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Heeseung enters the waiting room with a loud groan, arms stretching up, joints faintly cracking. The chains in his outfit clink with his movements. The sound is starting to get overstimulating, but he tries to pay it no mind.
“Oh, hyung,” Jay says upon his entrance, “lunch just came. C'mon, we need to eat before leaving for the radio show.”
True to his words, there are several takeout containers spread on the table. The others are already sitting, reaching for various dishes and uncovering them, snapping chopsticks and filling each other's plates. It's a dance they've perfected over the years, distributing food efficiently to finish a meal as fast as possible.
Heeseung groans again, more appreciative this time. The smells make his mouth water. “I'm starving,”
He drops in the empty chair next to Jungwon, who gives him a small smile.
“How's Beomgyu hyung?” He asks as he hands Heeseung a steaming cup of ramyeon.
Just by looking at it, he can tell it's done to his preference. Another plate ends up in front of him, filled with different side dishes.
“Good. Chaotic as ever, but the tiktok came out really well. He says hi to you specifically,”
Jungwon giggles at that. How he and Beomgyu clicked is something Heeseung both understands and doesn't. He knows for a fact that Jungwon is irresistibly charming, with easy smiles and disarming demeanour, so he's not surprised that he snatched another hyung. He's just not sure where Jungwon had the chance to win Beomgyu over.
Probably while hanging out with Taehyun, he muses. It's the most likely scenario.
“I'll go say hi after I'm done eating. They don't have to leave right now, right?”
“No, they haven't recorded yet,” Heeseung glances at the table, trying to relocate a pair of chopsticks. He finds them on Jungwon's left. “Can you pass me the chopsticks?”
“Oh, I thought I gave them to you already,” Jungwon says. He takes the chopsticks out of the plastic bag and snaps them for Heeseung. “Here, hyung.”
“Thanks, sweetheart,”
The pet name slips thoughtlessly.
Heeseung only looks back at his words when Sunoo snorts. He raises a questioning eyebrow at him, but Sunoo doesn't say anything. He looks at Heeseung then looks pointedly at Jungwon.
Heeseung also looks. A fond smile takes over his face.
He doesn't even know when they started calling Jungwon these sweet names. Jake claims he did it first and the hyung line just went with it. There's a good chance that it's true; Jake calls Jungwon all sorts of endearments the most, but they've all done it by now.
There's no reason for it, other than the need to spoil Jungwon just that extra pit.
All the maknaes get this treatment, of course. It's just that Sunoo rolls his eyes when they do it, and Ni-Ki doesn't care. If anything, Ni-Ki would call them an even cringier pet name back to poke fun at them. Unless the hyungs are trying to comfort Sunoo and Ni-Ki, endearments are used sparingly.
Jungwon, on the other hand, had flushed so red the first time Heeseung called him sweetheart that Heeseung had no choice but to call him that again and again just to see his reaction.
It still flusters Jungwon to this day, if to a lesser degree.
Case in point, Jungwon's cheeks are an adorable shade of pink, eyes bright. His smile is still a little bit shy, but there's a pleased note behind it.
Heeseung wonders how long this reaction will last. He's very willing to test it for a long time.
Jay has only been in the studio for half an hour when he hears a knock on the door.
He knows it's Jungwon without looking, having seen his messages beforehand.
“Come in,” he calls.
Jungwon steps in, closing the door behind him with a soft click. He's holding his duffle bag, a sure sign that he was at the gym, hair damp and shining under the fluorescent lights.
“Hey,”
“Hi, hyung,” he says back and flashes Jay a quick smile as he puts his bag in the corner.
Jay pulls the extra chair from beside him, beckoning Jungwon to sit. “How was the gym session?”
“Meh,” he flops next to him with a grateful nod. “Same as ever. What are you doing? That's probably more interesting.”
Jay turns to look at his open notebooks, the production program he's got on, the guitar resting beside the desk. “Yeah, I'm not so sure. I'm just stuck on this song and trying to fix it, but the melody and the lyrics are fighting all the way.”
There's a curious spark in Jungwon's eyes, looking over his setup with interest. He thumbs the pages of his notebook but doesn't outright read what's written in it.
“Can I?” He asks.
“Yeah, of course,”
Jay nudges the notebook towards him. Jungwon takes it with a small nod, eyes scanning the words carefully. He mouths some of the English words, testing how they rhyme with the rest of the lyrics, humming when he figures the right pronunciation. A small pout of concentration twists his lips when he takes the lyrics from the top again. It's an unfairly cute expression on him, but maybe (definitely, one hundred percent) Jay just thinks Jungwon is cute regardless of what he does.
“Can you play the melody, hyung?” He doesn't lift his head as he asks.
Jay obliges. He grabs his guitar and starts strumming, a soft melody that sounds far too melancholic when played on strings. Jungwon murmurs along, the words barely understandable.
He keeps strumming, notes looping again and again as Jungwon looks over his notes.
“Aha,” he finally says as he looks up. There's a twinkle in his eyes, one that speaks of triumphant realisation.
Jay stops immediately, putting his guitar down. “What? Did you figure something out?”
“Yup,” Jungwon answers, “it's the lyrics, Jay hyung. See here?” he points at the chorus, “it's really full. You have to jam all syllables into one measure so it fits with your melody, meanwhile the third line is a bit empty, so you're stretching the words to fill the gaps. It makes it sound awkward,”
To demonstrate, Jungwon sings the chorus. Jay can tell he's got it right away, lines awkward when sung out loud.
“It's crazy that I didn't notice that,” he admits as he grabs his lyric book and starts writing notes.
Jungwon shrugs. “The more you sit with it, the less you see the finer details,”
“You're a lifesaver, darling,” Jay says with a smile. He doesn't need a mirror to know he looks gone for his dongsaeng. “I really want to submit this for the next album. I can probably fix it in time now.”
A pretty blush blooms on Jungwon's cheeks, spreading to his ears even as he smacks Jay's arm with an exasperated eyeroll. Jay's smile turns into a knowing smirk; flustering Jungwon is always a fun time.
“Any time, hyung,”
Sometimes, filming takes them to good places; like this little town away from the city and its blaring noise and lights.
Jake breathes in the clean air, feels it fill his lungs in a way city air could never. It almost smells like home, without the overwhelming humidity.
A small, content sigh leaves his lips, face held towards the sun. Even though they're filming, this really feels like the break his body has been craving; perfect weather, slow days, and the good company of his members.
Of course, since Jake is having a moment of peace, chaos comes following.
“Jake hyung!” Jungwon calls from inside the house.
He lets out a small huff, amused despite himself. Jungwon could never go long without needing to know where the members are. Even on a supposed holiday, he's heard Jungwon fluttering from one member to the next, spending small pockets of time with everyone and checking on them.
Now it's Jake's turn.
“I'm outside,” he calls back.
Within seconds, Jungwon is rushing out to meet him.
Meet him is a generous way to put it. Jungwon barrels outside, crashing into his back. Were it not for Jake's quick reflexes, both of them would've ended up on flat the ground. Still, Jake stumbles a few steps.
By the time he's regained his balance, Jungwon has already darted away.
“You're it, hyung!”
“Oh, no, you don't!” He exclaims and moves to follow.
For a few minutes, they take turns tagging each other. Or really, it's him mostly chasing Jungwon as he shouts and runs away.
He's surprised none of the others have come to check what's going on.
Jake stops, bends down with his hands on his knees. He's only being a little bit overdramatic, but hey, he needs to play it up a bit for the camera.
But also, Jesus, where does Jungwon get the speed or energy for this?
“Jungwon-ah, honey, sweetheart, light of my life, please calm down.” Jake pants, trying to catch his breath. His tone is equal parts fond and exhausted as Jungwon rushes near him again, giggling without a care in the world. Whether he's giggling over the endearments or how much fun he's having is anyone's guess.
Either way, it's not exaggeration to say it's one of his favourite sounds in the world.
There's not much Jake can do besides smile lovingly. Except, when Jungwon comes close again to tag him, Jake grabs him by the waist, the momentum sending them both tumbling across the dewy grass. He makes sure to land first to take the brunt of the fall, soft as it is.
Jungwon shrieks playfully as they roll a couple of times. He doesn't try to get away, and Jake is not sure if he's too tired (doubtful) or content to stay where he is (highly possible, since he has buried his face in Jake's neck, tickling his skin with a breathy laugh and warm cheeks).
It doesn't really matter.
“Got you, baby,” Jake grunts, holding tighter.
It's definitely the endearment that gets him giggling this time, arms winding around Jake to properly hug him.
The staff behind them laugh, clearly having fun watching Jungwon cause chaos and terrorize his hyung.
If that's what they want to see, Jake and Jungwon are happy to deliver.
Jungwon asking to accompany him to the ice rink is a rather unusual request.
Normally, when he has the chance to, Sunghoon goes alone, slipping between teeming schedules and crowded days. Sunghoon goes alone, with the company of his trusty skates and a pair of headphones, trying his best not to be spotted.
But when Jungwon asks to go as well, with those pretty, imploring eyes, it's hard to tell him no. Not that Sunghoon would've refused anyway, but that look certainly helped.
There's not much he wouldn't do for Jungwon if he asks.
It's where they find themselves on an early Friday morning. Luck must be on their side because the rink is almost empty, with only a few other skaters keeping it alive. The music is soft and the bite of ice is familiar against Sunghoon's cheeks.
“Oh, it's cold,” Jungwon notes, bringing Sunghoon out of his nostalgia. The tip of his nose is already turning pink.
“It will feel better once we start skating,”
Jungwon turns to look at him, eyes wide with surprise. “We?”
“You don't want to skate?”
Jungwon shrugs. “I was planning to just watch, honestly.” he smiles, a little shy. “You always look so happy skating, Sunghoon hyung. And you're really good, so I wanted to spend a little time admiring,”
Does Jungwon ever stop being so endearing?
Sunghoon has known him for close to eight years now, he should know that the answer is a resounding no.
“No,” he says.
“Hn?”
Sunghoon grins at his confused sound. “You can't come all this way and just watch. C'mon, let's get you a pair of skates,”
He doesn't wait for an answer as he takes Jungwon's hand and leads him deeper into the building. Jungwon is pliant in his hand, moving quickly to keep up with his wide stride.
“You came to have fun, not watch me fall on my butt,” Jungwon protests weakly.
“You're saying that like they're mutually exclusive,” Sunghoon tugs on Jungwon's arm to link it with his. “You're not escaping this,”
That's how Jungwon ends up gripping the railing near the entrance, standing on shaky feet.
Sunghoon has already taken a lap around the rink.
“Jungwon-ah, c'mon,” he laughs, taking pity on Jungwon and grabbing his hands. “I'll help. Slow and easy does it,”
Jungwon huffs but lets him, not even threatening his hyung to not let him fall.
Once again, Sunghoon is proven right; watching Jungwon attempt to skate is fun.
He's graceful in his element. Sunghoon has seen him perform complicated footwork like it's nothing, so light on his feet it looks like he's floating. He's seen him twist and spin and kick with ease, as if he hasn't stopped practicing taekwondo for more than a day.
But put him outside his element? He's gone. He slips and slides like a newborn deer, clumsy and unsure where to put his feet.
Or maybe like a kitten on ice. That also happens to be an apt comparison.
That's exactly what Jungwon's doing now, which is why Sunghoon knows his smile looks stupid; wide and unguarded and takes over his entire face. He cannot help it around Jungwon.
It's not the first time he's seen Jungwon attempt skating. It's not the second time either, not even the third. But it's the first time it's just the two of them and Sunghoon can put all his focus on him. So sue him for being this whipped.
It's not his fault that Jungwon is too adorable for his own good.
“C'mon, love,” he bites back a smile at the red spreading further on Jungwon's face. He's too busy trying to balance himself to properly react to the endearment, but the blood rushing to his cheeks exposes him. “I know you can do it,” he calls encouragingly.
There's not much Jungwon can't do if he sets his mind to it.
There's something incredibly therapeutic about doing his skin care routine after a busy day.
It's not complicated or grossly long, but it is very thorough. The process is easy, methodical, and calming, everything Sunoo needs to wind down. After a day of filming his EN-diary, that's all Sunoo wants to do.
Which is why his camera is set up on his vanity, products spread around.
Talking to the camera is easy. Sunoo has always been the talkative type, rambling on and on when given the slightest chance. And talking about skin care of all things? He could go on for hours.
Sunoo is just putting on his undereye patches, explaining the type and benefit, when a knock sounds at his door. It cracks open before he can say a word.
“Sunoo hyung?” Jungwon's round little head peeks through the small opening. He's pouting, adorably, in that way that tells Sunoo he's not quite aware of what his lips are doing.
“Yes, Jungwon-ah?” He almost tells him that he's filming, but he doesn't care much. He can just delete the interaction if Jungwon doesn't like it.
There's a hesitant pause. It makes Sunoo turn fully back.
“Did something happen?” He asks, not too worried. In case of an emergency, Jungwon would be already dealing with it, firm and confident, their leader through and through.
On his door, however, is his dongsaeng, the one he gets to dot on sometimes.
Jungwon's pout intensifies. “I accidentally spelled some of your toner. I knocked it over while reaching for mine, like…” He says with a shrug, then gestures with hands, a motion that Sunoo thinks is an enactment of how he knocked the bottle. “Sorry, hyung,”
“Was it the one with a blue cap?” Sunoo asks.
“Um, yeah I think so,”
Sunoo waves him off with a smile. “Oh, it's whatever. I think I cracked the lid when I first opened it so it never seals properly anyway,”
“Are you sure, hyung? It didn't spell much, but you know,” the little nervous look has dissipated at Sunoo's word, the pout dissolving into a small smile.
“It's fine. It's no worse than dropping my cleansing foam into the toilet, don't you think?” he gives a playful glare, one that makes Jungwon snort.
"I already apologised for that!"
"Doesn't mean it didn't happen," Sunoo counters.
“I guess. I'm gonna be more careful in the future, hyung,” his shoulders relax as he leans into the door frame. “And I'll get you a new toner anyway,”
“Mhmm, I don't know about that with your clumsiness," he ignores Jungwon's indignant noise, "but it's okay, aegi. No need to waste a perfectly good toner, we'll get another one when I'm finished with this,”
Jungwon chokes, ducking behind the door for a second. When he emerges, his cheeks are bright, and he doesn't meet Sunoo's adoring look. “Okay, hyung,” he squeaks, “I'll go order dinner,” and then he's off, closing the door with a gentle click.
Sunoo turns back to his camera with a small laugh.
“Jungwonie is so cute, isn't he?” He says as he grabs a bottle of moisturiser. “He handles everything so well as a leader, his mentality amazes me.” He smiles a bit, eyes scrunching. “But at home, he's just my cute dongsaeng.”
More often than not, Ni-Ki prefers doing voice lives only.
Don't get him wrong, it's fun to open his camera, flip his hair and tease and laugh, to go on Twitter later to see fans losing their minds.
But there's comfort in not being directly seen. When he's sitting in the dark of his room, in one of the company's recording studios, or in the car going home, there's no pressure to perform. All he has to do is talk and respond to comments, not be conscious of every micro expression his face does.
In this particular evening, he's at the company.
His phone is propped up with a flexible holder, positioned right above him as he lays down on the practice room floor.
“‘Ni-Ki, what are you doing?’” He reads off the screen. “I just finished practice and I had some free time, so here I am,”
He stayed behind to work on some solo parts while his hyungs went home. It isn't unusual for someone to stay behind longer than the others, but the members don't like leaving Ni-Ki alone. It's as infuriating as it is endearing, how they all get so concerned and try to make him go home as well.
This time though, they've all been too tired to try to talk him out of it. Even Jungwon, who loathes leaving Ni-Ki behind the most.
But stress lines were etched deep around Jungwon's eyes and exhaustion pulled at his lids heavily enough that he only gave Ni-Ki a slow blink and a single nod before trailing out after everyone else.
And well, sue him, but seeing Jungwon like this makes Ni-Ki feel guilty. He doesn't want to be the reason for even more stress lines in Jungwon's face.
So he's finished practice earlier than he usually would and now he's waiting for their manager to pick him up.
“‘Practicing for a new song?’” He snorts, “I wouldn't tell you if I was. But honestly, no, just extra practice for the concert,”
He reads another comment, “‘song recommendation?’ Oh,” his mind blanks out for a moment, acting as if he never listens to music. He must be more tired than he thought. “I'll post a song when I go home,”
He hums as he watches the comments fly by. Trying to read them is a challenge sometimes, so he lets them be for a few seconds.
“‘When are you going home?’ In a bit,” he pulls the notification bar down to see if the manager has texted him. He hasn't. “I have a few minutes to kill,”
Hopefully, the manager won't take too long.
“‘Are the hyungs home?’ Yep,” there hasn't been any messages from them either. “They're probably sleeping,”
With the way they looked when they left the practice room, he'd even bet on it.
As if to prove him wrong, a highlighted comment appears in the chat. Of course, it's Jungwon.
Ni-Ki, I'm waiting for you
A small huff escapes Ni-Ki. Jungwon was the most tired when the members left, but instead of sleeping like any regular human would, he's watching Ni-Ki's live.
“Hyung, you should sleep. We have an early schedule,” he says.
A private message from Jungwon pops up.
I called manager hyung
He should be there to pick you up in five minutes top
In the Weverse live chat, he leaves another comment.
I'll sleep when you're home
A rush of affection overcomes him. There's a comfort in Jungwon watching over him, even when he's at home, even when he has no real need to.
Jungwon's care is always such a tangible thing, settling warmly over Ni-Ki.
“Okay,” he says, watching the chat fill with colourful hearts and crying emojis. “I'll be there soon. You better be ready to cuddle,” Ni-Ki teases. Though who he's exactly teasing, the fans or Jungwon, he's not sure.
I'm ready
I love you, maknae-yah ❤︎
Ni-Ki can't help the giggle he lets out. Jungwon must be far more tired than he thought. He's not the type to declare his love regularly like that, nor does he call Ni-Ki ‘maknae’ all that often, but it happens when he's on a particular cocktail of exhaustion and late night affection.
Regardless of how it happened, the nickname and the declaration are extra special coming from his leader.
“I love you too, hyungie,” he answers.
Ni-Ki is glad he chose to only do a voice live. His cheeks are warm but hidden. His voice is unbearably fond though, even to his own ears, and his heart is full.
Jungwon is the only person who can make him sound this flustered.