying anything. What’s up with that?”
A pause. Then Juhoon looked back at him over his shoulder, a soft teasing smile playing on his lips. His eyes glinted, bright and knowing.
“Oh? Is it driving you crazy, hyung?”
Juhoon turned around slowly, now they were facing each other. Too close. James could feel the warmth of his breath.
“You didn’t answer me,” James said.
Juhoon tilted his head slightly, studying him.
“You first, hyung.”
“First what?”
“Does it drives you crazy that you wanted me to stop?”
James opened his mouth then stopped. Because the truth was, it didn’t. Juhoon noticed the hesitation immediately. A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“I knew it.”
“Knew what?”
Juhoon leaned forward slightly. Close enough that James instinctively held his breath.
“That you were letting me.”
James swallowed.
“You still haven’t told me why.”
Juhoon looked at him for a long second. Then he stepped closer. Not teasing now, not joking. Just honest.
“You want the real answer?”
James nodded. Juhoon’s gaze dropped briefly to his collarbones then back up.
“Because it's driving me crazy how people out there know your scent before me,” he said quietly, “it's supposed to be something personal, something that only people closest to you only know, something only I should know.”
A small pause.
“I feel like with breathing you in first thing in the morning...”
He leaned forward again, breathing lightly near James’ neck.
“Or after practice when your real scent is the strongest is the only time I can breathe in the real you that no one else know but me, it calms me down for the rest of the day knowing that.”
James felt his chest tighten unexpectedly. Juhoon stepped back slightly after that as if the confession itself embarrassed him.
They’re standing face to face now and Juhoon turned the doorknob.
“Next time,” he said lightly, “I’ll try not to be so obvious.”
But before he could leave, James caught his sleeve and Juhoon stopped. James didn’t look at him when he spoke.
“…You can be obvious.”
A pause.
“Just don’t pretend you’re not doing it.”
Juhoon blinked once, then smiled slowly. He took a half step closer but James didn’t move, didn’t step back from the door still not looking at Juhoon.
Juhoon hummed thoughtfully then, without warning, he leaned in. James’ breath caught, he didn’t kiss him. Instead, he turned his head slightly and inhaled again at the curve of James’ neck. Closer than before, slower, James can feel his nose brushing against his neck.
“Juhoon…”
“You smell like our room,” Juhoon murmured.
His voice was quieter now.
“And our fabric softener.”
Another soft inhale.
“And a little like coffee.”
James swallowed.
“You’re unbelievable.”
Juhoon finally pulled back just enough to look at him.
“Does it still distract you?”
James held his gaze.
“…Yes.”
Juhoon’s eyes softened slightly. For once, he didn’t look like he was teasing.
“I'll do something about it later,” he said.
And this time when he leaned forward again and stopped just short of James’ mouth. So close that James could feel his breath on his face he thought Juhoon will close the distance and stop playing games but instead he just smiles softly and open the door to leave James again with his thoughts.
Damn you, Kim Juhoon.