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The dorm that evening was quiet.
It was in a way that was specific only when it got around a little bit past twelve midnight. After the energy of rehearsals and content filming had drained out, leaving behind the low hum of someone’s playlist leaking from behind a closed door and the occasional creak of floorboards as one of the guys shifted in bed.
Now most of the members had already retreated to their rooms. Martin was probably reviewing some beats or lyrics files on his laptop, James might be gaming with his headphones on, and Seonghyeon had disappeared earlier with a bag of chips under his arm.
The shared space felt bigger when it was like this; still, and almost serene that only came after a day of that busy idol life.
It was also during this moment that Keonho padded out of his room in mismatched socks and a simple white t-shirt that clung loosely over his athletic frame, rubbing one eye with the back of his hand. He was currently on the hunt for the strawberry milk he swore he’d hidden in the back of the fridge earlier that day. The kitchen lights were already on when he walked in, illuminating the area with a soft and yellow glow. The moment he turned was when he spotted none other than his calm and preserved hyung, Kim Juhoon, by the door.
Juhoon was slipping on his sneakers, one foot balanced awkwardly while he tugged the laces. He had on a thick cream-colored sweater that looked two sizes too big, the sleeves swallowing his hands until only the tips of his fingers peeked out. It made his narrow shoulders and slight build look even smaller, almost huggable in a way that hit Keonho somewhere in the chest before he could shove the thought away. He was wearing outside clothes. At this hour.
“Ya,” Keonho called out, voice pitched in that familiar teasing lilt he used like armor. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a lazy smirk pulling at his lips. “Look at you, sneaking out like some k-drama protagonist. Please don't tell me you got a secret date or something, hyung. Should I start writing a fan letter about how our quiet Juhoon-ssi finally got game?” He chuckled.
Juhoon straightened up slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching in that barely-there smile of his. He never rose to the bait the way the others did. Just met Keonho’s eyes with that calm, steady gaze that always made the younger feel like he was being seen a little too clearly. “If I had a date, you’d be the last person I’d tell. You’d probably follow me and ruin it with your loud mouth.”
Keonho let out a dramatic gasp, clutching his chest. “Harsh! After I shared my limited edition dried soursop with you last week? Traitor,” he exclaimed, his hand dramatically clutching his chest in faux offense. He then pushed off the wall and wandered closer, eyes flicking over Juhoon’s outfit again. The sweater really did swallow him whole. Cute. The word floated up unbidden and Keonho immediately buried it under layers of practiced nonchalance. “For real though, where are you going? It’s late.”
Juhoon adjusted the strap of a small crossbody bag. “Just a quick convenience store run. We’re out of those honey butter chips Seonghyeon likes, and I want some ramyeon. Plus I couldn’t sleep anyway.”
The hallway light caught the side of Juhoon’s face. His eyes looked tired, his demeanor soft like always, but it held that kind of quiet restlessness that didn’t ask for attention.
Keonho felt a small tug in his gut. Part of him wanted to blurt out Can I come? right then. It was past twelve already, the streets around the dorm weren’t exactly sketchy but still… they were idols now, even if it still felt surreal most days. And it didn't take one to be a genius to understand how despite the success it brought, it also has its own downside. One being that they were quite easy to get distinguished by the public eye. And with attention came the crowd.
And well, in some days where they just wanted to live a normal life, that very thing can get a tad bit tiring. And also yeah, Juhoon was older by a year, but Keonho had always carried this stubborn sense that he was the one who had to look out for everyone, especially him. The maknae who acted like the reliable older brother. It was dumb, maybe, but it had stuck with him since the day he managed to get this particular hyung to be part of their group.
That was a story for another time, though.
Instead, he shrugged, shoving his hands into his hoodie pocket. “Cool. Don’t get kidnapped or whatever,” he said, voice steady as he feigned nonchalance once more.
Juhoon paused with his hand on the doorknob. He was always like that. Always observant in the way quiet people often were. Never nosy, never one to over-impose, just… tuned in. His eyes lingered on Keonho’s shoulders for half a second, catching the faint tension the younger thought he’d hidden. “You wanna come?” The invitation came out without any second thought. The way he said it was light, almost casual, like it was no big deal. But the way Juhoon tilted his head slightly made it feel deliberate. “I could use company I guess. And you can pick out whatever weird snack you want, my treat,” he finished, looking at Keonho directly as he stood waiting for the younger’s response.
For whatever odd reason, Keonho’s heart did a stupid little flip. He, of course, tried to play it cool, rocking back on his heels like he was considering it even though there was already this palpable excitement bubbling in the pit of his stomach. “Eh, I guess. If you’re begging.” But the words came out too fast, too bright, and the grin that broke across his face betrayed him completely. Without missing a single beat, he was already turning toward his room. “Wait here, I’ll grab a jacket. Two seconds!” He then dashed back, heart beating quicker than it should for something as simple as a late-night store run.
By the time he returned, already wearing a black jacket thrown over his hoodie, mask and cap in hand, Juhoon was waiting patiently, leaning against the wall with his arms folded inside those oversized sleeves.
“Let’s go?” the younger one only said; and Juhoon merely nodded, before the two eventually went on their way.
They slipped out of the dorm quietly, silently padding down the flight of stairs before finally leaving the premise of the dorm building. The automatic lights in the hallway buzzing softly behind them.
The night air outside was cool, carrying that crisp Seoul spring chill that hadn’t quite given way to summer yet. Streetlights painted long shadows on the pavement as they walked side by side, shoulders occasionally brushing when the sidewalk narrowed. The city night life hummed around them, distant and brewing. The faint sound of traffic could be heard in the distance, a scooter buzzing past, and the faint glow of various 24-hour signs.
For a few minutes they walked in comfortable silence, the kind that had grown between them over months of trainee days that eventually turned into that chaotic bond brought by finally debuting and even releasing their sophomore album.
Keonho kicked a pebble ahead of them, his eyes following the solid matter as it skittered across the pavement. “Hyung… you ever feel like everything’s moving too fast?” The words slipped out quieter than he meant them to.
He wasn't entirely sure where it came from, but the question had hung unbidden in chest for quite some time now. And for some odd reason, he felt like this was the perfect moment to have someone to talk to in regards to it. Which was weird because Keonho wasn't exactly a pro when it came to talks like this. But it was the kind you only had when the dorm felt too small and the future seemed too big.
Juhoon glanced over, his hands tucked in his sweater pockets. “All the time,” he answered, letting out a soft breath that fogged slightly in the air. “Like… we finally debuted, and now we even had our comeback and suddenly more people know our names. But somehow I still feel like the same kid who practiced until his voice gave out in the basement studio. Sometimes I wonder if I’m pretending well enough.”
Keonho nodded, the honesty hitting somewhere deep. He bumped Juhoon’s shoulder lightly with his own. “You’re not pretending, hyung. You’re just… steady. That’s always been your thing. While the rest of us are bouncing off walls or overthinking every little mistake in practice, you’re just… there. It’s kinda annoying how calm you are, honestly,” he said with surprising affection, the initial teasing softened by the soft buzz of the night.
A small laugh then escaped Juhoon’s soft lips, rare and genuine. “Annoying, huh? Says the guy who still hides strawberry milk from us.” He paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the light. “No but seriously, Keonho-ya. You really don’t have to act like the tough one all the time. You’re the youngest. It’s okay to just… be.”
The words weirdly landed gently, like they’d been waiting for the right moment to finally be revealed.
Keonho found himself swallowing dryly. He stared at the glowing convenience store sign up ahead. The weight of it all, the pressure, the excitement, the fear of messing up something this huge… for whatever reason, they all somehow felt a little lighter when shared like this. He then sighed through his nose. “Yeah… maybe,” he said, a soft smile placed gently on his lips. “But someone’s gotta keep you hyungs in line, you know. Especially you, with your mysterious night walks and convenient store hunting,” he teased, ever the one to make light of things.
Juhoon smiled again, that small, fond curve lighting up his features. “Fair enough. Come on, let’s get those chips before they close the good aisle.”
They stepped inside the brightly lit store together, the bell chiming softly.
The convenience store lights buzzed warmly overhead as the automatic doors slid shut behind them, sealing out the night chill for a moment. Juhoon grabbed a basket without a word and headed straight for the snack aisle like he had the whole layout memorized.
Keonho trailed after him, eyes lighting up at the rows of colorful packages. “Hyung, you serious about treating?” Keonho asked, already reaching for the strawberry milk he’d been craving earlier plus a bag of those honey butter chips and a pack of gummies shaped like little dinosaurs.
Juhoon didn’t even glance at the prices. “Yeah. Told you it was my treat.” He added his own ramyeon cup and a bottle of iced tea, then took the basket from Keonho’s hands when the younger tried to balance everything.
At the counter, Juhoon paid with his card, the transaction going through smoothly and quietly, all while Keonho bounced lightly on his toes beside him, mask pulled down just enough to show the wide grin splitting his face.
Once they were outside again, plastic bag swinging between them, Keonho couldn’t help it as he let out a soft, happy sound. It was almost like a little woof of excitement. Even though he stood a bit taller and broader in the shoulders than Juhoon, the way he clutched the strawberry milk like it was the best gift ever made him look rather puppy-ish, eyes crinkling, cheeks slightly puffed from the smile he couldn’t tame. “Thanks, hyung. Seriously, you’re the best. I was gonna sulk tomorrow if I didn’t get this milk.”
Juhoon let out a quiet huff of amusement, adjusting the strap of his bag. “You get overly dramatic over the smallest things,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “But it's cute, though.”
Keonho nearly tripped over nothing. The sudden compliment that came out of nowhere hitting him hard in the chest. He recovered fast, lightly elbowing Juhoon’s arm. “Shut up. Don’t go saying stuff like that out loud.”
Juhoon only lightly chuckled. “It’s true, at least sometimes. But don't get ahead of yourself.”
“Oh yeah?” Keonho challenged, his lips still carrying that bright smile.
Juhoon nodded.
What he did not expect, though, was for their youngest to suddenly make the silliest, most cringe attempt at an aegyo known to mankind.
A brief pause fell on them for a second or two before they all but bursted out in fits of laughs and giggles. Keonho almost stumbled down near a railing and Juhoon’s face brightened up so hard his eyes vanished behind their lids.
It took awhile for the two to finally calm down before eventually catching their breaths.
“Don’t do that again. It's creepy,” Juhoon said, still giggling lightly from the leftover buzz of their laughing session.
“Oh please,” Keonho started, still breathing heavily despite the wide grin plastered on his handsome face. “We all know you like it, hyung.”
The two ended up giggling amongst themselves once more, though this time the ambience that surrounded them tethered into a much softer atmosphere. Their eyes glinting with gentleness as they wordlessly looked onto each other.
Finally, they started walking back towards the dorm now, but after a block or two, Keonho slowed his steps deliberately. The longer route seemed to stretch ahead through the quieter residential streets lined with ginkgo trees just starting to leaf out, past the small playground that was empty this late. “Hey,” he said out of nowhere. “Let’s go this way instead,” he suggested, voice casual but hopeful. “We’ve been cooped up all day with schedules. A longer walk might help us actually sleep once we get home. You know, fresh air and all that.”
Juhoon studied him for a second, that observant gaze flickering again, but he just nodded. “Alright, lead the way.”
Compliant as always. Keonho felt a warm flicker in his chest at how easily Juhoon went along with it.
The two quickly fell into steps again, shoulders brushing every few paces on the narrower sidewalk. The plastic bag rustled as they dug into their snacks. Keonho tore open the gummies first, popping one into his mouth and offering the pack to Juhoon, who took a green one without comment.
For a while it was easy and light.
Keonho yapped away like he usually did when the quiet felt too full. “Remember that time during trainee days when Seonghyeon tried to cook ramyeon at 3AM and set off the smoke alarm? I seriously thought the manager was gonna murder us all.” He laughed, the sound carrying softly down the empty street. “You were the only one who stayed calm and opened all the windows like it was no big deal. Meanwhile Martin and I were both panicking and trying to fan the smoke with a towel, while James hyung was gathering water using a single glass. We're a bunch of idiots that's for sure.”
Juhoon smiled around a sip of his tea. “Someone had to. You guys were flapping that towel like it owed you money and James hyung wasn't really helping.”
Keonho snorted, nearly choking on a gummy. “We're a bunch of idiots, that's for sure.”
The two continued to talk about nothing and everything. Like the stupid variety show ideas they wanted to try, how James kept stealing everyone’s socks in the laundry, the way their new music still currently in production were finally clicking after weeks of frustration. Keonho’s voice filled most of the spaces, ever so animated and bright, while Juhoon listened with small nods and occasional thoughtful hums, the kind that made you feel truly heard.
But as the dorm building came into distant view, the conversation drifted deeper without either of them forcing it. They’d stopped under a streetlamp near the playground, leaning against the low wall as they finished the last of the chips. The night felt softer here, wrapped in the faint scent of blooming trees and distant city noise.
Keonho crumpled the empty chip bag, turning it over in his hands. “Hyung… do you ever get scared that we’re gonna wake up one day and this will all have been a dream? Like, the debut, the fans, the stages… and then poof. Back to sharing one tiny practice room with leaks in the ceiling.”
Juhoon was quiet for a long beat, staring at the dim lights of the playground swings. “Yeah,” he answered, voice just above a whisper. “More than I let on, actually.” His voice was low, almost intimate in the quiet. “I keep thinking about how hard we worked, but also how much we’re still figuring a lot of things out. I… watch you sometimes, how you push through when your legs are dead from practice, how you still make sure the rest of us eat even when you’re exhausted. You’ve actually grown a lot, Keonho-ya. And not just taller. It’s… quite admirable, honestly.”
Upon hearing his hyung’s words, Keonho’s ears began to heat up. He quickly glanced sideways at Juhoon, who still looked small and steady in that oversized sweater, sleeves bunched up now so his wrists showed. The words landed warm and a little awkward, making something flutter nervously in Keonho’s stomach. He nudged Juhoon’s foot with his sneaker. “Stop. You’re gonna make me blush and then I’ll have to tease you twice as hard tomorrow to make up for it.” But his voice came out softer than intended, almost shy.
Juhoon merely chuckled, the sound ever so gentle amidst the quiet night of the neighborhood. “Wouldn’t be the worst thing you've done,” he started lightheartedly before eventually composing himself once more. “You’re allowed to hear it, you know. That you’re doing good. That you’re not just the loud maknae anymore, that you’re someone the rest of us lean on without even realizing it half the time.”
At that, Keonho found himself staring at the ground. His heart was doing that weird, unnamed flip again. Being around Juhoon like this late at night, with just the two of them, sharing snacks and honest words, felt different lately. It was almost… domestic? Like coming home after a long day and finding the lights already on. He wanted to say something back, something real, but the feelings tangled up unnamed in his chest. It was like a cacophony of warmth, protectiveness, and a certain pull that went beyond just being groupmates or even close friends. He couldn’t name it yet. Didn’t dare try. Instead he just bumped their shoulders together again, letting the contact linger a second longer than necessary.
“You’re pretty admirable too, hyung,” he mumbled, kicking at a fallen leaf. “Always so steady. Makes me wanna… I dunno, match that energy. Or at least not let you carry everything alone.” He paused, then added with a small, awkward laugh, “Even if you do look like a kid playing dress up in that giant sweater right now.” He then smiled once again.
Juhoon turned his head, eyes meeting Keonho’s under the lamplight. There was something new in his gaze. Almost like a fondness, maybe a little surprised, like he was seeing the younger guy in a much sharper focus tonight. The broad shoulders, the way Keonho tried to play tough but melted into a puppy-like excitement over strawberry milk, the maturity that peeked through the teasing and so many more. It stirred something quiet and sweet in Juhoon’s chest, a shift he hadn’t expected.
“You’re impossible,” Juhoon opted to say instead, but his tone wrapped around the words like a blanket. He reached over and lightly flicked Keonho’s forehead. “Come on. Let’s head back before the others think we actually ran away.”
With that, they started walking again. Though this time, their steps were slower than before, the plastic bag now mostly empty between them still serving as a notable barrier. The silence that settled wasn’t empty anymore. If anything, it hummed with the afterglow of shared words and half-realized feelings.
Keonho stole glances at Juhoon’s profile, that unnamed warmth blooming stubbornly in his chest. Juhoon, for his part, felt the quiet pull to keep these moments close, to watch a little more carefully over the maknae who wasn’t quite a maknae anymore.
As the dorm lights appeared ahead, Keonho cleared his throat. “Next time I’m treating. And we’re doing the long way again, okay?”
Juhoon’s small smile was answer enough. “Deal.”
–
The weeks slipped by in a blur of early morning practices, late-night recordings, and the kind of exhausting but exhilarating schedule that made time feel both endless and too fast. That late night convenience store run lingered in Keonho’s mind like a warm pocket of light he kept returning to whenever things got loud or heavy. He and Juhoon hadn’t talked about it again, at least not directly, but something had quietly shifted between them. Small things such as Juhoon saving him the last strawberry milk in the fridge, Keonho automatically scooting over on the practice room floor so the older could sit beside him during breaks. Nothing dramatic. Just… closer.
Now, weeks later, they sat in a neat line at one of their big fansigns during the new comeback cycle. The venue hummed with excited chatter and camera clicks. Keonho was on the far left of the first row, hair styled to accentuate his boyish charm, and a bright smile ready even as his legs buzzed with leftover nerves. Beside him sat Martin, then James cracking jokes with fans, then Juhoon with his usual calm composure, and Seonghyeon at the very end, doodling little hearts on the fans’ albums.
A female fan in a pastel dress approached Keonho’s section, clutching her album tightly. She beamed at him after he signed it with a flourish and drew a tiny dinosaur next to his name to add more personality. “So I’ve been watching plenty of content from you guys, and you and Juhoon seem so much closer lately,” she said, voice bright with curiosity. “It’s really cute to see on lives and during behind-the-scenes. Did something interesting happen between you two recently?”
Keonho found himself frozen mid conversation. His brain apparently short-circuited. The question hit like a surprise stage cue he hadn’t rehearsed for. He laughed awkwardly at first, rubbing the back of his neck. “Ah… closer? We’ve always been close, though?” But even as he said it, his eyes flicked sideways toward Juhoon, who was gently listening to a fan a few seats down, nodding with that soft focus of his.
The memory of that certain evening walk then rushed back uninvited. He remembered the cool night air, oversized sweater sleeves, strawberry milk sweetness on his tongue, and Juhoon’s quiet voice saying he was admirable. The way their shoulders kept brushing. The unnamed flutter in his chest that still hadn’t settled. Somehow all of them came rushing in his head as he recalled what had transpired during the small convenience store walk.
Heat flooded Keonho’s face. He covered it with both hands for a second, peeking through his fingers with a sheepish grin. “Ahhh, noona, why would you ask that so suddenly? You’re gonna make me embarrassed on camera.”
The fan giggled, delighted. “See! That reaction! So what happened?”
Keonho lowered his hands, still pink around the ears. He glanced at Juhoon again, the gesture was quick and maybe almost guilty in a way, before answering. “We just… went out for a walk one night. Bought snacks, talked a lot. A pretty deep talk, actually. Nothing wild, but… it was nice. Made me realize how lucky I am to have a hyung like him.” He didn’t elaborate. Couldn’t, really. Those quiet domestic feelings, the warmth, the protectiveness, the strange pull, they weren’t meant for the fansign table.
The girl’s eyes widened, mildly surprised but clearly teasing now. “A late night walk? Just the two of you? Omo, that’s so romanti–I mean, brotherly! Super brotherly!”
A staff member then gently touched her elbow, signaling that it was time to move to the next member. “Thank you! Please enjoy the rest of the fansign!”
As she waved and stepped away with a knowing little smile, Keonho let out a long breath. His heart was doing that annoying flip again and he couldn't do anything about it. He stared down at the next unopened album on the table, but his mind was back on that playground wall, gummies shared under streetlight, Juhoon calling him admirable like it was nothing but the simple truth.
Without meaning to, his gaze drifted sideways once more. Juhoon was just finishing his own moment with another fan, handing the album back with a small bow of his head. As if sensing the stare, though, Juhoon turned. Their eyes met across the short distance between them as Martin and James chatted obliviously in between.
Juhoon raised his brows ever so slightly, a silent What? written in the tilt of his head and the subtle raise of his brow.
Keonho didn’t answer with words. Rather, he just smiled, soft, a little crooked, carrying all the things he still couldn’t name. It wasn’t his usual loud, teasing grin. This one felt deeper, quieter, like a secret kept between the two of them even in a room full of hundreds. Thank you for that night. For seeing me. And for letting me see you.
Juhoon’s expression eased into something equally gentle, almost soft, before eventually turning back to greet the next fan.
Keonho’s chest felt strangely, yet wonderfully full. He didn’t know exactly why that was, nor did he plan on exploring it just yet. Whether it was their friendship growing new roots, the comfort of being truly known by someone, or something softer and scarier blooming underneath. He just knew that it felt right, and perhaps maybe even warm. As if there was this quiet promise of more late night walks and honest talks ahead. He didn’t know exactly what it was, or where it would lead, but it felt nice. Really nice. And for him, that was more than enough… at least for now.
He then straightened up, shaking off the flutter, and beamed at the next fan approaching his table. “Hi! Thank you for coming today. What’s your name?” He greeted the new fan with a brighter smile than before, shoulders now a little straighter as well.
But even as he signed and laughed and played the part of Cortis’ cheerful maknae perfectly, a part of him stayed tuned to the seat just a few spots next to him. To the calm boy who somehow made the big, overwhelming world feel a little smaller and safer. It made him wonder if they'd take the long way home again tonight.
A small smile then curved gently on his lips at the quiet anticipation.
He really hoped that they would.
🐶🐢